Chapter 72: Human Trade
The night was alive on the busy market street of Swamp Creek; torches and lanterns were lit, and carriages and people were moving around.
Peddlers and buyers’ voices echoed in the night as they claimed to sell lucky charms and other goods for their targeted audience.
Abrielle’s blue eyes fell on the boy with golden-tanned skin and sharp silver eyes. Indigenous to a tribe of wandering peddlers and magic users, predominantly witches, but they were not diabolical and only focused on selling their goods and scamming unknown individuals with their gift of foresight.
But in every ten words, they say, there was an atom of truth it was built on. The boy’s words puzzled her, and she was curious to hear what he had to say, knowing fully well this might be a trap.
"I will take the mask," she said. The boy smiled at her, grinning his teeth. "That’s an excellent choice. It will cost 2 gold coins, and I advise you to buy a second one for your companion." The boy suggested. Abrielle’s jaw almost dropped at the exploitation. 4 gold coins, whatever he had to say better worth 4 gold coins.
Abrielle’s eyes fell on a dagger buried under the pile. "Can I also have that?" she requested, it was a portable size dagger.
The boy’s eyes dulled, reluctant to part with the dagger, and Abrielle’s eyes narrowed. It must be a treasure, "it’s not for sale." The boy said, making Abrielle pout.
"Even for a good price," she suggested. The boy sighed his eyes darting to other onlookers equally browsing through his goods.
"It is not about the goods, but this dagger is dangerous; just a slight cut is very poisonous. It is claimed to be cursed and I was meant to get rid of it." The boy explained and Abrielle’s eyes sparkled with excitement.