"Fake!?" The merchant's mouth turned agape at the Northman's allegations. "I don't appreciate at being accused like that, friend. If my merchandise is what you claim to be, then do you have any proof? If not, then you only make a fool of yourself. You don't want to give the people a reason to antagonize your own kind even further now, would you?"
"Funny, the only fool that I see is you, little man." Siegtyr remained unfazed by the merchant's shallow threats and instead, even taunted him without hesitation. "But since you ask proof, then proof shall you receive."
Siegtyr reached out inside one of his pouches hanging from his belt and took out something that caught the attention of the public. The item is none other than a smaller piece of the silver bear pelt, having the same color as the merchandise that the merchant has been selling. However, the similarity only ended there.
"What I have here is the original silver pelt. It once belonged to the silver bear who I have killed myself during my first hunt five years ago. Despite many years have passed, the quality of the pelt has never diminished, not even one bit. An actual pelt of the silver bear pelt, like the one I'm currently holding, after being doused in water, shined outstandingly under the glorious sunlight. The ones that you shamelessly display are nothing but cheap imitations." Siegtyr presented the item on his hand and dipped it into the water as he did to the fake one. After taking the smaller pelt out from the water, the crowd's eyes widened at the spectacle that has occurred before them.
Unlike the ones that were sold by the merchant, the sliver pelt belonging to Siegtyr glistened beautifully under the radiant sun. Its shining glory was a witness for all the people to bask upon. The pelt is no doubt a valuable item of great wonder, comparable to luxurious pieces of jewelry that are worn mostly by noblewomen to flaunt their wealthy status for the whole public to see. After all, it is naturally in men's nature to be attracted to shiny objects. Apparently, the shinier a thing is, the more expensive it is. Of course, the notion is not applicable in every scenario, like for example, the blinding light of a powerful Light Magic spell that is used to smite the opposition to smithereens.
"By the Creator, that's beautiful." Anna was awestricken by the pelt, a feeling that was shared by every onlooker present at the scene.
"Of course, that's entirely up to you all if you believe me or not, the words of a Northman regarding his own products from the North." Siegtyr mentioned his final remarks to Anna and the crowd about the whole matter and brought his personal pelt back at his belt pouch.
All of the witnesses now turn their wrathful gaze towards the fraudulent merchant. The merchant himself was now seen to be sweating profusely, contemplating his next choice of actions or words that would decide his fate at this very moment. It was supposed to be a simple plan on paper. He would declare his merchandise to be the infamous silver bear pelts of the North, garner some quick yet high profit from this endeavor and immediately leave the town and go to the next before the people would eventually suspect of the pelt's authenticity. If the Creator is a poet, then the Supreme Divine did a fine job at allowing a Northman no less from exposing his scheme involving northern products. Talk about poetic justice.
"No words of defense?" Siegtyr snickered at the man's pathetic reaction. "I'm not sure if you know this, but sweating like a little pig does not help in any way whatsoever in proving your innocence."
"Indeed." Lucon agreed with a frown. "If you surrender yourself to the guards, then you will be treated and judged fairly in court. The Northman beside me is not just anyone but a Thane and envoy from the kingdom of Uppsland. Thus, his word has considerable weight."
The merchant started to contemplate his next choice of action or words at this very moment. He could do what the nobleman suggested and surrender to the mercy of the city guard. On the other hand, if there's even a slight chance of escape…
Not to mention, the marketplace is also crowded. Meaning it would serve as a great distraction in his retreat. With the factors presented right before him, he made his fateful resolution.
Without any warning, the merchant quickly pushed his trading stall straight at the trio in front of him. The hasty action's purpose is to least get him a head start in his escape. He then ran as fast as he could, pushing any bystanders away who are blocking his path.
"What the!? Guards with me!!!" Lucon took the initiative and called his fellow men-at-arms nearby to give chase at the criminal on the run.
Siegtyr calmly watched Lucon and the guards running to the direction of the merchant's route. He then turned to his side to see the redhead groaning in pain. Due to the wood of the stall breaking and coming right at them, she unluckily sustained an injury in the form of a wound at her knees.
"Hmm, that's got to hurt," Siegtyr commented at the redhead's condition. "You want some help with that, miss?"
"Yes please." The redhead nodded while grunting in annoyance.
"Alright, hold still," Siegtyr said and took out another item from his other pouch. It was a white ointment, and he knelt down to apply the medicine directly at her wound.
After bandaging her wound with a clean cloth, the Northman stood up and offered his hand at her to do the same. She accepted the kind gesture and smiled appreciatively in return for his efforts.
"My thanks." The redhead merely said. "And I also apologize for you wasting your medicine at my minor injury."
"It's no big deal." Siegtyr shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "I eventually have to use it one way or another. I found the situation appropriate, so I did."
"I see, then you have my gratitude." Anna simply nodded in response. "Well, I hope that goat fucker is going to get what he deserved. The dungeon is a fitting place for people like him."
"Perhaps," Siegtyr said, amused by the woman's colorful insult. "And speaking of said fucker of goats, I suppose it's time that I do my part."
"Your part?" Anna tilted her head in confusion, wondering what the Northman meant.
"To catch him by myself obviously. He used and twisted my people's resources as a way to satiate his greed for coin. I simply can't let this pass." Siegtyr said with indomitable conviction in his every word.
"I'm sure that's not necessary anymore." Anna voiced out her own opinion. "Lord Lucon and his men are already on their way in apprehending him. At this point, they are already far from here. Chasing him would be a fruitless undertaking. You should have done so right at the very beginning."
"And ignore a pretty lady's injury? Well, that's kind of rude don't you think?" Siegtyr smirked, causing her to blush a bit by him being a gentleman and his concern to her as a whole. He then crossed his arms and told her, looking at the various houses and establishments in front of him. "Besides, I just gave him a head start. It would be boring if the prey gets hunted at the start of the hunt, don't you agree?"
"And how do you propose to catch him then?" Anna was quite interested in how the Northman is going to accomplish his goal.
"From the top. Let's just say that I have a dear friend from the sky." Siegtyr answered her. In a short while, he took out his round shield and sword and handed it to her, much to Anna's utter confusion. "Hold this for me, will you?"
"Huh?" Anna was dumbfounded while receiving Siegtyr's equipment. She witnessed the Northman now making his own chase. What he did next though shocked her to no end.
"Did he just climb that building like a freaking acrobat!?"
Indeed, Anna was greeted by the sight of Siegtyr scaling the nearest building like it was a simple chore for him. She could not help but think that he made the dexterous feat all too easy, judging by the way he agilely maneuvered himself and reached out gaps, ledges, and windows without any tools or magic to assist him. Add to the fact that he performed all this without any clumsy and awkward movement. As such, she could only wonder if Northmen like him are going to be climbing up buildings on a daily basis should some of them choose to officially make their residence here in the near future. In just a very little while, he was now on top of the building and eventually disappearing from her sight, jumping to the next building like a true master of the heights.
On her first meeting with a Northman, a smile graced forth on her beautiful face, finding him to be very interesting. Anna hoped that they will meet again sometime as she determined him to be an okay guy in her book based on their initial interactions with one another.
"Well, he still needs to retrieve his sword and shield from me though. That certainly won't be the last I'll be seeing of him." Anna muttered to herself while staring at the above horizon where Siegtyr was last seen. "But wait, the new transfer student is a Northman, right? If so, then it must be him, no mistake."
For some reason, Anna can't help but be giddy at the prospect of meeting him again. Tomorrow at the Academy is going to be a whole lot interesting with someone like him in the picture.
No doubt, a storm is about to break loose at Lionheart Academy taking form in the fury of the North.