Perhaps in its early days the caravansary had once stood beyond the edge of town; but now it was surrounded by a multitude of eateries, inns, and other businesses catering to the needs of the teamsters. Three avenues, each wide enough for three wagons to pass with room to spare, converged on a scene of bustling activity.
Porters were busy hauling goods to and from over a dozen different caravans; a team of farriers worked off to one side, their hammers rang as shoes were repaired and replaced; guards cursed; Masters yelled; kids raced; and two lads newly inducted into the Guild sought a caravan with but four wagons.
Jaikus’ neck twisted back and forth as he searched for some order in the chaos. All wagons looked alike and there seemed no rhyme or reason as to their disposition. “Wonder which ones are Master Tuppin’s?”
Reneeke shrugged. “Haven’t a clue, Jaik.”
Flagging down a porter, he inquired as to the location of Master Tuppin, and soon were navigating through the cacophony of noise and bustle toward the caravansary’s south side. In this sea of anarchy, they came to a place of relative calm.
Four wagons sat in perfect, side-by-side unison. The wheels of each were exactly four inches from that of its neighbors. To the right of the wagons stood a picket line bearing fourteen horses. Two guards were the only ones in attendance; they eyed the approaching pair from where they sat upon the rear of the leftmost wagon.
Jaikus offered them an affable wave. “Is this the caravan of Master Tuppin?”
One guard was a rather slight man, with flaxen hair tied in a ponytail to just below his shoulders. He wore a leather breastplate and at his hip hung a longsword. The other was much more burly bearing loose dark hair cut to shoulder length. He wore a shirt of chainmail and across his back slung a lethal looking crossbow. The one with the ponytail hopped off the wagon and approached.
“Who wants to know?”
Jaikus gestured to Reneeke as he said, “My friend and I are in need of reaching Kith. We understand that Master Tuppin might need a pair of guards for his trip north?”
Eyes narrowing, Ponytail eyed Jaikus up and down. His expression indicated he found him lacking.
“That’s interesting.”
When nothing further was forthcoming, Jaikus’ affable manner darkened, but he kept his tone civil. “Is this, or is this not, Master Tuppin’s caravan?”
“Hmmm…” Ponytail glanced to the other, “Looks like a couple of lads out for a lark. Maybe we should give ‘em a spankin’ and send them on their way for bothering their betters.”
“Betters!? I’ll show you who…,” as he reached for his sword hilt, he felt Reneeke place a hand on his wrist.
Reneeke gave his friend a quick shake of the head then turned toward Ponytail. “I am Reneeke, and this is Jaikus. We are Guild members and were directed here to satisfy Master Tuppin’s need for guards on his trip north. Now, is this his caravan or shall we look elsewhere?”
At mention of the Guild, Ponytail’s attitude quickly changed to one of accommodation. He gave Jaikus a good-natured grin. “Sorry about that, lad. Didn’t mean nothing by it.” Then to Reneeke he said, “Yes, these wagons do belong to Master Tuppin.”
Reneeke let go of Jaikus’ wrist. “Is he still looking for guards?”
“He’s always looking for guards.”
Jaikus scanned the area. “Where is he?”
Ponytail indicated an inn not far away. “He’s staying there. Might not be there at the moment, though.”
Taking in the inn for a moment, Jaikus turned back to the guard. His irritation at the earlier treatment faded away at a snail’s pace. “Where might we find him?”
“He don’t tell us his business. He’ll be there at sundown.”
Reneeke glanced to the inn, then back to Ponytail. “What is he hauling?”
“Goods.”
“Goods?” Jaikus asked. “What kind?”
Burly guard came down from the wagon and joined them. “Does it matter?”
About to reply that it most certainly did, Jaikus was forestalled when Reneeke said, “Not really.” Then to his friend he added, “Come on, Jaik. We’ll come back tonight.”
Still bristling, Jaikus allowed Reneeke to lead him away.
“Let Master Tuppin know we’re looking for him,” Reneeke said to Ponytail.
“We’ll do that.”
Not long afterward, the newly inducted Guild members were seated at a tavern not far off the caravansary. Reneeke used some of their last coins to buy them each an ale as he tried to mollify his friend.
