Rassamin licked his lips softly as he seemed to consider Nirael's words.  Leaning back against one of the shelves built into the wall of the wagon he paused and let his eyes wander across Nirael's form.  But Nirael got the sense that it was with the critical eye of a merchant and not one of lust.<strong>"Well,"</strong>he said slowly,<strong>"I would be willing to part with the scroll for a very generous price of one thousand and five hundred gold crowns.  Throw in an extra two hundred and fifty, and I shall cast the spell for you as well, assuring that you get to your location safely.  I somehow doubt that you are familiar with the elven lands my friend, and trying to teleport to an unknown location can be quite hazardous."</strong><br/><br/>Lunari spoke up,<strong>"Rassamin you know how much this quest means to me, we don't have that type of money...."  </strong>She ran a finger along the cleavage her illusionary leather armor gave her and licked her lips,<strong>"Isn't there something we could offer instead of coins?"</strong><br/><br/>The male elf laughed and nodded his head,<strong>"Oh sweet young Lunari, you are so very new at all of this aren't you?  This is why we usually tell our young men and women to stay in the village for at least a few extra decades.  While I won't deny that the prospect of enjoying your young body is intriguing..."</strong>He sighed and waved his hands at his surroundings,<strong> "... this is buisness.  While I do like to mix that with pleasure, there's no way that you could provide me with fifteen hundred coins worth of pleasure.  In this very town there's women who would spread for a handful of silvers, and even a few higher class courtesans that could be had for a few gold.  No, simple pleasures of the flesh, while intriguing won't buy the scroll."</strong><br/><br/>He held up a finger and added,<strong>"Though, they may have to be included in part of the cost.  You see..."</strong>He turned back to Nirael and gestured,<strong>"As my good fellow mage can attest, a teleportation is a very powerful spell, and one that requires the spell caster to accompany the group to their destination.  But since I have but one scroll, and my wares, wagon, and guards are all here on this continent, I have no desire to strand myself back in our homeland."</strong><br/><br/>Mara shifted on the bunk, her gaze averting downwards, and it was plain that she was feeling guilty for the lack of progress they were making with this mage.  Rassamin continued,<strong>"However as a primal mage I have worked out a way around it.  If each of you links hands when I cast the spell, and carry inside you a part of my.... essence... I can send you while anchoring myself here."</strong>He turned and grinned at Nirael,<strong>"I've heard that humans sometimes find the thought of a man loving another man to be distasteful.  An alien concept in our culture, and one that I hope you don't suffer from, for the essence will need to be fresh when the spell is cast."</strong><br/><br/>His gaze again taking in Nirael's gear he said,<strong>"I would do this for you, in trade, for your amulet and cloak.  Such items i could fetch a fine price for."</strong>He hesitated and then almost as an afterthought added,<strong>"Of course, I could also be tempted to simply <em>GIVE</em> you the scroll for a simple promise, one of payment in the future."</strong><br/><br/>Nirael sensed that this was what the elven man actually was fishing for, and the sly grin on the merchant mage's face confirmed it.<strong>"I will return to the elven lands in five months time.  I will cast this spell for free, if Lunari promises me that when I return her father's spell book will be waiting there for me to claim."</strong><br/><br/>Lunari looked at Nirael for guidance.  Depending on the power of her father's spellbook, it could be a very good deal for them, or it could be a priceless trade that the elven mage was getting.  It also gave Nirael time to study the book of course, but not to have or keep.  The elven maiden simply didn't know what to do in this instance.