Shantare walks around for a while, looking at all of the towns shops and exploring the streets. Can't you all hurry up? She thinks with exasperation at the people setting up. I should have come a day later, so I wouldn't have to wait
Shantare walks around for a while, looking at all of the towns shops and exploring the streets. Can't you all hurry up? She thinks with exasperation at the people setting up. I should have come a day later, so I wouldn't have to wait
Kinmorn sees Shantare walking around as he sets up his archery range. He gives a friendly wave.
"Shiny window...sun?" Blackwing murmurs close to Mitnal's ear. As the barbarian's steps take them closer to this newly tempting prize, the bird twists his head to look back at Gandethus and Jessa. They still seem fixated on their conversation, and Blackwing nearly chuckles to himself over his cleverness and the rising thrill of his sneaky undertaking.
Mitnal follows the Raven's request and moves them towards the window to look at the sun.
A small crystal on a string dangles in front of the window to catch the sunlight.
Gengar scartches his beard while he thinks of all the things he wants to know. Wine, women, riches, excitement...settling down with my own little smoke shop...yeah, that's it. My smoke shop...
The dwarf wipes his hand on his pants and cuts the deck three times making sure the middle pile only has a couple cards in it.
Madam Mvashti scoops up the cards and begins flipping them over one by one into a line across the table. The first card flipped shows a picture of a goblin running from a farmer's wife, carrying a sackful of stolen food and gleefully charging toward a cliff.
"I see the cards are in a playful mood today," she says. "Normally the Goblin indicates mischief, chaos, or unexpected turns of fortune. The goblin has stolen the family dinner and the woman runs after him. But in the chaos, the goblin does not see the cliff ahead of him. See how he's looking back at the farmer's wife? Unexpected events come.
"But sometimes good things can come from unexpected chaos. Look here..." She points to a small portion of the drawing on the card. "The woman's house is on fire. If she had not chased after the goblin, she would be trapped in the fire and die. Though the ruined dinner is upsetting, she gets to wake up next morning. Maybe she will be happier when she see what might have been? Maybe not, though. We all see what we want, and disregard all else.
"So that is normally what Goblin card mean. For you it means 'will be goblins soon'."
She flips over another card. This one depicts two people standing on a beach in the moonlight, holding knives to each others' throats.
"The Twins. Hmm... Not good. Not good. For everybody else, the twins indicate family in conflict. Is one of my favorite cards. Know why? Because everybody have family conflict. The Twins make every reading easier. Is gimme card. Plus? Cheap way to give hope to mark, leave on upbeat note. Look here, see how their other hands are clasped? Something to point to and say 'is sign of trust,' or 'is sign of reconciliation'. Make them think everything going to be okay. That's what everybody want to hear anyway.
"For you, I don't know what it means. Probably something bad. You got brother or sister you don't like?
Madam Mvashti turns over the third card and lays it down.
"Speaking of bad things...."
The card depicts a human man with red horns, a pointed tail, and goat legs, surrounded by flames. In the background of the card, there appears to be an image of a tower crumbling in flames.
"The Tyrant. Very bad. The Tyrant speaks of oppression, the cruel use of power over the weak and helpless, and hard times. Another gimme card, because everybody feel oppressed some time, and hard times like leaves on trees or sand on beach. For you, I think it means you screwed.
"In the meantime," she continues, "I would very much like to visit your repository. Is it here? And are you using any Thassilonian artifacts when teaching the children at the academy? If I do find something interesting in the local monuments during my research, perhaps I could participate in some of your history classes as a guest lecturer? Or, any other subject if you feel the children would prove receptive to another academic in the classroom..."
"My repository is upstairs. I'd let you in now, but I should get back to the children. As for being a guest lecturer, I think the children would find you as entertaining as I have, Miss Eventide."
He seems about to continue, but his attention is drawn to something behind you.
"I do believe your little friend has found something..."
"I do believe your little friend has found something..."
'Who's he calling little?!' thinks Mitnal ... 'Oh, right, the Raven.'
