CH250

He looked out into the crowd and saw almost no one, and for a second he thought it must have been in his head, or maybe a call for someone else that was already answered. What he did see though was that it was getting late. A lot of the other tables looked like they were winding down as far fewer people were out inspecting the goods, and it seemed like as good a time as any to finish up for the day.

“Should we start heading back?” He asked both Thera and Falk, only to hear another quiet yell.

“Or you could help the customer in front of you asshole!”

This time he was sure he was hearing right, only he still didn’t see anyone. Casting Thera a quick look first, he leaned across the table and directed his gaze downward, seeing a hand-sized crab with a red crystal shell, immediately recognising it as a ruby crab, a race that had been hunted in the past like the dryads had for the fact that they’d actually grow the precious gem from their body.

“Oh man, I’m so sorry about that,” He was quick to say. He knew that there were a handful of exceptionally small races on the world, but since they had to deal with the uncomfortable risk that was the careless feet of others they typically kept to themselves. Still, that was no excuse for ignoring a potential customer, even if he was out of things to sell at the moment.

“Ah whatever, give me a lift up would ya? Having to yell like this sucks,” He called again, leaving Ben to sympathize with his situation as he went around and placed him on the empty table before him. “Much better.”

“So what can I do for you mister…”

“It’s Greed, and I’m looking to have something specially made. I couldn’t help but notice your table was empty and there’s only the three of you. Can I take it you’re pretty good?”

“It’s actually just Ben, and he is,” Thera said hesitantly as she tried to remember just what about the crab before her felt familiar as Falk nodded in agreement.

“Even better, if he can help me at least,” The crab said happily. “I’m looking to have something a little special made, an item that could help my music carry a lot farther than it currently can, think that’s something you could make?”

His first instinct was to ask how he’d been able to see the table at all from down there, but pushed the question aside to avoid being rude. Thinking it over briefly, he decided it wouldn’t be too hard. He’d need some more details of course, if it would be for an instrument or singing, as well as how loud it would need to be, but he was sure he could do it with an air enchantment. Before he could say as much though, Thera yelled out.

“Wait, you’re not the soundsmith Greed, are you?” She asked, disgust thick in her voice and getting a chuckle from the crab in return.

“The one and only.”

“Um, should I know who this guy is?” He asked her as she slid her chair away from him.

“Ugh, he’s a pretty well known musician. He’d be a lot more liked if he wasn’t disgusting though. Anyone that knows about him also knows about his lifestyle, as well as just how many, well… illegitimate children he has. I heard he used to try to have one in any town he went to.”

“Hey, enough of that,” He yelled in his defense. “I’ll admit, I had my youthful indiscretions, and I mean, anti-life rings are just so uncomfortable, am I right? But that’s in the past, you couldn’t pay me to touch a woman nowadays, you would believe the sort of trouble that’s gotten me into. Besides, at least mention my better parts. You didn’t even bring up my soundsmith skill or blessing magic.”

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“That’s because you’re more known for your degeneracy than anything else,” Thera told him bluntly, but Ben couldn’t help but pick up on just what skills he’d said. He might not know anything about the soundsmith one, but blessing magic on the other hand…

“Do you mean proper blessing magic or low-blessing magic?” He asked in a voice filled with excitement.