Is it wrong to fleece adventurers at the item shop?

Once Agnieszka and Wislawa are gone, Elzbieta's singing quickly puts me back to sleep. I'm not ashamed to admit it. And by the time she wakes me again, gently shaking my shoulder, I'm actually feeling much better. The shock has worn off and my head doesn't hurt anymore either.

I put my seal on her quest papers and see her off with a heartfelt hug. I don't accompany her right away though, despite being quite hungry. I need a moment to myself first. Both to compose myself a little and to straighten out my clothes a little, after essentially sleeping away the day in them.

I don't get to join the others at the inn either. I'm just washing up a little, using the still warm water from the cauldron instead of getting fresh water from the creek, when my neighbor arrives to check on me. She doesn't come empty handed either. No, she comes bearing a small clay pot. Judging by the mittens she uses to carry it, it and its contents are still hot.

She frowns a little as she sees me up and about, but in the end she doesn't protest. Instead she motions me over to the workbench where she moves the things I have not had time to put back where they belong a little out of the way. She grabs one of the chairs and moves it over there as well.

All I have to do is to grab a spoon and start eating. And that is exactly what I do, when she finally urges me to come over and sit down.

The pot contains a hearty stew, probably home cooked, as it doesn't use the same spices and flavorings that Maryla and Patryk usually use.

For a little while the older woman just stands there, leaning against the workbench, to watch over me as I eat. After a while she gets a wistful, faraway look. I don't get to ask what is going through her mind though. Instead she starts explaining on her own.

“You know, that reminds me, your grandma gave us a similar scare way back then.”

She chuckles.

“Most people won't even remember. It has been a while. I was still a little kid back then, about this tall.”

She gestures around her mid thighs at the last comment to illustrate her point.

Most curious.

“She did?”

Agnieszka nods.

“Sure did. Scared me right out of my mind back then. Possibly even more so than you did poor Elzbieta today. I mean, Elzbieta is an adventurer after all. She is used to a little blood and things like that. I was a little kid who didn't know a whole lot about the world back then.”

She gets thoughtful at that point, falling silent for a little while, as I continue to eat. At long last she speaks up again.

“I'm not sure if it was for a similar reason as the one you experienced today. You could ask Wislawa. Maybe her mother, who was our priestess back then, told her. It wasn't the only time something like that happened though.”

I can only nod, as this isn't exactly the first time something like this has happened to me either. It never was quite this dramatic though. Not as far as I can recall anyway.

I'm about halfway done with the stew by now and I'm starting to feel a little full. Maybe this is just the right moment to add my own perspective to the conversation and have a little break.

“It might by a halfelf thing. Or maybe it is just something running in the family. I'm not quite sure. We tend to be a little faint of heart though. Not all of us, of course and not all the time. If something puts a good scare into us though …”

I trail off towards the end and the older woman nods in understanding. After a moment she chuckles.

“Do try to keep the fainting to situations where you'll land softly, or you have someone ready to catch you.”

We share a good laugh after that and I resume eating in short order.

It seems Agnieszka is not quite done with the topic though. She has a little actual advice to share.

“Do try to eat a little more. Putting on just a little more weight won't hurt you. In my experience it helps if you don't want to scare quite as easily. And, of course, you could aim to acquire some specific gifts and the likes that improve your willpower. That is something you will have to figure out mostly on your own. Probably. Don't hesitate to ask the divine for advice though. Even if they can't always provide the answers you seek they will still try to be helpful.”

I can't really argue with any of that. Not without sounding incredibly ungrateful at least. And I really don't want to be ungrateful. In the end I simply nod, as I finish with the stew.

Holding my belly I let out a long sigh. Oh, gods and goddesses, this might have been a little much for one sitting. I'm really stuffed now.

Agnieszka chuckles at my antics, while she in turn makes to return home with the now empty pot.

I grab her arm to stop her before she can actually leave.

“Speaking of willpower. I was thinking about making myself some very special dancing shoes. Or rather sandals since they are for the midsummer night dance. I was planning on highly customized enchantments for both agility and willpower. And while I don't mind experimenting with the shoes I have, I was wondering if you might be able to get me a pair that is a little more splendid for the actual dance.”

She stops, puts the pot back down and thoughtfully taps her chin as she ponders my request.

“A very curious idea. I can see the merit. And yes, I could get you something from the city. Shoes really aren't something you should just buy like that though. Not even if its just sandals. At the very least you should come along to try them on. In general it would be better to have something custom made to fit exactly right.”

I frown, at least a little, as she elaborates. She isn't wrong though. Especially if I intend to enchant it, any footwear I get should be made to fit perfectly. I'm not sure though, if I have the time for a trip to the city.

Agnieszka must have noticed the frown. Either that or she can read my thoughts. Well, maybe both.

“You are in luck! You don't actually have to make a trip to the city to get yourself some nice shoes, sandals or otherwise. You already met Urszula's father, right? He is pretty decent cobbler. He still makes most of the shoes and boots people around here need. Just go and ask him and you should be able to get whatever you want in a few days. Unless of course you want some really fancy leather, then you would have to get that first.”

I have to admit, the idea of using some kind of fancy leather is tempting. Using leather of a Twilight Forest creature associated with agility could greatly enhance any enchantment. She is right though. That would take time. I'd have to place a request with the guild first and the gods and goddess probably only know how long it would take to receive the goods. Still, it is something I should keep in mind.

I chuckle softly.

“Alright. I'll pay him a visit and see if he can make some time for my request.”

Agnieszka nods and picks up the empty stew pot again.

“Good. And now try to get some more sleep. Being well rested might help with that fainting issue too. And even if not, it still won't hurt.”

I can't argue with that either. I'm just not entirely sure I will be able to easily fall asleep again after essentially resting almost all day.

“I'll try. And thanks for the stew.”

With these words I see her off at the door.

Afterwards I check on the shop, but someone already locked it up while I was resting. I only do a little cleaning in the workshop, before I get changed into my nightclothes. The rest will just have to wait. Well, its not like anything will go bad.

Eventually I slip back under the covers of my bed. I miss Sour Cream a little, but she must have left earlier while I was still recovering. We probably made too much of a fuss for her. Or maybe she got someone else to pour her some of her treat?

Well, either way, now I'm lying here on my own, staring up at the herbs dangling from the ceiling, unable to fall back asleep. Curses! This certainly is not how I want to spend the night.