"I'm Corinal," he said. "How can I help you?"

Emmis blinked at him. "This looks more like a library than a magician's shop," he said.

"I like to read," Corinal said mildly.

Emmis nodded. "Of course," he said. "But you're a theurgist?"

The old man smiled crookedly. "It says so on my sign, certainly, and wouldn't it be foolish to advertise that if it weren't so?"

Emmis shook the offered hand, and returned the smile a bit sheepishly. "I had a question or two," he said.

"Questions I can answer, or questions requiring divine assistance?"

"Probably requiring divine assistance," Emmis said.

Corinal nodded. "I'll see what I can do to get you your answers, then." He glanced at Ahan, who had closed the front door and was now standing with his back to it. "Might I ask one of my own first, though?"

"I… yes, of course," Emmis said.

"Why is this soldier here?"

Emmis turned up an empty palm. "Ask him," he said.

Corinal turned to Ahan. "Well?"

Ahan cleared his throat. "Lord Ildirin has ordered me to accompany this man wherever he goes, to guard him against attack, to prevent him from committing any illegal acts, and to report back on his actions."

"Bodyguard, jailer, and spy, all on just two feet, then?" Corinal asked. "And why does Lord Ildirin care what becomes of him?"

"I do what I'm told, sir; I didn't ask why."

"This is Lord Ildirin, the overlord's brother… no, I'm sorry, the new overlord's uncle?"

"Yes, sir."

He turned back to Emmis. "Do you know why Lord Ildirin has decided you require such attention?"

"Because I work for the Vondish ambassador to Ethshar, and stopped an assassination attempt on him yesterday."

"Oh, really? That's charming! Honestly, I'm delighted to hear that. A Vondish ambassador, you say? From that upstart empire south of the Small Kingdoms?"

"Yes."

"And Lord Ildirin thinks the assassins might decide to retaliate against you for your interference, or perhaps you're secretly working with the assassins, or perhaps there aren't any assassins and this is all part of some complicated scheme you're involved in, or all of these at once, and so he's assigned this fine fellow to follow you around and make your life difficult until he's more nearly satisfied that he knows what's happening?"

"Something like that," Emmis agreed.

"And you've decided to come ask me your questions anyway? Then you have nothing to hide?"

Emmis grimaced. "I haven't done anything wrong," he said. "And I thought I'd have an easier time dealing with you with this guard at my elbow than I would trying to dicker with cabinet-makers and cutlers."

"You are wise beyond your years, young man. Come in, sit down, both of you, and tell me what you want to know." He gestured toward the chairs.

A moment later the three of them were seated around the table; Emmis could see that the book Corinal had been reading was entitled The Pursuit of the Shatra. He had no idea what a shatra was, or why anyone would pursue one; the book looked very old.

"Now, what did you want to ask me?" Corinal asked.

"Ah. The ambassador has rented a house on Through Street in Allston, and the house has a shrine by the door. We wanted to know whose shrine it is, and what would be appropriate for us to do with it."

"Oh, an easy one. That's exactly the sort of question best answered by Unniel the Discerning, goddess of information about theurgy, sorcery, and certain other topics. I can summon her for half a round of silver."

Emmis automatically said, "I'll pay two bits," but in fact he was relieved. As magical prices went, four bits in silver for anything was a bargain.

"Three bits in silver and one of copper," Corinal countered.

"Three silver bits," Emmis said. "No copper."

"Don't expect me to be so flexible on more difficult matters, should any arise," Corinal said, reaching up for something from one of the shelves. "Unniel is easy, though, so you have a deal. Tell me about this shrine, and just where it is." He pulled out a thin book that had a quill inserted in it like a bookmark, set it on the table, then reached up again and found a small bottle of ink.

"It's on Through Street just a few doors east of Arena Street," Emmis said, watching as Corinal opened the book and laid it flat on the table. The right-hand page was blank; the left-hand one had a few illegible words hand-written at the top. "It's a yellow house we rent from Kather of Allston, and the shrine is just to the right of the front door."

Corinal uncorked the ink bottle, dipped the quill, and began writing in the book. "Go on," he said.

"The idol is a goddess – or a woman – in a green robe and a golden crown. Her hands are down and open, as if she's giving something, but she isn't smiling. There's an offering bowl at her feet, but there's nothing in it but dust."

"I think I know this one without even asking," Corinal said, nodding. "You can have my guess for two bits, or I'll ask the goddess Unniel for you for three."

Emmis hesitated, then said, "I think you'd better consult the goddess."

Corinal scribbled another few words, then looked up from the book. "And what else did you want to ask me? If anything else is in Unniel's bailiwick, I might as well ask her everything at once."

"You can do that?"

"Of course!"

Emmis glanced at Ahan. "I had several other questions, actually, but I don't think any of them have anything to do with theurgy or sorcery."

Corinal also cast a glance at the guardsman, then grinned, his thinning beard seeming to spread itself wider as he did. "Would you like to drive Lord Ildirin mad with curiosity, then?"

"What?"

The theurgist turned the book to face Emmis, then handed him the quill. "Write your questions here," he said. "I'll sort them out and give you a price, and you won't need to say a word this fine soldier will hear."

Emmis looked from Corinal to Ahan.

"I won't stop you," Ahan said. "And I won't try to read it, because I can't read very well. But I'll tell Lord Ildirin about this, and he may not like it."

"Well, we'll have all the questions written down for him, won't we?" Corinal said. "He can come and pay me for them. Not for the answers, of course – you know the rules about customer privacy."

"I'll tell him some of the answers myself, if he wants them," Emmis said. "I want to know who the assassins I fought were, and where we can find them, and where the three Lumethan spies are…"

Corinal held up a hand. "Write it down!" he said. "Write it all down."

Emmis lifted the quill and looked at Ahan, who turned up an empty palm. "I won't stop you," he repeated.

Emmis nodded, dipped the quill in the ink, and began writing.

The list took a surprisingly long time. As soon as he had finished one question, he thought of another, and another.

After a few moments of watching his customer scribble, Corinal had picked up The Pursuit of the Shatra and resumed his interrupted reading.

Ahan simply sat and waited, and in his meditative silence looked more like a theurgist than did Corinal.