The market [https://i.imgur.com/V1Uwl8z.png]

THE MARKET

Monte didn't expect to rise with any more clarity than he had drifted to sleep with. That he slept at all is a credit to the establishment. A low hum of noise from the tavern bar room had eased him to sleep, and he woke to a chorus of birds well into their daily chores.

The nightly rate suggested the place was cheap. He could currently see more than a little dust floating in and out of a beam of sunlight, but the bedding was clean and plenty soft. Monte could remember paying much more for much less. The cat, never lacking for contentment, found a spot to curl up where the sunlight met the knobby floorboards.

Monte got out of bed and dressed. The cat tried her best to appear annoyed, giving quick twitches of her tail. Eventually gave up and jumped onto a small table near the door. Monte came without intending to stay the night, so there was nothing to pack up. He had little more than his sword, a few functional items like his dirk and a bit of flint, and two small personal effects. To that he now added the mysterious ledger from the night before.

Yesterday, the Innkeeper had insisted on regaling Monte with everything his quaint little village had to offer before accepting any payment. He learned about the Smithy, the Tavern crowd, and entirely too much about the market. Monte now forgave the minor inconvenience, since it had provided him with a handy bit of information. It would be improper to leave town without honoring Terran's personal invitation. Besides, seeing the market wouldn't even take much time.

"We'll just swing through the stalls, show our face to our new friend, and make for the Capitol.

He tossed his pack over one shoulder and slung the sword's sheath across the other. From the foyer he could hear the Innkeeper carrying on again about the village just inside the bar room. Judging that at this point there wasn't much to gain from being held up again, he quietly placed his room key on the counter and slipped out the front door.

Ten minutes of strolling past the vendors' stalls hadn't passed before Monte found himself embroiled in a dispute. The cat had claimed a rather sad-looking fish for her breakfast. Monte quickly offered to pay, including a handsome gratuity, but the fishmonger was still giving Monte an earful. Why couldn’t the cat steal from someone else? The sign above this booth looked new and had none of the charm most of the others’ did. Also, this vendor had none of the customers. He cursed the cat silently.

"Ho there!" A voice cut through the crowd. Any interloper was welcome at this point.

"Is there an issue with this outsider?" The voice continued, and Monte actually recognized it.

Terran, the bearded man from the tavern, made his way out of the crowd. Despite himself, Monte was glad Terran had no inhibitions against involving himself in others' business. Terran was the best thing Monte could have hoped for at that moment. Even so, he wished their second meeting was under less humiliating circumstances.

"There's no problem at all, I've offered to pay for the fish my cat took-" Monte began to explain.

"Hah!" his voice boomed unnecessarily.

"You've stolen from our fine fish monger here and you're expecting to just be let free?" The delivery came with a subtle wink and a nod from Terran. Monte didn’t know what to make of it.

"Why shouldn't I summon the Guard here this instant?" Terran shouted it to nobody in particular.

He was turned away from the stall with his chest puffed out like a strutting leghorn, but for what reason Monte couldn't exactly tell. Terran turned just his head to Monte.

"Don't worry, out this way, we never see more than our local officer unless there are taxes to be collected." Terran spoke just above a whisper, making sure this time his words were only heard by Monte.

The reassurance was strange. Why worry about the Guard when Monte had done nothing wrong. The delivery was even stranger. Monte felt he was publicly being made into some kind of example. Terran's act was working, eyes were starting to drift toward him from the crowd. Monte wanted no part in this.

"My cat took a fish, and I will pay for it and the trouble. There is nothing to see here." Monte directed his reply to Terran, but he could tell the next line was already written.

"Well let's hear the rest of the story and we will see." The large man boomed.

A small crowd started to gather a few steps away but well within earshot and Terran was putting on a performance for them. Monte expected to have this misunderstanding end, but instead it was escalating.

"Do you believe this outsider would have paid if you hadn't caught him red-handed?" Terran hadn't waited to hear the rest of the story.

He had raised his voice enough to reach a little further, and clearly directed the rhetorical question less at its intended target than those who might overhear. Monte could see that some of the collected villagers wanted an answer. Most were intrigued enough to stop and watch. One of the grumpier looking men in the crowd looked like he was ready to answer himself.

Just as Monte started to feel like Terran could incite a riot, another familiar face emerged from the crowd. The knowing look was unmistakable. Monte knew the server was aware of Terran's penchant for the dramatic, and she cast a look of mild reprimand his way before turning to the fish monger.

"I'm sure he meant no trouble. I need to place a few orders and I'm in a little bit of a hurry." She said, thus capturing the vendor's attention.

With that, whatever charade Terran was hoping to stir up reached an abrupt conclusion. The crowd that had gathered around for the climax of the performance immediately began to disperse. An impish grin just visible under Terran's beard looked to Monte like it was tinged with disappointment. Terran was denied his curtain call. He likely understood getting in the way of the tavern owner might result in losing access to her meals, or worse, her ale.

