This morning, I was walking across the city center from my guild hall in the Round to a shop between the holy orders inquisitors' offices and Taylor’s Tailor shoppe. I had never visited the inquisitors' offices because, frankly, they scared me. But I had been in the tailor’s to get fitted for clothes as a child.

  However, the shop between them was my destination and was the only alchemist shop in the city. All the other alchemist shops in town had burned down over the years or closed due to the disappearance or demise of their alchemist owners. A few retired alchemists were in neighborhoods, but they were under both guild order and city law not to practice alchemy in their neighborhood homes.

  Alchemy was a complex and demanding mage discipline, and their guild reflected that. The master alchemist, whose shop was located in the Diagonal, was highly accomplished and widely respected. Of course, it didn’t hurt that he was the city's last practicing alchemist. The alchemist guild was forced to relocate outside the city into an abandoned stone tower at the edges of the marshes. It was a thick, sturdy stone tower surrounded by unburnable wetlands.

  So it was perfect as far as the city was concerned. I doubt the alchemists loved the swarms of mosquitoes, but there is always a price to pay for magic, especially volatile magic like alchemy.

  As I entered Alexander's Alchemicals, I considered the many dangers inherent in the discipline of alchemy and the risks of being in close proximity to alchemists. The stone building was large, but his front store did not occupy much space. I assumed that the remainder of the building was used for his personal quarters and laboratory.

  One of the first things a customer saw upon entering was a granite countertop that was empty and spotlessly clean. This gave a customer the feeling of meticulous tidiness, which only added to the reputation of alchemists. Behind the counter was a wall of shelves with every kind of balm, ointment, lotion, salve, and analgesic you could imagine. A small selection of magical potions was also on display, but located along the top shelf and out of reach of even tall customers. There would be no quick snatch-and-grabs of these magical potions.

  Two large brawlers stood guard at the back of the shop, which would also dissuade such activities. They were quietly talking to one another near a doorway that was the only visible exit other than the front door. My entrance drew their attention.

  On either side of them and the doorway they stood before were some miscellaneous shelves holding basic supplies, potion vests and belts, basins, splints, crutches, and a wide selection of bandages. It appeared that the master alchemist did most of his business catering to illnesses and injuries. He might be a source to learn bandaging and wound-binding skills that I had inquired about during my encounter with the dire wolves.

  “Good morning, sir enchanter!” The proprietor greeted me as I walked over to where he was standing behind the counter. “And what can I do for you today? Are you here to buy or sell?”

  “Maybe a bit of both, Master Alexander.”

  “Oh! A man of mystery!” He smiled his good-natured salesman smile at me. “Do tell.”

  “I am here because I am completing preparations for my trials at the end of the month.”

  He nodded slowly. “I suspected as much as soon as you entered my shop. You have your guild writ?” He asked.

  I produced a letter from a pocket inside my robes. “Here you go, master,” I said.

  “Please, when business is involved, it is just Alexander.” He read over the letter. “All is in order.” He looked up at me. “Your master told me last week that you would be by and to keep a special eye on you. He would say no more. Two men of mystery!” He exclaimed.

  I laughed. “I fear I am quite a few years removed from assisting you, master, I mean, Alexander.”

  He smiled again, flashing very white and very straight teeth. “Let’s get down to business.”

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  He removed a long but narrow chest from behind his counter, which he opened after setting it flat with the lid facing me.

  “Here, you will find ten potions of minor restoration. Each potion must have all its contents consumed for its effect, and each will restore ten magical casting points for your use.”

  He looked at me and asked, “Will you carry this in a pouch, or do you have a potion belt?”

  “I’m afraid I do not have a potion belt with me, Alexander,” I said. I had a potion belt back in my chambers, but it only had slots for six potions, and I knew I needed a lot more space than that. I was hoping to upgrade it a bit.

  “I see. Would you be interested in purchasing one of my home-made belts or vests? You don’t want to take a chance losing or breaking these precious potions.” He hit me with an even bigger smile.

  “My thoughts exactly,” I replied.

