The tattered bamboo structure supported decaying wooden boards, upon which lay three items. One was a severed finger as thick as Shard's wrist, with congealed black blood at the base of the break. The other two items were completely obscured.
Miss Higgins took a few deep breaths, then mustered the courage to address the shadow behind the stall:
"Excuse me, do you know..."
She shiveringly pulled out a slip of paper and read the ancient runes written on it:
"Where is the soul-stealing merchant?"
Shard blinked suspiciously, but the dark shadow shook his head slightly, then pointed to his own stall.
The Witch pondered for a moment, then lowered her voice to ask:
"Must I buy something from you for you to answer my question?"
This time, there was a nod.
"I need some time to think about it; I don't have much money."
