"Twin-Sabre Fangs from a Moss-Ape? Now that is a sight to sharpen the eyes! Aye, let me see ’em, let me see ’em! Don’t just stand there holdin’ ’em like they’re common pig tusks!" The slightly chubby halfling scurried forward and carefully took out the fangs within seconds of seeing them.

He observed and inspected them, his mouth running like a never-ending waterfall.

"D’ye know what you’ve got here? Most folk see a Moss-Ape and think only of that mineralized skin—that steel-hard hide that’ll ruin a perfectly good skinning knife if you’re not careful. But the real prize? It’s the fangs! To get these out clean, you must’ve pinned the beast or caught it right after the hammer-fists stopped swingin’. Look at that curve! Sharp enough to find the gap in a knight’s gorget and strong enough to snap a pine branch!"

Eagerly, he showed off the fangs to Resven as if he were the one to kill and defang the beast.

"How much woul-" Resven began, but could get no further before the talking machine began once more.

"They’re a bit ’dirty’ with that Red Soul energy still hummin’ in the bone, aren’t they? A fine specimen for a Red-rank primal, sure, but a Moss-Ape will still flatten a man into a pancake if he’s too slow on his feet! I can sell these to a weapon-smith lookin’ to craft some armor-piercing daggers, or maybe a collector who likes the ’rugged’ look."

"So, what’s the price for a piece of the Vorhalden woods? You lookin’ for cold coins, or maybe you’re in the market for some cured rations to keep your strength up for the next hunt? Talk to me, friend, talk to me!"

"Its weight in coins would be preferable," Resven nodded.

"Excellent! I’ll be back with your coin!" Resven blinked, and the man was gone. Disappeared behind his counter or whatever lurked behind it.

Resven, however, took a deep breath, and a sigh of relief washed over him as he took in the moment of peace and quiet he could before the small man returned once more.

A few moments later, footsteps sounded behind Resven, and the man returned with a purse filled with coins.

There we go! Hear that clink? That’s the sound of a hunt well-finished! I’ve put together one Silver Thorn and eighty Copper Leafs for ya. Now, don’t look at me like that—it’s a fair price for a Red-rank! The fangs are sturdy, aye, but they’ve got a bit of that Moss-Ape musk on ’em that’ll take a week of scrubbing to get clear for the smithy!

It’s a good weight for your pocket, isn’t it? One of those shiny Thorns to tuck away for a rainy day, and enough Copper Leafs to keep you in ale and roast bird for a good while! Careful how you carry it out there; the docks aren’t as friendly as my shop, and a heavy purse makes a loud noise when you’re trying to walk quietly!

"I’ll take what I can get... cheers." Resven grabbed the purse, and within seconds, he was out of the shop, for fear of the man starting to talk once more.

Just as he turned around to walk further into the street, he bumped into a man draped in the colors of sky blue and white. The sigil of House Morvayn was etched into the man’s armor above his heart.

The man grunted at the impact and growled, "Watch where you’re going, commoner!"

The man glared at Resven. Resven stood his ground, and his eyes matched the guard’s for a moment before a smile appeared over his face.

"Will do, sorry for the trouble," and he moved away before the guard could do anything further. As he walked away, he pulled up his hood over his head and stole glances back.

The guard had continued to move onwards, but everybody the man approached either cowered and gave way or just hid away.

’Interesting, it seems we found a rotten apple.’

The fact that the ’commoners’, as the guard called them, cowered and hid away showed a great deal of the man’s character. ’I wonder how strong he is, he should be quite strong if he walks like that through the city.’

"Oh well, on to the next place." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

With a whoosh, he disappeared into the emerging crowds. Resven had set out a goal of mapping the city, or at least the majority of the lower docks today. Every bit of information he could gather would do him and his new house a lot of good... possibly.

***

It was early morning, and the sun had already risen, its rays breaking through the canopy and foliage of the woods. The forest seemed to come to life as birds sang and the insects began speaking in tongues unknown to man.

And from within the foliage, two men were steadily making their way through the thickets. The cold morning air hung on their breath as steam escaped their bodies, almost visible to the naked eye.

The one carried a large two-handed warhammer and moved with exceptional grace, unusual for someone of his size, as he lurked forward step by step.

The other was smaller and leaner, but he held one hatched in his hand, and his other rested on a few minor weapons strapped to his hip.

Both Mestin and Keren had not waited long before they had set out. They had breakfast, and before the sun even escaped the lines of the horizon, they had ventured into the forest.

With an early start, they would be able to map more and more of the woods for Bramm and ensure that no beast or intruder appeared.

Silence was their companion for most of the trip, but the occasional warning of questions was asked in their venture. And as they moved slowly and steadily, watching their surroundings with interest and wariness, Mestin came to a halt.

"What is’t? Ye hear summat movin’ in the brush?" The man took a stance, and his eyes surveyed the underbrush with even more intensity.