Advent Of Darkness. Gary Caplan

"May I be of assistance, sir?"

      "Yes," said Gideon. "I need some new clothes."

      The elf smiled and said, "Ah, well now, you've come to the right place then. Hmmm? I think I've got just the thing for you. Come with me." With that, he walked over to the counter.

      The group of little folk was still there, clamoring at the glass and its contents. The tailor shooed them off, saying something in a scolding tone. The little ones seemed to ignore this but moved to another section of the shop anyway.

      The tailor then returned and remarked in a mildly angered tone, "Those little Bandar are constantly poking and prying into things. It's a wonder they didn't break the glass. All they do is window-shop, you know?"

      "Really?" replied Gideon politely even though he had no idea what a Bandar was.

      By this time, the tailor had removed an exquisite white shirt. The shirt had two rows of small gold buttons down the front.

      "Here we are, sir, the latest in fashion from Trell Brex," stated the tailor with a great deal of zest.

      "Looks nice," said Gideon. "How much is it?"

      "A mere five silver sovereigns," said the tailor. "A real bargain, I might add, considering the shipping and fabric used."

      Gideon realized he was carrying a heavy coin purse, more of a bag really. He glanced at Laurelin to determine if the price was fair. She nodded subtly.

      "Okay. I'll buy it," said Gideon. "Also, I'd like that tan doublet and shirt in the window display and two of those trousers over there." Gideon pointed out what he liked.

      "Fine, I'll need to get your measurements. Would you follow me please?"

      Laurelin waited patiently.

      The tailor led Gideon into a small alcove where he measured Gideon for the appropriate lengths and widths. The first measurement was done manually by the tailor; then the mobile measuring tape seemed to continue by itself. The tailor motioned with his hand and hummed a word, and a wood board with paper materialized, on which the elven tailor wrote down Gideon's measurements. When he was finished, he told Gideon to come back in about an hour, to which he agreed.

      Laurelin said, "I'm still looking at some clothes myself. We should be ready to leave in a few moments. I have made most of my selections."

      Gideon began looking through the coin purse; it seemed to be capable of holding more than it should. He saw what appeared to be silver, gold, and some other type of metal coins. Each had engraved or stamped numbers and symbols. Some had small portraits of what appeared to be elven and other people's nobles.

      "Laurelin," said Gideon reluctantly, "I'm not that sure about the money in these lands. Um, how much is five silver sovereigns?"

      Laurelin seemed slightly disturbed by this. Gently taking his money purse, she withdrew five silver coins.

      "Here, this is all you'll need for the shirt. The doublet and trousers will be a bit more. You need to be prepared to spend two or three gold sovereigns."

      Then she withdrew three golden coins with small portraits on them. One even had Gilthondral Garenthal's image etched on it along with some rune marks.

      "I'm sorry, Laurelin," said Gideon. "Did I do something to upset you? Are you angry with me?"

      "No, I am not angry, Finelen. I'm only confused."

      Gideon looked at her and waited for more.

      "You are sometimes difficult to understand," she continued in a hushed voice. "You say you are from Calendor, yet you know nothing of the latest fashions. You say that you are from a nearby province, yet this money confuses you. Even your name, John Gideon, is strange. It does not seem to be from Calendor. You appear to be intelligent, yet you seem to know nothing of our world. You are different, John Gideon Finelen. Where do you come from? Where did Ragan find you?"

      "Ragan first picked me up, I guess," said Gideon as softly and honestly as he could. "I'm not from here. I am from another world. A world called Earth."

      "Earth?" repeated the elf. "Hmm, I have studied the concept of other worlds as discussed in the classes I attended at the university. I have even met other people from the world of Saltheryn, as well as a few other key worlds with whom my people and the Eldren have traded. However, it is difficult to believe that Ragan the Red would have chosen you as a companion. I believe you, but I wish you had told me this earlier. I like you, but I was beginning to think something was wrong with you."

      "Listen, Laurelin. Ragan requested that I keep my arrival here a secret, and my people are not planning an invasion. You must pledge never to reveal my secret to anyone. Ragan believed that I should keep a low profile."

      "Hmm. Well, the Tauri are more than great teachers. They are said to keep their numbers around a thousand and travel across the world teaching. They have impressive powers and, in truth, are from Errada. For one such as Ragan to keep you as his companion or ward is notable. Your secret is safe with me, Finelen. I am a knight of the Order of the Horn," said Laurelin proudly. "You have my oath of honor on it."

      Laurelin went over to one of the tailors and spoke privately to him. Within moments, she came back to Gideon, who was attempting to count his other coins.

      "It will take the rest of the afternoon to complete my clothing tailoring, so I will pick them up later today," said Laurelin. "Come; we can leave now."

      As Gideon walked out of the shop, he noticed a shadow on the ground. He looked up and saw a flying ship in the shape of a swan coming in low, getting ready for a landing nearby. "Is there a port here for those flying ships?"

      "Yes," said Laurelin. "There is a landing zone about ten blocks away. There are sky docks for the larger ships, and some have personal craft moorings at their homes. I believe you are still having some problems with our money." Then she motioned Gideon toward a footwear shop and stopped just before a display window.

      "Now, let's count the money in this holding pouch," she said.

      Gideon gave the pouch to her, and she began to look through it, drawing out a handful of different-colored coins. She then drew a few out looking at each type in turn.

      "Was Ragan holding this money for you? The pouch has Tauri symbols on it and is enchanted for greater holding capacity."

      "Ragan gave it to me earlier," replied Gideon.

      Laurelin nodded in understanding.

      "This is a branil sovereign," said Laurelin.

      Gideon looked down at the circular-shaped coin that reminded him of the larger coins on Earth, but this metal was a grayish color.

      "This is currently worth five hundred gold sovereigns. It is marked with the likeness of King Eladain of Lindorien. See, there are other types of metal coinage, each with its own value in gold or other metal."

      As he listened, Gideon noticed upon closer inspection that there were letters on the coins, probably to tell their value, and all looked finely minted.

      "This is a gold sovereign; this is currently valued at ten silver sovereigns. This one bares the likeness of Talmor, the Corthondral of Andrim. Here is a silver sovereign; this is currently valued at forty copper sovereigns. This one bears the likeness of Nog Guthor of the Malloren Forest. Finally, we have the copper sovereign that is the most common of coinage, and every year, a new mintage is pressed. This issue bears the likeness of Mialbane of Vesperwood Forest."

      Then from the purse came a dull gray bar. Gideon recognized it as platinum.

      "This has a weight of metal, which is currently worth five gold sovereigns at the present value. It shares a somewhat similar color with branil, but of course, its value is far less. There are also platinum sovereigns that come in the form of circular coins, worth two gold sovereigns. This smaller branil bar is valued at four branil sovereigns or two thousand gold sovereigns.

      "Branil," continued Laurelin, "is a metal used in the manufacturing of many of the most powerfully enchanted weapons and armors used