Chapter Five

After the thrall of Remys speaking in that sultry language wore off, the twins and Remys went to the far side of the market where the magical items were, Remys answering their questions as they walked. Her voice had taken on a sultry undertone after speaking in that forgotten tongue; her lips curled on the side in a small smirk.

The trio swept to a small stall on the far side, Remys waving a hand to summon her trinkets and wares. The small tables and shelves filled instantly, jewels shining as they hung from braided necklaces, blades glinting in their racks. Remys barely noted the magic used, already talking to one of the other merchants in the stall next door.

The ease in which Remys used her magic drew Rhazien's awe and respect; his nose swarmed with the smell of cinnamon, raspberries, morning dew, and the forest. Wrinkling his nose, Rhazien noted that that was Remys. Her magic scent potent compared to her familiar scent. Glancing towards the sorceress again, he noted that she was already selling the small jewels and trinkets from around the continent, a warm smile on her face as shoppers glanced through her wares.

A weight dropped into his hands, causing his eyes to stray towards the limb, noting the small pouch of coins. Looking back to Remys, he caught her gaze and nodded his head as she mouthed her order before going back to her customer. Grabbing his sister's arm, he gestured towards the market, smiling faintly as Lothien immediately dragged him across the square towards the flower stalls.

Remys looked towards the twins every few minutes, keeping an eye on the vampires as they went from stall to stall, browsing the wares from all over the continent. The only other kingdom to have a market this diverse was Xaka, though the market generally only opened during the Starlit Festival.

Looking up, she noted a group of Fae wandering around her stall, their bodies moving across the ground like oil in water. Slipping from one place to another without disturbing a single item in the store. Glancing them up and down, she noted the symbol on their left shoulders and hid her smile, avoiding eye contact with them until she had to speak with them.

Thumbing a circular green jewel, Remys rotated the small gem around her fingers, the luminescent stone glowing faintly between her fingers. Her ears flicked delicately as she picked up on the Fae's conversation, her teeth digging into her lower lip to stop her giggles. These pureblood Fae had no idea the kind of trouble they would get into if the High Lord heard them.

When the pretty females had picked out their jeweled necklaces, and the leering males had taken up their daggers, Remys finally walked towards them, hands clasped behind her back. Slinging her hair from over her shoulder to behind her back, Remys stopped a healthy horse length away, watching them with wary but warm eyes.

"Do you need assistance in finding anything?" The twisting old ways of the Fae flashed in her mind as she made sure not to make them or herself indebted to each other.

"We have everything we need," the male on the far right replied, nodding his head in recognition of the old ways. His eyes glinted with surprise when she finally lifted her eyes to meet his before his head dipped down in respect.

So the Fae did still remember them. She had not heard a whisper of her brethren in many, many years.

The others in his group did not return the gesture, instead just waving their hands like the Fae they are. With a silent rumble, Remys stated the fee, purposely leaving out the option to trade until one of them asked about it.

None of them did, one of the females handing over the right amount of gold and silver coins before walking out. The only male who spoke with her paused at the edge of her stand, his eyes roaming over her with the assessing gaze of a commander. Arching a brow, Remys dared him to say anything, her lip quirking up slightly in a haughty immortal grin. His fangs flashed into view as he returned the grin, though it was more a show of teeth rather than a smile. He glanced at her again, his eyes blank as a soldier before dipping his chin.

That itself was enough recognition of her family for her.

When the Fae had left, Remys finally left her shop to one of the more trusted merchants whom she had traded with for, the better part of millennia, allowing him to work the stand and sell the wares. He could keep some of the coins the wares brought in, but the majority had to go to her. She would know if he kept more than she thought acceptable. Though she doubted that he would. For a Dwarf who had gluttony for money bigger than her instinct to protect kids, he was honest.

Slipping through the market with immortal ease, Remys stepped into the courtyard on the far side, opening the door to the antiquities shop. To those who came to visit, these relics were of a time long passed. For her, this was a walk down memory lane. The large hunting bow on the far side was reminiscent of war with arrows that blotted out the sun. Turning day into night for a few fleeting moments.

With a smirk, she picked up a round stone from a nest of jewels, the other two from the set of three resting on the gems. The black stone gleamed in her hand as a small fire flickered around the edges.

Perhaps, Remys considered her options for a moment before putting the stones back together, levitating them as she walked towards the back of the shop. Knocking on the archway into the backroom, Remys leaned against the side as the merchant looked up from his book, a wary smile on his face at her open display of magic.

"I was hoping to find an older map of the continent along with a vaelcinu."

The merchant relaxed upon hearing her voice, his filmy eyes relaxed as an easy smile lit his face. "Welcome back to Druset, Remys. It has been quite an age since you have entered these city walls."

"Indeed. The years have not been kind to you, scroll-keeper." For his sagging skin and flaking face seemed to be the only thing in this shop to be falling apart.

"No they have not," he murmured back, flashing a gummy smile. "But nevertheless, I do have what you seek, though it is not without a price."

"Nothing ever is anymore, scroll-keeper," Remys flashed a coy smile, a glitter in her eyes. "Have you chosen your successor to keep the shop open?"

"Many years ago," the keeper said with a hollow laugh. "She enjoys searching for new antiquities more than she does selling them so I let her have her fun while she is young."

"A kindness you were not showed," Remys grumbled but said nothing more. The blindman simply gave another gummy smile.

The scroll-keeper shuffled towards the front of the shop before going to a side room, where the oldest of the artifacts lay waiting for someone to use them once more. His steps, though slow and hindered, were confident as he slid past desk corners that even an elf would have trouble dodging.

He muttered something under his breath before unlocking one of the display cases with a key around his neck, orange sparks flying once the door was opened.

Magic locks.

When the crinkled paper was placed into her hands, Remys gave a low whistle of appreciation, her eyes immediately drawn to the intricate layout of Xaka before its fall. The sprawling city had been much bigger than it was currently.

Shuffling after the shop keeper who headed to the far side of the shop, Remys rolled the map up and vanished it, the three stones still floating in place by the archway to the office. When she saw them she gave a funny look and rolled her eyes, walked after the shop keeper, the three stones floating after her like small spirits.

The vaelcinu was in an ornate black box with gold lining, the inside a plush purple velvet. With an appraising glance, Remys peeked inside and rose an eyebrow at the small mechanical cat that was curled around the object.

"The cat protects it from unwanted guests," the scroll-keeper teased.

Remys gave a thoughtful laugh and slowly extended a hand, the cat waking up the second her fingertips passed the barrier of the box. Its eyes opened and though metal, they seemed to glitter with awareness.

"You always did know the world even better than I did, keeper."

He gave her a smile that could be classified as a grimace.

"And yet I am not the one cursed with seeing the world live and die over and over again." He paused, then gave her a thoughtful look. "Whats it like?"

Remys gave him a sad look before turning her gaze to the glittering vaelcinu, her vision hazy.

"It is like watching a play on repeat. The directors typing out the roles for each character, planning out their lives, arranging meetings, and forcing everyone to play their part. It is watching as the world never learns from what happens, and instead chooses to redo its history, second after second. Minute after minute. Day after day. Century after century.

"It is watching the ocean carve away at an island until it is nothing but dust. You never know when history is going to repeat, you just know it always will."