"My repository is upstairs. I'd let you in now, but I should get back to the children. As for being a guest lecturer, I think the children would find you as entertaining as I have, Miss Eventide."
"Thank you," Jessa smiles, "I look forward to seeing the repository and the children another time then."
He seems about to continue, but his attention is drawn to something behind you...."I do believe your little friend has found something..."
Jessa looks over her shoulder and spots her familiar just as the bird starts to leave Mitnal's shoulder in order to pounce on the glittering treasure.
"Blackwing!" Jessa's tone sharply reprimands the raven and he freezes in place. If a bird could look sheepish, Blackwing certainly acts the part. "Back here," she commands him, raising her arm. He immediately leaves his perch and soars across the room to land upon the decorative leather bracer just above her wrist.
"Don't be rude by taking advantage of our host's hospitality," she continues to admonish him. Then she turns her attention back to Gandethus. "I certainly apologize, sir. This raven may be my familiar, but he has this annoying tendency to stir up trouble wherever he goes. I assure it's his nature, and not my own. I've done what I can to teach him differently, but it's very much a work in progress, I'm afraid."
She motions to Mitnal as she makes ready to leave. "I believe we should go," she says to Gandethus, "We have a few more appointments today, and really wanted nothing more than to introduce ourselves to you. We've done that much, at least. And thank you again for your time. Perhaps I'll see you and Brodert Quink later tonight at the Curious Goblin."
"I certainly apologize, sir. This raven may be my familiar, but he has this annoying tendency to stir up trouble wherever he goes. I assure it's his nature, and not my own. I've done what I can to teach him differently, but it's very much a work in progress, I'm afraid."
Mitnal stifles a laugh at the presumptuousness and arrogance of the otherwise attractive woman. 'Teach him!', he thinks 'I wonder what lesson The Raven has in store for us all?'.
"Yes, ... thank you for your ...umm... hospitality," manages the barbarian remembering that Chelaxians and the like prefer to cover every action with unnecessary speech "It was most ... interesting and ... umm ... informative."
Once outside, Mitnal indicates that he would like to go to the general store with a gesture and then again opts for unnecessary speech, realizing it might take some practice to get right "As we discussed, I want ... would like ... to visit the shopkeeper."
'Well, that wasn't so hard,' he thinks.
Shantare walks around for a while, looking at all of the towns shops and exploring the streets. Can't you all hurry up? She thinks with exasperation at the people setting up. I should have come a day later, so I wouldn't have to waitKinmorn sees Shantare walking around as he sets up his archery range. He gives a friendly wave.
Shantare looks around, as if not believing that someone would be waving to her, then starts to walk uncertainly to Kinmorn. "Hello. Practicing your archery? I actually have found crossbows more suited to my needs." She says with a matter-of-fact tone.
Mitnal, Jessa, and The Raven say their goodbyes and head across the street to the general store ...
Shantare looks around, as if not believing that someone would be waving to her, then starts to walk uncertainly to Kinmorn. "Hello. Practicing your archery? I actually have found crossbows more suited to my needs." She says with a matter-of-fact tone.
"Well, I certainly could use some practice," says Kinmorn with a self-conscious laugh, "But I want to encourage others to practice as well. This is for the children to use tomorrow during the festival. If you bring your crossbow tomorrow we can let you try it out as well."
As he talks, Kinmorn continues to work, wanting to be done and move on to other things.
"Not a lot to do in Sandpoint at the moment if you're not getting ready for the festival. How did you enjoy you're stay at the Rusty Dragon last night? I don't often eat there myself but it made an interesting change of pace yesterday. I plan on eating dinner tonight at the White Deer. You are certainly invited to try it out, perhaps get a little more of the 'flavor' of the town. Bring whoever you'de like if you want to come."
For you, I think it means you screwed.
Gengar leans back in his chair and raises one eyebrow.
"Humph!" he snorts and then holds his breath for the next draw.
