**************
CHAPTER 7
After a stressful day in the forest, Pearl returned home rather exhausted but supposedly happy.
A strange happiness that was sure and she could not name it or state why.
"Pearl darling, welcome back," her father said as soon as she entered the not-so-big house.
"Thank you, papa. Where is mother?"
"The kitchen. She has been waiting for you," he informed her and leaned back into his wooden rocking chair in the corner of the living room.
Placing the flower in her hands in the vase and taking out the dead ones, Pearl made her way to the back of the house to find her mother.
"Mother."
"My love. Welcome. How was your outing? Had enough fun with Scarlet?"
"Fun." That was not one bit of what she had to be honest.
She wished to do so much with Scarlet but she never showed up. How was she going to inform her mother of this?
The last thing she wished to hear was a case of 'I told you so.'
It never gets old with her parents, her mother most especially.
While she was lost in thoughts, wondering what answer to give in avoiding stating a lie and telling the truth, Lotus beamed a smile at her daughter and shook her head.
"Stop thinking of how your day went. Hurry please, go down to the baker's shop and get me some bread."
"Yes, mother," she breathed and started making her way in that direction.
"Oh, and I already paid for the loaves of bread on my way home," she yelled after her.
"Aye. Got it, mama."
******
Just as Pearl described, it was easy locating the inn she mentioned and he walked in with one business in mind.
Just like how some taverns were, this was no different.
The main spot on the down floor had chairs and tables with a few men drinking their hearts out.
However, that was not what bothered him.
Moving straight for the bartender, who he supposed was the innkeeper, Zale placed his right hand on the table and leaned in close.
Squinting at the middle-aged man standing before him, he kept a straight face while assessing him closely.
Similarly, the innkeeper who had seen so many weird people over the years was not moved or shaken by the kind of stares Zale gave him.
"State your business," he mouthed after some time, dropping the cup he was cleaning a few seconds ago.
"I am looking for the innkeeper," Zale started with a half-raised brow.
"Yes. What for?"
"Business."
"Business, tsk," he spat out cruelly. "Everyone comes here for business or what do you think this place is for, a dance club?"
"No."
"Good. Now out with it."
"Aye. I need a room, food and the likes for five days."
Keeping a strong face, the innkeeper stated his terms. "Money or no help."
"You see that is the problem."
"I cannot help you then," he dismissed casually.
"I never said I did not have other means," Zale pushed.
"Then let's see it."
"Sure." He placed his left hand on the table and gave two heartbeats before opening his hand.
Staring the innkeeper right in the face were five shining pearls, waiting to be claimed.
"What can I get for these?"
The moment the words fell out of his mouth, the innkeeper's eyes shined with mirth and licked his lower lips slowly.
"And," Zale continued, placing his left hand over the pearl. "Try to chat me and I shall have your head."
He watched the man's face become ashen with shock at the apparent threat from the stranger.
"Just a friendly reminder, you do not have to get yourself so worked up like this," Zale teased, letting out a smile.
"However, I meant every dan word," he added. "Oh, and I would be needing information too."
Not wanting to look scared, the innkeeper cleared his throat and moved closer to the table, placing both elbows on it.
"Wait a minute, hey, I shall verify the authenticity of the pearls first before making any kind of bargain with you."
"Then you agree that for doubting me you owe me?"
"That depends."
"No, do we have an agreement or not?"
"Why? How can you be so shameless wanting to extort me."
"Oh, it won't cost you," Zale stated. He wore his mischievous grin proudly as he spoke.
He was a sucker for negotiations. He loved it dearly and he planned on using it now.
"Okay…" The innkeeper trailed off. "What is it?"
"An information."
"Lips sealed. That cost more."
"I shall add another pearl to these. I think that is a better bargain if you ask me, considering a pearl is worth way more money and I am offering you six."
"Fine. but I must check first," the innkeeper insisted.
As much as he could see the seriousness in Zale's eyes amidst the grin, he could tell he was not lying.
But then in this line of business, he had seen so many people act this way and yet they were nothing.
"Why not? Help yourself."
Keeping to his word, Zale pushed the pearls in front of him, giving him the chance to inspect them.
Moments later, the innkeeper looked up at him with smiles adorning the corners of his lips.
"You have yourself more than a deal, Mister. One beer on the house."
"Thanks. Not interested. Let's move straight to what I need. information time."
*******
Unlike most days when she came out to the baker's shop, Pearl was usually all smiles even though people gave her weird stares.
That had always been how it was for her in the village but she lived with it and had fun herself.
Her only true friend was Scarlet and there were reasons for that as well.
Sadly, today went by and Scarlet did not come as promised, making her feel down.
all through her way to the baker's shop, she concerned herself with thoughts of Scarlet, wondering if something had happened to her friend.
"Hmm," she sighed and waited for the bread to be handed over to her.
"You okay, kid?" The baker asked.
He amongst a selected few had no fear towards her and was kind enough not to chase her away too or act indifferntly towards her.
"Yes," she assured, managing a quarter of a smile at him as she picked up her order. "Thank you once more. "
"Welcome. Greet your parents for me."
"Sure."
With her head still lowered, Pearl let out another exasperated sigh and turned around.
As soon as she did that, her face slammed into something as hard as a rock, hurting her nose in the process.
"Ouch!"
The last thing she had expected was to find someone acting as a door of some sort behind her and that had hurt badly.
"I fancied I would run into you in the village but I never thought it would be this soon."