Did Seeker not tell you I was bringing my things? I suppose he and his daughter aren't very concerned about material treasures, perhaps he didn't realize. At home I keep this all behind a very sturdy door with trained animal guardians to alert me and show me the intruder. Such measures are usual for adults with established territories.

I'm pretty sure we can keep thieves out.

I don't understand your society or systems at all. If you think so, perhaps it is so. If you are mistaken, it won't be the end of the world. The reason I am attempting this is because Amentans will give much Treasure for eased springs. I feel some Compassion, but Greed speaks much louder to me. If I learn to Enkindle your kind safely, it will bring me enough to make a pile bigger than myself eventually, I'm sure.

It most certainly will, unless you develop more of a taste for physically compact objects.

More compact objects could certainly be good Treasure, or perhaps a territory on this world eventually, but nothing I brought is bad enough that I would throw it out when I am rich.

Some things to note for when I am ready to start trying experiments: Enkindling feels strange and is somewhat painful. It's best if the target is conscious despite this. Side-Effects are very likely and difficult to predict, especially for the first few to be Enkindled. The object of my initial study is to make it so these will be less dramatic, more manageable and informative.

What's the benefit of being conscious? What kind of side effects might people expect? Will painkillers that don't cause unconsciousness help?

I can watch what they feel and adjust what I'm doing better if they are conscious. Being as close to 'normal' as possible is best but pain drugs are probably fine if I've seen what they do to that person before. 

...Difficult to predict. Minor physical changes like a change of eye color, or to the texture of one's hair, or sharp fingernails, or increased height are possible. Balance changes like a shift in sleep pattern or sex drive or comfortable temperatures or desire to exercise or what foods taste best are likely since springing is most centrally a balance thing as I categorize it. Cerebral changes that affect learning or memory skills or attention span are unlikely but cannot be ruled out. There's a chance any Enkindling target may develop some sensitivity to the Song, or the ability to Sing, which could be disconcerting.

You've been emphasizing the variety you need to be exposed to; will it be a problem if the initial waves of volunteer test subjects all spring very badly, to be willing to risk it?

It will limit my ability to learn to make fine adjustments, but if those are the volunteers so be it.

Enkindling is much more delicate after the first time. One attempt per Amentan, for the first year at least.

More delicate?

Multiple sessions... Interact with each other. The changes multiply each other. It's usually not a problem. Working on animals, there is less need to make sure the changes are limited to only a few things.

It'll probably limit the applicant pool if there's no hope of fixing an unwelcome side effect for a year, but you'll still get takers.

Tail-shrug.

I could try to fix something with the understanding that it might make other things worse, but it seems unwise. I could also steer away from one or two specific particularly unwanted side-effects.

Since we don't know what the side effects might be that'll probably only affect people with very specific fears. But there are people who spring unbearably enough they'll risk anything.

This is only for the very first few. Other effects will probably be necessary still, but I could choose which to cause once I know the range. I'll probably be able to say what might happen in more detail when I'm ready to actually try it.

I understand that the littler one, River, is taking money for her concerts; do you have a pay scale in mind?

None, while I am experimenting. I will auction my time afterwards, I think.

All right. That will encourage people to get in early if they can tolerate the risk, to save money.

Yes. I would hire a yellow or two to manage scheduling and collection. Or possibly just let your government arrange it. Your rampant specialization is strange, but convenient.

We've got some government yellows on it.

Is there anything else we should discuss before I go to some train station, or perhaps that lovely garden, an island of green in the grey?

I'd like to accompany you in case anything comes up, will that be all right?

Yes, that's fine. It is only at night that I will want to be entirely alone.

That's no trouble at all.

Shall I just start walking somewhere, then?