Before heading to the harbour, they popped into the alchemy shop Ari had mentioned. Besides, the soldiers were rather insistent on stopping there. On several occasions, they had pointed out quite emphatically that they were running out of restorative potions, and although Kei had been the least convincing about it, it was clear that he cared about them too. Incidentally, Draco had also been thinking about replenishing—or, more accurately, creating—his own supply of alchemical supplies. Both the basic ones and the more advanced ones he’d read about in the extensive library of the Academy in Dagos. He suspected that in Atlantis he wouldn’t find medicines specifically for dragons all that easily, but he could always try his hand at preparing something himself from ready-made ingredients. In many cases, this was not difficult, provided one knew the proportions. Preparing these substances was another matter, however, as for the most part it required quite extensive knowledge and advanced alchemical skills.
The shop was different from what the dragon had imagined. Of course, he knew it was a bit out of the way and not very busy, but he hadn’t expected a place with windows so dirty they’d lost their transparency, a door hanging crookedly on its hinges, and a sign informing the visitor that they were standing before the Old Cauldron. What’s more, it was all in a side alley, or rather a backstreet.
Ari was the first to jump down from the carriage and looked expectantly at the dragon. It seemed he wanted to get his business sorted as quickly as possible. Draco stifled a sigh and quickened his pace.
Without further ado, they went inside. The interior looked much better than the shop front. The long counters, despite visible signs of years of use, were clean. The shelves stocked with vials, ampoules and small bottles were tidy, and the alchemical ingredients were carefully sorted into various types of containers. The only thing that bothered them was the dim light inside.
‘Soldiers from Ed’heer, what lovely customers,’ came an old, hoarse female voice from the back of the shop. ‘The usual,
