21

Money

“Alright, Sir. Apple, an adorable name by the way. What might a centaur-like yourself be interested in today? As you can see I have all kinds of weapons to make all kinds of monsters think twice about messing with a sweet baby face like yourself. Take the pistol for example.” Frelon plopped one on the counter with a thud without slowing down her speech. “Small and easy to tuck away while heavy and devastating at close range. If you got a good eye, as I’m sure you do with those big beautiful orbs of yours, you could hit your mark from about fifty yards away. Normally people keep two to four of these tucked away because, you know, who’s got time to reload when in the middle of a fight? But for you, how about we go for a double barrel? Fire once, and if you miss, just spin the lower barrel around and take another shot. This would quickly cut down your need for four pistols to two. Now I know what you’re thinking, what if I wanna make sure I don’t miss? Well, I’ve got you covered.” She dropped a rifle on the counter. I wasn’t sure if Apple was able to keep up as he seemed a tad overwhelmed. “With the longer and slightly larger barrel, you can hit targets further away, no problem, and for something that packs a punch…” She dropped a thicker rifle on the counter. “A double-barrel shotgun, enough kick to put down an Orc or knock your teeth out if you’re not careful.”

She went on and on as Kimi and I stared at a four-barreled pistol on display for five gold coins.

“Do you think something like this could kill an Orc?” I asked Kimi as we slowly began taking a slow walk around the gun shop.

“After what your sister did to that woman, I’d believe it. If the humans had this kind of weapon during the war, they might have won on their own… With this…” She waved her paw at a pistol with six barrels. “I’m not even sure how magic alone can compete.”

“Ms. Mor… the orc we just met didn’t have one, she had an axe,” I said.

“From their conversation, I believe she does business here. Besides… her kind loves to fight… and they hate magic users because it’s not true strength,” Kimi explained.

“But you use magic.”

“Well… our kind’s relationship was odd back then. They would fight us for using magic and we would fight them for breeding with men I’ve yet to sample… It was a fun law my grandmother made up. Fun if you were Queen.” She sighed as if thinking about the past took her breath away. “Anyway, I believe they would see guns like magic, only for the weak.”

“At some point, they would have to understand they can’t fight innovation, right?” I asked.

“The smart ones, sure. But there must be a few hold-outs.”

“I bet some of them pretend not to use a gun until the last moment. A little bit of stubbornness and strategic advantage. Hmm… could magic stop a bullet?”

“Of course, it can, depending on a lot of things.”

“If you were going to be shot, how would you protect yourself?” I asked.

“Kill them first, clog the barrel.”

“Magic skin, Magic armor?” I asked.

“Enchanted armor would work. However, any magic involved with making your physical body invincible gets harder and more complicated. And if you’re not careful, you could end up immobilizing yourself, turning your skin into fire, and more.” She explained

“That sounds horrible.”

“Speaking of possibilities. Have you thought about drawing one of these guns? Maybe even making a better one?” My eyes grew wide as ideas rushed through me. She smirked, noticing my interest. “And I thought you didn’t want anyone to die,”

“Be that as it may, I still don’t know how I’m creating anything and from what, is my question.”

“Well, I can tell you it’s not magic of any kind. My people mostly specialized in taking energy from our mates. A lot of living things are naturally born with energy. For all we know you could be turning your flesh and blood into whatever you draw.”

“Should we ask Ms. Frelon what kind of material it’s made out of?”

“Pointless if you could make things from different materials anyway. It’s like creation magic, from my point of view.”

“The mask that I made for Alais was able to change her hair and make her small,” I said.

“I would love to see that. While this crown you made me affects my body and mind, without it I feel a tad lack of self-control. Although I can sense no magic, your so-called creation magic can manipulate mind and body with unusual ease. But like I said before, magic can get more complicated and dangerous the more it affects the body.”

“I wonder if Elyon knew of my inner power.”

“I tasted your… ‘inner power’ and it wasn’t anything special. Surely not enough for you to do any form of magic. Something odd really… all forms of life should be able to use it.”

“Elyon has taught me magic but not in terms of using it. But more… counting really.”

“Count… magic?” She smirked as if I was being silly. “How is that possible?”

“It’s a bit like trying to find out how much water can fit into a glass. Once you know, you can use it to fill up an even larger glass. While also understanding that your environment can affect the water in terms of doubling its quantity and mass. Being that most things have magic… correction… magic is the incarnation of essence. Being that most things have an essence, I say most because I’ve yet to see everything. The best way to get a truly accurate count is to do it in a place I like to call a Dead Zone.”

“Last dead zone I’ve been in was that of a Necromancer Queen’s graveyard,” She mused.

“That’s not quite the same, for even a corpse has essence if only a little. A Dead Zone would be a place where absolutely nothing exists inside, not even air. Preferably walls, floor, and ceiling containing such a place would need to be constructed to block essence from passing through while also not omitting any essence of its own.”

Kimi stared at me unblinking for a moment before speaking.

“My kingdom would have loved you. Knowledge was the strongest form of attraction. Great for you because you’re clearly lacking in size.”

My cheeks grew crimson as I coughed into my right fist before I asked;

“Ms. Frelon, are you aware of the Chaton?”

We stopped walking and turned around to face the counter, only to see Ms. Frelon strapping a large cannon to Apple’s horse half. While Apple didn’t seem to be bothered by the weight, he had a look of concern. I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Never heard of them,” She said rudely.

“It’s fine.” Kimi shrugged. “If the Chaton were still around, I’d have to kill their acting Queen,” Kimi said as a twisted smile formed on her face.

“Why would you need to do that?” I asked.

“Because I’m the one true Queen,” She said as a matter of fact.

“Why not a goddess or life itself?” I teased, chuckling from behind my fingers.

“Ms. Frelon, I serve His Highness, Prince Adam of Hall. I can’t be seen with something so large strapped on my back.”

“You could if he becomes a fat ass,” Kimi said, earning her a frown from Apple.

“Don’t start with that again,” Ms. Frelon said. “There has never been a prince of Hall.”

Frelon seemed to be getting a bit more frustrated with the mention of my title.

“As long as our money is good, I suppose it doesn’t matter, Queen Frelon.”

Giving her a formal bow, I rose to see she seemed a bit calmer. She turned away and started back to swooning over Apple, removing the cannon. She had more interest in Apple as a customer given he still had enough coin to buy half her stock.

“Frelon?” Kimi called out.

“What?! Can’t you see I’m working? I should kick you both out for loitering.”

Unfazed by her threat, Kimi asked;

“Hmm… How many years have these weapons been around?”

“Five.”

“And how many wars after the one five hundred years ago?”

“How the hell should I know?! I sell guns, I’m not your damn library. Get the fuck out, both of you! Sorry, about that Sir. Apple. Where were we?”

“I…” Apple began. “Think it’s best that I get His Highness back home to rest. Thank you, Ms. Frelon.” Apple gave a small bow before guiding me out of the shop.

“No, wait, please come back! My money!”

I could hear Frelon crying out as we stepped outside. Before stepping into the carriage I turned back to the shop feeling guilty.

“Your Highness, please don’t take us back in there. I don’t think I can handle her rudeness much longer,” Apple pleaded.

“Well… maybe she would be nicer if we told her Ms. Maman sent us?”

“I say let the little cunt suffer,” Kimi said.

“That’s rude,” I said, giving Alais a wave to come inside. “But maybe she’s just having a bad day.”