Chapter 1.3. Erden.
Next up was Cian – who eyed sleek double-edged sword, offered him warily. The blade shone brilliantly beneath shop’s flickering torchlight, hinting at keen edge capable of splitting skull and bone alike.
– Careful with this one lad, – cautioned the old man, watching as the tuatha boy gingerly drew weapon from sheath for closer inspection. Lilith watched approvingly, as Cian familiarized himself with new sword’s feel, weight and balance before finally nodding in satisfaction and then sliding it back into sheath.
– Thirty five gold coins, for both, – said shopkeeper. It was expensive, but Lilith nodded.
Lilith’s gaze fell upon a small table tucked away in corner shop. It was laden with various pouches and vials containing strange substances – some glowing faintly, others bubbling ominously within glass confines.
– Also we’ll need a whetstone and some weapon oil.
Old man brought what she asked. While passing over two silver coins, Lilith gaze fell on a small table.
– What’s this? – she asked curiously, gesturing towards peculiar display, as she approached to examine closer.
The old warrior shrugged nonchalantly before responding gruffly.
– Oh those? Just few potions and elixirs concocted by local alchemist. Claim they can do anything – heal wounds of poisoned blade even…for price.
Lilith’s eyes widened slightly behind skull mask at prospect of such powerful tools, but then she shook her head dismissively.
– No, – she decided firmly, turning away from tempting array of magical remedies back towards Kragor and Cian, who waited patiently nearby: – We have all we need, now let us be off, before day grows any older.
Leaving the weapon shop laden with new arms and armor, Lilith led her companions deeper into the street. The bustling marketplace nearby was alive with merchants, hawking every manner of adventuring gear – from sturdy packs to enchanted trinkets promised ward off misfortune.
– There, – she called out, pointing towards colorful awning fluttering gaily in morning breeze: – Let us see what treasures await within. As they approached stall’s entrance, Lilith could already hear proprietor’s booming voice, carrying over din of crowds around them.
– Step right up me hearties! Got everything mercenaries needs here – medicines for wounds, rations to fill bellies ‘n’ more besides! Come ‘n’ take look!
The shop itself was crammed full to bursting with goods of every description. Shelves lined walls, groaning beneath weight of bags filled with dried fruits and smoked meats, while barrels overflowed with beans and rice.
Incorporating natural herbs, exotic roots into remedies for ailments common amongst wayfarers. Lilith recognized few rare specimens, said to possess magical properties beyond mere mundane healing. Packs in various sizes hung from racks – some leather some canvas – along with ropes, coils, chain nets perfect for setting traps or securing gear, when times got tough out there in wilds.
Proprietor watched approvingly as his wares drew companions’ interest, rubbing hands together gleefully, as he sensed imminent sale.
– Take yer time now, – he urged, flashing gap-toothed grin: – I guarantee you’ll find just what ye’re lookin’ for here!
– Do you have any magic bags? – asked Lilith, while observing the shop.
The shopkeeper’s eyes lit up at Lilith’s inquiry about magic bags, his grin widening into a full-toothed smile.
– Rare they are. Not many can make them, and materials for them are hard to get. Most get transported from human continent, so they are a bit expensive. But I do happen to have two such marvelous items right here! – he reached beneath counter and withdrew a pair of nondescript pouches, each no larger than fist: – These are enchanted to hold far more than mere appearance suggests, – he explained proudly: – Could fit entire wardrobe in one these if so inclined!
Lilith took offered bags, carefully examining stitching woven into fabric – subtle runes glimmered faintly beneath surface.
– Impressive indeed, – she murmured: – If they can hold in as much as you say. I’ll take both – along with your selection of dried rations. We will also need flint and steel, and some water skins and four blankets.
As shopkeeper began wrapping purchases, Lilith’s gaze fell upon object resting incongruously amidst mundane wares arrayed around them.
A gleaming silver harp stood proudly in corner near door, delicate strings thrumming softly with breeze wafting through entrance. Its presence seemed almost out place here, amongst sturdier fare catering to rougher set of mercenaries.
– Now there’s something you don’t see every day, – Lilith remarked, one brow arching curiously: – That harp – it hardly seems belonging in shop such as this.
The proprietor chuckled wryly at observation before explaining.
– Ah, well that’s bit story all its own miss. Was left with me by young bard who passed through few weeks back. Said he needed lighten load, but couldn’t bear part ways completely ’cause holds memories dear heart.
He shook his head ruefully, then shrugged broad shoulders in resignation. Then the shopkeeper’s expression softened with wistful nostalgia as he spoke of the harp, its delicate frame seeming to glow softly in ambient light.
– You see miss, that there is no ordinary instrument. Young bard who left it with me said it was enchanted – able bring stories told through music alive, through hearer senses, like nothing before.
He gestured towards gleaming silver strings thrumming gently with breeze wafting through shop’s entrance:
– If song captures essence and heartache of long lost love, – he continued softly, voice tinged with reverence bordering awe: – Can feel ache hollow chest as keenly as own grief. If ballad speaks of joys of simple life on farmstead, nestled midst verdant fields, smell fresh cut grass, tickling nostrils in mind’s eye.
Lilith listened with growing fascination – already imagining possibilities such wondrous relic opened up for bardic storytelling.
– And if tale recounts glories of epic battle fought ages past, – shopkeeper added, eyes shining bright with recollections now: – Taste blood and copper on tongue, see flash of swords gleam sun streaking sky above.
He shook head slowly as if lost in reverie then blinked back to focus on Lilith before him.
– Young lad swore me it was true – that harp possessed ability to transport listener directly midst song’s subject. Said couldn’t bear part ways with something so precious even though needed lighten load to continue journey. But need of coin surpassed all.
The shopkeeper sighed heavily, then spread hands in helpless resignation once more.
– Which is why I’ve held onto it all this time – hoping one day its true owner might return to claim what rightfully belongs to him.
– Sounds like a lost dream.
Lilith’s eyes shone with wonder as she reached out to gently caress harp’s gleaming strings, fingertips tracing delicate runes etched into silver frame beneath. The shopkeeper watched with a mixture of awe and regret, knowing he was about to part ways with precious relic, that had been entrusted to him.
– I’ll take it, – Lilith declared, voice soft with reverence: – If what you say is true – if this harp truly possesses ability to bring tales alive through senses like nothing before. Then it belongs in hands of someone who can appreciate full scope of its power.
The proprietor nodded solemnly, a bittersweet smile tugging at weathered lips, as he began wrapping instrument carefully in cloth and soft velvet.
– You’ll need to treat it with utmost care, – he cautioned gently, eyes glinting warnings of days gone past: – For magic such as this – it cuts both ways miss. Can inspire deep within soul of the listener, but also leave scars, which linger long after last note fades away.
Lilith took harp carefully from shopkeeper’s outstretched hands, then held close against heart – feeling subtle vibrations thrumming through delicate frame.
– I understand, – she murmured softly, gaze distant with reflections of lost memories now surfacing in mind’s eye: – And I swear that I shall wield responsibly. How much do I owe you?
– All together, will be nine hundred and thirty six gold coins, six silver and eight coppers, – answered shopkeeper, after counting on his fingers.
Lilith needed some time to get the coins out of her Female purse, and it took some time for shopkeeper to count them. That was a lot, but she needed those artifacts for the journeys ahead.
Comment (0)