the next babling. arrg. I need to get past this and get some action going.

Thanale nodded. ‘Who knows we may have some together. What are you going for? My family thinks I am nuts but I want a pass to go deeper into the lost lands. We work the edges now, but I want to see more.”

Shaid laughed. “Same. That is I want a lost lands pass. I want to see the things I have only read about, and maybe some thing no one has seen. I know it is dangerous, but it is where I need to go.”

Mr. Woodright shook his head. “You two are quite a pair. They are going to have their hands full. I expect when we are back here this summer you are going to be completing each others sentences. I will oull him away so you can get a bit more done before you diner guests arvier but word of warning he is going to be over in the next few days to go through your books.”

Shaid smiled. “Only if he lets me go through his in retrun. It was nice to meet you sir.” She held out her hand and he took it without hesitation.

“My pleasure dear. I look forward to getting to know you better this summer. Sadly we will be pulling out in the morning as we have a contract to meet.” Shaid saw them to the door then went back to take a closer look at the gifts. Convinced that she had gotten the deal, even with the coins she slipped in. She did hope they would like the curtains as well as she liked the furniture.

Looking around she was torn. Her father would love to know they were here. But she was not his spy. Finally she decided to contact them. Going through Alter might win him some points, he could say one of his contacts had told him, that he had contacts so well places would go over well.  She would need to send an image as well. All of the pieces had their family mark on them she picked the desk as she loved it. Standing by it She sent her mind after Alter, they had talked this way before buit not over such distance. Still those past converstions had built a light link. She taped him, like someone taping you on your shoulder when wanting a word, then waited.

He responded a bit startled. ‘Yes? Who? Shaid? Is everything all right?’

Shaid answered. ‘Yes everything is fine. I am in Secore, and getting settled. Just have a bit of news to share. You can tell father it came though a contact of yours. The Woodright family has bought a family house here. I think it safe to say they will have a stall. That will cut the coast and increase the profits a bit.’

She could hear him call out. “Father, you might want to here this. I have just heard from one of my contacts that Woodright’s have set up a family house in Secore. If I recall rightly where they set up a house they by a stall.”

Her fathers voice came though as though he was in a tunale.  “Is there proof?” Shaid sent the image of the desk, focusing on the mark. Then she had to send an overview of the desk, just to show it off. She sensed Alter sharing the images. “That is there mark but. Wow get a load of the size of that. They make desks? That couldn’t have been hauld far. Yes indeed anther reson to go to Secore and spend some time. Anyidea when?”

Shaid sent. ‘All I can say is that they will be back though in the summer. Secore has a big mid summer sale in Jewl moon.’ She heard her brother repeat it.

Her father said. “That works out just fine. We should be there and ready by then. Good job boy.”

Alter asked. ‘Where did you see that desk? It looks lovely. Think I could get a closer look?’

Shaid answered. ‘It is in my study wait here is an over view. The book cases and chairs are from them as well. I offered curtains and they brought this. Needles to say I slipped some coin into the box of curtains. But Mr. Woodright has promised to get even with me. What ever that means. They are my neighbors. One of their sons will be going to school with me. Sounds like we will have some classes together. If you get a chance tell Anders family he is well and would love to see them, if only they could stop talking about marriage offers. He is happy with his life here. I thought you would be coming in the spring?’

Alther said. ‘I will let them know, but can’t make any promises. You are going to let me visit. We will be gating there after the Salem sale, so should get there about the end of Flower. He has been talking of a trip to Caster, so that could be why he expects to be in the area at Jewel. No doubt he will make a point now he knows there is a big sale.’

Shaid said. ‘I will inivet you over some evening after the others pull out. You can wait that long. Now then I had better get back to work. Anders and a few friends are bringing me supper inexchange for a look at my books. I want to get a few on the selves, now that I have them.’

Alter said. ‘Have fun, whish I was there. I will let you know if anything changes. So you know when to expect us. He is going to buy a house. Hoping for the one we rented.’

Shaid said. ‘It was open when I was in the office, but it is close to the city now so might be getting moved soon. Thank you for being willing to warn me, but don’t if it is going to make things harder on you. I don’t want you getting in trouble over me.’

So far he has said nothing about you to me. I am not sure what he is thinking. You have a good evening.’ Alter let the contact drop and so did Shaid as she turned her full attention on the unpacking. This time she heard the knock on the door. She went and opened it.

“Hi, did you have any trouble find the place? I didn’t think to ask if you knew how address worked for these houses.”

Sandy said. “Solved that and just followed Greg.”

Shaid blinked then the name registered. “Anders the name thing is going to drive me batty one of these times. I just can’t get my head around the fact that you are Greg now. Come on in. I fear it is a mess, and you are going to have to dig though some boxes if you want to see all my books.  I did get a few unpacked.”

Sandy said. “We had better eat then look at them.”

Shaid said. I have the table set up just off the kitchen right though here. It is a bit miss matched but I think I have chairs for everyone.  Though will have to get the plates and stuff out of the boxes. I haven’t touched the kitchen stuff yet.”

Sandy said. “No problem. John you want to get the plates, I know you are wanting to open the boxes.” One of the boys with her took off and started opening boxes. Now just get plates and dinnerware then bring them to the table. I am sure Shaid will let you put the other away after we eat. I bought him simply because he loves to unpack. I hope you don’t mind.”

