**Chapter 5**

Now acutely aware that he was being followed, Bronn had two options. Option one was to sit on the nearby bench, daring the stranger to approach. Depending on the strangers reason for their interest in Bronn, this could be either the safest or dumbest option available. Option two was to delve deeper into the city and try to lose them. The city looked to be a maze, but there was a chance that the stranger knew this city like Bronn knew his home town.

While deciding how he was going to act, Bronn reached out to look for sources of mana. Clearly distracted, Bronn wasn't looking for his usual, natural, sources and instead found himself just identifying mana sources. Bronn then almost collapsed. There was so much mana in this city! The usual heat of red mana, the weight of green mana, and the mental high of blue mana immediately filled Bronn's senses.

Taking a seat on the nearby bench, Bronn decided that option one would at least give him some time to work out what was happening. Focusing in on the Red mana source, Bronn could identify more sources than he could count nearby.

While Bronn was trying to find these, a Boros Soldier walked past him. Bronn's sense of red mana almost overwhelmed him as the soldiers cape swished past his face. Could the cape be a source of mana? Before Bronn could work up the courage to speak to the soldier, the soldier had passed him and was well on his way. This new theory had Bronn trying to find other articles of clothing with mana sources. Bronn could sense a large concentration of mana at a nearby stall selling jewlery.

Before he knew what his next action would be, Bronn had started moving towards the stall. He needed to know what was happening. Nothing on Icatia, other than natural features, had ever given off mana. Elves were an exception, but even this was only to powerful mages so in tune with Green mana they barely needed an additional source.

The stall Bronn had approached was busy, with people of all shapes and sizes looking at the wares. Bronn once again reached out to find mana, but this time looking very nearby. It seemed that some of the pieces on offer had gems installed in them, and it was the gems providing the mana that he could sense. Curious, Bronn recalled how he had become aware that he could control Green mana having already known of his control over Red and Blue. It had been a complete fluke. Bronn had been attacked by multiple thugs on patrol and had drawn in the nearest mana source he could find. Being near a large park, Green mana had been available and used.

Not wanting to draw in foreign mana, but curious as to what he could feel, Bronn tried to reach out and find mana he wasn't expecting. Doing so brought back a memory Bronn had of a conversation with his brother. Bronn's brother, Erik, had been born with no mana control. This wasn't a rare thing, as only about half of Icatian's could control mana. Erik had asked Bronn what mana felt like, and how he found it. Bronn had described the feeling of Red and Blue mana, and described reaching into a murky pool of water and trying to find something. Once you know what you're looking for, it's easy. You want red mana? Move your hand towards the heat. Blue mana? Reach higher in the pool as it feels lighter. Green mana, Bronn mused, he would have described as reaching to the lowest point of the pool. Doing this internally was difficult to explain, but access to the pool was needed to find mana.

Bronn opened his senses and dived into the pool.

Not knowing what he was looking for, Bronn considered all he was feeling. He could feel the heat of Red, the weight of Green, and the high of Blue. Trying to ignore these, Bronn was left lost. He couldn't sense the other colours at all. He wasn't too surprised by this though, it had taken days of meditation to find his pull towards Red mana, and Blue mana was only found in desperation because one of his friends could control two colours and Bronn didn't want to be left out.

During the time Bronn was trying to locate the other colours, the line at the stall had cleared a bit and Bronn could move to the front. It was only now that Bronn realised he hadn't considered the owner of the stall. Bronn now stood face to face with an Elf. The thing was, this Elf was a beautiful creature, not a wild dirty creature like he was used to. This Elf was like the Elves of stories. He was elegant, stood with grace, and even had a dagger of silver on his hip.

Bronn had clearly been stood there staring too long, as the merchant cleared his throat.

"Can I help you, kind sir?" Spoke the merchant in a silky, almost musical tone.

"I uh… I wanted to ask you about these" Bronn stammered, indicating towards the Jewelled items.

"Ah I see" spoke the merchant "A mage are we? I don't see any colours on you, nor any of those markings some of the Guilds like to sport. A renegade are we?"

"I suppose you could say that" Bronn mumbled in response.

The Elf eyed Bronn suspiciously, seeming unsure about the stranger in front of him. Bronn was still conflicted. A part of him wanted to pull in all the mana he could find and blast this Elf out of existence. Another part of him was thinking back, wondering if he'd even heard an Elf speak before.

"Do you at least have a licence to purchase magical artifacts?" the Elf eventually asked.

"A licence? No, I didn't realise I needed one" Bronn responded.

"You didn't know you needed a licence? To purchase artifacts. Here."

"No, I'm not from around here you see. I…" Bronn was beginning to explain.

"I don't want to hear it. Leave, and tell your legionnaire that I run a reputable business and don't sell without a licence. You Boros really grind my gears when you send recruits. At least make it interesting" the Elf scoffed, turning towards the next customer.

Bronn stood stunned for a minute, but decided to turn away before a scene could develop. As he turned, he was suddenly face to face with the woman from earlier that had been following him.

"We need to talk" said the woman, turning and walking before Bronn could respond.

"Option one then" Bronn muttered to himself, before falling in line with the woman.