by M. Gregg Roe
“A conniving money-hungry bitch,” finished Audrey with a grin.
“Precisely.” Almera was now grinning too.
Audrey hesitated before saying, “There’s something else that I’ve been wondering. Where does Draymund go all of the time? At first, I thought he was trying to avoid me too.”
Almera laughed and waved a hand. “No, no. That’s always the way he is. You would almost think he had a regular job. He actually goes to several places. He’s a major investor in Novox, so he sometimes goes there for meetings or to visit Celebern. He spends time at the docks and at places frequented by sailors and travelers, seeking any news or rumors about dragon attacks. He also belongs to a men’s social club where they apparently sit around, drink, tell stories, and generally waste time.
“But there’s one more thing that you must not tell anyone else about. Draymund operates a charity that gives anonymous aid to people in need. I grew up reasonably well off, but Draymund didn’t. I think that’s also part of why he’s now come around to accepting you.”
Audrey’s face lit up as she said, “And you hired all those people who were devastated by the earthquake. You two are the best! I feel so fortunate!”
“You are fortunate, Audrey, and we are fortunate to have you here.”
♦ ♦ ♦
On the twelfth day of the second month of Summer, Almera told Audrey that she was going to the daily market to sell some of her herbs and spices, and invited her to come along and assist. Having no tutoring session scheduled that morning, Audrey immediately agreed, saying, “I would be happy to help. I didn’t know you ever did that, but I had noticed that we had far more in the pantry than we could ever use.”
Almera looked a bit sheepish. “Yes, that’s true. I usually sell at the market a few times a month. I have been neglecting it since you came here, and some of my regular customers have begun to complain.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Stop apologizing, Audrey. It was my choice to spend time helping you. I’ve also been distracted by some other things.”
“Oh … okay. What can I do to help?”
“We will need to package up small portions of what I’m hoping to sell. There are small paper packets in the pantry for that purpose. We need to weigh out the proper amounts, package them, and then label the bag.”
“I still can’t write very well, and I don’t know a lot of the words,” Audrey confessed.
“That’s fine,” replied Almera. “I will write out the labels I want, and you can simply copy them.”
“Okay. I can do that.”
They headed to the plaza mid-morning. It was hot and humid, but rather overcast. Almera went to a booth near the castle and paid to rent one of the tables that had already been set up. Audrey helped her to lay out her wares on the table. Then she sat down on one of the cheap wooden chairs behind it and began watching the people.
The market was very busy and Almera did have a large number of regular customers. They were all happy to see her there, and some of them made large purchases. Almera told those who asked that Audrey was staying with them, and explained that she had been occupied helping her to get settled and adjust to the Witch’s City since she was from a small village. Audrey found that somewhat embarrassing, but she did her best to smile and act friendly.
Audrey’s job was to gather up the individual packets and to then place them in one large paper bag. After the first few sales, Almera asked her to total up the purchases for the customer, and then to take their payment and give them change if necessary. Audrey did her best, but she was slow and Almera sometimes had to correct her mistakes. She was certain that Almera was making her do it to help her hone her arithmetic skills.
It was amazing how much Almera was able to charge for just a few packets of spices and herbs. None of the customers complained about the prices or tried to bargain her down. “I don’t bargain,” Almera explained when Audrey asked her about it, “and everyone knows that. Most of the sellers here do bargain, but I don’t enjoy it at all.”
Audrey was fascinated by the sheer variety of people that lived in the Witch’s City. She could now easily distinguish between elves and half-elves, and she even spotted two dwarves at one point. Just like she had always heard, they were short and stocky with long beards. She really wanted to speak with one, but they didn’t seem interested in buying Almera’s wares.
When they began to get hungry, Almera gave her a handful of copper pieces and told her to buy something for them to eat. Audrey was familiar with the market food vendors now, and she soon returned with rice balls wrapped in parchment and a small jug of fruit juice. The rice balls contained chunks of chicken and vegetables and were very filling.
In the early afternoon, Audrey spotted a middle-aged, blond-haired woman heading straight for their table. She stood out because of the way she moved—light on her feet and very graceful. She was approaching quickly, passing through the crowd with no apparent effort. Suddenly, she was in front of their table smiling at the two of them. Her blond hair was close-cropped, and her face was rather plain except for her large hazel eyes.
“Hello, Almera,” she said, “Do you have any rosemary left?”
“Yes, I put aside some for you. Grasapa, this is Audrey. She is staying with us at the moment. Audrey, please wrap up three bags of rosemary.”
“It is nice to meet you, Audrey.” Grasapa fished out three silver pieces and handed them to Almera. Audrey handed over the wrapped package. “Audrey, are you interested in taking lessons in self-defense? I teach classes specifically for women.”
“Self-defense?” asked Audrey with a puzzled look. She had also noticed that Grasapa had the same accent as Gabriel and Siljan.
Almera explained: “Grasapa is the owner of Xlee’s Martial Arts Academy. She specializes in teaching unarmed combat techniques.”
