The cat-eared man was standing over Aaralon now, poised to strike at the vulnerable student. Fingertips glowing, his hands had begun to trace intricate glyphs in the air. Aaralon was certain that he wasn't interested in learning the nature of the spell that Memp was about to cast. He knew there wasn't a breath to be wasted.
"Certainly the safety of the students and the return of the princesses are my priority," he blurted out, "but I was thinking that there just might be one more service that I can offer."
The hands stopped in midair, and the instructor's slitted eyes lay on him like they might on a mouse that had just executed an impressive acrobatic trick. Aaralon thought he might have seen the man's claws retract slightly.
"I understand that you may have an interest in the collection of any magical components that would be happened upon en-route," Aaralon said, knowing that the instructor would take the hint.
Because the vein of metil had been long since been mined out, red lichen, he knew, was the only component with magical properties to be found in the mine.
Memp's hands lowered to his sides. The slitted eyes disappeared under furred lids and the massive grin vanished. Aaralon took the respite in the instructor's advance to regain his feet. He'd nearly inched his way around to the door when Memp finished contemplating Aaralon's offer.
"Your proposal is a curious one," Memp said at last, "But I would set an additional condition for this bargain." |