Chronicles of Eden - Act VIII

by Alexander Gordon

  “I don’t understand,” Triska carefully spoke up. “What is it you girls do?”

  “We’re business owners of course,” Mika answered as she stood up and leaned forward on the counter.

  “We sell any goods and supplies you could need out here,” Mae explained.

  “And we deal with the local monsters for a modest fee,” Milly added with a nod.

  “Deal with the local monsters?” Clover slowly repeated.

  Triska slowly looked around the shop then noticed something that made her gasp. Daniel and Clover saw her looking above the front door and pointing to something, their eyes then resting on a gremlin’s head that was mounted on the wall above the doorway.

  “Is that…” Daniel nervously asked.

  “It was,” Max laughed. “Gremlins aren’t so bad to deal with, even I could kill one if it ever came near our home.”

  “Of course you could,” Mika playfully mocked as she ruffled his hair, much to his chagrin. “It’s a good thing we sisters have such a strong man in our lives.”

  Daniel blinked then looked over to Max while he was thrashing around from his older sister’s teasing.

  “You said your sisters were trained professionals,” he recalled, with everyone turning to him as he glanced around at the monster weaponry that was up for sale then to the three girls who had innocent smiles on their faces.

  “Professionals at what?” Triska inquired.

  “Monster hunting,” Max answered.

  Daniel and his companions quickly looked to each other in surprise then to the three sisters as they nodded in agreement.

  “You’re monster hunters?” Triska carefully said.

  “You bet,” Milly agreed with a proud stance. She glanced to the bow in Clover’s hands then smiled happily at her. “Getting those bows was a cinch. All I had to do was crack those stupid elves’ skulls open with my axe and they were mine for the taking.”

  Clover stared at her in horror then down at the bow that was taken from one of her dead kin.

  “This sword,” Triska slowly said while eyeing the reptile girl’s broadsword on display.

  “That monster thought she could best me in a swordfight,” Mika boasted before Triska turned to see the girl smiling arrogantly at her. “She was dead wrong about that. I really doubt what they say about those things, how they let their opponents wallow in the shame of defeat and let them live after a fight, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to grant her the same in return.”

  “A centaur’s spear,” Daniel breathed out before seeing Mae giggling at him. The girl reached into her satchel and pulled something out, a folded crossbow that quickly snapped open and had a line of bolts that appeared ready to drop down into place to fire from a wire cage.

  “She thought she could run away from me,” the girl explained before holding her crossbow in her hands with a daring smile. “She wasn’t fast enough.”

  Clover looked over the bow in her hands then to the others that came from her fallen sisters, her teeth clenched as she tried not to scream in anger. Triska slowly glanced to Clover then to Daniel as he looked around at all the items that had been looted from slain monsters.

  “Hey, you guys alright?” Max asked as he and his sisters saw the strange looks on the travelers.

  “I think I’m going to be sick,” Clover grunted with eyes shut tight.

  “Oops, sorry,” Milly worriedly apologized with a few pats on the elf’s back. “We didn’t mean to creep you out or anything.”

  “Sorry about that,” Mae added with a concerned frown. She flicked her crossbow down and snapped it back into its compact form before putting it away in her satchel. “We can get a little carried away with our profession sometimes. Didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “We weren’t trying to freak you guys out with all that,” Mika reassured as she hopped over the counter and walked over to Triska. “Don’t worry, there’s no monsters around this place. We cleared them all out ourselves. You’re safe here.”

  “Yes, I’m sure we are,” Daniel weakly agreed with a forced smile. He noticed his uneasy companions remaining silent then walked over to Mika and guided her over towards the half of the store that wasn’t filled with monster remnants.

  “Anyway, we’re looking for some non-lethal provisions. Could you help us out with that?”

  “Sure thing,” Mika agreed with a nod.

  “But she wanted a bow,” Milly questioned while watching Clover curiously. “That’s not non-lethal.”

