The court alchemist had grown even older, more stoopedwith leathery, stretched skin and watery eyes from too many late nights overcandles, but he cert...inly hadn't lost his sharp bargaining skills or his wit. "It's quite a thought , Ashwin, this notion of nushadir thatcan corrupt the surface of base metals with such power," Edern allowed, "butI've not come to compare strategies of metals. I am looking for an apprentice." Ashwin straightened a bit. "Indeed. An apprentice, you say? Perhaps I. Albert drew deeply on the cigarette between his dry lips, and then exhaled without breaking his intent gaze on the road ahead. Frankie and Albert had travelled many miles like this and they had many miles to go before they would reach their destination. All that lay between the start and the end of their journey was the dry desert which ran on and on, never changing and which cradled them in heat. The travelling had been punctuated only by the occasional stop for gas and food at the lonely. I told him to accept 7000 for both together. We then pretended to negotiate and then I told him I am taking the cows and paid him. I then untied the ropes from the tree and pulled both the cows on their feet. I then commanded them to obey my words correctly or else I will not hesitate to beat them. I am their new master and if they disobey or try to walk straight, then I will kick their ass and udders. Ritu and Maya got scared and stood up in the cow position. I then pulled the rope and came to. She knew about what hadhappened in the morning. She was clearly involved in some way."How the fuck do you know about that?" No need to swear, Tony, it's not a nice thing for a future young ladyto do."She'd called me a young lady, but that wasn't really the story now. Atleast, I opted to completely ignore it.She liked my bed, so that had to mean that I now had hers. Sure, it wasquite plain, but by her age I guessed that she wouldn't have a childishbed cover. I could actually believe that this.