The door creaked open, breaking the silence of the dimly lit office. Strewn about the floor were various chalk markings and disorganised scrolls, owing to the court arcanist's growing disillusionment with the idea of a stable nation.

Malsveir glanced over his spectacles to spy the new arrival before returning to scrawling a signature on a lengthy pile of papers. His appearance deceived his position; comparing him to a beggar would not be a stretch. He flicked through the rest of the stack on his desk.

"If you're here to be my apprentice, I do not have the time." The door stood open. "Well?" Asked Malsveir, finally taking a proper look at the visitor. Shadowed by the light outside, only their silhouette showed, but their wide hat was unmistakable. "So you've finally decided to talk to me Grivis. What of the offer?" he said, raising an eyebrow.

Grivis walked into the room, bringing into the light their sharp face.

"You've convinced me. How can I help?"

"You know how much of a rotting country this is. We're gonna talk some sense into Hazrith, and I very much doubt he will oppose the opinions of wizards of our calibre."

Another cloudless day. With a sigh, he shrunk back beneath the awning and onto the restbags. Twas a relatively quiet day for the markets, especially the hard to reach floors he dwelled in. Most like, he thought, the sandcat races would be attracting the crowds down to the sands. He felt a poke on his shoulder. His associate, a lady covered in several shawls and light blankets.

"You busy?" She said, her usually drowsy eyes quite expectant for once.

"I'm half asleep. No." He retorted, almost sideways on the large cushion.

"Well come on then, I want to go get some krine pies and see the Malinar!"

"Isn't that thing in Yvl Ana? We're not travelling half the continent plus the central strait."

"It's here."

His eyebrows shot up, disappearing into the folds of his turban. "I'm sorry?"

"Yeah! To be honest, I'd be surprised if anyone else were 'round the streets."

He held his arm up. "Help me up."

She grabbed it and pulled. "You lazy ass."

"You're lucky we share funds." He replied, checking his purse. "Good to go."