  “I didn’t want one with the blood of elves on it,” Clover snapped at her with a tear in her eye.

  “What? There’s no blood on it,” Milly said looking over the bow. “I was careful in cleaning all the blood off it when I collected it. Wasn’t I? Oh no, did I miss a spot?”

  Triska quickly headed over and took the bow from Clover, handing it to Milly with a forced smile while she moved the elf behind her.

  “Sorry, she’s a bit… grouchy. Like, all the time. Yes, please, we’ll take this, a quiver, and the arrows you have left. Thank you very much.”

  “Okay dokie,” Milly said with a hop. Triska guided Clover towards Daniel and Mika, the elf grumbling something to herself through her teeth, while Milly gathered the supplies and carried them over to the front counter.

  “Did you miss a spot on it?” Mae huffed as she eyed the bow over. “Milly, I keep telling you we need to make sure these are flawless when we sell them. Customers don’t want to see monster blood on their purchases.”

  “I’m sorry,” Milly frowned while lowering her head in shame.

  “Geez,” Max sighed shaking his head. “Count us lucky they still want to buy anything after you girls startle them like that.”

  Clover kept her head lowered while gripping Triska’s hand tightly, the teen watching the elf struggling not to lash out or straight up murder the sisters for killing her kin. Daniel glanced back to them then around at the shelves and tables set out with things other than salvaged monster weaponry while Mika turned to Clover with a worried smile.

  “Um, sorry if Milly didn’t clean those properly,” Mika apologized with a shrug. “We can give you a discount on it if you’d like.”

  “A discount?” Milly whined. “Aw, but I had to work hard to kill that elf for that bow. The stupid monster kept running away in the trees, it took forever to hunt her down and spill her guts.”

  Clover yelled and quickly ran out of the store, with everyone watching her burst out the front door and running off before looking to Milly who held a hand over her mouth.

  “Um, should I have kept quiet?” she nervously asked her sister and brother.

  “Yes, you should have,” Mae flatly replied.

  “What is wrong with you?” Max tiredly asked.

  “Clover!” Daniel called out as he quickly ran after the upset elf.

  Triska sighed then turned to Mika with a dull expression, the woman holding a hand over her face and shaking her head slowly.

  “I am so sorry about that,” Mika dearly said before looking at Triska with a frown. “I promise we do clean all our merchandise carefully before selling it.”

  “Just… give me what’s on this list,” Triska tiredly replied holding out a small paper. Mika took the list and nodded with a worried smile before she rushed to collect the travelers’ needs. Triska rolled her eyes then glanced towards the doorway while feeling sympathetic for their elven friend.

  Outside Daniel ran up behind Clover who was standing by the signpost, the elf holding her arms around herself while she growled and whimpered quietly.

  “Clover… I’m sorry,” Daniel gently said. “We’ll put an end to the violence between our races, I promise you.”

  “Yeah, right,” Clover muttered as she wiped her tears away.

  “I mean it,” Daniel asserted, grabbing the elf by the shoulder and turning her to face him. “Those in there don’t understand yet, nobody else does, but they will. That’s what we’re out here to do, to put an end to the fighting b
etween our races.”

  “I’m going to kill those fucking bitches,” Clover growled with a glare towards the cottage.

  “Don’t,” Daniel ordered, jerking her back to face him. “You spilling their blood will only continue the cycle of violence. It won’t solve anything.”

  “They’ll be dead after having killed my sisters, that’s something it’ll solve,” Clover snapped as she swatted away his hand.

  “You’re not going to attack them, Clover. I’m not letting you go back in there.”

  “And just why not?”

  “Because I don’t want them to hurt you,” Daniel told her, catching her by surprise as he grabbed her shoulders again and shook his head. “They’ve killed plenty, Clover. We all saw their trophies in there. They know what they’re doing in a fight against monsters, they really are professional hunters. You going back in there to avenge your sisters will only end with another head they’ll mount on their wall.”

  “You saying I can’t handle myself?” Clover growled as she grabbed his hands.

