Advent Of Darkness. Gary Caplan

for a little while was the best thing he could do. He knew that there were certain individuals who were very interested in knowing his whereabouts and with whom he kept company. These people could be dangerous, both to Gideon and his mission. He knew he would eventually have to leave Gideon when he had learned enough to protect himself. He liked the boy and would miss him when that time came. However, Gideon needed to make new friends and allies, those who would help him in the days and years to come.

      "Why am I taking John to the Pool of Tetherin?" asked Glade. "He looks well enough to me. Is he sick?"

      "Yes, why is he taking me? I thought you were going to do it," said Gideon. He felt as if a lifeline had just been cut and he was drifting. He began to feel he was being stranded.

      "Easy, my young friend, I am not abandoning you. I may yet be going as well. At the very least, I will meet you there. I must attend to some Tauri duties and Red Lodge business. We have a few things to do tomorrow, and you will have to be ready to leave Mindon the next morning." Ragan looked to Master Gilding and said, "Glade, I hope you can manage the necessary arrangements for the long journey."

      "Well, I suppose I could," hedged Glade.

      "Come along, Glade. You know the roads to Tetherin as well as I do, if not better, since you've been into that region more recently. Of course, I want Gideon safely delivered there. If anyone can accomplish that, you can."

      "It has been over a year since I've been that far into Urzan, but if Lord Talmor has granted approval for this, then I will go," stated Glade.

      "Excellent! It's settled then," stated Ragan.

      Glade tried to think of something else to say, to clear himself of this task as he did have some personal things to finish, but Cordlyer cut in by saying, "Perhaps, I could join Master Gilding and Master Gideon after I attend to my duties with the Order of the Platinum Griffon. My father is interested in some of the western activity reports from our order and has requested that I visit our installations in Urzan. As you are aware, the Order of the Platinum Griffon has many facilities, including those in Temelian, Tetherin, and Noordlinden. Another reason is Tetherin is near some of the more populous Dwarro lands, and it would be a good idea to visit one of the dwarven cities and discuss military proposals with some of their lords as a representative of the Order of the Platinum Griffon."

      "Yes. That is a marvelous idea," remarked Ragan enthusiastically. "Well, now that is done, it's time for Master Gideon to get some rest. He and I have an appointment tomorrow. Earlier, I arranged for rooms, and by now, they are all prepared. You may pick up your room keys at the front desk so you may turn in whenever you wish. Good night." And with that, the wizard excused himself and left for his sleeping chamber.

      Gideon was feeling tired and wished his dinner companions a good evening. Laurelin was polite; she smiled at Gideon and then started to talk with Glade and Cordlyer as soon as he left the room.

      Ragan would spend little time sleeping since he did not require sleep like others. He hummed a melody as he went to his spacious suite. Palrents had some special rooms reserved for those Tauri who visited. Ragan was actually a higher being and would only meditate this evening, spending time communing briefly with those of his order and other familiars. The others chatted in the dining room for a few more minutes and then followed Ragan's example, for tomorrow was going to be another busy day.

      The next day found Gideon feeling refreshed. He had slept more than he wanted. His room was adjacent to Ragan's and was like a small suite. He should remember to thank Ragan for the first-class treatment. He had been having some gastrointestinal problems a few times during the past several days. The food at Palrents seemed to be exceptionally tasty and more palatable, but he still was not fully well. Gideon had few recollections of sickness of any kind when he was on Earth; his foster parents always told him he had the constitution of a horse. That might be why he was not yet having serious problems with this very different food. After showering in a waterfall-like shower, shaving, and performing other morning tasks, he went downstairs to the dining area and saw Ragan and Glade casually eating the remains of a late-morning meal.

      Ragan was reading a printed pamphlet similar to a small newspaper. Gideon thought again that it was an interesting technical mix in this society. Evidently, Laurelin and Cordlyer were not present. Ragan informed him that Cordlyer had eaten early while he attempted to finish writing a chapter in an arcane spell book as one of his tasks for the Order of the Platinum Griffon. He then left to go back to the keep of the gilthanal of Mindon. Laurelin too left early to continue with her Order of the Horn duties or activities. Gideon was a little upset that he did not get the chance to see them, especially Laurelin, of whom he had grown quite fond.

      After breakfast, Ragan paid Caelborn, the proprietor of the Green Griffon Inn, personally. He also reserved rooms for himself, Master Gilding, and Gideon for the following evening. Then, he and Gideon set out for Master Balminewe's house to keep the appointment.

      In the meantime, Glade began his preparations to gather supplies for the journey to Tetherin and began to arrange the manner of travel.

      When Ragan and Gideon finally reached Balminewe's home, his wife politely escorted them into the laboratory. "Greetings, Archmage Ragan," said Balminewe as he mixed two liquids together in a blown-glass bowl. "I have acquired most of the necessary ingredients for the elixir, and I will check with the apothecaries later on today to obtain the other remaining ingredients."

      "Excellent," said Ragan. "This is John Gideon, the fellow who will be needing your elixir. Gideon, Master Balminewe is going to need a sample of your blood and your intestinal fluids for analysis so he can make an effective elixir of amnoxillin that will be concocted specifically for you."

      "Why do you need a sample of my intestinal fluids?" asked Gideon, a bit concerned. He did not like the idea of people prying into his internal organs.

      "I do not know your background; if you are unaware, there are many small creatures, which we call planoi, that inhabit our insides and other locations," replied Balminewe. "I must make sure that I do not make a derivative of amnoxillin that will totally destroy them. They are part of your digestive system, and I do not wish to upset its balance, only modify and improve your ability to handle fluids and foods. A standard noxillin will give you tolerance; amnoxillin will enhance and strengthen with a lasting effect. Some on the continent I know use poisons and toxic fumes to injure others not of their order or group. I will modify and strengthen your digestive system with this version."

      "Gideon, I can easily make a noxillin," stated Ragan. "However, I required someone with Balminewe's skill, discretion, and resources to make the amnoxillin due to time constraints. It is not something made often since the Alor do not require such elixirs, as they are more adaptive. These types of potions are used for visitors from, for example, our sister world, Seytheyr, or for visiting Traq traders who stay for some time."

      Gideon could understand this. Recently, he had been suffering from bouts of diarrhea and indigestion, and Ragan had mentioned something to him about a protective spell that he placed on him while he slept. These were little problems at first but had become somewhat more notable. In addition, the sensation of heaviness had not left; however, Gideon seemed to have developed some strength to compensate.

      "I see," said Gideon hesitantly. "Well, let's get it over with." Master Balminewe then swabbed his arm with a cleansing wipe soaked in some sort of fluid and then proceeded to extract Gideon's blood from a vein with a small silver needle attached to a suction device. Balminewe noted that to extract a sample of intestinal fluid would be somewhat painful. He then muttered an incantation, and Gideon felt as if he were floating. Then Balminewe touched Gideon's stomach, and he felt a strange sensation.

      "Can you feel any pressure or pain?" he asked, pinching Gideon's abdomen.

      "No, I can't," replied Gideon. "It's numb. I can't feel a thing."

      Balminewe then applied an alcohol-smelling salve and inserted another very thin silver needle into Gideon's abdomen. Gideon winced slightly, but soon, after a few minutes, he had extracted enough fluid to run his tests." Balminewe applied a solution to the area of the puncture, and it seemed to immediately heal.

      "There," he said.