Maggie’s general store apprentice work is finished. We head toward the wagon parked out front of the wood supply store.
The full load of timber has already been unloaded. Maggie’s father is having some kind of serious discussion with someone from the wood store.
“Father, can I load the basket of used clothes onto the wagon?”
Hmm? If we’re going to eat lunch now, is it really all right to leave the goods sitting in the wagon?
Maggie’s father asks the woodworker, “Boss, would it be all right if I put the basket inside the store?”
Yep, just as I thought! Not okay!
Maggie seems to realize it too. Maybe her mother usually comes along on these buying trips? This must be her first time handling purchases on her own.
“Sure. It won’t get stolen if it’s inside.”
Maggie pulled a face that screamed oops, but we carried the baskets into the shop together.
Maggie had lugged one huge basket full of old clothes on her back, while I carried a smaller one with just two pieces in it. She’s taller than me and a little stronger too, so she managed both a full-on mountain of clothes and another hefty basket.
“We’ll just borrow a corner of the shop!” she calls out to the clerk inside. Then we leave.
“You got the clothes just fine, huh, Maggie?”
Between the Lang general store couple, the wife is way more strict. Mhm. Maggie’s father is more of a lumberjack than a storekeeper, so he’s pretty soft when it comes to trade stuff.
“Yep, I did great! I barely had to touch the herb money!” Maggie hands her father a small purse.
“Wait—you got all that with just the fur money?” he exclaims.
“Hehehe.” Maggie grinned from ear to ear.
Whew… Compared to her, I don’t think I’ve got what it takes to be a merchant.
“Anyway, let’s sell Zoe’s magic stone and go get some lunch!”
Right, that’s important! This’ll be my first-ever meal out!
“Oh, the Merchants’ Guild buys magic stones. Maggie, go ahead to the Prancing Pony. Zoe, do you want to come along to the guild?”
I’ve had my fill of watching people haggle behind the scenes, thanks.
“No, please go ahead. I’ll go with Maggie.”
I don’t think I belong in the world of merchants anyway.
I head to the Prancing Pony with Maggie.
“There are a few eateries around, but the Prancing Pony’s the tastiest.”
Ooh, now I’m excited!
“Oh, and avoid the place with the beer barrel sign. The one with the green sign too—skip that.”
Huh? What kind of vibe is that?
“There’re women who…” Maggie leans in and whispers the rest, real quiet.
“Huh…” Just hearing it makes my cheeks go warm.
“When there are lots of adventurers, shops like that pop up. And that’s why you see a lot of orphans too.”
“Wait, what?!” That caught me off guard.
“Well, that’s not the only reason. Adventuring’s dangerous, you know? Sometimes fathers die and mothers can’t raise children alone.”
“Yeah… I can see that…”
It’s not easy for women to live independently in this world. The only single woman I know is Selina. But then again, I only know Lang Village. Maybe in a big city, there are women who live and work on their own.
This reminds me—Hannah the seamstress’s husband is a lumberjack too, like Maggie’s father.
A lotta husbands in Lang Village seem to be lumberjacks. Probably because no matter how many trees you cut down, the Great Forest just keeps growing more.
When I came back to Lang in the spring, there was already a young sapling next to the stump I saw when I first arrived in autumn. That surprised me a little.
“I wonder if I’ll get married someday too?” Maggie wonders.
“Whaaaat, you’re only eight!”
Wow. Someone’s thinking ahead!
“I’m an only child, so I have to take over the general store. That means I have to find a husband.”
Ohh, that’s what she meant.
“He better be dependable.”
Oops, was that a bit of a jab at Hannah’s husband?
Unlike Maggie’s dad, I don’t think he’s the most diligent lumberjack. I overheard Hannah grumbling to another customer once.
“Exactly! I do not want to end up supporting some good-for-nothing husband.”
Maggie scrunched her nose. She really meant it!
“Maybe… I’ll just stay single!” I say.
“No way! Zoe, you’re super cute!”
Haha. I don’t think there are many guys brave enough to marry a witch. Selina used to be pretty too, I bet, and she’s still single.
And no thank you to becoming a bard and getting kept by some noble. Just the thought gives me the shivers.
“Oh, that’s the Prancing Pony over there.”
The sign shows a bowl and spoon, with a little pony dancing beside them.
“Wow… I’ve never seen a place with an actual name before.”
Back in Lang, there weren’t any signs like that.
“Carlton has a bunch of eateries and inns, so they give them names.”
The inns had signs too—with beds on them. Some even had birds or cows painted on them. I noticed those as we walked.
Honestly, there are more places tucked away on the backstreets—like where we saw the apothecary—than along the main road.
“Let’s head in!”
Eep… It takes a bit of courage to walk in when you’re just a kid. The clothing and potion shops were empty, but the Prancing Pony has grown men already eating inside.
“Okay…” I trail after Maggie as we step into the Prancing Pony.