A large, heavily cloaked figure approaches the Mont and ascends with ease. At the top he waits outside a small shack. After a few moments a young man appears. He appears to be terribly bored by whatever job he’s doing, and sullenly approaches the large figure. The figure hands the boy a sealed parchment scroll, and points towards the manor house at the very top of the mount. The boy runs off toward the house while the figure waits. At one point the man steps over a well marked line and as he crosses the line appears to swoon. He quickly moves back to the other side and waits.
A few diameters later the boy returns, along with man looking about 45.
The cloaked figure watches the two approach, and when they are close he says to the elderly man, “Apollodorus, I have arrived. Do you have the fee?” The young man goes back into the shack while the two men conduct whatever business it is they have with each other.
“I do indeed,“ Apollodorus responds. “Half now, and half on completion, as we agreed?” The cloaked man nods in response. “Good, let us retire to the manor house, and I’ll have my man show you to your quarters while you stay with me. When you’re settled, I’ll show you to the lab I’ve prepared for you and we can go over the plans I’ve sketched.”
“There’s no need, send the plans to me, and I’ll begin immediately. Your precision precedes you, and if I have any questions I will send for you. I’ll begin creating the ritual for the structures.” The man holds out his hand, as if waiting for something.
“I invite you into my Aegis,” Apollodorus intones softly while reaching into a purse and pulling out a coin and handing it to the cloaked figure.
The cloaked figure takes the token and says to Apollodorus, “Thank you. For casting it yourself, your Aegis is most imress-”
“I don’t wish to discuss it. You know my history, we’ve struck our bargain, and that subject is off limits. You are a friend of Andru’s, and come highly recommended to me for the task I need. Do not test my patience, lest you find the Aegis the least of your worries.” Apollodorus turns and begins walking to the manor house, and the cloaked figure follows him a step behind and to the right. “Since you broke a rule I know for certain Andru told you about, the nature of our transaction is changing, and I’m sure he told you that it would if you mentioned the subject. I was content to let you retain the lab text. You will now leave the text with me, or forfeit the fee and earn my enmity.”