Last week I introduced a bit of the character, Nathe, from my story, Destiny’s Curse. Keep in mind, these are abridged snippets since full introductions are made earlier in the book. Feel free for feedback! 😀
“I saw her eyes! She was coming, but you broke your gaze! You broke the spell! But either way, you’re a true necromancer! Congratulations! That will be ten silver pieces for the tests.”
“Schemer! You never said a price for your services.” It all became clear now. The old hag had conned him all along. He wanted to smack himself for believing any of it.
“Now, boy, I know your secret and you won’t be charming any money out of me. But I am willing to lower the price if you buy this chest, full of necromancing treasures!”
“I am not a necromancer. You won’t scam me with your marketing techniques.”
“I just spent a good amount of time on you, boy, now if you don’t pay me in return, I’ll rouse the soldiers.” She was standing now, and appeared very serious.
“Ma’am,” he hoped his calm demeanor would calm her own. “I will pay you seven silver pieces and also buy an item from you.”
She relaxed and picked up the necromancer’s chest.
“Not that. I cannot trust your eyes alone for that ability. But if you have a book on sorcery, that would intrigue me.” She looked disappointed, but he guessed it was more because he didn’t want her most expensive item than the fact that he didn’t believe her judgment. She searched through her shelf and pulled out a leather book. It wasn’t too large to fit in his bag, but it wasn’t too small to hold a lot of knowledge. He reached forward to examine it in his own hands, but she retracted, and held out her palm instead,
“Money first. This book came straight from the University of Zilviz Maguz, but I’ll only ask for three gold pieces.”
That was a lot for a book, but Nathe figured that if it could teach him, it would be worth it. The back of his mind reminded him -if he was teachable at all- but he pushed the thought down as he counted his money.
“Three gold, and seven silver pieces in all.” With one hand, he gave her the money, and with the other, he took the book.
“Pleasure doing business with you.”
Common courtesy forced him to say, “Same to you,” though honestly, he was glad to be free of her speech of ‘bleza doin’ biznez wid’oo.’
He stepped to the side, but kept close enough to keep her in sight as he flipped through the book. He had to make sure she hadn’t scammed him again by selling him a fake. It was all in Fairy, so it was hard to skim, but there were pronunciation guides, diagrams, directions, and examples. If he could learn sorcery, this book could teach him.
C. Rae D'Arc 