"Well, I certainly could use some practice," says Kinmorn with a self-conscious laugh, "But I want to encourage others to practice as well. This is for the children to use tomorrow during the festival. If you bring your crossbow tomorrow we can let you try it out as well."
Shantare looks wary at the idea of children possibly handling her precious crossbow, and decides to be especially watchful is she brought it tomorrow.
"Not a lot to do in Sandpoint at the moment if you're not getting ready for the festival. How did you enjoy you're stay at the Rusty Dragon last night? I don't often eat there myself but it made an interesting change of pace yesterday. I plan on eating dinner tonight at the White Deer. You are certainly invited to try it out, perhaps get a little more of the 'flavor' of the town. Bring whoever you'de like if you want to come."
"No, there is not much to do. I've been just wandering around all day long." She says with a sigh. "I actually found the Rusty Dragon quite nice, much nicer than I expected, really. Maybe I will eat at the White Deer tonight, It would be a nice change of scenery." She looks around, wondering if her other companions would eat at the White Deer.
Ruano gets his evening meal at the White Stag, ordering two human sized portions: One for himself and one for Spot. Spot also gets his leftovers, since he cannot finish so large a meal. She seems please with the arrangement.
After eating, they head back out of town, perhaps a mile into the woods, where they camp down for the night.
In the morning, they return, this time more ready for civilization.
Mitnal, Jessa, and The Raven say their goodbyes and head across the street to the general store ...
... and they approach the store very, very slowly. :-)
Gengar leans back in his chair and raises one eyebrow.
"Humph!" he snorts and then holds his breath for the next draw.
She flips over another card. This one shows a picture of a man hoarding a large pile of gold coins. In the background, his house appears faded and dilapidated.
"The Miser. Is card of greed. It usually means financial troubles. Maybe it means someone going to steal all your money. Or, who knows? Maybe it means you get rich soon."
She flips over the final card. This one shows a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. But the chrysalis seems to be an orb of blue seas and brown and green land.
"And finally the Swallowtail. This is the card of Desna. Yet another gimme card. It stands for fortune and luck. But it is luck you find or make yourself. Implicit in the card is that bad or world-shattering events happen to everyone. What that means in this context is uncertain. I think maybe it means Desna is saying 'you on your own, dwarf'."
She heaves another sigh and lays the deck of cards back on the table. Something seems to be deeply troubling to her.
"Always is it troubling when I read cards and bones. Maybe I give up reading cards. But then who will pay an old woman to just be an old woman? It's not like I have many other skills."
She trails off in thought.
A moment later, she remembers her company. "Ah, but enough about that. Why should I bother dwarf with troubled mutterings of an old woman. You come for berries, stay for cards, and bring keve for me to drink and brighten my day.
"Of course, you also bother me at my home, so maybe leaving you with troubled thoughts, as mine are troubled is best way to repay you. Anyway. Keep an eye out for goblins. And worse. But you look like a resourceful dwarf, so maybe things turn out okay for you. Because that happens a lot, that things turn out okay for people."
"So, there you go. Reading over. Hope it helps. I go lie down for a while. You maybe go away then?"
"So, there you go. Reading over. Hope it helps. I go lie down for a while. You maybe go away then?"
"Madam, you are one odd bird," Gengar declares and hops to his feet. He tosses 4 gold on the table.
"Goblins, twins, tyrants, misers, and swallowtails...eh, whatever." The dwarf smiles broadly and walks toward the door.
"Yeah, I think I like you. Be sure to tell me if there is anything you need now and I'll bring more keve next time." Gengar waves and leaves. He steps out into the street which somehow seems more foreboding.
Gengar shifts he belt and heads down the street. He wanders all the way to the commons outside the cathedral, only stopping to purchase a huge leg of roasted meat for lunch. He finds his favorite tree opposite the White Deer and sits down. After devouring the leg, he gets out his pipe and wood. For the rest of the after noon he tries to whittle away his growing gloom.
As he approaches the White Deer for dinner, Kinmorn sees the dwarf and waves a greeting.
