Chapter 1: Book of alchemy

I slipped through the crowded streets and shook my head. I always hated the crowds during festival time. The tiny dragon dropped onto my shoulder and one clawed foot pointed towards a tavern. I pushed my way through the crowd and into a crowded common room of the tavern. One look showed me a table with only one man sitting at it.

I crossed the room and sat on the other side of the table, “Alright Silver, why meet here?”

He smiled and pushed a large tankard across the table, “Because I have a guest.”

I lifted an eyebrow, “So?”

Silver sighed, “She likes to listen in on my private conversations.”

I grinned, “And you do not want her to hear this one?”

His face reddened, “No. I need something Earl Tradia ... acquired from Sultan Ghadishah.”

I sipped some of the bitter ale and looked around before snatching a bowl off a tray a passing bar maid held. I poured some of the ale into the bowl and the dragon dropped off my shoulder and walked to the bowl. I grinned as Silver shook his head, “What does this something look like and where would he keep it?”

He looked around, “Either in his library or his strong room. It is a small red journal.”

Silver looked around and leaned over the table, “The pages are made of human skin.”

I looked at him carefully, “Why would you want this book?”

He sighed, “The stupid ... because Sultan Ghadishah killed my old master to get what is written in the book.”

I thought about it and frowned, “I do not like touching something that is for dark magic.”

Silver snorted, “It is not for dark magic. My master took it from a necromancer. It contains alchemy secrets given by shades.”

I sighed, “Why does Earl Tradia have it?”

He shrugged, “He probably heard what it was made of and wants the terrible secrets inside.”

I looked at Silver and narrowed my eyes, “I thought you said...”

He waved away the waitress, “And what was the first thing you thought it was?”

I sat back and finally nodded, “Fine.”

I glanced at the dragon as it burped a small flame, “I will see you after I get it.”

I slipped a hand under the dragon and shook my head before slipping it inside my shirt. I pushed my way through the crowded streets until I could slip into shadows. I took the dragon out and looked at it, “Are you okay?”

It crawled up onto my shoulder and I turned to make my way into the richer section of the city. There were still people here but mostly inside the large estates. The one I stopped in front of was dark and seemed to have an aura that stank of evil. I slowly walked around the estate and shook my head. There was a curtain trap around the estate walls.

The servant gate was not only free of traps but unlocked. I slipped through and glanced at the path before shaking my head. The grounds were completely covered in magical traps but the path from the servants gate to the servants entry was clear. The entire outer wall of the manor was covered in magic but the servant entry was unlocked, I opened the door and walked in.

In the entry were collars and I grinned before pocketing one. I checked the kitchen and quietly slipped past a cook. In the hall I walked down to a set of double doors ignoring screams from the hall. I carefully checked for traps and used salt crystals to bypass a demon summoning trap.

I picked the lock and walked into the room. I glanced at the bookshelves filled with books and scrolls I did not even want to get close too. Dragon nudge me towards the desk and I looked close to see a small red book. I checked the room carefully before crossing it. I did not touch the desk since it almost stank of blood and evil.