3 Beginning of an Interesting Relationship

Demenik bent down to examine his reflection in a small window, using his fingers to flatten a piece of windblown hair into place. He eyed himself critically and then walked around the corner to approach a vendor standing under a small awning. Three crates of vegetables and a small basket of bread rested behind his large, middle-aged frame.

Demenik raised a knuckle to his brow and nodded. "Hello, sir."

"Young master." The man scanned Demenik, his gaze stopping at the boy's bare feet. He pressed his lips together. "Get away from me, beggar."

Demenik raised one hand. "I'm not a beggar. I have a business proposition for you if you will just hear me out—"

The man produced a short, heavy club and raised it. "I will not let you distract me while your street rat friends rob me from behind. Get out of here."

Demenik took three steps back and withdrew the silver coin from his hand, cupping it against his chest so that it was visible only to the vendor. "I only wanted to conduct honest business, sir. If you want no part of easy profit, then good day to you." He tucked the coin into his pocket and turned away.

"Wait."

Demenik kept walking.

"I apologize, young master." The vendor's tone was polite. "I saw your bared feet and mistook you for a street waif. Please, come back and share your business proposition with me."

Demenik stopped and turned to face the man. Now that he knows I have money, he is just as likely to beat me on the head with that club and steal the coin. He eyed the club in the man's hand. "This is close enough for the moment."

The man frowned and looked down at the club. "Oh, right. Do not think less of me for protecting myself. Street selling can be dangerous business. Only a foolish man would be unarmed out here." He put the club away and pointed towards the baskets behind him. "What can I sell you today?"

"I would like to buy your food."

"That is obvious. Tell me what items you require and I will calculate the price."

"All of it."

The vendor smiled but quickly regained his calm expression. "I only caught a brief glimpse of your coin. If it has not been shaved it will perhaps be enough money to purchase everything I have for sale today behind me."

Demenik chuckled and waved at the food. "I'm not a fool. My coin is enough to buy three times the amount."

"Ridiculous. You obviously don't know what you're talking abo—"

"Fine." Demenik turned to leave.

"Wait!"

"Good luck to you, my friend. I offered to make your day a short and profitable one, but you choose to sit out here and likely only sell half of what you display. I will come back tomorrow and offer you even less money for the stale wares you are stuck with."

The vendor took a breath and then let it out. "Of course, you are right. I was only trying to barter for a better price, young master. Let us do this deal before the morning sun begins to wilt your fine food."

Demenik pretended to consider the vendor's words before turning and walking back towards the stand. "This isn't the first stall I have stopped at. Half a silver coin is too generous, but time is precious to me and I am willing to make that offer if you accept without any more bickering."

The vendor opened his mouth to speak. "Uh-uh." Demenik raised his eyebrows. "If your next words are anything other than 'we have a deal', I will leave."

The vendor made a clucking sound with his tongue. "We have a deal, young man, but you rush this and take all of the fun out of the transaction."

"I apologize. Perhaps when I return looking for a similar purchase a couple of days from now, we can barter more."

The vendor arched one eyebrow. "How will you carry all of this food with you?"

"I will think of something. You can make change for my coin?"

"Oh." The vendor's look became pained.

"Life gives us a solution to one problem by delivering a new one, doesn't it?" Demenik shook his head. He had made this same deal with three other vendors but none had enough coin to offer him proper change when the time came to complete the transaction. He had spent the morning discovering that having money you could not spend was sometimes no better than being penniless.

"It is dangerous to stand on the street with that much money, young master."

"You don't say?" Demenik folded his arms. "Tell me that you have a solution to our problem."

"I do, if you are prepared to wait an hour for the food and your change?"

Demenik paused. "Fine. I will return in one hour."

"I will see you then." The vendor bowed.

Demenik stood straight and pushed back his shoulders. "I know how I must appear to you."

"What do you mean?"

"I look like a small boy with too much money."

"Yes, you do."

"It is difficult to find people who are trustworthy. I sense that you are such a person."

The vendor looked at Demenik quietly.

"In short order I will become more than the poor-looking, shoeless boy you see now. I am loyal to my friends, and will bring them along on this ride to prosperity that I am on." Demenik levelled him with a flat stare. "Neither do I forget my enemies or those who cross me."

"During my travels, I once saw a lion. It was chained in a pit and the owner had loosed a dozen ferocious dogs against it. The lion killed those dogs easily. Something about your look reminds me of that animal. I believe you."

"Good." Demenik's serious look melted away and he smiled. "Then I look forward to a prosperous friendship." He stepped close to the vendor and extended his hand. "My name is Demenik."

"You should not get so close to an adult with that amount of money on your person."

"I know." Demenik did not move away.

The vendor sighed. I would be doing him a favor by taking the money from him, but I won't. The vendor shrugged and stepped closer. "A pleasure to meet you, Demenik. I am called Arkell."

"I think this might be the beginning of an interesting relationship, Arkell."

"I think you could be right."