"Did you have a productive day," inquires Kinmorn politely, "I can't wait for tomorrow," without a trace of irony in his young face, he adds, "I feel almost like a kid again."
Ruano gets his evening meal at the White Stag, ordering two human sized portions: One for himself and one for Spot. Spot also gets his leftovers, since he cannot finish so large a meal. She seems please with the arrangement.
After eating, they head back out of town, perhaps a mile into the woods, where they camp down for the night.
In the morning, they return, this time more ready for civilization.
5 sp each, for a total of 1 gp. Also, if you mention something to your serving girl, she says they would be delighted to let you take a hot bath here at the inn. They have a communal bathing room, and are happy to let you bathe inclusive with the price of your meal. In fact, now is a good time, as most of the guests will be down in the common room for dinner.
Mitnal, Jessa, and The Raven say their goodbyes and head across the street to the general store ...... and they approach the store very, very slowly. :-)
The general store is well stocked, and several other townfolk and merchants are in the store as well.
A man greets you as you enter.
"Welcome, friends. How can I... Oh!" He catches sight of Blackwing. "Hmm... I'm normally not fond of animals in my store, but I'd hate to drive away potential new customers. As long as your bird is tame and well behaved, please enter. However, I must insist that anything he breaks or damages be purchased by you in the condition he puts it in."
His mind seems to wander a moment.
"Oh, I'm sorry, what were you saying?"
Mitnal, Jessa, and The Raven say their goodbyes and head across the street to the general store ...... and they approach the store very, very slowly. :-)The general store is well stocked, and several other townfolk and merchants are in the store as well.
A man greets you as you enter.
"Welcome, friends. How can I... Oh!" He catches sight of Blackwing. "Hmm... I'm normally not fond of animals in my store, but I'd hate to drive away potential new customers. As long as your bird is tame and well behaved, please enter. However, I must insist that anything he breaks or damages be purchased by you in the condition he puts it in."
His mind seems to wander a moment.
"Oh, I'm sorry, what were you saying?"
Mitnal tries very hard not to take offense at the proprietor's remarks about The Raven. Gulping twice he says "Baskets. ... I have some baskets to sell. ... Here, this larger one has wooden slats for support and leather straps for the lid ... good for long journeys ... these smaller ones here use a ... what's it called? Motif. Shoanti tattoo motif woven into the design. ... very popular with your visitors. 30 silver for the lot of them sir".
"These are indeed fine quality baskets, my friend. Unfortunately, I already have a stock of quality baskets from Korvosa. Still, I suppose I could suppliment my stock with some locally made goods. I'll offer you ten silver for the lot of them."
"These are indeed fine quality baskets, my friend. Unfortunately, I already have a stock of quality baskets from Korvosa. Still, I suppose I could suppliment my stock with some locally made goods. I'll offer you ten silver for the lot of them."
"Ten silver is too little. They are worth a gold piece at least!" says Mitnal trying to control his temper.
Shantare looks around for a moment, then heads back to the Rusty Dragon. Hoping to find something to do until dinnertime.
As he approaches the White Deer for dinner, Kinmorn sees the dwarf and waves a greeting.
At the sight of the young priest approaching Gengar puts away his things and stretches. Acting at leat twice as old as his age, the dwarf makes a big production over getting up.
"Good day to you!" Gengar says, trying to act more carefree than he is feeling.
"Did you have a productive day," inquires Kinmorn politely, "I can't wait for tomorrow," without a trace of irony in his young face, he adds, "I feel almost like a kid again."
"I kept this tree from wandering off!" Gengar laughs. "Tomorrow should be a glorious occasion...although I am not at all too certain of its significance. I've been in town long enough to know there are lots of things people would rather forget. If you don't mind my asking though, what's the big deal about the butterfly goddess?"
Gengar continually scans the crowd, hoping to notice any of the previous evening's more interesting companions. They might not have beards, but the sight of a woman is always more welcome than a preist, the dwarf thinks to himself.