Monte was relieved to not be part of this showman's farce. Terran turned toward him. He suddenly looked more pathetic than sinister, as though he was only barely managing a heavy burden.

"Come, let me show you the rest of my market." He sounded less emphatic but still made sure others heard.

They moved deeper into the crowded alley. Suddenly Monte became aware of the noise and chaos of the market again, having managed to shut it out for the duration of his ordeal.

Dense throngs of villagers stopping at every stall to buy, or more often just to look, made movement in the narrow alley painfully slow. For the next ten or so minutes Terran lauded vendors, sampled products, and hailed the success of the market, always making sure Monte wasn’t the only person who could hear. No one failed to notice Terran, but Monte caught looks of something more sinister than curiosity directed his way.

After some time Terran said he needed to tend to an issue with a certain vendor. Monte watched him make eye contact and give a sort of nod to a woman inside a nearby tent with a small crowd around it.

"My friend there will take care of you. It has been my pleasure." He shook Monte's hand. They said their goodbyes. A bell in the village tolled as Terran disappeared into the crowd.

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Monte ordered a bowl of oat porridge, hot tea, a handful of plums, and a dish of cream to keep the cat occupied, and him out of another spat. He was ready to forgive Terran for the earlier incident, owing it to a penchant for showmanship, and more than a little stress over The Company. Still, something wasn't sitting right with him about it. When he looked around the market, he got the same feeling he'd had in the tavern. He could feel he was being watched and whispered about. It was time to go.

Just as he was preparing to leave when he saw the server once again moving through the crowd in his direction, this time holding a rather large basket of fresh fish.

"Can I guess what's on the menu tonight?" Monte asked once she was close enough to hear.

From the corner of his eye Monte noticed the cat watching intently as the bar owner shifted the basket from one hip to the other. Once again, she didn’t seem to catch his poor attempt at flirting.

"I saw you in a scuffle back there and figured a purchase like this would smooth things over. That fish monger is one of the new out-of-towners Terran brought in, and he just hasn't..." Her words trailed off.

She looked look at the contents of her basket critically, but she didn't seem to be contemplating the fish. After a pensive pause she turned back to Monte.

"Villagers aren't too happy with the quality." She concluded.

Terran had called him an outsider, but it turned out the fish monger was too. That might explain why the cat was the only customer. Could Terran’s show have been a way to drive business to a struggling vendor? If it was, Monte could think of ways that didn't make the vendor look so spiteful. Monte watched as the cat’s head bobbed up and down, trying to get a better look inside their new friend's basket.

"I know one villager who would like another chance to decide for herself." Monte said as he leaned down and picked up the cat.

At this point Monte was desperate to avoid a repeat of the episode that got him here. He planned to wrap up here and be on the road to the Capitol within the hour. When he turned back to the server, her gaze was fixed on the sheath on his back.

"I never caught your name last night, I'm Neera." She shifted the basket to her other hip again to extend her hand.

Monte sensed Neera had decided to ask him something. He had a bad feeling his plan was already about to change.

"Great to… meet you." The reply came out wrong.

The cat mewled a complaint as Monte awkwardly shifted her in his arms to free his right hand. As he returned the greeting, he noted Neera's hand was rough and her grip was strong. Monte expected another knowing look from her but as they locked eyes she seemed uncertain about how to continue.

"I'm Monte. And this is…" He couldn't get the words out. The squirming cat had dug her claws into Monte's arm. He unclasped his hand from Neera's and let the cat jump from his arms to a nearby table.

"Oh, I’ve heard all about this little thief." Neera let out a small chuckle as she said it.

Neera gave the cat a scratch on the head. Then she pulled a fish from the top of the basket and placed it on the table. The cat went to work immediately.

Monte couldn't help being touched by Neera's largess towards him since he'd arrived. He recalled she had also ended the questioning from Terran and Mavlo last night. Bailing out a stranger twice in less than a day isn't something even the kindest folk make a habit of. She was still a little distant. She had been since Terran mentioned there was something happening in the village. Monte realized instantly he was a fool. Neera hadn't been acting out of pure hospitality, she needed something from him.

"That's a sword on your back, right?" Neera asked without waiting for an answer.

"So… you must know about The Company." Again, no pause.

"And you turn up here alone." Neera and Monte both glanced towards the cat, who was making quick work of her lunch.

"And you're walking around with that thing in broad daylight". Neera continued leaving no room for Monte to interject.

"Which means you don't know what the Company is doing here." Neera posed the question as a statement.

The information came in so quickly and concisely Monte had no chance to respond. She already proved her savviness for reading people, a skill required for any successful proprietor. Still, Monte was impressed with her assessment of him.

He indeed knew about The Company. In fact, he knew the location of their camp, he knew about the replica, he had even taken the ledger. Yet he didn't yet know something she apparently did. Why had the Company come to this village? It was one question he thought he might never answer.

His face must have betrayed his curiosity, Neera carried on unburdening herself without a hint of the mental distraction from moments ago.

