"Do we each get one of those?" Trevor asked, pointing to the sky. Of course, he meant Luna. Now they were headed back towards Hydraphel, but not along the road they came.
"We are supposed to," Abbigail said, "but there aren't that many Ender Dragons in the world. I heard that Luna is the first one in almost a century, and we have yet to find another egg."
It had been days since they last hit civilization. Trekking through wilderness isn't a lot of fun, and food was scarce. Every night at camp, Abbigail tended to Luna and hunted for food. Denny cooked, and Trevor poured over his books, miming movements with his hands, which Abbigail assumed to be some sort of mythic Enchanting dance.
Finally, they came into Hyperia, the capital city. Abbigail called Luna down and told her to stay in an empty barn while they ventured in to find their third Enderknight. "It's a bit too scary for people to see dragons right now. Don't worry, we'll be back. And do NOT try any pyrotechnics." Grudgingly, Luna laid down among the hay.
The Eye led them to the main street, then down a side alley. "Sax Brewery" read one sign. The Eye hovered over the door, and they entered.
"Cling-a-ling!" A bell chimed and the person behind the counter, who wore a black mask over his head, quickly stashed away some colorful bottles and some papers.
"Welcome to my brewery!" He half-croaked, half-wheezed, trying to hide his surprise. "Are you looking for healing potions or would you like somesing else to… help you out? Er…what is your glowy thing doing?" The Eye was drifting casually up.
"Is there anyone else in this shop?" Abbigail asked. Trevor scratched his head.
"No, no one." The man's voice was weirdly assertive.
"Okay, what I'm about to tell you may sound strange, but… you have been chosen to be one of the next generation of Enderknights. You need to come with us." Abbigail said, reaching out to place the Eye back in her sack. "What's your name?"
"Saxon, dat's what I'm known as." The shopkeeper said hastily. "And as you can see, I brew potions." He added hastily, "Legit ones."
"Slam!" The door swung open again and two men, sporting the Unyielding Legion's tattoo on their arms and wearing black leather vests, walked in.
"G'day, gentlemen," welcomed Saxon, "Whot can I help you with?"
"Oh, cut the cha'er, Sax," The man laid a bag sounding like gold coins on the counter. "We want the usual stuff. Need it for a job." His voice was hoarse and the long black scar down his chin twitched with menace. He carried a giant potato sack over his shoulder, and Abbigail doubted they use it for anything related to crops.
"Right, er…" Saxon looked at Abbigail. The men followed his gaze, and Abbigail thought she saw a spark in the man's eyes. A glint that spoke of a potential bounty. She wondered if she's still one of the Legion's wanted after a few months.
"We'll wait outside." She led Trevor and Denny into a small lane next to the shop.
"I don' like the looks of tha' guy, or the peopl' he's messin' with." Denny said as soon as they cleared the street. "I thin' this Saxon fella is a bi' dodgy. Should we still recruit him?"
"You are right." Abbigail agreed. "I've had my trouble with those Unyielding Legion thugs and I think Saxon does more than what he claims."
"Black market?" Trevor suggested, "I know one exists for enchanted weapons and armor, especially the rare ones."
"If I ever saw one." She affirmed, "But the Eye chose him, and we could use a hand. Besides," she felt the Eye vibrate in her sack, trying to burst out, "we don't know what will happen if we miss a knight."
After a while, the two men walked out, bottles clinking in the bag that held gold. Abbigail and her Enderknights walked in.
"So… About ze gig you have with the Enderknights," Saxon began, clearing away the counter, "I'm in."
"Really? Jus' like that?" Denny watched as Saxon hoisted a small chest over the counter.
"Yeah, those Legion miscreants won' take no for an answer, and they don' pay zat much." Saxon said as he pushed one final purple mushroom-looking thing into his pouch. "Although, I'm not sure…"
"You mean your black-market potions business?" Abbigail said outright. Saxon was surprised, but nodded. "It's not like we can't handle the Legion. Believe it or not, my name is Abbigail, and we could certainly use a potion brewer among our ranks."
"Hol' on, you are Abbigail?" Saxon's eyes widened. "You know you are number one on ze Legion's bounty list, right? Legendary, you are! No one's ever stayed zere zat long before. Been causing them hell of a lot trouble, you were."
"Wha' did you do?" Denny turned to Abbigail.
"It's a long story." Abbigail said. "We'll wait outside while you close the shop."
"Heh, I have no need to." Trevor gave a grimace. "This city's way too dismal to make dough off potions, even though it's supposedly one of the capitals of the kingdoms. I'm only here because I can't afford to move."