Chapter 11 - A Day In The City

Hild stood by the door, adjusting the straps of her hunting pack as she glanced back at Werf, Jil, and Fenr. "Alright, I'm off. You two behave, get your chores done, and don't cause trouble."

Jil pouted. "No promises."

Hild smirked. "Then expect double the training tomorrow."

Jil's expression immediately soured, and Werf chuckled. Fenr let out a small whine, tilting his head at Hild as if asking to come along.

She reached down, giving him a quick scratch behind the ears. "You stay here and keep them in line."

With that, Hild turned and strode out the door, disappearing into the distance. Werf and Jil exchanged looks before glancing at the chore list pinned to the wall. They sighed in unison.

The next few hours were spent sweeping the orphanage floors, dusting the shelves, and wiping down the windows.

The work was tedious, but between Jil's constant chatter and Fenr occasionally pouncing on the broom, they managed to keep themselves entertained.

By the time they reached the last task on the list, the sun was high in the sky.

Jil wiped the sweat from her forehead and read the final item aloud. "Buy ingredients for dinner. Mostly some spices and leafy greens."

Werf stretched his sore arms. "Finally. Let's go before Hild gets back and finds something else for us to do."

They grabbed the small coin pouch Hild had left for them and made their way toward the city center.

The marketplace was alive with energy. Cobblestone streets bustled with merchants calling out their wares, eager to attract customers.

Families strolled through the streets, buying candied treats for excited children, while traders haggled over prices in raised voices.

The scent of roasted meats, fresh bread, and fragrant spices filled the air. Street performers juggled, played music, and put on small theatrical acts, drawing laughter from passing crowds.

Stalls lined the streets, their colorful awnings providing shade to goods ranging from exotic spices to handmade trinkets meant to lure in curious tourists.

Werf and Jil stopped at a quiet corner to check the money. Inside the pouch was one silver coin and thirty copper coins.

Jil grinned. "Hild taught us that a hundred copper coins equal a silver coin, and a hundred silver coins equal a gold coin. If one gold coin can feed a person for a whole year…"

Werf nodded as he did the mental math. "That means if we buy everything on the list, we'll have twenty copper left."

They shared a proud smile, pleased at their quick calculations.

Jil nudged Werf. "That probably means Hild gave us extra. You know… to spend on ourselves."

Werf frowned. "Or it's just backup in case things cost more than she expected."

Jil huffed, turning to Fenr. "Fenr, do you think Hild gave us extra so we can buy something fun?"

The wolf pup's tail wagged as he stared at Werf expectantly.

Werf sighed. "You two are impossible."

Jil grinned in victory as they made their way to Burke's stall, a large, well-stocked stand at the heart of the market.

Burke, a towering man with thick arms and a belly that shook when he laughed, was already in the middle of a sale, bellowing over the noise of the crowd. "Fresh greens! Best in town! You won't find a crisper leaf anywhere!"

They quickly bought the leafy greens before heading to the spice vendors, where aged merchants with deeply lined faces sold dried herbs in woven baskets.

The rich scent of cloves, basil, and pepper filled the air as the vendors enthusiastically demonstrated their wares.

Soon, their shopping was complete, and they returned to the bustling square with twenty copper coins to spare.

Jil scanned the area eagerly before pointing at a stall selling candied fruit skewers.

The vendor, an elderly woman with a kind smile, arranged the skewers in neat rows, their glistening sugar coating reflecting the afternoon sun. "That! I want that!"

Werf groaned but relented, buying her one for eight copper coins. She took a bite, her eyes lighting up at the sweetness.

Next, they stopped at a familiar butcher stall near the orphanage. The shop smelled strongly of smoked meats and fresh cuts, and the butcher, a burly man with a thick beard, greeted them with a nod.

Werf spent five copper coins on a large bone for Fenr. The wolf pup eagerly bit down on it, tail wagging furiously.

That left them with seven copper coins.

Werf glanced around before his eyes landed on a stall selling various fabrics. The merchant, a thin man with sharp eyes, displayed rolls of cloth in vibrant colors. One piece caught Werf's attention—a long, cheap red cloth.

He bought it without hesitation.

Jil blinked. "What's that for?"

Werf smirked. "I'm gonna tie it around my head. It'll look cool."

Jil gasped as if he had just uttered the wisest words in existence. "That's genius! That's the coolest thing I've ever heard!"

Werf grinned, tying the cloth around his forehead. Jil looked at him in admiration before suddenly turning to the fabric stall. "Wait—should I get one too? Should we match?"

Before she could decide, they noticed the sun beginning to set.

"Let's head back before Hild gets home," Werf said.

Jil reluctantly nodded, still glancing at the fabric. With Fenr happily chewing his bone, the three of them made their way back to the orphanage, their chores done, their stomachs full of sweets, and their spirits high.