Broken Mirrors

Chapter Two

First light arrived over the forests of Seann Choilltean, where Misha, her fathers, and the rest of the guild were camping for the week. The various families of merchants had eaten breakfast of "fresh-ish" bread and a decent at best local elven cheddar brought in from Tèarman Sàbhailte, where everyone would be selling their wares. Having a broken cart, the best the Nova family could do is load up as much stock as they could on the horses and have Creed carry what he could on foot. The family had discussed abandoning the cart should the worst case scenario happen, but ultimately decided that it would be too exhausting for the horses, as well as Creed.

Seann Choilltean is believed by most to be the first area of the continent to have been settled on, by fey who had discovered the thick, heavily wooded area. They decided to bring their people here, and as such, it is mostly comprised of elves, but some other fey races, such as harengon and owlin also chose to come through and settle in the forest. Tèarman Sàbhailte is the central city of the region, a perfect blend of forest and urban civilisation. Those not used to it would find themselves astonished at it's architecture, made from trees that have been meticulously cared for and shaped into homes and buildings, rather than cut into planks and carved, although the people of Seann Choilltean do make use of that occasionally, if begrudgingly.

As the sun began to rise over the city, the elves began to break from their trances and begin their day, and the merchants of the guild set up shop for what would hopefully be a successful day of business. The Travelling Market's arrival into a town or city is particularly anticipated not only by Tèarman Sàbhailte's more cultured citizens who like to branch out and expand their tastes, but by the small immigrant population who are able to find food and clothes like those from their homelands.

Clothes sold well that day, the guild's tailor knew how to stitch a fine garment, and cured meat flew off from the cart into the hands of hungry, excited elves who don't normally get the chance to eat beef. Karius spent the day conversing with the locals and making his sales pitches to elven children, who's parents would hopefully shell out the money the Nova family desperately needed, whilst Creed dealt with the incoming money and their daughter made finishing touches to the toys. Misha had deft hands, perfect for painting little details onto the toys her family made, as well as other talents she had picked up growing up.

At the end of the day, they had made a tidy 18 gold pieces which was about what they were expecting, but the family agreed they would have appreciated a little more to allow them some wiggle room. With having to buy a new cart and pay extra tax of Astura, things were going to be tight for a little while. With the sun now beginning to set, the merchants began to pack up what wares they had left. Misha put her brushes away, and spoke to her fathers.

"We do have some stock left, any chance of us selling that on? Maybe one of the general stores might take them off our hands." said Misha, pondering on ways to bump their funds up that little bit.

Karius finished delicately wrapping a figurine of a soldier in parchment and gave a small smile, "We wouldn't get as much, but it might not be a terrible idea in our circumstances, little flame."

"I like the idea as well, Kari, but like you say, the cheap gits won't take the wares for what we're selling them today, hell, they don't take them at the prices we normally sell them. We'd be lucky if we broke a gold and a half with the remaining stock," grunted Creed in response.

"We do need to think what to do if we managed to get out of this mess, if we sell quick to a general store, we won't have the stock to sell later at a more reasonable price for us." said Karius, rubbing his temples. Misha definitely was not a fan of all the variables of the situation herself, but to see her papa, normally the one who knew what to do, struggling on how to deal with the situation, she knew this was an uncomfortable situation. Misha had been considering her Plan B since before dinner last night, and now, upon seeing her papa unsure what to do, she knew now was time to take action and make a decision.

"I could try and make the sales, papa if we take stock tonight, I could take our remaining inventory back into town whilst you and dad work on the next batch of toys?" asked Misha anxiously.

Karius looked like he was pondering for a moment, and gave Misha a look of concern, "Are you planning on just selling the remaining stock, ember?"

"Shit," Misha thought, "already suspicious." Misha had used the skills she had learned with Varda before when things got a bit tight, and it has ended poorly before, the times she got caught before at least.

"Yeah papa, I think I know better than to land myself in trouble with the gaurds around here," replied Misha. The law enforcement of Tèarman Sàbhailte ran a tight ship, that was true enough, but the alternative of being left behind because Astura was not something Misha was willing to risk. Not only would that make things difficult for her family, but frankly, Misha hated Astura's guts.

Karius squinted his eyes, and looked to Creed, looking for an answer. Creed then looked at Misha, who was holding the best poker face she could muster. Creed gave a thumbs up, and nodded at Misha.

Karius gave a sigh that Misha read as anxious, concerned for his baby, but he relented, "Alright, but I'm trusting you to behave, alright?" He said to Misha, giving a little, but genuine smile.

"I'll be on my best behaviour, in fact, papa!" Misha replied, knowing full well that her behaviour over these next few days will be anything but her best, legally speaking.

They returned back to camp before the dusk set in. Misha spent that night thinking on her next move.