An Easy Day at the Market

The knights had settled into the inn, The Restful Crossroads. While they had moved on to drinking and resting, Sloane had left to explore the market. Ser Deryk had given her a small pouch with an assortment of coins inside for her to buy things that she thought she may need.

The market was an orderly affair; the large plaza was organized and separated by goods and wares. The traveling merchants even had a section of their own where they had set up their wagons and carts to sell to travelers and village residents. She walked among the various booths, seeing all sorts of elves, telv, and raithe. Many called out as she walked by, trying to make another sale.

“Milady! We have the finest linens!”

“Madame, your skin is so perfect, you absolutely must come to see our beautiful assortment of beauty products.”

Sloane nearly stopped there just out of curiosity, not because she cared to purchase any right now, but were they lead-based like some had been back on Earth? Should she extol the long-term damaging effects of the metal? Sloane shrugged, she had no credibility at the moment, she wouldn’t be believed.

As she was walking, she paused as she saw her first two dwarves standing at a booth set up outside of a small shop. A booth that held materials she thought she would need to start working on magical items. It was almost too good to be true, and a bit cliche of the first dwarves she met to be selling ore and gems…though, she looked a bit closer, the wood was different.

She tried to get a gauge of the male and female dwarves. They looked exactly like what she expected from various fantasy settings. However, she was a bit disappointed that the woman didn’t have the beard that some versions portrayed. They both had long, wavy brunette hair and were certainly stout people in general. The man’s beard was magnificent, it was a walnut brown color and was braided down the center with the whole thing pulled into a point at the bottom that was held together with an intricate metal cap made of silver and gold. Meanwhile, the woman had a long tightly braided tail that she had draped across her shoulder to the front that had a matching metal clamp that held her hair together at the end. They both had matching turquoise eyes, but the woman had a cute bunching of freckles under her eyes.

They weren’t quite as short as she had imagined but they both stood right around one-hundred fifty centimeters. They had very similar facial features, and she assumed they were siblings.

The man noticed her stare and called out at her, “Ay lass, come on over and take a look at what we have ta offer.”

Sloane smiled and walked to the duo and their array of goods. “Hi, there! I’m sorry for staring! What do you have here?”

The woman laughed, “It’s quite alright, dear! Not see many of dwarves where yer from?”

Sloane shook her head, as she looked at the various metals and wood on one side and then delicately crafted decorative objects on the other. “No, you’re the first two I’ve met. I’m Sloane, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” She said as she reached a hand out toward the woman.

The stocky woman took her hand gently, with surprisingly soft hands, and smiled. “Nice ta meetcha, I go by Reanny.” Pulling her hand back, she jutted a thumb over toward the man, “This here lout is my brother Murinn.”

Sloane chuckled, “It’s a pleasure, lout Murinn.”

The man tried to hide a smile as he attempted to look offended, “Milady! You take this wretched lass’s side after naught but a sentence? That hurts it does.”

Laughing again, she looked over the raw materials, deciding she liked the two, she had some fun, “You have a wide assortment of materials: raw ore, wood, gems, and crystals. You even have various things you’ve made from them. I can’t help but feel this is fate. It’s too perfect, tell me, who told you I was coming?”

Reanny smiled broadly, “Why but a wee birdie of course. I had my brother go and mine the ore and strip the forest while I slaved away crafting my humble wares, all while awaiting your kind coin–I mean person!–to finally make your way to our simple shop.”

Murinn looked back and forth, confused, “Wha–No, I just bought the ore from Brende and the gems from Igglann this week. You were there!”

Both women laughed and Reanny looked up at Sloane and shook her head, “My brother, he has a head for numbers and goods to buy or sell. Absolute zero social sense. Thank Erbium that I’m here, aye?”

Sloane nodded, “It’s okay, Mr. Murinn, I apologize. Your sister is just too much fun.

“Now, I was serious about one thing. You two may actually have some of what I’m looking for. Provided we can reach a good deal, mind you.”

Reanny nodded, “Of course… Of course, only the best for my new friend.”

Sloane looked over the stuff, “alright, so. I need both materials and stuff to work with those materials. Hmm, actually, one second. Sorry.”

Sloane reached into her satchel and grabbed the notebook Maud had given her. Opening to the page she had listed her notes in. She looked over it one more time.

Magical Crafting Items

Gem polishing supplies

Iron bracelet?

Leather bracer

Tools! Jewelcrafting, Smithing, Woodcarving, All the tools!

Goggles or stuff to make some. with magnification!

Gems of various types

Crystals?

Glass?

A burger

rings of various types

Scrap metal

Rod?

Mace?

Hammer?

A magical all-purpose tool! Come on!

Glass beakers? bottles? vials? A whole damn lab?

Sanity?

Magic

Fireballs

Few ounces of silver

a small foundry crucible

tongs … Smithing tools...

Comparing the list to what was on the table, she decided. “Okay, so… I need…”

Sloane and the two dwarves discussed everything she needed, settling on an assortment of gems–which were, evidently, a lot cheaper and more abundant than they were on Earth–of various sizes, some small ingots of iron, crystals, and wood. She then managed to get six rings of various types, a bracelet, a bracer, and an iron rod.

“Hey Reanny, do you know anyone that can sell me tools? I need to be able to work with all of this stuff.”

“We have all of that in the shop. We can get everything you need. I work on the stuff too dear.” The woman reminded her.

Sloane examined the crafted items again, “Oh, yeah. I suppose you would. Yeah, let’s figure this out.” she said as she checked back over the assorted items she had chosen in front of her.

