Wielder of the Flame by Nikolas Rex Page B

multicolored hues. The tall ceiling was supported by
stone pillars and large wooden beams. Its sizeable interior was filled with
rows and rows of items carefully set up on display, wall to wall. The entire
shop smelt of subtle hints of dust and age and a stronger scent of metal, which
came from the assorted suits of armor and weapons aligning one wall.
    Standing by the counter was a large figure, a good seven
feet or so, whose appearance caught Marc completely off guard. So far he had
seen many strangely dressed humans and some bizarre creatures but never had he
seen something like this. It was as if a Siberian tiger had half melded with
the body of a person, retaining its fur and animal head and features, but
taking the human stature, standing upright on its hind legs. It had shiny metal
armor covering its right shoulder, metal studded leather bracers, and metal
anklets. A thick leather metal studded belt was wrapped around his waist and a
green loin cloth hung down to its knees.
    The figure turned as they came in.
    “Topar, this is our new guest Marc.”
    The tiger man bowed his head.
    Marc, not knowing really what else to do, bowed his head as
well.
    Eleanor went to a book on the counter.
    “Follow me,” Sesuadra said, “I will show you around.”
    They walked down the aisles and turned down the first one.
    The tall creature Eleanor had called Topar seemed to watched
Marc warily.
    There were counters filled with vials and flasks filled with
strange colored liquids, some vibrant, some translucent, and even some glowing
softly. Others featured scrolls with simple labels like Heavenly Summons , Enchanted Stone , Ice Charm , and ones with strange titles like Aeon
Cinedar , Iretara Loremagus , and Akril Darkring .
    As he turned down another aisle he saw Zildjin behind the
counter talking with Eleanor and Sesuadra was headed through the open doorway
in the direction of the living quarters. Zildjin was wearing a fresh white
shirt, leather jerkin, and brown loose breeches, his feet bare.
    He continued his wanderings.
    There were weapons on another aisle. Each item was carefully
laid out on luxurious, silky cloth. Tags written on parchment said Ice Blade
of Pelios , staff of the Daemon killer , and sword of Dragons Bane .
Next to the weapons were shields with fancy symbols etched into their surface,
gem encrusted helmets, and ornamented suits of armor, each with their
respective titles. In one corner a whole section of wall was dedicated to
animal heads mounted on pedestals, they were beastly things. Marc read the
labels on some of them, Urgar Bear Head ten hundred quins, Telar Head , of the Darkspawn Forest, fifteen hundred quins and fifty koons.
    That must be the currency here , Marc thought as he
read the price tags.
    Topar stared at him all the while. The large white creature
was an imposing figure.
    Finally, after having toured the fantastical shop Marc
returned to the counter.
    “He gave me this!” Zildjin was showing the small item Lanvar
had given him on the road.
    “It is rather interesting,” Eleanor was fingering the little
metal figurine, “These markings.”
    Just then Sesuadra appeared, his long dark brown hair was
still wet. He was dressed similarly to Zildjin, but had his hands to his
knuckles and up to his elbows wrapped with strips of cloth.
    “I believe it to be the markings of the Fae Ones,” Sesuadra
commented about the coin.
    “That was quick,” The old woman commented.
    Sesuadra bowed his head, “Cold water makes for a swift
bath,” he said.
    “You could have stoked the fire,” She gave a grandmotherly
smile, a knowing smile. She knew Sesuadra well.
    Sesuadra shrugged as if to say it did not matter, cold or
warm, now I am clean.
    “Now then, Marcus, to the wash, I will draw a fresh draught
of hot water for it.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
Chapter Nine 
Eleanor’s Gifts
     
     
    It was the strangest thing. A large
metal tub filled with water that was warmed over a fire.
    Everything about the