The sudden light-loss had brought many changes to this stretch of sea. It affected not only the ordinary people living on the islands, but also the Wizards and the many Wizard Apprentices. As Kurt put it, the ships coming and going from this Trade Island made it far busier than in previous years.
Ruger looked at the richly dressed man, but his thoughts still lingered on the black booklet he had left on the table before departing the Outpost.
He thought he might be able to trade some merit stones for it with the red-haired Wizard. After all, according to his and Mahama's analysis, it was not a privately compiled record. Like a spellbook, it had probably been produced by some Wizard organization, perhaps even the Supreme Council, rather than being a valuable, one-of-a-kind manuscript.
Kurt was just about to step forward and speak.
The richly dressed man suddenly raised a finger in front of himself, as though asking himself to be quiet-or stopping the people before him from speaking.
He smiled slightly. "To be precise, it is an exchange, not a sale."
The man's words made Kurt pause.
Between the attendant's earlier bow and the man's bearing, his identity was already obvious. Kurt simply had not expected him to say something so inexplicable.
Some of those who had stopped to watch whispered among themselves. They, too, seemed surprised that the Wizard who liked to call himself the Silver Hand Viscount had appeared on this island. This was supposed to be one of the least remarkable Trade Islands under his control. Still, there had been rumors that he occasionally visited the various islands to inspect them.
"Lord Silver Hand."
Kurt remained composed and proceeded at his own pace, first bowing politely to show respect for a Wizard more powerful than