“Tell me about it. Is something going on?”
The shopkeeper gave him the same look the receptionist had earlier in the day. “What, ya from the country or something? Princess Mina Hiranya is returning to town this evening! Her entourage is due to pass right here through Market Square!”
Vir’s eyes went wide. A sly grin crept up on his face. “Tell me more.”
66FATEFUL ENCOUNTERS
“Friend, I am happy to talk, but I run a business. Are you here to chat, or to buy? Time is money, as they say.”
Did Riyan send me here knowing the princess would be arriving soon? Knowing the man, it was a distinct possibility.
As much as Vir wanted all the details regarding the princess’ procession, he was here to sell. The bushy bearded man’s lips would only grow looser after they’d conducted the transaction, so he forced himself to be patient.
Vir ignored the man. “How much for those iron daggers over there?” he asked, pointing to the back wall.
“One hundred twenty-five coppers,” the man replied.
“I see. In fact, I’m not here to buy. I wish to sell some daggers. Five of them.”
The man’s attitude changed immediately. “May I see them?”
Vir set the rusty weapons on the wooden countertop, and the man’s expression told him this battle would be a tough one.
“Are these weapons or is this a pile of rust? These belong in a dump, not on my counter.”
“Yes, they’re rusty,” Vir admitted. “But rust can be removed. Look past the surface. These blades are iron, yes. But the quality is good. See for yourself!”
Vir knew that all bargaining started with a kernel of truth, and he spoke no lies. The iron was decent. Just that it’d been rusted beyond belief.
“Scrub off the rust, take the blade to a whetstone, and you’ll sell these for a killing.”
“A killing, is it?” the man replied. “Even new daggers would only fetch seventy coppers. With the labor I’d have to put into these to sell them, I’d barely break even, even if you gave them to me!”
“Didn’t you just say those daggers on the wall were a hundred twenty-five? Seems to me you’re low balling.” That was false—the merchant priced his items expecting to be haggled down. Seventy was likely the actual market value, but Vir could use that as a bargaining chip.
“W-well, prices are negotiable, you see?”
“Uh, huh. Sounds to me like you’re trying to scam me, ser,” Vir coolly replied.
“Look. I can give you five coppers each. Twenty-five total.”
Vir sighed. “I know the going rate for sharpening and repair work. Maybe things are more expensive here in Daha, but it can’t cost over forty coppers a blade. I’ll be generous and say you sell these daggers at a hundred each, instead of a hundred-twenty-five. You could buy these off of me for fifty and you’d still turn a profit. But look, I don’t wish to haggle. I’ll do forty apiece, and no lower.”
“You make some good points, but I’m sorry, labor is more expensive here than you guessed. The most I can do is twenty.”
“How about thirty, and I spread the word about the fine shop you have here? I’m friends with Param—of Param’s Pawn Peculiarities. I know he can do thirty.”
“Fine, fine. Thirty it is,” the man said. He’d clearly had enough of haggling over such a small denomination. The man likely dealt in dozens of silvers a day.
Vir nodded. An extra silver and fifty coppers in his pocket would go a long way to ease his money issues for the next two or three days.
As he waited for the shopkeeper to stow the daggers and produce his money, his eyes came to rest on the handful of orbs that sat under the counter. One was white, and of the same size as the one Tanya had left for him back in the woods. The broken one.
“What’s this orb here?” he asked. “How much does it go for?”
“Ah! An Asiyan C Grade Heal Skin spell. In good condition, too. Minimal usage. This one has plenty of life left in it.” Orbs could wear out? That was new to him.
“Sorry, come again? Asien?” Vir asked.
“Asiyan. Crafted by the famous Altani thaumaturge Asiya,” the shopkeeper said, giving Vir a judging look. “They are quite common here, in the capital. Good quality. No major idiosyncrasies. Easy enough prana profile for even newly minted Mejai Sorcars to handle.”
“Right,” Vir said. “And how much for one?”
“My price is ten silvers. Are you interested? Or just asking?”
“Just asking,” Vir replied, hiding his surprise. Tanya had said C Grade orbs could go for twice that much. “Why so less?”
“Less? My prices are quite in line with everyone else’s. It’s a Life orb, after all.”
“It’s a Life orb,” Vir said. “Not everyone has use of a combat orb, but injuries befall everyone. If pre-charged, this could even save a layman, could it not?”
The man nodded, stroking his mustache. “Yes, and that is precisely why they are manufactured in substantial quantities.”
He brought out a red chest and placed it on the counter, unlatching its brass hinges. Inside sat a dozen white orbs.
“You see? Over half of my orbs belong to the Life Affinity. Their production numbers make them less valuable than the others.”
“I-I see,” Vir replied, pocketing his silver and fifty coppers. He clearly had some learning to do. “So anyway, about the princess’ visit…”
“Yes, she is due to arrive this evening. Perhaps in an hour or two. It should be quite the sight! I encourage you to stick around. ’Tis a rare occasion for Princess Mina to show herself in public.”
“Oh? What’s the best spot, then?” Vir asked.
“In the plaza, right beside the road, but as you’ve seen, all the good spots have already been taken.”
“Shouldn’t be an issue for me.”
Leaving the musky shop, Vir slid into an empty alley and activated Dance of the Shadow Demon. From within the shadow realm, he picked an exit atop a flat, rectangular third-story roof, at the very limit of the ability’s range. Having a Vimana parked on top of the city was working out well for him—shadows abounded everywhere.
From here, he had a commanding view of the entire square, near the road through which the procession would travel. The only question was…
What do I want to get out of this?
The options seemed endless… at first. He could merely spectate, but that would be a waste. To gain from this, he needed to learn something more about the princess. If he learned of her affinities, it’d give him a leg up in the future.
Or… What if there’s an opening? spoke a small voice in his head. What if an opportunity presented itself? What if he got a chance to… kill her?
He could wrap things up tonight and return to Riyan. To Maiya.
Vir shook off the thought. That was foolish on so many levels. His chances of killing her here were slim. With the guards who would no doubt surround her, it was far more likely he’d be killed. And even if he did somehow manage it, he’d have killed the princess in full view of the world.
Above all else, Vir refused to be Riyan’s pawn in this. He would decide what to do. And he wouldn’t do anything until he could learn more about the princess. Was she someone who deserved death? Or had Riyan stretched the truth?
It’d certainly make his life easier if Riyan was lying. He wouldn’t need to jeopardize his life and risk turning fugitive for the remainder of his days. But if Mina was the person he said she was, then there was no question—she needed to die.