“Before we get down to business,” Kesh said, “there are a few ground rules.”

“Go on,” I said.

“One, I will not buy stolen goods. I have neither the time, nor the patience, to fence such items.”

I opened my mouth, but before I could interject, the merchant went on, “Looted items are different. I will buy them, but when it comes to high-ranked and unique gear, I will give the original owner the right of first purchase at a discounted price. You will only get what I receive, minus my commission, of course.” She held my gaze waiting for my acknowledgement.

I nodded slowly, indicating my understanding.

“Two, there will be a ten percent surcharge on all items I purchase for you through the auction or from third parties, and on any that I sell for you. If that is too much, leave now. My commission is non-negotiable.”

She waited a moment. I remained seated.

“Good,” Kesh said. “Third, and most importantly, I promise you total anonymity in any trade we engage in. This is at the core of the services I offer and the reason for the premium applied to my goods. The emporium prides itself on maintaining the privacy of its clients. No one, not even the Powers will learn of the items you buy or sell through me. I have sworn a binding Pact with the three Triumvirate Powers to maintain the secrecy of my customers.” She paused. “Now if you understand that, and still wish to proceed, then we may continue.”

“I have three questions,” I said.

The merchant's lips twitched. “Only three? Go on, ask away.”

“Do you sell information?”

Kesh shook her head. “I do not. If it is gossip, rumors, and what-not that you seek, visit the information brokers in the plague quarter.”

I nodded. It was the same advice Shael had given me. “What about bounties?”

Kesh frowned. “I don't deal in them if that's what you are asking.” She paused. “Nor do I care if there are any bounties on your head. A paying customer is a paying customer.”

That was good enough for me. “Last question. Your Pact with the Triumvirate, how does that work?”

“Ah,” Kesh said. “A very long time ago, the Powers signed an Accord. Every Power and faction in existence at that time—and since—has agreed to the terms of the Accord. By those terms, the Triumvirate was given complete control of Nexus. They alone have the power to decide which factions and Powers can enter or remain in the sector. In return, the Triumvirate have relinquished any claim to all other sectors in the Forever Kingdom. Nexus is the extent of their domain.” She glanced at me. “You are probably wondering what that has to do with the emporium?”

I nodded.

“Simple,” Kesh said. “I have an agreement with the Triumvirate—a Pact really. For a not inconsiderable fee, the three Powers have sworn to protect my customers’ anonymity. Any Power caught snooping into my records, or my customers identity will be in violation of the Triumvirate’s rules and summarily expelled on the sector.” She smiled. “Does that answer your concern?”

