Percival looked back and forth between his two old friends. "Now, the pressing question is, does her wealth come from her newfound rift piling riches on her, or is it a throwaway gesture from her people—to give her a chance at survival as she says?"
"I heard she brought in quite the collection of Delver heads before she visited you." Braken tapped a finger rhythmically on the table's solid surface.
"She did. I'll have a better accounting of their gains tomorrow. My sources near the abbess are being annoyingly tight-lipped. Regardless, he needs to be informed," Stefan said.
"Agreed," Percival said, then grew contemplative. “We know any overt move against a bard comes with consequences.” He drummed his steepled fingers together for a quiet minute. “No. We'll wait and observe for now. More is bound to come to the light soon." He raised his glass, before taking a deep draft and sat back. I hope she doesn't turn out to be too interesting. Luminous knows there are too many problems here already. “So, Stefan, has your son progressed with his latest acquisition?"
Stefan grumbled and shook his head. "Most of his difficulty stems from a lack of a proper means to communicate. I fear he may quit and sell the wretched thing at the auction."
"That's a pity. Do you think he'd be open to an offer?" Percival asked.
"Looking for a new bed warmer already?" Braken quirked an eyebrow.
"I'm quite happy with my current arrangement. No—if things go how I predict—I could use a new watcher. Unless you don't think she'd be amenable?" Percival explained.
----------------------------------------
Amber led them to a pyth dealer that lay a few blocks off the main street in a quaint little shop nestled between a cobbler and a confectionery.
"Remember what I suggested about this situation?" Amber asked.
Chess rolled her eyes. "I'll keep my cards hidden, don't worry."
"Good." Amber smiled broadly at the large, armoured guard standing at attention outside the store, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of a wide chopping sword sheathed at his side. He studied them each before nodding and stepping aside to let them pass when they mounted the short stair.
When the trio stepped through the door a short skunk-kin man sitting slouched in a high-backed chair behind a beautiful, chromed grate that spanned the width of the room greeted them. The lattice, terminating in the solid stone walls to either side, shimmered with faint waves of magical colours.
He looked up from his book at the tinkle of the door-mounted bell and smiled. "Ah, customers. Please, please come in. How can we h-help…" He stuttered to a stop once he’d finally taken the entirety of Chess in, his eyes snagging on Chess’ ears.
He coughed softly before smiling wider. "That is… Interesting-life world walker," he said in wood-elven with a short bow. His face looked a little pinched.
Amber stepped to the left to study a large slate sheet covered in a large list of available Pyth’s. Amber had already informed her only Commons and Uncommons would be on the board that largely resembled the menu at a Mexican restaurant Chess liked when she worked in the city.
Chess experienced a mental stutter of her own before she remembered Amber mentioning this particular greeting in one of her rambling lessons. "Strong descendants," Chess responded in kind. From Amber's teaching Chess had gathered the importance of children to elves. They were rare and, because of their longer pregnancies and menstrual cycles, often had complications.
Chess smiled and demurred. "I'm a half-blood, despite favouring my father's side of the family. You can call me Chess."
His features settled back into a smile, and he nodded. "You can call me Alfonso. What can I do for you Lady Chess?"
"Well Alfonso, I've found many of the pyth in this kingdom have a different naming sense from those back home. So, I have to experiment to figure out which may fit my needs. But first, I require a magically binding confidentiality contract."
"Of course, my lady," Alfonso agreed and pulled a now familiar roll of vellum from below his wide counter. “This covers me, my employees and property,” he clarified.
The trio signed after Chess and Amber both gave it a thorough read. Each party received a copy.
“Okay, I have some to sell and some to buy—if you have something suitable. I’m also willing to trade if you're open to it. I'll leave it to you where to start," Chess said.
Alfonso picked up a small handbell from the counter and shook it twice before responding, "We'll start Karen on your needs before seeing what you have." He rubbed his palms together.
Chess smiled at the relish evident in his mannerisms.
An old steel-grey haired human woman with a wire thin silver collar emerged from the back and watched Chess expectantly.
Chess suppressed her grimace, forcing it into a genial smile. "Okay, for myself I have two cores I'm working to improve alongside my current Pyth." She—careful not to touch the bars, slipped the readymade list of her, Amber's, Ashley’s and Gramps’ pyths through to Alfonso along with a few more common but useful ones as a distraction. "Both are tree based. So can you give me a list of any associated pyth you have in stock and any similar cores you may have?" Chess asked with a slight smile plastered on her face before turning to Amber and asking, "Anything?"
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
"A handful, mistress," Amber said, bobbing a nod.
"Good. We'll see what he has for me and the rest of the budget can go to you," Chess said before turning back to Alfonso who had a sparkle in his eye as his slave whispered in his ear.
He clapped in delight. "Well go fetch it," he murmured to his helper, as he refocused on Chess. "I'm told we may have just the thing to spark your young heart, Milady. How about you show me what you brought me while we wait?"
Chess held her smile and shook her head at his antics before holding up a hand in a 'may I' gesture. In warded buildings, etiquette dictated one got permission before opening an inventory space.
He inclined his head and Chess' hands flickered in the now rote spell before she entered to retrieve the two boxes of pyth they’d agreed to sell. They contained everything their group hadn't used aside from a few taken from the gnolls held for the others.
"We found a nest of interesting spiders in our travels," Chess said as she carefully opened the box with of the most interesting Pyth they had on the narrow strip of counter present on her side of the bars. Amber had attached small pieces of parchment with type and quantity on each cubby in the divided box.
She placed the waterweaver pyth front and centre.
