Cerberus Rex, Nameless

Part 5| A Tale & Adventure, 15

Noarwin stroked his lady friend's painted cheek in the underground market of the Cerulean Hatch. "Seen anyone like that wandering around?" he asked. In the midst of red velvet-covered walls, furniture to match, and a crowd of handsome men and women, Noarwin proved himself the master of a select group of talented, albeit unofficial, spies.

"Sorry, Mr. Noarwin. It's a vague description," she said leaning into his fingers.

"My apologies." He glanced at his admirers staring at him. Though he'd expected as much, he had hoped to be surprised. "It seems I overestimated your resources, pretty little things." He didn't blame them. These people did what they deemed necessary to survive. Some stooped below themselves while others flourished. Either way, he'd asked a lot from them in identifying a person lacking an identity.

The room of men and women, whom Noarwin had gathered for a private meeting once he left the palace, frowned back—troubled. Not one of his contacts had information on a woman whose name and face changed. They filed out, and Noarwin eased deeper into his chair. He needed to rethink his strategy. Running a finger over his bottom lip, he thought of the shop owner whom Asinis attempted to exhort. Asinis lacked the talent to persuade an ancient elf to give him information, but Noarwin knew how to change opinion in his favor. He left the lady's wear shop, keeping his valuables under scrutiny, and found the store.

Relic Goods, the name of Afon's shop, showed in chiseled strokes across the entrance's front beam. Noarwin, smirking, jingled the coins in his pocket and went in. Chains crisscrossed over reinforced glass chambers on the walls, behind which several weapons, armors, and other magically imbued items lay in wait. Where Mr. Afon accumulated such wares and how he kept them from the Empire's attention, Noarwin was curious to know. Asinis had no idea what he had walked into. He'd not even looked. Here, Noarwin could hit two birds with one stone.

Noarwin approached Mr. Afon sitting behind the counter polishing the same globe Asinis had seen. Noarwin squinted and turned his head. An illusion. For a wizard, Asinis seemed as untalented as the woman he hoped to discover. Poor guy. If this ended well, Noarwin expected Asinis would have a chance to improve. From what little Noarwin had witnessed, Asinis bore the potential—though perhaps not the temperament—for a war mage.

"Mr. Afon," Noarwin called grandiosely to the allusion. The allusion grunted, and Noarwin leaned on the counter full of nicks and wear from heavy, dangerous items sliding across it. "I've heard that you orchestrate a network smuggling you these rather amazing things. Tell me. Have you acquired a Vermillion Sword?" he asked. Open big. Make the man think him as knowledgeable as he faked and carry just below the coin for something so rare and desirable.

"Tch, everyone knows the Vermillion Abducta is in the hands of Nytvale's Gargoyle King."

"Ah, so your ambitions don't reach so high." Noarwin nodded to himself, and Afon's allusion twitched. "Have you anything more useful than this?" He pulled out the saber he carried, inviting Afon's attention to lift from his globe.

Afon grunted and rose over the blade laying on his scratched and chipped counter. "This is not magical," he said needing no more than a glance to know.

"A practiced eye you have there. You're right. I've been advised to upgrade, and I understand you to carry the best."

"And the coin?" Afon asked.

"I have some." Noarwin patted his side coat pocket. Afon listened, the sound seeming to communicate their worth. Noarwin's smile widened. Such little telltale signs taught you a great deal about people. This one answered to the promise of wealth. How base and wise.

"Who sponsors you, sir?" Afon asked.

Interesting, though the question raised Noarwin's suspicion too. Noarwin didn't face a fool. Though he'd suspected that already, circumstance warned Noarwin that Afon's talents went beyond intelligence. It included wisdom also.