Yabar’s pawnshop was situated in a small building two streets away from the slums I called home. The outside was plain, but neat. As I entered the shop, the bell above the door cheerfully announced my entrance.

“Ah, Jak. What do you have for me today?” the pawnshop owner asked from behind the counter. In his mid-forties with a wiry build, Yabar had short, well-groomed black hair, a neatly trimmed goatee, black eyes, and tanned skin. The third son of a successful Kashnian trader and a Palayian merchant’s daughter, Yabar had been born into wealth. Yet he chose to walk away from his parents’ business to start up his own. Now, Yabar was known as one of the best—and most cutthroat—pawnshop owners in Navar.

I walked over to him and took out the embroidered red velvet pouch, setting it on the counter. Yabar’s eyes immediately locked onto it.

I opened it and took out the bracelet, setting it on the counter.

Yabar raised an eyebrow at me. “That’s it? I was expecting a bit more.”

So was I, I bitterly thought, remembering the disappointment I felt yesterday.

Taking out a jeweler’s loop, Yabar began examining the bracelet. “No jeweler’s mark and no mage’s rune,” he said, repeating what I already knew. “Really, Jak, why are you even wasting my time with this piece of junk?”

He kept talking down the bracelet as he examined it. Once he finished looking it over with the jeweler’s loop, he paused, as if unsure, then took out a small, clear pebble I’d never seen before. Holding it against the red jewel on the bracelet, he waited. Slowly, the heart of the pebble grew darker and darker until the whole pebble was pitch black.

A flicker of surprise flashed through Yabar’s eyes, there and gone so fast, if I hadn’t been watching him so intently, I would have missed it.

He withdrew the pebble and put it back in his pocket. “That confirms it. Your bracelet is worthless, a true piece of junk.”

And my mother was a goddess, I sarcastically thought. You liar, you know something about my “junky” bracelet.

“Is that so?” I said, sounding disappointed. I wonder how badly you’re going to lowball me.

“I can pay you ten copper coins for the bracelet and the pouch, and that’s being generous,” Yabar offered. “Most of the money is in the pouch; the velvet is nice and the gold tassels are made of silk. I’ve never seen this embroidery design before, but it’s pretty enough.”

“Ten coppers, is that really all you can pay?” I pressed. Yabar had always been a slimy weasel, but for him to think I wouldn’t notice his reaction to the bracelet, how stupid did he think I was?

“Yes. I think that’s a fair enough offer, especially since I can’t even get it open. Can you?”

“The hinge doesn’t work?” Last night, I’d been too distraught to try and open it, but I couldn’t believe the hinge didn’t work. Just how useless was this bracelet?

Yabar demonstrated by trying to pry it open. The bracelet didn’t budge and he handed it back to me. “Take the ten coppers, Jak. I doubt anyone else will pay as much as me.”

I put the bracelet back in its pouch. “We’ll see,” I evenly said.

Yabar gave me a haughty smile. “I’m telling you right now, Jak, no one else will pay you as much as me for that bracelet. But don’t believe me, you go ahead and see what others are willing to pay, and you’ll find out soon enough. Once you’re done wasting your time, come back and sell it to me. If I still want it. Who knows? I may change my mind.”

“Thanks for the advice,” I said, resting the urge to spit in front of him.

My hand was on the door to leave, when Yabar spoke up. “Oh, and if you see Sen, can you tell him I want to talk to him about a necklace he sold me last week?”

What did I look like, a messenger pigeon?

“I merely thought you could mention it to him since you two are so…close.”

I eyed Yabar, wondering if he was being snide by implying something. He wasn’t, or at least, I couldn’t see it on his face.

“I’ll let him know if I see him,” I said, passing through the door and out into the rain.