I made my way through the bustling streets. The morning sun had risen higher, and within a couple of hours, it would be noon. It seemed time here passed at roughly the same rate as in my world.

  By now, Petya had at least a six-hour lead on me, but I was counting on my preparation to allow me to catch up to her. I should be fine, especially if I had a boat and she didn’t.

  But what if I were once again underestimating her? Had she found some coins while I had been unaware? I should have checked her purse after she had first left the room.

  I approached a busy intersection where several streets converged around an open plaza packed with vendors. A middle-aged human woman was arranging a selection of fresh fruit on a table nearby. She looked like she knew the area.

  “Excuse me,” I said, “can you direct me to a general merchant? I need traveling supplies.”

  She looked me up and down, noting my strange, bedraggled clothing. “Osman’s Outfitters, two streets that way,” she pointed. “Blue awning, can’t miss it. Best provisions in the quarter, and he’s fair.”

  Fairer than Nizaar, I hoped. I thanked her and followed her directions, soon finding myself before a wide storefront with a vibrant blue canvas awning. The windows displayed an assortment of traveling gear: leather packs, walking sticks, water skins, and clothing suitable for various climates. Even clothing. It might do to get a wardrobe change, including new shoes, so I didn’t stick out too much.

  A bell chimed as I entered. The shop smelled of leather, wool, and something faintly spicy—perhaps a preservative for the foodstuffs stacked on shelves along one wall. A broad-shouldered man with a close-cropped beard stood behind the counter, examining what appeared to be a ledger.

  “Welcome to Osman’s,” he said without looking up. “Take your time; shout if you need anything.”

  I surveyed the shop’s offerings, mentally cataloging what I would need. A pack, certainly. Canteens. Preserved food. Perhaps a rope. Practical clothing would be wise, but I had limited funds and needed to prioritize.

  “I need supplies for a coastal journey,” I said, approaching the counter. “Something urgent has come up.”

  Osman finally looked at me, his eyes lingering on my strange attire. “Coastal, eh? Heading north or south?”

  “North. I’m trying to catch up with a companion who left without the proper preparations.”

  He grunted. “Happens. How many days do you plan to go out? What’s your budget?”

  “Two to three days. I’d like to keep it under ten silvers.” I looked at my clothing. “And perhaps some suitable clothes."

  “Hmm. That might be tough, especially if you want an enchanted pack,” Osman said, stroking his beard thoughtfully.

  I frowned, suspicious of a shrewd upsell. “What’s the advantage of an enchanted pack?”

  “More carrying space. Enchantments that slow or even prevent the spoiling of food. If you have the funds, I wouldn’t leave without one.”

  Indeed, I could see how that might be useful; I had the coin to spare. “Use your best judgment. My budget is twenty silvers, then.”

  “Very good. Let me put something together for you.”

  With efficiency, Osman selected items from around the shop: a sturdy leather pack with oiled seams, two canteens, a small bundle of dried fish and flatbread, a length of rope, and what he called a “flint striker” for making fire.

  As for clothing, he pulled out a set of travel garments. The outfit consisted of sturdy canvas trousers in a practical brown, reinforced at the knees and seat; a loose-fitting linen shirt in a muted blue that would breathe well in the heat; a sleeveless leather vest with multiple small pockets; and a pair of ankle-high boots made of water-resistant leather with thick soles. He also included a wide-brimmed hat woven from local reeds to provide protection from the sun.

  “This’ll do for a few days’ travel,” he said, placing everything on the counter. “The pack is bronze-tier, the cheapest enchanted one we carry. No enchantment of Featherweight, unfortunately; those are quite expensive for packs. But it will hold four times as much as it seems, while food takes four times longer to spoil. The clothing is not enchanted, so if you need it resized, you’ll have to take it to a tailor.”

  “I’m not sure I have the time for that.”

  “If you’re in a rush, a local Enchanter will do in a pinch. Grak does good work, as does Esmerelda.”

  “How much for all this?” I asked.

