Midnight Flowers

By Alex Evans

Mistress Quicksilver, a refined antique dealer, is about to put up for sale a most unusual collection. One of the items attracts many diverse and nasty individuals. She has to protect her merchandise, while managing the marital problems of her friend and the blunders of her teenage son. But Quicksilver is a retired barbarian shaman and has more than one trick up her silken sleeve...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bernard Berry
• Release date: Aug 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201202378

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Midnight Flowers | By Alex Evans | Copyright © 2021 Alex Evans | All rights reserved.

Midnight Flowers

By Alex Evans

Copyright © 2021 Alex Evans

All rights reserved.

YOU WANT TO SELL THIS?

Quicksilver stood in the middle of their shop's storeroom and looked at the goods with a very confused face. On the floor, in a dozen baskets lined with straw, lay piles of objects with most unusual shapes. Some were utilitarian, some decorative, but they all related to the same subject with an astonishing level of creativity. The images of carnal union took on every imaginable form. The depictions of male and female attributes ranged from the most realistic to the most stylized, going through all the symbolic elements, with many flowers, fruit, vegetables, fish, and shells.

It was Old Stump’s collection, said Mahogany with pride. She died last week. I met her nephew at the baths and convinced him to entrust us with the sale.

Really? I heard that many of her political rivals had died prematurely. I would have rather thought she has been collecting poisons.

Stop speaking ill of the dead. It brings bad luck.

The young woman patted her black hair, tightly coiled on top of her head.

You’re right. Business is business. Do you think we’ll be able to get much for it? Sandalwood is the one with expertise in these kinds of antiques. She has her contacts. Some potential clients wouldn’t even dare to come to our shop.

Her partner made a meaningful frown. Well, I have been thinking for a while about expanding our range. Opportunities like this don’t come up very often.

Yes, but still, it requires some preparation.

I have a plan. I talked to Parrot, the poet. He’ll help us attract prospective buyers. We are going to organize an evening for some hand-picked literati. He’ll give a talk on the mystical meanings of the games of love in the ancient philosophy of the Old Empire. I’ll also invite a priestess of the Fertility Goddess. She’ll explain the ritual use of certain objects. Afterward, there will be a little debate. It’ll be the most serious cultural event of the year. All the learned people of the City will come here to discuss the philosophical implications of one love position or another. Then, the most respectable citizens will come to visit our shop in broad daylight!

Quicksilver pulled a skeptical frown. If you say so... And what do you plan to pay Parrot for his trouble?

I promised him a book of his choice.

There was a discreet knock at the front door. Quicksilver turned towards the sound.

Who’s calling? We’re not open yet!

That must be him. I promised him a first look at the collection, so that he could choose his book.

By the nascent horns of the Golden Calf, I have never seen him up so early!

The poet was indeed at