48: Thunar

Since we had some time to kill before we could go back to the lantern shop, and since we’d decided to detour past the kitchen on our way back to the inn, we stopped by one of the many markets in the city to pick up supplies for cooking. Liane broke off to find Jen and Hari, letting them know the plan.

It would be nice to cook something without having to hide it. I still had some meat on me—well, besides the Galvonsons, of course—but I had no idea where to even begin with preparing those. What I did know was that at some point, we’d need to strip the corpses of valuable items, because even their feathers sold for a decent bit of coin. Then there were their beaks and claws, sought after by crafters.

The market we came to wasn’t large. It seemed to be catered more towards the locals and was located between where the scholar’s section ended and the merchant’s section began. There were several stalls selling already prepared food, but there were also stores selling baked goods, fruit, vegetables, meat, and, to my delight, fish.

When I made my way to the fish stall, I was a bit disappointed to see that all the fish were gutted already.

“Excuse me,” I said to the man running the stall, “you wouldn’t happen to have any fish that aren’t gutted or prepared at all, would you?”

“Not today, young sir. It’s not something people normally ask for. I can certainly buy some in for you, or there’s a fishmonger closer to the docks where you might find fish before they’re processed,” the man replied jovially.

I wasn’t sure if ordering any would be wise—I couldn’t confidently say we’d be back in this area of the town, and I definitely wouldn’t be able to find my way here again.

“Thanks for the advice!” I said. “I’ll take two of your largest fish, please.”

“Absolutely,” the man said with a smile. He then pulled out two of the largest fish I had ever seen in my life. They were sleek, and their scales—no, skin? I wasn’t sure—it looked almost silver. Their fins were rigid and blade-like, and their mouths had massive teeth. I would not want to run into one of these creatures in the water. I’d lose an arm!

Also, when I asked for the two largest, I thought he’d give me the two biggest ones on display. But it seems the owner took it to heart and pulled the two largest fish he owned.

“These are called Thunar,” he explained. “The meat can be a little oily, but it’s absolutely rich in flavour. Each one costs 1 gold.” The man had a giant smile on his face.

“Hmm, well, I meant your two largest on display,” I began, watching as the man’s smile faded. “But, err, would you accept 80 silver for one?” I asked.

The look I got from Milo, who had been standing nearby, was one of shock. He didn’t say anything, but I could tell he was surprised. Yeah, I knew spending 80 silver on a fish was reckless and probably a waste of money, but I reasoned I’d only be here for a couple of weeks. And we’d get several meals out of this fish if I cut it up.

After a short haggle, I purchased two Thunar for 92 silver each, and I stored it away.

Would you like to store [Uncommon] Adult Thunar x2 for 5 mana? Yes/No

Selecting ‘Yes’, I was happy with my choice. I also decided to purchase some of the Lake Veyran bugs I’d enjoyed at the restaurant. Surprisingly, they were much cheaper, with fifteen bugs costing only 2 silver.

Next, I stocked up on some basic vegetables: tubers, garlic grass, and a couple more lemons. Lastly, I grabbed a selection of small berries to replace the ones I’d been using in porridge. All of it cost me less than 1 silver, so I was happy with everything.

Once the shopping was completed, we made our way to the lantern shop. The clerk had been right: there was currently a man standing behind the counter. He was older-looking and very rugged. Upon entering, his eyes immediately landed on Crisplet.

“Ah, you must be the group. Hello, my name is Curtis. I’m the master crafter of most of the lanterns in this store. I received word you were after something a little different, and seeing your shoulder there, lad, I can see why,” he began before Milo even had a chance to speak. The man came from behind the counter and approached us, holding out his hand to shake ours.

“And if I’m reading the situation right here, it’s companion, not pet,” he said, emphasising the last part while giving the clerk behind the counter a pointed look, suggesting some miscommunication had occurred.

“Hello!” Milo began in a jovial tone. “You’re right, Crisplet is very much a companion and not a pet. So it’s important that it’s kept in an open space, no cages, to be clear.”

It seemed Crisplet had been following the conversation, as his flames flickered, becoming more ominous for a brief moment. I leant in, whispering to him, “I’d never let anyone put you in a cage, don’t worry. And if they try, burn them.”

The little elemental seemed mollified by that, and the flames returned to their usual bright, friendly glow.

“Oh yes, sorry about that. It was a miscommunication. But I’m glad I came down here myself to meet you,” Curtis said, not missing a beat. “We do have some metal hearths that the apprentices have made—essentially just a metal basket. However, I thought, given the nature of your companion, I could offer you something more unique.”

Milo nodded thoughtfully. “We’d certainly consider that, but we’re only in town for a week, maybe two at most. In the meantime, we’ll need something like the metal baskets, especially since the innkeeper isn’t fond of having a flame elemental around. So, what did you have in mind?”

Curtis paused for a moment, clearly deep in thought.

“Well, what I had in mind was an open-top brazier-style basket made of blackened star-iron. We could have runes on the outside to prevent heat from radiating outward, while still allowing a fire to remain contained inside. I’d attach a handle with a strap made of fire-drake leather, which should be fireproof and allow the brazier to be carried around while keeping all the heat contained—unless, of course, you will it otherwise.” Curtis rattled off his design, his enthusiasm evident. It sounded amazing, but as he listed the materials, my concern grew. I had gold, sure, but 4 gold wasn’t going to go far.

“That sounds perfect,” Milo said. “But what’s the time frame for this, and the important question—cost?”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Curtis looked thoughtful for a moment before replying. “I’d need about two weeks, maybe a little less. I’ll throw in one of the apprentice baskets as a freebie for the interim. As for cost, 5 gold should cover it.”

My heart sank. Even if I were to talk him down to the 4 gold 50 silver I had, that was all I had left.

“That sounds perfect,” Milo said, snapping me out of my thoughts. Before I knew it, he had handed over 5 gold to the man, who then passed him one of the crude-looking fire baskets made by Curtis’s apprentices.

“Wait…” I started to speak, but Milo silenced me with a wave.

They had already purchased the ring for me, and this was way too much. This was how people got into debt!

“I was hoping you could help us with something else,” Milo continued. “All your lanterns have remarkable rune work—do you do that yourself?”

“Ah, no, my wife is the Runescribe. Very talented,” Curtis replied, a slight blush on his face.

“Oh, your wife? Her work is amazing! I don’t suppose we could meet her at some point? A friend of mine is a novice Runescribe, and I’m sure he’d have a hundred questions for someone as talented as she is. We’d, of course, be happy to pay for her time,” Milo added, laying it on thick.

“Oh, absolutely! I’ll talk to her. If you like, we could leave the runes until the end and let your friend observe. She loves her craft, so I’m sure she’d be thrilled to teach the next generation!” Curtis said enthusiastically.

The moment we walked out of the store, I voiced my concerns.

“Milo, I can’t afford this! It’s too much!” I said, my voice filled with worry.

Milo chuckled a little, surprising me. “Trevor, do you forget what you have in your storage right now?”

What was he talking about? I had nothing of value—just some food and a couple of Galvonson parts.

“Do you not remember how much we sold that handful of feathers for back in Forest’s Edge?” he said, laughing.