Read Novel Full Chapter 1981: Stealing Tech
Chapter 1981: Stealing Tech
Aurora laid her list on the counter, giving the man something else to look at. He set down the awl and lifted the paper, keeping the unfinished repair secured in his lower hands. While he read, Kaelira picked up a lantern from a shelf.
"May I open this?"
"Go ahead."
The smith opened the casing. A little light shone inside a metal cage, brightening when her fingertip brushed the rune beside its latch.
Kaelira turned the lantern over, running her thumb along the rim beneath it. Her attention caught on the gap between the cage and its outer frame.
"That’s nice. You could cave this corner in and still keep it clear of the inscription."
The outfitter put Aurora’s list down.
"That’s right. Dented ones come back for repairs. Usually still lit."
Kaelira pressed the shutter’s catch, turning the lantern toward an empty patch of wall before opening it. The light narrowed into a bright circle. She adjusted it again, spreading the glow across the shelves, then went straight back to examining the join underneath.
"A replaceable cage would make repairs easier."
"It would. Costs more to make it that way, though. These sell for two crowns."
Kaelira told Quinlan, turning the lantern over to study the attachment again."> <The light enchantment is simple. You’ve made much better,> Kaelira told Quinlan, turning the lantern over to study the attachment again.
he asked."> <You’re already making another one in your head, aren’t you?> he asked.
"> <Perhaps...>
Kaelira looked up at him, then down at the lantern still occupying her hands.
"> <I... It would be useful for Celia. She could carry it attached to her backpack.>
Quinlan glanced toward their guide. She was studying a rack of carrying slings with Seraphiel, listening intently as the elf explained how they could support someone who couldn’t climb out alone.
"> "We’ll take it," he told the outfitter. <We can take it apart tonight if you want.>
Kaelira asked flatly, knowing her man far too well."> <Gotta steal Sarthal tech?> Kaelira asked flatly, knowing her man far too well.
Her suspicions were confirmed, prompting the tomboy elf to smile softly."> <Gotta steal Sarthal tech.> Her suspicions were confirmed, prompting the tomboy elf to smile softly.
"Good choice. Oil lamps are cheaper, but this keeps burning if you get it wet. You feed mana into the mark here when the light begins to weaken."
He demonstrated on the lantern’s base, then began gathering the ordinary supplies. Serika looked up at Blossom.
"When are you planning to come down?"
The dogkin swallowed her mouthful.
"Blossom is scouting!"
"The shop?"
"She can see much farther from here!"
To demonstrate, Blossom looked over the shelves from her perch, with crumbs clinging to the corner of her mouth.
"Having the high ground is very important," Quinlan agreed.
His thumbs stroked the soft skin of her thighs as he spoke. Blossom squeezed them around his neck with a pleased hum, thoroughly enjoying the support.
Ayame followed the movement of his fingers before exchanging an extremely wry look with Serika.
"I can see how seriously you’re taking it, Quin."
"As I should. It’s my responsibility to keep her from falling."
He gave Blossom’s thighs an affectionate squeeze, quite comfortable beneath their scrutiny.
The long coil of rope Sera selected cost eighteen bits. Beside it went the carrying slings, wrapped food for the road, spare cloth, and boxes for samples. Aurora checked the fastenings while Kaelira chose a padded box for Edric’s armguard.
With the lantern included, their purchases came to three crowns and twenty bits.
Quinlan paid four crowns from the expedition purse and received eighty bits in change.
For little more than the reward on that leaf-gathering notice, they had bought everything piled before them, including an enchanted lantern.
While Kaelira packed the armguard, Aurora checked the purchases against her list.
"Could you recommend an apothecary? We’d like to look at antivenom."
"Across the street, green door. She supplies most of the parties who shop here."
...
At the apothecary across the street, Black Fang passed the shelves of healing draughts and stopped beside Aurora as she asked about antivenom.
Quinlan joined them as Blossom tucked her empty pastry bag away.
The apothecary was a female kobold with mottled reddish-brown scales and a short draconic snout. She stood on a raised wooden platform behind the counter, putting the rows of sealed bottles within easy reach of her clawed hands.
"Do you know which venom you need protection against?" the kobold asked.