I gave a smile of my own. “It does. Alright then, let's get started.”

~~~

The merchant Kesh has accepted you as a customer of the emporium. Henceforth, all your transactions with her are protected under her Pact of secrecy with the Triumvirate. By the terms of the Pact, any individual or organization that reveals your dealings with the emporium to a third party, including Kesh herself, will be expelled from Nexus.

Kesh reached under the table and pulled out five thin sheets of metal. Spreading them out before me, she tapped each in turn. “Weapons. Armor. Ingredients. Ability tomes. Miscellaneous.” As the old woman touched each sheet, words appeared upon them.

Bending my heads downward, I read the text. Each piece of flattened metal contained a catalog, a list of items many hundreds of thousands long that scrolled continuously across the polished surface, appearing at the bottom and disappearing from the top. Curiously, I touched one of the named items.

The scrolling list paused, and a Game message opened in my mind, describing the object in question in detail, along with its price tag. “Remarkable,” I murmured.

“The catalogs of the emporium are unique. You won't find their like elsewhere in the Game,” Kesh said with a proud smile on her face. “They are searchable too.”

My head jerked up at that. “Searchable?” That would make the list not just remarkable, but priceless.

The merchant’s smile widened. “To activate the search function, focus your mind on what you are looking for while touching the catalog. The list will then filter to show only the relevant items.”

“That's... amazing,” I managed, momentarily at a loss for words.

“It is,” Kesh agreed. “Now if you can tell me what you're after, I can help speed along your search.”

I had a fairly good idea of what I needed, but I wasn’t sure if such items were available, or even if Kesh stocked them. “What I'm looking for is...” I began and started rattling off my requirements.

The merchant sat back and studied me with pursed lips. “That's quite the list,” she said at last.

“Is it doable?” I asked. I'd not held back. Trusting to Kesh’s Pact, I’d spilled everything I sought to accomplish my immediate goals.

“Let's deal with items one at a time,” the merchant said. She tapped the weapons sheet. “I can get you the swords you desire, but I don't advise it. It will cost you the greater part of your wealth.”

I licked my lips unhappily. “How much?”

“For what you want? One thousand gold.” She paused. “Minimum.”

I sighed. “Alright, leave the blades out.” As a stealth, dexterity-based fighter, my weapons were the most important aspect of my arsenal. Still, the swords I carried were serviceable, and at this stage better weapons were not essential.

“The same goes for the armor you requested,” Kesh continued.

I sagged further in disappointment. Fulfilling my requirements was going to be more costly than I'd anticipated.

“If I can make a suggestion?” Kesh prompted.

“Go ahead,” I said, waving her on.

She eyed my leather armor shrewdly. “Your current gear offers adequate protection for one of your level. To obtain the additional enchantment you requested, I suggest you purchase garments that can be worn over your armor.”

“Oh?” I asked, interest piqued.

The merchant closed her eyes and tapped the armor sheet. A single item appeared in the catalog, and a Game message unfurled in my mind.

Item 7,653 of the emporium’s wares is a rogue’s outfit. It is a rank 3 item and consists of a black balaclava, a pair of gloves, shirt, and pants. The full set increases a player’s sneaking by +30 when in dark environments. This item set requires a minimum Dexterity of 12 to use. Cost: 200 gold.

I winced at the price, but the outfit did exactly what I wanted, and despite the cost I had no hesitation in agreeing to Kesh’s suggestion. “That'll do nicely,” I said. “I'll take it.”

“The young these days are so impatient,” Kesh said with an indulgent smile. “There is another option. It is pricier I admit, but I think it will suit you better.” Without waiting for my assent, she pressed her finger against the sheet again.

Item 47,653 of the emporium’s wares is the belt of the chameleon. It is a rank 4 item and has three modes: stealth, simple, combat. In simple mode, the belt clothes the player in everyday garments that are nondescript but hardwearing. In combat mode, the garments are retracted into the belt, leaving the wielder’s armor and weapons beneath freely accessible. In stealth mode, the garments transform into a form fitting mesh designed to absorb incoming light and blend with the surroundings, increasing your sneaking by +20.

Additionally, the belt also includes 10 slots to hold standard crystals. Bonuses provided by this item will not stack with other items. This item requires a minimum Dexterity of 8 and a minimum Perception of 8 to use. Cost: 500 gold.

“Whoa,” I breathed. “You’re right, the belt is much better.” Despite costing more than double the rogue’s outfit, the belt was more versatile.

Kesh smiled in satisfaction. “You will take it then?”

“I will,” I agreed. “One question, though. What are crystal slots?”

“Most single use enchantments these days are infused in small cylindrical crystals like this one,” Kesh answered, holding up a translucent sapphire, three inches tall.

I nodded in understanding and waved her on. “What's next?”

“Next, the supplementary gear you require. I can get all of them,” she said, tapping the miscellaneous catalog.

This is a lot of 10 smoke bombs. Cost: 100 gold.

This is a lot of 3 full healing potions. Cost: 300 gold.

Item 81,600 of the emporium’s wares is the cats’ claws. This is a rank 3 item designed to allow the player to climb vertical surfaces and requires a minimum Dexterity of 12 to use. Cost: 100 gold.

