"Go to Oldman Rest. Be there at the fifth hours of the evening. You will find a boy. He has what I want. He wants to get rid of it. He wants to sell it. He knows that it is valuable. Give him money, lots of money. Do not play with him. Give him so much that he consents right away. Then he will be silent and not tell anyone about it. Make sure no one suspects or looks at you suspiciously. Do not arouse suspicion either. Do not show your power. It has taken us many years to prepare you and teach you the skills it takes to successfully complete this endeavor. Leave this city immediatly once you are successful. We see a lot of ambiguities. The outcome of this day is not certain."
Tarentor read the order for the at least tenth time now. He had long black hair, a sharp face with unrest eyes. His nose was pointed and slightly hooked. His body was more of the tender kind. He wore used leather pants, brown riding boots and white shirt. Over the white shirt he had a brocate vest with blue velvet inserts. All this was covered by a long light grey woolen cape. He has seen twenty nine summers now. He hold an ebony walking stick with a golden knob, shaped like a raven head. Many of the imperial aristocrates actually used sticks like this one. Beside him stood a young man, about twenty two years old. He starred at the city, motionless. Tarentor took the piece of parchment carrying the order and gave it to the young man. "Eat it!" His follower took the paper slowly and put it into his mouth. Then he chewed it apathetic. Tarentor waited until he was finished. Then he move on to the city. Uhlheim was it´s name. He had never been there before. He worked at the southern harbors close to the dwarfen kingdom. It has been his duty to keep the second imperial high sea fleet in his eye. So he did. He had recognized that people at the border are more suspicious then those living in the center or the peacful areas of the empire. But Uhlheim was close to the desert. He heard there was a temple of Torqua, a house of the "order of Mahjagoth" and also an imperial garrison. He had to be quick and unsignificant. He had never been directly in contact with the guardians but he heard a lot of stories. Outside the empire they were called the true power that reigns the empire. His teacher and also the masters at the two schools he attended had told him, that he should avoid contact with them as good as possible. Their powers were unpredictable.
He went on with his quiet servant. When he came close to the gate he straightened up his body, checked his follower and then walked past the guards. When he did his first steps into the city he freezed for a moment. Guardians of Mahjagoth were inspecting farmers, traders and horse-drawn carriages. But only those who want to leave the city. A large crowd stood in line to leave the city. It was about the fourth hour and he had to hurry. The people here were leaving back into the villages and huts surrounding the city. He decisively walked with a normal speed further into the city to not get the attention of the guards. When he was some hundred meters from the city gates he exhaled with relief. That could have been a quick end of his mission.
From a dark shade at the city walls three women emerged. They looked around. No one had recognized them. They looked at each other, nodded and spread out. Katalina stepped back into the shadow and was gone. Lenesti laughed brightly and followed the street. She recalled the city. From the center of the city it would be the best position to detect the hiding place of the item father was looking for. She walked past 2 guys, dragging a cart, filled with large bags of wheat. She smiled and made some dancing steps pass them and flutet: "Hello handsome guys", and then seductivly looked over her shoulder in their direction. The younger of the two let drop the carts handle and turned to her with opened mouth. The wagon began to turnover by the heavy weight of the wheat and the older man pressed his body against it to keep it upwards, yelling: "Hey be careful!" Lenesti turned around laughing and walked on with swaying hips. She was so joyful to be in a normal town, with normal men. A young woman came up walking and she walked towards her with played surprised eyes and open mouth Lenesti said to her: "Oh dear you have so wonderful beautiful hair." She stood in front of the young woman who looked at her irritated. Softly Lenesti grabbed a strand of her long hair and smiled. "How do you wash them? They are so soft and gleaming." The young woman started to smile embarrased. "My Grandmother also had hairs like that.", Lenesti said, started to laugh and walked on. She followed the streets with more people and got closer to the center of the city. Men walking past her mustered her body and face and women whispered annoyed and dragged their men on forward. She arrived at a large place with tents and several large buildings which must be the granary and some trade center. Well here they were now. She felt nothing. Nothing that would attract her, seperate some well formed, handsome guards. She asked in her mind: "Father I am here. What are we looking for? I feel nothing." No answer. Annoyed she looked around. What should she do ? She walked to a small stone wall which seperates several market tents and sat upon it. "Father.", she asked with an impatient mind.
