Deicide

February 1 23XX

"Come on, hurry up." Eden nudged Howlan, throwing a new set of clothes at him.

"Why are you up so early?"

"Couldn't sleep, come on, let's go." Eden went into the bathroom and brushed his teeth, pulled his mask on, and slipped into his trench coat.

"Even after all that alcohol?"

"Must be all my enhanced genetic material kicking in," Eden shrugged.

Howlan slowly got dressed, then finally made his way to the bathroom to pee and brush his teeth. Five minutes later, Howlan was ready to go.

"So, where are we going to ask around now?" Eden asked as they thumped down the stairs.

"Good question. Excuse me?" Howlan stopped at the front desk. The woman with blond hair came out.

"Can I help you?"

"My friend and I are looking for information, aside from the pub, where could we go to ask around?" Howlan leaned against the counter.

"I'd suggest the flea market. Oh, but people would probably be more inclined to answer questions while you're buying something." She smiled.

"Right, thanks." Howlan gave her a small smile and walked out. Once they were outside, Howlan asked, "Do you feel okay to go to the flea market?"

Eden knew that Howlan was asking nicely and sincerely, but it still saddened him that Howlan had to ask. "I think I'll be okay. I think it's worse when I'm provoked, as long as I stay calm I shouldn't have too hard of a time."

"Alright, if you do start getting even a little iffy though, let me know," Howlan instructed.

"I will," Eden promised.

They walked for only ten minutes before making it to the flea market. It was long, and covered multiple streets. There were people yelling from their stands, and everyone was talking to someone. "Are you still okay?" Howlan leaned a little closer to Eden to ask.

"Yeah, I'm alright."

"Alright, guess we'll start with her." Howlan pointed at a little Gnome in a black smithing hut. There were both weapons and jewelry lining the shelves. "Hello." Howlan walked into the smith hut.

"Heya, you looking for anything specific?"

Howlan glanced around, remembering how the Innkeeper had said to buy something from everyone he needed information from. "Um, what's your most expensive item?" Howlan wasn't too worried about money, they had a lot of credits from all the jobs they'd done lately.

The Gnome got significantly brighter. "These ones." She pointed at two swords, one was thinner, the other was wider and heavier. They both had inscriptions on them in an old language.

"Which one is more expensive?"

"It's not about price, silly boy. And they're a set, for dual wielders."

Eden was practically drooling, finally for a good reason. "What do they say?"

"Do not unsheath me without reason, do not wield me without valor." The Gnome sounded proud.

"How much?" Howlan smiled at Eden, who seemed adequately distracted.

"They're-"

"Can I hold them?" Eden looked down at the Gnome.

"They're pretty heavy." She seemed uncertain.

"I'm pretty strong." Eden waited nonetheless for a certain answer.

"Kid, they're infused with the scales of pureblood Dragonborn. They're heavy unless they don't want to be."

"You mean they're sentient?" Howlan looked at them.