Chapter 9:

Sunday Shopping

Twilight Star: First Goal


Alden followed behind the strange group of sickly looking people. The day had been longer than he anticipated but a few wouldn’t be able to travel much longer. He had thought the itinerary that was drawn up at breakfast was bold for a group that could barely sit up yesterday but he had been surprised so many times. They had gone to six different shops before lunch and had been barred from two because of the non-humans in their group. After lunch they had visited two shops and now were debating on the third. In each shop they slowly looked around hoping to find things that were stolen from them while being friendly to all they met, even the rude ones.

His new master was an interesting human; one he didn’t understand at all. She always knew when his curse was about to spike and calmed it with the slave link before smiling at him. She was quiet unless someone asked her opinion or if a stranger said something about her friends. Then she was a lioness with sharp words behind a warm smile. But since she was connected to him, he could feel her uncertainness to accept the happiness that was around her. Yet so did the others, he wanted to tell them. It was a strange group but somehow, they were a family. Nothing like his own… they were a warm, loving family.

Sasha, their Snake Beastwoman that was closer to death than life when she was purchased, was now slithering along with a slight smile on her ivory, diamond shaped face. Darcy and Deven were able to heal her partially, but her smile was from an old item Zeke had found. It was an old smooth shield that snake people used to help protect their under scales. Zeke was still not green but at least he was standing upright today. Icarus had a very unique sense of humor for somebody who looked like a human with flaking skin while Robert was mostly quiet but always examining, touching, smelling, and sometimes tasting. Fenten wanted to smile but he just faked it while moving from shoulder to shoulder. Julius, the ever protective twin brother, walked behind his sister who was arm in arm with Londra. He could hear the comments from those around wondering if the two sickly women were holding each other up, lovers, or just really good friends.

“Master, thank you for this again,” Sasha started slowing a bit for the others. “It doesn’t hurt to move. I am grateful for all the creams and potions, but this helps…”

Londra slowly removed her arm from Julianna’s and moved faster than any thought she could, wrapping her thin arms around Sasha’s shoulders. “We went over this,” she started softly. “My name is Londra or Lonnie. Nobody will ever own you again after I free you tonight. Don’t worry about tomorrow, we will be around you. Not only that, but we are being followed and protected. I believe we all made an impression on the Knights. You don’t want to go into the accessory shop that is next on our list because it is small. I understand.”

Londra couldn’t see the tears of happiness in Sasha’s grey eyes, but she could hear the emotion in the simple response, “you are all so kind.”

“Nope,” Icarus responded before anyone else could cry. “You just haven’t known any normal people. Not that any of us are normal! But I too would like to bow out of the last two stops. I can see our building, how about a race?”

“You are dementated,” Zeke sighed, wanting so much to run.

“It won’t be a race,” Robert commented softly. “I will use magic and win. My mind is full of so many questions. I too would like to return to our room.”

“Yes, an exploded Robbie head would not be good,” Fenten commented softly. “Especially since he is my mode of transport right now… oh, we would both win. Let’s race!”

“Well, we have all found something but Londra,” Julius pointed out as she strung her arm back through his sisters, both chuckling at the males trying to be strong. “Zeke and Icarus found their swords, then we found someone to fix them. Robbie found his magical accessories since nobody was smart enough to use them. We found Fenten’s armor… so tinny and cute.”

“They grow when I do,” Fenten pointed out a bit gruffly.

“We found my lance and your specially made shield,” Julianna added. “So, I am hoping the small shop has something of Londra’s.”

“That would be nice, but I have all I need,” Londra explained simply. “My familiars are still within part of my vault and are safe.”

“Translation,” Zeke started, “she doesn’t want a headache. Can’t blame her.” His dull golden eyes were still measuring the distance to Davie’s Den where they were staying. He really wanted to run but then again, he would never make it up the steps.

“Okay,” Londra chuckled. “You all can race, Robbie and Fenten are disqualified for using magic, so it is between Sasha, Icarus, and Zeke. Alden will follow and help you into our room then return while we slowly make our way to Cavern’s Treasures. Such a fun name!”

“Yes, go,” Robbie stated, using magic to move himself and Fenten to the little porch near their door. He waited for his Lacrama to open the balcony door and waved back. The other three took off. Many around the area stopped to watch their determination. Alden jogged behind them but was surprised to see Sasha get there first. He gently picked her up, carefully tucking her snake tail before using the outside stairs to get to their room. Zeke and Icarus leaned against each other until Alden returned.

“I think she had it harder than we did,” Julianna sighed. “I can’t believe her tail is six feet long and her body is three… I wonder what colors she really is…”

Londra gave her a little push, “Just say it. Fenten is adorable around her.”

“Yes!” Julianna laughed. “They can’t take their grey eye off from each other. I don’t think it is because they are both grey but there is something there.”

“Like with you and Robbie?” Julius hinted with a smile.

“Yes, I am in love with him. He is smart and will figure it out,” she stated, turning to stick her sad tongue out at her twin. “He is coming back,” she added softly. “So enjoyable to watch.”