"Possibly some spider monster’s venom. We haven’t identified them yet," Aurora explained.
The apothecary reached for a squat bottle with a green seal.
"Then I’d take a general antivenom. This covers the common venomous spiders around Sarthal, along with several biting insects. One crown a dose."
Black Fang read the label while Aurora took the bottle. Quinlan watched his alchemist rotate it beneath the light, already intent on the liquid inside.
"Does it neutralize the venom, or suppress the symptoms?" Black Fang asked.
"Neutralizes what it’s formulated for. With something stronger, it may only slow the effects. I wouldn’t promise more without knowing what you’re facing."
"May I examine a sample?" Aurora asked.
The kobold brought out an open vial, holding it between the pads of her fingers with her claws clear of the rim. Aurora wafted its scent toward herself, then tilted the glass to watch the liquid coat its sides.
"Hmm... You’ve thickened it to keep the mixture stable in storage?"
"Yes. Most of my customers want something they can leave in a pack."
"Sensible. Though it won’t act as quickly."
The apothecary’s gaze returned to Aurora’s face.
"You brew?"
"I do."
Quinlan watched his alchemist smile pleasantly, entirely failing to mention the rather outrageous things she brewed. Beside her, Black Fang accepted the sample and held it beneath her nose.
the assassin assessed."> <Adequate for ordinary venom,> the assassin assessed.
Quinlan asked."> <And for yours?> Quinlan asked.
The side glance Black Fang gave him was one of extreme personal insult.
He chuckled beneath his helmet. Fair enough.
Aurora had returned to the label. She traced an ingredient’s name with her fingertip, then pointed it out to the seller.
"Could I see this separately?"
The kobold opened a shallow drawer beneath the bottles and offered her a dried leaf. Aurora rubbed its edge between her fingers, studying the powder it left on her skin.
"We buy it from growers inland," the apothecary explained. "Fresh is stronger. Dried travels better."
Aurora held the leaf beneath Black Fang’s nose. The assassin inspected it without touching her hand, then glanced at the drawer.
"> <That is worth examining.>
Quinlan asked."> <Oh? More interesting than the finished product?> Quinlan asked.
"> <Considerably. This woman is a mediocre Alchemist, but the ingredients are new to me.>
"> Aurora smiled down at the leaf. <I’d like to try it in my own preparation. I could probably brew a faster-acting batch for tomorrow, especially if you open a gate to my parents’ apothecary for me tonight.>
"We’ll take one dose," she told the seller, setting the leaf beside them. "And could you spare this for me to study? I’d also like to know how you dry it."
"You can have the leaf with the purchase. I’ll write down the drying instructions for you. The full recipe costs extra."
"Of course." Aurora laughed. "I’m very protective of mine too."
The apothecary glanced at the single bottle.
"If you’re planning to recreate it yourself, I’d recommend buying more. It’s a difficult recipe I spent decades mastering."
Aurora’s smile turned sly as she drew the bottle toward herself.
"Then if I fail, I’ll be back for more."
"Hm. I like the attitude. But I might charge you more should that be the case." The apothecary drew a sheet of paper toward herself, warming to the conversation. As she wrote, she explained that the seal preserved the preparation; once opened, a dose should be used rather than saved for another trip.
Aurora listened with the leaf resting on her palm. Her eyes kept returning to it, and Quinlan found himself quite content. He liked seeing his women enjoy what they were good at, even when he only understood half of what fascinated them.
Celia came to the counter while the apothecary finished writing. Her eyes moved between Aurora and Black Fang before settling on the bottle.
"Will that be enough?"
"For me to study, yes," Aurora answered. "We have our own supplies as well, but until we know what we’re dealing with, I can’t tell you which remedy we’ll need."
Celia looked down at the bottle again.
"I understand. Thank you for checking."
Quinlan paid one crown, leaving ten crowns and eighty bits of their allowance. Outside, they confirmed that they would meet at Celia’s house in the morning.
Blossom leaned forward over his head, her blonde hair spilling across his visor.
"Master?"
"Yes?"
"Blossom found something noteworthy while scouting."
He followed her pointing finger to another stall, where skewers of meat sizzled over a brazier.
"So she has. Good girl."
And with that, it was time to set out on the expedition!