As usual I am the one who arrived at the tower first. It's always good to get somewhere early so you can ensure that nothing is wrong. The same guards were there, or were they different ones. Who knows, and to be honest, the pounding in my head from last night's entertainment doesn't care much.
Once again I casually walked the streets, caught up with a fine lass Penelope who was obviously into me. Her jealous ugly sister, or cousin, dragged her away. Damn the ugly ones. Where was Ha Bibi when I needed him. Always good to have a guy running interference. Breakfast at the little stall was good once again. I almost forgot to lean against the bar, and looking at the merchant. They must realise they look bad. Perhaps money covers up a lot of ugliness.
As I waited, Ha Bibi wandered up the street. Of course being the young, naive type he failed to realise he was being shadowed by green-skinned beings who kept themselves to the shadows pretty well. To my trained eye and senses they were visible, but not to the young one's. I called out to him, asking him about his friends. They melted away almost immediately. Amateurs, the lot of them.
Not long after, the scholars arrived again. They need to get laid. I don't mean that in a bad way, I'm sure they've enjoyed the attentions of whatever it is they enjoy the attentions of, however they seemed so uptight about it all. Perhaps I can arrange for them to find some entertainment, or I can see myself getting myself drunk and remaining that way for the rest of our journey.
Without much further ado, we entered the tower once again. That feeling of claustrophobia returned almost immediately and, if at all possible, it smelt more like old people than yesterday. By the stars I wanted to douse the place in alcohol and set it alight just to burn off the 'dead wood' so to speak. We were herded into the same room in which we discussed the mission, and were presented with a test. Once again these three morons with me didn't realise the stupidity of our employers. Imagine testing us with a fake trapped chest! If they were not sure of our abilities in the first place, then why bother hiring us. I simply rapped on the chest, triggering the fake trap and it was opened. Of course I wouldn't do that in a real situation, but I needed to get out of that old persons' home as fast as possible.
Within the chest was a magical sphere. I knew nothing of such matters and didn't really care. If it was important I would know it. Finally I figured out the pompous scholar's abilities. He made the sphere do what it did. So he knew his magical artefacts. Shows you what a good book could teach you. Too bad he didn't have my skills in appraisal, retrieveal, and barter. Knowing something means nothing if you can't use it to make money. With all of the 'testing' out of the way, we signed the contracts, and were off, with the Muse as a companion. She seemed to look at me a little surprised. I have a feeling she can read minds. She talks through that thing on her shoulder, so she has some form of ability to do so. Must have read my thoughts regarding the large table and her.
Outside we found Equus ready for us to head off on our three day journey to our first port of call - Khasir.