where came you upon this?'
'From the fall of Iron Fist, alchemist, from the same trove that produced Vendora's new grimoire. Can I assume that you are interested?'
'An elixir of boils on the royal shops.' Saxton waved him off. 'They push polluted swill through their pipes no less than do the likes of Basil the apothecary. But enough of that. The formula interests me indeed. What is your proposition?'
'What is yours?' Alodar replied warily.
Saxton ran his hand over his head. 'Well, you could proceed as you originally stated,' he said. 'I will accept you as a novice. In the course of time, you will learn enough to activate the formula with no assistance. The craft is broad and the knowledge diverse, however. Much more than what is specifically needed would be thrust your way, and you would have to wait patiently until you understood the signatures of the final ingredient before attempting the mixing. I estimate that in perhaps seven years you would know enough to try.'
'I seek not mastery of all of alchemy,' Alodar said. 'Just the meaning of these scraps in my hand.'
'Wait,' Saxton said as he raised his open palm. 'I have not finished with my proposal. You could study as a novice and have all in seven years. Or we can work together on this specific formula, sharing equally in the labor for perhaps six months and then equally in the rewards as well.'
'I put forth nothing but the formula and the effort for its preparation?' Alodar asked.
'And I nothing but my knowledge and equal toil as well,' Saxton replied,
'I sought no better arrangement when I saw Basil this morning,' Alodar said, breaking into a smile and showing Saxton the rest of his scraps. 'See then all. It is with you I would rather strike a bargain.'
'And in truth, we are not totally clear of the apothecary's grasp,' Saxton said as he quickly shuffled through the pieces of parchment. 'From time to time I have had to borrow from him when my luck ran sour. Even now I owe him a sack of brandels a half year hence or my services for a full twelve months thereafter. And as I scan the formula here I see that the ingredients go quite beyond what one can expect to find in my little shop. Pennyroyal, gold thread, dried salamander, camphor, and sandalwood are the stock in trade of any alchemist on the street. But the others, a dead man's candle, root of shrieking mandrake, midnight dew collected under a moon eclipsed. Not standard items and it will take much to procure them. Yes, we may have to deal with Basil before we are finished, I fear.'
'Is it a risk you are willing to take?' Alodar asked.
'It is your risk too,' Saxton said. 'You would take it, even if we did not have to barter with him again. My present agreement binds any novices I may have as well. If we fail to earn enough to make payment on time, then you also will pull vats and carry beakers from mixing line to workbench cubicle. The juices that stain your skin and the vapors that rot it away will surround you for a year. Even for such a short time you will not escape unscathed.'
Alodar frowned and stood a moment in silence. Eldan's image was still too fresh and he shuddered at the thought. 'What product does the formula produce?' he asked. 'For what magnitude of reward do I take the risk of this bondage?'
'Oh the rewards are great enough,' Saxton said with a smile. 'This formula is for an ointment, no less than a caloric shield, allowing one to endure great temperature that would otherwise be fatal.'
Alodar's frown deepened. 'I can fathom no use for that,' he said. 'I was hoping for something more dramatic and powerful.'
'It is powerful enough,' Saxton said. 'Powerful enough for the Fumus Mountains.'
'How can such an ointment aid in the mineshafts which everyone declares to be delivering their last?'
'Those tunnels are not the working of man,' Saxton replied, 'but natural fumaroles and fissures in ancient volcanoes which have smouldered since before the first sagas. And in their walls we have found hundreds of perfect crystals of emerald, aquamarine, beryl and other fine gems. With a few chips of the chisel, they fall free into the pouch, more like collecting wild mushrooms than wrenching soft metals from their tightly clutching ores. And the deeper we have gone, the larger have become the stones. Last year a topaz the size of a robin's egg came from Basil's mine next to the queen's.'
'Then they are hardly playing out,' Alodar said. 'Great treasures might be at lower levels still.'
