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 kept to him self but then something caught his attention as the door opened. The right had stoped and someone came in the only reason this caught his attention be cause the wet figure wearing a long black thin coat,or roab, with a good on there head looked mighty young to be traveling alone.
As the figure approached, Winder noticed that it was a young girl, no older than thirteen or fourteen. Her long, damp hair was plastered to her forehead, and her face held a weary expression. She took off her hood revealing a pale, frightened face with piercing blue eyes.
Winder couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the girl. "Are you lost?" he asked, motioning for her to join him at the bar.
The girl hesitated for a moment before making her way over. "I...I don't know where to go," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've been traveling alone for days, and the rain won't let up. I'm tired and hungry."
Winder shook his head, ordering another meal and a glass of water for the girl. "You're in luck, I planned to stay here for a few days to wait out the rain. You can stay with me, at least until the storm passes and you figure out where you want to go next."
The girl's eyes lit up with gratitude. "Thank you, sir," she said softly, accepting the food and water. "My name is Alina, by the way. What's yours?"
"Winder," he replied, offering a warm smile. "It's nice to meet you, Alina. If you have any questions or need any help, don't hesitate to ask. We're in this together now."
As they shared a meal together, Winder couldn't help but wonder about the girl's story. What circumstances had brought her to travel alone? He decided to wait until she felt comfortable enough to share. For now, he was just glad to have someone to keep him company during the dreary days ahead.