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 just starred blankly at the innkeeper, but he said nothing.
“Fine, if don't want to share I care not. " the innkeeper said as he went to help another customer.
Winder continued to eat his meal and drink his ale in silence, his mind occupied with his own thoughts and troubles. The noise from the fight in the corner of the room had grown louder, but Winder paid it no mind. He was used to chaos and conflict, and he had no desire to involve himself in the inn's internal disputes.
As he finished his meal, Winder noticed a figure approaching him. It was a tall, burly man with a scar running down his cheek. Winder recognized him as one of the participants in the fight that was still raging in the corner of the room.
"Hey, stranger," the man said, his voice gruff with a hint of friendliness. "I saw you come in earlier. Mind if I join you?"
Winder looked up at the man, sizing him up with a quick glance. He then motioned to the empty seat across from him.
"Sit if you want," Winder replied, his voice devoid of emotion.
The man sat down, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Thanks, mate. Name's Tom. Tom the Brawler, they call me."
Winder raised an eyebrow, mildly amused. "Tom the Brawler? Interesting name."
Tom laughed heartily. "Yeah, well, I earned it. I'm not one to shy away from a good fight, you see."
Winder nodded, his eyes glinting with curiosity. "So, what was the fight about?"
Tom shrugged, his smile fading slightly. "Oh, just some stupid disagreement. Doesn't matter much. People in these parts can be a bit touchy, you know?"
Winder leaned forward, his interest piqued. "Are these 'touchy' people always prone to fights?"
Tom chuckled. "Not always, but it happens more often than not. Some folks around here just can't keep their tempers in check, especially when the rain keeps everyone cooped up inside."
Winder nodded again, absorbing the information. "I see. Well, I've had enough excitement for one day. Tomorrow, I plan to continue my journey."
Tom raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Oh, where are you heading?"
Winder hesitated for a moment before replying, "Just going where the wind takes me."
Tom chuckled once more, nodding in understanding. "Sounds like a grand adventure. Well, if you ever find yourself in need of a strong arm or a good fight, look me up. Tom the Brawler is always ready for a bit of fun."
Winder smiled faintly. "I'll keep that in mind."
Just then, the noise from the fight in the corner of the room grew even louder, drawing the attention of everyone in the inn. Winder glanced over briefly, observing the chaos with detached interest.
Tom followed his gaze and sighed. "Looks like that fight's getting out of hand. I better step in before things get really messy. It was nice meeting you, stranger. Take care on your journey."
Winder nodded, acknowledging the parting words. "You too, Tom. Stay out of trouble."
With that, Tom rose from his seat and made his way towards the ongoing brawl, his imposing presence enough to calm the commotion. Winder sat back, finishing the last of his ale before standing up and making his way to his room.
As he settled into his bed for the night, thoughts of the day's events swirled in Winder's mind. He had encountered a disheveled market, a fleeing thief, and a boisterous inn filled with fights. He couldn't help but wonder what other adventures awaited him on his journey, and what revelations lay hidden beneath the surface of this seemingly ordinary town. With these thoughts, Winder drifted off to sleep, eager to face whatever the future held.