The Dealer

The sun beat down on us for the majority of the first day, and though we were riding through a road surrounded by forest, getting deeper into the Southern Continent's belly, the sun did not have any mercy on my skin.

Benjamin talked a little about where he was from - a small city called Polu, which also happened to be where the package for Ren is - about his life growing up, and a few encounters with Laers.

"They could almost pass for human, if not for their magic." He glances over at me, taking a small swig of water. He gestures to it as if to say, want some?

I nod. "You can feel magic?"

"It's almost like... you know when you're standing next to someone, and you can feel their presence? Their energy?" He passes the small canteen to me, our fingers brushing slightly.

I nod again. Even right now - I can feel Benjamin. If I was to close my eyes, I could still feel him being there, next to me, his energy calm and bright.

"It's like that. Some magic calls to you. Some seduces you." He watches me take a long drink of water. "And some... it whispers to you."

I wait for my hair to rise on end - I wait for the fear to creep in. It doesn't.

"Why?"

Benjamin shrugs, screwing the canteen lid back on and placing it in the side bag. "Depends who you ask. Some would say it's a gift from the Goddesses themselves."

I snort. "They aren't around anymore."

"Ah, be careful about blatant disrespect for the Goddesses on this continent." Benjamin turns to look me in the eye, those brown irises grinning. "The deities may have left the humans, but they haven't left the Laers. And they know it."

I don't answer.

Polu is a small city, but compared to the harbour I had landed in, it might as well have been a metropolis.

About half the size of Valharan, Benjamin led me up and down main streets, sideways, and back alleys. He pointed out a few bars, some whorehouses, but Polu is mostly made of cobblestone walkways and smallish buildings.

From what I could see, it was mostly humans, though the odd sprite or tree spirit did pass us. When I first caught a glimpse of the tree-people, I had blinked. They were taller than the average human, with lanky and gangly arms, all covered in a brown-green moss. They glowed faintly, and would sometimes seem completely transparent. Though humanoid, they could not be mistaken for anything but a spirit.

Just like a Laer could not be mistaken for a human - unless perhaps they had their ears covered. But the smell and feeling of magic would be enough to give them away should they use it.

Benjamin leads me to a small house that borders a small plaza. Kids splash in a nearby fountain, women and spirits alike fan themselves with anything they can find.

The house itself is nothing to write home about - it's built into other homes, just like the style back in Valharan. It's mainly brick, covered in vines and windows that desperately need cleaning.

I glance at Benjamin. "This -"

He cuts me off before I can finish. "Isn't what you were expecting?" The dark skinned boy shakes his head, smiling a little. "Not everyone is as rich as your master."

I try not to grimace, instead flashing him a grin and nudging him with my elbow. He's so much younger than me, so full of life, full of energy.

"A girl can dream though, right?"

Benjamin laughs a little, rolling his eyes. "We can only dream."

Just as he finishes his sentence, an older gentleman opens the door at the top of a small staircase that leads into the house. He steps out a little gingerly, as if expecting an arrow to hit his head clean off.

He's dressed well, his clear attempt at wealth obviously thwarted as he gets closer. From afar, he appears rich, wearing fine slippers and a silk shirt, but the closer he comes the more I can tell his shirt is fake, his shoes have holes, his hair is balding and his eyebrows are knitted together, as if he's concerned.

A man whose greatest demon, his greatest idol is money.

"Auroin." He says, having finally reached Benjamin and I. He smiles at me, tilting his head. "I've heard so much about you, Angel of Death. It seems Ren's leash extends farther than I once thought." I try not to snarl. He then turns his attention to Benjamin, a slight sneer forming on his lips, and murmurs, "My apologies that we had this... street urchin accompany you. He was the only one available on such short notice."

I keep my face composed - the look of absolute boredom.

"Let's see about this package, shall we?" The dealer turns, folding his hands together. When he's a few feet ahead of me, I turn to Benjamin.

"I'm going to kill him." I murmur.

"Mr. Stonewell?" Benjamin whispers, something like fear written on his face.

So that's the dealers name. "Yes."

Something flashes through the kid's eyes. I press a finger to my lips, watching my step as we enter the old house. Stonewell's voice interrupts Benjamin and I's conversation, leading us upstairs and into the second bedroom on the left.

Ren always taught me it was important to know exactly where I existed in this world - and how to escape the best. Not that I'll be the one needing to escape.

We follow Stonewell into the bedroom-turned-office. The walls are bare and peeling, the floorboards are cracked and desperately need replacing. A poor man's office - yet another show of power by my master. The poor stay poor; Ren stays powerful.

There's a small table in the center of the room, on which rests a small, plain box. I could easily fit it in my bag, or carry it if need be.

Stonewell opens it with shaky hands, revealing a ruby about the size of a grape. This is why I'm here?

"This is the ruby?" I speak softly, peering down at the small thing.

"Yes, milady." The poor man lowers his head a little at my approach.

I cock my head. "It seems... small."

"If it is not to milady's satisfaction -"

"I'm not the one who needs to be impressed by it." I meet Stonewell's eyes. "Have you forgotten who we all serve?" I gesture around to the room.

"Of course not."

"Good." I take a moment, and pick up the small rock. It's cut roughly, as if it was just hewn from the mines. Perhaps it's material is too rough to be polished. It seems to...glow. As if there is a small fire inside of it. The center seems to hum, like it's calling to me, trying to reach from the core and get to me.

Stonewell smiles at me, like he knows exactly what I'm thinking. "It is thought that it was pulled directly from the heart of a Goddess."

I glance up at him, my face a portrait of glorious boredom. "I have no use for local legend."

The dealer shrugs. "Believe what you will. It is not a legend. The Goddesses are real, and they will burn you for your insolence."

I set down the ruby and shut the case. I smile at him, slowly, and he backs up a step. "I have no patience for disrespect." I murmur, moving closer. "I have no patience for religion - the Goddesses are dead." Stonewall presses against a wall, sneering at me. "And you can die with them."

Before Stonewall can draw his blade, I line up my knife in between his collarbones and hit the hilt with my palm. No blood - no noise. Dead instantly. Stonewall falls to the ground with a thud, and I release my blade just to see the blood dribble onto his faux silk shirt.

I leave the ruby on the table.

I murmur, "It's time to get some food." Benjamin nods.