The town gates loomed before Sid, and he quickened his pace, eager to enter the bustling streets and see what lay beyond. But as he drew nearer, a stern-looking guard in brown leather armor stepped in front of him, blocking his path.

"You there, halt!" the guard commanded, his voice firm and unyielding.

"You need to pay One copper to enter the town of Willow field," the guard demanded.

"I don't have any coin with me," Sid admitted, his voice low and uncertain.

The guard narrowed his eyes, sizing Sid up. Sid was wearing dirty brown worn-out peasant clothing so the guard was hesitant to let him in.

"No coin, no entry," he said firmly.

But Sid was not one to give up so easily. He knew that he had something of value - the rabbit hides he had stored in his makeshift bag. He opened it up and showed them to the guard.

"Perhaps I could trade something instead?" he offered tentatively, holding out the hides for the guard to inspect.

The guard thought for a moment before nodding towards a small caravan near the gate.

"You could try trading them with a merchant over there," he said, pointing in the direction of the caravan.

"Thank you very much" Sid bowed his head in walked toward the direction that the guard was pointing.

He approached the caravan but found himself at the end of a long line of people. He waited patiently, studying the people in front of him, trying to discern what kind of town this was.

The caravan was bustling with activity, with merchants haggling over goods and bartering with customers. The air was thick with the scent of spices and food, and Sid's stomach grumbled in response.

Sid approached the caravan, his heart beating with anticipation. There were already several people ahead of him in the line, so he had to wait his turn. As he stood there, he observed the merchants haggling with the customers, shouting out their wares in loud, booming voices. The smell of spices and other exotic goods filled the air, making his stomach grumble with hunger.

Finally, it was his turn to approach the merchant.

"What do you have to trade?" the merchant asked, eyeing Sid's makeshift bag with a skeptical look.

"I have some rabbit hides," Sid replied, holding out the bag for the merchant to see. "I was hoping to trade them for some coins so I can enter the town."

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"I'll give you two copper for them." The merchant spoke.

Sid felt a twinge of frustration as the merchant examined the rabbit hides he had brought. He had been counting on them to barter his way into the town, but it seemed that they were of little value.

"That's too low," he protested, feeling his hopes beginning to dim. "I have over a dozen rabbit hides here. They should be worth at least five copper."

But the merchant shook his head dismissively. "I'm afraid not," he said, holding up one of the hides for inspection.

"These are of poor quality. I might give you one copper more for the lot if I'm feeling generous."

"Please, sir," he said. "I need at least 4 coppers for these. I don't have any money and I just lost all my family members."

The merchant looked at him skeptically.

"I'm sorry, but these hides aren't worth much. I can't give you more than 2 coppers for them."

Sid shook his head. "That's not enough. I need 4 coppers to get by."

The merchant crossed his arms. "I can't give you what I don't have. These hides are poor quality and not worth much."

Sid felt his frustration growing, but he refused to back down. "Please, sir. I need your help. I've been through a lot and I'm just trying to survive."

The merchant looked at him for a moment, then let out a sigh. "Fine. I'll give you 3 coppers for them. But don't expect me to make a profit on this."

"Thank you, sir" Sid bowed his head

The merchant merely nodded in response, his gaze shifting back to the goods on his table.

"Spend that money wisely," he spoke in a gruff tone, indicating that their transaction was now finished.

***

"Where can I find some work around here?" Sid handed the guard a coin and asked,

The guard looked him up and down, sizing him up. "Well, there's always someone looking for laborers. The smithy down the road might be hiring, or maybe the carpenters. But be warned, they won't pay much for someone with no experience."

"I'm willing to work hard for whatever they can pay me," he replied earnestly.

The guard raised an eyebrow. "You look pretty young, and not much like a laborer. Where are you from, boy?"

"I come from a small village in the mountains. My family was killed by bandits and I've been traveling for weeks to get here," Sid explained, his voice heavy with grief.

The guard's expression softened. "I'm sorry to hear that. You're welcome here, but watch your back. There are all kinds of people in this town, and not all of them are good. Just remember to keep your wits about you, and don't trust anyone too easily."

Sid nodded, grateful for the advice. "Thank you, sir. I'll keep that in mind."

With that, the guard gestured down the road. "Now, head down that way and take a left. You'll see the smithy on your right. Good luck, boy."

"Thank you, sir," Sid said as he walked down the road,

The roads were crowded and narrow, filled with merchants, townspeople, and laborers. He could hear the chatter and laughter of people as they went about their day, but he also sensed the underlying tension and unease that seemed to permeate the town.

As he walked further, he saw smoke rising in the distance, and he knew that he was nearing the smithy. The smoke grew thicker as he got closer, filling his nose with the scent of burning coal and iron. He could hear the rhythmic sound of metal being struck, and the sharp clanging of hammers on anvils.

When he finally reached the smithy, he saw a large building with a roaring fire in the center, surrounded by men working hard at their anvils. He walked up to the door, and saw the sign that read "Smithy: Blacksmiths and Laborers Wanted." He knew that this was the place he was looking for, and he felt a sense of relief wash over him.