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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BoldItalic" data-source="post: 7210244" data-attributes="member: 6777052">A line of cliffs, rising out of the sand sea, appeared on the horizon and the ferry-woman steered towards them in an exaggeratedly zig-zag fashion, while blowing a horn at intervals. Apparently, this was to give plenty of time for the inhabitants to recognise the craft as not being hostile. There was a solitary stone tower visible on top of the cliff and she steered into a small dock beneath it, where they all disembarked. She led the way through a door in the cliff face and into a cool chamber from which a stairway ascended into the tower. The chamber was sparsely furnished with a table and benches and she dropped a pack of her own, that she had brought with her from her ship, onto the table in what seemed a well-worn ritual. She said she would wait for them there, but if they did not return by morning she would leave without them.The stairs rose in many flights through the rock and were lit at intervals by curious cactus-like plants set into niches in the stone. The plants glowed with a strange green florescence that was sufficient to see by as they made their way up the stairs but Adeliva did not recognise them and nor did any of the others. It seemed, as if there were any doubt, that they were in a very strange land indeed.Albert estimated they had climbed about 300 feet when they arrived in an antechamber at the base of the tower that had a window overlooking the sand sea. The light from the window was momentarily blinding after the half-light of the stairway, so they waited a moment to get accustomed to it. The antechamber was furnished like the one below, with a table and benches, but the floor was gritty with sand that had obviously blown in through the unglazed window and not been swept away very recently. It seemed to be a place that tolerated visitors but did not welcome them.A man stepped out of the shadows. He was dressed in a loose robe of undyed linen that was slightly frayed in places; he was evidently careless of his appearance. He spoke with a strange accent, as if he was more accustomed to talking in some native language of his own than in the common tongue. "I am Mirzak," he began. "This is my tower. I do not normally entertain visitors. Why have you come? You seem a curious collection of half-people. Are you abominations that have been sent here to be studied? My slave cages are quite full already. If not that, then what do you want? You there, yes, you, the man with the goat's head. Speak!""We seek to trade knowledge, Mirzak," began Goatee, as diplomatically as he could. "We have travelled many strange lands and we will gladly tell you of them but this is our first visit to this land of yours and we would be grateful for guidance on the customs of your people. We would not wish to give inadvertent offence through ignorance of your customs. I am but a humble keeper of books but my friend here, whose name is Footnote, can explain better than I for he is a musician and a teller of histories. This lady is named Adeliva and she is a druid. We take our two bodyguards everywhere," and with this he indicated Tasha and Albert, "for in many lands not everyone is honest and ferocious wild beasts are commonplace.""I see," said Mirzak. "You travel light, three travellers with but two slaves. But my lady druid, I am remiss. You are most welcome to join me in my home and bring your two companions with you. I will see that your slaves are watered."At this point Tasha boiled over with rage ...</blockquote>

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