A NEW ALLY

As they sat at the small table in their room, Halven and Kurten began to brainstorm ideas for making more money. They tossed around suggestions, from selling goods at the market to offering their services as guards or messengers.

"I've got it!" Kurten exclaimed, his face lighting up with excitement. "We can start a trading business! With my experience as a trader ,am sure we can make hit big!"

Halven's face broke into a wide grin. "That's a brilliant idea, Kurten! But how do we get started?"

Kurten leaned back in his chair, he lost the confidence he had from start, having no connection in this city he just got in might actually a mountain to start up something from scratch.kurten said

Halven nodded thoughtfully, his mind racing with the possibilities. He had always dreamed of making a name for himself,but now it seems a bit far feched.

Z

Just as they were getting into the details of their plan, there was a knock at the door. It was Sophia, the beautiful young woman from the market.

"Hello again, Halven and Kurten," she said, smiling at them. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."

Halven's face grew hot with embarrassment, but Kurten just grinned and invited Sophia in.

"Not at all, Sophia," Kurten said. "We were just discussing our plans for starting a trading business."

Sophia's eyes lit up with interest. "A trading business? That sounds fascinating. I'd love to hear more about it."

Halven and Kurten exchanged a glance, and then Kurten launched into a detailed explanation of their plans. Sophia listened intently, asking questions and making suggestions.

As they talked, Halven found himself stealing glances at Sophia, admiring the way her hair fell in loose waves down her back. He felt a flutter in his chest, and he knew that he was in trouble.

But for now, he pushed those feelings aside and focused on the task at hand. He and Kurten had a business to start, and they needed all the help they could get.

As they finished up their discussion, Kurten turned to Sophia with a curious expression. "Sophia, I have to ask - how did you know where we lived?"

Sophia smiled mischievously. "Let's just say I have my ways," she said. "I asked around, and one of my friends told me that you two were staying at the Silver Stag Inn."

Halven's eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued by Sophia's mysterious ways. But Kurten just chuckled and clapped Sophia on the back.

"Well, we're glad you found us," Kurten said. "Now, let's get down to business. We've got a trading empire to build!"

As they sat down to discuss the details of their plan, Sophia pulled out a small notebook and began to scribble down notes.

"I've been thinking," she said, her brow furrowed in concentration, "and I have a few ideas for how we can get started. First, we'll need to come up with some initial capital. I have a few connections in the city who might be willing to invest in our venture."

Halven's face lit up with enthusiasm. "That's a great notion, Sophia! But what kind of connections do you have?"

Sophia's smile was enigmatic. "Let's just say I have a few friends in high places," she said. "But I'll need to make a few discreet inquiries before I can introduce you to them."

Kurten's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "That sounds like a solid plan, Sophia. What's the next step?"

Sophia flipped through her notebook, stopping at a page filled with scribbled notes. "Next, we'll need to decide what kind of goods we want to trade. We'll need to choose something that's in high demand, but not too expensive to transport."

Halven leaned forward, his voice filled with excitement. "I've got an idea," he said. "What about textiles? We could trade in fine silks and woolens."

Sophia's gaze was piercing. "That's a great idea, Halven," she said. "Textiles are always in high demand, and they're relatively lightweight and easy to transport."

Kurten's nod was decisive. "I like it," he said. "Let's start making a list of potential suppliers and buyers."

As they sat down to work on their list, Halven felt a sense of anticipation building inside him. He had always dreamed of making a name for himself in the world of trade, and now it seemed like that dream might actually be within reach.

But as they worked, Halven couldn't shake the feeling that Sophia was hiding something from them. She seemed to know an awful lot about the city and its inhabitants, and Halven's curiosity was piqued.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the city, Halven turned to Sophia with a questioning gaze.

"Sophia, can I ask you something?" he said.

Sophia's eyes locked onto his, her expression unreadable. "Of course, Halven," she said. "What is it?"

"What do you do, Sophia?" Halven asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. "You seem to know a lot about the city and its people."

Sophia's expression was guarded, but Halven could sense a hint of amusement behind her eyes. "Let's just say I'm a bit of a jack-of-all-trades," she said. "I've been around the city for a while, and I've learned a thing or two about how things work."

Kurten's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze piercing. "And what do you get out of helping us, Sophia?" he asked.

Sophia's smile was quick and easy. "Oh, I'm just looking for a little excitement in my life," she said. "Starting a new business can be a thrilling adventure, don't you think?"

Halven wasn't sure he believed Sophia's explanation, but Kurten seemed to accept it at face value. "Well, we're glad to have you on board, Sophia," Kurten said. "Let's get to work and make this business a success."

As they sat down to work on their plans, Halven couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. There was something about Sophia that didn't quite add up, and he couldn't shake the feeling that she was hiding something from them.

But for now, he pushed those doubts aside and focused on the task at hand. They had a business to start, and he was determined to make it a success.

As the night wore on, they continued to brainstorm and refine their plan. Sophia proved to be a valuable asset, offering insights and suggestions that Halven and Kurten hadn't considered.

As the hours passed, Halven found himself growing more and more comfortable around Sophia. She was easy to talk to, and her quick wit and sharp intelligence made her a pleasure to be around.

But despite his growing comfort around Sophia, Halven couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her than met the eye. He caught glimpses of a deeper intensity in her gaze, a sense of purpose that seemed to drive her.

As the night drew to a close, Sophia stood up, her movements fluid and graceful. "I should be going," she said, smiling at Halven and Kurten. "But I'll be back tomorrow, and we can continue working on our plan."

Halven and Kurten nodded, watching as Sophia slipped out of the room. As soon as she was gone, Halven turned to Kurten, his eyes narrowed in concern.

"What do you make of Sophia?" Halven asked, his voice low.

Kurten's expression was thoughtful. "I'm not sure," he said. "She seems like a valuable ally, but there's something about her that doesn't quite add up."

Halven nodded, feeling a sense of relief that Kurten shared his concerns. "I know what you mean," Halven said. "I feel like there's more to her than meets the eye."

Kurten's eyes locked onto Halven's, his gaze serious. "We need to be careful around her, Halven," Kurten said. "We don't know what her true motives are, and we can't afford to let our guard down."

Halven nodded, feeling a sense of determination. He was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, as long as he had Kurten by his side.