The Lost Heir's

Chapter Ten

Meanwhile, back in Vizara, Rhosyn walked through the bustling streets. Shopkeepers were calling out deals, making transactions with customers. Rhosyn paused at a stall. A dual edged butterfly knife with a hardwood handle sat on display, catching her eye.

That would be perfect for Saffir! Rhosyn thought excitedly. She reached out and picked up the beautifully crafted blade and tried futilely to open it.

The shopkeeper aggressively grabbed the blade from Rhosyn’s hand. “It’s not a toy to play with, young lady.”

“Excuse me sir,” Rhosyn interrupted, not bothered by the man’s aggression, “But isn’t your goal supposed to be to make money? Not turning your customers away?”

His mouth shut closed, speechless.

“Why don’t you tell me about this blade? Then I will decide whether it’s worth buying.” Rhosyn suggested, trying to help the shopkeeper recover his mistake. The man eyed her and cleared his throat, noticing the crowd that had gathered behind her, “It’s called a Snakefang, developed by the Seetha during the war of kings. The blades are ten inches each, crafted from the rare naganite metal. Commonly used by assassins.”

“How does it work,” Rhosyn asked. The shopkeeper stared at her, “Well?” She prompted.

“Rhosyn!” a familiar feminine voice called out. Rhosyn turned around to see a tall, skinny, blonde-haired girl push her way through the crowd, reaching her.

“Saffir!” Rhosyn was surprised to see her, “I thought I was going to meet you out in the meadows. Am I running late?”

“No. I just saw the crowd and got curious.” Saffir noticed the dagger, “Wow that’s pretty!” The shopkeeper coughed, clearing his throat to gain their attention.

“Right, you were going to show me how it works,” Rhosyn remembered.

“This button here,” he removed the covering of the already exposed blade and pressed a small button on the hilt. It looked like a blue gem, making the other blade slide out from the bottom of the delicately crafted handle, before pressing a green gem on the other side, concealing the blade once again.

Rhosyn motioned to Saffir, “Go ahead and try it.”

Saffir’s eyes widened, “Wait, me?”

Rhosyn nodded encouragingly, “Yes you.”

“OH... okay.” Saffir hesitantly raised her hand and wrapped her tanned fingers around the hardwood handle, carefully lifting it out of the shopkeeper’s hands before taking a step back from everyone in the shop. Carefully she pressed the gem to slide the blade out. Saffir swung the dagger, the soft whistling of the blades slicing through the air.

Rhosyn smiled at Saffir’s display of swings, “How does it feel?”

Saffir turned towards Rhosyn with a massive grin and her icy blue eyes shined with excitement, “Light. It’s perfect. Can I have it?” Saffir asked. Unbeknownst that, Rhosyn was already planning to get it for her. Rhosyn glanced at the man, taking in how the corner of his mouth turned upwards into a smirk.

“How much?” Rhosyn asked, knowing the price was going to be high, and she would need to barter with him.

“Three gold.” He replied as if he was proud of how much he wanted.

“One and a half.”

He smirked as he grabbed the dagger from Saffir’s hands, “Three. No less. It’s worth its amount.”

Rhosyn crossed her arms, “Two and not any higher.” The man studied her for a moment, “Also comes with that sheath and belt,” she threw in.

The man gritted his teeth before nodding his head. She was his first customer in weeks.

“Deal.” Saffir squealed and did a little dance as Rhosyn exchanged the coins with the dagger and belt with the shopkeeper. Rhosyn’s attention was drawn outside the shop as shouts came from the square.

“You ladies new to this area?” The shopkeeper asked.

“No, we live here.” she paused, pulling her hood closer to her face, as men dressed in scarlet robes with a fire circle surrounding a diamond with a cross inside, embroidered on their breasts ran by.

“That’s unusual. The Migaret Halo’s had already had a gathering this morning.” the shopkeeper murmured.

“A gathering this morning?” Rhosyn asked. She didn’t hear or see anything during her walk.

The shopkeeper looked around, seeing the crowd disperse, making their way to the commotion in the square, “Don’t be telling anyone else this, Miss, but they found an Elderblood among our people and sliced her throat right in front of the mass of people.” he smiled slightly, “and be damn those demons, she deserved it. Deceiving us like that.”

A sliver of fear ran down Rhosyn’s back. Chilling her in the already brisk afternoon.

Rhosyn hesitated before asking, “If the Elderblood are demons, then how did you manage to get a dagger from the Seetha, which are another source of devilry.” she smiled slightly, “or did you just con me for my money because I am a woman?”

The shopkeeper jerked back in, “What do you think I am? I have a reputation to hold!”

“If that is the case, where did you get the snake fang?” Rhosyn asked. She hoped she didn’t fall into a trap buying the dagger.

“Very well,” the shopkeeper closed his stall door and turned to face her, “This is on the down-low.”

Rhosyn nodded.

“I find my wares at the sites of the battlements. Where we faced off with the different devil races. I get my information from the Migaret Halo Church. They keep the records there.”

“Wait, you have access to the Migaret Halo church?” Saffir piped in, “That’s so cool! What is it like?”

The Shopkeeper shrugged. “Like a church. Grand halls, seas of candlesticks, censers burning everywhere. A lot of gold icons everywhere too, a king's ransom. A library, nothing too special.”

Saffir’s eyes dimmed as her shoulders slouched in disappointment, “Oh.”

Shouts could be heard coming from outside. Rhosyn and the Shopkeeper looked at each other before peeking out of the stall and down towards the square.

“Why are they shouting?” Rhosyn asked.

The Shopkeeper shrugged before going back inside his stall, “Who knows? Last time they got like that; they were on the hunt for a devil.”

“A devil?” Rhosyn asked worriedly.

“Look kid, it’s none of our business. It’s best we stay out of the church’s way. Now get out.” The shopkeeper kicked Rhosyn and Saffir out.

What suddenly got into him? She thought, before remembering that humans were terrified of the other races. Including herself.

“Oh!” Rhosyn exclaimed, “Here Saffir,” she passed a basket over to Saffir, “I made these for you. Happy Seasons!”

Saffir’s face lit up with excitement as she removed the cloth and found the pastries underneath.

“Thank you!” her voice muffled as she had shoved one in her mouth. “Wait, seasons?” she asked, “What are seasons?”

Oh no, Rhosyn realized she slipped, “I was just meaning happy birthday. You were born in a certain season which should also be celebrated.” she lied, pulling something out of thin air to explain. Saffir looked at her weirdly for a moment before shrugging it off and stuffing another pastry in her mouth.

“Mmm, these are good!” She smiled, bits of crumbs falling from her face, “Come let’s go see what the commotion is all about!” Saffir grabbed Rhosyn’s hand and dragged her down the street to the mass of people in the square.

Saffir pushed her way through the crowd, pulling Rhosyn with her. She spotted men in black cloaks standing around a small platform with lit torches.

“Bring her out!”