Shaid said. “Not at all. If he is willing to put things away it will be a big help. I had forgotten how much work goes into making a house livable.”

John grinned. “Thank you.”

Shaid laughed. “No thank  you.” She led them though the other door where the table was.

Sandy and a couple of others set the items they were carrying down and she began to uncover the dishes. By the time she was done John had the table sat. Everyone found a chair and filled their plates. It was slilent for a bit, then Shaid said. “I was talking to Alter he said that Father is plaing on come this way the end of Flower and stay for at lest a bit of Jewel, though he might make a trip to Carter during that time.”

Anders shook his head. “So he is planning on buying in I bet. Well no help for it. There wasn’t much chance I would avoid him anyway. What are you going to do?”

Shaid said. “Stay here and run my stall. Well I might make a few road trips. I want to get to know the area, but I am not going to hide, he will just have to deal.”

One of the others said. “I hope it is not rude, but where did all this come from, How do you get it in a wagon? They don’t look big enough. I always wonder at the amount of goods to be found in a traders stall.”

Shaid smiled. “The furniture was not in the wagon, some was in the house other was a gift from my neighbors.  But the boxes were all in the wagons. One we do not stay in the wagons ourselves unless the weather is real rough and we can’t find a decent cave or other shelter. So that lets us fill them pretty full. Then there are spells on the wagons that make them a bit large on the inside then out. I also have addition spells on the wooden chests that will let them hold more.”

“You have Daboule chests? Really?” a young lady said excitedly.

Anders said. “Anna means Alcoreins, they just know them by a different name here. The Akcorn peoples are myth more than fact.”

Shaid said. “Well um not exactly. I do have one that I bought from a junk seller who had no idea what he had. But the spell is two complex to monkey with. So my others have a lower capacity letting one chest hold roughly double the amount it should for its size. It is a similar spell, but safer to copy. That is one I am sure of what each part dose. I need to know a bit more before I try the large spell. One of things I hope to find in the lost lands one day is a few expiations of Akcorn spell work. I know there are some. As some books make reference to them, but to knowledge no one has found any.”

“You spell the chest? Can you make me one. Something like that would be ideal for a dorm space. Or are they a trader only thing?” Anna asked.

Shaid said. “No secret in fact I have been wanting to see how they would sale but couldn’t before. I hope to get over to Westvain and get some chests from Norlein to try with, but if you have a wooden chest I can spell it for you. It has to be wood though the spell doesn’t work right with other materials.”

Anna said. “I will wait tell you get some Norliens in. I love how they make them. I think you will find they sale Chest are popular around here, and the spell will make them more so.”

Fred said. “I haven’t seen a spell like that in any book I have found where did you find it?”

Anders answerd. “One of the wagon makers let her watch as he finshed up. Shee took the spell and changed it to work on the chests. Or so I gathered from the much more involved expiation she gave me when I asked. I know they tried to higher her but Father wouldn’t here of it. I do believe she slipped way and spelled a few wagons for them anyway.”

Shaid said. “I had to pay for the lesion and the guy wouldn’t take my coin, nor did he care to learn the new spell. So I helped with a few orders when I could. Seemed fair to me, between us we came up with a better spell for the wagons, one that made the pest repelling a part of the expansion. Still needs to be recharged but it is easer now.”

Fred said. “Will you show me the pest repel some time? I would love to see how it compares to the ones I know.”

Shaid said. “Sure, I think I might even have that book. Judging from the empty plates I take it everyone is done. John just put things where you fell best, if you are sure you want to unload the boxes. Guys you might want to bring your chairs. I only have two in the other room, and there are a good many books.” John had ran to the kitchen before she had finished speaking.

Sandy looked after him and shook her head. “That boy loves to organize things. You just made his week. I hope you won’t find it to hard to find your stuff.”

Shaid said. “I’m not worried. I can always cast a finding spell if nothing else, but I really don’t think it will be that hard.”

Anna said. “You make it sound like spell casting is an every day thing.”

Shaid shurged. “You mean its not? I guess it would be if you haven’t grown up with it. Ah there are the books. The Compten books are on that shelve there. I did get them and a few others out of the boxes. You are welcome to go though the boxes, but pleas put them on a shelve not back in a box.”

Anderson laughed. “So it was all a ploy to get help unpacking. I see. Sadly it will work, as I have to see just what you have picked up since I was last able to go through them.”

Shaid said. “Well it’s not like I didn’t start unpacking. No one is forcing you to dig though them.”

Fread looked at the boxes. “Have you read all these? Are they sorted by subject?”

Shaid said. “No there are some here in languages I can’t read yet, and not all of them are interesting to me. There are to some existent, the spell books should all be in those boxes there. But sometimes I don’t get a new purchase sorted in the time we are camped. I usually take the winter months to go through and repack.”

Sandy said. “why do you have books you can’t or don’t want to read?”

Shaid said. “Well umm there are some traders that go out of their way to pick up books for me. I never turn any down. I will sale the ones I know I am not interesting, but will not part with ones I can’t read. They might be important once I learn the right language.”