The other three members of their impromptu group arrived back around midday with news from their explorations. Verdan immediately sent the two brothers upstairs to get their new weapons and drop the poorly made Cyth ones off.

They would do for emergency weapons in the future, but they had better options right now.

While the two brothers upgraded their armament, Verdan waved Gwen over to join him and Kai at one of the larger tables.

He'd given Bob a half-darn earlier for lunch, so Gwen was swiftly supplied with a mug of foamy beer and a bowl of hearty soup.

Bob had really followed through with his promise for better fare, providing a ham hock and smoked sausage soup with a big chunk of fresh bread. Verdan's portion had been delicious, and it looked like Gwen was entirely on board with that view.

"So what did you find?" Verdan asked once everyone was assembled and had their lunches served.

"No library," Tom said, taking a long sip of beer with a satisfied expression.

"The library was burnt down in a fire a few years ago. No one bothered to rebuild it," Tim added, giving his brother an exasperated look. "It seems that the city has been on hard times since the last Rising. A lot of folks left for better options elsewhere. Not that there are many around here; Hobson's Point is one of the most northern cities still standing. The Sorcerers tend to stay further south where all the food-producing cities are."

"So what does Hobson's Point provide?" Verdan asked, wondering what kept people here if there was a general movement south.

"Well, it's traditionally been the source of a lot of metal. There are lots of mines in these mountains. With more and more responsibility going to Sorcerers, there's less call for large numbers of weapons and less need for metal. The few mines still active are the main source of revenue for the city now. Without the miners and the foundry workers, this place would be deserted." Tim seemed to take the poor situation of the city quite personally, looking glumly down at his beer as he explained.

"Interesting, so the city is all about production," Verdan murmured to himself. That meant there would be trained workers for hire if needed. He doubted everyone would have abandoned the city after all. Depending on what he did to make himself some money here, that could be particularly useful. "What about space and a place for me to work in?"

"I spoke with a few men in the city's eastern district, where the warehouses and foundries are based. They said a few empty warehouses would be up for sale and gave me directions to the owner to speak with him directly," Gwen said, taking over from the brothers.

"Did you look at the warehouses? What were they like?" Verdan sat up attentively. He was keen to get somewhere as a more permanent base of operations.

"All of the same type, really, basic and large with no purpose beyond keeping out the worst of the weather," she shrugged awkwardly, not meeting his gaze as she answered. She still seemed out of sorts from their conversation this morning.

It was likely just the last remnants of corruption in her system, though.

"Very well, what's the name of the owner of the properties?" Verdan wanted something a bit more than a basic warehouse, but many a worthy endeavour began from humble beginnings.

"Tobias Brock. He owns most of the warehouses in Hobson's Point, from what they said. He has a shipping business that runs goods out to other cities, so he's been buying up the warehouses for storage. He has a house in the centre of the city. We can head over this afternoon if you want?"

"Yes, let’s see what he says," Verdan said, nodding to himself as he rose from the table. "Enjoy your lunch and relax for a bit. I'm going to meditate for a while before we visit Mr Brock." He got the same confused look from everyone at the table, but they didn't say anything further as he headed up to his room.

His gathering spiral was working steadily away, but it was barely adequate for a novice. His old instructor from the academy would have burnt his eyebrows off for such a loose spiral.

There was so much to do and so little time to do it in, but he knew he needed to take the time to rebuild his foundations properly. He either did it right the first time, or he'd be paying for it for years to come.

Seating himself on the floor, Verdan settled into a relaxed position and turned his mind inward. Taking the time to follow the technique properly, he built up the mental image piece by piece.

First came the framework, the most vital part of what he was doing. He had to picture his and the gentle movement of energy within him.

Once ready, he focused on the energy flowing into him. It came in two ways, a passive flow from where it soaked in through his skin and an active one from the air he breathed.

Each breath drew in fresh energy, allowing it to circle within his lungs and pass into his blood.

The energy inside him ran in a loose spiral that led to the very core of his being. Its lazy loops did little to encourage the energy being passively drawn in through his skin, relying instead on the energy he breathed in.

