Thorin had heard from the villagers about the black market in Sicoal City.
he only knew that this was outside the walls in the eastern part of the neighborhood, so he had walked carefully because at night there were no guards who went out to patrol that area.
when there were guards outside the walls at night they were not on duty, even worse because they were worse than the gang members who used to extort money and fight, they can rightfully hit you or even kill you.
luckily Thorin did not meet anyone dangerous, only some starving civilians who were heading for the black market.
Following the same course as these and keeping a safe distance from each other, Thorin finally reached the entrance to the black market.
"Don't make noise or I'll make sure you never make noise again" a rude and threatening voice told those who were entering the tunnel where the entrance to the black market was located.
The tunnel was part of the city's drainage system, but in the dry season, it was drained and served as a passage where gangs and other people of dubious origin met to traffic and exchange products.
Thorin advanced and seeing that each one who entered paid a large copper coin, he was grateful that he had not spent his last coin.
Thorin passed without a problem and the guard didn't give Thorin much thought.
Thorin glanced at the guard, this seemed familiar and could recognize him as the guard who had scared him the other day in the morning.
but he quickly passed the entrance and looked at the tunnel that was completely dark but had a rope on one side to guide him, this was one of the black market methods to keep his location secret, more than anything so that civilians would not bother them and give time if the city guard was doing a raid.
The drainage tunnel was dank and rancid-smelling, just what you'd expect from a sewer, Thorin held his nose as he followed the rope.
at some point, he had lost his orientation and the only thing he was guided by was the rope, without it he would end up lost and ultimately falling into some drainage line still in use, full of manure and maybe even with some beast that used to live in these.
until the time that he was getting annoyed he finally reached the end of the tunnel.
"eyes and heart of a bullfrog! at only 12 large copper coins, your concoctions will be the most coveted in the county! take them now"
"Imported slaves from the Northern Frost Kingdom, those who terrorized the Kingdom of Moriah can now be your objects of taunts and work animals for just 100 silver"
"No money? No job? Come and sell an eye for 10 silver coins. What good is an eye if you can't fill your belly?"
a series of announcements reached Thorin's ears, he shuddered to hear that each one was more Dantesque than the other.
Greater was his surprise when he saw that where an old man with a pale and ashen face was, there was a row of 4 people who were waiting to receive the 10 silver coins.
Thorin walked away from there slowly, he didn't want them to smell his nervousness in this place, they would eat him in seconds if they saw that he was someone who didn't fit in this place.
The peasants were considered work animals, not to mention him, an orphan, now it was clear to Thorin the good fortune of having old Chuyi, Farine and Michonne's family.
"Jie jie jie, look what we have here, but if it's not a cute little puppy? I'm sure my pets would love to meet you, no, maybe I can even conquer that fussy mandrake with you" a voice full of malice came from behind him.
When he turned around in shock, a putrid breath reached his nose, the sewers smelled 100 times better than the ruined mouth of the old woman behind him.
cloudy eyes, elongated nose and a stooped back covered by a dirty black tunic that denoted the old woman's skinny figure, in Thorin's eyes the old woman looked fragile and weak, but in his chest, he felt an alarm of danger that told him that he was no match for this decrepit old woman.
Just when the old woman was about to stretch out her hand with a smile and apparent malice, a voice interrupted her.
"Witch, what are you doing with my little brother? Do you want me to lead the clergy to your door? I let you go last time because I found no traces of demonic magic or necromancy in your hut, but it seems I should take another look around your house accompanied by a priest" a young and righteous voice stopped the old woman from touching Thorin.
The old hag froze and her smile contorted between disgust and a fake smile of pleasantness.
"What is an adventurer as young and promising as Mr. Winchner supposed to be doing here? I was just trying to show this puppy the place, with the naked eye you can see that he doesn't know the Market, jie jie, you should take better care of your younger brother Mr. Winchner, or maybe it's not your younger brother? I don't see why you care about others when you could..." The witch started to speak something threatening.
the young man interrupted the old witch with a smile and a sharp look.
"That is not something you should worry about, witch, I have brothers and sisters all over the kingdom, it is not up to you to decide who is my brother and who is not, if I say he is my brother then that is it, now, go away or I'll take care of you and then you will not be able to live in Sicoal city" the young man put a hand on the hilt of his sword without reducing his smile and taking a step forward.
The witch stepped back and her face darkened, she took a second look at Thorin for a couple of seconds and left without another word.
Winchner and Thorin stood watching the old hag disappear into the darkness of the forest surrounding the Black Market.
"Hey, this is not a place for a boy like you, at your age I was equally brave and daring, but never so stupid" the young man turned to see Thorin and his fresh and friendly smile disappeared from his face.
