#tsdeceit

Roman sent the merchant a look before he entered the big awning of the tent. It was cluttered with weird knick-knacks strewn all over the shelves. Roman didn’t get time to absorb the vicinity as the merchant grabbed him by the elbow and pulled him along.

 “This way, this way, my fine sir. The things I’m positive you will love are in the back~” the merchant gave away another giggle and Roman sighed inwardly and once again questioned how he ended up in this situation, as the merchant lead the way to the bigger part of the tent. He pushed the maroon coloured canvas away, compared to the awning at the entrance, which had been lit up by magical torches and lanterns, was the only existing light source in the big tent one lantern, hanging from one of the many wooden beams that made up the tent’s structure. Cages took up the inside of the tent, most of them covered by dirty and dusty sheets. Roman frowned, but as the merchant started to show him around, it was clear the cages held several different sorts of animals and other creatures, most of them in a cage of their own or several of the same kind together. All from exotic birds, dogs, cats, and even more as well as magical beasts were part of the merchants varied but big collection. The animals were fairly quiet, only piping up with noise when the merchant and Roman moved past their cage

 A cough made Roman straighten up there he stood before a cage with an animal that looked like a mix of a bear and tiger.

It didn’t sound like a noise any of the animals he’d seen so far would be able to make, but he couldn’t pinpoint where the cough had come from.

The merchant quickly tried to regain his attention by speaking up.

 “You, you my fine sir look like a man of great renown, I’m sure something in my collection will spike your interest!” the merchant said and grinned showing all his yellowed and dirty teeth, as he led Roman along to another cage.

 Another cough reached his ears, making Roman look around again.

 “What is that?” he asked.

 “Nothing for you to worry about, sir, probably just one of the dogs who ate too fast.” the merchant said in a rush.

Roman glanced at him, frown growing.

Roman knew it was not one of the dogs, since there had been no food in their cage when the merchant had shown him the gnarly beasts.

 “It does not sound like any of your dogs, sir.” Roman stated, voice growing hard as another series of coughs was heard again, now and again sounding stifled as if the one coughing didn’t want to bring attention to themselves.

 Roman turned on his heel and walked towards the sound to the best of his ability.

The merchant scrambling after him to catch up, rambling every excuse he seemingly could think off right off the bat in order to regain Roman’s already lost attention.

Roman stopped at the end of one line of cages.

Most of them were empty and halfheartedly covered with a sheet off their own, rusted and covered in old and newer dirt.

Roman felt a flare of anger ignite in his chest when he saw who it was that was the source of the coughing. Sitting, dressed in scraps, that didn’t even deserve to be called clothes, was a young shipian.

 Yellow scales scattered along their pale skin over their thin and bruised body. From what Roman could see the scales gather closer together on the shipians left side.

The half snake was coughing and it was clear from how thin and pale they were that they were not healthy, especially with the fading bruises against the pale, almost paper thin skin that was pulled taunt against their prominent bones, and the shivers that shook their already trembling body.

Roman watched the shipian with a critical eye for visible wounds, catching sight of the old burn scars that was around the half snakes left eye, leaving the skin a pale reddish pink against the yellow scales, as well as the scar that went from the end of the mouth along their cheek bone to their ear.

   “What is this?” Roman asked in a slight growl, not looking away from the half snake, not missing how the young shipian stiffened and sent a panicked look up at Roman with feverish bi coloured eyes, before looking down again, trying to become smaller and hide in the rags they wore.

 “Oh this… oh this is nothing, I wouldn’t want to trouble you with this one, sir, it is damaged goods and has been returned far too many times.” the merchant said grinning up at Roman “I don’t know why I still keep it around, useless creature as it is-” the merchant said and kicked at the cage, making the shipian flinch, before he continued in annoyance to complain, but Roman stopped listening to him. He had to force himself to not summon his magical sword. Causing a scene would not be of any help in this scenario.

He willed the red glow to dim out from his clenched palms, and tuned the merchant back in.

 “-all this useless reptile has done is giving me troubles, what am I to do when my clients keeps returning it, killing it is too much of a pain, and releasing it? Hah! No chance.” Roman sent the merchant a dirty look, seeing how the man was red in the face from frustration.

 “And if I was interested, what would the cost be?” Roman asked, trying his best to not let his emotions show, glad from the lessons he had had with Logan back at the castle.

 “Wha- Whu?! You actually-” the merchant spluttered before his gleaming salesman smile fell onto his lips “Well for you, my fine sir, only 1500 gold.”

For a, so called broken shipian, you sure know how to throw the price up, you piece of garbage. Roman thought with a internal scowl, keeping his outwardly expression neutral as he hummed, giving the half snake a look over, a bit hard when they were trying to become as small as possible.