Grasapa nodded seriously. “There is a self-defense class tomorrow afternoon. Why not stop by? The first class is free. Then, if you are interested, we can speak about additional instruction.”
“Go ahead, Audrey,” urged Almera. “It might be fun.”
It did sound interesting. “Okay. I’ll give it a try. Where do I go? Do I need to bring anything?”
“Follow the Endless Way east from the Novox building. My building is on the right and has a large sign. Wear loose clothing that you do not mind getting sweaty. We start just after lunch. I will see you tomorrow, Audrey. Thank you for the rosemary, Almera.”
Grasapa walked away, and Audrey again marveled at the way she moved—it looked effortless. Before long, Almera decided to pack up and call it a day. When they arrived home, Almera looked through her profits and then handed her six silver pieces and three copper. “This is your share for helping me,” she explained.
Audrey frowned at the coins sitting on her palm. “Thank you, but there’s no need to pay me.”
Almera sighed and then stared at her. “Audrey, how much money did you bring with you when you came here?”
“I didn’t have any, but my father gave me four silver before he left.”
“And how much money do you have now?” she asked as she narrowed her eyes.
“Uh … five copper.”
She had found it difficult to resist buying food when out for a long walk. She never spent very much, but over time it had added up. Almera was still staring intently, and it was making Audrey uncomfortable.
“I am assuming that in Farmerton money is seldom used,” stated Almera.
“Yes. We just trade with each other, or owe favors if someone helps us with something.”
“As I thought. There is some of that here in the Witch’s City, but we primarily use money. To buy things. To pay for housing. And to pay people for their efforts.
“You have made it quite clear that you won’t accept an allowance from us, and you refuse to let me buy you anything. But, Audrey, you have to have some money. Don’t you want to be able to eat out at restaurants sometimes? And what about when you need new
clothes?”
Audrey didn’t like being lectured. “I could get a job,” she suggested.
Almera rolled her eyes. “Audrey, you have a job. It’s helping me. You help me with my plants. You help me cook and then to clean up the kitchen afterward. Now you help me to sell at the market. You would probably be dusting and sweeping and doing laundry if we didn’t already have people for that.
“You have a job, and you deserve to be paid for your hard work. And don’t go pointing out that we house and feed you. I am taking that into account. I am going to give you a portion of the sales every time you help me sell at the market. And a smaller portion should you be unable to help for some reason.”
From Almera’s tone of voice and demeanor, she knew that there was no point in arguing. Much as she hated to admit it, Almera was right that she did need money. She wanted to be able to eat out, to buy clothing, and to maybe buy some fabric and sewing supplies. And there was one more thing that she had been wanting to do.
Audrey closed her hand over the coins. “Okay. I give up. I do need money, and I’ve been wanting to donate to the Temple of Arwon.”
Almera nodded approvingly. “That’s very good of you, Audrey. I’m sure that Preston will appreciate it.”
♦ ♦ ♦
Late that afternoon, Audrey walked over to the Temple of Arwon. She slowly climbed the stairs, and when she reached the top a beautiful woman with long blond hair and sad gray eyes came out to meet her. She was simply attired in gray cotton pants and shirt, and she looked to be around thirty. Then Audrey noticed that the woman was a half-elf, which meant that she might be closer to forty.
The woman gestured and said, “May the blessings of Arwon be upon you. My name is Carlinda. How may we be of assistance?”
“Uh … I want to make a donation to the temple.” Audrey reached into her belt pouch and pulled out all six silver pieces that Almera had given her. She held them out in her left hand.
Carlinda frowned at her offering. “That is very generous, but are you certain that you can afford that much? It’s not mandatory to donate.”
“It’s okay. I don’t have to pay for food or housing. I don’t need this money to live on.”
She looked dubious as she stated, “Well, then you are a very fortunate young woman.”
Audrey was realizing just how unbelievable her story must sound, given how cheap she looked. She was wearing her yellow dress because of the heat, and it was definitely looking worn. She was thinking that she should buy a nicer summer dress to wear around town. It would definitely be conservatively-styled, not like that embarrassing dress that Almera had bought her.
“Maybe you’re right,” Audrey conceded. “I’ll donate one silver for now, and then more each time I’m paid.”
Carlinda smiled and plucked a single silver piece from Audrey’s palm. “I think that’s wise. Only donate what you can truly afford. You can always donate more later, but we frown on people coming back and trying to take back their donations.”
Audrey put the rest away and said, “Thank you, Carlinda. I’ll be back when I get paid again.”
Her next destination was Witch’s City Clothing. As soon as she entered, the shop owner approached her. “It’s nice to see you again, Audrey,” he said with a welcoming smile. “What are you looking for this time?”
“Good afternoon, Tobias,” she answered, happy that she remembered his name. “I’m looking for something, well, like this.” She gestured at the dress she was wearing.
“I think you will find what you’re looking for near the right wall and toward the back. Let me know if you need any help.”
She found a number of dresses in that area of the store that looked good to her, but she was worried because none of them had prices and she remembered how expensive the dress Almera bought her had been. She finally picked out a bright yellow cotton dress that fit her fairly well and took it over to him.
