It's dangerous to alone

The door to the shop opened and closed, and then the sound of someone's footsteps grew louder until they stopped, most likely on the other side of the counter.

-* domin, we have a customer * - said Birdekk, applying an equivalent of nudging.

-* yes, I am aware *- replied he, irritated -* i have almost found it *

-* mark it and serve them *- added the second eldest kin in a stern voice.

The tanai, floating behind the counter and scrolling through a list of plants, let out a soundless sigh and turned to face the newcomer.

-"Welcome to Anh's Book Shop… oh, it's you."- he started with a voice full of forced joy, but quickly trailed off to a more professional tone - "Have you come for the rest of your papers? Now? During the day?"

-” I have further business with you Mr Trawins.” - replied Brandt bluntly. He was dressed in slightly more mundane clothes today, but ones still befitting a rich merchant. Anh visibly perked up.

-” Yes? Anything else to translate?" - he carefully put the scroll down on the counter but as soon as he released it from his kinetic grip, it rolled back up, dislodging the bookmark put there just a moment prior - "You want me to.. copy something? Or are you searching for a particular book? I may have it, or I can try to procure it. That however will take some time.”

-” Nothing of the sort.” - Brandt’s voice displayed a note of reluctance -” I have decided to follow your hypotheses. I intend to visit one of the sites.”

-” I think I have some books pertaining to customs or travel advice when it comes to Maargard and beyond. I can fetch it right away. Not much on the subject of Wildlands, however, and as for the Southwals…”

-” I want you to travel with me.”

Anh did not expect these words. He froze in place, staring past the hoomin with unseeing eyes, unsure how to react.

-* did he just? *- asked Tow

-* out of the question! *- sternly said Birdekk -* we have a good thing going on here! no moves for at least five years!” *

-* we need to go *- countered Thernohh -* the shop will handle being without us for a few weeks *

-* months! *- protested Birdekk -* it will take two weeks to travel to Isdelburg * let alone some forgotten sump in southern maargard *

-* on that topic *- chimed in Tow -* we should go to the wildlands one *

-* we are not going anywhere *- uttered Birdekk

-* domme! * buy us some time * someone here needs convincing *

-* I kind of agree with him *- responded Anh.

-* then you need some convincing as well * because you see, dommy, we need to go there * Check what these ‘Нанофоргэ’ are.*- continued Thernohh -* how they were built or set up *

-* or what they are *- chimed in Tow

-* we are not moving shop! *- angrily responded Anh

-* because what? * this is an opportunity to explore! *- retorted Tow -* likely of the ‘once in a lifetime’ variety *

-* dominant is right *- said Birdekk -* we barely managed to get ourselves out of the gutter * it is not wise to leave this place to chase after something long gone *

-* it is not something long gone *- chimed in Tow -* it is an actual precursor ruin * untouched by the church *

-* well * truth be told * it is a long stretch *- added Thernohh -* but we should investigate * even if only to confirm or deny our assumptions about precursor coordinate system *

Suddenly, there was a brief silence in the shared mind space of Anhs. The last words of Thernohh resonated for a little bit.

-* I hate to admit * that makes sense *- Birdekk finally said -* anh, please inquire what our guest wants precisely * also ask about the fate of the shop * we don’t have anyone trustworthy in this city to take care of the place * also * don’t commit just now * we need to think this through *

Brandt could not hear the council in Anh’s head, even though it took a few moments filled with uneasy silence. When Anh came back ready to continue the conversation, he noticed with a serious dose of surprise that the man was just waiting patiently. Most hoomin didn’t extend the courtesy of waiting for a tanai, when the latter needed to consult their kinfolk. They would grow irritated and take offense at perceived rudeness. Brandt's behavior indicated that he had dealt with tanai before and knew that moments of awkward silence in a conversation meant that there was probably a fierce discussion happening inside their skull.

-” I would very much like to…”- he said in a quiet voice -”...to ask a few questions.”

Brandt spread his arms.

-” Please.”

-” First of all, why me?”

-” Because you have shown a level of competence in the subject matter. Assuming I, or we… find anything, I’ll be needing someone to interpret the results.”

-* can he give a more generic answer *- scoffed Thernohh

-* he is courteous *- responded Greoo -* most likely * he knows some of us are already invested and he indeed needs someone with enough knowledge to interpret the finds * he can also leverage us already seeing the artifact * we are the lowest cost option *

-* for the motivation of vihrs * why won’t he just say so *- Thernohh was noticeably annoyed

-* because courtesy is part of the message for the hoomin* that and the implicit understanding of each other’s motives *

-* how do they ‘implicitly’ know what they want? *

-* they don’t * that is why there is so much strife between them *

-” Right.” - responded Anh -” How long can this escapade take? I can’t just leave the shop alone.”

The man seemed to hesitate for a few drips.

-” I don't rightly know. Weeks. Perhaps a couple of months. However, I will make sure that your shop is protected day and night.”

-* does that quell your worries, Birdekk? *- calmly said Anh

-* yes * assuming we can trust him. *

-* we can *- chimed in Greoo -* he specifically chose us and he is as deep in this as us * and we know he has the money * thus means to keep to his word *

-” Thank you. That was a great worry of mine.” - continued Anh -” I will need to think this through. I’ve been through a lot for the last two years. ”

-” I understand." - smiled Brandt - " I will set off in six days from now, in the morning to be precise, to Isdelburg. You already know how to get a hold of me should you want to join."

The bookkeeper only nodded without saying a word.

-” Six days. I will not be waiting.” - the man patted the girdle of the satchel, making sure that the bands were tensioned, then he turned on his heel and leisurely walked out. Anh trailed him all the way to the door, which the tanai then locked and chained up. To the protestations of Tow, as it was still several hours before the show was scheduled to close.

The dominant then felt a sudden urge to be alone, away from all this, somewhere nice and cozy, just him and a selection of books. But, judging from the heated discussion going on in his head, this urge was to remain unfulfilled for a long while yet.