Eiyuu Kishi Den

Bastion had fallen into step behind and on Halker's left, the need for directions overcoming his distaste for the man. "So where exactly are we going?" he asked.

Without turning his head or slowing his stride, Halker responded. "Azune Storages, down at the water. The Master keeps most of his trades off the books and away from the warehouses, but that's where the stuff you want is."

Bastion nodded, eager to get his hands on the merchandise even as he thought about his new friend. He hoped Granite hadn't been too horribly offended by Halker's behavior. Bastion resolved to make it up to her next time they met. In the meantime, he felt his excitement coming back as he and his guide made their way towards the Raiden docks.

Jenesis continued to follow, looking as casual as possible while she did. She wasn't sure if she was doing the right thing but if it would set the dwarf mind at ease it was worth it. Nothing unusual or bad seems to be going down so maybe this would all end well and the dwarf could go on her way. Or something terrible will happen, she thought. She pushed the thoughts out of her head instantly. It was not a good idea to have such thoughts.

Granite followed along behind the priestess, her white robes marking her out of the crowd like a beacon. At Granite's distance, Bastion and Halker probably couldn't see her, but she just hoped they hadn't noticed the priestess tagging along behind them from the market to the docks...

The path to the docks from the market was long but straightforward. The only part that Bastion found slightly confusing was when he and his guide reached Azune Storages, marked with a sad eyed blue crescent moon above its main door, Halker led him around the building to a low grey wall that incircled the rear of the warehouse. The place was thick with crates, in many cases forming makeshift stairways over the wall and into the small flagstone yard beyond. Halker led Bastion through the wooden gate, exchanging brief nods with the spare, red haired man who loitered within the yard, presumably a doorguard.

"Here we are." Halker said, turning to face Bastion. "Feel free to take a seat, I'll go let the Master know you're here."

Bastion cocked a eye at the scarred man. "So Master Rayston calls me down to his warehouse and then makes me wait outside? Have I told you yet that this whole thing seems like a odd way to do business to me?"

Halker made a sour face. "The master's very particular about who he lets in. Some crooks'd give a lot to go over what's in there. If you don't like the way he does it..." Halker gestured towards the gate.

Bastion glared at the man, but made his way to a low stack of crates against the wall and sat down. Halker smiled mock-friendly and went inside. The red haired man went back to staring at the sky, leaving Bastion to take a deep breath, center his thoughts, and prepare for the deal.

Jenesis came to a stop right outside the warehouse. She was realized that she hasn't been looked at or suspected of following as she turned her head to Granite waiting for the dwarf to catch up.

Granite followed along at a distance until Jenesis stopped in front of a warehouse. The dwarf approached slowly and glanced up at the sign hanging over it. It wasn't a company she was familiar with, but she didn't deal with many other businesses. "Did he go inside?" Granite asked the priestess.

Jenesis shook her head. "No he went around to the back." She was getting a bad feeling, like one of those gut feeling. It was probably a gut feeling that led Granite to asking for her help in this situation to begin with.

Granite nodded to Jenesis. "I'll go see if I can keep an eye or an ear on him," she replied. "Thanks for your help." With that, Granite wandered around the side of the building and snuck up alongside the building. Dwarves were not the best stalkers, but she managed. Granite crouched down as she neared the corner of the building, then crawled behind stone fence, hoping to be able to overhear any trouble.

Jenesis turned about ready to walk off but something inside was stopping her. She didn't feel right leaving the dwarf all alone now, what if something happened after she left? Would she be able to defend herself alone if it did? She wasn't trying to underestimate the dwarf’s strength as she was sure Granite could hold her own but she still didn't feel right leaving her just yet. Quietly, she walked over to Granite, crawling up behind her. "Are you sure there isn't anything else I can aid with?" she asked in a low whisper.

Granite smiled slightly at Jenesis. "I might still need you yet," she replied in a whisper. "Can you heal?"

Bastion drummed his hands on his lap, patience thinning. A calm mind was hard to hang on to, the longer you had to maintain it. This is probably planned out. Bastion thought grimly. If you wanted to put a buyer off his game, making him wait was always a canny ploy.

Bastion sighed and drew his legs up, settling crosslegged on his crate. The young mage nodded to the red haired man, who hadn't left off staring at the sky. "So what your name, Friend?"

The man jumped, spinning around to gaze at Bastion as if he'd forgotten the mage was there. He blinked, then pointed at himself. "You mean me?"

Bastion resisted the urge to glance around for someone else. "Yes, you. Surely you have one."

The other man shrugged. "Gandre." he answered in a vague tone, going back to his skygazing.

Bastion rolled his eyes and settled back. Clearly this was going to be a even longer wait then he feared.

Granite Stoneheart wrote:Granite smiled slightly at Jenesis. "I might still need you yet," she replied in a whisper. "Can you heal?"

Jenesis nodded. "Yes I can heal," she replied back in a whisper, "Do you require healing?"

"No, but he might..." Granite whispered, glancing back toward the wall. She could overhear some small talk, and it sounded like there would be quite a wait. The dwarf sighed and slumped against the wall. Hopefully there wouldn't be any problems, maybe she was just too cynical and distrusting as a Raiden citizen. No, that can't be it. There was something off about that man, I can't let my doubts get ahold of me. I must be alert, she told herself.

OOC: Go ahead and move us forward Bundesphar!

Bastion was glaring at the warehouse door when suddenly it popped open. The young mage quickly assumed a more friendly expression as Halker returned with another man, big and heavyset, with a bundle under his right arm. "Bastion Ulbrecht?" the big man asked, his voice cultured and suprisingly soft for his size. "Sorry for the wait. Wade Rayston, at you service." the man smiled and extended his hand.

Bastion eyed him as he hopped of his crate. The voice seemed right, but the size of the man, which Bastion sermized from his movements came more from muscle then fat, looked more like that of a dockworker then academic. Still, first impressions weren't everything. Why shouldn't a big man have a big brain? With this thought, Bastion smiled his most winning smile and shook the offered hand. "My honor, Master Rayston. Any wait for knowledge, though never short or easy, is worthwhile."

Unseen to Bastion, the man Gandre left his position and sidled to the yard's gate. Carefully, the redhaired man eased the gate soundlessly shut, before turning back towards the proceedings.

After the handshake, Master Rayston gave Bastion a knowing look. "Ah yes, knowledge arcane is what you seek, correct? Well you're in luck." the big man shifted the bundle, holding it gently in both hands before him. "These just arrived from a partner of mine. Scrolls, taking from a ruin in the Storm and Fire Desert. They haven't even been translated yet, but..." he paused for dramatic effect. "...they have the mark of the Art."

Bastion stared longingly at the simple cloth parcel. Arcane scrolls! Almost certainly dating back to Kastuul! He wasn't sure he had the coin left for such a treasure, considering the price Rayston could asked for something so valueable. Perhaps he could haggle, or even use his family name to get Rayston to wait until he had more funds. His parents would understand the cost. They knew, or thought they knew, his devotion to his art. "Well, you certainly have my attention." he said, struggling to keep his voice calm. "Untranslated, you say? I have some knowledge of older alphabets. Maybe I could help..."

A soft breath from behind wasn't nearly enough warning for Bastion to get clear. Something thin and hard struck him solidly in the back of the head, sending him to the cobblestones in a state of half awareness.

Halker shook his head. "I told you he was simple."

"And so he was." the big man nodded. "Still, he's good breeding. Rayston should fetch a hefty sum for him. After we take our share, naturally."

Weilding the stick that had brought the mage down, Gandre merely smiled.