She looked up from the haul, and right up to Reanny’s predatory grin. “What do you think, Sloane? We close a deal, then what do you say we go grab an ale. We can tell more jokes about men and brothers.”

Sloane smiled, “Why Reanny if I didn’t know better, I’d say you were trying to butter me up before taking me for all I’m worth.”

Reanny laughed, “Oh hon, now’s the fun part.”

“I have zero qualms with having you put that all right back where you got it. Let’s see, why don’t you tell me what you think I should pay…”

After what seemed like an exorbitant amount of time later, they had finalized their sale. Unfortunately, what had occurred was literally nothing like the stories and movies that Sloane had read. She got merch-slapped. Hard. At least in her own opinion based on just observing the knights. Reanny was clearly a professional, and Sloane would not be surprised if the dwarf woman had merchant mana that gave her overpowered negotiation magic. Yup, that was the headcanon that Sloane had settled on. There’s no way she’d have less than an eighth remaining of the money knights gave her otherwise.

Sighing, she looked across the table she sat at with Reanny. They were in a tavern that was a bit away from the plaza and had been there a few hours at that point. Thankfully, Reanny had paid for the drinks. Looking at her fourth mug, Sloane wasn’t sure she could afford it. Okay, maybe she could, but she hadn’t spent this much money compared to how much she actually had available in a very long time. It was messing with her. She really needed to make some funds.

“Oh dear, don’t sweat it. It happens to everyone the first time. If it makes you feel better, you only ended at a fifteen percent mark-up from cost. All told, you did well! That basically covers my overhead. Quite fair, methinks!” Reanny reassured comfortingly.

Sloane forced a smile, “No, it’s alright. I’m just concerned about my ability to make money. I don’t like relying on others. Hopefully, the stuff you guys sold me will help!”

Raising her mug, the dwarf woman exclaimed, “That’s the spirit! Dylenia willing and with a bit of guidance from Erbium, you’ll be making both things and coin in no time! To coin and all the shiny baubles it buys!”

Sloane chuckled and raised her mug. They clanked them together then tossed their ales back at the same time. When she banged it down on the table, Reanny’s head had a slight tilt and confused look as she looked…past her? No, at her ears. Eyes widening, Sloane’s hands shot up to her ears that should have been covered by her hood. She quickly pulled the hood back over her head and appraised the merchant in front of her for any reaction.

Reanny leaned forward on a hand, her voice dropping to a whisper in the loud tavern, “Eh? You’re one of them terrans? Why didn’t you say so?”

It was Sloane’s turn to tilt her head and look confused. “A terran? Where have you heard that word?” That… was not a common way to refer to a human. It instantly made her both curious and guarded.

“Two men and a woman–they called themselves terrans–passed through about two weeks ago. They were with a caravan that was heading to the two undercities of Dheg Malduhr and Von Ladholm.”

“Is it bad that I’m a…terran?” Sloane questioned hesitantly.

“No, no. At least, I don’t think so. There has been a lot of interest in your people though. Where you come from, what you want. A few other travelers mentioned having met some. Word’s just spreading, you know, that sort of thing. I figured you wanted your privacy.” Reanny explained.

Sloane straightened in her chair. “Has there been anyone with a child? A young girl? A bit shorter than you? Brown hair with pink tips? She’s a bit thin and is all legs. Blue eyes. Same skin color as me, maybe a bit paler. She was wearing some black boots, black pants, and a grey jacket….Uhm... Shit…Oh, her shirt underneath was blue.”

Sloane started breathing quickly.

Reanny looked concerned, “Woah, easy there Sloane. Easy. No, there weren’t any children. Breathe.”

Nodding, Sloane got control over herself again. She hadn’t had a moment like that in a while. Hearing that other humans had been through here overwhelmed her.

“Sorry.”

“Yer girl is missing?” Reanny gathered.

Nodding again, Sloane explained, “Yes. When we arrived here, we didn’t arrive together. I’ve been looking for her. The knights with me have been trying to help.”

She rubbed away the tears welling up in her eyes.

Reanny placed her hand on Sloane’s. “Lass, I can’t even begin to imagine what you are going through. Tell me, what are you trying to do with all of the goods you bought from us?”

Sloane considered, “I need to make things that will help the knights. You know of the blue flash?”

Reanny nodded, “Aye, of course. Everyone does.”

“Well, that blue flash is what brought all of my people here from our world, and–” holding a hand up as Reanny opened her mouth to talk, “let me finish please. and… I believe it is what brought mana to your world. Mana is what allows magic to work. I think I can make various tools and… weapons… that make use of the mana. We’ve already had one thing made. I want to make more. I know that gems, crystals, and various metals work with the mana in different ways. I have many ideas, but I just need to start trying.”

Reanny’s eyes were wide the entire speech. She had tried to say something multiple times while Sloane spoke, but now she just sat quietly with her mouth slightly ajar. She recovered and then after a few false starts, asked, “Magic? Another world? You can use this… mana… to make things? Magical things?”

Sloane was slowly nodding as Reanny spoke, waiting for the disbelief, she answered. “Yes. I know for sure of two magical items. I want to make more. I need to make more, and I need to access my own magic. Anything that I can use to help me, both, make money and find my daughter.”

“Sloane, why didn’t ye say so? Come.” Slapping the table, she drained the last of her ale and stood up. “Let’s get back ta tha shop.”

Reanny, the fun, merchant extraordinaire who loved to drink, just shook her head as she dragged Sloane along out of the tavern. “Other worlds? Traveling terrans? Mana?” The dwarf woman looked up at Sloane, looking a lot more excited. “Lass, ye shoulda just started with the whole making money bit. Let’s go! We have coin to make!”