Before we really go off into too much detail, I think I ought to let you, dear reader, know exactly where this story is coming from. I'll tell you. A neophyte Keeper, in his chambers. My journey to this place has been a long and strange one, and that's what I wish to share with you. Perhaps get it "out of my system" as one might say, so that I can go on with my new life here. So even though this story may be more for the teller than the reader, I ask you to bear with me, and I will try not to bore you too much.

It all started when my father was hired as a servant to a certain Lord Tahnit, who lived closer to the edge of the city, on the south side. I was in my early teens at the time. He was a wonderful man, this lord. Although my father raised me and cared for me, it was Lord Tahnit who was my benefactor. At any rate, I would often tag along with my father and help him with various things; fetching water for the horses, helping him dust various areas. At first, Lord Tahnit didn't know, and when he found out, he wanted to know how long I had been in his service, so he could pay me for the help I'd given him. This was the kind of man that he was. So that is how I first came into his service.

One time, I was asked to dust the library. I had never heard of such a thing, and so the head servant told me to go to the room with all the books in it, so I ran off there. I was completely enchanted with them from the start. I opened one up, and all the symbols and letters, the artwork in some of them just thrilled me. It was like a complete other world, a hundred or more of them all contained in this one room. I started to teach myself how to read them. Obviously, I didn't manage it all in that afternoon, but I tried to clean around the library, so that I could sneak inside and have another stab at them. Then the master himself caught me in there, duster in one hand, book in another. I was terrified. I thought for sure that I had gotten both my dad and myself fired.

"I'm so sorry! I just... they all looked..." I said as I hurriedly shut the book and put it on the table in front of me.

He calmly walked over to where I'd lain the book down. Terror crept over me. I wanted to bolt out of the room as fast as I could, but my feet wouldn't move. As afraid as I was, I was also curious as to exactly what his reaction would be. He picked up and examined the book.

"This is rather complicated material. Do you understand it?"

"S-s-s-some, yes."

He raised his eyebrows as he turned his attention from the book to me.

"Relax, child. You aren't in trouble. I'm just rather amazed by this. Is your father literate?"

"What?"

"Can he read?"

"N-n-no, sir."

"Who taught you then?"

"N-n-no one. I taught myself."

His eyes grew wide at this, and he pulled himself a chair, sat down, and pondered in silence for a moment.

"Put away that duster. Give it to someone else, it is no longer for you. From now on, you have full access to this room, and I will arrange for you to stay here on the estate with me. For now, go home. Come back early tomorrow morning. I will have you meet with my scribe who will begin to educate you in these books, so that you may fully understand them.

Let me tell you, boy. You don't know how happy this makes me. I used to love these books, once. Now with this whole estate to manage, as well as keeping the money coming in so I can keep everyone paid and fed, I seem to have drifted from them. Now I know that these books will be read, and looked after. Not to mention a talented young man in my service! Actually, wait here. Let me write up a letter for your parents, explaining that I want to keep you here and educate you. Please, wait here. You may return to your book."

He then got up and left the room. I was in complete shock. Here I had thought that I was all but dead, and instead he wanted to take me in, educate me, have me live in his home. I sat down and opened the book, but couldn't read for all the thoughts going through my head. What about my parents? I'm sure Lord Tahnit wouldn't mind if I visited them from time to time.. or would the books be my life now? So many questions, so much excitement. He returned shortly with a note to deliver to my parents. They were thrilled. We'd never had much, and were all peasants, and here my father's employer wanted to take me in and teach me. Of course, my mother was crying when I left early the next morning. I wanted to cry as well, I nad no idea what lay ahead of me, but I was becoming a man now, so I held back and went off to my new home.

