A Fragile Peace: Part 1- Peace Makers + Pirates 3

The days and weeks that followed were relatively uneventful.  The duo found themselves with more human customers than usual but they were polite for the most part and merely interested in the rare and exotic goods the leprechaun and half-ork had for sale.  It wasn’t until the unwantedly familiar point of ridged kelpie ears returned to the shop that her usual and comfortable pace of life was interrupted.  He’d come back.  And tagging along with him was the Peace-Maker brat.

Beibhinn forced on her best and most welcoming smile.  Alby was in the back.  Her imagination helped her see the disdain reflected in the kelpie's eyes.  “What are we in trouble for this time?” the leprechaun asked, not letting the fake smile slip as it helped with putting the fake sincerity into her voice.

“Nothing,” the kelpie answered pointedly, seeming to imply that perhaps she and Alby should be in trouble for something.

“We’re just browsing,” the human girl added, trying to mirror her companion’s rough exterior.  “Heard you had some good stuff here.”  The taken aback look on the kelpie’s face made it all worth it for Beibhinn.  He had been trying to keep her on her toes and hadn’t wanted the compliment to slip!  She grinned as she practically purred out her usual and practiced response.  “Is there anytin’ in particular I can help ye find?  We have a wide variety of weapons and trinkets.  Both magical and otherwise.”

“Actually,” the girl said trying not to brighten, “I’m looking for a new weapon.”  Then she added as an afterthought, “And preferably something cool.  Err… intimidating.”

Oh, this was going to be fun.  If the kelpie’s carefully neutral expression was anything to judge by anyway.  She let her eyes travel up and down the expanse of tailored suit the fae wore as she answered, “And anything for Jeeves over here?”

The other non-human in the room sputtered indignantly in response, “My name is not Jeeves.”

“That’s right.  It’s Ichabod,” the girl snapped, not quite picking up on the jab Beibhinn had just launched at her partner.

Beibhinn’s eyes danced.  “And your name is…?”

“Will,” the girl supplied gruffly.  “Well, Willow but I prefer Will.”

“Well, Will,” Beibhinn said, “If you’re looking for weapons there are a few I can recommend.  If you’re wanting something for long range use that’s simple to use I’d suggest a crossbow.  But if you’re wanting to engage in hand-to-hand combat and want something cooler…”  She paused, letting her words trail off and sink in.

“Something for close quarter combat,” Will replied nonchalantly.

“M,Lady,” Ichabod said pointedly, “You have very little experience with combat.  I suggest you not waste your funds on something you can’t use.”

“Oh, don’t be such a stick in the mud,” Beibhinn said dismissively, casually overriding the kelpie’s concerns.  “If you’re looking for close quarter use weapons we’ve got staves, axes, swords-“

“Ooh!  Swords!” Will practically squealed, momentarily letting her façade slip.

“Hmm…” Beibhinn pondered, letting her brightly shining blue eyes twinkle with mischief as they danced back over the humorless man.  “Well, if you want a sword and something… ‘intimidating’ then may I suggest looking at our stock in the back?  I think I have just the thing!”  The leprechaun clapped her hands gleefully and teleported off to the back room.

Alby looked up from his inventory check list by the shelves for new shipments of trinkets they’d received.  He had no idea where Fergus had gotten half of them but they’d all come through the proper channels so he couldn’t complain.  Although some of these were more than a little fishy.  Fand’s Mirror of Shadows?  The Grail of Twins?  The Glass of Lands?  As far as he could tell they were just a rock, a bucket, and a dusty glass jar.  No way was he selling junk in his shop.  Hopefully they actually did something and weren’t just some cheap jokes his old pirate friend had thrown in for laughs.  He’d have to re-read the descriptions later since Beibhinn was giving him that impatient look that told him he hadn’t heard her.

“What?” he asked.  Then noticed the MP and her guardian from a few weeks back.  “Oh.”

“I said, could you watch the front counter?” Beibhinn repeated.

“Uh, sure, but…”  He eyed the human and kelpie uncertainly.

“I’ve got everything under control.”  She waved off his concerns with a self-assured smile.  The kind of smile that said one of two things.  Either she was about to make a big sale or she was getting herself into dutch.  With a shake of his head at the leprechaun and a respectful nod towards the Peace-Maker officials he lumbered out into the shop front.

Now that Alby was out of the way, she could get on with things.  She started with showing the human a few enchanted swords, commenting on things such as weight and balance as the young woman hefted them up and down to get a feel for them.  Each new sword Will tried only served to make Ichabod more nervous until he finally spoke up.  “Didn’t you say you had something in mind when you brought us back here?”

“Oh, yes!”  Beibhinn clapped her hands joyfully before pointing to a particular sword.  Other than the bronze handle wrapped in leather, there was nothing notably remarkable about it.  At least not until Will grasped the hilt and the blade lit up with a glow of runes and a surge of electricity.

“This is so cool,” Will squealed, unable to contain her enthusiasm any longer.

Ichabod on the other hand, was horrified.  She had to realize that with him being a water fae this was a bad idea.  “M’Lady, you can’t-“

“I’m getting it!” Will cried before he could even try to reason with her.  In seconds she had raced out the door and back to the main counter.  A grin split Beibhinn’s face as she watched the scene unfold.  The moment Will was out of the room, Ichabod rounded on the tiny woman.  “You’ll regret this,” he hissed.

“You’d better hurry,” Beibhinn replied smugly.  He cast her one last glare before hurrying after his mistress.

It wasn’t until the shop bell rang to signal the end of a sale and the customers returning home that Alby heard loud and breathless laughter erupt from the other room.