The following day brought a new level of determined inspiration. If it had been so easy to find new companions in the city, perhaps he could reconnect with an old one.

 First, he ordered Sandbucket bathed and brushed. The beast stank and was long overdue for a pampering.

 Then he bathed himself, adding a touch of musk under his chin and on his navel, only enough to smell an inch away.

He dressed, picking the most impressive outfit from his trove of fine clothes. Finally, he settled on a ruffled red bard blouse with black trousers, a brown leather jerkin, and a blue cape.

With a maid's help, his hair transformed into a flowing tarnished gold mane. A red rose accentuated the curl, picked from the garden as he departed.
Leaving the castle gate, he and his noble steed were golden stallions, ready to impress.

#

The commonfolk all looked on, dumbstruck; he didn't care. He rode through the crowds and spires until he found precisely the shop he wanted. An old antique store passed down through three generations. 

The woman inside the counter was the most beautiful thing in all of creation. She had a sharp chin, brown eyes, and raven hair. She knew everything and could outtalk an auctioneer.

  They had been together at one point in time, she had been the one to spark his love of history, but they had ended the relationship when he left. So now he was hoping to change things, pick up where they had left off.

Entirely lost in thought, he dismounted, tossed Sandbuckets reins over the hitching post, and walked inside. The woman at the counter was busy, so he decided to look around. The countless odds and ends lay about in orderly rows and categories, and as always, most were ordinary junk. However, one case was always full of exciting things; the cabinet labeled "enchanted."I

nside were many things. The Lightbringer found a golden cup that gave the impression of being extensive, a ball of sturdy yellow twine, an ominous black mirror,  and an animate puppet weeping in a small cage. But, to him, the most notable was a large tarnished box containing nine identical rune-marked mithril knives with space for one more. Velwrith found himself drawn to them; a tag underneath marked them one hundred gold per knife and 1,000 for the case. He lifted one, and it was cold in his hand. Something tingled in his ears while he touched it.

"Those knives are just speaking stones. They are all tuned together right now. Just watch, I can show you." A heavenly voice chimed as a beautiful hand reached past him.

"I know how they work; I've used them before," he said. 

Her hand froze on the lock.

He turned around. "Nina I… I'm sorry if this is a bad time, but I.-" 

She had gone pale, entirely black and white. Then, nearly in a stupor, she said. "Velwrith, stop. I don't want to know. Whatever it is you are about to say, please stop."

"But Nina, please, I came here because."

She interrupted him, "Unless you are here to shop, here to pay coins in exchange for the goods I sell, then I don't care, Velwrith." her cracking voice and tears betrayed her.

He sighed, looking between her and the box. "Yes, Nina. I want to buy the box. I just wanted to haggle for all the daggers, too." he lied.

She nodded. "Alright, because I know you'll take care of them, one thousand for the lot. The box is enchanted, too; it can replace damaged or broken knives. So all you need do is break the old knife's rune and leave the new ones inside overnight. Doing so will synchronize their runes with the others in the network.

Velwrith nodded this time, drawing his purse and a handful of coins. "I don't need the change. But if you ever find time, I would appreciate it if we could talk."

"Please leave; take your box of knives and go." She was shaking, hard. "Don't return. If you do, I'll call the guard." 

Velwrith knew she was not exaggerating. Realistically, the guard wouldn't do anything, he was the prince, but it would cause a scene.

He stepped towards the door and bowed. "I am sorry that I bothered you, Nina; I wish you nothing but the best…" he said, keeping his thoughts completely black.