Winchner was a young man, perhaps just 20 years old, with a slender and toned body, he wore a gray cape on his shoulders covering him to the knees, a metal breastplate that covered his chest and leather armor that covered his body. With metal plates covering his legs, he had short blond hair unkempt in rebellious curls, he looked at Thorin with some coldness in his sleepy green eyes.
"Thanks for the help... Mr Winchner, I wouldn't know what would happen to me if that old woman had kidnapped me" Thorin thanked but Winchner interrupted him.
"No, you don't know, that's the problem, damn boy, what are you doing here? That old woman isn't the only one you have to watch out for in the Black Market, you should go back the way you came, I'll take you to the exit, I hope and you don't step on the black market again, I won't be here to protect you a second time." Winchner said annoyed and in a hurry.
"I just... I came to sell something that my grandfather received from a merchant friend, he is sick and his friend could only help him by giving him some of the product he was carrying, I thought I could sell it here since I cannot enter the walls. .." Thorin gave an excuse that he had already thought of before coming to the black market.
Wincher looked at him for a couple of seconds, Thorin got nervous seeing Winchner who didn't speak and kept thinking.
"Show me what you wanted to sell, I'll buy it from you if it has any value, let's call it my second good deed of the day" Winchner shook his head and put his hands to his sides waiting for Thorin.
Thorin without much of a choice looked around the surroundings that were near the edge of the black market and took out the bag where he had the refined salt.
"Umm? This is…" Winchner frowned at what Thorin was showing him.
Winchner quickly took the bag from him and brought it to his nose, smelling a saline aroma like the sea and the fine transparent grains that were illuminated by the light of the moons, he licked his index finger and put it in the bag, and then take it to the mouth.
"salt!, and of the best quality, boy this... forget it, I don't know how you can walk at this hour of the night and with something as valuable as this, how much do you want for it?" Winchner was surprised by the pure taste of the salt.
He did not feel any unpleasant taste like yellow salt or low quality salt, which gave an astringent sensation when eaten or just tasted alone.
"I don't know the value of this salt, I'll trust Mr. Winchner to give me a fair price" Thorin looked at him seriously, if it wasn't for Mr Winchner who knows what would have become of him.
"Bad quality raw salt is usually sold for 2 large copper coins per pound, while medium quality salt can cost up to 8 large copper coins per pound, the salt you sell me is even better than good quality salt, which costs one silver coin per pound, it wouldn't be an exaggeration that it reaches par with the best quality salt... it will pay you 6 silver coins, what do you say?" Mr Winchner stroked his hairless chin as he said and smiled again.
"seem right!" Thorin accepted easily, it was more than he expected to be able to sell it, the truth is that he did not have a good idea of what kind of person he would sell the salt to.
"This is the payment, will you have more of this salt? I find it very useful" Winchner asked as he put the bag of salt aside and give him the 6 silver coins.
"Not at the moment, if the merchant comes back to my grandfather's house then I may get some" Thorin shook his head, not knowing how useful it was to make that lie.
"I see, if you get more salt of the same quality you can sell it to me, otherwise it would be dangerous to contact greedy merchants or unscrupulous gang members, but first let me introduce myself, I'm Winchner Aran, A+ rank Adventurer, belonging to the Group 'Red Unicorn Horns' I am the swordsman of my group if you want to contact me you just have to look for Buki in the South neighborhood in the non-dilapidated house in front of the 3-branched ash tree near the entrance, he will send me your message" Winchner put his index and middle finger on his forehead and crossing his leg, he bowed as a sign of kindness, it was a greeting between the nobles who met for the first time.
Thorin did not know of the customs of the nobles other than to place the right palm on his heart, as this was a common gesture in the military and had been passed on to civilians, including peasants.
"Chiyo's grandson Thorin" Thorin blushed a little but it was the only identity he could think of that wasn't suspicious.
'I'm sorry to Granpa Chiyo, for saying you're sick' Thorin felt a little guilty about it.
"Ok, then let me walk you out of the Black Market, remember not to come back here until you can fend for yourself" Winchner led him through the dark forest for about 20 minutes until he reached the outskirts of the city again.
"Thank you for everything Mr Winchner, I won't forget our agreement" Thorin left quickly, he was relieved that Winchner seemed to be someone he could trust.
Winchner watched him disappear into the distance as he took out the bag of salt and tasted it again.
"hehe, what a bad lie, but at least this salt will serve to eliminate some undead in critical moments..." Wincher quickly retreated in an unknown direction.
thus the night had concluded with strange dangers and a reunion between those who did not even know that fate had future encounters in store for them.