Meetings (Amrocar 6)

Aston was waiting outside for him. And the Knight Commander had said that Aston could introduce him to the Adept.
“Aston,” Joshua said, “can you tell me about the Adept? The Knight Commander said I might want to talk to him.”
Aston was nodding before he finished. “Yes, yes, the Adept can help you if anyone could. I should have thought of it myself.” He started to usher Joshua through the camp once more, and kept a stream of patter going as they walked. “The Adept is a master of many disciplines. He normally teaches at the university in Amrocar City, it’s lucky he was along for this trip. He doesn’t come out on these very often, you see. He’s really very powerful, and most of the time the Paladins don’t need someone with his, er, experience, to help them.”
Joshua nodded and looked interested, but inwardly his mind was seething with possibilities. Perhaps the Adept had come here to retrieve a demon? Those who sought knowledge were well-known to the lower world. Many of the demons who had been summoned had gone to serve such.
Aston kept talking blithely, unaware of Joshua’s thoughts. “I understand he did a viewing, and determined it would be a good idea for him to be here.” Aston’s voice held great respect on this point in particular, as if the Adept’s viewings were well-known to be accurate. “And, of course, we found the prisoners, and you as well. So I should have thought of him immediately when we found you.” At this Aston seemed truly sorry, and his face was so hang-dog that Joshua couldn’t resist speaking, despite the turmoil of his inner thoughts.
“No harm done, Aston. I didn’t suffer any ill effects, and I hardly see how the Adept could have taken better care of me than you have. Besides, the Knight Commander told me he had been in to look at me, so he was notified.”
Aston looked absurdly pleased by the compliment, and Joshua felt warmed that he could have made the poor man’s day. He really had done a good job, after all, and been very helpful.
Aston suddenly stopped short and said “Arestides’ tent.”
Joshua gazed at him blankly for a second and he blushed. “Um, the Adept’s tent, I mean. The Adept’s name is Arestides.” Aston twitched the tent flap aside and leaned his head in. After a brief exchange, he leaned back and waved Joshua forward. “He’s not busy, said to come right in. I’ll wait out here for you.”

The interior of the tent was a marked contrast to the organized neatness of the Knight Commander’s. Cases lay about in grand disarray, with vials both unmarked and marked covering several camp tables. There were cloths covering a suspicious lump in the corner that might have been a bed, and an odd contraption hung from the ceiling that appeared to be designed as a candle-holder, but instead had strips of paper hanging all over it.
Aside from the mess, the Adept sat on a small folding stool in an area of less disarray in the corner. He wore a sparkly purple coat that Joshua decided must be sequined. Lace poked out at the cuffs and collar, and perched on his head was a neatly brushed top hat. Below the knife-edge seam of his slightly longer than knee-length pants were high silk socks disappearing into oiled leather shoes. All in all, the effect seemed totally out of place in the room. The Adept himself, aside from his clothes, was middle-aged and handsome, and his smooth brown hair appeared to be pony-tailed back.
“Good morning, Joshua.”