  “Including the set of traveling clothes, fifteen silvers for the lot.”

  Five under budget. Better than I would have thought. He could have said twenty, and I wouldn’t have blinked. That was a good sign he was honest, someone to do business with in the future.

  “Fair enough,” I said, opening my coin pouch and counting out the silver coins. Osman didn’t seem surprised by its magical properties, if indeed he noticed them at all.

  As he packed the supplies into the bag, I asked casually, “I’m also concerned about dangers along the coast. I’ve heard rumors of…unusual creatures.”

  Osman paused, curious. “What kind of creatures?”

  Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

  I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. “Large ones. Potentially dangerous.”

  He gave a small grin. “Dragons?”

  “Perhaps. I would like to be prepared.”

  “Hmm.” He scratched his beard. “Dragons aren’t unheard of, especially if you travel farther up the coast. The Fire Range has been their territory for generations.” He paused, considering. “If you’re serious about this journey, you might want to visit Yasmin at the Jade Mortar first. She specializes in alchemical protections.”

  “Where would I find this Jade Mortar?”

  “Four doors down, east side of the street. Can’t miss it—there’s a large mortar and pestle carved from jade hanging above the entrance.” He secured the pack with a final tug on the straps. “Word of advice: be specific about what you need, but prepare your coin purse. Effective alchemy doesn’t come cheap.”

  “Thank you,” I said, adjusting the pack on my shoulders. “One more thing—do you deal in class cores or other rare magical items?”

  “I don’t.” Osman shook his head. “I could point you toward some reputable merchants who do…for a modest finder’s fee, of course.”

  “Perhaps another time,” I said. “What’s your opinion of Nizaar the Varkiss? I’ve done some business with him already.”

  Osman’s eyes widened slightly before his composure reasserted itself. An interesting reaction.

  “Nizaar certainly deals in cores and enchanted items,” he said carefully. “His shop is essentially a high-end pawn broker that caters to the wealthy.”

  “I’m asking for your honest impression,” I pressed. “You seem like the straightforward sort.”

  He leaned forward, lowering his voice. “Honestly? You’d be better off with Tariq in the Silver District.” He gave a small shrug. “But that’s merely a personal preference.”

  “Of course.” He had told me, without quite saying it, that Nizaar was best avoided—confirming my own suspicions.

  And from his initial surprised reaction, he could even be dangerous. An interesting recommendation from Farid.

  I nodded my thanks, adjusted my new pack, and headed toward the Jade Mortar. The Jade Mortar was indeed unmistakable, with an impressively large jade mortar and pestle hanging above its doorway.

  I pushed the door open. The interior was dimly lit, with shelves of glass bottles containing liquids of every conceivable color. Some glowed faintly, others bubbled despite being sealed, and still others seemed to shift and swirl of their own accord.

  Behind a polished stone counter stood a woman who must have been Yasmin—tall and striking, with intricate silver beadwork woven into her dark braids. Her eyes, lined with kohl, narrowed slightly as I entered.

  “Welcome, traveler,” she said, her voice almost musical. “How may the Jade Mortar assist you today?”

  I approached the counter, conscious of the precious minutes ticking by. “I need protection. Specifically, against fire.”

  Yasmin’s expression sharpened with interest. “Fire protection? That’s not very specific at all.” She studied me more closely. “What manner of fire concerns you?”

  “The most dangerous kind,” I said. “I’m traveling north along the coast, and I’ve heard rumors of dragons.”

  I observed her reaction. Her eyes widened, not with disbelief but with professional assessment.

  “Dragons,” she repeated. “You speak of this casually for someone who appears to have no class.”

  My eyes widened. “You can tell?”

  “Of course.” She left it at that.

  I was frustrated with my lack of knowledge. Again, the Grand Athenaeum seemed the only way I could get it without raising suspicion.

  She was already moving on. “I have several options for fire protection. The effectiveness varies with the price, naturally.” She turned to the shelves behind her, selecting three vials.

