Welcome to Gaia! ::

What was that in the distance? A camel? A person riding a camel? A person riding a camel with multiple packs hanging from the saddle?

A peddler seemed to be heading in the opposite direction the woman was, one going towards the other. Upon the sides of the camel, plump packs of wares hung, decorated by small brass bells and chimes which jingled musically with every step of the camel over the sandy terrain.

When the peddler seemed to near the woman, he'd stop the camel and hold up a hand in greetings before he spoke with an odd accent, "Greetings traveller, may I interest you in some wares?"

The peddler seemed to be lightly robed in a sand coloured tunic with a turban on the top of his head. Hanging down from the turban was a scarf which wrapped around his face and neck as well as a thin veil to protect it from the desert winds. The veil itself was thin enough so that one could see the man's general facial shape, but none of the fine features.

The peddler swung his legs over the camel as he landed in the sand with a soft thud before scurrying over to the saddlebags and opening them up.

First the left one, which was filled with small trinkets and baubles such as children's toys, stained glass figurines, or even small pieces of jewelery and decorative equipment like the bells and chimes which decorated his ride.

He then circled around the camel's front and opened up the saddlebag on its right side, which held more mundane objects equipment whcih may interest adventurers; Ornate daggers, oils, leather sacks, dried rations for the road.

"Anything that interests you?" he asked again as he circled back to the camel's left side, apparently preparing to hop back into the saddle if she did not want anything. He could always close the packs from the saddle, which would take less effort than from the ground due to the way it was positioned.

The peddler would circle back to the right side of the camel as he stood on his tip toes in order to search the inside of the bags, seemingly flipping from one fancy hilt to another as an office clerk would flip through a file cabinet of folders until he pulled something out.

"This one is the finest I have." the peddler answered as he spun around and pulled the elegantly curving blade from the polished brass scabbard. The scabbard was engraved with a weaving spiral design circling around a small red gem, presumably a ruby in its center. The blade itself, was made of a silver compound which was hard enough to be forged into a blade. It's tang ran all the way through the brass hilt which matched the small scabbard and then tapered out from beneath the handle in a fountain shape. Within the polished brass hilt of the weapon was another small red stone.

The peddler put down the scabbard and held the blade of the weapon as he pointed it's handle to the woman for her to hold and inspect as desired.

"I traded this from a another travelling merchant I had happened to pass as I wandered the desert not too long ago," he paused, "About... four hours ago." was his answer. If Alexiel would be reading his mind to see his memory from his own eyes, her vision would be slightly blurred due to the veil which the man wore, however, even through the sandly haze, she's see his hands pass on some fine pearl jewelery in exchange for the dagger.

As for the quality of the weapon? "As most people interested in such tools are adventurers or travellers, as I would assume you would be, the brass scabbard and handle are of little consequence, mere decorations, even if fine and expensive. However, whats important is the blade, which as you can see, clearly shines with a greater luster than steel, yet is just as strong. Of course, you must know this is a silver weapon which could be applied practically as the silver blade is not soft as other silvers are."

"Not that I know of, I deal in the simple objects which cater to the needs of the people I come across in my travels." the peddler would answer.

"So, would you like to buy the weapon?" the man asked as he retrieved its scabbard out of the pack once again so that the blade may return home rather than swing about dangerously in the open.

"For the dagger, five gold pieces. For the rations, eight silver pieces." He said as he handed her the scabbard for the dagger as he went to go dig in the sack for food, each individually packed in small iron box shaped tins with a lid, he had four, one enough for each day.

He would shuffle over with the small boxes in his hands, stacked atop of each other, and hold them up to her. He'd have to free his hands before he would be able to recieve any money.

"Ah, very good." the man said as he reached out and clasped her hand in his, overtop of the coins without even counting them fisrt. "A deal is done, paid, and shaken on." he commented as he shook her hand and took the coins as he retreated. Perhaps he was very trusting to confirm a deal without even counting the pay first. But there was really another reason.

Chances are that the woman would not notice this at all, but upon contact, a tiny filament needle would pierce her skin and enter flesh for a second as they shook hands. And when he took his hand away, the needle would come out. It was very fine and sharp, which would pass through the weave of cloth and leather easily and puncture skin without anyone ever noticing as it did not cause pain.

The peddler would count the coins as he went back towards the camel and stash them away, whether the price was correct or wrong. "Well, good journey to you then traveller. Or might I ask for the name of my customer?"