As they entered the market Arash could not believe his eyes! There were hundreds of people bustling around on the sandstone beneath them. He was in aw at this mass of people.
Arash's village was populated by, at most. a hundred people so he had never seen such a high concentration of them. It was like staring into a see from the raised platform he was on.
Zara grabbed his hand and dragged him down the stairs to the right, straight into the sea of people. In this sea, he bumped into a multitude of characters.
He saw a dwarf with a long beard that had to be held like a gown to be kept from being stepped on. As well as a group of lady elves dressed in intricate dresses, though Arash could tell it was all home-made from the stitch patterns and the well-hidden patches.
Along with the people came a musky odor that forced its way into Arash's nose. It was a horrid stench l, almost like nobody here bathed. Then he realized they likely didn't, due to the reliance on the sparse rainwater.
Zara continued to weave through the crowd of people with Arash in tow until they reached a stall. It was filled with weapons, armor, and clothing.
Zara slammed her hand onto the wooden desk at the front of the stall. Arousing the attention of the man who had previously blended in with the mess of assorted wares.
"Hello Zara," the vendor said without looking up from his worn book l, "I see you've brought a customer, but by the looks of him he has less money than you do!"
She was unfazed by his jab at her, "he needs clothing and a weapon. In return, I'll pay you back with 50 gold by the end of the week. You know I'm good for it Tajiri."
The man finally looked up, his hair was curly and matter from lack of a wash and Arash couldn't tell if the man's skin was dark like his or just dirty.
Tajiri smiled with several missing teeth and one replaced with silver, "Well that'll do just fine!"
He stood up and pulled Arash around the counter and began fitting him in clothes, "what would ye want?" He asked gruffly.
Arash thought for a moment as he stared into the seemingly endless abyss of cloth. He then spotted a grey, finely woven tunic with a hood attached. He picked it up along with a pair of cotton leggings and a white undershirt for the tunic.
"Fine choices" Tajiri grumbled, "now for ye weapon, ah normally wount' allow a newcomer access ta me entire collection but 50 gold is more than enough ta persuade this old man"
Tajiri pulled a crate from underneath a pile of clothing and opened it. Inside was a variety of weapons, from bows to swords, to even daggers with hidden compartments for poison. Arash could hardly choose, but then one caught his eye, beneath all the swords, daggers and bows, was a bichuwa.
The bichuwa was a dagger that had two undulating blades on one end with a looping handguard that fit perfectly over his fist. It was completely clear of rust and was tinted with gold.
This was the perfect weapon for him, easy to conceal and the two blades would allow him to catch an enemy's sword and party them. This particular one had a compartment for poison as well.
Tajiri gave a hearty laugh, "now that blade suits ye fine! But she looks a wee bit mischievous, I'd be careful with it if I were ya."
Zara smirked, "so what will you name it? every good weapon has a name."
It seems that the tradition of naming your weapon carried into almost every culture, so Arash examined the blade once more. It gleamed in the dim firelight cast from the candle at Tajiri's desk. It looked almost like the two fangs of a poisonous dragon.
"I think I'll name it Taring," he said, "my wife was not of my village and that is how you said fangs in the tongue of her people. I think it will fit well and honor her memory."
Zara nodded her head in respect while Tajiri continued to smirk. Yet another happy customer!
"We should go now." Zara said, "There is much more to be done."
Arash dressed in a hurry, wincing at the pain that still tortured his joints and back. Although, he did clean up well in his new clothes.
Zara once again grabbed Arash by the hand and led him onward through the bustling, smelly crowd and through a set of double doors at the opposite end of the marketplace from Tajiri's stall. on the other side of the wooden doors was a staircase that led up.
Arash doubted that many traveled much further than the market but he was wrong. People were hurrying up and down the stairs and the stench in there seemed to worsen. there were piles of refuse on the ground next to the steps and many rats had made their homes there.
Zara ignored all of this and pushed forward, tugging Arash along with her. They then began to ascend the steps to the levels above.
___________
The god of trickery watched from above as his daughter and champion prepared themselves for the battle ahead. He laughed.
"I do so despise these games you play dear brother," a voice said from behind.
The trickster did not turn to see. He already knew it was his brother, the god of the hunt.
"Oh, I think you'll love this one!" The trickster god said, "my champion is a huntsman you know. And this is indeed a game much like a wolf hunting a rabbit."
The huntsman stood in thought as he stared down at Arash and his niece. Are they the wolf or the rabbit? He wondered.
Finally, the god of the hunt spoke again, "very well brother, I will bid into your game. I'll give you a champion of my own."
"Finally my bubby plays a game with me!" The trickster gasped, "And he's even on my team!"
"Don't push your luck brother" the huntsman said, his bronzed muscle glinting in the ethereal light of the over-world, "I'm only interested to see what my brood are capable of. And it's only fair, our dear sister of darkness and brother of the coin have teamed up as well."
"I knew sissy wouldn't play by the rules." The trickster laughed, "I'll admit going against a God of the purse will be difficult, but our heroes will prove to be stronger than they look I'm sure."
"I hope you're right," the huntsman said, "Or there won't be much of a world to rule over."
"You felt it too then?" The trickster inquired, "her true intent?"
The huntsman said nothing but nodded all the same.