The village of Akerholt was bustling as Rorik guided the carriage through the cobblestone streets. The sights, sounds, and smells hit me all at once—freshly baked bread, chatter between vendors and customers, the occasional clatter of tools. It was the liveliest place I'd seen since arriving in this world.
"We'll start at the blacksmith," Rorik said, pulling the horses to a stop near a soot-streaked stone building. "Then, we'll hit the market."
---
Inside the blacksmith's shop, the rhythmic clang of metal echoed through the space. The blacksmith himself was a mountain of a man, his arms thick with muscle and his face lined with age.
"Rorik," he greeted with a nod. "What's broken this time?"
"Just the plow," Rorik replied, motioning toward the carriage. "And a few tools need some sharpening."
The blacksmith chuckled, shaking his head. "Always keeping me busy." He untied the bundle of tools Rorik handed him, inspecting them with a practiced eye. "These'll be ready in two days."
Rorik handed over a few copper coins without a word, then turned to me. "Let's move."
---
As we stepped back into the sunlight, Rorik handed me a small leather pouch.
"There's one silver coin in here," he explained. "It's worth 100 copper, and 100 silver makes one gold. That's all you'll need for the market—don't let them fleece you."
I raised an eyebrow. "Fleece me? For flour and beans?"
"They'll try," Rorik said with a smirk. "You'll be buying the supplies on Inga's list. Stick to it, haggle if you have to, and bring me back the change."
---
The market was a maze of colorful stalls and eager vendors. I unfolded the list: flour, salt, honey, beans, and a few bundles of dried herbs.
At the first stall, a woman greeted me warmly, her hands dusted with flour.
"How much for the flour and salt?" I asked.
"35 copper," she said without hesitation.
I frowned, remembering Rorik's warning. "How about 25?"
She gave me a skeptical look but countered, "30 copper."
I hesitated, pretending to weigh my options, then nodded. "Deal."
---
The haggling continued as I moved from stall to stall. Honey was 15 copper, but I managed to get it for 12. Beans were listed at 20 copper, but after some firm negotiation, I got them down to 18. The dried herbs, the final item on the list, were priced at 10 copper, but I talked the vendor into letting them go for 8.
By the time I was done, I'd spent a total of 68 copper. When I tallied it up, I realized I'd saved 32 copper from the original prices.
---
When I returned to Rorik, he was leaning against the side of the carriage, his arms crossed.
"How'd it go?" he asked, his tone casual.
"Got everything on the list," I said, handing him the remaining 32 copper. "And I didn't get ripped off."
Rorik counted the coins, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Not bad. You're picking things up faster than I thought."
I shrugged. "Guess I had a good teacher."
He chuckled, shaking his head as he pocketed the change. "Let's get these supplies loaded."
---
As we packed the goods into the carriage, Rorik turned to me with a hint of a grin.
"We're not done yet," he said.
I raised an eyebrow. "What's next?"
"You'll see," he said cryptically, climbing back into the driver's seat.
The horses snorted, eager to move, and as the carriage rumbled forward, I couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and unease.
Whatever came next, it wasn't going to be as simple as haggling for flour.