The afternoon and evening pass uneventfully. After a week or more on horseback, everyone is eager to take advantage of Big Burt's hospitality and get baths and clean their clothing and gear. A handful of locals come to the Rooster for drinks at night, but it's a pretty quiet atmosphere.
Big Burt gives the group general directions to both the herbalist and the Enclave, though neither should be difficult to find. At Pyior's suggestion, Nuella the Sly is the first destination. The sibbecai herbalist has a small, single-room stone cottage a short distance outside of town. When the group arrives, however, she is nowhere to be found. A small cooking fire is smouldering, indicating that she was around recently. As her home is along the path to Kisthmetch, Pyior agrees to stop by again later after the visit to the Enclave.
The Enclave, located about half a mile north of the village, is a loose collection of stone and timber buildings of multiple architectural styles. Most are no bigger than a typical house, though one two-story building is substantially larger than the rest. There is no wall around the compound, but there is a loose ring of small stone pillars spaced about a hundred feet from one another that surrounds all the buildings. Pyior notes arcane symbols engraved in one of these.
The Enclave is bustling with morning activities. A young man is chopping firewood, a couple girls are washing clothes, and the smell of bread baking fills the air.
A verrick, dressed in a clean white shirt, dark blue vest, and high quality wool pants, looks up from a book he is reading on the porch of the largest building. Noting the approach of the group, he sets the book down on a small table and retrieves a long staff glazed a brilliant blue color. He crosses the lawn toward the group with purpose and confidence.
"Welcome to the Sharden Enclave, travelers," he says with a short bow to everyone. He notes Pyior's staff and gives the faen a polite nod of the head in recognition. "I am Shaddeck, one of the resident scholars. May I ask what business brings you here?"