Duke had finally obtained the information he wanted from the herbalist about Cirrus's drug:
- It's just as we told you, transformed Gibbai flesh.
The dark-haired Matis, still impassive, added:
- But here, the process of making the substance is highly ingenious and difficult to reproduce. Who made this?
- The product seems to be circulating among marauding clans.
- hmm, sounds a bit too elaborate for non-Matis. Vaporization gives the drug more potency, and above all makes it much simpler to administer. It's a wonder they have such mastery...
He said nothing more, and Duke didn't insist, given the difficulty he'd already had meeting this discreet character.
After a long pause in the conversation, Duke bowed to his indecipherable interlocutor:
- Fila Ser...
The homin cut him off as he replaced his black helmet:
- Deles necat.
He soon disappeared into the forest as he had come.
Strange.
Duke hadn't been back to Avalae for quite some time. Between the Yrkanis market and excursions to the lakes, he had taken little time to rest. He wanted to talk to Liosta about Cirrus, but as he couldn't find her, he decided to pay a visit to Staeflina to check up on her.
Arriving at the foot of the tree house, he spoke to the janitor, who hadn't seen Staeflina for a long time and initially refused to let him up.
- I'm telling you she's suffering, I must speak to her without delay, and preventing a Noble Matis like Me from accomplishing His mission for His House and the Kingdom will only get you into trouble, believe me.
Despite his slightly overplayed threats, Duke did not spare himself a few dappers, but was still able to gain access to the upper floors...
Arriving at the threshold of the apartment, he gently picked up the Firm's badge from the floor and looked at it sadly, understanding what it meant. The dust on it suggested that it had already been there for several days. Unfortunately, he expected to find no one there, but went inside anyway to make sure.
Everything in the room was cold and dark. The room was empty and apparently in order. Staeflina seemed to have finally decided to leave without saying a word, despite any compassion Liosta might have shown her. She would be saddened, no doubt.
Duke, lost in thought, didn't immediately see the note left on the bed. As he read it, his fears about Staeflina's departure were confirmed. He even smiled at the very pitoresque style of the young Matisse, who seemed to have learned nothing of the good customs of the Kingdom.
He was about to leave when he noticed the remains of the Karavan artifact in the fireplace. He reached down and pulled it from the cold ashes. Holding it in his hand, he stood up, then looked around carefully... Then he looked at the note in his other hand... He thought for a moment... An idea sprang to mind... What a mektoub he was making!
- It's just as we told you, transformed Gibbai flesh.
The dark-haired Matis, still impassive, added:
- But here, the process of making the substance is highly ingenious and difficult to reproduce. Who made this?
- The product seems to be circulating among marauding clans.
- hmm, sounds a bit too elaborate for non-Matis. Vaporization gives the drug more potency, and above all makes it much simpler to administer. It's a wonder they have such mastery...
He said nothing more, and Duke didn't insist, given the difficulty he'd already had meeting this discreet character.
After a long pause in the conversation, Duke bowed to his indecipherable interlocutor:
- Fila Ser...
The homin cut him off as he replaced his black helmet:
- Deles necat.
He soon disappeared into the forest as he had come.
Strange.
Duke hadn't been back to Avalae for quite some time. Between the Yrkanis market and excursions to the lakes, he had taken little time to rest. He wanted to talk to Liosta about Cirrus, but as he couldn't find her, he decided to pay a visit to Staeflina to check up on her.
Arriving at the foot of the tree house, he spoke to the janitor, who hadn't seen Staeflina for a long time and initially refused to let him up.
- I'm telling you she's suffering, I must speak to her without delay, and preventing a Noble Matis like Me from accomplishing His mission for His House and the Kingdom will only get you into trouble, believe me.
Despite his slightly overplayed threats, Duke did not spare himself a few dappers, but was still able to gain access to the upper floors...
Arriving at the threshold of the apartment, he gently picked up the Firm's badge from the floor and looked at it sadly, understanding what it meant. The dust on it suggested that it had already been there for several days. Unfortunately, he expected to find no one there, but went inside anyway to make sure.
Everything in the room was cold and dark. The room was empty and apparently in order. Staeflina seemed to have finally decided to leave without saying a word, despite any compassion Liosta might have shown her. She would be saddened, no doubt.
Duke, lost in thought, didn't immediately see the note left on the bed. As he read it, his fears about Staeflina's departure were confirmed. He even smiled at the very pitoresque style of the young Matisse, who seemed to have learned nothing of the good customs of the Kingdom.
He was about to leave when he noticed the remains of the Karavan artifact in the fireplace. He reached down and pulled it from the cold ashes. Holding it in his hand, he stood up, then looked around carefully... Then he looked at the note in his other hand... He thought for a moment... An idea sprang to mind... What a mektoub he was making!
---
Ducocinnio Nono, dit Duke NonoNoble Matis, artisan de la maison noble La Firme
Gardien du Royaume et Béni de Jena