They decide on a less . . .ambiguous route

The thing in the end which will determine whether it'll be a mage or a cleric for their scrying needs will be . . .what they took in for hawking the loot.

. . .

“So it’s agreed,” Nightfall sighs, feeling slightly ashamed at her relief. Honestly, she trusted clergy just about as far as she could throw them before as human. Now?

When a deity tried to railroad her into a new life without a by her leave? She was even more jaded than before!

“There isn’t any other choice,” Hilda and Gilda say in duet (as they are in habit of doing from time to time), agreeing with her.

Frankly, they had been kind of leery about going the religious route themselves. Even IF it worked . . . Something about that whole business raised all sorts of warning bells now for the giants.

If successful what would their new patron god (or goddess) demand of them for their favor? In addition to donations and sacrifice?

The idea had been to just join and pay lip service. Thousands and thousands of normal people do it to just open DOORS otherwise closed to them (non-church members being barred from business and other opportunities by local church believers and such).

It was . . .just business, or so the giantesses believe. What was it really, now that they thought about it? How factual were their “facts”.

No, best to avoid it now that they see that they have a pretty good amount of money from their sales.

Besides, the sooner a mage was seen the sooner OTHER issues could be addressed! They needed to get this “familiar” business under control, remember? A few lessons, they hoped, would be the ticket to keeping from turning into griffins against their will (who just happen to be coming into season).

The dragoness may be poking fun at them but why risk it?!

If Nightfall should say in the baptism or whatever (let slip) that she’d do anything to get her cubs back what would happen? Would the Powers that were being invoked . . .take her up on that?

. . .

But no matter. They had the money and they needed to see a decent mage anyhow so it’s all . . .good.

“The mages we shall go,” Gilda and Hilda simply.

Later . . .

“ Agreeable,” the mage finally says, leaning back and blinking a bit at the odd group before him, who are in something of a stupor from the wards of non-hostility/falsehood with his place of business.

It was Old Magic, able to bypass even the marks upon these strangers. Marks that the mage shivers at seeing, knowing at a glance what they mean.

He had . . .dealings with the Faire folk and knew the signs. Still, it was intriguing this group

He’d been up front with them, telling them about the wards. Had been a “take it or leave it” proposition and they’d readily agreed, much to his surprise. Almost desperate.

It had been a surprise, really, that they had agreed without any arguments. He had been VERY surprised at how knowledgable the frost giants had been about magery (most surprised). Frost giants (giants in general) were considered . . .uncouth and ignorant “hicks”.

How should they know that the same warded room worked that the mage involking the wards could seriously damage (or destroy) his or her access to magery IF they abused “the deal”.

In other words, the giants had known that if nothing else the mage (Malkon) couldn’t force them into magical slavery while working with the wards.

Malkon wished to learn more about these frost giants alone (who had a pet gryphon who spoke?!). And what was the deal with this brown haired and purple eyed . . .wood elfin lass? Still, Frost giants alone were . . .difficult at best for business. Prone to break things (and people) if riled up. His parents did NOT raise a fool!

Wood elves? Well . . .there were rumors.

Thus the whole ward deal and how things were as they were now!

“But what about this business of seeing me again after you attend to your ‘personal business',” Malkon queries. “What services would you ask of me?”

1. Imagine the look on his face when Nightfall tells about kidnapped "cubs" and wishing to turn them elfin (as well as her "sisters" the frost gaintesses chip in).

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