Across the blue sky, grey clouds could be seen in the north, indicating an approaching storm. This news brought dismay to everyone, especially the vendors who had set up their booths to sell their wares. The rain had only stopped that morning and had already caused significant damage. Puddles had formed, and every time someone ran or children jumped in them, water splashed everywhere. The horses only added to the mess. The prospect of more rain made the situation even worse, as it would create even more waterlogged conditions. Everyone, except for the guards and a few working men, would seek shelter in their homes. This left the vendors in a difficult position, wondering how they were supposed to make a living if no one ventured out to buy from them. Occasionally, a passing wagon or two might come by, but the likelihood of a purchase was doubtful.
To add to their frustration, just half an hour before, the guards had attempted to arrest a vendor for theft. The poor man swiftly fled, causing chaos in his wake. He knocked over people's booths, trampled over fruits, and even knocked some people down in the process. Some of the individuals who had previously been cheated by him found amusement in the situation. The ones responsible for reporting him happened to be the king's son and the grandson of a general. They may have appeared like ordinary peasants, but they had guards standing nearby who knew about the vendor's dishonest practices. It was their decision to put an end to his cheating ways. The two young men laughed throughout the whole ordeal, even when the general's grandson was knocked over. But he was never caught, which brought disapproval from all, save the angry vendors. Now, many of the vendors were closing up until the rain would stop.
"Hey," a voice called out, "I need you to sell me some fruit." It was a person passing through.
"Nope," replied the vendor. "I am not selling anything to anyone. Big or small, king or queen. I am done."
"Really, what happened here? This is the worst place I have been," replied the passerby. "There are even abandoned booths."
"Yeah, well, blame it on the rain," the vendor grumbled. "It started pouring this morning and hasn't let up since. Everything's a mess, and nobody wants to come out and buy anything."
The passerby looked around at the deserted and disheveled market, nodding sympathetically. "I can understand why. It looks like a disaster zone."
"It is," the vendor agreed. "And to top it all off, we had a thief causing havoc just before you got here. He knocked down our booths, ruined our goods, and got away scot-free."
"That's terrible," the passerby said, a mix of concern and curiosity evident in their voice. "Do you know who he was?"
"Oh, we know exactly who he is," the vendor replied bitterly. "But he's slippery, that one. Always manages to elude capture. It's like he has some sort of ally with connections."
The passerby raised an eyebrow. "Connections? You think someone is helping him?"
"I wouldn't be surprised," the vendor replied. "There are rumors that he's been scamming people for years, but nothing ever happens to him. Some people say, 'Oh, you know I don't care.' But he is just too good for others to notice."
"That's infuriating," the passerby said, anger tinting their tone. "Someone needs to put an end to his deceitful ways."
"Like anyone can, you know this is the first time someone has actually reported him."
"Oh, well, my friend, I must be going, but keep trying to sell, don't give up. Everyone has troubles."
The vendor smiled. "See y'all someday soon, I hope."
Meeting the Dumb One - Chapter 2
The passerby's name was Winder. He went to the inn to stay the night. He had troubles of his own and he was not going to travel in the rain. So he decided to get some food and stay a couple of days in town. When Winder entered the inn, he saw that there was a fight going on. But he cared not.
He made his way to the bar and sat down, ordering a hot meal and a pint of ale. The innkeeper, a burly man with a red face and a thick beard, looked at Winder with curiosity.
"What brings you here, stranger?" the innkeeper asked, wiping a mug clean with a towel.
"Just passing through," Winder replied, taking a sip of his ale. "Thought I'd seek shelter from the rain and grab a meal."
The innkeeper nodded, understanding. "A wise decision. This rain has been relentless. So, where do you hail from?"
Winder have the innkeeper ablank stare "is it common that you must know we're you customers hail from" he asked
The innkeeper chuckled, shaking his head. "No, it's not a requirement. But it's always interesting to know where people are coming from, especially travelers like yourself. Makes for good conversation, you know?"
Winder nodded, understanding the innkeeper's perspective. "Fair enough. I'm actually from a small village not too far from here. Just venturing out for a bit of an adventure, I suppose."
The innkeeper raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Ah, an adventure, you say? Well, you've certainly come to the right place. This town has its fair share of stories and excitement, to say the least. You might even come across a few adventures of your own during your stay."
Winder smiled, appreciating the innkeeper's enthusiasm. "That's what I'm hoping for. A little bit of excitement never hurt anyone, right?"
The innkeeper chuckled again, placing Winder's hot meal in front of him. "That's the spirit! Here's to new adventures and unexpected encounters," he said, raising his own mug of ale.
Winder clinked his mug against the innkeeper's, returning the toast. "Cheers, my friend. Cheers to that."
As Winder enjoyed his meal and drink, he couldn't help but let his mind wander to the events of the day. The deserted and rain-soaked market, the frustrated vendors, and most importantly, the elusive thief. There was something about that situation that piqued his interest. He couldn't bear the thought of someone getting away with cheating and causing chaos without facing any consequences.
With a determined look in his eyes, Winder made a silent promise to himself to uncover the truth behind the mysterious thief's actions. Little did he know, this decision would lead him down a path he never could have anticipated.
Across the blue sky, grey clouds could be seen in the north, indicating an approaching storm. This news brought dismay to everyone, especially the vendors who had set up their booths to sell their wares. The rain had only stopped that morning and had already caused significant damage. Puddles had formed, and every time someone ran or children jumped in them, water splashed everywhere. The horses only added to the mess. The prospect of more rain made the situation even worse, as it would create even more waterlogged conditions. Everyone, except for the guards and a few working men, would seek shelter in their homes. This left the vendors in a difficult position, wondering how they were supposed to make a living if no one ventured out to buy from them. Occasionally, a passing wagon or two might come by, but the likelihood of a purchase was doubtful.