“Look, Jaik. It doesn’t matter what they haul. It isn’t any of our business.”
“I don’t like it, Rene.”
Reneeke merely shook his head with the abiding patience he’s come to develop since first meeting Jaikus. “If Master Tuppin allows us to tag along to Kith, he could be hauling carnivorous leeches or the Cursed Soul of Toos for all I care.”
“But, we’re Guild members now. Shouldn’t we be deserving of some respect?”
Snorting, Reneeke then let loose with a chuckle. “This is Reakla, Jaik. I bet half the people living here are either Guild members, related to one, or just hang out with them. I doubt if we will get anyone’s respect merely because we say that we are from the Guild.”
Looking like he just found half a worm floating in his cider, Jaikus remained silent.
“Respect has to be earned, Jaik. We haven’t really done all that much thus far to deserve it.”
“What do you mean? We’ve fought a troll, Rene! We entered the Swamp and came out alive. We delved the nether reaches of a long-lost city.” His look said he dared Reneeke to find such deeds lacking. Unfortunately for Jaikus, Reneeke did just that.
“For two boys fresh off the farm, it’s not bad; but for someone in the Guild…? We’ve not led armies, fought powerful sorcerers, defeated the undead, or even recovered an item of power. Our fame is still in its fledgling state, a newborn chick if you will.”
Jaikus glowered. “But that will change.”
Nodding, Reneeke replied, “If we don’t die first.”
Rolling his eyes as if such a fate could never be theirs, Jaikus downed the rest of his ale. “After we take care of this business in Kith, we need to find an Adventure worthy of two stalwart heroes such as ourselves.”
Reneeke could only smile. He knew better than to argue the point. Jaikus hungered for the renown a successful career in Adventuring would bring. This was in no small part the reason he had agreed to accompany Jaikus on his bid to become part of the Guild. Without him to rein his at-times reckless friend in, Jaikus would in all likelihood already be dead; his body rotting in the Swamp.
Those they had earlier adventured with; Charka, Seward, and Lady Kate, came at adventuring as a job, not a bid for fame. They were practical about it and Reneeke had gleaned many kernels of wisdom during their first Adventure.
Finishing his ale, Reneeke got to his feet. “What do you say we get a few supplies for the trip to Kith? Still some time before we meet with Master Tuppin.”
Jaikus nodded and rose. “Like armor?”
“Hardly.” Patting his coin purse, Reneeke said, “A few scrolls and potions are about the most we can hope to afford.”
After Jaikus’ convalescence at the temple, not to mention their day to day expenses since, their fortune of ten golds, seven silvers and eleven coppers had shrunk to but six golds, eight silvers and ten coppers.
“What should we get?” Jaikus asked as they left the tavern. “In the Saga of Rithern, didn’t the hero have a scroll of levitation? Got him out of a tight spot; maybe that would be good to have.”
“I was thinking of at least a couple healing scrolls and one that cures poisons.”
Jaikus thought about it and nodded. Though not as exciting as a levitating one, he could at least see the necessity of having such in their possession.
“Didn’t Lady Kate say that a good place to get them was at a shop called, Travel Scrolls?”
“That’s right, Jaik. The proprietor is a man named Olaf. Lady Kate indicated we could get scrolls from him on the cheap.”
“How cheap?”
Reneeke shrugged. “Not sure. A couple golds I think.”
“A couple?” Jaikus asked incredulously. “We won’t have anything left!”
“Better to have no coins than die for lack of a healing scroll.”
Thinking back on their journey through the Swamp and the resultant injuries suffered, Jaikus could see his point. Seward would have perished for sure had he been left without a healing potion.
“Are scrolls better than potions?”
Reneeke glanced to his friend. “You can’t spill a scroll.”
“True. But should you need only a little healing, you can’t use part of a scroll.”
Cocking his head to one side, Reneeke considers it for a moment, then nodded. “You got a point there, Jaik.”
“Charka had healing potions, not healing scrolls.”
Chuckling, Reneeke slapped his friend on the back. “Okay, you win. Let’s find a seller of potions and see what we can afford.”
