Story building #5b

Alisa smiled a little, "You're a manipulator."

"I like to think of myself as an outcome engineer," Claude replied. "Besides, if they want to waste their time looking for a dinky old sword, they may as waste their money too." He watched as the treasure hunters faded in to the crowed at the Redington spring fair. 

"And those flower chains you sold them?" Alisa raised her eyebrow.

"Festive and conducive to merry spirits." Claude said as he stored their gold in a hidden drawer of his wagon.

Alisa rolled her eyes at her guardian. Though he was nearly thirty-seven his personality as well as his body were  twenty-two. "Well then, since I'm clearly not going to miss anything I'm going into town to have a look at the wares."

"As you wish. just be sure not to get locked inside," he said with a trace of concern.

"I won't almirra (elvish term: adoptive father), I'll be back well before dusk." With those words, Alisa mixed into the churning throng. Claude then took this moment to go behind his vardo and see that his cows and bulls were in want of nothing. 

While he was out of sight, a dwarf approached his vardo. In this land, dwarves were seldom adventurers. Most preferred to stay in their mountains, or else if they did travel they were merchants. None the less, there were some dwarf adventurers and all of them were treasure hunters.

This particular dwarf treasure hunter was names Kil'ador. He had after many long years, finally found out how to locate a very precious magical item. Unfortunately, he had also discovered that only people of a certain blood lineage could access its chamber. As such, while the other members of his team purchased supplies, Kil'ador sought out a soothsayer to locate someone who could aid the effort. 

Kil'ador strode up to the vardo with dwarfish purpose. He jumped, as much as a dwarf could, up the four steps into the wagon.

Then he froze in place, caught in awe of the interior of the vardo. In the doorway rested a dozen beautiful flower chains. Beyond them were cabinets and drawers made of gleaming spruce. From the roof hung shelves loaded with chests and crates. In the center, covered with a dark green cloth, was a round table. But what really got Kil'ador's attention, was the polished silver mirror on the surface of the tablecloth. It was pure, that much was certain to the dwarf. It was unlike any other mirror the treasure hunter had seen. It shined more purely than any but the best silver, with a slightly concave surface, lining the edges were ruins of a language unknown to Kil'ador. He drew nearer to the mirror, his dwarfish heart enamored by the unknown value of the mirror. So enamored was he that he neglected to even notice the shelves of books beyond the table. Nor did he notice second door to his right. The door through which Claude returned.

"May I help you, dwarf?" Claude asked with eyebrows raised. Kil'ador took a guilty step back and fumbled for words.

"well, um, er, ya see, erm."

Claude cut him off. "You're here to seek my mystic guidance in order to locate something of great value is that it?"

Kil'ador shook his head a little. "No, a person," he said,"a person who has the power to access something of great value."

"A person, huh, that may be a little tricky." Claude rubbed his chin. "Tell me what you know about this person and I'll see what I can do."

So the dwarf explained about the lineage and how he didn't actually know the name of the person. However, he did not open up his plan to Claude. Nor give any hint about what item it was he was searching for. While he listened, Claude put away his mirror into a cabinet. and began to extract and replace various items as Kil'ador told what he knew. First there was a bundle of herbs, he put these away when Kil'ador admitted to not knowing the person. Next there was a flask of some brackish liquid, Claude put this away when Kil'ador didn't know the name. After that a pouch of needles, and after those some brownish paint. Finally, when Kil'adore finished, Claude reached up to the shelves hanging over their heads and removed a large leather bag full of clattering objects. 

"This will do it." Claude said as he took a seat behind the table. "Although, this method will be rather expensive for you."

"If it works I will gladly pay," Kil'ador answered.

With a nod, Claude dumped the contents of the bag onto the table, and out came dozens of knucklebones inscribed each with a rune in the language from the mirror. With quick movements the soothsayer plucked out four knucklebones from the pile. Holding the four in hand, he brushed aside the pile leaving a clear space in front of him. 

Claude extended hand, and in his palm the knucklebones seemed to quiver for a moment. With a flick he cast them into the air. They fell to the table, two rune down and two rune up. 

"You'll need to travel south east." Claude said chrisply. "I've enchanted these knucklebones to point out this person you're after. Each rune stands for one of the four directions. This one is East." He raised the knuckle bone to show Kil'ador. "This one is South" he raised the south rune knucklebone. "This one is West" he displayed that one as well. "Which means the last one is North." Kil'ador inspected the north rune for himself. "The best part of this enchantment is that anyone can use them now. Just give them enough of a toss to move and they'll align with the direction of your query. The only thing that will stop them is a shielding spell, but if that ever happens they'll just lead you to another descendent who happens to be closest" 

"Very fine, I'm sure" Kil'ador muttered. "For what price are they mine to use?"

"I see you are one who knows the value of things so I shall give you but my lowest offer, twenty-eight gold pieces, seven per bone." 

Kil'ador inwardly groaned, he could afford twenty-eight in gold but only if they were to set out on foot. This was far from Kil'ador's plan, but the soothsayer seemed honest about twenty-eight being his lowest price. So, he decided to barter.

"Alas I could not part with that amount of gold." He said using his best market voice. "Perhaps I could interest you in this dwarf crafted appraising glass, as a fair trade." 

Fair was stretching things a little, this glass had been purchased for only ten gold pieces. However, the finery of dwarf craftsmanship was rare in Redington and so Kil'ador hoped the difference of value would be  overlooked. 

Claude reached out his hand to receive and examine the glass. "It is of good value, but it alone is not enough." Claude paused and leaned forward a little. "Since you don't wish to part with your gold, include that smaller dagger of yours and I will consider this a deal done."

To Kil'ador this seemed a fair trade, and so left the wagon tossing and catching the knucklebones, confirming the location and beaming with success. Claude for his part, swept the other knucklebones back into their bag and grinned at the acquisition of his new appraising glass, and at such a good price.