That wouldn't do, not at all.

Mentally seizing the spiral, he started to compress it, making the existing loops take up less space within him.

He’d worked on it a little yesterday, but now he was going to settle for nothing less than perfection.

Sweat started to bead on Verdan's forehead as he pushed all of his willpower into the effort.

The three-loop spiral he'd had already started to slowly compress in on itself, shrinking down to be a fraction of the size that it had been earlier.

With a half-smile, Verdan layered new loops into the spiral. This early in the process, he was able to make it straight to twelve before running out of space.

He was still within novice territory, but a jump from three layers to twelve would take a novice weeks of work. Verdan's experience and tempered mental strength were proving their worth already.

Releasing the mental image, Verdan breathed out fully before inhaling deeply. The fresh Aether was pulled immediately into the spiral, moving much more quickly down into his core, where it would be refined into energy for him to use.

The passive draw from the surrounding energy was slightly increased as well, the movement of the Aether within him drawing it in like a whirlpool.

As with all parts of dealing with Aether, the concept was the key part and taking the time to focus and create the mental image properly allowed for so much more to be done.

-**-

Verdan returned to the common room a few hours later, satisfied with his newly expanded spiral and the steady trickle of energy it provided.

"Ready to go meet Tobias?" Verdan asked as he walked over to where the others waited.

Tom had fallen asleep and had to be nudged awake, but in short order, they were out the door and following Gwen's lead toward the centre of the city.

The general state of the city improved as they headed closer to the centre, the buildings looked in better repair, and the citizens had more purpose to their movements. It seemed this was the area least impacted by the lack of work, but Verdan knew that it was only a matter of time before the rot set in here as well.

"Here, it's just down this road, I believe," Gwen said, turning down a side road that led past several gated compounds, each with a several-storey tall house.

One, in particular, had what looked like a seating area outside its gates. Several wooden benches framed with wrought iron lined the wall on either side of the way in.

Stopping at the entrance, Gwen tested the gate and shrugged in Verdan's direction as it swung open.

"Take a seat. I'll head in with just Kai," Verdan said, nodding toward the benches before stepping past Gwen and onto the paved interior of the compound.

It wasn't a huge area, but it was nicely laid out, with enough greenery to make it feel organic. Verdan's staff rapped on the stone pavement that led to the building with each step he took, the sound echoing around the quiet compound.

The door opened when they were a short distance away, an imposing man in plain clothes stepping out to regard them.

Bald with a tailored beard and hard eyes, the man's cold gaze sent a shiver down Verdan's spine.

Running his eyes over them both, the man stood at ease and spoke in a deep but clear voice. "Can I help you, gentlemen?"

"I'm seeking a meeting with Tobias Brock regarding some property he owns," Verdan replied evenly.

This man reeked of danger, but that was nothing new for Verdan, besides, between Kai and him, they could likely deal with most dangers they would come across.

"Which property would that be?" The cold gaze came back to rest on him. Verdan could almost feel it measuring and judging him, making his hand reflexively curl around his staff.

"I'm looking to purchase a warehouse to base my operations in," Verdan said, shoulders square and not flinching from the weight of the man's gaze.

"Very well, please wait here while I see if he is available to meet with you," the man stepped back inside and closed the door, audibly sliding a bolt home as he did.

"That was a dangerous man," Kai said softly, stepping up beside Verdan. The Sorcerer carried his spear in one hand, resting it on his shoulder with a relaxed stance.

"Yes, which makes me wonder just who this Tobias is," Verdan replied just as softly.

It was unusual for a property owner to have such an obviously dangerous man answering his door.

Maybe this would be an interesting meeting after all.

A few minutes passed as they waited outside, the walls of the small compound sheltering them from the wind and letting the soft sunlight bring a touch of warmth to them. All in all, it was as pleasant a waiting experience as Verdan could ask for.

"Mr Brock will take an audience with you now," the door had silently opened to reveal the intimidating man from earlier, who waved them forward and held a hand out to Kai. "Your spear, please, and your staff."

