The guildhall was busier when Ehlissa returned that night and when a
large group of guildmembers left the building she almost turned and
left with them. She changed into her student hood and gown in the
cloak room and made her way back to the Hall of Many-Colored Panes. A
class had just ended and the main hall started to flood with junior
guildsmen. Ehlissa spotted Gleed amongst them and turned quickly so
her hood would conceal her face, hoping he would not spot her. She
heard his loud voice, but he was busy talking to his friends and did
not seem to notice her. The side hall before her was as good a place
as any to hide from Gleed, though it took her closer to the door she
dreaded reaching.
This time the quietness of the hall was some comfort to her and she
loitered there for some time, pretending to admire the statuary and
the stained glass. When she noticed someone was standing beside her,
she jumped with a small cry of alarm.
"I am sorry," said the old, wizardly man who kept the office next to
Bastro's. "I did not mean to startle you. I noticed you were
admiring this particular piece," he said, motioning with skinny
fingers at the statue of a chain-clad warrior standing with his ****eld
before him. "I advise you not to touch, though. These statues can
come to life, if you know the right command word. They are the
defense system for this hall."
Ehlissa stepped back from the statue and the old man chuckled as he
walked away, his footsteps echoing in the silent hall. Once he was
gone, Ehlissa's resolve returned at full strength and she made for
Bastro's door.
Bastro Felgosh's eyes seemed to bulge more than normal when he opened
his door and he smiled a big smile that showed crooked teeth. He was
wearing a long, black cote and hose of fine linen, bereft of his
senior guildsmen gown and hood. "Ah, so glad you made the right
decision. Come in," he said.
Ehlissa entered. Bastro gestured to the couch, but Ehlissa remained
standing. Bastro just stood there in front of her with his hands
clasped in front of him. "I will take you up on your offer," she
said, "but will offer you nothing in exchange until after I have
learned the spell you promised me." It was a plan she had concocted
in just the last few hours and was, she felt, her best hope of
weaseling out of any promise later.
"Of course, of course," Bastro said, nodding. "That would only seem
fair, would it not? But, one point of order first. Since this is
unauthorized tutoring, it would not be appropriate for you to wear
your guild gown. Would you take it off please?"
Ehlissa ****vered at the suggestion, but decided it was safe to comply.
She was fully dressed beneath her robe in her familiar cote and hose,
similar in style to Bastro's clothes, but much less fine and only
slightly more colorful.
Bastro seemed to look even more approvingly at her, though. "You have
a unique fa****on sense," he said.
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