  “I’m saying I don’t want to see you get hurt. If they draw any of your blood it’ll cut me just as bad.”

  Clover stopped and watched him in wonder as he lowered his head in remorse.

  “Please, let it go for now. We’ll set them straight later, we’ll set this whole region straight and hopefully even the world. They’re wrong and you’re right, Clover. But you starting a fight with them isn’t going to change anything. It would only place your life in danger, and that’s something I can’t allow to happen.”

  “But-”

  “I’m positive you could kill them if you had a bow, Clover,” Daniel assured her with a small smile. “But killing those with a misguided view in life is beneath you. You’re better than that, I know you are. So please, let it go, just this once.”

  Daniel let go of her and stepped aside, offering Clover the chance to rush back into the cottage to exact her bloody vengeance upon the monster hunters if she so wished. Clover hesitated then looked down and away while wiping a tear from her eye.

  “I’m not going to forgive them.”

  “After today you’ll never see them again,” Daniel assured her.

  Clover sighed and nodded, then after a pause punched Daniel in his arm.

  “Ow, what was that for?” Daniel asked while rubbing his arm.

  “For touching me,” Clover replied with a glance to him.

  “What, no kick to the nuts?” Daniel jested. “I must have really upset you this time.”

  “I’m sorry,” Clover sneered with a smirk. “Should I kick your dick in to make you feel better?”

  “I don’t know if that’ll make me feel better,” he replied with a nervous chuckle. “Just want to make sure you’re not really mad at me.”

  Clover watched him with a blank expression then shook her head a little and looked away.

  “I’m not mad at you, Dan,” she said before crossing her arms with an annoyed sigh. “And… thanks for not letting me get blood all over my cloak and boots from killing those bitches in there.”

  “Well Specca did do a nice job restoring that for you,” Daniel complimented as he eyed over the elf’s cloak. “And I know how much it means to you. Only thinking about your happiness after all.”

  “Of course you are,” Clover dryly replied with a roll of her eyes. “You’re just too fucking nice, you know that?”

  “I’ve been told similar things in the past, yes,” Daniel admitted with a chuckle.

  Clover glanced to him curiously before they both saw Triska walking out of the cottage holding a bow and quiver of arrows in her arms while Mika was carrying a large leather bag with a single brown flap buttoned at the top.

  “Is she alright?” Triska asked as she handed the bow and quiver to Daniel.

  “She’ll be fine,” Daniel answered as everyone watched Clover just staring at Mika with obvious discontent. The woman laughed nervously then looked down while rubbing the back of her neck.

  “Sorry again about making you feel uncomfortable in there. Anyway, enjoy your new bow. It’s a real elven-grade, just like you wanted.”

  “I know what it is,” Clover hissed before snatching the bow and quiver from Daniel then turning her back to the woman.

  Triska took the carrying bag from Mika and slung it over her shoulder, with the woman watching her curiously before smiling amusedly at Daniel.

  “Making her do all the heavy lifting, huh? What a gentleman.”

  “I’m not making him carry all this,” Triska remarked with a smirk at Daniel. “He’s not my pack mule or anything.”

  “I always thought of myself as her daring and courageous steed,” Daniel playfully mused before he took the bag from Triska and slung it over his shoulder. The girls watched as he swayed to the side before catching his balance, a weak smile and laugh being made from him before he grunted and hoisted the bag upright at his side. Triska giggled with an amused smile while Clover watched him with a raised eyebrow as he apparently had to use a bit of strength to carry the bag.

  “So, got everything?” he asked, although to him it felt like they had more than they planned on buying.

  “I think so,” Triska said looking at her list before pocketing it. “We’re all good, let’s head back to the others.”

  “Did you walk here on foot?” Mika asked looking around the area. “Where are your friends?”

  “They’re camped a little ways down the road. We just headed over here to pick up some things while they rested.”

  “You could have rode over here and then shopped,” Mika laughed. “You didn’t have to walk all that way for nothing.”