After following directions supplied by a local, they stood before a narrow doorway. According to the local, this was the shop of a local potion maker, Master Xyr. They had been told Master Xyr’s potions were the least expensive in town.
Hanging next to the door from a tarnished copper chain was a dead plant in a cracked, black pot. It swayed to and fro as if gently touched by a passing breeze. The curious thing about it, there was no wind.
Stepping closer to the dead plant, Reneeke inspected the trio of stunted, shriveled stalks that draped lifelessly over the side. Each stalk held an identical pair of two leaves. One was black with a jagged edge, easily the size of a gold coin. The second leaf was smaller. It too was black but bore ribbons of green, as if life somehow retained a tenuous hold. Where the first’s edge was uneven, this one was smooth with a slightly curl at the tip.
“You ever see anything like this?”
Jaik rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Rene, I grew up on a farm. I’ve seen all kinds of dead plants in a variety of shapes and sizes.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
Curious, he reached tentatively toward the larger of the two leaves. He jerked his fingers back when the stalk whipped up and the large leaf made as if to grab his outstretched digits.
Stepping back, he turned a look full of surprise toward Jaikus. “Did you see that?”
“Yeah. What do you suppose it is?”
A gravely voice replied, “It is a Fly Catcher.”
They turned to find an odd little man standing in the now open doorway of the shop. Five foot six and dressed in dark red leathers, the man’s grey hair was combed over in an attempt to cover an all-too-obvious bald spot that began at the forehead and extended all the way to the rear of the scalp. In his left hand the man gripped a two-foot branch from an old oak; a single leaf of dark green extended from a small twig at the top.
“A Fly Catcher?”
The man nodded. “Hate the little buggers.” He then gestured toward the plant with the stick. “It eats them, you know.”
Reneeke returned his gaze to the plant and about that time, another of the stalks snapped upward. The larger of the two leaves deftly caught a flying insect. The leaf curled tightly around its captive as the stalk settled back to its former, limp position.
Turning back to the man, Reneeke began to say, “That’s pretty…” but the door was once again closed and the man, gone.
“Where’d he go?”
Jaikus shrugged. “Probably back inside.”
Eyeing his friend, Reneeke nodded then made for the door. He kept a good distance between himself and the plant. Though probably not fatal, it still might be wise to avoid coming into contact with that leaf.
Pushing open the door, his entrance was announced by a chorus of protesting hinges that sounded like cats being stripped of their skins. He paused only momentarily to wonder why the door hadn’t made such a noise when it had opened and closed for the man, before dismissing it as irrelevant and entering the shop.
The room proved to be little more than a hallway only slightly larger than the doorway itself. Six windows covered in grime allowed barely enough light through to illuminate the interior. Two candle holders, one at either end bore burning candle nubs.
A two-tiered shelf of cracked and splintered wood ran the length of the wall to their right. Less than a score of bottles of varying size and color were spaced haphazardly along the two shelves; no two were the same. Reneeke nearly had to walk sideways to keep from brushing against the lower shelf.
An unidentifiable odor filled the air. It held traces of earth and plants, but there was much more to it than that. Reneeke couldn’t decide if he liked it. Passing through the narrow hall-like room, he made for the far side. At the end sat a counter that affectively barred access to the rear of the establishment.
“Kind of a weird place, isn’t it?”
Reneeke glanced back to Jaikus and nodded. “You could say that.”
“Wonder where that man is?”
“Probably in the back.”
The counter was of average height and shorter than the span of Reneeke’s outstretched arms. A single black pot, similar to the one hanging by the front door sat upon the wooden surface beneath the lit candle. Glancing within revealed it to be empty.
Beyond the counter, the room faded into dark shadows, within which nothing appeared to move. The two lads reached the counter and came to a stop. Jaikus leaned over the counter but failed to discern anything beyond. The room could have extended another ten feet or fifty, there was no way to tell. Not even the candle burning overhead was able to pierce the darkness beyond.
“Hello.”
Jaikus jumped at Reneeke’s call.
Reneeke grinned at his friend. “Sorry.”
It was his turn to jump when a voice behind them replied, “No reason to be sorry.”
