I left Tom at the inn, where he was resting after the fight with the bandits. He had insisted that I go to the market alone, saying that he trusted me and that I could handle myself.
"Be careful, Leora. The capital is a big and busy place. There are all kinds of people here, and not all of them are friendly. Don't talk to strangers, and don't wander off too far. And don't forget to come back before dark," he had said.
I walked out of the inn, and I headed to the market. The capital was indeed a huge and bustling city. There were so many buildings, streets, shops, and people. And not just humans, but also dragons, elves, and other races. I had never seen such diversity and wonder before.
I was amazed and curious. I tried to blend in with the crowd, and I followed the signs to the market. The market was a large and lively area, filled with stalls, vendors, customers, and goods. There were so many things to see, smell, hear, and taste. I felt like a kid in a candy store.
I looked at my list, and I saw that I had to buy some blankets and some fruits. I searched for the stalls that sold those items, and I compared the prices and quality. I was not very good at bargaining, but I tried to get the best deals possible.
I found a stall that sold blankets, and I approached the vendor. He was a human man, with a long beard and a crooked smile. He greeted me, and he showed me his blankets.
"Hello, miss. Welcome to my humble stall. You have a good eye for quality. These are the finest blankets in the capital. They are made of wool from the rare and fluffy sheep of the northern mountains. They are soft, warm, and durable. They will keep you cozy and comfortable in any weather. And they come in various colors and patterns. You can choose any one you like, for only 10 gold coins each. A bargain, if I may say so myself," he said, as he praised his blankets.
I looked at his blankets, and I felt them with my hands. They were indeed soft and warm, but they also looked old and worn. They had holes, stains, and tears. They were not worth 10 gold coins, not even close.
I shook my head "No, thank you. These blankets are too expensive for me. And they are not in good condition. I'm sorry, but I'll have to look elsewhere."
The vendor frowned, and he tried to persuade me.
"Miss, don't be so hasty. These blankets are a steal at this price. You won't find anything better in the market. And they are not damaged, they are just vintage. . They have been used by kings and queens, heroes and legends, in their adventures and quests. They have magical properties, too.Trust me, miss, you won't regret buying these blankets. How about I give you a special offer? Two blankets for 15 gold coins. That's a deal you can't refuse," he said, as he lied and exaggerated.
I was not convinced, and I was not interested. I knew he was trying to scam me, and I was not going to fall for it. I shook my head again, and I said, "No, thank you. I'm not interested. Goodbye."
I turned around, and I walked away from the stall. The vendor was angry, and he shouted at me.
"Hey, miss, wait a minute. Don't be so rude. Come back here. You can't just walk away like that. You owe me an apology. And you owe me some money. You touched my blankets, and you dirtied them with your filthy hands. You have to pay for that. Come back here, or I'll call the guards. Come back here, you thief" he said, as he threatened me.
I ignored him, and I quickened my pace. I had done nothing wrong, and I had no intention of paying him anything. He was the one who should be arrested.
As I walked through the market, I saw a stall that sold fruits. I decided to buy some fruits, and I hoped they would be fresh and tasty. I approached the stall, and I saw the vendor. She was an old lady, with a kind and gentle face. She smiled at me, and she welcomed me.
"Hello, dear. How are you today? You look like a nice and sweet girl. Are you looking for some fruits? I have the best fruits in the market. They are fresh, juicy, and delicious. They are grown in my own garden, with love and care. And they are very cheap, too. You can buy as many as you want, for only one silver coin each. A gift, really. Come, dear, take a look. You can try one for free, if you like," she said, as she offered me her fruits.
I looked at her fruits, and I smelled them with my nose. They were indeed fresh, juicy, and delicious. They had bright colors, sweet scents, and tempting shapes. They were worth one silver coin, maybe even more.
I smiled,"Thank you, ma'am. You are very kind. Your fruits look amazing. I would love to buy some. And I would love to try one, too."
The old lady nodded, and she handed me a fruit. It was a red and round fruit, with a green stem. It looked like an apple, but it was not. It was a fruit that I had never seen before in this world. I
I bit into the fruit, and I felt a burst of flavor in my mouth. It was hot and sour, but also sweet and refreshing. It was a strange and wonderful sensation, and I liked it.
"Mmm, this is good. What is this?" I asked, as I savored the firefruit.
The old lady smiled "This is a firefruit, dear. It's a rare and precious fruit that only grows in the capital. It's a gift from the dragons, who love to eat them. They say that eating a firefruit can make you brave and strong, like a dragon. It can also keep you warm and cozy, especially in the winter. Do you like it, dear?"
I nodded, "Yes, I like it very much. It's different from any fruit I've ever tasted. It's spicy and sweet, and it makes me feel good. Thank you, ma'am. I'll buy some firefruits, and some other fruits, too."
The old lady nodded, "You're welcome, dear. I'm glad you like my fruits. You have a good taste. Here, let me help you. How many fruits do you want? And what kind do you want? I have apples, pears, bananas, oranges, grapes, and more. They are all fresh and tasty, and they are all one silver coin each. Tell me, dear, what do you want?"
I looked at her fruits, and I made my choice. I wanted to buy some firefruits, and some other fruits, too. I wanted to buy enough fruits for me and Tom, and maybe some extra, too. I wanted to try different kinds and later do a pie with some fruit it could taste verry good.
I told the old lady what I wanted, and she packed them for me. She gave me a basket, and she filled it with fruits. She counted the fruits, and she told me the price.
"That will be 20 silver coins, dear. A fair price, don't you think?" she said, as she smiled.
I nodded, and I agreed. It was a fair price, indeed. I reached for my purse, and I took out 20 silver coins. I handed them to the old lady, and she took them. She thanked me, and she wished me a good day.
"Thank you, dear. You are a good and honest customer. I appreciate your business. I hope you enjoy my fruits, and I hope you come back again. Have a nice day, dear. And be careful, the capital can be a dangerous place."
"No, thank you. And tell me, would you know where I could find quality sheets without them being too expensive?" I asked the old lady.
She thought for a moment, and then she replied.
"Well, just across the street there seems to be a dragon that sells sheets of incredible quality. You can go there," she said, pointing to a place with her finger. I followed her gesture with my eyes.
I saw a large and colorful building, with a sign that said 'Dragon's Sheets'. It had a picture of a dragon holding a sheet in its claws, and smiling. It looked inviting and promising.
"Thank you," I said, as I picked up my basket of fruits and headed towards the place. I hoped I could find some good sheets there, and that the dragon would be fair.
I crossed the street, and I reached the entrance of the shop. I pushed the door, and I entered.
I saw a sword flying towards me, I dodged the sword, and I gasped. I was lucky to still be alive after that.
"We've already told you, Sveltania, you have to pay the demon queen," a demons said, as he pointed his sword at a dragon.
What the heck is happening here.