5 sp each, for a total of 1 gp. Also, if you mention something to your serving girl, she says they would be delighted to let you take a hot bath here at the inn. They have a communal bathing room, and are happy to let you bathe inclusive with the price of your meal. In fact, now is a good time, as most of the guests will be down in the common room for dinner.
Ruano passes on the bath for that night: not much point if he's going to go sleep out in the woods again. However, when he returns to town in the morning, it's the first thing he does, even splurging on a cake of soap to wash off two weeks of trail dust and grime. Then he'll take Spot down to a stable that works with riding dogs and have her groomed.
Shantare looks around for a moment, then heads back to the Rusty Dragon. Hoping to find something to do until dinnertime.
Yeah, roughly thereabouts, or as close to it as allows Ruano to join up with everyone else this afternoon.
"Ten silver is too little. They are worth a gold piece at least!" says Mitnal trying to control his temper.
Ven gets a queer look on his face for a moment, as if he had somehow suddenly found himself transported to the peak of a mountain and was trying to puzzle out how he'd gotten there, then his eyes pop open in surprise as he'd been snatched back to the store just as quick.
"A gold? A gold! Surely you are trying to drive me to the poorhouse! You are unscrupulous, sir, unscrupulous."
He pauses, shaking his head.
"Fine. Done. I'll take your baskets for a gold and hope my good wife doesn't put me out on the street for such frivolous spending." He fishes around in a pouch and pulls out a single gold piece. "You drive a hard bargain, friend. A hard bargain indeed. Perhaps we can commerce again in the future, though I cannot imagine how I will stay in business."
"A gold? A gold! Surely you are trying to drive me to the poorhouse! You are unscrupulous, sir, unscrupulous." He pauses, shaking his head. "Fine. Done. I'll take your baskets for a gold and hope my good wife doesn't put me out on the street for such frivolous spending." He fishes around in a pouch and pulls out a single gold piece. "You drive a hard bargain, friend. A hard bargain indeed. Perhaps we can commerce again in the future, though I cannot imagine how I will stay in business."
"Oh come now," Jessa speaks up, talking in a disarming, playful tone. She keeps one hand on Blackwing's feet where he stays perched on her shoulder to ensure the bird doesn't cause any mischief.
"A single gold coin is worth the price of not only these well-made Shoanti baskets," she diplomatically explains, "But you've found yourself a new source for fine quality goods in the event Mitnal visits Sandpoint again. In addition, with the coming Swallowtail Festival, I'm sure it would be quite an easy thing to sell off this entire lot as one of the many vendors who will line the streets during the all-day celebration. People always need something sturdy to port the things they bring with them to the festival...or take away once they've bought something new. I suspect you'll make back that gold coin five times as much tomorrow."
She pauses to examine a small trinket that's caught Blackwing's attention. "No, I'd say Mitnal is the one doing you a favor, good sir," Jessa timidly smiles as she continues, "He's dependable, trustworthy, and would make a fine supplier for your business here. Where else will you find a Shoanti who stays true to their original culture and traditions, while also willing to trade with the Chelaxian colonists of the southlands? Surely, your shop will have cornered the market on such authentic baskets. And all the while, you'll be improving Shoanti-Chelish relations here in Sandpoint and all of Varisia. That's what your customers will see when they find these goods in your store. And they'll respect you for it. As would I..."
The young woman finally holds up the trinket...a small piece of local-made jewelry with red and blue stones. "How much for this?" she blinks, "It's quite pretty..."
"I kept this tree from wandering off!" Gengar laughs. "Tomorrow should be a glorious occasion...although I am not at all too certain of its significance. I've been in town long enough to know there are lots of things people would rather forget. If you don't mind my asking though, what's the big deal about the butterfly goddess?"
"Well," says Kinmorn eagerly, happy for a chance to discuss religion, "I'm not a priest of Desna but many of the townspeople venerate her. She is goddess of dreams and wanderers alike and the Varisians, as you know, are wanderers."
