Curselock

Chapter 21: Profit

“I think they are too tight.”

Jude hesitated a step, reaching down and smudging his new boot laces. He then stomped and caught up with the others. A few steps later he repeated the process, all the while holding a look of disgust.

After the sixth or seventh lace correction attempt, Glenny had enough. “Come on man. The first three pairs were too big, then the next four were too small. And now you are saying the only pair that remotely came close is slightly too small?”

The town of Liontrunk was in a bit of a hurry. News had spread about the attack on the guard building housing the dungeon entrance. Without having all the facts, the general consensus was that the invaders were aiming to break the dungeon core and ruin the town. People rushed all about, selling as much stock as possible even if it was under significant market rates.

The important Mana Lion organs had spiked in price, something which Leland noticed while he sold the parts he brought back. The alchemist he sold to was more than willing to buy everything he had, even the lion-toad parts. The man wasn’t able to identify the parts, which Leland played off as simply being from a mutation near a gnoll camp.

The man only shrugged at the shoddy answer, not caring as he hit an alchemical goldmine. Leland also sold off the pelts and toad leather, finding various sellers through the market district. The toad leather got a bemused eye, but nothing more. When Leland finally returned to the others, Jude had just picked his shoes.

“I can’t help it!” Jude sputtered. “You know what might help the situation? A beautiful—”

Glenny interrupted, “So help the Legacy of Berserkers if you play that cursed harmonica right now, I will shove it down your throat.”

Jude’s eyes quickly found the cobbled street, not before slyly playing a low long note as his shoulders slumped. Glenny only smoldered.

The others took the cue and followed along. They ventured across the town to the relatively small magical district. While a booming adventurer town, the magic aspect had taken a side step to the sword and shield. That didn’t mean the town was without magic, quite the contrary in fact.

Many alchemical advancements had been solved or assisted by mages. As it turned out, specific aspects of mana proved quite fruitful when it came to stumped alchemists tinkering with volatile transmutations or distillations.

Through the winding streets, past shops selling the magical, Leland and the others walked. They passed bay windows showing self-repairing trinkets, elegant dual weapons, magical staves that sparked with different color gems, even a dress enchanting shop that sold clothes that looked to be on fire or soaked with liquid gold.

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The mage district was, and always would be, Leland's favorite area within a town. He felt at home, he felt like he could feel his parents around every corner.

They eventually reached the town’s only auction house where armed guards dressed in stark black suits waited outside. As the trio approached, they felt icy stares slowly bounce up and down their bodies.

“One of you Leland?” one of the guards asked, his tone less than interested.

“That’s me.”

“They are waiting in room one. First right then first room on the left.”

“Thanks…”

With the doors held open for them, the boys quickly scurried through. They entered an overly opulent waiting room. Golden trim and white marble met their tired eyes, the sudden reflected light nearly blinding them. Jude even groaned, raising his hand to shield himself.

“I hate snobby places like this,” he whined.

Glenny shrugged. “They have the money and the means to help us, so, get over it.”

Jude rapidly opened and closed his mouth, making muttering noises as he went.

“Real mature.”

“Guys, please. Let’s not piss anyone off this early,” Leland said, a vein on his temple bulging.

They followed the guard’s instructions and entered room one. Alkin was inside, sipping tea with an impressively dressed older woman. She wore a monocle and enchanted gloves, her salt and pepper hair tied tightly in a bun.

“Ah, finally,” Alkin said, standing. “Everyone, I’d like you to meet Appraiser Joy.”

Leland stepped forward, his hand out in greeting. She took it, shaking deeply. “Hi, I’m Leland. Sorry we are late, someone had a shoe problem.”

Joy smiled. “Yes, Master Onryo has informed me of your latest adventures. I especially appreciated the harmonica tales.”

Glenny face palmed as Jude stepped forward with his hand out as well. “Hello friend of the finer aspects of music, I’m Jude.”

She took his hand. “I could tell. Not very often do we have individuals here that look almost exactly as described.”

That got a raised eyebrow from Glenny. “Do you often have people describing others?”

“Oh sure,” Joy motioned to the couch. “We often have masquerade bidding. Our attendants have to memorize what people look like so we can charge the correct account.”

“You don’t number the guests and have them raise said number?”

“We did once upon a time. But you will find few respected establishments still using such an outdated method. Illusion spells and tampering with bids became quite the spectacle about a decade ago.”

Glenny could only mutter, “Huh.”

Joy smiled again, moving a metal tray with instruments and tools before her. “Master Onryo tells me you three have several items you need appraising? Oh, please help yourself to tea or cookies.”

Jude’s eyes lit up.

Leland ignored him and pulled at his pack. He placed the bone gauntlet, black glistening cloak, lit candle with a blue flame, and golden orb on the coffee table. The Appraiser stifled a gasp.

“May I?” she asked, receiving several head nods.

She went one at a time, picking each item up, looking it over, then used several different tools. About an hour later she had gone through the four items and presented her findings.

“Starting from least involved, we have the bone gauntlet. It is made from Mana Lion femur and skull. Interestingly, the bone has been warped like metal thus creating a rather potent protective design. It will be most suitable for a warrior archetype and will increase pure mana defenses by a slight amount. If you would like the exact numerical value, that can be arranged – at an additional charge, of course.”

Everyone looked to Jude who shrugged. He took the gauntlet and slipped it on. “I feel… indestructible. Quick, Leland, cast something on me.”

Leland coughed. “Uh, no.”

Jude sat back and pouted.

Joy cleared her throat. “Next, we have the golden orb. At first I was quite confused as to what I was looking at. But—” She dinged the orb with a metal tuning fork, causing cracks to form along the gold. “- as you can see, this is a cracked callers’ orb.”

Leland’s eyes widened and he sucked in a deep breath. “What aspect?” he asked, holding his breath.

“The cracked orb will increase the spell potency of any gold spell. As in the metal. As in what we use for money.” Joy then summoned a black box. It appeared from thin air, where she then placed the orb before the box disappeared. “Royal law states that any magical item that increases the effectiveness of gold spells are to be taken at once. With an appropriate monetary accommodation, of course.”

Leland deflated but nodded anyway. The Royals took minting very seriously. Last thing everyone wanted was artificial inflation. “How much will we be receiving?”

“Ninety three gold paid and stamped by the Royal Treasury. Any bank will be able to cash the note.”

Even Alkin’s eyes were wide, and he was a noble. “Ninety three gold for just a single item?”

“Indeed,” Joy said plainly.

“Wait a moment,” Glenny spoke up. “You said least to most involved. The orb was beaten by the cloak and candle?”

Joy smirked. “Very much so. Allow me to continue. The candle is next. This is a highly specialized magical item. Without more testing we will not know the true effects but rest assured, at a minimum it will significantly increase the effectiveness of spirit fire.”

The boys instantly turned to a wide eyed Alkin.

Joy kept going. “From how rare spirit fire and the accompanying Legacy, I would suggest the starting bid to be at least two hundred and fifty gold. In my opinion it will sell for three hundred plus.”

The room was silent as Alkin sucked his bottom lip. He eventually gave Leland a subtle head shake.

“I see,” Leland said to Joy. “My team and I will have to discuss selling such a valuable item.”

Joy smiled as if she expected the answer. “Then let's continue and then I’ll give you all some privacy.” She pointed to the cloak. “Now, let me preface what I am about to say with this: this is my opinion and I stake my title as Senior Appraiser on my word.”

That caused everyone to sit on the edge of their seats.

“This cloak… could be either worth a small fortune or nothing at all. Have any of you ever heard of Parasite Items?”