To add to their frustration, just half an hour before, the guards had attempted to arrest a vendor for theft. The poor man swiftly fled, causing chaos in his wake. He knocked over people's booths, trampled over fruits, and even knocked some people down in the process. Some of the individuals who had previously been cheated by him found amusement in the situation. The ones responsible for reporting him happened to be the king's son and the grandson of a general. They may have appeared like ordinary peasants, but they had guards standing nearby who knew about the vendor's dishonest practices. It was their decision to put an end to his cheating ways. The two young men laughed throughout the whole ordeal, even when the general's grandson was knocked over. But he was never caught, which brought disapproval from all, save the angry vendors. Now, many of the vendors were closing up until the rain would stop.
"Hey," a voice called out, "I need you to sell me some fruit." It was a person passing through.
"Nope," replied the vendor. "I am not selling anything to anyone. Big or small, king or queen. I am done."
"Really, what happened here? This is the worst place I have been," replied the passerby. "There are even abandoned booths."
"Yeah, well, blame it on the rain," the vendor grumbled. "It started pouring this morning and hasn't let up since. Everything's a mess, and nobody wants to come out and buy anything."
The passerby looked around at the deserted and disheveled market, nodding sympathetically. "I can understand why. It looks like a disaster zone."
"It is," the vendor agreed. "And to top it all off, we had a thief causing havoc just before you got here. He knocked down our booths, ruined our goods, and got away scot-free."
"That's terrible," the passerby said, a mix of concern and curiosity evident in their voice. "Do you know who he was?"
"Oh, we know exactly who he is," the vendor replied bitterly. "But he's slippery, that one. Always manages to elude capture. It's like he has some sort of ally with connections."
The passerby raised an eyebrow. "Connections? You think someone is helping him?"
"I wouldn't be surprised," the vendor replied. "There are rumors that he's been scamming people for years, but nothing ever happens to him. Some people say, 'Oh, you know I don't care.' But he is just too good for others to notice."
"That's infuriating," the passerby said, anger tinting their tone. "Someone needs to put an end to his deceitful ways."
"Like anyone can, you know this is the first time someone has actually reported him."
"Oh, well, my friend, I must be going, but keep trying to sell, don't give up. Everyone has troubles."
The vendor smiled. "See y'all someday soon, I hope."
Meeting the Dumb One - Chapter 2
The passerby's name was Winder. He went to the inn to stay the night. He had troubles of his own and he was not going to travel in the rain. So he decided to get some food and stay a couple of days in town. When Winder entered the inn, he saw that there was a fight going on. But he cared not.
He made his way to the bar and sat down, ordering a hot meal and a pint of ale. The innkeeper, a burly man with a red face and a thick beard, looked at Winder with curiosity.
"What brings you here, stranger?" the innkeeper asked, wiping a mug clean with a towel.
"Just passing through," Winder replied, taking a sip of his ale. "Thought I'd seek shelter from the rain and grab a meal."
The innkeeper nodded, understanding. "A wise decision. This rain has been relentless. So, where do you hail from?"
Winder have the innkeeper ablank stare "is it common that you must know we're your customers hail from" he asked
The innkeeper chuckled, shaking his head. "No, it's not a requirement. But it's always interesting to know where people are coming from, especially travelers like yourself. Makes for good conversation, you know? But it you wish to keep it secret, then it matters not."
Winder nodded, appreciating the innkeeper's understanding. "I don't mind sharing. I come from a small town not too far from here. Just felt like exploring new places and seeking some adventure."
The innkeeper grinned, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. "Adventure, eh? You've definitely come to the right place then. This town may seem ordinary on the surface, but there's plenty of excitement and stories hidden within its walls."
Winder's interest piqued. "Oh? Do tell me more. I'm always up for a good story or two."
The innkeeper leaned against the bar, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. "Well, you see, this town is known for its colorful characters. There's the revered blacksmith who's been known to forge extraordinary weapons, the wise old woman who can predict the future with eerie accuracy, and even the local bard who can turn a simple tune into a captivating tale. But what really captures people's attention is the mystery of the elusive thief."
Winder's curiosity heightened. "The elusive thief? Tell me more."
The innkeeper lowered his voice, creating an air of secrecy. "This thief has been plaguing our town for years, but nobody has ever been able to catch them. They're like a ghost, slipping through the fingers of the guards and vanishing without a trace. Some say they can even change their appearance at will. It's brought frustration to the townsfolk and has created an aura of excitement, with many attempting to uncover the thief's identity."
Winder leaned in closer, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Has anyone come close to catching them?"
The innkeeper nodded gravely. "Some have come close, but their efforts always seem to be thwarted. It's like the thief always has a backup plan or someone helping them from the shadows. Rumors circulate that they have connections within the town, which makes it even more difficult to catch them."
Winder's mind raced with possibilities. The vendor's words about the elusive thief having an ally with connections echoed in his thoughts. Could this be the very thief they were talking about? A spark of determination ignited within him.
"I'm grateful for the information," Winder said, his voice filled with resolve. "I think I might just try my hand at uncovering the truth behind this thief. It's about time someone put an end to their deceitful ways."
The innkeeper's eyes widened with surprise, then a grin spread across his face. "Well, it seems we have a brave soul among us. I wish you luck on your quest, my friend. And if you uncover any interesting tales, be sure to share them with us."
Winder nodded, a glimmer of excitement flickering in his eyes. With renewed purpose, he finished his meal and bid the innkeeper farewell, ready to embark on his journey to expose the elusive thief and bring justice to the town. Little did he know, this decision would lead him down a path filled with danger, unexpected allies, and secrets that could shake the very core of the town.