14. New Beginnings (2)

The morning sun crept through the stable's cracks, casting soft beams of light on the dry grass below. Elliot stirred awake, groaning as he stretched his sore muscles. Beside him, Billy lay sprawled out, snoring loudly, his mouse-like nose twitching from the potion incident.

"Billy," Elliot muttered, nudging his friend with his boot. "Wake up."

Billy grumbled something unintelligible before rolling over. Elliot sighed, pulling himself up and brushing the stray bits of straw off his clothes. The stench of the stable was still thick in the air, and his body protested every movement.

Just as Elliot splashed water on his face from a nearby trough, Billy let out a loud yawn and sat up. "Mate, I was having the best dream… no horses, no fish, just me in a tavern with a cold drink in hand."

Elliot chuckled. "Yeah, well, nice dream buddy. Let's act like you're a big deal instead of, you know, a minor."

As they left the stable, Elliot and Billy exchanged a few jabs about their unfortunate circumstances, their banter cutting through the morning silence.

"Maybe today we won't get covered in horse dung," Elliot muttered as they walked into town.

"Or fish guts," Billy added, scratching his head. "You know, I think I'm developing a talent for falling into things. Wonder if there's a job in that."

Their conversation trailed off as they wandered aimlessly through the bustling streets. The town was already awake, with people going about their business. Stalls were set up, selling everything from trinkets to fresh produce, and the scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the air.

As they passed by a small bakery, they noticed a group of wannabe thugs loitering near the entrance. Two young men were harassing the baker, an older man with a flour-covered apron. His wife, equally flour-dusted, stood behind the counter, looking worried.

"Oi, what's going on here?" Elliot said, stepping up to the thugs before he could stop himself.

Billy's eyes lit up. "Ah, some morning entertainment."

One of the thugs, a scrawny fellow with a missing tooth, sneered. "Mind your own business, mate."

Elliot, undeterred, crossed his arms. "How about you stop bothering the baker?"

Billy, sensing the rising tension, jumped in with his usual grin. "Yeah, unless you fancy getting knocked around by this newly appointed guard over here." He winked at Elliot, who shot him a look.

The thugs hesitated, clearly unsure of how to deal with the unexpected interference. After an awkward moment of posturing, they grumbled something under their breath and shuffled away.

The baker and his wife exchanged relieved glances as Elliot approached them. "Thank you," the baker said, brushing off his apron. "Those lads have been causing trouble for a while now."

"No problem," Elliot replied, offering a polite smile. "Glad we could help."

Billy, never one to hold back, eyed the trays of pastries behind the counter. "Well, I guess we're heroes now. Any chance there's a reward, maybe in one of those delicious-looking sweets?"

The baker chuckled and handed them a small bag of freshly baked pastries. "Here, it's the least we can do."

Elliot, always the polite one, accepted the bag gratefully. "Thanks, really appreciate it."

Billy, on the other hand, smirked as he took a bite of one of the pastries. "Yeah, thanks. Could've used this earlier, though. You know, during our… delightful stay at the stable." He gestured around dramatically, pastry crumbs flying. "But hey, we're not picky. A couple of days without real food, and this is practically gourmet! Not to mention the lovely ambiance of being broke."

Elliot's eyes widened as he quickly stomped on Billy's foot, cutting off any further remarks. "Billy!"

Billy winced, hopping on one leg. "What? I'm just saying, it's—"

The baker and his wife exchanged amused glances. The wife smiled warmly. "You know… only the two of us running a bakery this size puts a lot of pressure on our bodies we could use some steady workers like yourself."

Elliot blinked, surprised at the offer. "Wait, what?"

The baker nodded. "We could use an extra pair of hands around here. If you're looking for work, why don't you come by tomorrow morning? Early, before the shop opens. We'll show you the ropes."

Billy grinned widely, despite the throbbing pain in his foot. "Now that's what I'm talking about!"

Elliot nodded, feeling a small spark of hope for the first time. "Yeah… we'll be there. Thanks."

The baker waved them off with a smile, and as they walked away, Billy was already making plans for how they'd become "legendary" bakery assistants.

Elliot, shaking his head, couldn't help but smile. Maybe this town had more to offer than he'd thought.

Behind the bakery, the two thugs who had been causing trouble huddled together, whispering amongst themselves.

"Hey, that kid… he had black hair and black eyes, right?"

"Yeah, 'that' guy recently requested for someone like that kid."

Elliot and Billy wandered through the bustling town square, their spirits lifted by the unexpected opportunity at the bakery. They strolled past various stalls, sampling street food and chatting with the locals.

"You know, Billy," Elliot said, munching on a delicious pastry from the bakery, "This town is starting to grow on me. Maybe we'll finally find something stable."

Billy grinned, his mouth full of a street vendor's spiced meat skewer. "Absolutely! Plus, we're getting better at this whole 'not causing trouble' thing."

They continued their exploration, enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of the market. Local vendors called out to them, showcasing everything from colorful fabrics to intricate trinkets. The scent of sizzling meats and freshly baked goods mingled in the air, creating a sensory overload.

As they meandered through the market, they came across a lively food stall selling a variety of exotic dishes. They decided to sample some of the local fare, and Billy eagerly tried everything from spiced kebabs to sweet pastries.

"Now this is what I call a meal," Billy declared, leaning back with a satisfied grin. "We should make a habit of finding the best food stalls in town."

Elliot laughed. "Just as long as we don't end up broke even with jobs."

After their meal, they wandered further into the town, coming across a different tavern that had a cozy and inviting atmosphere. The sign outside read "The Drunken Dragon," and the sounds of lively conversation and laughter spilled out into the street.

"Looks promising," Elliot said, nudging Billy. "Let's see if they're hiring."

They stepped inside and were greeted by the warm glow of the tavern's interior. A few patrons chatted over their drinks, and a bard was strumming a lute in the corner. They approached the bar, where a burly bartender with a thick beard was polishing glasses.

"Evening," Elliot said, trying to sound as friendly as possible. "We're looking for work. Anything available?"

The bartender eyed them for a moment, then gestured toward a notice board behind him. "We've got a few openings for evening staff. We need someone to help with serving drinks and cleaning up. If you're interested, you can start tomorrow evening. Just show up around five, and we'll get you started."

Billy's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "Sounds like just what we need! We'll be here."

The bartender nodded, handing them a small card with the tavern's address and the start time. "Great. We look forward to having you."

As they left The Drunken Dragon, the evening sun began to cast long shadows over the town. They were already looking forward to their new job and the potential it held. Billy was already making plans for how they'd make a name for themselves as the best bar staff in town.

"Well, Elliot," Billy said with a grin, "I'd say today's been a win. We've got work at the bakery and a new job at the tavern,"

Elliot nodded, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "Yeah, it's been a good day. Let's enjoy the rest of it and get ready for tomorrow."

As they walked back toward their temporary lodgings, the town felt a little more like home.