118 Rumors (2/2)

Both girls were smiling at each other, making me recall the few times I'd gone shopping with Aura and remembering how she seemed like a different person, like someone possessed by the spirit of bargains.

\”Get in line, you rascals!\” Qwipps screeched. \”We'll get to you as soon as we get to you!\”

My eyes found him at the center of the gathered merchants, fending off their advances and demands to be recognized first.

\”Oops, looks like I should go and help Qwipps, Commander,\” Varda said, before jogging off to assist her friend who looked like he was drowning in fairies.

I sighed. \”Let's get this over with then…\”

Aura and I took our seats on the long table we'd moved to the top of the dais at the end of the hall. We were joined by Edo who was there to look appropriately menacing, and Zarz who was there to make sure I didn't sound like an idiot when talking to these seasoned hagglers.

Varda and Qwipps were responsible for the first stage of the screening, asking people to answer a few standard questions before they let them through to speak to us. All in all, it was a really tiring process.

I had to explain sales tax repeatedly to the first few bozos we interviewed and it was grueling.

\”Why's this sales tax sound like it'll cost me Leprechauns?\” squealed a gray-haired gnome in overalls.

\”Well, it actually doesn't cost you anything,\” I reasoned, pointing again to the piece of parchment spread out on the table. \”If we consider sales tax to be five percent of your product's cost, then all we do is add that extra five percent to your pricing. Get it?\”

The dumbfounded look on the cherubic face told me he didn't.

I sighed. This happened a few more times, and it was interesting to see that dumb look on so many different types of fairies. Unfortunately, it was also taking time from what could have been a search for Ty.

Luckily, three merchants stood out from the pact. The armorer Shanks, the weaponsmith Kal Duenne, and the potions master Lilipold Loomingale. Ironically enough, none of them were what you'd expect fairies with these types of occupations should be. Lilipold was an undine like Five-Thousand Man Commander Unna was, Kal Duenne was a fiery-haired, yellow-skinned hobgoblin which was something as rare a human albino, and Shanks, well, Shanks was a troll whose features were very similar to someone I knew.

His skin was rock gray and probably twice as hard as stone. He had wide blood-red eyes hidden behind square-rimmed spectacles. His hair was short and parted to the side. But it was the nose and that downward pointing mouth set in its default frown that really showed off their resemblance.

Shanks raised a massive hand and offered it to me.

\”So you're the human I need to thank for bringing my big brother's body back from the war,\” he said briskly.

Wow, it was my turn to look dumbfounded. Not only did Shaqs have a younger brother, but apparently, this younger brother was a fast-talking, coat-wearing merchant with enough smarts to run his own business.

\”Your brother saved a lot of lives... I owed him at least that,\” I said quickly while trying to reform my face into a mournful one. An entirely difficult task as my mind couldn't get over how different the troll brothers were.

Shanks bowed his head politely. \”You honor him.\”

Finally, I shook his hand which was about five times the size of my hand.

\”So,\” he began. \”I just heard that you're looking for info on slave traders?\”

I raised an eyebrow at him, but it was Aura who answered, \”How do you know this?\”

Shanks placed a finger on the rather large lobe of his left ear. \”I listen... I also deal with information so maybe we can come to an arrangement.\”

More and more I wondered if this confident-sounding troll was actually related to the ever-bashful Shaqs.

\”How about you throw us a bone first,\” Aura suggested, already in a haggling mood.

Shanks appraised her for a few seconds before finally nodding his head. \”I wouldn't mind having the princess of the Trickster Pavilion and the boy touched with fire owe me over this.\”

Everyone stiffened.

Shanks raised a hand in surrender.

\”Don't worry... I know which information to keep close to my vest,\” he said, tapping heavy fingers on his actual vest, right where the heart would be. \”So, you still looking for a hint?\”

Aura and I both nodded.

Shanks leaned over the table, his massive form casting a shadow over me. He leans as close to me and Aura as possible, and then whispers, \”I hear there's a trade caravan that's recently received new stock from your mudball of a world... and they passed through a certain canyon earlier in the day to visit an auction house where a maiden of fire holds court...\”