He paged through the aged letters and frowned while Etenani lounged in a chair nearby, swirling a goblet of acrid wine with his feet propped up on the table. He must not have been able to sneak into House Suzdal's cellars because the stench of cheap drink was nauseating. It was to be expected though. Unlike his own House, the Suzdal's employed enough guards and had the wealth to ensure random old men couldn't sneak out bottles of wine and liquor whenever they wanted. In the few days he was out of Nikolai's sight, the clean shaven, almost handsome Master Mage vanished, leaving behind the familiar drunkard Nikolai was forced to acknowledge as his Master.