'But it is the heat,' Saxton explained, 'that is bringing collection to an end. Near the surface, where the cool air mixes with the humid blast from below, one can stay as he will, although with discomfort. At depths where gem quality stones were first found, a miner worked his full day, if properly attired. But all such levels have been discovered and searched many times over until there is no more treasure. Now all that remains are mad dashes by the daring into passageways which burn to the touch, to retrieve one stone and then hastily return.
'Why do you think I risk neck and limb to make elixir to calm one's nerves, to keep cool-headed in time of peril? No less than three lords have announced that they will venture beyond where any have dared and bring back jewels to fill the treasure chests of the queen. Yes, ever since she returned from the west with that rough Feston in tow, Ambrosia has been seized with a fever for noble deeds to attract her attention. Every lordling seems convinced that a brave quest that returns much fortune will turn Vendora's head before she settles on the red surcoat by default. And the jewels of the Fumus Mountains would top any feat in bravery and reward by far. We will be amply paid for an ointment which makes possible such a success.'
Alodar's frown turned to a broad grin, and he pounded the older man on the shoulder. 'I knew I was on the right track,' he exclaimed. 'Yes, yes, of course, the jewels of the Fumus Mountains. But why settle for a stack of gold coin when the greater reward is ours for the taking? Do not plan to sell the ointment when it is finished but smooth it on my limbs instead. I will brave the heat and darkness and bring back the jewels for us to share. Gems enough for you to dole out a few at a time to keep you in expensive pleasure, and yet enough for me to overflow Vendora's royal coffers. With wealth from your alchemy and the lays of the bards for what I will have done, how could any other have better chance for the hand of the fair lady?'
Saxton blinked at Alodar's outburst and looked cautiously into his gleaming eyes. 'It is not certain,' he said, 'and risks are still present. The ingredients are so dear that we can not afford great quantities. Only a modest chance will we have of success; one cannot guarantee certainty in this craft. And even if we do succeed, know that the ointment will reduce the heatflow to your body but not completely stop it. There may be no gems worth the taking except at depths for which even the protection is insufficient.'
'You stated you are willing to risk all on one chance,' Alodar said. 'For my quest, so am I.'
'And finally if you do stagger to the surface laden with wealth,' Saxton persisted, 'do you think that others will stand by and let you remove it? How well can you wield your sword to protect the fruits of our labor?'
'I received modest training as a small boy,' Alodar said. 'But I am willing to undertake more, if that is what is needed.'
'Oh, by the laws, you have my interest and know it,' Saxton said as he looked again at the scraps in his hand. 'The parchment smells old, the script looks ancient. If any formula is to make my fortune, then why not this? But the effort will be a great one, and many hours must we toil before it is done. Even to get one vial at the end, it looks as if we must start with no less than a thousand of the first step; and as you see, I am ill-equipped to perform repetition with much efficiency. But yes, I think you must become a warrior as well. I have a distant cousin who instructs sons of the nobles somewhere across the expanse of Ambrosia. Cedric is his name, and perhaps he would teach a novice alchemist as well.'
'I have heard of him,' Alodar said. 'His skill was praised in the bailey of Iron Fist.'
'Very well then,' Saxton said, 'we will proceed as follows. You spend your days with the soldier's toys while I continue my usual routine with mine. After all we must still earn the coin that keeps our minds alert and heart's blood pumping.. During the hours of darkness, we will work to produce the caloric shield. Hopefully, by the time the ointment is ready, you will have sufficient skill to protect whatever treasure is found as well.'
Saxton stopped and looked out through the high windows. 'Tomorrow you can seek out Cedric,' he said, 'But by the looks of the shadows we may as well begin now the first evening's labor. Let me see, I said we must prepare to activate the first step a thousand times. That would mean we need no less than twice that number of spider eyes all neatly cut free and dipped in honey. You begin with them while I start to set up the rest.'
'Spider eyes,' Alodar groaned, 'and two thousand. But that could take months all by itself.'
'Persistence,' Saxton said, raising his index finger. 'Persistence is the primary attribute of the alchemist.'
Alodar looked up at the sun high overhead and yawned. He had wielded the tiny scalpel for the better part of the night and getting proper directions had taken most of the morning. But at last he was headed out of the