  “Nah, its good exercise. Anyway, thank you for everything,” Triska kindly said before the travelers started walking away down the road.

  “Take care,” Daniel called back with a wave.

  “Die in a fire,” Clover muttered as she held her new bow and quiver close.

  Mika waved them off then headed back inside, closing the door behind then looking around at her kin who were gathered near the counter. Max was counting up the gold coins Triska had paid with while Milly was looking down with a saddened frown with Mae lecturing her.

  “Well that sale could have been a bust,” Mika complained walking over to them.

  “Blame Milly,” Max plainly replied while putting away the gold.

  “I’m sorry, but I didn’t see any blood on that bow,” Milly sulked with a stubborn huff.

  “We all should have been a little less excited about the weapons,” Mae speculated while adjusting her glasses. “I don’t think they were that interested in them to begin with. Aside from that girl wanting a bow they only purchased typical traveling provisions.”

  “We need to better read our customers to know what they want beforehand,” Mika sighed as she walked over and leaned against the counter. “We always jump right to the weapons first, every time.”

  “But they’re our best stuff,” Milly insisted. “We get a lot more gold for selling those things than those other things that don’t kill stuff.”

  “Well put, Milly,” Max simply replied shaking his head. He looked around at the half of their store that was stocked with monster armaments then scratched his head. “I do have to agree with her though. Those things we collect from your kills are worth good money. Maybe we should travel to the city and sell them there rather than out here in The Outerlands.”

  “But we agreed that people who need them most are out here,” Mae pointed out. “There are no blacksmiths or weapon vendors around these parts, so unarmed or poorly equipped travelers have a great need to buy these.”

  “And that does equate to more money,” Mika reasoned. “Provided we don’t mess up the cleaning of said weapons and have to sell them at a reduced priced to freaked out customers.”

  “I’m sorry!” Milly whined.

  “But selling our hot items in the city does sound good,” Mika mentioned with a smirk at Max. “Thing is we usually don’t have
the free time to travel out there and set up shop, now do we?”

  “I keep telling you I could do it,” Max implored with an irritated groan. “I’m not a little kid. I practically run this store while you’re all out having fun killing monsters.”

  “You do run this store when we’re out killing monsters,” Mae giggled. “Hence why you can’t leave for the city and leave our shop unattended.”

  “And you still are kinda little,” Milly teased him.

  “No I’m not!” Max hollered while kicking his legs around. “Quit treating me like a baby!”

  “Calm down, Max. We’re only having some fun with you,” Mae insisted with an amused smile.

  “Um, question,” Mika called out with her hand raised up, the group looking to her as she pointed to a small carrying bag lying on the counter. “That wasn’t part of Triska’s order, was it?”

  “Uh oh,” Mae nervously said. “I believe those are the bandages and herbal cream she asked to have added to her purchase.”

  “And why was it not given to her?” Mika demanded as she grabbed the bag while looking around at her kin in frustration.

  “Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention,” Milly remorsefully admitted.

  “I was helping Max count the gold we got,” Mae insisted.

  “I can count just fine on my own,” Max barked at her. “You just weren’t paying attention like Milly.”

  “We don’t get wrong orders here!” Mika yelled out at them. “Dammit, now they’re going to tell other people we swindle our customers!”

  “Sorry,” Mae and Milly apologized while Max sighed tiredly.

  “Great, just great,” Mika grumbled as she hopped over the counter and rushed into the back room. A few moments later she ran back out with a steel claymore strapped to her back in a black sheath. “You all just stay here and try not to misplace anything else, I’ll take care of this.”

  “You’re going to go kill them?” Milly gasped. “Mika, you can’t do that. It’s bad business to kill your customers.”

  “I’m not going to kill them, I’m going to go out there and deliver this bag to Triska along with an apology for you all screwing up her order. It’s just a good habit to always bring your weapon with you when walking about outside, never know when a monster might rear its ugly head.”