<br/><br/>Abir couldn't imagine the sort of harrowing tale Alden's capture of such a creature must have been. To capture a cockatrice alive, a creature which could turn people to stone by meeting their gaze.<br/><br/>Abir was not gifted in magic like his older brother, but he knew a little. Cockatrice tears could be used to undo petrification, and other fluids from their eyes could be used to cause it. Their feathers had a number of medicinal properties, and their bile was an especially potent solvent. Abir's brother would be most pleased when Abir presented this to him on his birthday, and Abir had just the spices to prevent the corpse from rotting any further.<br/><br/>Such a valuable find, Abir needed to come up with a good price for it.<br/><br/>"Let me see..." Abir said, stroking his smooth chin. "I can give you ten of these..." he plucked ten gold coins from the hem of his robe, "Two of these..." he took off his earrings, both made of gold and with rubies in the center, "this..." Abir took one of the rings from his finger, which held a sapphire in the center, "And... we can seal the deal..." he blushed and looked up at Alden with affection in his eyes, "with a kiss." He licked his lips and leaned toward Alden, his heart racing with anticipation.<br/><br/>(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/f0/6b/54/f06b54355d16dfef1f2a014fde7b9cc9.jpg)]