That had been about one and a half weeks, five hangovers and three nights of sensory overload ago. Sure, ships were sailing there – about every three to four weeks. With them just having missed one, meaning they would have to wait another one by now. At least, so Nic thought, there had been no disaster happening up until now, he prayed it would stay that way.
Thankfully there was still much to see, though he was regularly out and about solely in company of Kwez. If he did see Gertie it was either on early evenings or shortly past daybreak. With her being on the way to bed, most of the time. She had some things to check, she had said. As he could very well guess the what he ignored it for his sanity. And plausible deniability. So, making sure to be seen to together as little as possible was for his own peace of mind as well.
The different levels were fascinating, especially that one in the second had been of interest to him. Nic had found all kinds of spices and obscure ingredients that he could use for a good number, if not all, that had been mentioned in the book. And for astonishingly good prices as well19. Though the upper levels were also nothing to sneeze at. Clothing in exotics cuts and patterns, good regional food, art and the many fountains with their features were something else.
Much of his time was spent studying the book. It was written in old writing of a language he was anything but familiar with. For that alone Kou would be an important stop, many languages had been explored and documented there, many of them long since fallen out of use, not only from the continent but from far away regions as well.
Funnily enough he had found one book around here on the language, at least the signs were rather similar, so he could identify the stuff and string most things haphazardly together, but still.
Many of the rituals were out of reach for the time being, as too much was up in the air and Nic had only rough ideas what their purpose or their price was. Plus, well, one thing the druid had drilled into his head back home was that you do not do a ritual you know too little about.
And Kwez cajoling would no be changing his stance on that, come hell or high water.
"But master, it is simple enough! Besides," the animal explained excitedly, tail waving about – wait, was it one or two? – and happily continuing, "the thief would sure be happy with this thing!"
What was another reason for his continuous headaches lasting now into the third day. Yes, Kwez had been harping about it that long and just kept doing so. And brought it up with about every conversation. Every. Single. Damned. Time.
The ritual itself was simple, that much Kwez was right about. And the creature you called upon didn't seem all that harmful either. The evocation called upon a small, spectral dog, conjuring essentially, if he understood that right, that is, a puppy. That could make itself invisible and could move about without a sound. Even the ingredients were nothing special, spices and herbs that you could find in any run of the mill kitchen. Regarding this country, at least. Seriously, you could buy them around the corner, about every merchant had them. Then a candle, a small bowl, a drop of blood from the evoker himself and another one for the person who was supposed to be the master of the thing. So, meaning a drop of Gertie's blood and done.
Why Kwez was so eager that he got it done was suspicious though. However he looked at it, there was no reason for it. Let alone a good one or why this exactly.
"And I should do it, because...?"
"Well, obviously the thief will quiet down and you will have fulfilled your obligation of course! And there is nothing that could go wrong here!" metallic screeching exclaimed as if it was that easy. Nodding his head enthusiastically.
Which brought him right back to where he had started. Sure, on the first look it did seem rather tame and even benign, sure. But that was the point, he couldn't make sure. Heck, he didn't even understand half of what was written about it besides that and well, Kwez was not exactly trustworthy in that regard. He still had the bird's screeching in his ears whenever he thought of the thing and he really was worried what could happen if Kwez decided to intervene with this one, again.
In the end he gave in after having had to suffer the harping on both sides and just got it over with two days before they would be setting sail. Why though? To be honest, one of them he could ignore, but both ganging up on him? Nope, his nerves weren't made for that. And they were coordinating with each other on top of it!
No sooner said than done – it was time. He had gotten ready, herbs and his blood were mixed and concentratedly he murmured the short incantation. Taking the lit candle he set the mixture on fire, dark, strangely colored smoke rose up from it. In the background a slight whirring could be heard.
Srrrrr.
With a small dagger and a quick prick another was added from Gertie herself. A soft pling could be heard.
Suddenly all the lights went out, every sound vanishing. Then, softly, just on the verge of being still audible, whining could be heard. Something was poking Gerties still raised hand.
"You have to give him a name," Kwez patiently whispered, oddly in contrast with his usual behavior.
"Archie," she finally mumbled, voice equally soft.
Happy barking brought the light back. And made something viewable that seemingly was made up of hair. A lot of hair, like a collie, just a bit bigger than a rat in size and except the nose poking up and sniffing around it did look like a fluffy ball of fur moving around. It may have been waging its tail, it was a bit hard to tell with all that fluffy fur.
Nic blinked, staring at Gertie in slight disbelief. "Seriously? Archie?"
"Fits'ith Gertie, righ'?" was the closing statement to it all.