We did not travel far.
Three blocks into the arcane district, Jiles turned a left and I soon found myself in a rather dark and cold alley. A single window projected a small bit of firelight from it that hung like a golden beam in the darkness surrounding us. Jiles entered a wooden door next to the window.
Though there was no sign outside, on the inside I found a rather disturbing shop of the most obscure and, yes I must admit, revolting merchandise. The curator of this shop obviously dealt with dark magic, so it was no wonder he stuck his shop out of sight from the rest of the district. Jiles approached the apparent owner as soon as the door closed behind us. He was a stooped over human whose age was not determinable, but elderly would have been an understatement. He seemed to know Jiles and smiled a toothless grin at him when we entered. I chose to stay near the door as Jiles had his conversation with him. I kept my eyes mainly on my shoes, the jars of eyeballs and insects were wrecking havoc on my already weakened stomach. I could still hear their conversation from where I stood.
"Ah, Jeng'shaun, it has been too long!"
"Indeed," breathed out the old man as if the word was laborious, "not since you needed my help with that possession two winters ago."
"Ah yes, Madam Singred had murdered her family after wearing that cursed pendant she bought from a strange peddler. I was happy to see her freed of the charges.
"What happened to her after the Stormwind authorities set her free?" the old man asked with a childish glint in his eye.
Jiles cleared his throat, "She is dead. Suicide I am afraid to say."
"It is a shame." Jeng'shaun's voice did not sound sorrowful in the least.
"In any case, it is for a different reason I am here now, may we speak in the back?"
"Certainly, Jiles. Follow me." With this they disappeared through a curtain of black and white beads.
I wanted to follow, but Jiles had not invited me. I was very confused at this moment, for as soon as the old man had mentioned possession my mind had been filled with the assumption that this was what we were dealing with. How else could the apprentice Kelner be guilty but innocent at the same time? But, Jiles had said we were here "for a different reason". I waited about five minutes before Jiles returned with two alchemy bottles, each filled with a deep red liquid.
"One last stop, Smit. If all goes well we will not be late for supper."
"If things do not go well?" I asked.
"Well, supper will be the least of our worries then." He replied.
