58 Felix (2/2)
As they walked further into town, Thomas led them to the local tanner to sell the skins. The smell alone was almost enough to knock Leo and Iris out though. As they approached someone, Leo walked forward and said,
”Who do we talk to about selling the furs we have?” The man looked up, and his eyes widened from seeing the amount of furs they had. He straitened himself, and said,
”You're looking at him, Tanner the tanner at your service.” Leo wanted to laugh at the name, but limited himself to a small smile. He didn't want to annoy their potential money source. Tanner led the way to his shop from the tanning vats, and they started getting to business.
”We need to sell these for traveling expenses, as we need to reach Lawrence city. But we might be traveling a lot in the future, since furs would be our main source of income it would be nice to know a decent place to sell them.” Leo casually mentioned them returning in the future so that Tanner would be more honest with prices, as he would most likely be seeing them again. Tanner, hearing that they might return in the future, and seeing how skillfully the furs were skinned, decided to be a bit more lenient with the price. Not too much though, since he needed to ensure a profit.
In the end, Leo walked away with one gold coin, and five silver coins. He was suddenly glad for the extra training elder grandma had him do, to listen to heart rates and see facial cues with his heightened senses, when someone was bluffing and to haggle better. He added their new wealth, and counted one gold coin, twenty five silver coins, and thirty copper coins. Leo had learned that it was fifty copper coins to one silver, and fifty silver coins to one copper. All the coins had the image of the sun on one side, and a handsome guy with a fierce look on the other. He figured the guy was Arthur.
After selling the furs Thomas led them to an inn, where Leo booked two rooms for the next two nights for twenty coppers total. Then Thomas and Iris left to explore the town and listen for news, while Leo would stay in the tavern of the inn and eavesdrop. After a couple hours of drinking and listening though, and he had nothing except people being worried about the lack of news regarding the expedition north. Leo tried to not look guilty when he heard this, and eventually returned to the room to wait for Thomas and Iris.
Though he was immune to the effects of alcohol, the comfort of the bed after a week of the ground called Leo to dreamland. Leo quickly locked the doors and windows since Iris knocking would wake him up, and started to slumber. He didn't know how much time passed though. When he felt someone press against him, waking him up and he opened his eyes to see Iris on top of him. He didn't register that he didn't hear her come in, and only enjoyed her embrace. As she pressed her lips against his, Leo managed to ask,
”So when exactly did you guys get back?” With a smirk. She smiled while answering, and said,
”Just now, I let myself in, for a surprise.” Something didn't seem quite right to Leo, as he continued kissing her. But when he inhaled through his nose, he suddenly opened his eyes, and grabbed her by the throat. Iris started coughing as he lifted her into the air by her throat, and looked at him with pleading eyes. Leo looked at Iris with rage in his eyes, as they started glowing orange. He spat out at her,
”Who the hell are you, and why are you impersonating my wife?!” 'Iris' opened her eyes in shock at his own eyes and words. But she didn't answer, only for Leo to tighten his grip on her throat. She reached a hand around her back, and pulled out a knife that she sank into his side. Leo flinched, before grabbing the handle with his free hand, and pulled out the blade. He let the blade drop, and looked back to the fake, before slamming him fist into her jaw, and knocking her out.
At that moment he heard a commotion on the other side of the door, and unlocked and opened it to see the real Iris and Thomas on the other side. They were surprised to see the fake on the floor, before Leo quickly took the rope they had, and started tying her sitting on a chair. He then explained what happened, before leaving them to watch over her so he could rinse out his mouth.
That done, he returned and literally slapped the fake awake. She woke up with a start, but before she could say anything Leo got behind her and grabbed her neck in a loose grip. He then explained to her,
”I locked the windows and door before napping, there's no way you could enter the room with out me noticing unless you could walk through walls. Forgive me for not taking chances.” The fake laughed at his thoroughness, and said,
”I knew it, you're a champion aren't you?” Leo didn't day anything, and only said,
” Iris, check her arm. The only people that would have those kinds of powers are other champions.” She ripped the fakes sleeve, and exposed the brand shaped with a mask and two daggers.
”Loki!” Thomas suddenly said, recognizing the symbol. The fake laughed with iris's voice, which annoyed Leo so he ordered,
”Shift back into your true form!” She stopped laughing, and her form shimmered for a moment before it turned into the pretty girl who winked at him earlier. Leo knew this was another disguise though, and said,
”I said you're true form!” Surprising the girl for a moment. She looked thoughtfully at Leo, before her form shimmered once more, and there sat an extremely good looking young man. He was no older than Leo, but what caught his attention was the fox ears and tail. The beast man laughed bitterly and said,
”Nice to meet you, my name is Felix.”