“It was fun to be carried too,” Londra admitted softly. He walked behind her, placing his hand on her shoulder. Londra heard ‘safe’ and ‘room’. Thus, she opened the door to Cavern’s Treasures. The one who greeted her was very unexpected. They were told a family of Dwarves owned this business and this female was far from that. She was around five feet tall with a heart-shaped, light honey face and brilliant blue eyes. Her short, tightly curled, golden brown hair accented her face and slightly pointed ears. She didn’t appear to be muscular but healthy with two large wings attached to her lower back containing browns, creams, and white feathers. A Fae was in a shop called Cavern?

“Oh, look,” she started with a musical voice. “More sickly people looking for things that were stolen from them. Got to love the privileged deranged that did this. Welcome! Please look around… three humans and a healthy Elf? Oh, he must be your bodyguard. Some of the other groups have had healthy people with them. Do you see anything you like?” she asked, folding her wings up so they slid inside her loose, pale yellow shirt and into the long, wide, back pockets of her light blue pants.

“Cherri, they just came in,” a male voice chuckled. Soon he came into view, about the same height with a body made of muscle, golden eyes that showed his attention to details, and a round face full of compassion. His long, black hair contained hundreds of braids tied back. The three of them smiled, here was a Dwarf.

“A little birdy told me that your shop could do anything… like make feet and hands for those who lost them to that horrible challenge?” Julianna started sweetly before noticing something had caught Londra’s gaze. She let go of her arm, knowing Alden would follow.

“You heard right!” Cherri responded happily. She turned, giving them a closer look at her wings. “See the right wing, about halfway up? Kwan made that before I fell in love with him.”

“Wow, that is amazing,” Julius mumbled in awe, moving in closer wanting to touch the masterpiece.

“Well, that was when we had the tools and space to do so,” Kwan sighed. “We were forced out of our shop two years ago and into this little one. We have a small forge and workshop in the back but nothing like before. We worked so hard… but that isn’t your concern.”

“Let me guess, that stiff human that glared at us in the large building to the west?” Londra mumbled letting Alden help steady her as the headache faded.

“Yes, that was the real Cavern, now it is… Treasures Galore. Ha, he even stole our name!” Cherri grumbled, folding her wings back in so she could move around in the shop. She was curious about what had caught the attention of one of the thin humans.

“Okay, hypothetically,” Julius started looking around at the items in the shop. “If you had the tools, what materials would you need?”

“Do they have magic that will be flowing through the limb?” Kwan asked, up for a challenge.

“Some yes, some no,” Julianna stated. “Like that nice male we run into all the time that doesn’t have an arm. He snuck us food and extra blankets… just want to repay him…”

“Oh, Alexander?” Cherri asked standing behind Londra and Alden.

“Yes!” all three of them said before Londra moaned, leaning into Alden again. The twins and Robbie had watched her memory enough times they finally were able to read her lips when she was speaking to the others she saved. They were convinced that she asked about somebody named Alexander. With the pounding ache in her head, she was sure now that he had something to do with whatever she was sent to this continent for.

“Oh, are you alright,” Cherri asked, moving to catch the arm bangle that Londra was looking at. “It must really be annoying when pain strikes that fast. Are you interested in this? It does have a lovely vine pattern carved into it, but we believe it is just ornamental.”

“Yes,” Londra whispered. “My sister made this for me… or gave it to me… my mind is fractured so it is hard to tell. When I am healthy enough I will come back and show you the bracer that pops out. How about an arm for Alexander?” she asked to take the focus away from her.

“Oh, I can’t wait,” Cherri laughed happily.

“If you want him to swing a sword again it would be a… possibly? We would need Three-Horn leather, but nobody around here can kill one let alone carve it up…” Kwan started, rubbing his chin. “Also, would need to learn how to do it but I am sure I could…”

“How about this,” Londra started, following Cherri to the small desk in the front of the store to pay. “We are going to be Adventurers and think we have a way to work the Learning Room so there isn’t a blinding headache. If we do… how about you and your family become guest members so you can use the room for free. We will let you know how to ask the questions. Then we just have to become strong enough to take one down. I believe in us.”

“Since we are being hypothetical,” Cherri started with a smile. “It sounds like fun. We would just have to come out a few times… help you gather things to make it official.”

“Or,” Julius started with a smile on his thin face, “you could help retrain us. I am sure since you can make weapons you can use them quite well.”

“That would be true,” Kwan chuckled. “My father and mother would be even better at that. Even if we never got to the arm… just helping to hone my skills that have been… dormant for so long would be a gift. So, fifty bronzes for that with the hope you come back! Oh, we would also need Mana Steel and a bit of Mithril.”

“Those might be easier to get,” Julius chuckled. “We heard all kinds of things at the manor.” He explained to the shocked faces. Then they all laughed.

Londra was holding the bangle that was a bit wider than her palm like a treasure. “We will be back then, thanks for this. I want to leave before I start to cry…”

“Understand,” Cherri mumbled. “I can feel it too… we look forward to seeing you again.” Londra nodded, letting the bangle go into her blood bag while Alden guided her out of the shop. Julius and Julianna smiled and waved at the couple before joining them outside.

“We headed to Treasures Galore now,” Julius wondered while walking that way.

