"Now then," (Patreon)

I continued, "this next part will be tricky.  You will have to gather very specific ingredients in very specific ways.  I suppose I should apport a quill and some parchment to write it down for you."

"No need to trouble yourself, my lord," Venatrix grinned as she and Barkingthwaite both produced notebooks and pencils from their pockets.  "We are scholars first and foremost.  Our original intent when coming out here was to document the ruins."

"That was MY intent," Barkingthwaite corrected.  "Your was to meet the White Elf."

"And which did we wind up doing, my dear?"

Barkingthwaite simply nodded.

"While we are here," Venatrix continued, "with notebooks in hand, perhaps you might be willing to give an interview?  It would be fascinating to document an elf's point of view.  You could issue a definitive correction to the recorded lore."

I did agree that a published interview might attract more followers and make my name more relevant to the public, but for now I needed my helpers to stay focused on their assignment.

"First things first," I replied.  "Perhaps I shall grant you an academic interview as a bonus reward if you complete this next task in a timely manner.  Now then, pay attention.  This will not be simple.  It will, in fact, be tricky.  First you will need mandrake root.  You may have been told that the scream of the mandrake when it is pulled up can drive people mad.  This is true, but if you start yelling at it first then it will be cowed into submission and you may harvest it safely.  Get at least four roots.  More would be better.  I also require a pound of tulge, which is a fungus that grows around the roots of trees.  There may be some in this forest.  A dozen frog's tongues, but they must be collected during the night of a new moon.  I'll also need a dash of oregano ... no, not your standard garden herb.  I am speaking of PHILOSOPHER'S oregano."

"This is most fascinating!" Venatrix exclaimed.  "I suppose it means that Mac is correct about all of his ceremonial trappings, and magick is incredibly specific.  Perhaps one could even say there's a 'science' to performing magick, eh?"

"Please, no puns," I scolded.  "They are not conducive to Gramarye at all."

"Actually, my lord," Venatrix pointed out.  "That was merely wordplay.  A pun is specifically when -"

I gave her a withering glare and she immediately stopped talking.  I finished listing my ingredients and describing thoroughly the methods for obtaining them.

After the duo departed on their new assignment, I proceeded to cast containment spells on the clothing they had brought.  I had to protect my agents from whatever fell magicks Zandar might attempt to throw at them, and make sure she could be safely transported here.  The ornate collar piece especially, I enchanted so that its wearer would be able to speak to Barkingthwaite, Venatrix, and myself - but nobody else.

When that was done, I settled down to wait.

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