The scribe was less than friendly at first. After hearing about what happened, he was convinced that I was trying to steal something, got caught, and shammed his master into thinking that I was some kind of genius. He too, was amazed when he saw that I actually could read, albiet crudely. We became good friends, and he was an excellent teacher. Lord Tahnit stopped by the library daily to see my progress, and was always impressed. I saw my father occasionally, but it was a few months before I visited home again. Sadly, I was becoming estranged from them. Thiers was a life of servitude and simple chores, while I was living in books and knowledge.

Okay, enough of that. I promised I wouldn't bore you, and I can fell you ready to yawn from here. So I'll get to where things get interesting. Almost a year after I moved into the estate, Lord Tahnit summoned me to his chambers. This had never happened before. Typically if he wanted to talk to me, he'd find me. I was quite curious as to what it was about. So I went up and knocked on the door, and was summoned in.

"Ah, Mishkal (oops, forgot to tell you, that's my name!). Please, have a seat. I have something very important to discuss with you." He said as he finished some writing. He then stared off blankly as he would often do trying to think out exactly what he wanted to say.

"I have a job for you. A very important one. Please, give me a moment, I'm trying to think of what you need to know... Well, let's just say that things aren't all wonderful and tidy around here. You see, I have come into quite a bit of wealth in my day, but unlike the rest of the rich in this town, I don't really feel all that superior, and I don't go for all the baubles and socials and everything else these taffers like to spend their money on. Really, that's all there is to it, but people like to make things complicated. I seem to have aroused quite a bit of suspicion here. Certain rumors about where my money comes from have started to circulate, and this worries me. I want you to deliver this message to a certain... professional who can research my standings here, so I may know the gravity of the situation and how to deal with it.

"I want you to take this note, and a cloak which I'll bring to you shortly. There's a tavern that I want you to take it to, unfortunately, it's almost clear across town. Don't worry about finding him, he'll find you. He knows that I'm looking to hire him. Now, I want you to remember that this man is... in a line of work that is not well looked upon, and this note from me to him could prove costly to me if it were to fall in the wrong hands. That's why I'm asking you to do this tonight. I need someone with their wits about them. Whatever you do, make sure that note gets to him. Make sure no one else sees it. Now to your clothes..." he said, as he got up from his chair and went to his bedchamber.

This had me quite excited and nervous. I had occasionally delivered messages for him before, even wrote a few. But never under these circumstances. He came back with a dull shirt and a long, hooded black cloak.

"Here. Change into these and leave as soon as possible. I wish you the best of luck."

So I thanked him, changed, and headed out. The streets were almost deserted. I was too nervous about my task to trust walking openly in the street, so I stuck to the shadows. I discovered that if I moved carefully enough, the people around wouldn't even see me. At first I thought that they just weren't paying attention, but I was to discover that I had what the Keepers call "The Gift." I managed to make my way across town unseen, and approached the tavern that he spoke of. I thought I had seen seediness when I was poor and living with my parents, but this place showed me there was a whole other side of life I'd never seen. I did my best to look completely bored and simply went about my business. I ordered an ale at the bar, was served, and then a man dressed similar to how I was now sat down next to me.

"I believe you have something for me." he said.

"Yes, I do." I replied. I wasn't sure if this was my man, but so far everything was going as Lord Tahnit said, so I tried to relax. But something about seeing him... I instantly had this feeling that things were going to go very wrong.

"Well, grab your ale and follow me."

So I did just that, and handed over the note to him as we sat down at the table. He opened it, grinning from ear to ear as he read it.

"Tell your master that I accept his offer." he said as he folded the note and put it in his belt. Again, the weird feeling crept over me. As if the note shouldn't stay with him. "And if you'll excuse me, I have some work to do. Keep checking around here over the next few days. I'll keep you informed as I come across things. Right now, let's say the issue doesn't seem serious, but it could get worse if he doesn't enhance his image a bit."

Then he got up and left. As soon as he crossed the threshold, the feeling in my gut had risen to near terror, I could feel the hair standing up on my neck. I knew this was going to go very wrong. I quickly downed a gulp of my ale and took off to follow him.