“How much is this dress?” she asked.
“Three silver, and it’s an additional five copper if you need it altered.”
Audrey smiled in relief. “Then I would like to buy it. I can alter it myself.” She counted out three silver pieces and handed them over.
“Just give me a minute and I will have it wrapped up for you. And in case you are wondering, that dress that Almera bought you cost forty silver. Most of our clothing is far more reasonably priced. We try to cater to a variety of tastes and incomes.”
“That’s good because my tastes are simple and my income is low.”
When she arrived back at the mansion, she showed Almera the dress that she had bought. “You’re certainly consistent,” she commented. “This looks very similar to the dress you’re wearing now. And it’s exactly what I would expect from you. I’m glad you spent some of that money on yourself.”
“I was actually going to give it all to the Temple of Arwon,” Audrey admitted, “but a woman there talked me out of it.”
“Carlinda?”
“Yes, do you know her?”
“Quite well. She and Draymund grew up in the same small town. Carlinda’s husband Hagen is the Captain of the Witch’s City Guard.”
“I didn’t know that. That’s impressive.” Almera really did seem to know everyone important.
“And complicated. Hagen used to adventure with Gabriel’s mother and Siljan’s father. And Grasapa for that matter. Carlinda used to be married to the previous captain before he died. Hagen has two children by his first wife, but none with Carlinda. Don’t worry about it. Even I have trouble keeping it all straight at times.”
Audrey was already confused, so she just said, “Okay. I’m going to take the dress to my room and then I’ll help you cook dinner.”
“Very good, Audrey.”
Only as she put her new dress in her wardrobe did she realize that she would need to buy some additional sewing supplies to alter it. But that wasn’t a problem now. She had money and would continue to make more as long as she helped Almera. She had to admit that it was a fair arrangement.
Audrey changed out of her dress into her usual shirt and pants, which is also what she would wear for her self-defense class. She was curious and very much looking forward to it. She felt safe walking around the city, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to learn how to defend herself if she ran into an unlicensed thief or some thug. Or an over-amorous boyfriend, not that that was likely to be an issue any time soon.
11
‡ Grasapa ‡
The morning after her self-defense class, Audrey found that even the slightest motion brought pain. When she tried to move, muscles she hadn’t even known she possessed began to ache. And a single self-defense class had done that to her. She hadn’t really thought about it before, but she decided that she must be in really poor physical condition for a little exercise to hurt so much.
The lesson had taken three hours, but part of that had been spent doing stretches and warm-up exercises. There were four other students, and they were all older. Grasapa taught them three techniques to break an attacker’s grip. Two of her male students were there to act as fake assailants. Audrey felt a real thrill the first time she successfully broke free of her attacker’s hold. It felt powerful.
Despite her pain, she desperately wanted to take more classes. Everything about it felt right. She wanted to learn to properly defend herself, and even how to attack someone should it prove necessary. Grasapa included a tour of her school, and they witnessed other students sparring—aiming kicks and punches at each other, and even throwing one another down onto the padded floor. Audrey had watched them in complete amazement, wishing that she knew how to do those things.
But now she was facing a huge problem. Additional classes would cost money—probably a lot of money, and almost certainly more than she had at the moment. She now regretted buying herself a new dress. She was going to have to ask Draymund and Almera for money, and it was going to be embarrassing. She hated to have to do it, but there was no choice. She didn’t want to w
ait.
Audrey hobbled painfully down to breakfast and was amazed that Saxloc didn’t even notice anything. Draymund and Almera definitely noticed, and they were both amused. After Saxloc had left, Draymund grinned and said, “Audrey, you are walking like an old woman.”
Audrey smiled sadly. “Yes. My whole body hurts.”
“Good. If training doesn’t hurt, then you are not doing it properly.”
Almera shook her head. “It’s fine if training makes you sore, but not if it actually injures you. It took Draymund a while to figure that out.”
“It was just that one time,” he protested with a hurt look. “Must you keep bringing it up?”
Almera simply frowned at him in reply.
“Excuse me,” said Audrey. “I really enjoyed my self-defense lesson. I … I want to enroll as a student at Grasapa’s school.”
Draymund smiled and nodded. “I think that’s an excellent idea. When you get good enough, be sure to beat up my idiot son. He won’t be able to ignore that.”
Almera gave her husband a disapproving look. “I will certainly miss your help, but I also think it’s a good idea. Your tutoring, however, is going to continue until Hawina and I are both satisfied with your skills.”
“Yes, I understand. And I’ll still help out some of the time. Uh … I don’t know how much it’s going to cost. I don’t think I have enough right now, and I want to start as soon as I can.”
He waved a hand casually, saying, “Don’t worry about it. Just tell Grasapa to bill me.”
Almera nodded, adding, “Yes. That’s fine.”
Audrey was speechless as she stared at their smiling faces. Finally, she said, “Thank you, but this is a loan. I’m going to keep track and repay you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” he said. “This is just like us paying for your tutor. It’s not for something frivolous.”