“Pava’s Wares at your service, sir. M’name’s Pava and if you need it, I got it,” he said, reciting what sounded like an often used sales pitch. Straightening, he put his worn, dusty hat back on his head and peered up at Clay. Pava was probably a foot shorter than him and nearly ancient by human standards. His long hair was tied back at the nape of his neck and white as snow. “How can I help you, sir?” he asked Clay expectantly.
“I have some goods to trade if you have what I’m looking for,” Clay responded, preparing himself for the barter. This man would surely try to part with as little as possible for the fine dress and Clay knew he had quite a bit of work ahead of him. The plan was to exchange the dress for less conspicuous items which he would then trade with the local shops for what he actually needed. He would have to take a loss but if he was careful he could get everything required to continue his trip back to Eva, the elven lands.
Rubbing his hands together in anticipation, Pava turned to the wagon and threw the tarp back, revealing his wares as if he were showing off the most precious of treasures. The wagon contained a number of items like bits of metalwork, jewelry, clothing, small daggers, nails, pins and so on. Clay peered at the goods while Pava showed him a well crafted metal hinge. He ran his hand across bolts of fabric, mostly cheap weaves of wool but there was also some fine silk in the pile. Pava snatched up a wicked looking curved dagger and let Clay test its balance as he chattered about the blade’s history, what famous people had owned it and how fine it would look strapped to his belt. There were gaps in the metalwork near the hilt, likely where jewels had been pried free.
Clay pulled the dress and slippers from his pack and offered them to Pava for inspection. “What can I get for this?” he asked.
Pava frowned a little and peered curiously at Clay, obviously wondering how he had come upon such a fine dress. Offering no explanation, Clay simply waited. If he tried to give this man a story as to how he came across the dress, Pava would remember the tale and thus would remember Clay. He wanted this deal done quickly so the peddler could be on his way. The less time spent with the man, the better.
Seeming to understand that this exchange was going to be a little seedier than normal, Pava quickly inspected Clay’s goods and tucked them away in the wagon, out of sight. He pulled out a dagger, some fine looking horseshoes, a heavy silver chain and a few spools of silk thread.
“Fair?” he asked Clay, obviously ready to be done with him and on his way. Clay inspected the goods and realized it was the best he was going to be able to do.
“Fair,” he responded, shaking the man’s hand and taking his items. He turned away as Pava scrambled back up to the bench and got the horses in motion. Clay stored the goods in his pack and started strolling around the dusty square. It was early still, but the shops had begun to open.
His first stop was the blacksmith. He traded in the horseshoes, silver chain and dagger for thirty silver coins and left quickly. He thought he might have gotten a good deal there and didn’t want the blacksmith to rethink his offer. Next, he went to the seamstress and showed her the silk thread. She was a tougher sell but was able to supply him with traveling clothes for a woman about Lana’s size. She offered to do some adjustments for a modest fee but he begged off, claiming that his lady was a fine seamstress herself and would be able to adjust the fit if it wasn’t correct. Seeing that she wasn’t going to get any coin out of him, the woman promptly turned her attention to a pair of chattering ladies who were examining her stock of ribbon.
Clay didn’t know if Lana could sew at all but hoped that the clothing was too big rather than too small. On the other hand, if it was too small in the right places…
He pushed that thought out of his head and went to the next shop on his list. The general goods store had plenty of vegetables and grain and the quality was better than he had expected. He was able to purchase enough food to last a week or more if they were careful. He also bought some bedrolls, tightly woven cloaks that would hold up well in the rain, an extra pack and sturdy shoes for Lana. He inquired after where he could find a good deal on a solid horse and the merchant told him to check with the innkeeper, so that was his last destination.
Clay left the general store and made his way down the dry, dusty walkway. Knowing this was going to be his last stop lifted his mood, and as he arrived at the inn and pushed open the big double doors, he’d even begun to whistle. It was an old elven tune from his childhood and he wasn’t sure where he’d learned it. Maybe his mother had sung it to him, or maybe someone else. However he came to know it, the tune soon died on his lips when he saw what was inside the inn.
There was an elven woman at a table near the corner of the room eating a breakfast of berries and oatmeal. He didn’t have a fear of his own kind but two elves together were a lot more conspicuous than one, and he wasn’t allowed