  “This,” she indicated, pointing to a small vial of orange liquid, “provides resistance to heat and minor flames for about an hour. It will mitigate fire damage but not erase it entirely. Enough to give you a slight edge. Ten silvers.”

  She placed a second, slightly larger vial of deep red liquid on the counter. “This offers protection against substantial fire damage—enough to walk through a burning building for about ten minutes. Twenty-five silvers.”

  Finally, she set down a small, crystal vial containing what appeared to be liquid silver mixed with deep red, with tiny motes of light dancing within it. “And this is my finest fire protection elixir. Complete immunity to the most intense flames, including dragonfire. But it only lasts two minutes after consumption.” She watched me closely, her eyes almost hypnotic. “Fifty silvers.”

  I stared at the most expensive one. Two minutes weren't long, but nothing less than full fire protection would do.

  “Will it work for someone without a class?” I asked.

  Yasmin nodded. “These alchemical preparations affect the body directly—no class is required.”

  I considered my options. With only one hundred and five silvers to my name, the premium elixir would cost a good chunk of my remaining funds. Yet the cheaper options would certainly prove insufficient against a dragon if it came to that.

  “The elixir’s effects—they’re immediate?”

  “Yes. The moment it passes your lips, the protection activates. Some users report a warm sensation throughout the body, but there is no discomfort.”

  I decided to try negotiating, despite my haste. “Forty silvers for the premium elixir?”

  Yasmin’s lips curved in a slight smile. “Unfortunately, the ingredients for this elixir include powdered blood ruby, double-concentrated aether, and Heart of the Moonflower, among other rare ingredients. Forty-five silver is the absolute lowest I can go.”

  Five silvers wasn’t worth haggling about. “Fair enough. I’ll take it.”

  Yasmin wrapped the crystal vial in a protective cloth. “You know, if you’re truly concerned about dragonfire, you might travel with a Varkiss companion. Their scales provide natural resistance to flames. They won’t survive a dragon at point-blank range, mind you, but are surprisingly effective with javelins from a distance.”

  I raised an eyebrow, remembering Sathi from the Copper Lantern. “Natural resistance to flames?”

  “Indeed. If you can swing it, I’d recommend hiring a Varkiss javilineer or two. Just to be on the safe side.” She handed me the carefully wrapped vial. “That will be forty-five silvers.”

  I counted out the coins, my mind already planning. Sathi had seemed friendly enough, and if the Varkiss possessed natural fire resistance, it made strategic sense. Hiring a proper mercenary was probably far beyond my meager budget; by my calculations, I only had sixty silvers left, and I still had to hire the boat.

  “Thank you for the advice,” I said, carefully stowing the precious elixir in my new pack.

  “May it serve you well,” Yasmin replied.

  “One more question,” I asked. “Hypothetically, would a dragon be interested in eating a human if it traveled inside its lair? Do they sleep often?”

  Yasmin looked at me strangely; never mind that, I needed to know.

  “I’ve read of such things, but like most people, I don’t have direct experience with such matters.”

  I nodded. “Anything can help.”

  “A dragon is unlikely to be interested in eating human flesh. They hunt larger game and have voracious appetites. They never stray too far from their lairs and tend to choose areas rife with game. That said, they wouldn’t eat a human unless they were desperately hungry.” She paused, considering. “However, make no mistake: if you wandered close enough, it would kill without hesitation.” She blinked. “Most likely with dragonfire; they like to fight from a distance if possible.”

  “I see,” I said. “And the sleeping habits?”

  “I can’t speak to that. Such things are not studied, at least not by the sane.”

  “I see. Good to know.”

  “Dragons are important creatures for alchemy. Nearly every part of their bodies can be used to create advanced potions.” She cleared her throat. “I pay well for any and all components. That said, you should reconsider your approach. I don’t know what your game is, but I doubt you’ll win it.”

  “Your concern is noted.” I smiled. “I assure you, I don’t plan to deal with the beast directly.”

  And I didn’t.