Another little problem taken care off. Another deal made. Another little project started. There already is an idea forming within the confines of my mind on what the magical light for Agnieszka could look like. I'll have to share it with Nawoja and Olgierd before I forget again. An iron fitting with the polished quartz at the center, fashioned to look like a little sea turtle. With some kind of hoop or hook on top so it can be hung overhead. Yes, that might look nice.

It might look even more impressive if I were to use green jade instead of a milky white quartz, but I doubt Agnieszka would appreciate the green tint to the light much. Not for her work space anyway. There might be other, more ornamental uses for that though.

I don't head down to the smithy right away though. First I stop by my own shop again. To get another quartz pebble from my little supply and to check on Elzbieta and Ulryk. It's not that I expect the young mother to have any trouble, but it doesn't hurt to show her a little moral support even if she doesn't need help with anything anyway.

Surprisingly enough she isn't alone as I return. Tamara, Odolan, Danuta and Szmuel are there too. It seems they are making preparations for a new trip out into the Twilight Forest. A number of potion bottles are gathered on the counter and curiously enough my newly enchanted shield is there too, which is a nice surprise. They aren't in a hurry though. In fact right now they are busy cooing over little Ulryk, who greatly enjoys all the attention, while his mother is busy tallying up their purchases.

I quickly add up the prices of the individual items as well, after greeting them with a cheerful wave, as I head over to join them at the counter. I don't interrupt Elzbieta though, making silly faces and sounds for Ulryk instead like the others.

The enchanted shield, a Mana potion, two lesser and two regular healing potions as well as four stamina potions. Twenty three silver Crowns and eleven bronze Crowns. That's quite a purchase. Elzbieta only takes a little longer than me to add everything up.

"Fifteen silver and one hundred and seven bronze Crowns, that's twenty three silver Crowns and eleven bronze Crowns."

I like the way she does the conversion.

Tamara in turn looks like she wants to haggle. It's quite understandable too. This isn't exactly small change anymore, even considering that they did quite well on their last expedition into the forest.

I decide to interject before she can get going. Elzbieta has some experience mooching, but I'm not sure she is up to the task of haggling with a determined dwarven adventurer.

"How about we say it's an even twenty three silver Crowns. That should make this a little easier on all of us."

This line of reasoning at least wins over Szmuel, his ears perking up and his tail swishing about excitedly, which prompts a baby laugh from little Ulryk. In the end Tamara gives in with a nod too. It's not a huge markdown, but it is something at least. And it's not like I'm charging big city prices to begin with. My wares already are quite affordable.

I take over at this point, as all the excitement apparently makes Ulryk hungry.

Odolan blushes fiercely at first, as Elzbieta, not shy in the least, starts to feed the little one. Tamara just rolls her eyes, pays and leads him back out while Danuta and Szmuel gather up their purchases.

I see them off with a cheerful wave.

"Take care on your next adventure!"

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Afterwards I sweep the veritable pile of coin down into the strong chest.

"Say, Elzbieta, I know you want to head out soon again, but if you want to take a day off from adventuring every once in a while, you could take over here for me. I mean, if you just mind the shop it's almost like a day off anyway. Right?"

She gives the idea some thought, while her boy drinks greedily.

"If it's just every once in a while … and if it isn't any worse than today. Maybe? I wouldn't mind. At worst it might just be a chance to teach my little boy something other than tracking and shooting a bow."

I let out a chuckle.

"Take your time before you start teaching him anything. He is still too young for that. Just let him enjoy life for a little. Anyway, can you watch the shop for a little longer? I need to make a quick trip down to the smithy too. Agnieszka asked me for a little something and I'll need Olgierd's and Nawoja's help with it."

She nods and switches Ulryk to the other breast.

"Take your time. I'll manage. I can close up the shop at sunset, right?"

I rummage through the remaining quartz pebbles I collected and pick a nice one, before I turn to face her again.

"Yes. Or a little before if you don't see anyone coming up or down the road. It's more a rule of thumb than anything else. I should be back well before though. See you!"

With one last wave I'm off again. This time in the other direction, down the road to the village square and the smithy across from the inn. It doesn't take me long to get there and the place is as busy as ever. It's not quite the same as during my previous visits though.

Olgierd and Nawoja aren't alone. And the person with them isn't a customer either. It's a young boy, maybe eight years old, not much older for sure, and he certainly isn't from around here. His skin is darker and has a slightly reddish tinge. And, of course, there are the horns. Not very majestic yet, but impossible to miss anyway. A satyr? Yes, he has the cloven hoofed feet too. A satyr boy. A young apprentice at the very beginning of his apprenticeship.

Well, in all likelihood this isn't the boy's first day. He probably has been around since the day after the midsummer night. This is just the first time I get to meet him. Right now he gets a lesson on the colors of steel as it's in the forge.

I don't interrupt them, only greeting them with a smile and a nod.

Finally Olgierd comes over while his wife keeps the lesson for the new apprentice going.

"Valeria! What can we do for you today?"

I shake his had as he offers it.

"You remember the shield and the polished quartz pebble I asked you to socket into it?"

As he nods I keep going.

"I want something similar, but made from scratch. A metal frame, iron or brass maybe with ornamental waves, to hold another polished pebble at the center. If possible I'd like to have the pebble carved too this time though. To make it look like a sea turtle. It needs some kind of loop or hook on the backside, so it can be hung from the ceiling rafters like a lantern."

He taps his chin, as he thinks about it. He gets a faraway look in his eyes too and not just because he is calculating a price either.

"Yes, I think we can make something like that. You'll enchant it to shed light, like the shield? Let me draw a design for you first though, before we seal the deal with a handshake. I'll drop by your place some time tomorrow if that's alright with you? We can talk about the price then too."

I nod and hand him the pebbly I have in mind for this project.

"Please do. I'll leave this one with you, as a reference for the scale I have in mind."

He accepts the not quite palm sized stone and nods.

"Good. See you tomorrow?"

"Yes. Until tomorrow."

That his mention of talking about the price doesn't even make me flinch is probably a good sign in his eyes. If you have to ask how much a piece of art is, you probably can't afford it.

Well, I just hope I won't regret the quote I already gave Agnieszka. I could cover a sale for loss right now, but I really shouldn't make a habit of it. With one last nod towards Nawoja and the new apprentice I'm off again and back on my way to Elzbieta and Ulryk.

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