  He walked around the counter and led me to a wall display, where he began noting the benefits of vests and belts. One of the brawlers departed and positioned himself beside the granite counter a few paces from the entrance, while the second remained nearby. The highest quantity of potion sheaths, or what he called holsters, was ten for belts, and I was hoping for something that would carry more, and said as much.

  “Ten is a healthy number, but I had something that would hold more in mind as I head out on journey.”

  “Well then, there’s nothing for it except to look at vest options. They range from ten to twenty, although I only have a few high-end models available in stock. They take much more time to make and have less demand.”

  The pair of twenty-holster vests he had on display came in two very different sizes. Luckily, one was smaller and looked like it would fit me. I asked to look at that one. “Do mages wear these over or under their robes?” I asked.

  “Entirely a personal preference. If you need rapid access to them, wearing them outside your robes makes much more sense. If you prefer a more discreet approach, then under the robes is the way to go.”

  He sure knew how to make a sale.

  “How much for this vest?” I asked.

  “For a man of mystery whom I will no doubt engage in future commerce, a mere ten gold pieces will do.”

  That price would feed a small family for a month or more. But I wanted to remain in his good graces, and it was of excellent quality.

  “Then I shall not even think to haggle with you. I am sure it is a fair price.” I replied.

  “Nobly said!” He exclaimed and walked it over to the counter. “This version also comes with some additional supplies.

  “What would those be?” I asked curiously.

  He placed the potion vest on the countertop next to the open box of restoration potions. He pointed to two large pouches below the rows of twenty potion holsters with a flair and said, “In each pouch are ten small silver potion vials and an assortment of colored potion lids. As you are aware, silver is an inert substance with magical potions, just as glass is, but far sturdier. You can transfer potions from glass vials into these silver ones, affix a colored lid, and be ready to use them on demand.”

  “That is an excellent idea!” I agreed.

  Seeing my enthusiasm, he added, “And, each lid has a distinct impression so that if you find yourself in a darkened place in desperate need of a certain potion, you can feel the lid and identify it as easily as seeing it in the light.”

  “You have thought of everything, Alexander!” I was very impressed and felt that, with the twenty silver vials, I had been given a bargain price for the vest.

  “You are too kind. I have not thought of everything, but I have spent my own time in the wilder regions of the realm and have learned a thing or two the hard way.” He replied humbly, placing his right hand over his heart in a dramatic fashion.

  “You will also note that above the pouches are two rows of five sleeves on each side of the vest. They have been subtly charmed and will hold the potion vials securely.”

  The vest was fastened with five silver-etched buttons and five sewn leather button holes. It was well made and could withstand some wear and tear, which was the idea, given the unforeseen adventures journeymen were likely to encounter on the road.

  I pointed at the box of potions. “If I have any of these remaining, I will certainly transfer them before I begin my travels. Glass potion vials are a little risky.”

  “The glass is rather durable. I have them made special to ensure accurate guild required volumes, and they are a little denser than standard to handle a few modest bumps and scrapes quite nicely.” He leaned a little closer. “But I only ever use the silver vials myself. You don’t want breakage with two dissimilar potions mixing by accident. It could have unexpected consequences.”

  I never thought about that, but it made sense. I had a disturbing thought. “What if you drink two different potions, one after another?”

  He gave me a calculated look. “That is a very introspective question for one so young. I’ll answer it like this. There is always a chance that potions could react to each other, and occasionally quite explosively. However, generally, once a potion is consumed by a living creature, its magical properties immediately take effect, so a follow-up potion would not interact. This is never a guarantee, and most alchemists suggest waiting a good hour before consuming a second potion, even of the same variety. But it should be relatively safe.” He paused. “Mixing two potions outside a living creature could have unpredictable and sometimes dangerous results, however.”

  “Thank you for the warnings. The last thing I’d want in an emergency was to have potions react with each other inappropriately.” I said seriously.

  “I couldn’t agree more.” He replied.

  He began sliding my new potions into the vest holsters, five to a side on the lower tiers of pouches. “Is there anything else I can do for you?” He asked with a wink.

  This was the opening I was looking for, but I need to be slow and cautious. A master alchemist would be highly suspicious by nature. It was a survival trait whose absence would not lead to a long life in their field.

  Or my own if what I had in mind worked out…