Across the blue sky, gray 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 gave the innkeeper a blank stare. "Is it common that you must know where 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 if you wish to keep it secret, then it matters not."
Winder just stared blankly at the innkeeper, but he said nothing.
“Fine, if you don't want to share, I care not," the innkeeper said as he went to help another customer.
Winder kept to himself, but then something caught his attention as the door opened. The fighting had stopped and someone came in; the only reason this caught his attention was because the wet figure wearing a long black thin coat, or robe, with a hood on their head looked mighty young to be traveling alone. Winder watched as the person went and sat down in the corner. ( the corn a cross from the one were the right was) winder attention was drawn her again as some one shouted "Hey there little boy lost your mommy"
Winder looked behind him to see the two fellows who were fighting early. Talking to the person who had just come in.
Winder couldn't help but be intrigued by the situation. He turned his attention back to the young figure sitting in the corner, trying to catch a glimpse of their face. Despite the hood hiding most of their features, Winder could vaguely make out a pair of piercing blue eyes.
Curiosity getting the better of him, Winder decided to approach the mysterious individual. He casually made his way towards the corner booth, keeping a watchful eye on the two troublemakers who were now relentlessly teasing the young person.
As he got closer, Winder could see that the person was indeed quite young, possibly in their late teens. They had a defiant look in their eyes, refusing to engage with the two men who were clearly trying to provoke them.
"Hey," Winder called out, trying to intervene. "Leave them alone. Can't you see they're just minding their own business?"
The two troublemakers turned their attention to Winder, sizing him up. "And who might you be, getting involved in our little game?" one of them sneered.
"Just someone who can't stand bullies," Winder replied calmly, positioning himself between the troublemakers and the young person, as if shielding them.
"Mind your own business," the other troublemaker growled.
Winder didn't back down, maintaining a stern expression. "This is my business now. So, why don't you two find some other form of entertainment?"
The troublemakers exchanged glances, clearly considering their options. Eventually, they huffed and begrudgingly turned away, leaving Winder and the young person in peace.
Breathing a sigh of relief, the young person pulled back their hood, revealing a mess of curly red hair and freckles scattered across their face. They gave Winder a small smile, gratitude shining in their eyes.
"Thank you," they said softly. "I appreciate your help."
Winder nodded, offering a friendly smile in return. "No problem. Those two had it coming. Are you alright?"
The person nodded, brushing off their coat. "I'm fine. Just trying to avoid trouble."
Winder extended a hand. "I'm Winder, by the way."
The young person hesitated for a moment before reaching out to shake Winder's hand. "I'm Willow. Nice to meet you, Winder."
Before they could continue their conversation, the innkeeper approached the table, wiping a mug clean with his towel. "Everything alright here?" he asked, glancing questioningly at Winder and Willow.
Winder smiled and nodded. "Yeah, things have calmed down. Thanks for asking."
The innkeeper nodded in understanding before retreating back to the bar. Winder turned back to Willow, curiosity bubbling within him.
"So, Willow, what brings you to this town? Are you traveling alone?"
Willow shrugged, a hint of sadness clouding their eyes. "I've been traveling for a while now. Trying to find my place in the world, I guess. It hasn't been easy, but I'm making do."
Winder could sense the struggle in Willow's voice, and he felt a surge of empathy. He, too, knew what it was like to feel lost and searching for a sense of belonging.
"Well, Willow, you're not alone anymore," Winder said sincerely. "You have me now, and I'll make sure no one bothers you again."
Willow's eyes widened, a glimmer of hope replacing the sadness. They smiled gratefully at Winder, a newfound sense of trust forming between them.
"Thank you, Winder," Willow whispered. "I'm grateful for your kindness."
With that, the two newfound friends continued their conversation, their shared hardships and dreams intertwining as they discovered a sense of camaraderie in the most unexpected of places – the corner of an inn during a rainy night.