Chapter #4Unexpected Visitors (Prologue Part I) by: Potato Stew   ‘’Are you sure this is the place? It looks abandoned.’’ asked the shrill voice behind the doorway ‘’For the last time, yes I am sure. Just the smell nearly done me in while we were walking here.’’ replied another, deeper voice tinged with a hint of sternness. And thus the door opened without any hint of uncertainty, their footsteps joined the chorus of bubbling liquid and vats inside. Ones eye gazed upon the chaos that was unfolded inside, bottles of liquid and alchemical reagent that was sprawled haphazardly across the many shelves that littered the little shops walls and the herbs, roots and spices that was strung on a string hanging from a ceiling like an adornment for this festival of madness yet one couldn’t shake off the feeling of order to this scene of bedlam. Other relied on the sense of smell and a simple answer ringed across its mind ‘’A man and a woman’’. They made their way across to the counter and a finger ending on a sharp claw-like nail pulled on cord of the little bell that was hanging near the counter. The bells jingled softly with a ting-a-ding, unknown liquids bubbled like mystery, fire creaked wearily, winds drafted across the cracks like wingless birds yet silence fell.
Half a minute passed and two sharp, furry ears wiggled. Not much later the door that had a slightly darker tint compared to its rightmost brethren opened, ‘’Good morn-’’ young lass froze. In that precious few moments she made her decision. Which was to act as if nothing was out of the ordinary ‘’ning. *ahem* What can I get you?’’ yet how could she when there were two gnarly beasts which appeared from the lands yet distant? Like a night terror two beast-kin gazed upon her over the counter. One had slitted eyes of green glowing with mischievousness yet a scar most vicious was lain across her face and forever tainted the innocence within those broken pools emeralds. Its small clawed hands yet gently played with cord of the bell and with an amused cat-like smirk she asked ‘’What's the matter missy? Never seen someone from the west before?’’, Zevine thought for a moment yet she knew from the smug face she gazed upon that there were answers none. ‘’Gehw-ow!’’ yelled the cat-esque beast-kin whilst rubbing her short tabby patterned hair and the one who had delivered the righteous rebuke spoke ‘’Forgive my companions child-like manners, we have come to get our delivery of potions alchemist.’’. Zevine was flabbergasted yet she didn’t know if she should be sad or happy that Rizzik would chose to hide his dealings with the beast-kin. ‘’It should be under the name of Priestess Celine from the church of the Aurore’’ added the hound-like beast-kin. Zevine turned to the rightmost door which was slightly ajar and yelled ‘’Master Rizzik, do we have an order from the Priestess Celine from the church of the Aurore?’’, ‘’What did you say?’’ said Rizzik ‘’An order from Celine’’ Zevine reiterated ‘’From the church’’, ‘’What?’’ another confused answer mumbled down the stairs and Zevine finally roared ‘’AN ORDER FROM THE CHURCH’’, ‘’Oh why didn’t you say that before, they are the ones under the counter’’ Rizzik finally answered. As Zevine turned to prepare the order she finally had time to leisurely gaze upon the mysterious customers. The cat-like beast-kin had already lost interest and was casually inspecting the many items that cluttered the shop whilst its companion was attentively keeping an eye on her. Its head was crowned by ears which was more fit on a hound rather than a thing that walked on two legs, two amber eyes filled her stern yet youthful face with intent its hair was a great wave of grey that spilled over to surprisingly maidenly hips. It was a tall beast at least compared to both Zevine and its cat-like companion. It was wearing a white summer tunic which displayed its sleek, lightly muscled body and simple brown pants ending in leather boots (a combination that was popular with many adventurers of the land) it carried no weapons other than a simple knife. Its companion was a short little thing even compared to the diminutive Zevine. It had a tabby-like hair which ended on her thin shoulders with cat-like restless ears. Its face dotted with two slitted emerald eyes while could easily be considered beautiful was permanently scarred with a horrid claw-like wound like a torn painting depraved of its glory. It wore a two piece outfit of a top and short that fit on a woman of a nightly profession rather than an adventurer yet its emancipated body was so thin that you could see her ribcage which gave her almost a miserable look. It wore only simple worn sandals on its tiny feet.
As Zevine was lost on her observations the door of the shop opened again this time bringing in a poorly disguised noblewoman known as the Lady Estrel Ravenwind whom after a moment of panicked deliberation rushed to the counter with unbalanced steps and hastily whispered ‘’By the gods and the divine, I knew you common lot was in some shady business but the beast-kin?’’ , Zevine whispered back ‘’I knew nothing of it my Lady’’, ‘’I care not if you were an accomplice to your master or not girl, I shall not spend a moment soon with those dirty creatures, bring me my order before I catch something from those things.’’ Estrel snapped with indignation. Zevine, turning to her beast-like customers said ‘’Sorry but I will have to make you wait just a second’’ before giving a half-hearted sorry smile. As she was nervously preparing the order of the noble lady her heart nearly leapt out of her chest not because something happened but because nothing was happening. If the tales of the beast-kin was true they had heard everything yet they were doing in the face of such bitter words other than silently glaring with an intensity that could only be found at wild beasts at Estrel. In the end both parties had left with their order and Zevine after nearly fainting gave a very confused Rizzik an ass chewing he would not forget. Yet nothing could be more far from the normal for the future of the realm...  indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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