Painin watched out the window as the clouds in the distance made their way over the faraway mountains. They had dropped most of their water in crossing the mountain range. He watched as they hit the desert''s hot air, which helped break apart the clouds in the light of the early morning sun. Painin had always been amazed by clouds that could bring happiness and sadness depending on their mood. When he was younger, he had spent much time laying in the grass staring up at them trying to reshape them with his mind and dreaming of soaring among them like a bird.


    He had found the book on cloud and weather loaned to him by Master Pierce to be very interesting if not a bit dry. The author was a gnome of some known for his insights into the weather and sometimes his love of the subject seemed to take parts into way too much detail. One such part that he did not go into much detail over was when he discussed how someone could even make it rain by as he called it ‘seeding’ the clouds with the dust of certain rocks.


    “But how do you get the dust of the rocks up there?” He wondered aloud. His mind was filled with pictures of winged gnomes flying amongst the clouds covering them with dust and he couldn’t keep from chuckling at the mental image.


    “Not daydreaming instead of washing the floor are you lad?” Came the voice from behind him.


    “No Master Pierce. I was just thinking about that book on clouds and storms that you loaned me.”


    Ah, yes. Old Ksirb and his crazy ideas of how to make it rain. They are always thinking and trying to figure out how the world works. Given the right balance of magic, it would be a simple enough feat to complete. The Order has been controlling the weather around the Hall of Magic for centuries.” Said Pierce gesturing with his ever-present cup.


    “They control the weather?” He asked looking at the Mage.


    “Yes. The spells mostly handle it themselves though they do need to be recharged on occasion. Now back to that floor, it won’t wash itself will it?”


    “No, I suppose it won’t.” Said Painin dunking his rag back into the bucket of water next to him and beginning to scrub at the stone floor clean again.


    He continued to scrub at the floor thinking to himself he looked up at the Battle Mage as he moved around the room checking on some of the bubbling cauldrons scattered around the room. He added different items to the different liquids which sometimes reacted in exciting ways. This time however there were no explosions and only one of the liquids changed colors going from a bright orange to a pale-yellow color.


    “Master Pierce, how am I supposed to learn anything if I am scrubbing your floor like a washerwoman?”


    “Ah, my young friend, everyone has to start at the bottom. It teaches us humility and helps to put our Ego in check.” He replied as he refilled his cup.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    “Are we friends Master?”


    “Well, I had thought so until you just asked. Friends do favors for each other and right now your favor is washing my floor since I loaned you my book. Now my fine washerwoman if you would be so kind as to finish the floors we can go out to the market and bring back some items which came for me.”


    Painin began to scrub the floor with renewed enthusiasm at the prospect of getting to leave the Keep. He was not allowed to leave the keep without someone being with him because he was still considered a flight risk according to Marki. He finished up the floor and stood pushing the soreness from his back. He carried the bucket of now dirty water toward the plants and poured the water into them not wanting to waste the water.


    Master Pierce opened a bottle and began to pour the pale-yellow liquid into them until he had filled the small collection of glass bottles which he placed into a bag that he slung over his shoulder. Finishing his drink, he placed the cup on the table before he motioned for Painin to follow him out the door. The door closed behind them as they entered the corridor and made their way downstairs and into the courtyard beyond.


    They crossed the courtyard and approached the main gate where they were stopped by two guards and after a short discussion with them, they were motioned through. It was a short walk from the Keep to the town of Wildrest which grew from the walls of the keep outward. The closer to the Keep in the town you were the more durable the buildings that you found. On the outskirts, it was little more than tents and other temporary dwellings.


    The market was in the middle of the town itself and Master Pierce made his way straight to a nondescript wagon that boasted no tables set up in front of it. They had no more than just stopped when a man came out from behind the wagon and motioned them forward toward the back. Painin was shocked at the sheer size of the tent that they entered. A small man approached them and greeted Master Pierce motioning him towards an empty table.


    The Battle Mage pulled out one of the bottles and handed it to the merchant who opened the stopper and took a smell of the liquid. His eyes widened and he seemed very pleased as he motioned for the man who had shown them back to step forward with a medium-sized iron-bound box which he placed on the table. Master Pierce opened the box and quickly took inventory of the items inside and nodded closing the box.


    “Some of the items were more difficult to get this time. The Durga for instance don’t like to part with their private stock and it made for a ‘more interesting’ time bartering with them.” Said the man pushing some of his hair back into place that had fallen.


    “Not my concern… But I will compensate you because we are old friends Ethan.” He said removing more of the bottles from the bag than the bag should have been able to hold. Painin had not noticed it when he was putting them away but now no less than 20 bottles now littered the table. The merchant did a good job of hiding his happiness at the number of bottles and shook Master Pierce’s offered hand. He motioned to Painin who picked up the box and followed him out of the tent and into the street beyond.


    Painin couldn’t help but feel as if Master Pierce had been taken advantage of by the Merchant as he walked next to him carrying the box. Those walking down the lanes gave them a wider birth than they did with others.


    “Doesn’t it make you angry that the merchant upped his price at the last minute?”


    “What? Ethan? It is how the game is played lad I gave him simple weak potions that I could make in my sleep and he gave me regents from around the known world and saved me a large amount of time so that I can refocus on my studies. So, who took advantage of whom?” He asked with a wink as they neared the doors to the keep and the guards standing watch allowed them to pass unhindered.