Chapter 22: Abrasax’s Wrath

Three o’clock came, and Conor clocked out from Jackson’s Furniture and made his way to Mr. Arroz’s Spice Emporium. As he came around the corner, the pungent aroma reminded him of the days he had spent recently working next door with Cara. He wondered briefly if she had a shift this afternoon. “Ah, Conor my boy! Come, come!” called an enthusiastic Mr. Arroz in a thick Pruarian accent. The jovial older man had always been kind to Conor and seemed thrilled to see him today. “Conor, that combination you suggested is selling like nothing I have ever had in my shop! You are truly Celia blessed! And that Mr. Nuri you introduced me to is already having orders placed for a shop near his headquarters!” Conor smiled at the darker-skinned Mr. Arroz, “I am thrilled. I am glad business is doing well for you. Mr. Nuri’s assistant said you might have some work for me?” “Ah, yes! Come!” he waved Conor over to a table he had set out for people passing by to sample spices. “I need someone here to watch t