Epped the apothecary eyed the customer warily. The man standing across the counter was tall and thin, clad in expensive, mostly black clothes, and bore a striking expression on his face, a mixture of impatience, contempt, and anger.
"I told you what they're for," the man growled, tapping the list on the counter pointedly with each word. "Irhan's cleansing."
"Yes, sure." Epped answered apologetically. "But you see, with the reagents you bought in Thorma and Ulhaen last month, you have everything for a binding." He gulped. "And that's highly illegal." His eyes shot to the man's companion for a second. A pretty young woman wandering the aisles of his shop, idly browsing the wares.
The man's mouth began to twitch, and his teeth ground as he stared directly into Epped's eyes, who felt relief that he had just renewed the magebane sigils around the shop.
"Relax." A friendly, soft voice broke the tension, and the woman put a hand on the man's arm. "I apologize for my husband; we've had a long day." the woman smiled at Epped. "See, we travel the continent, offering our help with magicks," she pushed the man aside, taking his spot in front of Epped. "And for that we need all kinds of reagents in all kinds of places." she pushed the list towards Epped.
"I promise that this one" she playfully patted the grim man's arm and smiled, "will not bind me to be his eternal slave."
Epped sighed and halfheartedly returned her smile. "Allright, alright."
When the couple had left, he stared at the door for a while, feeling uneasy.
The man helped the woman onto her horse.
"Husband, eh?" he grimaced.
The woman grinned. "We'll see." She patted the pouch with reagents. "You'll do whatever I want."