After the fitful night of sleep he had, Elwin got out of bed early and quickly washed his face and got dressed. He had not yet paid the man at the docks, a seller of whatever random things the sea and sailors brought to their shores, rather then a proper bookseller. But Elwin was familiar with the one Dolce had written down on her receipt. He was hoping to get it done quickly so that he would be around when those in the Vulture started waking up, and try to find out what happened with the mystery woman.

As he left his room in their little thatch roofed cottage, in back of the main castle, he stopped to peek in his sister's open door. It relieved his heart to see Dolce there asleep in her own bed, her covers twisted around as though fighting pirates in her sleep all night long. Knowing her it probably was that. Elwin didn't know why he had needed to see her, as she wasn't the type to need worried or fussed over, never had been as far as he could remember. He guessed he was just feeling that uneasy. He couldn't talk to his parents about it since they were, of course, long gone and no doubt in the middle of breakfast preparation duties as usual.

He left the house and began the long walk to town, and from there caught a ride on the back of a wagon headed toward the docks. His parents being prominent people around town, responsible for purchasing a not insignificant portion of edible goods that were grown or imported in the town of TallHillde, Elwin had an advantage in this since everyone wanted to assist the son of their biggest customer.

The docks of TallHillde were rather small as far as these things went. There was not room to accommodate more then one large vessel at a time, and even that was only used twice a month or so to pick up stones and ore from the mines. Other then that it was your usual collection of small fishing and merchant vessels. Still, due to the trade from the mines, a more eclectic group of people washed up on these shores then most moderately sized villages, Elwin imagined.

Right at the edge of the docks was a group of shops, some rather permanent fixtures, and some temporary tent or shack pop up type of deals.

There was one made of wood but haphazardly so, that belonged to Mr. Seal, an eccentric middle aged man who loved to tell long winded stories of his adventures at sea (largely exaggerated), and the time he was married briefly to a mermaid (purely his own opinion of her, surely).

Elwin vowed not to let him get into it. The deal was already made for him so there would be no need to haggle. A quick in and out.

Some time later (between ten minutes and eternity), Elwin was running thin on patience. Usually he had plenty, but today was not that day.

“Excuse me, I really have to . . .” He held the receipt out in front of him, with the money in exact change clasped to it.

The man on the other side of the counter, with his big belly only rivaled by his enormous facial hair, kept going for a long moment, as though he were a wind up toy that had to run through it's song before it could stop and await another wind.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Then, I says to him, I can't trade you for a pig, aside from having no use for one, I wouldn't have anywhere to keep it! But this is a very special pig . . . Hmm?” His booming voice had a tinge of hurt in it. You to Elwin? Can't let an old man finish what he was saying? It was just about to get to the good part. He didn't say any of this out loud, of course, being a business man, more or less, and being as Elwin was holding his money.

Mr. Seal took the money and squinted down at the receipt. “Oh, THAT book,” he said. “I thought I had misplaced it. Forgot all about selling it on to the little miss. Your sister, your sister, young man, drives a hard bargain!” He looked at Elwin as though he should really consider doing something about her. “However . . . a bargain it is, and I will stick by it. You know me that well.” He carefully counted out the money and nodded in satisfaction. “Mmm, hmm. You know I just got that book. In the bottom of a crate of mostly old clothing items, do you need a new jacket? I can work you a wonderful deal. But in the crate was a small wood box filled with ancient items. Quite interesting. Do you want to see them? It came in on that foreign ship, out yonder, with the extra sails, a few too many in my book, did you see it? And the ugly mermaid . . .”

“Not like your ex wife?” Elwin couldn't help himself.

“Hey! She was a selkie, not a mermaid, why do you think I am called Mr. Seal? Now Mrs. Seal was the most beautiful . . .” Mr. Seal began.

“A foreign ship?” Elwin asked. “Was there an eccentric old woman on board? Witchy dress, lots of jewelry?”

“Hmm, now I don't . . .” Mr. Seal trailed.

“Old. She looked like the very oldest woman you have ever seen?” Elwin said.

“Oh her! Yes, I saw her. God of Sky, what a shock to see that face suddenly as I looked up from doing some inventory! She didn't buy nothing, though.” He said this almost as though that absolved her of being of any real interest. Not being a customer and all.

“Did she say anything?” Elwin wondered.

Mr. Seal looked momentarily confused, as though he might be forgetting something but he wasn't sure what kind of a thing it was. “No, no, I don't believe so.”

“I had better be going then.” Elwin said abruptly. He needed to get back to Prin.

As he turned to go, Mr. Seal called him back. “Wait a second, here's a little gift for your prince.”

Something about the term “your prince” sent a twinge through Elwin's heart. Not as though it was the first time anyone had said it to him. But still.

“Yes?” he turned back around.

Mr. Seal was holding an ancient looking coin, worn near to indiscernible, with a hole through it. He flipped it over to show that both sides were heads, only one was heavily scratched through in the shape of an X.

“It's a good luck coin, used to protect against hexes and the like. You put a string through it and make a necklace, or hang it up over your front door.” he said.

Elwin took it from his hand, giving it a skeptical look. “How much?”

Mr. Seal smiled. “Take it, its a gift I said. You already paid enough for the book.” He winked. “Just stay and listen to the rest of the story next time! You wont regret it.”

“A heavy price to pay.” Elwin teased. He waved at him over his shoulder as he quickly left the shop, tucking the coin into his pocket. He went back in almost as soon as he left. “Are you sure you don't know anything else about her, the old woman? Anything at all?”

Mr. Seal's confused expression told that he had already forgotten what little he did know. A look of concentration came over his face, he was usually better then this at remembering people, it was practically his bread and butter to remember a lot of different people and the things they may want. “She wasn't what she seemed, I think.” Was what he finally came out with.

Elwin nodded. “Thank you. That was my feeling also.”