Torentor had asked around and got directed to the oldman´s rest inn. He walked from the large marketplace into the alley which lead to the inn. It doesn´t look very comfortable or noble from the outside, but he did not plan to stay here for long. He walked inside the guestroom. Several tables were occupied by people from the city. He also saw 2 far-traders in more expensive cloth on a table close to the windows. He walked to the table closest to the door and took seat. He did not need to wait long until a woman with an apron walked up to him smiling. "Good evening, Sir, are you hungry?" Torentor nodded and asked: "Do you have some deer meat?" The waitress shook her head regretful and then smiled again: "Sorry it is nothing left anymore. Maybe some beef ghoulash with potatoes can also satisfy your appetite." He looked at her breasts and said: "Definitly not, but I will not be hungry anymore." She laughed. "Ale or whine?" "An ale." "Coming immediately." Then she went off to another table and asked if she may bring something.
While Torentor was still looking at the waitress, the door opened again and a blonde dream of a lady entered the room. He was instantly fascinated and she walked 2 steps into the room, waiting. Many heads turned and then she smiled bright and said: "Hello everybody." She walked to the bar and all eyes followed her. Murmuring started and people around Torentor were whispering the question that was also in his mind: Who is this woman? Lenesti leaned a bit over the counter and asked: "Oh can I have a whine please? A red one, sweet if you have." The waitress rushed to her, smiling: "Of course my lady. We have a superb sweet red whine from the hills of Garnor." "Oh great. That is so great." She was talking too loud so that everyone could hear her. She leaned back against the chair and said: "Today was terrible, the trip was terrible, I tell you." The waitress cleaned a jug while she listened to her: "What happened? Did you have bad company?" Lenesti laid her hand on her breast: "I can tell. What is your name cuty?" The waitress grinned and said: "Marta. Nice to make your acquaintance." She waved her hand. Lenesti smiled: "My name is Lenesti" and blowed a kiss in Marta´s direction. Marta heared the creaking of the wooden stairs and saw the young boy coming down from the guest chambers. She shortly calculated if she had forgotten to woke him up, but it was not yet the fifth hour. She was glad that she needn´t to go up because she wanted to know more about this amazing Lenesti. Lenesti went on talking: "This trip was so boring. I traveled with two other women and one was only reading a parchment and sleeping. No she said she was ´contemplating´ when I woke her." She giggled and rolled her eyes. "And the other was even worse. She was cleaning her sword all the time, she polished it the whole trip. One side, then she turned it around and cleaned the other side and then" she laughed "she turned it around again and cleaned the blade again, can you believe that? The sword wasn´t even dirty when she started." Marta was also laughing: "Oh I feel so sorry, that must have been so boring."
Rovan came down the stairs, checked the guest room and walked to one of the empty tables. He was a little bit rested but still felt quite sleepy. But the guardians have ordered him to come to their house. Rovan thought that this would be the best chance to help his mother, Lenya and all his friends and acquaintances from Auenfries. He wanted to eat something and then leave to the guards. He also was very excited if the book would be talking to him again. Marta came up to him and asked: "Yet up again? You did not sleep long. There was still time." Rovan nodded and yawned. "Yes, I know, but I want to meet the guardians as soon as possible. Can you bring me something to eat? I am so hungry." Marta looked at him compassionate and stroke his head softly: "I will be back soon." Rovan looked thankfully at her and then laid his head on his hands on the table. He was really done. The last day had taken its tribute. He was not able to plan or think anymore, he just had his next step in his mind. Food and then meet the guardians. Then he heared someone beside him clear his throat. He looked up and saw a man in a light grey cape, expensive vest and boots. The man looked friendly at him and asked: "May I accompany you?" Rovan nodded: "I will not be much entertaining I am sorry. I am very tired." Torentor answered: "I see, well I think you might be interested in talking with me anyway?" Without wanting to be rude Rovan asked: "Why would I?"
"Well you know I am a fartrader. I travel the Empire from the Northmarches to the Sandmarches and sometimes even to Khal Grotah, the capital of the dwarven Kingdom."
