small parks on the way to their destination. Some of the houses and inns had large gardens that gave the entire city a rural feel. No trash littered the streets; Mindon was a clean city. There were flowers everywhere, some in decorative planted areas and others in natural flowerbeds. Gideon noticed some more of the skyships coming in to land a few blocks away. The road they walked on was the gray stone type of road that he had ridden across earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, as Gideon completed his purchases, Ragan trotted along another road toward the central plaza. That plaza was the major place where the adepts of the arcane arts and the natural sciences had academies, held classes, or kept shops. Ragan stopped his horse in front of a large grandiose building. It was the main guild building of the Alchemists' Guild of Mindon. He got down from his horse and tethered it to a nearby crystal glow lamp pole, and then he proceeded into the building where he was met by a senior apprentice. "I am Archmaster Ragan of the Red Lodge. I seek Balminewe, the master alchemist. Is he here?" asked Ragan.
"No, Archmaster, he is at his home in the south quarter and probably will not return until tomorrow for the lecture," said the apprentice. Evidently, Balminewe was actively teaching at this university guild building since he held lectures and probably laboratory demonstrations.
"And just where is his home?" asked Ragan, for he was in a hurry.
"It is on Linth Street by the west corner, Archmaster Ragan," replied the apprentice, bowing respectfully.
"Thank you," said Ragan, and he left the guild building and proceeded to Linth Street. After about twenty minutes, he approached the abode of Master Balminewe. The house was quite elegant, two stories tall with a veranda, double doors, and a trimmed garden area. Carved in runes above the door was the owner's name. The entire structure was composed mostly of white marble and wood. Ragan tethered his horse on the banister and asked it to remain quiet. Then he went to the door and knocked.
An elven female answered.
"May I help you?" she asked.
"I am Archmaster Ragan of the Red Lodge, and I would like to speak with Master Balminewe, please."
"Come in," said the elf woman. She smiled, apparently recognizing his name. She then led him to an elegant room designed in the old style, with many interior plants and a few tapestries.
"I will find my husband. Please make yourself comfortable. We were working on a project," she said and then left the room.
Ragan sat in a padded wooden chair and waited. Shortly after, a male elf of moderate height and healthy build entered the room. He had green eyes and a white central wave in his dark-brown hair. Ragan rose as he entered. "I am Balminewe, senior master of the Alchemists' Guild. How may I help you, Lord Tauri Ragan?" asked the elf.
"You were recommended to me by Gilthondral Garenthal Caylendril as one of few in Mindon who could discreetly prepare the elixir called amnoxillin," said Ragan.
"You personally do not need the elixir, so I must assume that it is for a being from outside our world. Is he a traveler from the Caverns of Tarthos perhaps?'"
"If you must know, it is for someone from another world of this omniverse. You will probably have to examine him."
"Yes, very interesting. I will require a blood sample and an intestinal fluid sample in order to prepare the most efficient elixir for him," said Balminewe. "I will also require adequate time to gather the necessary components and ingredients."
"I understand, however, with all I must accomplish, time is of the essence, or I would undertake the task myself," stated Ragan. "Will it be ready in at least two days?"
"All that I can tell you is that I will try to prepare the elixir in that time," stated Balminewe calmly. "I will gather the necessary ingredients this evening and tomorrow. If you could bring him here some time tomorrow afternoon, I can examine him and take the proper samples."
Ragan gave Balminewe a bar of branil worth five hundred gold sovereigns and said, "This should cover the costs."
"Fine," said Balminewe respectfully. "I will begin preparations now."
Ragan and Balminewe bowed to each other respectfully as masters often did, and then Balminewe walked Ragan to the door. Ragan's task was almost completed, and he felt relieved. He then decided to pay a visit to the wizards of the Blue Lodge and his own lodge before he left the city. He would visit the Blue Lodge today, leaving his own for tomorrow. Besides, he had a few informants and friends in this city, and perhaps, if they were there and not too busy, he could covertly gather some additional information on the movements of the Dark One's forces.
While on his way to the Blue Lodge chapter house in Mindon, Ragan thought back to when Vasha had intercepted him. Being under orders of restriction from Lord Nimmeral, grand master of the White Lodge as well as the most senior among the Tauri, Ragan was instructed not reveal his true power to Gideon, lest he frighten him or give him reason to think getting back to Kara, his foster world, would be more easily accomplished. In time, Grand Master Nimmeral indicated that he could respond with his usual power and ability commensurate with his status as an Erradan. Vasha had always been a threat, but Ragan knew he could restore himself from her actions if necessary.
If not under such restrictions, Ragan knew that in the battle with Vasha, it would not have seemed to an observer that he was having problems spellcasting against a Valharri and dealing with Charachau. However; thought Ragan, one realizes that by restricting my abilities, I saw that John Gideon was able to draw forth an inner spirit and challenge a deadly foe even if my own pride was strained somewhat. With this in mind, he started his horse off toward the central plaza. He would arrange to have his horse fed as he sensed her growing interest in food. He thought to himself as he rode down the street from Balminewe's house that he would have to create a transfer portal to teleport to one of his informants rather than pass below the city streets using the underground passages, as that would be too time-consuming right now.
Gideon and Laurelin walked up the stairs to the main gate of one of the large recreational buildings. Advertisements in various languages peppered the display window board. Gideon read one that stated:
Water Skelt Championship
NERIADS vs. SIRENS
This afternoon: 1500
Be There and Get Soaked!
Several others displayed tournament announcements between other civic groups and regional recreational facilities. Gideon saw many people in this huge facility; it seemed the citizens of Mindon were quite physically active. Before they arrived at this particular recreational facility, Gideon and Laurelin passed two public library facilities with a lot of foot traffic across the entrances.
The pair then passed through the doors to the one of the inner lobbies of the huge recreation facility. "What's water skelt?" asked Gideon.
"It is a game played by many races," said Laurelin, and she smiled. "It involves swimming in a pool of water and trying to place a small spherical object into your opponents' holding net. It is a team sport and can be tiring, but it is exhilarating. I should know. I've been on a champion-level team from Eamondir for the past fifty years."
"Wow," replied Gideon. "Wait…did you say fifty years? Just how old are you?"
"Old enough to know that a gentleman should not ask that question," answered Laurelin with a warm smile, "nor a lady answer it."
She then showed Gideon
