•An Indian Fantasy with Dragons, Witches, Fish and Rice•
A quest for lost love...
In a world where humanity has been driven to near extinction by beings of ash and nightmare, Miriam feels threatened by her own existence. With a beast dwelling insi...
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The silverware gleamed against the faded light of the store. Esumi brushed her lips on the mouth of one of the goblets, savouring their cold texture and set them down on the table. She would miss the emeralds near the base but they were the best in her collection and her only way to secure a safe order from the dragons.
She had managed to dig out only two of them in the warehouse and she had no idea how in the world she would explain with those nasty claws bearing at her. Not to mention those peculiar scents of them as if they lived in molten wax. Though for the money, she would do it. She wasn't a schooled liar but she had her beauty for a lair.
Besides, dragons were vicious treasury. They would pour all their gold if they liked what they saw. And if they didn't...
It was no use to consider the possibility. The clock had struck eight times a while ago. Only minutes now until they would haul their tails inside her store.
Only minutes before her hands would be caressing a sack of copper plates. Then these emeralds would be nothing. She would buy rubies and sapphires. Diamonds too, if she wished. This store would be sold to the highest bidder and she would buy a mansion by the port. She could see herself with a Prussian blue parasol and a cream gown as she sashayed down the street, hand in hand with a handsome merchant from overseas-
The chime of the bells at the door snapped her from her reverie. Her heart sank. There were four of them.
"Witch," one of them drawled as he climbed the seat to face her. He was short, more so than the dwarves, which somehow consoled her racing heart. "Show us your glasses."
They are goblets, Esumi thought miserably but did not dare to say it. She moved to the nearest shelf, running her hand with an air of purpose. Spending a good two minutes, she feigned a satisfied sigh and fished them out. The goblets occupied their old positions with a clamp.
"Only two? Low on money, eh?"
The dragons roared with laughter.
"You do not own this place," she said, "This store is always packed with customers. I must have sold the other pieces earlier this week. If you do not wish to buy them, then leave."
Esumi instantly cursed herself. This was not how business worked. And she was unfairly outnumbered if they decided to rip her eyes out.
"Hmm." The dragon motioned with his hand and as if on cue, one of his companions stepped forward to whisper in his ear. She recognised him under the light of the flickering lamp overhead. He was a preferred customer of Sao. His wooden boots suggested as much. The shoes Sao sold were hideous but with his pretty lies, it was fairly easy to convince anyone to buy them.
Stay calm, she reminded herself.
"How much do you want?" The dragon shifted in his seat and bent forward, sneering in her face. "Name your price."
