Chương 41: Something New

"Questions?" I asked.

"What sort of questions?" The dwarven woman before me was stunning in an inexplicable way. Her golden-blond hair was interwoven with silver thread that braided through her locks, disappeared behind her head, and then came back forward, where it mingled with her beard. That too was braided in such fanciful patterns that I couldn't even begin to describe them, as the many patterns had certainly been made with care and precision, but were beyond my comprehension.

Her voice was as sweet as honey as she asked, "Oh, don't be so nervous. You aren't in trouble… yet."

"T-T-Trouble?" I replied, unable to keep the skip in my voice from betraying me. The woman smiled, and her eyes went from something soft to something… lustful.

"I do so love when men squirm before me." Odrin flourished a hand through her beard and hair.

"But now's not the time for pleasure. Business, then. I want to know what you're doing in Stoneford. Before you speak, I will tell you what I know of you—" As promised, the woman essentially recounted my life for the past few months… hell, maybe even the entire year. She knew about my class, at least rudimentarily. She knew about my deal with Lina. She knew about my brush with the dragon and many other things.

"I've even heard that you've said you were from another world. Ah yes, that rumor was years ago now. You see… for as much as I know about you, I know absolutely nothing about you from before two years ago, when you happened to simply pop into existence at some farmer's stead. No, not a farmer… a classless. You are an oddity. I like oddities. Where were you before that? The truth—none of this business about another world." I suddenly felt annoyed by her tone.

"Believe what you want," I replied.

"But this place doesn't seem to place any value on privacy at all. And if that's the case, I don't know if I can do business with—" I noticed that Odrin was no longer paying any attention. No, instead she stared wide-eyed at Darwin, who had noticed and was doing his best to preen for her, sticking his chest and neck out and up.

"What is this marvelous creature?" she asked, her voice full of wonder.

"That's Darwin," I replied.

"Just Darwin. He's my companion… I guess."

"And where did you find him? It is a him, right?" I shrugged.

"Truthfully… I don't know. I think of him as such." She nodded.

"And I took a nap near a river, and he came out in a floating globule of water as nothing more than a small fish. And… wait, why am I telling you all this?" Odrin smiled, showing a row of perfect teeth, with one canine crowned in rose-gold. She reached down the front of her shirt and pulled out an amulet, setting it on the table. It was gold and covered in depictions so faded by time that they were only shadows of their former shapes.

"This trinket calms and eases the tongues of all nearby."

"So magic, then… figures. Just another way to invade the privacy of others."

"Before you get upset, it works both ways. Such as I have the inexplicable need to say that I would like to bed you sometime… if you are willing."

"Pass," I replied, surprisingly even myself that it had been so quick. She frowned.

"And see… because of the amulet, I know you are being truthful. Although that stings a bit. No matter. Just business then with no pleasure." The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Why do you want to know about me?" I asked.

"What is the purpose of this?"

"Purpose?" Odrin replied.

"No purpose other than simple curiosity. You see, Rook, I've seen many things. I know much more. When you know so much, less and less surprises you. Yet when I heard of your story, passed from ear to ear until it reached my feelers, it intrigued me. So when I learned you were in my city… Well, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to meet you. Darwin as well."

"Nice meet you," Darwin said. The woman clapped.

"Oh, he talks. Marvelous. Simply divine."

"So you dragged me away from business simply to gossip?" She half-nodded, still intrigued by Darwin.

"Then, if you'll excuse me," I continued, standing to leave. She reached out and grabbed my sleeve. She had a surprisingly firm grip.

"Any business you have, you can conduct with me. I think you're interesting, and thus I will make myself available to you personally. Know that this is a great honor for you. I usually only extend this courtesy to nobles and those of considerable wealth and power. Me doing this for you will garner you favor in all of Stoneford."

"… appreciate it," I said as I sat. Odrin walked around the long table until she reached her single seat on the other side. She sat and leaned forward, her braided beard resting against the polished wood.

"Now, what business would you like to attend to first?" she asked. I placed all the things I had brought on the long table. Bits of metal, old trinkets, and monster remains were spread across the otherwise spotless surface. From behind her head, tucked beneath her braids, she pulled out a monocle with three lenses.

"What does that do?" I asked. She tapped each lens in order.

"The first identifies. The second checks for enchantments. And the third—intent." She held the first of the three to her face as she looked at Darwin." Hmm… I've never seen this before. It… can't identify him. Does the system show that this is your companion?" I nodded.

"Show me." System Name: Darwin Master: Rook Species: … E̶͍̞͘ͅȑ̷͈̝̥͊r̸͎̒̆o̵̳̔̇͛ŕ̶͎͌ Type: Companion Monster Stats: … Unknown I flicked it over to show Odrin. She received it and read.

"Error? Yet another oddity. You two are a wealth of entertainment."

"Glad we could be of service," I replied sarcastically. Noticing my mood souring at her antics, she began to rummage through the items I had brought.

"The antiques I want to sell to you for whatever price you think is fair," I said.

"Truthfully, I've no idea what they're worth, and I don't have the time to shop around. Give me what you word, and I'll trust that you're giving me a fair price. As for the monster parts… I have a deal with the Copperbell traders of Bramblewick. A Lina Copperbell. I am to sell them to you, and you take care of the transportation needs while giving me a flat cut." Odrin nodded." Hmm… I'll need to verify the information, but I'm sure everything is in order."

She took her time inspecting each and every item with the first of her monocle lenses. The glass clicked softly as she shifted it from one object to the next. Eventually, she separated the monster parts from the antiques. Yet when she did… I noticed something. A carapace piece. One I had cooked. I thought I'd run out, but one had somehow ended up with the leftover monster material.

"Here," I said, grabbing it and handing it to Odrin.

"If you really want to see something odd… eat this."

"…Eat it?" she replied incredulously. I nodded. I could see her mind working. Part of her recoiled at the thought of eating monster meat… or monster shell, in this case. Yet another part was intrigued. It was her weakness. She just had to know. Odrin popped the carapace piece into her mouth. She bit down and, with a crunch, swallowed. Unlike many others who gasped at the incredible taste, she merely closed her eyes and savored the lingering flavor. When it was done, she smiled softly.

"Oh, you do know a way to a woman's heart, don't you?" I smiled.

"Same as a man… through the stomach." Odrin looked over the items once again.

"I'll give you a fair price, as you asked. And because of the amulet, you know I'm speaking the truth. It is the least I can do after you have shown me so much that is new. Just when you think you've conquered the world, you discover more land. Just when you think yourself strapped to the ground, you discover you can fly. I live for the new and exciting… and you did not disappoint."