"Erastil on the other hand is god of the home, for those of us who want nothing better than to live long, happy lives with their families. Fathers, mothers and children are all under his watchful eye."
"Well,...bla bla bla"
"Well everyone gets a family I suppose..." Gengar tries to add.
"Seeing how you know your religious stuff, do you mind if I join you tomorrow for the main event?"
"Seeing how you know your religious stuff, do you mind if I join you tomorrow for the main event?"
"Not at all, I would be happy to have your company. Though I'll be spending most of the day trying to entertain some of the children of the village. You perhaps have some skill with a bow? Erastil knows I am not the best archery student myself..."
"A gold? A gold! Surely you are trying to drive me to the poorhouse! You are unscrupulous, sir, unscrupulous." He pauses, shaking his head. "Fine. Done. I'll take your baskets for a gold and hope my good wife doesn't put me out on the street for such frivolous spending." He fishes around in a pouch and pulls out a single gold piece. "You drive a hard bargain, friend. A hard bargain indeed. Perhaps we can commerce again in the future, though I cannot imagine how I will stay in business.""Oh come now," Jessa speaks up, talking in a disarming, playful tone. She keeps one hand on Blackwing's feet where he stays perched on her shoulder to ensure the bird doesn't cause any mischief.
"A single gold coin is worth the price of not only these well-made Shoanti baskets," ... <SNIP> ... That's what your customers will see when they find these goods in your store....
Mitnal tries to follow the non-stop stream of speech that comes from Jessa's mouth but gives up. Surely she's not going to cause any trouble and lose him his hard won gold piece. He trusts she's trying to help and figures he'll let her do the talking in the future.
Accepting his gold piece he decides not to join her for lunch at the Curious Goblin. He'd rather buy lunch at the Rusty Dragon and see if he can catch a glimpse of Ameiko.
"Seeing how you know your religious stuff, do you mind if I join you tomorrow for the main event?""Not at all, I would be happy to have your company. Though I'll be spending most of the day trying to entertain some of the children of the village. You perhaps have some skill with a bow? Erastil knows I am not the best archery student myself..."
"A bow" Gengar laughs for real and flaps his stubby little arms. "No, sir, but thank you."
Gengar whips out two of his throwing axes and says, "But I am deadly with these little choppers!" The dwarf drops one and quickly bends over to pick it up. He straightens up and smiles real big.
Ruano looks out onto the street and grins. This is going to be a good day (even if it is afternoon already.) He's gotten a hot bath. He's wearing a clean white shirt. Even Spot looks all shiny and happy after being groomed. "Come on, girl. We have errands to attend to."
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Ruano looks out onto the street and grins. This is going to be a good day (even if it is afternoon already.) He's gotten a hot bath. He's wearing a clean white shirt. Even Spot looks all shiny and happy after being groomed. "Come on, girl. We have errands to attend to."
As Mitnal exits the general store, his shiny new gold piece in hand on his way up the Rusty Dragon a 3 foot tall figure brushes past him in the doorway. 'I've seen that kid somewhere before,' thinks Mitnal. 'this morning? On the Lost Coast Road? Perhaps he lives on one of the farms down there.'
Laughing at the dwarves antics, Kinmorn heads into the White Deer for dinner.
"I would hate to see what your axes would do to my simple straw men," says Kinmorn. "Brother Vosk would doubtlessly not appreciate them being made into kindliung following his hard work to put them together."
Laughing at the dwarves antics, Kinmorn heads into the White Deer for dinner.
After a short while at the Rusty Dragon, Shantare decides that it is about dinnertime, and starts off to the White Deer. When she gets there, she spots Kinmorn and walks to him. "Alright if I sit with you?" She looks a little embarrassed, usually content with sitting with herself, but at the moment is tired of silence.
"Alright if I sit with you?"
"The more the merrier. I believe you met Grengar yesterday?"
As Mitnal exits the general store, his shiny new gold piece in hand on his way up the Rusty Dragon a 3 foot tall figure brushes past him in the doorway. 'I've seen that kid somewhere before,' thinks Mitnal. 'this morning? On the Lost Coast Road? Perhaps he lives on one of the farms down there.'