The same man as had been at the doorway stood before them now; oak branch and all.
“Where did you…?”
Reneeke held up his hand to forestall the rest Jaikus’ question. “Are you Master Xyr, of Xyr’s Potent Elixirs?”
“That I am, young sir. How may this humble potion maker be of service?”
“Do you have healing potions?” Jaikus blurted out.
“My friend and I are members of the Guild and are planning to tackle an Adventure up near Kittikin,” Reneeke explained. “We thought to procure a few potions as a precaution.”
“Very wise, young sir.” His gaze went from Reneeke, to Jaikus, then back to Reneeke and waited expectantly.
“How much are your healing potions?”
“Would you be interested in ones that heal minor wounds, or those that will repair more grievous injuries?”
“The grievous ones.” Jaikus replied.
“Three golds each.”
Reneeke glanced to Jaikus, they had less than seven golds. Two of those would leave them with very little in the way of coins.
“How about the lesser one?”
“My minor healing potions are but one gold piece.”
“That sounds better,” Reneeke said. “Do you have anything to cure poisons?”
“What kind of potion master would I be if I did not have something so basic?” He gave them a grin. “My basic cure-all covers most toxic animals as well as the lesser versions of those crafted by poisoners. Adventurers rarely have need of anything more potent.”
Jaikus nodded. “And how much are those?”
“A single gold piece, young master.”
“Could you give us a moment to decide?” Reneeke asked.
“Certainly. Let me know when you have made up your mind.”
Turning to Jaikus, Reneeke thought of something else to ask and turned back to Master Xyr only to find him no longer there.
“Where’d he go?” Glancing about the small room, he failed to locate t
he potion master.
“He sure gets around.”
Shaking his head, Reneeke chuckled. “Sure does. So, what should we get? We only have six golds and a few of the lesser.”
“I think one that cures poisons would be good to have.”
“Agreed. We could get one that heals grievous injuries, two of the lesser healings, and one that cures poison.”
“But that would take nearly all we have!”
“Not everything, Jaik. We’d still have eight silvers and ten coppers, and that should be sufficient until we depart with Master Tuppin.”
“What if he doesn’t take us on?”
“Then we’ll think of something else. But right now, we need to plan for the trip to Kith. Either with Master Tuppin or on our own, we may have need of these potions before we arrive.”
Jaikus liked the thought of possessing potions, he just didn’t care to spend all their coins to do it.
Reneeke looked at him questioningly. “Well? Shall we get them?”
Jaikus sighed and nodded.
“That will be six golds.”
Master Xyr’s voice, coming unexpectedly as it did startled the pair. They found him standing behind the counter, upon which were arrayed four small vials. Two held a bright red liquid, one a dark red, and the last a darkish brown.
Indicating the bright ones, he said, “These are the minor healing potions,” then moved his finger to the dark red, “major healing,” and finally the darkish brown, “a curative.”
Jaikus eyed them skeptically. “How do we know they do what he says they do?”
“Relax, Jaik. More than one person told us to get our potions here. If his elixirs weren’t good, they’d have known.”
Master Xyr favored them with a smile. “That is true, young sir. My elixirs are known far and wide for their potent quality. You’ll not find their equal,” he paused a moment before adding, “at such a cost.”
Jaikus didn’t look convinced.
Taking six golds from his coin purse, Reneeke laid them upon the table. “They will be fine, Master Xyr.”
“Excellent. Do come back when you are in further need.” Snatching up the coins, the potion master turned and took but a single step toward the back of the shop when the shadows appeared to deepen, and he was lost from sight.
“Gone again.”
Reneeke glanced to Jaik and shrugged. “You take the curative and a minor. I’ll hang onto the other minor and the major healing.” He picked up one of the two bright red potions, then the dark red major healing and set them within his pack. Jaikus followed suit with his two.
Leaving Xyr’s shop, the pair made their way to the inn where Master Tuppin’s guards had indicated he would be. The common room was empty so they took seats at a table off to one side. A serving girl soon came and took their order for a couple ales.
Reneeke passed her two coppers. Once the ales arrived, he took a long drink and settled back to wait for the arrival of the caravan master.
Chapter 3