"Ah… you don't. And since I've already helped you…" She lifted the outside of the fish basket subtly.

"…I believe you can help me." She concluded.

Monte knew what was next. Neera was about to ask him to save the day. He already knew his answer was no.

A small part of Monte wanted to help, of course he did, but he had places to be. But he also had questions that needed answers. If he left without learning what the Company was doing here, he might never know.

"I'll bite. How could I help you?" Monte asked.

"About a week ago the Company started raids on the village. Three or four men come in a group, holding up shops, stealing under threat of violence. Nobody has been hurt yet, but the village is starting to… miss things." She delivered the story quickly, lingering only on the last two words.

That was easy enough to guess, Monte thought. The Company was just stealing from villagers, that is nothing new. If he took the information back to the Guard in the Capitol, he would collect a small payment and a Guard platoon would arrive shortly to drive the Company off. Maybe then the townspeople would reclaim some of their possessions.

He felt sorry for the people here, he felt grateful to Neera, but these robberies weren’t his problem. He already had enough to figure out without getting tangled up in this Village for another night.

"I'm sorry to hear that. Surely the Guard will be able to handle this. I'm headed to the Capitol today so-" Neera cut him off.

"Monte, the Guard here never does anything, we have nowhere else to turn, we're desperate, we need to stop this. I can't have half the village in my tavern every night, and I need my spoons and knives back." She was ready to plead with him.

"Spoons and knives?" Monte noted the specificity of Neera's complaint.

"Do you think it's just our culture out here to eat with our hands?" Her knowing look was back, and she cracked a little smile.

"And I didn't hear any complaints from you." Neera added. She was right.

A tavern without clean utensils was strange, even in a small village like this. Monte had written it off as provincial culture. He cursed himself. It wasn't the first time his assumptions kept him from noticing something that now seemed unmissable.

"So, the Company has been coming here to steal… tableware?" Monte didn't hide his skepticism.

"And candlesticks, necklaces, door knockers-" Neera started to correct him.

He started thinking back to the Company men dumping out their bags of loot. Everything he saw there was indeed metal. What else had he not noticed?

Monte looked at the cat. She was now perched on the edge of the table, ready to beg again. For a moment Monte stared through her, thinking back through the past few hours. Scenes from the past twelve hours slowly replayed in his mind.

"There was no flute playing last night." Recognition started to escape his mouth as words.

Monte had noted the absence, he simply thought it was his lucky night. He could see Neera giving a few slow and emphatic nods.

"Terran and Mavlo didn't have spoons either!" Monte said, realizing he hadn't blinked at the fact yesterday.

"The flute player needs his flute, without anything to keep his lips occupied he got so drunk I almost kicked him out! People need their things back. I need my things back. Nobody can cook at home. I've had to get creative and I'm dreading feeding a full house without any knives to prepare these." She bounced the basket of fish again and the cat's eyes widened momentarily at the motion.

Suddenly the situation seemed a little silly. Stealing crafted metal items was certainly not out of the ordinary for The Company. They're known to take anything they can get their hands on. They're known to be a lot more violent about it, too. Monte thought the people here should count themselves lucky.

Still, he had to resist the curiosity The Company's behavior here stirred up in him. Why would they only steal specific things? Were they looking for something special? Before he could spiral further into unanswerable questions, he snapped himself back into the moment to answer Neera.

"I'm going to raise the Guard. If the Company only sends a few men like you say, the Guard should have no problem getting your belongings back." Monte said it with confidence.

"Oh please won't you help us yourself? After all we've done for you? You have a sword!" She almost had him.

Neera couldn't have known that if Monte so much as drew his sword from its sheath, he would give himself up. He couldn't risk that in front of any villagers, much less The Company. Even here in the market, if not for the constant murmuring of the passing crowd, the blade's laments could reveal what it was, and who he was.

Monte wanted to know more about the replica. He knew he would never get answers if the original sword fell into the wrong hands. Besides, Monte owed Neera nothing.

"I know a village this size has a Guard capable of handling a handful of Company brigands. I'll go right now, and this will be over in no time." He said finally.

Neera looked defeated. Monte picked up the cat before she had a chance to beg for another fish. He waved an awkward goodbye to her and made for the open end of the alley.

Monte worked through his new plan as he picked through the crowd. It would work for the village, he was sure. Life for the folk here would soon be back to normal.

Of course, he would need to tell the local Guard about the camp if there was to be any resolution, but that was risky. Monte needed his information to be unknown in the Capitol in order collect from the Guard there as arranged. If somehow word made it to the Capitol through official channels before Monte did, he would be out of luck, and broke.

With a motivated horse, the Guard here could make it to Headquarters in just a few hours. Another night in this village was out of the question. His plan was, as usual, a good one. He knew he needed to be back on the road, and he was confident the Guard could do what needed to be done without his help. Still, Monte was left with the distinct feeling he wasn't going to miss dinner in the tavern tonight after all.