Dangerous Dabblings

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KABOOM!!

Ethan blinked as yet another one of his experments exploded in his face. As a daily occurance he was not surprised, but it was somewhat disappointing. Wiping the flour-like substance from his glasses, he sighed and bent to examine his equipment, holding the pieces carefully in his hands. He muttered to himself, "Heating too fast...matrix isn't getting time to stabilize...gotta fix that...maybe a new boiler? New heating system? New ingredients?"

With another sigh he stood, and vaugly ran a hand through his hair, scattering more floury stuff into the air. Calling out down the stairs, he said, "My love, my darling, I have to go to Ilyamen today!"

After a small pause, an answer floated up to him, "all right, darling." Another moment and then, "But why don't you take Kara Lai with you? She's been bugging me for a while to let her go visit her doctor friend."

He blinked yet again, which with his glasses gave him an owly look. "all right, but tell her to get ready. I'll be wanting to leave soon!"

**

Ethan watched his daughter, his wonderful child, skip along ahead of him. She had been ready for him, in fact, she had been ready far before he was, which was no surprise. She was a quick young thing when she wanted to be.

"Kara Lai," he called out, drawing her back to him. "Kara Lai, when we get to the city, I have some important things to do. Shops that young ones, such as you, shouldn't go into," he said.

"Yes, dad," she answered with a smile and a nod.

Smiling, he continued. "So, I'm going to leave you at the gate. You may do what you want, but don't give anyone any trouble and be back at the gate before the sun goes down." he paused and ruffled her hair. "Before it starts to get dark," he added almost as an after-thought.

She nodded and they continued on to the gate where he left her waving to him as he headed deeper into the city.

First things first, he decided to stop at a coppersmith he knew. Not many smiths were able to work with the sort of precision he needed in his instruments, so he made sure to stay on the man's good side.

"Hello, Oskar," he called out as he entered the shop. "Need some new equipment." He handed the smith a list explaining what he needed and in what dimensions. While Oskar went to check what he had in stock and what would need to be made, Ethan sighed and said to himself, "Maybe I need a less expensive hobby."

[hisdivineshadow]

"Ah, a practitioner of the art of alchemy, I see." The comment came from an elderly looking man whom Ethan had somehow failed to notice before now. Leaning on a gnarled staff, the old man peered at him with sharp blue eyes, and brushed a hand through his thick grey hair, revealing a Mind sign on his temple. "An admirable pursuit, young man."

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Ethan looked at him with surprise showing on his face. Carefully, taking a moment, he cleared his face and studied the old man with an intent gaze.

"Yes, I would happen to agree with you..." he paused to see if the gentlemen would be so kind as to give his name.

[hisdivineshadow]

"Haman Kolarin," he introduced himself, with a slight bow and a two-fingered salute. "I used to be quite the alchemist myself, in my younger days. Alas," he said with a bitter sigh, "my old hands are no good for delicate work anymore." He stretched out his palm and the hand trembled visibly.

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"Oh I see," he replied, looking at the gentlemens hands. "Yes, you would have a bit of trouble working with alchemy that way." Carefully, he put his list back into his pocket and tried to go back to looking around.

It wasn't that he was not curious about this, but, he did have something of a full day ahead of him.

[hisdivineshadow]

"These days I spend my time mainly with horticulture," Haman continued conversationally, stroking his chin as he kept by Ethan's side. "Come to think of it, I could use the help of a skilled youngster like you. There's a plant . . . a rare flower, called the blood lotus. Have you heard of it?"

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Ethan looked thoughtful, even rubbing his chin in thought. "No, Sir Haman," he said, his eyes still unfocused, "I havn't, but why do you ask this?"

[hisdivineshadow]

Haman smiled, perceiving that he had at least piqued the man's interest. "I believe its essence, if properly refined, could have a number of useful properties. But alas, I have neither the skill nor the equipment to distill it properly." He tilted his head and looked at Ethan thoughtfully. "Perhaps you'd be willing to give it a try?"

