Frost and Flame, Foes in the Dark (book 2)

Chapter 15, Roar of the Dragon

"Well, this isn't working at all," Ceva muttered, peering at the Huzhidians who glared at them with apparent disgust.

"It was a long shot, I didn't think the merchants would be this hostile though, but I guess it is my fault to assume they would show some decency," Akana replied, as they walked away from the fifth merchant they have tried to get something out of and only received insults.

Attilus face was neutral, but his body stiff. For each person they encountered, he has become ever more vigilant against them. Akana has tried to calm him down, telling him that they won't do anything in the light of day but Attilus doesn't seem to be listening.

"What name had the last one directed us to?" Ceva asked with a sigh. Akana rubbed his temples, hoping that Sidastir had more luck than him.

"Linghun Liulang. An alchemist from Huzhidi. He has come here to sell his potions and pills. Hopefully, he can provide us with more information."

They walked over to the southern part of Forum Solaris, asking around for the name. It did not take them more than an hour to find him. The old man was grey-haired, with a thin beard he kept stroking while pondering his reports. The wrinkled face didn't react to them closing in on him before they stood right before him.

"What can I-" He looked up with a smile, that faded when he met Akana's eyes. Maybe it had been better to just send Ceva, this was ridiculous.

"Greetings, we have come for some information about a potion that we suspect might be from huzhidi. We hope to get some information if this might be so and what kind of potion it is," Akana said politely, but the old man still glared, his eyes narrowing for each word Akana uttered.

"I don't sell Huzhidian products to Auonian demons," old man Liulang sneered. Attilus reached for his sword and the man flinched, before going back to sneering. "Are you going to cut me down, Auon? Showing your true colors?"

"No, cutting down innocent merchants are the Huzhidians pastime. Not ours. We are here on official business from the Mayin. Someone has used a potion to kill the son of a Consul, and the Mayin think the potion is from Huzhidi."

"Why would the Mayin use an Auonian barbarian-"

"Because this Auonian barbarian is the Rial Caraid of Eitir," Ceva interrupted him. Uncertainty flickered in the old man's eyes, clearly, he had heard of the Rial Caraid being an Auon but his disgust didn't vanish. It was just dampened.

"Get out."

Akana cocked an eyebrow at the old man. Throwing them out was a sign of him hiding something. All the other Huzhidian merchants at least had the basic understanding that if they just threw him out, it would look suspicious. This old man apparently held no such regard.

"Father!" A young girl rushed over, pushing her old man into the tent with hushed words before turning towards them with uncertain eyes but with a polite smile. "I apologize for my father's rudeness. As age takes him, so fades his sanity. My name is Amai Liulang. What kind of potion do you need to identify?"

Akana saw the reluctance in her eyes, a bit of fear, but at least she was trying to be civil. "The son of the Consul seems to have devoured a potion that froze him from the inside out."

"Sounds like an ice mage did it."

Akana cocked an eyebrow at her, and she cleared her throat. "Not that it is any business of yours, but the only ice mage in the city is my husband and he was occupied at that time in his mansion which I and several servants can attest to. If my husband doesn't have the ability to be at two places at once, then he cannot be the culprit."