"You have seen dwarves?", Rovan asked and his curiosity slightly awakend.
"Yes and also a school of Seaclons. You know, the people living in the ocean."
"Incredible! How do they look like?"
"Well, they have long fish tails and sapphire to emerald colored skin. They were friendly but did not talked to us. The just moved pass our ship. I think they have been also curious about us like we were about them." Tormentor smiled.
"I would like to have been with you and see them."
Torentor went on talking: "But the point of interest for you is, I buy and sell very rare and excellent items. I have rich customers, like the duke of the northmarches or the nephew of the Empress."
Rovan looked at him, puzzled.
Torentor pointed at Rovan´s belt. "I see that you wear a pouch of ancient velvet. It is very rare today. You must have inherited it from your grandparents. You are all alone here. I do not want to be curious but a boy at your age is only alone at an inn if something grave has happened. I thought that you might need money, and I am interested in buying your pouch." He leaned back smiling: "What do you say?" Rovan hesitated a moment. "It is not the pouch only.", he answered with very low voice. "It is what is inside of it." Torentor said: "Show me, maybe I can buy it too." Rovan was not sure and got distracted by the loud laughter of the extroverted blonde at the counter. In the meantime a flock of 5 man had surrounded her, and she was telling some story and also the waitress was listening. Obviously she had forgotten about his food. Rovan sighed. He was too tired to think a lot. He nodded, took the pouch from the belt and put it on the table. He then opened the pouch so that Torentor could look inside. Torentor leaned towards it to take a close look. A black sapphire! This has to be the item he was looking for. He was sure. He looked at the boy: "By the Seven! What a wonderful stone." Rovan looked at him suspicous, ready to pull the pouch back. "Don´t worry boy." Torentor leaned back. "You have something very, very precious, and today really is your lucky day. It must be fate that we met, because you need the money, and I can provide it." Torentor pulled out a pouch too and gave it to Rovan. Rovan opened the pouch and could not believe his eyes. It was filled with grand Maros. Each of it was worth twenty five gold. He counted them quickly. Twenty of them. That was a fortune! A noble horse-drawn carriage might cost 500 gold. Torentor said: "Yes I know it is not much for such a stone, alas I don´t have more gold with me, but I have something even better for people like the two of us." With a conspicious smile he took out a parchement and unrolled it. Some text was written upon it and down below a number was signed. 2500 gold. Beside the number was a waxen seal with the sign of the empress. "Do you know what it is?" Rovan shook his head. "Well that is called a ´exchange´. The empress has offices in each major city. I have a crate at the empress. There are 2500 gold stored. This parchment says that the one who owns it with the seal of the empress and my sign", he points at a signature," is eligible to get 2500 gold from the empress office. If you give me the black sapphire and this beautiful pouch, I sign this parchment and you can go to the empress office at any time and ask for the 2500 gold. You can also ask for just 100 gold. Then you will receive a new parchment with your name upon it and the diffrence of 2400 gold." Rovan looked at him with wide opened eyes and open mouth. He whispered:" You will give me the grand Maros and the parchement for the pouch with the jewel?" "Yes, there is just one condition." "What condition?" "You do not tell anyone about the black sapphire. You know it will mean great danger for me if you tell anyone. I travel alone and if anyone would know which precious stone I am carrying I will get robbed or even murdered." Rovan nodded energetically: "Of course, I understand. You are so great to me. I will not bring danger upon you." Torentor smiled at him and presented his hand: "Deal?" Rovan took his hand: "Deal!" Torentor gave Rovan the pouch full of gold and the exchange and Rovan gave Torentor the pouch with the black sapphire. Both of them smiled at each other very content. Torentor then stood up from his chair: "It was a pleasure to meet you, young man. May the seven be with you." Rovan shook his hand: "Travel well dear far-trader, may Torqua watch over all your steps." Then Rovan smiled somehow stupid at the pouch and the parchment. Then he immediatly understood how rich he was right now and which great danger it brings for him. He grabbed the pouch of grand Maros and put it into the bag at his belt. Then he rolled up the parchment and put it under his shirt.