It is not wisdom but Authority that makes a law.

- Thomas Hobbes

A certain cursed mansion outside Kronenburg.

Vanessa looked at the spreading blood like a red mirror beneath the thug lying on the floor in the entrance hall. “It should make me happy that I did not have to search for the blood sacrifice this time but somehow it doesn’t.”

Iseret leaned against a column and shrugged. “It’s efficient at least. And I am glad that you did not forget to give me your seal so that does not happen to me.”

The shadows bulged and moved and the shadow demon looked at Vanessa, the height difference made it seem like a giant leaning over a small girl but this time the small girl held the reins.

“You can go about your business I foresee no need for you this night.” She made a dismissive motion and the towering shade vanished into the darkness. “I’m only glad that I remembered the name from the forbidden books I read, much to the chagrin of my mother. But when it is not allowed I had to read it, it was the principle of the thing. Today I no longer yearn as much for such knowledge, any knowledge really. It has lost most of its flavor to me. Perhaps the hunger might come back when my revenge is accomplished. A somewhat happy thought for an impossibility.”

“I located many of the ingredients you mentioned. Only the teal grass and the flesh of the sand eel are missing. The latter I can get with the help of Kadira. They are native to the great desert, the first one I think can be gotten from the little alchemist.”

“Thank you! I would not have thought that you would get so much done in so short a time. You truly are a treasure.”

Iseret gave a little flinch at that.

“Did I say something wrong?” Vanessa’s perceptive eye did not miss her friends discomfort.

“No, just some old memories.”

“Then let us send notice to Mrs. Jangres and the girls so that we can get this done. Putting it off does us no favors.”

Iseret nodded, yellow eyes unreadable, and turned to go.

“Wait.” Vanessa sounded unsure and raised a hand, “I don’t want to let you leave while looking like that.”

The snake woman looked at her and then life returned to her eyes. “I am sorry. You did nothing wrong. It’s old things, forgotten things in my past. I will never be completely free of them I think.” then she lowered her head and her hair cascaded past her slightly pointed ears while a fang peeked past her upper lip. “If you are truly repentant give me a kiss.” There was a bit of uncertainty in her voice.

Vanessa looked at her and the cold in her dead veins froze her breath. “You know that I am dead? That cannot will not...work?”

“They call those like me Reborn. And for that to happen...” She slunk closer hugging Vanessa tightly, “...you have to die.”

And there was no jest in her yellow-green eyes.

Friday evening after sundown inside ‘Natural Remedies’ located in the market ward.

Alyssa and Alea were already there when Vanessa appeared. The sun had already set at the time. Mireille was still in the academy trying to cram some knowledge into her smarting brain under the tender ministrations of Vivienne, Valens, and Lucille.

Valeria opened the door for them and inspected Vanessa with a raised eyebrow. “You must be the mysterious brewmistress. You seem a bit young if I may be so bold. Welcome to my shop ‘Natural Remedies’. I’m Valeria Jangres.”

“Pleasure to meet you, my name is Vanessa.”

“You are an elf aren’t you. Not many of those around here anymore.” She grinned to take the sting out of the remark and Vanessa shrugged to show she did not care.

Without much further talk they were shown into the shop.

There were rows of shelves made of expensive-looking smooth dark wood and a counter with a polished stone top. The lighting was partly accomplished through big glass windows, shuttered for the night, and glow globes that lit everything with a warm yellow light. The interior was decorated mostly with the products sold in the shop, colorful liquids bottled in fanciful glass vials, pots, and little stoppered earthen vessels. Everything smelled of herbs and some lightly perfumed candles.

“Your shop looks very nice.” Alyssa looked around in appreciation. “When my mother was still alive she tried for something like this. But this is exactly as she would have wanted.”

“Why thank you!” Valeria grinned and pushed back some stray hairs behind her ears. “It took some time to get here I can tell you. My family has done this since my great-grandfather's time and we moved from Dornenfurt to here just about a generation ago. I might be the first Jangres to make it to the big leagues.” She smiled. “and because of that, I teach in the Academy. Competition is fierce in the city.”

