Smallest Advantage

Tyr's Decision Part 2

Reaching the each of the village called Sink was always an easy walk for Tyr. The closer he got the first things that would hit him would be the smells.

The men smelled of mead and sweat. Often times Tyr would have too stop himself from gagging if he got to close. The women weren't much better but were tolerable. The women worked just as hard as the men and would use water laced with oils and flowers to give off a sickly sweet smell.

As he stepped between two rather small houses Tyr then heard the noise of the village. Carts with horses being pulled, men shouting and cursing, women shouting just as much, and children playing nearby.

Slightly shaking his head Tyr stepped out into the well worn track with home being his primary destination. A few feet towards his homes direction he heard his name being shouted at him.

"Tyr!"

He knew who it would be before he even turned around. "Hello Petra."

Turning around he saw a slightly plump teenage girl stalking towards him. She had on a dress with pink colored flowers all over it. Her black hair was tied back into a tight knit. Green eyes set atop a cruel smile giving Tyr an impression of bat circling its prey.

"You know the rules," she began, "any new substances brought into the village needs to go thru my family first." Petra finished her demand with a eye flair as if begging Tyr too fight back.

Tyr felt his blood rush his face. He never got along with Petra ever since he saved someone's life she almost killed. Petra's family were the local doctors and since they could make their own prices or take their own payments they got away with a lot. Farmers gave away entire harvests, hunters had to give away their best game, even Tyr's own father had to do a couple of special jobs for Tyr's birth.

Petra fancied herself a doctor while her mother and father did most of the work. Being the richest family in Sink no one dared get in her way, except Tyr.

"I don't remember being told such rules," Tyr responded too Petra.

Petra's green eyes flashed open even wider for a second in anger. "Tyr you know you were told numerous times too come to me with any new or discovered plants."

Her voice grew so cold and crisp that Tyr was amazed she didn't bite off her tongue. He knew that arguing with her wouldn't solve anything.

"Then how about you or someone who works for your family follow me home so I won't be late," Tyr tried to sound convincing.

Petra face lost its sharpness for a second. Tyr didn't want Petra too search his pouch and discover the books. They were his most precious treasure. The knowledge in them would help Petra and her family immensely but they were a gift to him from his mother.

"Ok," she began for a few seconds, "You currently have people waiting for you." Tyr flinched at this news. "I won't demand you to hand it over as I should. However I may still send someone for it later."

Petra's voice gave the indication that Tyr should be grateful and humbled. He didn't give much thought to what she said beyond saying he had visitors. Business was one thing. Everyone knew what each other needed so one could predict who would go where. But visitors? That's unheard of.

Turning around without giving Petra another word Tyr headed home much faster. Men, women, and children turned too watch him almost run by. Flashes of men's tunics, women dresses, or a children's laughter flashed by his senses without much thought.

His breath started to come more sharply as he picked up speed. 'Why am I so worried,' he thought to himself. The track steadily got steeper as the houses disappeared from his view.