"Of course," Kai passed over his weapon as they stepped inside the large building, Verdan following suit a moment later.

"This way, please," the man said as he laid the staff and the spear on a table. "Your weapons will be returned when you leave."

Gesturing for them to follow, the man led them down the long hallway and further into the house. A few paintings hung on the walls, but there was little decoration beyond that, giving the hall a practical feeling that Verdan approved of.

They passed several doors as they walked along, but they were all closed and gave no indication of what may be within. Verdan couldn't help but wonder if the lack of decorations was a theme or if it was just this corridor.

Either way, it spoke to the character of the man they were going to meet.

The end of the hall brought them to another closed door, their guide rapping three times on it and pausing for a moment before swinging it open.

The room beyond was less opulent than Verdan had been expecting, though by no means did it look cheap. Several well-padded chairs and a dark wood table stood upon a matching dark wood flooring.

The far side of the room was dominated by an oversized window through which Verdan could see an extensive portion of the garden at the rear of the building.

The only occupied chair was to the right of the table, angled toward the window, and three more sat to the table's left. A slight scent of mint filled the room, drawing Verdan's eyes to a steaming mug that sat on a coaster atop the table.

The man in the occupied chair was facing the window, with his legs crossed at the knee as he gazed out at the garden. Even sitting down, he was evidently a big man with broad shoulders and long legs, but despite his build, the man was gaunt and had a sallow complexion.

Reaching out to pick up the steaming mug, the man, who Verdan assumed was Tobias, carefully took a sip before placing it down once more and waving to the other chairs.

"Please, take a seat," the gaunt man’s voice was deep but felt lacking in some way, making him sound almost disinterested.

"Thank you," Verdan said as he entered and took a seat, Kai doing likewise and their guide closing the door behind them before standing against the wall behind his employer.

"So, Brent tells me that you're looking to buy a warehouse of mine," the gaunt man said, sipping his tea once more before turning in his chair to meet Verdan's gaze.

Tobias's face had a striking paleness to it, his overall complexion seeming sallow and unhealthy. Verdan was no healer, but even he could tell that there was something wrong.

"Yes, I'm new to the area and need a space to set up my operations. It was recommended that we speak to you for something along those lines," Verdan said, noting the lack of interest in Tobias's gaze as he listened to what he was saying.

"I see. What operation would that be, restarting one of the mines?" Tobias asked, turning back to the window once more.

"Alchemy and research, actually. I need the space for storage and equipment," Verdan said evenly, noting with an inner smile as Tobias stilled and then turned back to him, his eyes seeming to come alive for the first time.

Verdan had so much to do that it was difficult to settle on just one thing, which is why he'd gone with calling it alchemy and research.

That sort of title covered almost anything he'd want to do, which was probably for the best.

That being said, he did intend to start with some alchemy, particularly as Kai had mentioned that there were several alchemical concoctions that Sorcerers used to help regenerate their powers.

Sadly, Kai didn't know how to make them, but it seemed the perfect place to start his investigation of this elemental sorcery they used.

"Are you a trained alchemist, then?" Tobias asked, sipping his drink almost absently.

"Not in the way that most are. I know how to make a few things, but I'm interested in learning more," Verdan said with a smile. He’d had some general training at the academy, but nothing beyond the basics.

He could see that his odd answer was intriguing Tobias even more, enough that the gaunt man moved his chair so that he was facing them straight on.

"That accent, I can't place it. Where did you say you were from?" Tobias took a measured sip of his drink. His pale blue eyes fixed on Verdan over the lip of the mug.

"I didn't," Verdan said with a small smile. "Suffice to say. It is somewhere far away from here, and I doubt you'll ever meet anyone else from there. I want to compare our alchemy with your own. I have funds but no equipment, ingredients or space to work in. I'm sure you see the issue I face," Verdan reached into his robe and produced a single gold coin, placing it on the table with a metallic click.

"Wine or Tea?" Tobias asked as he finished his drink.

"Tea, please," Verdan said, intrigued by whatever it was that Tobias was drinking. Kai echoed his request a moment later, his stoic expression revealing nothing to anyone in the room.

