Leona's attention was drawn to the vendor's display of exotic herbs and peculiar fungi. The vendor's smooth words only increased her curiosity. She was about to strike a deal when a deep voice interrupted her train of thought.
"This thing is called the Hallucinogenic Mushroom," Talon's voice rumbled beside her, his presence commanding immediate attention. "The reason ordinary beasts become more ferocious after consuming it is because the hallucinations make them believe they've grown stronger. In reality, the effect is short-lived. The beasts are left exhausted afterward, making them easy prey. I presume you used their weakened state to your advantage, killing them conveniently and collecting this mushroom in the process. And the mushroom is very dangerous to people who are not familiar with it."
The vendor's confident smile faltered at Talon's revelation. His face flushed with embarrassment, but fear quickly followed as he glanced up at Talon's towering figure. The man's intimidating stance, coupled with his keen knowledge, left no room for argument. Sensing he was outmatched, the vendor raised his hands in surrender.
"I didn't expect to meet someone so knowledgeable today," the vendor admitted with a weak chuckle, wiping sweat from his brow. "Consider me defeated. I won't sell you this mushroom anymore. The herbs will be 10 gold coins. Please, just settle the bill and leave."
Leona, who had been poised to pay, felt a sudden, sharp kick on her shin. Her initial reaction was to snap at whoever had the audacity to kick her, but when she turned to confront the culprit, she was met with Talon's sly wink. It was a surprising gesture from the usually stoic warrior, but it conveyed a silent message. In that moment, a tacit understanding passed between them.
Catching onto Talon's plan, Leona's expression shifted. She turned back to the vendor, her posture firm, voice steady with authority. "Do you know who this gentleman is?" she asked, gesturing toward Talon. "He's the soon-to-be head of the city's internal security force. You're openly selling highly addictive mushrooms disguised as enhancing herbs. Not only could you face heavy fines, but you risk losing your selling permit altogether."
The vendor paled, his confidence evaporating as he realized the gravity of the situation. He recognized Leona — her reputation as a skilled and formidable warrior was well known in the area. And if this man truly was who she claimed him to be, he could be in serious trouble.
"I… I didn't know!" he stammered, shaking his head vigorously. "Please, take the herbs, the mushrooms, whatever you want! I don't want any trouble." He hurriedly handed over two extra portions of herbs and the hallucinogenic mushroom, muttering under his breath, "I should've checked my horoscope this morning. What terrible luck."
Leona accepted the goods with a cold glance, but as she turned back toward Talon, her expression softened. "Captain Talon," she said with mock formality, "let's show some leniency. He's a familiar face around here, and I doubt he's done something like this before."
Talon's lip twitched, fighting back a smile. He could sense Leona was playing along with their ruse, so he gave a curt nod in agreement, though his stern demeanor never wavered.
"You're lucky today," Leona told the vendor, her tone sharp. "This time, we'll let it slide. But if you try this trick again, there will be severe consequences."
The vendor could only nod helplessly, too relieved to care about his lost goods. "Thank you, thank you," he said, wiping his brow again. "Oh! I almost forgot. I have a map. Found it inside the stomach of a beast I killed. You can take it too. From now on, I'll stick to selling herbs I actually know."
Leona raised an eyebrow but took the map nonetheless. She unfolded it, glancing over the worn parchment, but its markings were foreign to her. Shrugging, she passed it to Talon, trusting his judgment.
Talon examined the map carefully, running his fingers over the smooth texture. "This is silk paper," he remarked, his voice thoughtful. "It was used by nobles in the past to record important matters. The route on this map isn't random."
Leona's eyes lit up with excitement. "You've made the right choice," she said to the vendor, her earlier sternness replaced with satisfaction. Without another word, she turned and walked back toward Talon, the map now safely in their possession.
Once out of earshot of the vendor, Leona couldn't help but laugh lightly at the situation. "That was a close one," she said, shaking her head. "But we got what we needed."
Upon hearing the details, Alia shook her head with a smile. "You're something else, Leona. A warrior with so many tricks up your sleeve."
Leona gave a playful shrug. "A warrior has to be resourceful. It's always good to save where you can. That way, you have more for weapons, armor, and the essentials."
Talon, who had been silent for most of the exchange, nodded in agreement. Leona's practicality resonated with him, and he couldn't deny the wisdom in her approach.
Alia's gaze shifted between the two of them, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "You two make quite the pair," she teased. "Talon's keen eye for detail and your quick thinking are a formidable combination."
Leona grinned. "That's true. With Talon around, spotting valuable items will be a breeze. Our trading days might just be ahead of us."
Talon, unused to the banter, simply stayed quiet, though there was a slight flush to his cheeks. He wasn't accustomed to working closely with others, especially in such informal settings. But he couldn't deny that being part of this small team felt right — comfortable, even.
Seeing Talon's reaction, Alia wisely chose not to press the issue further. Her expression grew serious as she asked, "Are you both ready to move? We need to make haste. Word about the palace has already spread, and the longer we wait, the more dangerous it will become."
Talon and Leona exchanged a glance, both nodding in agreement. The lighthearted moment was gone, replaced with the tension of the looming journey ahead. Together, the three warriors set off, their destination clear, the palace awaiting them just beyond the horizon.