By Richard LeBlanc
Chapter Four
"Thortan - pay the man." Toymaker requested.
"Are you serious?" he replied in disbelief. the vendor looked suspiciously at Thortan.
"I know you. If you are a friend of his - the price just went up." the vendor muttered.
"A trade perhaps? Your treasure - for one of mine?" Toymaker asked coyly. The vendor was going to tell the tourist to take off when Toymaker produced a golden sphere from his pocket. Thortan could see the greed swelling in the vendor's eyes.
"Deal." he muttered. his hand quickly shot over and grabbed the sphere from Toymaker. Not three seconds later - the sphere fell apart in the vendor's hands. He then looked up at the serious look on the trader's face.
"This is a piece of crap! You cheated me!" he shouted out.
"And how many of your customers have said the same?" Toymaker asked as he romoved the gawdy looking trinkets that the vendor had attached to the item he had placed on the item.
"I have a permit." he retorted.
"Good for you. Should that mean anything to me?" Toymaker asked coldly.
"Give that back - or i will call the magistrate - and he will deal with you for theft!" he shouted out.
"But what has been stollen? We have done a trade - legal and binding. It isn't my fault that you have a poor eye for items of value." Toymaker retorted as he admired the subtle details on the item. He only looked away from it because he felt a tugging at his arm.
"What?" he asked.
"we should go." Thortan whispered.
"THIEF! Thief!" the vendor shouted out. Toymaker could hear Thortan sigh but returned his attention back to the item he had traded for. The crowded streets were cleared as several ogre like police stomped over to where the loud vendor was protesting.
"What is all the noise about?" one grunted.
"He's a thief! He stole that trinket from me without proper payment!" he protested.
"You new here?" one of the other ogres asked.
"You could say that." Toymaker replied as he turned to face the intimidating gaze of the ogres.
"You pay him?" he asked.
"Of course." he answered.
"Lies!" the vendor shouted.
"The annoying little pest here was going to sell me this trinket for twenty crowns. i was going to pay - then he decided to up the price. As i didn't have the funds - i offered a trade. If you look at the vendor's hands - you will see what he traded for." he replied calmly. The vendor looked at his hands and saw that the pieces of the broken sphere were still stuck to his hands. He promptly hid them behind his back.
"Show hands." the police ordered.
"It's a trick! i was - was making something! Fell apart it did." he retorted.
"I have another one here - want to show them how it works?" Toymaker offered as he reached into his pocket and pulled out another golden orb. The police looked at the orb and at the broken bits in the vendor's hands.
"You lie to police - you see magistrate!" one ogre said as he pulled the vendor out from behind his booth and took him away. Toymaker quickly examined everything else that was on the vendor's table - but everything else was just plain junk.
"Was it worth it?" Thortan whispered.
"It was to me." he answered. He reached into his pouch and pulled out another odd looking trinket. Thortan watched as Toymaker gently touched the two items together. They glowed for an instant - and then became one solid piece.
"Wow - what is it?" he asked.
"I don't know. but i will find..." he began. he tensed up and spun around. Thortan stepped away from the serious looking wizard. he looked around like a predatorial animal seeking prey. His eyes narrowed as he pointed to a bar on the other side of the courtyard.
"There - there is a plainwalker in there." he hissed.
"Hey! Good to know! Let's go somewhere else then." he suggested. Toymaker grunted and stormed his way through the populated streets towards the bar. Thortan quietly whimpered and followed the wizard. Toymaker stormed into the bar and heard the sounds of several ladies laughing. His eyes panned through the surly looking crowd. On the far side of the room, one well dressed looking man was surrounded by several ladies.
"You!" Toymaker shouted out. all conversation stopped. all eyes turned to see who was talking. The man that was surrounded by women smiled at the angry looking man.
To be continued...