Going further they went through a door behind the counter, a short corridor, and into the lab proper.

“I had this built behind the house in the small garden lot. The house was formerly a cafe you see and they had this nice little walled garden. A shame really but I had to have this built to specification. If I simply integrate it into…” She trailed off. “Not so interesting is it? Here it is.” She gestured around the small room with some large windows and several elaborate chimneys over workbenches and some fireplaces. “I have put what you said you would need on the counter over there. If you use anything else please tell me so we can have an accounting. The only things you should leave alone are locked in so feel free.” She grinned. “I will make you a good price.”

“Don’t believe her.” Alyssa softly interjected earning a withering look from her teacher.

Vanessa sorted the ingredients she had acquired by using Iserets and her own connections lacking as the latter were at the moment.

They began to measure the reagents and arrange the equipment and everyone was focused on the task at hand. Valeria nodded after seeing their competency and said “I will clean up the salesroom. It’s been some time since someone looked through the stacks. I will be back in an hour or so.” And as she turned to go there was someone hammering on the front door.

“Open up in the name of the guard!” The door shook under the impact of an armored fist.

Vanessa was highly irritated and exchanged a look with Iseret. “I grab the reagents, will you safely get out on your own? We will later have to see after Alyssa and Alea.” She got a quick nod and then grabbed the ingredients before dissolving into mist.

Iseret looked at the chimneys and then spoke a short prayer before she grabbed the edges of a fireplace wriggling a bit and then nearly bonelessly vanished into the interior.

Alyssa sighed, Alea looked annoyed and worried.

Outside in the salesroom, a bang sounded as the door was opened forcefully. “Get back from the door and towards the wall. Hands were I can see them, no spells or we will use force.”

“What is the meaning of this? I pay my taxes, I am a citizen of Margrinar in good standing I demand an explanation.”

Alyssa took Alea by the shoulder and both went slowly back to the front. Cyrus sat in the crook of her right arm his long neck coiled around her own. The touch of his cold scales calmed her.

Indistinct murmurs and some shuffling from more people entering came from the main room.

“I have students and their friends in the laboratory in the back. So keep your hands off your weapons, whatever possessed you to barge in here I will give written complaint to your superior and the academy.” Valeria sounded furious- a clanking sounded and she scolded, “Be careful with that!”

The door to the corridor was ripped open and a big man in the uniform of the city guard stood there with a truncheon in his left hand, a badge on his breast glowed with magic light. He sported a full, blonde mustache. “There are two more brats back here!” He called over his shoulder then turned back to them, “Don’t make any sudden movements ya hear! Come over.” He stood back and motioned impatiently for them to come closer. “What is that beast? Keep it under leash or else…”

Cyrus sensing the tension hissed and his tail whipped around restlessly.

“Shh. Be calm my dear.” Alyssa hugged him closer. “He is my familiar. He is protected under the law as if part of my body. This here is Alea von Graufurt a noble. So be more polite!”

The man's face showed an expression of distaste. “Bah. We will see what you are saying when you are judged. It's always the same with you nobles, you think you are so much better than the law.”

“Erkson no chatting! Get them out of the shop so we can properly search the premises.”

Inside the shop they saw Valeria dragged outside by two burly guardsmen, a sergeant stood in the center and directed three more towards the back as a female guard searched through the shelves.

“I am sergeant Thouma. Go outside with Erkson and don’t talk. We will be taking you to the guard station soon.”

“Can we know why?” Alyssa stood protectively before Alea and looked around vigilantly.

“There has been a serious accusation and we will ascertain the truth of it. That’s all you need to know for now. Hurry up there should still be two more in the back?” He raised an eyebrow.

“They simply brought a few reagents and have already left.” Alyssa prevaricated.

