Teddybear

Kivvien considered this. "Have you seen the note since returning?"

"Would you humor me then, please?"

"If it's nothing, why are you avoiding the question?"

"Hieronymus," Kivvien said, "What did he do?"

Kivvien glanced down at him. "What did he do to you?"

"It had better be. There's quite a lot riding on it."

"Perhaps. He is far from being similar to the lab partner I m used to. It is difficult for me to break long-enforced habits."

"His research was. If I could work with only his notes it would be much preferrable."

"We got a little bit done. Had I been in my old lab with his research at my disposal I do believe I would have gotten further."

Kivvien followed.

Of course he would. He took the key. "Thank you sir."

"I will take the tower room," he said, disguising his surprise.

"Then go to bed." Kivvien had already begun cleaning up. He wholely expected to sleep with his cart tonight. There was no way he was going into town to be ...

For many hours they worked like that, until the light began to fade and the details became less visible.

Kivvien worked in silence.