“That is where the tall man glared at us,” Julianna remembered, leaning against Londra with a slight smile. “Yea, let’s play it up.”

“Oh, that would work,” Londra giggled turning slightly towards Alden. “Do you have any… fancier clothing? I never looked to see if there was anything in your vault.”

A moment later his simple clothing was changed into a male, Elven, robe that was cream with golden accents. It flowed as he walked. He watched the three try not to laugh when they got to the large shop. Yet they all noticed how Londra was looking at a staff through the window. He nodded, straightening his spine to act the part that he had been born into.

They entered, surprised to see how empty it was for the size. All the others had been stocked full of items. Yet this one was by far the largest, yet space was so wasted. A shield every few feet on a wall with nothing else there. A few shelves with bracers propped up to fill the space. Swords displayed as if they were in a castle instead of a shop.

“No, get out!” a tall man with brown hair and cold brown eyes stated. “I will not have sick people dirtying my shop. I don’t care if you are humans…” he stopped noticing the well-dressed Elf. What he didn’t notice was a shadow entering the shop as well.

“We are sorry, master,” Julius started, turning towards Alden so the man wouldn’t see that he was close to laughing. “He doesn’t want your money.”

Julianna continued, looking right at the man, “they say coins from the Golden sparkle. Too bad you will never know. What a shame.”

“I am sorry master,” Londra said softly. “I know that you wanted that staff, but it can’t be helped. We wanted to thank you for being our protector but… so sad.”

Alden turned to leave, on cue the man came running towards him, “let’s not be hasty. I didn’t see you at first. I am so sorry that sounded horrible.”

“Master will listen,” Julianna said sweetly. “He doesn’t talk to humans but since he is so grand he speaks to us through our minds!”

“We are almost used to the headache,” Julius confirmed with half a smile.

“I understand,” the man mumbled. “That finely carved staff is a deal at three hundred bronzes.” He paused when the Elf just looked at him intensely.

“If it is such a deal, why is it covered with dust?” Londra asked moving towards her weapon. “Not only that it hasn’t moved in quite some time. There is a mark in the floor.”

Alden looked at the three wondering what he was supposed to do when Julius motioned towards the door. “Wait,” the man said again. “Nobody can move it, but I am sure one of your caliber could.”

“Ug,” Julianna said dramatically, rubbing her hands on her simple dress. “You would want him to soil his lovey hands. How rude. I don’t think it is worth that. I mean it is lovely, but he is being so disrespectful.”

“Do you have a clean cloth or something?” Londra wondered. “I am sure he could lift it with ease, but I agree, he shouldn’t get dirty. I could clean it for you master!”

“Oh, I wanted to offer that,” Julianna pouted so deeply her brother turned towards Alden trying not to laugh.

Alden was having such a hard time standing still as these three played this shop owner like a harp, a finely tuned one. He rubbed his fingers together looking at the staff then nodded at Londra, hoping that it was the right chord to play.

“I don’t…” the shop owner started.

“Surely you clean your items,” Julius said theatrically moving around the building. “You must take pride in your items! You did craft them all right? You have such a large workshop behind the shop front…”

“I… they are all in the wash…” he stumbled.

“Then I would say you forgot one,” Londra grumbled. “We are sorry master… oh, I know. I will use my dress. Don’t worry, I will clean it when we get back. After all it is a treasure that you gave to me, and I respect my treasures!” Londra heard a slight chortle, knowing the shadow that followed them was watching the show. She slowly picked her pale blue dress up, using the bottom to clean where one would touch the staff. The shadow noticed that she activated something while she was doing it. “There master! Now you can show him how strong you are!” she said stepping out of the way with a bit smile.

“I will clean the rest of it when we get home with real cleaning supplies!” Julianna yelled as Alden went over to pick up the staff. He moved it around before looking at the shop owner who was dumbfound.

“The master will give you one-fifty for it,” Julius stated sweetly. “Since nobody can pick it up or CLEAN it… that should be a deal for you!”

“Stupid boy,” the shop owner started, and Alden set the staff back down before turning to leave. “Damn, two hundred and fifty.”

“Nope, still not a deal, one-eighty,” Julianna stated rocking on her feet with such an innocent smile on her thin face.

The shop owner debated, grinding his teeth. “Two hundred…”

“He says that will work,” Londra said softly. “You are to sell it to me since I was nice enough to clean it for him.”

“Oh, no fair,” Julius grumbled looking down at the floor. “I started with a low bid, even got called stupid,” he pouted.

“Fine! Let us get this over with,” the shop owner grumbled, shoving the projected contract of sale before Londra. She pretended to slowly read it before accepting it. Once it was finalized, she reached over to get the staff. Now they all turned to watch the face of the shop owner as her frail body picked up the staff with ease. Alden did his best not to laugh, because the face the man was making was so enjoyably horrible. He took the staff, then let it be placed in his vault until she was ready for it again.

“Yea lets head back! I am so happy,” Julianna yelled like a child. The four of them left the store, staying in character until they were a few feet from the stairs to their room. Then they all laughed, including Alden whose was silent and a bit creepy.

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