Ruano nods to the Shoanti in passing. He likes Shoanti; are are truly children of the land. Ruano ties Spot's reins to a horsepost in front of the store. "Be patient, Spot. It's your own fault. You just couldn't leave that barrel of fish alone the last time we were here."
After buying dinner at the Rusty Dragon and paying with his new gold coin, Mitnal spends a long time staring at the change in his hand. Finally, with sudden determination he stands and marches down to the General Store. Takes a deep breath as Father Idnag taught him to do when he felt his temper rising and enters with a smile.
He looks around for the shopkeeper. Taking his 23 silver pieces out of his pocket, he goes over and leans in close and cospiratorily: "How many of these little silver ones does it take to buy a gold?" he asks.
"Alright if I sit with you?""The more the merrier. I believe you met Grengar yesterday?"
Gengar smiles warmly at Shantare. "Aye, well met! Please sit down. Kinmorn here was just about to tell something fascinating about the swallowtails." Gengar winks at the priest.
"And I won't keep you two for long. After I have a bite I'll be on my way. Wouldn't want to over sleep tomorrow!"
After buying dinner at the Rusty Dragon and paying with his new gold coin, Mitnal spends a long time staring at the change in his hand. Finally, with sudden determination he stands and marches down to the General Store. Takes a deep breath as Father Idnag taught him to do when he felt his temper rising and enters with a smile.
Ven Vinder, standing behind the counter looks up at the door with a smile when he hears it open. When he sees that it is the Shoanti basket weaver standing in his door, his smile turns to surprise.
Growing up, Mitnal, there was another young man in your tribe, slightly older than you, named Zevtek. As long as you'd known him he'd always been much larger than the other kids his age, tall, stocky, and seemingly made of muscle. On top of that, he had something of a bad disposition, quite a bit of a mean streak. All of the other children of the tribe (and some adults who were smaller than he) were terrified of him, and would run at his approach. Unfortunately, Zevtek could move as quietly as a field mouse when he wanted to, and was aware of people's fear of him, and used those facts to his own advantage.
Zevtek was also a little... off. He would do crazy things no sane person would ever do. Like hide in a tree, waiting for the largest buck he could find to wander under him. He always knew where the big bucks liked to graze. Once the buck had stopped for a bite, Zevtek would drop out of the tree on to the buck's back and grab ahold of its antlers. The startled and terrified animal would try to bolt and dislodge its rider simultaneously, but Zevtek had a grip like steel manacles. As the deer ran, Zevtek would twist its head around by the antlers until its neck snapped. You watched him do it once.
The look on the deers face right before Zevtek killed it is the look Ven Vinder wears now.
Taking his 23 silver pieces out of his pocket, he goes over and leans in close and cospiratorily: "How many of these little silver ones does it take to buy a gold?" he asks.
His face flushes and he swallows. You think he is shaking a little.
"Ten," he says, in a dry, quiet voice.
His face flushes and he swallows. You think he is shaking a little.
"Ten," he says, in a dry, quiet voice.
Mitnal looks down at his hand is disappointment and disbelief. He'd planned this so well. The man, whom he was sure would try to trick him again, was supposed to say 'Fifteen' or some other number. At which point, Mitnal would pull three gold from his other pocket and ask for them all to be changed into silver at the promised rate.
There are many things he is good at but business is not one of them. Mitnal thought of the Shoanti expression 'Each being its talent; each talent its role.'
"Ahh well," said Mitnal with a smile, trying to swallow his anger. "You took me for a fool before Mr. Vinder. I know better now. Thanks for the lesson."
Glancing around the store, he looks for the baskets he sold the man "I hope the baskets are selling well. Next time, you'll give me a better price then, won't you? ... Now, I should go. I have a sudden urge to kill a deer."
Mitnal heads back to his camp, starts a fire, and works off his anger by finishing the other 3 baskets he'd been working on before falling asleep.