As I neared the small town of Domina yet again, a light smirk passed my face. The many memories of my past began flooding my mind, as I turned to gaze at the large sack hanging over my shoulder. I began to recall the many adventures I had been on with the young sprite boy, and the girl with the exotic hair pipes. Then, as the memories slowly retreated to the back of my mind, I began to grin happily. I marched down the road, and within a few minutes, I had reached the city entrance.

I looked around Domina, taking in all of the buildings and people who haven't changed a bit since my last visit. I looked to my left, and smiled as I saw the small family-run shop just a few paces away. "Knight of Jema", the small wooden slab over the door still read. And to the left, another door that led into a small house. Hefting the large sack over my shoulder, I casually walked through the second door.

A large teapot-looking creature immediately turned around at the sound of the door opening, and I immediately recognized it as my good "friend", Teapo.
"Why, 'ello there, guv! It's been so long since you've been 'round these parts, guv! Whatcha been up to, anyways? Got any goods t' sell??"
I continued to smile towards her, thinking to myself: She still appears to be gullible as ever... this may be the perfect way to start the day.
"Why, hello there, Teapo!" I exclaimed, still smiling. "What a pleasure to see you in good health after all this time. And it -just- so happens that I've got a few items on hand..."
I grew silent, watching and waiting for a reaction from Teapo. But as I saw her eyes gradually light up with anticipation, I continued.
"...But, I just don't know if I can let any of these go. They're so rare, I don't know what to do..."
"Oi, guv! Enough o' that! I know that yor tryin' to rile me up again, now!" Teapo said to me, obviously flustered by my master performance. "I wanna see, show me whatcha got!"
"Well... alright, since it's a dear friend of mine, I'll show you." I smiled mockingly, unaware to Teapo, as I began to untie the thin rope holding the sack closed. I opened it, and looked inside at all of my fake merchandise; a few excellent quality jewels, which were actually painted rocks that I picked up along the road. She always -did- consider herself a "jewel collector", I thought to myself. Below that, there were a few vials of miracle herbs from the hill where the Bone Fortress resides. Of course, the flow of Mana had already weakened, so the herbs had significantly lost their effectiveness to cure anything.But as I rummaged deeper within, I gasped happily as I found the -perfect- item to win her heart... and her Lucre. I slowly lifted my hands out of the sack, and watched Teapo jump up and down with glee as I revealed a large bejeweled shield.

"Here it is," I said, "a stunning relic of the ages! A shield that has been blessed with the very essence of Mana itself! Look how the jewels shine ever-so-brightly!" The shield was midnight black in color, made of Lorimar Iron, and encrusted with thousands of tiny crystallized jewels. In reality, of course... it was just a Menos Bronze shield, painted black and glazed over with lots of colorful glitter. It would probably sell for little more than 500 Lucre in the hands of a novice merchant... but I'm not that stupid. I am the wandering Niccolo, peddler of smiles! Master merchant of untraversed lands and magical cities! Seller of the most unique and rare items the world has to offer!

"Well, Teapo... what do you think? I warn you now, you may never see such a masterpiece again. If you don't buy it now, someone else will! And I would be -so- disappointed if a professional collector such as yourself had to miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime deal such as this!" I smiled towards her, anxiously awaiting her response. She stared vacantly at the shield for a few moments, and then she finally turned towards me with a bright smile upon her face.
"Well.... I must admit, I've never seen such a masterpiece such as this! I'll take it, guv!!! You jus' name th' price, an' I'll take it right now!"
"Ah, that's the spirit! I will be able to sleep peacefully tonight, knowing that I am about to make one of my customers sooo happy!" I exclaimed to Teapo. My face widened into a devilish grin. I was about to hit my mark, and perhaps pull off one of the biggest deals in the history of Niccolo, master merchant! "Now, a special deal exclusively for YOU, Teapo! Normally, this glorifying item would be sold at most retail stores for the whopping price of 75,000 Lucre! But since you're one of my -best- customers, I will give you a cash discount, which brings the total to the low, LOW price of just 40,000 Lucre! So Teapo, what do you say? Will you make today the day to remember for years to come???"

As I watched and waited, my business smile holding true upon my face, Teapo let out a loud shout of shock.
"....Now.. now that's jus' too much there, guv!! I don' think that a wee li'l shield like that costs that much! S'truth, now!" Teapo shouted. I felt as if my ears drooped low for a second, and I stood there, speechless. Was Teapo truly about to turn down my best deal yet!?
"But... surely, Teapo... you wouldn't want someone else to claim this masterpiece before you... would you?"
"Now, guv... don' get me wrong, but tha's jus' a wee bit too much for me to cop up right now. Can't you go any lower, guv?"
I slowly turned my face away from her, and lowered the shield about halfway into the sack.
"An 'sides... how do I -really- know that i's a Mana shield ya got there? What if'n i's jus' some shield with lots o' pretty jewels on it?"
I quickly put on my face of sadness and disappointment.
"You're right. Fine. I'm going. This is just an old shield... nothing special at all... and you shouldn't have to pay that kind of price for just an old shield... I'll find something else to do with it...." "Now, 'ang on, guv!!" Teapo yelled frantically to me. "Don't go leavin' yet! Even I can see that it ain't no ordinary shield! 'ere, tell you what? I'll pay you 1,000 Lucre now as a down-payment, an' I'll cop th' rest to ya next ya come 'round! Alright? Please, I wanna buy th' shield, don't go!!" I turned towards her once again, and my face returned to the bright smile that it had earlier inhabited. "Now.... those are the words of a TRUE businessman!" I said to her.
"...Really, guv? A true businessman, you say!? Wow!!" Teapo said cheerfully, as she bounced over to the cabinet behind her. When she returned, she offered me a tiny bag that jingled with lots of Lucre... an orchestra to my ears. I quickly snatched the bag from her, and handed her the shield as I proceded to give the Lucre a thorough examination. She looked at the shield for a few seconds, and immediately began hopping to the other end of the room.
"Don' forget, I'll get th' 39,000 Lucre to ya soon as I can! But I gotta go show this to Mark an' Rachel, they'll be so shocked!"
"I won't forget, Teapo. And remember, smile! Let the world know that you are happy!"
I yelled to her as she vanished through a narrow arch at the other end of the room.
They'll be shocked alright, I thought to myself, and grinned as I gathered up my sack of goods.
"Another deal made... and in record time, perhaps! This may turn out to be a most prosperous day," I said. I took up the sack over my shoulder, and proudly marched out of the house.

The sun was still rising nearer to its peak overhead. I took in a deep breath, and walked along the city path. I gazed around, wondering where my next happy customer would be. But before long, I began to hear a few shouts of disbelief in the shop behind me. Out of impulse, I gradually picked up the pace, and scurried down the road, headed for Domina's market street. And all the while, I continued to smile, stepping in tune with the bag of Lucre neatly tucked away within my pocket. In the end, everyone benefits from a hard days' work, I thought to myself.
And I'll be one of them... he he he.

This page was optimized for Netscape, not explorer. Sorry! If it doesn't look right or ishard to read, you may want to change browsers.