Item 127,911 of the emporium’s wares is the spectacles of ward seeing. This is a rank 4 item that allows the player to detect wards of tier 4 wards and below. It requires a minimum Perception, Magic, or Faith of 16 to use. Cost: 300 gold.

Item 30,193 of the emporium’s wares is a simple potion bracelet. It is worn on the player’s arm and can be activated at will to inject a potion directly into your bloodstream. The bracelet can hold up to three potion solutions. Cost: 200 gold.

Item 104,145 of the emporium’s wares is a trapper’s wristband. This item not only stores and collects trap-making components but has been enchanted to simplify their deployment. The wristband can only be used to configure simple traps. Each trap can consist of a maximum of two components: one trigger and one trap element.

Currently stored triggers: 20 / 20. Triggers stored: pressure plates (floor), sound glass (omnidirectional), tripwire (between two points), motion pin (cone)

Currently stored trap elements: 20 / 20. Trap elements stored: lightning enchantment, poison cloud, fire enchantment, coiled-spring dagger, bear-trap clamp.

Note the player must still employ the thieving skill to deploy his traps. Cost: 100 gold.

I studied the six items avidly. The smoke bombs I chosen because they had proven so useful in the valley and were relatively cheap, and I’d no compunction about buying them again.

The cats’ claws would henceforth become my primary climbing tool. A rope was too conspicuous, not to mention more restricted—finding or reaching a point to affix it was not always possible—and while the claws would offer less protection against a fall, my other abilities would make up for that lack.

The spectacles of ward seeing were an item that I considered essential, especially after repeatedly falling foul of the mages’ wards in the valley. While the glasses would not disable any ward I've found, it would reveal them. But like all items in the Game they were limited in their capability though. “Why do the glasses only detect wards up to tier four? Don’t you have any better ward detectors?”

Kesh chuckled. “I certainly do. But you can't afford them.”

I stared at her uncomprehendingly. The glasses were priced at only three hundred gold. How much more could a tier five detection device cost?

“I see from your expression, you don't understand,” Kesh said. “To employ a tier five ability, you need to be an elite player, above level two hundred.” She paused and held my gaze. “Very few players achieve such rank, and the items necessary to combat their abilities are exceedingly rare. Consequently, there is a significant jump in price from rank four to rank five items.”

My eyes narrowed in thought. “How much?” I asked.

“For a rank five ward detection device? Three thousand gold.”

My eyes widened. “That much?” I gasped.

Kesh nodded solemnly, despite the amused glint in her eyes.

“I guess I'll make do with the rank four one then.” Bending my head to the slate again, I studied the next item on the list. I'd asked Kesh for an item that automatically dispensed my healing potions, and the bracelet she'd listed fit the brief perfectly. It'll do, I thought.

The last item on the list was the most interesting. In function it was similar to the alchemy stone, except the components it stored with those related to traps, and I was excited at the thought of trying it out.

“I'll take them all,” I paused. “How much is that?”

“Sixteen hundred gold,” Kesh replied immediately.

I winced at the cost. That was over half my accumulated wealth. Still the items were necessary, and I did not quibble. “What about the spellbooks I requested?”

Kesh shook her head. “Unfortunately, with regards to them, I can be of much less help.”

I stared at the merchant in surprise. I'd asked for upgrades to all the mind abilities that I’d acquired through the Wolf trials. All four of my mind skills were nearing tier two, and I wanted to advance them as soon as possible, yet from Kesh’s expression it seemed like that would not be as easy as I thought. “Why not?”

“I'm not sure how you came by such abilities,” Kesh said through narrowed eyes, “but they are not freely available on the open markets, nor even the private ones I have access to. Two of the abilities you've mentioned, I've never heard of before.” She held my gaze. “And let me tell you, there is very little I've not heard of.”

I nodded slowly. “So, are you telling me there is no way for me to upgrade my abilities?”

Kesh's lopsided grin returned. “I didn't say that. There is a way, but it is far more expensive than purchasing a tier two ability tome.”

“Go on.”

“Rare and hard to come by abilities are, if not exactly commonplace in the Game, not unusual. Many elite players struggle to find tier five ability tomes, and in those cases they turn to upgrade gems.”

I lowered my head into my hands, already knowing what she was alluding to. “Don't tell me, their cost is exorbitant.”

Kesh nodded. “A single-instance use ability upgrade gem costs two thousand gold.”

“Damn.”

“Do you wish to purchase one?”

“Not yet,” I said reluctantly. “What about the other tomes I asked for?”

“They were trivial to acquire,” Kesh said, laying a palm on the ability slate.

Turning my gaze inward, I read the Game messages that appeared before me.

Simple set trap ability tome. Governing attribute: Dexterity. Tier: basic. Cost: 10 gold. Requirement: rank 0 thieving.

Lesser lighten the load ability tome. Governing attribute: Constitution. Tier: basic. Cost: 10 gold. Requirement: rank 0 armor skill.

Simple whirlwind ability tome. Governing attribute: Dexterity. Tier: advanced. Cost: 25 gold. Requirement: rank 5 two weapon fighting.

“Excellent,” I said. “I'll take them all.”