Chapter Twenty-Six - Selling for a Bargain

Chapter Twenty-Six - Selling for a Bargain

I woke up with birdsong in my ear and a smile on my face.

The room I had been given had a small window, barely bigger than my head, but enough that--when I had left it open for the draft of fresh night air--it let in plenty of noise. People talking, laughing and starting their day. Birds darting around with wild whistles and the bark of a happy dog.

I stretched in my bed, then let all of my limbs go floppy and loose so that I could enjoy the sensation of being in a bed.

Beds, I decided, were the best.

I wanted to just... stay there forever, but I was a busy bun with busy bun things to do! With a sigh, I tossed off my blankets, then hopped to my feet and stretched a little more. I found all of my clothes--conveniently left draped all over the rooms one chair--and got dressed up and ready to go.

I debated wearing my armour, but in the end chose not to. It would feel good to go without for a day and if I wanted to buy clothes or equipment later it would be a hassle to take it all off. I still carried my bandoleer and my backpack though.

Orange! I called out. No kitty appeared. A look under the bed revealed nothing, nor did a peak in the dresser provided with the room. I shrugged and pushed a bit of mana into my necklace. I wasnt sure how it worked, exactly, but I figured it might just get me my kitty companion back.

A moment later a ball formed in the air before me and a disgruntled Orange poofed into existence. She looked around, then glared at me.

Oops, I said. Sorry, Orange, but Im heading out and I think you should come!

Orange huffed, but she still took pride of place on my shoulder and refused to budge even as I ran my fingers through my hair to unknot it, then tied it in a neat ponytail. Preparations for the morning done, I fired off a nice burst of cleaning magic at myself and grinned.

Lets go take on the world, Orange! I said.

The Inns main floor was a chaotic hive of activity. More people than could possibly be rooming at the inn were swarming the tables, shouting over each other, laughing at unheard jokes and basically drowning the floor in raucous noise.

Nancy, the nice barmaid, stopped by me, a tray on her head and two in each arm. If youre not in a hurry love, zen youd best wait in your rooms for breakfast.

Ah, okay! I tried to say, but she was already moving through the crowd, avoiding elbows and snapping her long tongue into the face of any boy with questing fingers. It was impressive to see her go, but I had a bunch of other things to do and breakfast could wait. Maybe lunchtime would mean a calmer inn.

Stepping out into the full sunlight of the morning was, for just a moment, completely blinding, but I enjoyed the light before taking my bearings of the world around me.

There were a bunch of carriages hitched to big ol horses. The wagons were empty except for the benches by their sides. That was plain enough and other than a passing thought to petting the horses I didnt pay them any mind. The gigantic frogs, on the other hand, those had me pausing.

These werent dressed like the grenoil. In fact, they were naked except for a bunch of harnesses strapped all over them with big sacks that looked full of stuff. A grenoil, looking tiny next to the giant frogs, was checking the harnesses when I approached. Eh, hello sir, I said.

He turned and brought a hand up to adjust the straw hat he was wearing. Yes maam?

Whats that? I asked, pointing to the giant frog. It didnt look sapient at first glance.

Never seen a toad before, huh? he asked.

Thats a toad, I said. Its huge! The toads where Im from are no bigger than Orange. I pointed to my shoulder cat as an explanation.

The man laughed. Ay, Zeyre big bastards. Nice though. Zey might try to gobble you up, but a swift kick or two and Zeyll let ya out. We use em to carry stuff. Good for hauling. Specially cross ze terrain round here. Lots a mud. Horses get stuck, so we use toads when we can.

Wow, I said. That's cool. Where do you go with them?

Ze dungeon, of course, he said. He tipped his hat at me. Need to get back to it before ze delvers finish eatin.

Oh, I said. Thats very honest of you. Thank you!

He shook his big froggy head. No no, it behooves one to be honest in his dealings. And zis outpost is almost entirely populated wiz dungeon divers and explorers. A bad reputation amongst zem would hurt more zan just my bottom line.

Well, thank you anyway, I said. What about ghost cloth? I reached into my back and pulled out two squares of ghostly cloth.

Zis Im more familiar with. An uncommon material from a common foe. Zey would be farmed but farming ghosts is tricky business. Zese are in nice condition, he said as he examined the cloth then ran a hand over it. Good enough. Not ze market for it here, but I can send it to my guild affiliates for a tidy profit. Ill give you two sil each.

Better than nothing. Okay, I said.

The shopkeep stared at me then rolled his eyes. Youre supposed to offer five, zen we meet at zree, he said.

Oh.

He set the cloth aside and I wasnt sure if I had just been tricked or not. Alright. I also have this painting that I found. I placed the small painting of a dragon and a boat on the counter. I had been dragging it around for a while, frame and all, but it was small and light. I took off the sheet covering it and let the shopkeep look at it. Do you have a skill to know what things are? I asked. I have Insight.

A moderately high quality painting of a dragon over a fishing boat, old.

I have Appraise, which is similar. Not as... insightful, pardon ze pun, but better at judging ze value of zings. Zis painting is worth forty sil, for example.

Really? I asked.

Yes, Ill give you ten.

My shoulders slumped. Oh, okay.

The shopkeeper sighed. Fine, twenty.

I grinned big and proud at him. I had made so much!

Okay, twenty-five, but not a sil more. He set it aside with a huff.

Thank you! I said. The next item up was a small pile of silverware.

The shopkeeper looked at them all quickly, then shrugged one shoulder. Two cop each. Some are worth more, others less. Zese I can sell to zose coming in here, or bundle with my meal and survival packages and call some of zem higher quality.

Okay, I said. This is my last item, I said as I placed my magic wand on the table.

The shopkeep made a strange face.

Its a wand of cure hysteria. It still works. I used it. To kill ghosts, but he didnt need to know that.

No. Find a shop zat... specializes in zat kind of zing. Not here.

Oh, okay, I said.

A quick tally later and I was leaving with twenty-six more silver and forty copper and, best of all, a scroll of Fireball!

I was going to set so many things on fire!