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Ethan lowered his hand and considered the man and considered the offer he so plainly set forth before him. It was a good offer...yet..."What properties?" he asked. He had to know at least a little about this 'flower' before deciding to work with it.

[hisdivineshadow]

The old man seemed to expect this question, and quickly answered, "I believe it could be made into a powerful medical aid. Even rubbing the juice of the flower into a wound is known to numb pain and prevent infection. If it could be purified, refined down to its essence, what more could it do?" There was a glint of eagerness in Haman's eyes; he was obviously quite intent on seeing the result of his theory.

"But," he said with a sigh, and the energy seemed to drain out of him, his head falling to his chest, "I am old, and can barely keep up with tending my gardens. Even if I were able to work on the serum, I would not have the time to complete it. Not in the few years I have left." He spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness. "I would hope to see the lotus' essence perfected before I die, as my final legacy in this world. But what can I do? There is no way for me to complete this work on my own. So I ask for your help."

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Ethan found himself nodding at what the old gentlemen said. If indeed this flower could do such a thing...well, he would want to help. Healing was always an interest to him, even though he had no skill in it all.

Not to mention, that if he did this, he too would get credit. Then a thought occurred to him and his eyes widened and he very nearly smacked his forehead. "I am quite sorry, Sir Haman. I have forgotten to introduce myself. I am Ethan Eashun and I would be more then happy to assiste you."

[hisdivineshadow]

Haman smiled almost lazily now, peering at Ethan through half-lidded eyes. "I'm aware of who you are, child. You might be surprised at the sort of reputation you've garnered. I'm not ashamed to say that I've actually been waiting for a chance to meet you. Oskar here assured me you were a fairly regular customer." He tilted his head to indicate the shop keeper, who was now returning with a large bronze bowl, in which he was carrying a variety of smaller copper and brass pieces.

"If you would do this for me, child . . . Ethan . . . I would be willing to pay you generously. In fact, as a token of my esteem . . ." He turned toward the coppersmith and asked, "How much for his purchase?"

Oskar looked at him strangely for a moment, did a quick mental tally, then answered, "Twenty coppers, I think. At least, for this here. He wanted a few other parts that I'll have to make special . . ."

Haman removed a coin pouch from his belt and handed it to the smith. "I believe this will cover everything. Including the special order parts."

The pouch was quite full -- with the drawstring pulled taut, the coins didn't so much as clink, they were so tightly packed. Oskar's eyes widened, and he whistled slightly as he opened the pouch and examined the contents. "Sir, that'll cover it several times over. Are you sure about this?"

Haman just nodded, and turned back to Ethan. "I can have a basket of the flowers delivered to your home by tomorrow. Will that be all right?"

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Ethan was, very honostly, taken aback. By everything! He wasn't used to people just knowing his name, well, not that he paid attention to it, but still. He coughed slightly and watched the exchange with still wide eyes, "Wait," he interupted Haman.

"I mean, tomorrow will be fine, but, how do you know where I live?" to this he was flabbergasted. Almost no one, especially not Osker here, knew where he and his family lived.

[hisdivineshadow]

Haman smiled knowingly. "Dear boy, I've chosen you to carry out the work that will be my legacy. It's in my interest to know about you." He turned away, coughing into his sleeve. Once he caught his breath, he turned back with a weary look on his face. "And now, it seems I've tarried entirely too long. Farewell, Ethan. The flowers will be there tomorrow." Reaching up, he touched the Mind sign at his temple, and vanished.

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Ethan blinked at where the old man had been. Then, exchanging a look with Oskar, he muttered something to the effect of, 'I'll be back in an hour...' and left himself.

He would have to tell his wife about this...this new experiment he would be working on. And, well, for flowers, he was going to need a few extra things this day. Not bothering to stop, he continued to walk while deep in thought.