The room was panelled with antique mahogany. The beautiful neo classic styling of the room, complete with baseboard and crowned with dentil mouldings brought about many excited mutterings from the others in the circle when the owner of the room, Philip Goode purchased it and had it installed. Rumours abound suggested that the total cost exceeded twenty thousand gold pieces. Whatever the cost, Philip Goode’s reputation rose considerably in the Circle of Scribes. In fact, not only did Goode’s reputation increase but so did his apprentice, John Melot’s grew a little in reflection of his master. There they sat, in front of the mullion windows looking down upon a large and grand affair of a chessboard made from ivory and ebony and intricately carved by a master craftsman many thousands of miles