Chapter 17 - Part 1

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN – ASSEMBLING
The 12th of Sypheros, 993 Y.K., mid-morning, House Kundarak’s offices in Greenheart

“Sign here,” the dwarf said, stroking the gemstones arrayed carefully in his manicured beard. “And here. And then there. And put your palm in the ink and place it there at the bottom, one clean impression.”

“Kundarak loves making things complicated,” Delegado muttered, following the instructions. Feather shifted his weight on the half-orc’s shoulders as Delegado did the palm print.

“All locks are complicated,” the dwarf said, admiring the puffy lace coming out of his sleeves. It was silk. “And locks keep things safe. And this is quite a lot of money you are asking us to back up. The House of Warding takes things seriously.”

“And charges a f’testing high service fee,” Delegado grumbled.

“The profanity is f’tesk,” the dwarf told him. “Not f’test.” The dwarf paused to brush an invisible bit of dust from his polished mahogany desk.

“No, it’s f’test,” Delegado insisted. “You’re using the human pronunciation which is incorrect. It’s an orcish word.”

“It’s a dwarven word,” the dwarf insisted, adjusting the gold links to his bejeweled amulet.

“Keeper’s bony arse it is,” Delegado said, takng a damp towel and wiping his palm.

“Very good,” the dwarf said, handing Delegado a bunch of receipts. “Write down the number carefully and report to me before you go. Anyone bearing these has until sundown to come to me for verification, no later.”

“I know the drill,” Delegado said. He turned to his companions. “Okay people, let’s go shopping.”

“That was a large number,” Thomas said wonderingly. Two Wardens of the Wood flanked the half-daelkyr. Their sole purpose seemed to be keeping people away from the man. They looked bored. Word had gotten around that Oalian had spoken to Thomas, and no one bothered him anymore.

“Years of back pay and commissions,” Delegado explained, opening the door into the morning sunshine as they followed him. “I’ve never really done anything with the money, now’s a good use for it.”

“What are we doing again?” Orphan asked.

“Buying every potion, scroll, and alchemical device in Greenheart that isn’t nailed down,” Delegado said. “Oils that temporarily make weapons good or magical, potions that give us bursts of strength and magical force shields, scrolls that Thomas can use, all that stuff.”

“So you plan to visit the Cannith agent,” Orphan said.

Delegado caught that. “Um, yeah, why don’t you, uh…”

“I’d like to talk to some of the druids from that sect that has a philosophy like the Balanced Palm,” Orphan said.

“Yeah, that’s good,” Delegado told him. “See you at noon in the town square.”