Chapter 82: Crazed?
Irwin stumbled forward across a smooth tile floor that gleamed as it reflected the warm light of candles and torches. Looking around, Irwin saw bookshelves lining walls made of a neatly lined stone with dark wooden beams. Torches were slotted in dull metal brackets sporadically mounted in between.
A wide, three-step staircase led down to a lower area with a central fireplace, while a slab of dull black rock hung above it. The smoke drifting up from the fireplace seemed to be drawn to it, disappearing as soon as it touched the stone. Around the open area surrounding the fireplace stood low tables, some with books on them, others with candles and glass jars with colorful liquids, some of which seemed to bubble.
Three wide, comfortable-looking stools, padded with cloth and pillows, stood roughly opposite each other.
"Done staring around?" Uxin'tar asked.
Irwin looked up to see the sorcerer stare at him from one of the stools.
"Sit down. We need to talk."
Although he seemed grumpy, Irwin didn't hear any hostility in the other's voice. He nodded as he slowly moved forward. As he did, he readied himself to trigger Coperion Body, followed by an Eyes of Blaze attack if he had to. Even if he didn't feel like Uxin'tar was going to do him harm, how sure could he be?
The soft crackling of the fire was the only sound, except for the occasional cracking of the chair as Uxin'tar moved slightly.
Irwin walked down the stairs, all the while looking around. Halfway to the fireplace, his eyes fell on one of the books, a thick black leatherbound thing. He could only see the spine, which was as wide as his hand, but there was an image of a silvery anvil on it that reminded him of Ambraz.
"And they call me slow," Uxin'tar rumbled goodnaturedly.
Irwin noticed a gleam in the sorcerer's eyes and shrugged as he looked at the massive chair. He'd heard about things like this, but it was the first time he saw one, and as he sat down and felt the soft pillow structure fold below him, forming around his body he couldn't stop a sigh of comfort.
"Better than hard-wooden chairs, right?" Uxin'tar said.