Writing Prompts Archive/13/Kazenone Alagar

The small bone horn sat on the marble table between the two lalafells, looking oddly out of place in a room of such decadence. This was the home of Pupurue, one of the richer merchants in Ul’dah and a man Kazenone had been trying to meet for some time. He was well known as a collector of rare antiques, but had proven harder than expected to get the attention of.

“...brought up from the ruins of Gelmorra, underneath the Black Shroud. My sources indicate it is a legendary artifact capable of beckoning a great beast to whoever first blows the horn”. Kazenone was putting on his best sales face for this, but he knew most of this to be fanciful rubbish and embellishment. But somehow, this of all things had brought him before Pupurue and he was not about to tell the man ‘No’.

“Quite fascinating, I must say…” Pupurue chimed, sounding remarkably disinterested for someone so ‘fascinated’. “Well I am happy to make you an offer of five million gil for such a find. I trust this shall suffice?”

Kazenone’s heart almost exploded, before sheer force of will took over to not let it show.

*Five million?! That’s what this is worth? Gods I thought I’d be lucky to see 500,000…*

He reached across for his goblet, lifting it slowly in an imitation of composure.

“Five million? Surely you jest…”, taking a sip from wine worth more than his annual rent at the market.

“Haha, you know your stuff. My apologies, but it was worth a try. My offer is sixty million gil.”

*Don’t spray the wine, don’t spray the wine, don’t spray the wine….*

He swallowed slowly, his vision blurring at the utterance. What on earth had Emli uncovered here… he began to realise how far out of his depth he might be getting.

“Of course”, he squeaked, cleared his throat and continued. “Sixty million gil… a much more fitting price, I accept.”

“Splendid” came Pupurue’s voice from nearby… across the table? Yes, right, he was sat down on the other sofa… A startling clap, Kazenone focused suddenly, alert for battle. Pupurue was looking over to a side door, where he had just summoned one of his personal bodyguards who was carrying a large chest, presumably filled with… sixty million gil…

Standing in front of the chest of gold… he barely remembered even standing up… but he could see it for himself. Glancing over his shoulder he glimpsed Pupurue holding the horn, looking along the spirals that circled the entire length. Raising it to his lips, Pupurue gave a short strained blow.

Nothing happened. The worst possible outcome… Kazenone opened his mouth to offer an explanation…

...and was nearly floored by the hellish cacophony that filled the room. A sound scraping down to his bones flooding them with fear… A beastial unearthly baying that seemed to drill into his soul. Then as quickly as it had come, it was gone. The room fell silent but for Pupurue’s joyful laughter.

*What have I gotten myself involved in… Emli, what did you find?*

Turning towards the guard standing next to the chest, frozen as a statue in shock, Kazenone pulled himself together, jabbed a finger and demanded “You, escort this chest for me”

*I need to get out of town, I don’t know what just happened but whatever it is is no concern of mine. East or West… Maybe Gridania to lie low for a while.* His thoughts raced as his feet carried him out of the room. The house. The city.

“What on earth was a Pegasus anyway?”

Whatever it was, it was enough to buy his way towards a real shop for once.