After a little waiting time, the new speaker came out and told me about a bear in the area, taking sheep and frightening the neighbourhood. They gave me a map as well. I thanked him kindly.

The little boy twitched back, glancing back at the meat and leathers I brought on the back of Chelsea. He ran away when I smiled at him.

To the point indeed. The bounty will be collected inside, as usual. I will do them the favour and arrive in the morning.

Nut now it was time to get to a secluded place on the market and wait for the customers. They came soon enough. It was not time for meat, so it was a special treat right now. There was no shortage in demand. The same went for leathers. People always needed the materials, no matter how much they were adverse to the source.

This week, they actually showed up themselves, no stand-ins wit lists they could not decipher.

An hour later, the wares were gone and I had a nice bag of coin for my troubles. Had to get a new knife. And a few nails. It would do nicely.

Now, there was always a bit of time for a visit.

There was a newcomer in the city. He… now owns a book shop. His books are apparently to keep information. Not for bookkeeping, but actually… inform people about things.

I could not read. And it was a strange concept, too.

But I came back to him, knocking at the door when I entered through the back door.

He twitched: “M- Miss Annabelle! This… is not the right entrance, this is the way to my private rooms, I-“

“Shush, master bookkeeper. ‘s frowned on when I buy from ya’.” I looked around. There were books everywhere. In various states of repair. It smelled dusty. And he had one of the books open in front of him.

“Err. I… believe that everyone has a… right to books…” He looked a little to the side… and sorry.

“’s why I got in!” I grinned at him. And the put my bag down on his counter – far away from his book, of course. He still made a big of a face. Well, if was a dirty bag.

“I’d appreciate it if you refrained from-“

“Sh, Enoch, shhhh, I got ya somthin’,” and I got the leathers out. Twelve skins, good quality and with big unblemished areas. He would be able to work with that.

His eyes did go a little big: “… how many books I could restore with that…”

“They’re yours!” His eyes became even bigger. “For a priiiice” And he chewed on his lower lip. Young un.

“What… what is it?” He looked anxious.

And I didn’t help with chuckling. And reaching into my satchel.

I produced a flower and gestured him to lean a bit forward which he – after a second of looking around – did. I braided into his hair and said: “Wear this with pride. For today”

He blinked. I waved.

And smiled before I walked out the backdoor again. The book-things weren’t bad. I wanted to help them out.