“Is that so…” The sergeant nodded to himself. “We will see.”

The mustachioed guard called Erkson shoved them towards the exit causing Cyrus to hiss at him.

“Damn beast. If it makes another move I will…”

“That’s a familiar. Simply guard them.” Thouma looked irritated and cuffed the guard on the back of the head.

“What’s that for Sarge?!”

“We haven’t got all night. Outside with you.”

When they got outside they saw some open windows and people leaned out to look at the spectacle. Several guards clothed in mail and armed with maces and crossbows stood before the shop a female magician among them. The latter was garbed in dark blue robes and held an ornate wand in one hand. She was an older woman with a pinched-looking face and deep crow's feet around her dark eyes that seemed to be perpetually frowning at the world. The public glow lamps shed a dim and uncertain light on the scene. Some snowflakes lazily drifted from high above.

Valeria was led to a carriage with small barred windows, the interior sported two benches affixed opposite each other and she was shoved inside while still protesting.

Alea gripped Alyssa’s arm tightly enough to bruise.

The female mage looked them up and down. She spoke a spell and furrowed her brow. “You there.” She pointed at Alyssa. “Cease any and all spellcraft. Lay down wands or weapons before we have to take them. You will be searched.”

“I have been disfigured by magic and use a small illusion to cover that up. You should see it is only a minor thing, right?”

“That doesn’t matter. No active spells. That’s the rule.”

Alyssa pressed her lips together then gripped the amulet and slowly pulled it over her head. A slight resistance and some bluish sparks signaled the breach of the attunement. ‘There goes Vanessa’s hard work. But it should be repairable…I hope.’

Darkness filled her left eye and runes flickered for a moment beneath her skin. Due to the dim lighting outside, her change of skin color for the left arm and parts of her face were not as obvious. “I hope you have a really good reason for your actions tonight.” Alyssa’s voice contained repressed anger.

Several guardsmen were taken aback at the transformation. Some cursed.

The female magician frowned. “Necromancer? Psha.” She spat. “That gets better and better. Search them. There is no other active magic. The construct though...” She looked at Cecily.

“Is my familiar.” Alea desperately interjected.

“A clockwork familiar? Never heard of that. Take it and box it.”

“If you do that, I will make sure that I will tell Lieseleta Ophelia von Margrinar the exact circumstances where you broke the law of the sanctity of the familiar.” Alea forced out trembling all the while.

“The princess?” Knuckles whitening over her wand she spat, “Search them, leave the damn spider. If anything happens with it though...smash it.” She viciously ground out.

The guards took care not to get too close to the fuming mage and searched the girls taking some potions, her void-orb, and the wand of force she still had with her from Lucien’s, the dead mercenaries, things.

Then they were led to the carriage and two guards entered with them shutting the reinforced doors.

Alea whispered, “What is happening? Are you all right Mrs. Jangres?”

“No, most assuredly not. But we will get to the bottom of this I swear.” Valeria was no longer furious but she still seemed in a cold rage. “If that is the idea of some of my competitors I will...” She softly cursed.

“No talking!” One of the guards looked at them sternly.

Alyssa hugged Alea and Cyrus close. The wyvern was highly agitated and his stinger bled small drops of black poison.

Inside the shop.

Thouma looked up at a shout in the back and hurried over.

One of his guards had pulled a package from a ventilation shaft only a few centimeters wide and tall. Putting it on the table they first inspected it for any signs of magic – a wand was used- and then spread the cloth. There were about a dozen small glass containers filled with blue crystal dust and five that held a reddish crystalline powder.

“Damnation, there is even Blood Crystal. Just as we were told.” The guard who had found the stash exclaimed.

“Gather everything up and then seal the premises. Get some of the Mage-Guard to set a few wards. That’s the break we have been waiting for. Do you know how bad it got when the bluestone dealings were exposed in the Academy? And us none the wiser?”

Thouma looked excited. “We will show those paper pushers always criticizing what the guard can do.”