Waterweaver Structural Silk Pyth 73 doses
Waterweaver Dragline Silk Pyth 61 doses
Waterweaver Egg Sac Silk Pyth 41 doses
Waterweaver Net-Silk Pyth 69 doses
"What do you think about these?" she asked, gesturing at the open box, before setting the box with the more common pyth they were selling through the opening in the barrier. “The rift they came from should officially opened soon but these are the first.”
Alfonso leaned forward after setting Chess' box aside and frowned. “Waterweaver?”
“Yes. The silk produced is inherently waterproof. A colleague of mine believes it may have some elemental water resistance too. We can provide some cloth samples. We haven't gotten it appraised yet. You are our third stop,” Chess elaborated.
“Interesting…” He studied each cubby of pyth before smiling and nodding. “Well, I think we'll both be happy with today's business. The subjugation overseas has seen a significant supply of some of these commons you desire come through our beautiful port in the last few years. And I am greatly interested in being the first to market these new waterweaver pyth. My assistant will have a detailed trade list for your desires shortly,” He smiled obsequiously.
“Perfect,” Chess responded before turning to her companion. “Amber?” Chess prompted.
“Exsanguinate, Blood Surge, Adrenal control, Blood rage, Strengthened heart, and Detoxify pyths all have promise for my class, my lady. He also has significant supplies of Power Attack, Shield, Mend-Flesh and Snow-flurry, if you want me to increase those.”
“Okay, Alfonso, do you have anything in a similar vein not listed?” Chess asked the now frowning man.
Alfonso took a long-studied look at Amber before asking. “A Blood mage of some flavour?” he guessed. “Do you have a licence for your class?”
Amber smiled, “Of course, my class magic is strictly self or consent focused. Granted to me by a goddess of fertility. All my offensive abilities are weapon-based.”
“Perfect! In that case I have a handful of proscribed options for you. Our local undead pit often produces vampires and ghouls, and their more—shall we say—unsavoury pyths are often hard to find legitimate buyers for. Simply show me the documents and I'm sure we can find you quite the deal.” He clapped his paws in excitement.
Amber produced them from her bag and handed them to Alfonso who studied them carefully. When his helper returned with a list, he handed it to Amber before sending his slave back into the storeroom again.
Chess raised an eyebrow in question at Amber.
“There are some good possibilities here. Although, it may still take some time before we have a combination that works,” Amber said.
Chess shrugged and smiled as the slave returned from the back.
Alfonso studied the slip of paper before clearing his throat, “Okay, from the proscribed list we have: Blood harvest, Burning blood, a Rank four Blood core and a rank 2 of the same, Black blood, Blood draw, Blood feast, Vampiric strength, Vampiric agility, Receptive marrow, Improved marrow, Strengthened blood. Foul blood, Corrupted blood. And the most expensive and only item on my list requiring church-signed and notarized permits to buy or sell, a rank 6 Greater Vampire Core.”
“Improved marrow and Strengthened blood are restricted?” Chess interjected.
Alfonso nodded. “Although on their own they are mundane pyth, they’re two of the four needed to unlock vampire bloodline classes. So, anyone buying them needs proper documentation. They're hard to sell because only a few families even know about them, and I'm forbidden from listing them or talking about them unless it's with someone in your retainer's position. A licensed practitioner,” Alfonso explained.
“What does receptive marrow do?” Amber asked.
“It allows vampires to take blood from anyone. Not just those that smell right to them. Truthfully, it's nearly impossible to sell outside a few crafters who buy a few doses every few years for some bloodline enchantments. If a sailor has the space, they sometimes buy some to sell to the deep dwarves. I mentioned it because I have no idea what your class needs. Hells, I can sell you enough for rank 10 and still not put a significant dent in my supply. I buy it for little bits. The only reason I usually bother is the goodwill it generates from the local Delvers and for year-end tax purposes.”
Amber and Chess shared a look. Blood type flexibility?
“Well, I think that gives me a clear picture. I'll leave the dickering to Amber here,” Chess said with a winning smile. She turned to said companion. “I think I'll take in some sun on Alfonso's step for now.”
“Of course, my lady.” Amber bobbed her head.
----------------------------------------
“I can't believe we just spent nearly every cent we had in less than 20 minutes,” Chess grumbled as she returned from stowing their gains.
“Good thing I saved enough for tonight's lodgings. But don't worry we should have more than we started with today once the delver's guild finishes its accounting. That and we still need to get the non-guild heads harvested. Still, there are a few other pyths I wouldn't mind buying after we are done with the auction. If we have the funds remaining," Amber said cheerfully between gulps of the foul-smelling pyth concoction in her waterskin.
Chess scrunched her nose at the leather sack. “We’ll have to buy you a new one of those when you're done. That is disgusting.”
“The things we do for power. You saw the crates of this stuff I need to drink.” Amber gave her a cheery smile. “I want those Blood cores. But nine ril is steep for something he has sitting around gathering dust.”
“We had enough,” Chess pointed out. “Does it at least taste better than it smells?”
“It's a lot like a thick bone broth. So not bad. I'll definitely be sick of it quickly though. Could use salt and pepper.”
“At least there is that. Not interested in the vampire core?” Chess asked.
Amber waved her off, “I'm not clear on what it does. I can always go back if we make more coin than we anticipate tomorrow. The deals we made were better. It's not like he can sell either core type at the auction. Walking away from it now will stand us better in the future negotiation.”
Chess lifted and sniffed her own pyth-laden waterskin. Hickory, thank the Goddess. She took a sip then spat it back into the skin.
“Gah, what the fuck,” she swore before licking the sleeve of her dress in a futile attempt to escape the disgusting taste and texture of rotten apples. “Huo, ih tyhat feer.”
Amber laughed as she steered Chess back towards the Delver's Guild. “Come on, my lady, let's get you an ale. Maybe they'll let you eat and drink for a few more songs.”
“That sounds like a fantastic idea,” Chess perked up.