"Absolutely. Good luck out there, we're very excited about this."

"Thanks."

She goes to pick up Hagan.

In the promised location.

"They're only giving me four K."

"Ridiculous. They could shake down the peasants for twice that if they put some spirit into it."

"I can make a little extra on my bet and on selling anything I pick up there that people want up here, though that's not really my area. Still. Rather not get eaten by an ooze in my sleep."

"I said I'm in."

"Well, are you packed?"

"Ah huh!"

"All right, time for a ten mile unchaperoned hike followed by spelunking, bring your potion of cure moderate reputational wounds."

Off they set.

"I'm not trying to marry any nice teenagers whose father or brother is a cleric. My reputational wounds can heal with bed rest."

"Oh, I was planning to steal it. My reputation is very important to me and there's this rumor going around that I'm a potion thief, can't have that."

"Oh no. I had no idea, or I'd have stocked up for you."

"I forgive the oversight," she says magnanimously. "You remembered the goggles?"

"Ah huh."

"I am optimistic that this will be fun. After the two hour hike."

"'m looking forward to it, or I'd have told you to take someone else. Try not to get me killed, though, it'll be very hard on the poor people who did it."

"I will try not to get you killed. Would that wreck your secret identity?"

"Probably. Might depend on the details, I guess. Maybe don't tell Fazil and Mahdi I died, if I did, just in case I can save it somehow."

"I'll sit on it for a bit."

"Probably if that happens they'll never let me out again, though."

"Well, if you die and then I don't hear from you I suppose I could try visiting?"

Snort. "I guess so."

"But how will I find the place? Would you say it's distinctive in any way? Are there landmarks? Will the locals be able to give me directions?"

"You just have to close your eyes and follow your heart through the streets of Sothis and you'll bump right into it. And then get tackled by a dozen men in uniform."