The Medicine Seller had a habit of turning up in unusual places quite unexpectedly, whether he was wanted there or not. This case was no different from any of the others.

By his nature, he was more sensitive to what one might call unusual things. The presence of wards piqued his interest first, but there was something else beyond that, something that resonated at the back of his throat and at the tips of his ears but he could not pinpoint what it was. Alien, like so many things in this world.

And that is why he stood outside the oak door, head tilted upwards like some animal that had caught wind of a faint and strange scent. Aside from the occasional soldier, scout or sister that pushed past, he was quite still, with only the slightest turn of his head or occasional furrowing of the brow to distinguish him from a statue.