Scalpel rubbed his eyes with a forehoof at his blunder, “Apologies Ms Lens, I had expected that you would have sent a message to me, not come bearing news by yourself, so I misinterpreted your presence here.”
Raising his eyes to meet hers once more, he grinned sheepishly, “But now that you are here you can relay my original plan to your associates. Normally I would direct them here to do business, however I am dealing with a client currently…” his brow furrowed into deep-set grooves, “… And I believe the house is being watched by a rather unpleasant entity I have had the misfortune to encounter in my travels.”
Turning his head to look behind the chair, a spark of magic lit upon his horn and a dusty map began to levitate through the air. Turning back he unravelled it before Len’s eyes and pointed with a glowing marker to a specific landmark in the middle of the Whitetail woods not far from Woodswatch.
“This will be our rendezvous point, equal terrain from which both parties will make the trade, It’s a ancient Neolithic site which I discovered in the old maps which had been lost and forgotten for centuries. The place is scattered with numerous groups of ancient stone circles with a titanic perfectly circular boulder in the midst of it, where many antediluvian rites were practiced before even the time of the Sisters. It’s a couple of miles directly south from Woodswatch itself, but far enough that you won’t get sore hooves from the walk.”
He rolled up the map and levitated it to her, waiting for her to take it before continuing.
“My servants will of course clear the area for any unwanted elements beforehand, but during the deal I will maintain nought more than an honour guard in order to offset any nervous tension of your associates.”
He rose from his seat and trotted around the desk, crossing the room to assist Nocturne with the calibration of an electrical device and continuing the conversation through the crackle of tamed lightning, “If I am happy with the trade –and by all accounts if you have given me the right thing, I should be- then I might even let you purvey some part of the grand scene you see in action around you, after all, you like few others seem to have an appreciation for my studies.”
The door suddenly lurched open and one of the Spheres flew through, brushing Len’s ears as it passed before stopping before the doctor and bobbing urgently at him, “Risen Master Tsan states that the client has returned from his journey, he states that the client has definitely returned with something valuable!” Scalpel smiled at the machine and patted it on what would have been its head lovingly. Averting his gaze he looked at Len’s once more, the smile remaining on his face as he did so before speaking once more.
“It seems that business draws me away Dr Lens, I must see to my less than patient client in regards to his… needs. Our meeting will take place roughly an hour before midnight in the specified location, which is a few hours from now, enough time for you to regain your sobriety no doubt…” he gave her a playful wink at this, his face beaming in amusement, “if you have any questions before I depart and my Spheres guide you out please raise them, otherwise I will bid you adieu until later tonight Dr Lens.”
Up above in the mansions ground floor, Tsan stomped over to the returned figure of Amaretto and eyed him up with the dourness that only a cyborg equine could muster, “The Doctor has been informed of your return, he will be here shortly whilst he concludes his work. Please remain here until his arrival.” With this he went silent and positioned himself next to the doorway in which Amaretto had returned from, maintaining a constant vigil on the pony in order that he did not get into mischief. The entire situation was quiet asides from two buzzing Spheres which entered the door in their usual bubbly good cheer, seized a book in a levitation spell, and descended into the innards of the dark house once more.