Inside is far hotter than what the cool Haymel weather provides. Surrounding us is an assortment of weapons, each one handcrafted to perfection.
Benny and Deean head towards the back as Ariah glides a hand over a set of daggers. Each one is encrusted with gems, and slivers of light from the sun shining through the windows ricochet off the blades.
“Thank you,” I say. She spins around and tilts her head. “For the crowd. You didn’t have to do that.”
She shrugs. “I wasn’t about to let them get food on my outfit.” She curtsies. “Please excuse me, Prince Iann.”
As she passes, I reach out to stop her, but she doesn’t notice and slips farther into the workspace where she joins the others.
“I’ve never seen you here before,” a boisterous voice says, and a shadow on the floor grows with approaching footsteps.
Behind me is a woman, inches taller than me with defined muscles in her arms and legs. Her raven hair holds sage green streaks and foreign markings run up and down the dark skin of her arms and neck.
“That’s because I’ve never been here before,” I reply. “My friends and I found something that we believe was made here, and we have a few questions about it.”
“And where is this item?” She offers me a smirk and walks over to the others.
“I have it.” Benny pulls the anchor from his pocket and sets it on the counter.
The woman rests one elbow on the table and picks up the anchor with two fingers, examining it like she’s uninterested. Uninterested until she turns it and sees something that makes her stand tall and pull a magnifying glass from under the counter.
“Where did you find this?” She inspects every inch, her focus bouncing between the item and us.
“Got it off a drunk,” Benny answers. “One of the best deals I’ve ever made.”
She places the anchor and magnifying glass down. “And I assume you know what this is?”
“I’m not sure we would be here if we didn’t.”
“You also realize that this item was stolen from my family years ago. Technically it belongs to me.”
“Technically, he won it during a bet. So, it’s his,” Deean interjects, gesturing to Benny.
“Why risk coming in here? Who are you lot?”
“The name is Iann.” I step forward. “With me is Benny, Eli, and Ariah. And who are you?”
“Iann? As in Prince Iann of Saden. The Queen’s special guest?”
I nod. “That would be me.”
She clicks her tongue. “The name is Kala. I’ve never had a prince in my shop before. Certainly not one from Saden. You’re not particularly liked by people around here.”
A smile finds my lips. “I’m well aware. And what might your opinion be?”
She shrugs. “I’ll keep my opinions to myself.” She grabs a rag and begins polishing the item. “What might you want to know about the anchor, Prince Iann?”
“Who enchanted it?”
“I was born after the anchor was created, so don’t take all my answers as absolute truth. Stories I’ve heard say it was an enchantress by the name of Morrena. She owed Fraya a favor.”
“So, the flower is real?” Ariah says, taking a step forward until we’re side by side. Her knuckles brush mine and reflectively my hand curls into a fist.
“I’ve never seen it.” Kala places a hand to her chest. “But I believe most legends stem from somewhere. I’d say the flower more than likely exists than doesn’t.” Kala comes from around the counter. “Is that all you want to know?”
“If Fraya had the anchor made for herself, how did your family end up with it?” I ask.
Kala shrugs.
