Mendel returned to Robin’s office several hours later. He had closed the shop and finalized the sales books which accounted for a few meager sales during the day. Robin sat on the floor surrounded by a tower of books and a pile of yellowed scrolls. He appeared, lost in deep thought and he did not acknowledge the wizard's entrance. Mendel sat in a nearby chair and waited for his friend to come out of his thought trance.
A stained-glass window on the left side of the office burst open. A small creature fluttered in and landed on a perch behind Robin’s desk. Mendel snorted with a hint of exasperation. The small creature folded its violet leathery wings. It turned and stretched its sinuous neck. Then it yawned showing a row of sharp teeth and serpentine tongue. Afterward the faire dragon began to preen itself much like a common house cat. It appeared to have no interest in its present company.
“Alida, you could at least close the window after you enter it.” Mendel spat and with a wave of his hand the window snapped shut. “Robin, why you insist upon keeping that troublesome fairy dragon about the shop.”
“I would ask Master Robin the same question about you, but wait this is an antique shop. Well, it appears I have answered my own question.” Alida’s voice bubbled with glee.
“That will be quite enough you too. You are both my friends and I enjoy your company despite your frequent bickering.” Robin reminded his friends. He sought to end the small battle of words before it became open warfare among his two closest friends.
“Sorry Robin.” His friends responded in unison.
Robin stood and began to pace back and forth. His friends looked at him with concern and wondered what thoughts rolled in Robin’s mind.
“What have you discovered about the dwarf?” Mendel asked while he prepared his pipe for a smoke.
“Dwarf?” Alida chirped.
“Dugan Burrow-Vann to be exact Alida, and he has asked for our help on a matter.” Robin halted his pacing and looked at his friends. “According to my research, Dugan is the only son of a dwarven family. Whom acquired their wealth through mining contracts. Obtained with both the Gnome Mechanics Guild, and the Magus Conglomerate.” Robin continued his train of thought. “He is also related to this Galdafax fellow. Whom as you remarked earlier Mendel, was a bit of a scoundrel and considered by his relatives to be a nuisance. The strange part is I can find no records of the gems in any of my books. I do not understand why the Centaurian Museum would display them.”
“Some artistic significance.” Mendel offered.
“No, I checked for that as well, I can find no reference of a set of gems that would intrigue a group of stuffy Centaurs. “
“They are valuable or rare, found in some ancient tomb.” Alida said with excitement.
“That is possible and would account for how they came into Galdafax’s possession. Yet again I could find no reference of their existence except for Dugan’s own words.”
Silence overcame the room as the three friends racked their brains for answers that would not come. The smoke from Mendel’s pipe floated through the room and caused Alida to sneeze.
“Mendel must you smoke that pipe of yours?” Alida sneezed again and almost fell of her perch.
“Yes, it relaxes me, and besides whoever heard of a dragon being allergic to smoke.” Mendel puffed a smoke ring toward Alida, who had begun to fan her wings to keep the smoke at bay.
“Mendel, please give Alida the location of one Dugan Burrow-Vann. Alida go to him and tell him I will accept the job offered and collect my usual fee.” Robin ordered and retrieved a small backpack from a nearby shelf.
“So, you are taking the job then?” Mendel’s eyebrows rose as he put out his pipe.
“Yes, now hurry time does not slow, for those who frolic, when work waits. After you have seen Alida off, please meet me back here. We need to hopport and start the next phase of our investigation.”
“Hopport where young master, if I may ask?”
“Don’t worry Mendel old friend you’ll find out soon enough.” Robin’s face lit up with his signature mischievous smile. Mendel nodded in return and motioned for Alida to join him. The faire dragon flew over and landed on his shoulder.
“Don’t hopport us into a display case.” Alida snarked.
There was a flash and puff of smoke as wizard and dragon hopported to the front of the store. Robin began packing various items he needed. He shook his head in amusement. Mendel would not like their destination this evening.
© Cathalson – 2008 / CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT PERMISSION.