Coven Avalon 2

Unlike other covens, Coven Avalon boasted a large market where witches from different parts of the world gathered to trade. Some exchanged their charms or magical powers for something more valuable, while others traded their powers to live among humans, who were more accepting of them.

Lydia cautiously observed the bustling market. She often dressed in a boyish manner, blurring the lines between male and female. She was widely known among the shady witches who bought stolen goods from her and sold them at their original price to others who had traveled from afar.

As she strolled through the market, she noticed a talking monkey and immediately fell in love with it. "Awwn! What's your name?" she asked, crouching down to touch it. However, a man, dressed in a yellow waistcoat and red pants with a touch of white, intervened, holding a yellow twine rope tied around the monkey's waist.

"Easy! She is for sale and not to be touched," the man cautioned.

"Mmmm, okay, how much?" Lydia inquired.

"I don't think you have the money to buy my pet. She is too expensive, and perhaps you look hungry. How do you even feed her?" The man seemed unfriendly and somehow familiar to Lydia.

"Why should you care how I feed her? Remember, she is for sale. Well, I have some valuables in my bag, and I believe they will be worth enough to buy her. But before that, I would like to know what she can do besides talking," Lydia explained.

"She is a skilled thief. She can steal almost anything she can carry," he replied, maintaining a straight face.

Lydia grew increasingly excited. She was growing tired of taking care of Bruno and Giles, and having the monkey meant she wouldn't have to share any of her earnings. Additionally, feeding the monkey would cost less than feeding the boys.

"Can I see a demonstration of her talents to be sure of what I'm buying?" she requested.

Speaking in a different language, the man commanded the monkey, and it jumped onto his shoulders. Whispering into its ear, he set the monkey loose. It swiftly darted into the open and crowded market. Lydia marveled at the monkey's agility and excitement.

"Where is she going?" Lydia asked eagerly.

"You asked for a demonstration, and I am giving you one. Soon, she will return with a dried frog," the man responded.

Lydia knew the value of a dried frog. It was a common item used in witchcraft spells and rituals, readily available in the market, along with dried llama fetuses.

After a short while, the monkey came rushing back with a frog in its hands. "I said a dried frog, not just any frog, you idiot," the man scolded, frowning at the monkey.

"Well, she came back with a frog, and that's a good start. However, I'm not sure if she understands English," Lydia commented.

"Celestine, say hello to madam," the man said in his Italian accent, and the monkey obliged, surprising Lydia.

Lydia's face lit up with excitement. She could already envision all the valuable items Celestine could acquire for her. Celestine was worth any price. Lydia reached into the right side of her pants pocket and retrieved a handful of blue moonstones.

"Will this be enough?" she asked, handing him the stones. He quickly hid them in his back pocket and handed Celestine over to Lydia. They exchanged pleasantries and went their separate ways, but Lydia had other hidden plans.

"Celestine, I want you to retrieve the blue moonstones for me," Lydia commanded. After giving her order, she beckoned Celestine to follow her, and they hurriedly left the marketplace before her former acquaintance could discover the missing stones.

"Come on, Celestine. We need to get going. I need to trade some of the goods in my bag so we can have enough food for the week. After that, I will take you to your new home, where you will meet your teammates, who will teach you more about how things are done here," Lydia explained to the monkey. Celestine nodded in agreement without making eye contact.

After walking a few steps away from the center of the market, Lydia encountered a man with dark skin adorned with gold rings all over his face. "This way," he said in a monotonous voice. Lydia followed him as he led the way, eventually reaching a tent where he instructed her to enter.

"Pets are not allowed here," he stated firmly.

Lydia stepped into the tent, leaving Celestine outside. Inside, a strident voice greeted her. Another man with dark skin, donning royal-like attire, sat on a chair. He held a piece of chicken in one hand and a cup of wine in the other.

"I... I have some items that you might find interesting. However, I would like you to increase the amount you've been paying me by ten percent," Lydia proposed.

"If you're here for business, let's get down to business. But if you're here to demand an increase for items I haven't seen yet, I suggest you find another buyer," the man responded sternly.

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