Hawkmoon (The Hawkmoon Chronicles) by Unknown

involved we are more than  interested.   The incident in the yard drew a lot of attention. Did you always want to be a bomb maker?”
    “I wanted to join the Rangers and I had to have something they would be interested in “
    ” You certainly have their interest now.”
    Norry threw a pebble. “The old folks are philosophical... Put it behind you. Be thankful for today… That sort of talk. My generation want revenge. I spent years wondering   how I might be accepted. It was obvious that I could not go as a soldier; I mean, look at me…. I had to bring something they could use, something valuable. I could not make swords. I was not a Bowyer. I knew about chemicals. At night, when the work was finished I worked on my experiments. It went on for years with no result only to start a number of fires.
     
    The owner took a consignment of chemicals. We were given the job of unloading it. The other apprentice was a lazy sort.He tried to double  the load so he could finish early and get  down to the Mermaid to see his girl. . I was in the cellar, when it happened.
    I climbed the ladder to look out the grate. There was one last boxI knew it because it was from the factor that made the acid and his boxes were always falling apart. There was a flash.  I don’t remember much after that. When I came back the yard was a shambles. There was a hole big enough to hide a wagon. They found pieces of the  apprentice mixed with the horse. I said I had been downstairs in the cellar. That was where they found me so they believed me.  The boss was arrested.
    It took a week to clear the yard.  Around that time I began to notice some odd coves hanging about. They seemed interested in me. A little too interested if you take my meaning.  The master gave me the job of sorting out the accounts. He had lost his licence so the shop was going out of business.  I was going  through  the  accounts when I spotted  a mistake on the delivery . Instead of two vials of Lantanic we received one and another of a new acid. Its name is Cantharum. I sat there wondering; is it that simple, a blend of Cantharic and Lantanic acid?
    I took a tiny drop of the new acid and placed it together with the Lantanic… Nothing happened.
    I went over it step by step. Something was different. If I could find what I would have the answer. Then it hit me.  In the laboratory we use surfaces that do not react with chemicals. The acid had fallen on cobblestone. When it got dark I went out and collected a piece from near the crater. I ground it  to dust. I had a feeling I was close so I burnt all the records and stored the chemicals away. For safety I went down into the cellar. I placed a little of the powder to a dish and added the Cantharic. I dropped the tiniest drop of the  acid…
    I was thrown across the room .When I woke I could hear voices and hammering on the front door... I went upstairs. I searched for the money box and found it. I stole from my master, but I had to have money.  I took a vial of Cantharuic acid another of Lantanic; and a piece of stone. I climbed through the window  as voices came along the corridor.
    Gypsy  caravans  assemble in the town square. They wait for dark because  if they go at night they don’t have to pay the toll .. They would take passengers, if you had coin. They would take hidden passengers if you paid triple. I paid triple and extra for a change of clothes.” Norry took the stones from the basket and hoisted it onto the bank.
     
    “I heard later there was a thousand  Ducats on my head. If I had murdered a baron it would not have been more. I told the clan leader of my discovery and what it could do. It might have been foolish to trust someone  but the Wampyrhii are savage on the gypsies; even worse than they were with us. They take the best of their young  people. Sometimes by force, sometimes by a tithe.So, here I am and I believe this is what you’re looking for”
    Norry gave Hawkmoon a leather tube. It