They were still on the scene with the circle and Yudil encouraged them to set up camp because he had only finished his preliminary checks. Everard and Alessir worked together to pitch three tents and then Alessir surprisingly took the lead in preparing dinner for them.

Everard decided to take this time to ask him about possibly having a traditional arrangement with Cassimir.

"Are you looking for a wife these days?" Everard asked somewhat gruffly.

Alessir looked up from the pot he was steering with somewhat unreadable eyes.

"Cut to the chase, which young filly are you sending my way?" Alessir asked, "One of your children?"

"A descendant, yes, Cassimir."

"The young blonde in the King's brigade?" Alessir asked.

"Yes, him. He does stand out in a crowd."

"If my Uncle will release him to join my battalion, then yes."

Everard hadn't expected Alessir to agree so quickly so he didn't have an immediate response.

Yudil came up then in a flurry of excitement with his gelatinous cube hopping up and down behind him.

"I know how to activate it! It is a power circle used to enhance the natural and magical talents of courser in the middle of the ring," Yudil said, "I believe it was also used sometime in the past as a sacrifice anchor, but I think the ones that did so misunderstood or purposefully misconstrued the purpose of the circle."

"I'm not sure it is something you should activate..." Everard was quick to say. He was not about to let anything happen to Hassir's wife on his watch. Yudil was going back in one piece and in good condition; he felt that this experiment was something out of his control.

"I don't think there is any reason to be alarmed but such things, there is nothing much that can go wrong.. maybe some dismemberment but I actually know how to regrow limbs," Yudil rattled off.

He seemed oblivious to the look of horror that was on both of his companions' faces.

"I think we should at least eat first," Alessir interjected, "Better to do such experiments on a full stomach."

Yudil seemed to hesitate, then he caught a whiff of what was cooking and agreed.

While they were eating, Everard and Alessir exchanged a secret look. It was clear that they both had no intention of letting this little mad scientist loose. At least not with his husband absent. 

"I think we should go back and bring some others with us so you can properly document this study," Everard suggested.

"Oh brilliant! great idea!" Yudil mumbled, "Hassir is the ideal candidate anyway!"

Both Everard and Alessir breathed an inner sigh of relief.