"Excellent, three teas and some food, please, Brent,” the pale man said to his looming guard, who nodded and left without a sound. "Now, let's discuss what requirements you have in specific."

"Glassware, reagents, storage, workspace and books," Verdan rattled off without hesitation. "I don't know what you might have access to, but any of that would be welcome."

"Before the slow decay of our city, I was responsible for the lion’s share of goods movements into and out of Hobson's Point. It's why I own the majority of the warehouses you were looking at. I may have lost a good portion of my workforce, but I still have the infrastructure and the contacts to get you whatever you need, for a price." Tobias's gaze bore into him with an almost hungry weight, like Verdan was meat on display at a butcher's windowfront.

"I have money….."

"No," Tobias interrupted, leaning forward in his chair with an intense look in his eye. "You're one of the more interesting things to happen around here in quite a while, you see. A man of mysterious origin, with ready gold and interest in alchemy. I want to be part of what you're doing. What I want is for you to come to me for your materials and your requests. I always trust my instincts, and they're telling me that working with you will be an interesting experience."

"I see," Verdan said shortly, keeping his face impassive as he considered the businessman's words.

Having someone with skill and expertise to acquire goods on his behalf would be advantageous, very much so. The problem was that it was another person with more information on him.

Even if Verdan didn't tell Tobias everything, he seemed like an intelligent man and would no doubt discover more than Verdan intended.

Still, there were some very clear positives to working with him, ones that he couldn't exactly ignore. Much as he might want to. He just wasn't in a position to make all this work on his own.

"Very well, I agree in principle, but I need you to show that you can come through for me with the equipment," Verdan said, feeling a weight settle onto him as he bound himself to yet another person.

His plan of isolated research was feeling further and further away each day that passed.

"Of course, I would expect nothing less." Tobias said with a broad grin, rising from his chair to properly turn it to face the table as Brent reentered the room. When standing, Tobias was easily six and a half foot tall, his gaunt frame looking almost skeletal now he was standing up. "Ah, Brent, please serve and then send someone to start rounding up a convoy team. I want them to leave the day after tomorrow at the latest."

"Yes, Sir, of course. Their destination?" Brent asked as he set a wooden tray down and passed each of them a steaming mug and a small plate with a selection of cold cuts.

"Dresk, directly as well. If we can get anything to take to sell, do it. Otherwise, they're just going with a shopping list."

"Yes, Sir," Brent said as he withdrew from the room, leaving them alone once more.

"Ah, it feels so good to have a purpose once more," Tobias said with a satisfied smile as he tucked into the selection of meat with clear hunger. "So, I can arrange for all the equipment and some basic ingredients, but it will cost you that gold piece you flaunted. I'm willing to let you use a warehouse as a temporary measure as well, but I have an idea for something that would be even better, as long as you don't mind living next to where you work?"

"Not at all," Verdan said as he took a sip from the slightly green liquid in the mug. Watered-down wine had been the drink of choice in the Imperium, but this mint tea was quite pleasing in its own way.

Verdan placed the mug back down as he reached forward to slide the gold coin across the table to Tobias, doing his best not to sigh at spending such a large amount.

"Excellent, excellent. Meet me back here tomorrow morning, and I'll show you what I think would suit you. In the meantime, please do think of anything else you need as well. It will take a minimum of two weeks hard ride for the convoy to get there and back. That's with them moving light and fast as well."

"I'll think on it, and we'll return in the morning. Thank you for your hospitality, and I look forward to working with you," Verdan reached out to shake the other man's hand as they rose and left the room.

Verdan knew a dismissal when he heard one, and besides, he wanted to take a walk around the city while it was still light.

Brent was waiting outside and conducted them from the house with smooth efficiency, returning Kai's spear and Verdan's staff to them as he opened the front door for them.

"Well. That was interesting," Verdan muttered as they retraced their steps to the gates.

That hadn't at all been what he'd expected going in, but it did solve a number of issues he'd been concerned about. Still, only time would tell if he’d made the right choice to partner with Tobias.