11 A Day in Aleluvaga
Light peers in through the window of the modest room that Jayson was sleeping in causing him to turn away from the window. Unable to fall back asleep due to the sun Jayson throws the covers off of himself and sits on the edge of the bed while rubbing his eyes. After stifling a yawn as he stretches, Jayson stands up and puts on his boots prior to heading out of the room.
After heading downstairs Jayson surveys the tavern and notices it's practically devoid of people, thinking to himself that it's probably too early for people to be here even for breakfast. Jayson approaches the counter and notices the old man from yesterday.
"Hey, excuse me, barkeeper."
The old man turns around and spots Jayson.
"Whaddaya want this early in the morning? I didn't have time ta start cookin' for the breakfast rush."
"Ah, really? What time is it?"
"'bout six in the mornin' I suppose? The suns only just started to come up, ya know?"
"Makes sense, well I wanted to drop off your key to you, I'll be out in town all day."
Handing over the key to the room and saying a brief farewell, Jayson heads into town hoping to have a better experience today.
Vaguely recalling where the blacksmith is located Jayson walks through town. After walking through town for some time, Jayson comes across the blacksmith's location. Noticing the fact that the signboard is an anvil and hammer, he surmises that the literacy of this town or even perhaps the world is negligible at best for those not born into nobility.
Upon walking through the door into the storefront area of the blacksmith a bell chimes as the door opens and closes with Jayson looking around at the wares on the wall. A soft and melodic voice calls out from the back between the faint sounds of a hammer striking steel.
"I'll be there momentarily"
A few minutes later a woman approaches Jayson. She appears to be in her late thirties and her voice didn't really match her appearance. This woman was a little shorter than him, but she had more muscle definition compared to him.
"So what can I do for you today?"
"A-ah yes, I was wondering if the blacksmith was around"
"What do you mean? You're looking at her."
"Wait, you're the blacksmith?!"
"Yeah, what about it? If you don't like it, you can get the hell out!"
Not taking him seriously the woman glares at him while resting her arms on her hips causing Jaysons eyes to close in on her breasts that look like they're about to pop out of her overalls.
"U-uh th-that's not what I meant. I just didn't know I'm sorry."
"Well firstly take your eyes off my tits, my eyes are up here and tell me what you want.
She states coldly as she notices his gaze.
Jayson's eyes snap up towards her face.
"Sorry about that.. I-I'd like to get some armor and a weapon, and sell this old leather armor I have."
"Right.. Well for your leather armor, it's pretty worn. It must have been a hand-me-down since you don't look like much of a fighter. I can give you fifty coppers for the armor. And depending on what you want I'll let you know about the prices, armor can be anywhere from one silver to one gold. Same with the weapons."
"Okay that makes sense. I need sturdier leather armor than this, and do you have any arm and leg guards? As for the weapon… I think two short swords would be good."
Nodding at his answer the woman has an idea on what to give him.
"For hard leather bracers, greaves, and chest armor, since you're buying as a set I'll charge you fifty silver coins, as for the short swords, that will be fifteen silvers. So sixty-five total. You're lucky other than smithing I do leather work. Anyway how will you be paying, you don't look like you have a single coin to your name."
Sighing at her abrasive behavior while taking a gold coin out of his pocket, Jayson hands it over to her.
"This is enough right?"
"Well, it doesn't look fake, I'm shocked you had something like this on you. I'll get you your change, it's thirty-five silvers. Do you have a problem with that?"
"N-no to be honest, I don't really have a firm grasp on currency."
"Well I'll break it down for you. One hundred coppers make a silver, and one hundred silvers make a gold coin, and one hundred gold coins make a white gold coin. Also for your information as well, my prices are higher than the other smithies in town because I'm the best. You won't find better equipment anywhere else on this side of the country."
"R-right, thanks again miss. What should I do next? Do you have to size me up for the armor, bracers and greaves? And what about the swords."
"For the swords, find two you like from the rack along the wall, and for the armor, I have some that should fit you since you have an average build for a guy."
With those being her last words she heads towards another part of the building. While waiting on the woman to return Jayson checks out a few of the short swords along the walls and the racks giving each one a few swings. After a few minutes the blacksmith returns with armor in her hands with a small bag on top of them and approaches Jayson.
"Here's everything, did you find a sword you like?"
"Yes I did, I found two that I liked. I'll take the armor off your hands and give you my old one. So what will you do with the old armor?"
"Thanks, and not sure yet, I might fix it up, I might throw it away, what's it to you?"
She snorts at his question.
Ignoring her attitude yet again, Jayson sets the sword in his hand back and takes off his armor setting it at the counter near him. Reaching towards the blacksmith, he takes the small sack and ties to his waist followed by grabbing the armor and struggles to put it on. Sighing at him, the blacksmith takes one of his hands and slides the bracer on followed by the other and tightens them showing him how to do it.
"The greaves are a similar process, so put them on over your shins and tighten the buckles so it fits snugly. Then when you're done I'll adjust the armor. It's amazing you survived life so far not being able to do something this simple for yourself."
She scoffs at him while waiting for him to do as instructed. When the bracers are finished being adjusted she helps him with his armor.
"I'm probably going to regret asking you this, but how much did the guards charge you for an entrance fee?"
"F-five silvers, why do you ask?"
Hearing his answer the blacksmith bursts out in a hearty laughter.
"Figures as much… listen well kid, the entrance fee is only one silver coin. You got swindled, then again you look like an easy mark. Well the guards here are a bit corrupt. Most businesses charge based on quality, but if you're unsure if you should be paying that much, don't be scared to haggle the price down. Well enough help from me for someone like you. Now that our business is done, go about your business. If you come back to this town in the future, remember to come to Simmons shop."
"I take it your name is Simmons?"
"Who did you expect it to be? It's not like there's another person in this shop other than you. I'm sure you have more to do than dawdle here."
Thanking Simmons for her help he takes the two swords and puts them at his waist. Jayson leaves the armor on the counter and leaves her shop. Walking through town Jayson wonders if every person in this town he meets will be an absolute piece of trash or not. Sighing at the thought, Jayson spends his day shopping around for a rucksack, dried meats, two waterskins, a knife, some rope, a blanket and other odds and ends. Out of his three gold, and thirty-five silver coins, his remaining amount is two gold coins and seventy silver coins.
Seeing as he spent all day doing these tasks Jayson heads back to the same place as before. Upon arrival Jayson asks the old man for a room, and the same food he had last night and pays him four silvers again. After finishing his meal Jayson headed back to the room.
"I'd kill for a shower, or at least a bath… Maybe the old man will sell me a bucket with water I can at least wipe myself off with in the morning. I should have asked beforehand."
Disregarding his forgetfulness, Jayson readies himself to bed by removing his swords from his waist and his boots from his feet and gets into bed for the night.
