The afternoon sun shone down gently on the broad, tree-lined avenue as Enim marveled at beautiful mansions, quite different in style from the quarters around the inn. This was almost like a little town unto itself, somewhat removed from the main settlement, cultivating its own style and atmosphere.

Enim found Manaam's house easily.

A middle-aged woman opened the door and led him into a parlor full of polished wood and delicately painted paper screens. She would go and see if Manaam was available.

Enim nervously paced across the room, his fists clenching and unclenching.

Then the double doors opened. Manaam came strolling in with leisurely elegance, his flowing silk robe cut low to reveal the graceful line of his collarbones. He offered his welcome to Enim in a resonant, genial voice. And in Kokish. A wave of relief washed over Enim. He liked Manaam instantly.

And Manaam seemed just as pleased as their conversation carried on. "Having someone of your skill level in Shebbetin is a blessing," he praised. "You won't believe how I had to chase after artificers in the lowlands a few years ago, just to get a proper locomotion traption for my mine. None of the artificers wanted to come up here. Finally, I found one who constructed it down in Behrlem, leaving it up to me to get it back here in one piece and install it inside the mine. Which has stretched local competence to the limit, I can tell you."

Manaam opened an ornate wooden chest by the wall and thoughtfully peered in. "Ah! Here." He fished out a large, rolled-up parchment. "This is the glorious deed. Or at least the theory of it." He unfurled it on the table. "I confess I have no idea what any of these mean." Manaam vaguely waved a hand over myriad fine lines, interspersed with small pentagrams and tiny scribblings. "But I suppose you do?"

Enim licked his lips. He stepped up close and began perusing the scroll with furrowed brows. With a soft touch, his fingertip followed the slings and crosses among the lines, ventured deep into the labyrinth, trying to find its heart.

The silence stretched.

Then Enim looked up.

A secret smile crept into his eyes.

"I do."

Manaam took Enim to see the real thing right away.

The mine was well lit where they stood, with magical lanterns set up all around the traption.

"I have someone who can do routine things like this," Manaam related. "Changing the vim stone. But since you are here anyway for your introductory tour, I guess I might just as well employ your services." He chuckled slightly. "You will have other things coming your way, I warn you. Some of the owners here are less concerned with having the most advanced traptions, and only when their old ones grind to an actual halt do they call someone in to check." Manaam laid a hand on Enim's shoulder. "You will find a lot of interesting work here. Things you have never seen before. Traptions older than yourself," Manaam finished with a grin.

Enim's brows shot up. He was not sure whether to take that as a joke. Traptions had changed so rapidly in the last few years that one almost three decades old— "Here you go," Manaam interrupted his thoughts.

He had already taken the lid off the traption's case.

The lower half of the huge brass globe was filled with a cobweb of spun glass, holding glinting crystals in its midst. Enim crouched down, trying to find the pattern from the scroll in this delicate labyrinth. And he did. At least vaguely. Enim could not remember exactly which spell was embedded in which crystal. Except that if the pattern started there at the back...

Lost in his contemplation, Enim realized only belatedly that Manaam was holding out a hand for him, with a perfectly cut amethyst lying in his palm.

"Right." Enim took the crystal, rolling it gingerly between his fingers. He wanted to get a better grasp of things before he actually intervened. He straightened up, his eyes darting from the cloud of glassy threads to the huge cogwheels on the wall, and the chain descending down into the depth of a tunnel. Wagons full of debris patiently sat on their rails, holding on to the chain, waiting to be moved.

"So this is where the power goes," Enim murmured.

"Ah. Yes." Manaam had nothing much to add to the obvious.

Miners were peeking around the corner, checking if things were going to get moving again soon.

"Right." Not so hard. It was only to replace a vim stone. You usually did not even need a full-fledged artificer for that.

Enim cleared his throat.

He pulled his wand from his belt. At the heart of the invisible web, an amethyst identical to the one in his hand gave off a dull gleam. Enim's eyes narrowed as he pointed straight at it. He spoke just one word.

Noiselessly, the crystal floated out and landed softly in Enim's bag. At the same time, Enim sent the stone in his palm into the air, with one more flick of his wrist. And in one fluid motion, without ever disturbing the intricate pattern of gossamer threads, the amethyst settled into place, as softly and delicately as a snowflake. Enim held his breath, as if to preserve the silence and the fragile tenderness of the cobweb.

But suddenly all hell broke lose.

Rattling and clanking, the cogwheels above his head began to move, the chain sending echoing groans down the tunnel. Miners shouted and waved at their comrades.

Enim shot around. His eyes darted from the rumbling chains to the sparks flaring in the crystals. But a hand came down on his shoulder to pull him away.

"You'll have time enough to study these later," Manaam shouted over the din. It was he who had set the traption in motion. Since the vim stone had obviously been replaced, Manaam had deemed it best to let work continue immediately.

Enim exhaled deeply.

Glancing back at turning cogwheels and massive stone, he allowed himself to be led away.

They climbed up the innards of the mountain until they reached its gaping mouth and crawled out into the open. Enim raised his arms to the sky. Fresh, clear mountain air once again filled his lungs. Enim felt the wind in his hair and watched the sun sneak in pale rays between the passing clouds.

"Very well!" Manaam pocketed the old vim stone that needed refilling. "I think I should give a dinner party in your honor, Enim. That way you will meet some of the other owners and can offer your services to them too. I am sure you will be welcome."

Enim nodded. A smile was beginning to spread across his face. Maybe starting his new life was not that difficult after all!

He whistled at a passing bird.

Perhaps some of these other matters that had disturbed and confused him could be sorted out now as well? Such as the pouch collection point. That, at the very least, must be easy to settle straight away, right?

Enim said as much as they were looking out over Shebbetin.

Manaam gave him a weird sidelong glance. He cleared his throat. "You can write to Varoonya, of course. But I don't think very much will happen. And certainly not quickly."

"Well." Enim's brow creased. "If it takes long, we should start soon." He tapped a finger against his thigh. "Perhaps in the meantime, the existing weekly courier to Behrlem could bring everybody's pouch, rather than just the owners'? Surely that could be done, even if she might have to lead some extra horses?"

Manaam's face took on a surprised look, then seemed to waver between anger and laughter. The laughter won out, but Enim still sensed a little sting behind it.

"Quite the revolutionary, aren't you?" Manaam assessed Enim with narrowed eyes. "Look here," he finally said, an edge to his voice. "You can suggest all manner of rash action to me. I don't object. I even wish to hear. Feel free to speak your mind in my presence. But, please, don't do it over dinner. I do not wish to get accused by the other owners of having introduced a troublemaker into our quiet little society. Do not rock the boat before even getting in. Don't reallocate the owners' resources before even becoming a member. You do not understand the forces at work here. Be cautious."