Fiona smiled proudly as she, Bonnie, and Greg came out with the crowd breaking into cheers. She motioned after a moment to hold their applause and cleared her throat. All manner of people were here–lizardfolk, kitsune of various orange and red shades just like Bonnie, a few elves, a large gathering of humans, and others she didn’t recognize. Fiefdala was a true mixing pot of individuals–and she barely even knew the history of it, or the culture!

What did she know? People here chilled out like everyone back at home, without much care for who everyone was. So, this should be easy. She took a deep breath, smoothed her hair, and with Bonnie by her side, motioned for a little bit of silence.

“Thank you for coming, everyone! I can see that we’ve got a pretty big crowd here, so I’ll keep the speech short!” She glanced at the crowd, and the keen eyes. A few elven children stood waist-high compared to their parents, looking on with dazzling bright eyes and crooked smiles. “So, I came into the kingdom, and the first task I took was to be its hero! Now, I know, the poster board says ‘looking for a hero’ but I’m sure that was not intended to be on the nose! Or muzzle. Or snout? Sorry guys, I’m new to this speech thing!” she added, and elicited a few heartfelt laughs.

She continued on without skipping a beat. “Anyway, so I have to give my thanks to everyone who helped me get here–to Jake Pendelier, the Adventurer’s guild master, who taught me a lot of the tricks of the trade on how to take down monsters, escort nobles…and beat up giant dragons with a massive hammer. Oh wait, he didn’t teach me that last part! But, he should take credit for being the inspiration,” she added with a sly grin aimed at him. He stood there as part of the crowd, with his muzzle set into a smug smile and he crossed his arms, looking proud.

“Now, thanks to the courteous donations of Douglas the Red–I mean, the nasty dum-dum who tried to burn everything–we’re trying to give back a little something, to the community! We want the adventurers who made this period of peace to be recognized, and we want to see to it that the next wave will be equipped for the future! The dragon had a bunch of stuff that I think will appeal to a lot of people. Treasure, intrigue, fancy equipment, and an odd taste for paintings. Those are in the back–away from the kids,” she adds, and a few mothers tried to shield their kids' eyes, out of instinct–while the husbands' hands drifted to their coin pouches.

“But, above all, I want this store to be a reflection on the people that inspired me–people from all walks of life. The people who helped explore, build, and defend Fiefdala, regardless of class, or stature, rich or poor! Along with my friend Bonnie, we’ve dedicated this place to be a service and reflection of those who work hard to give this city and surrounding countryside an identity. A place where we all walk in the door and we’re all greeted with a big, courteous smile!”

She could see the excitement building in the crowd, and Bonnie gave her a subtle nod. “Alright, alright, maybe a little more speech than I planned for. Bonnie, wanna do the honors for me, so we can get this rolling?”

“Do I ever, darling. Alright, folks, for those of you who know me, I’m Bonnie Revere, I’ve worked with Fiona before, along with the adventurers guild. True to her word, our store is about being of service to all members of the city, regardless of class. Just stay classy!” she quipped to a bunch of heartfelt laughs. “So, Fi and I talked, because there is some overlap. If you make purchases at the store, we do offer a discount on additional rune work, so take advantage of it! As always, ten percent of our first-day proceeds go right back to the adventurer’s guild, so that we can inspire the next generation of brave youth that have made this country the beacon it is!” she said with a fist held high.

“Thank you, Bonnie. I'd also like to introduce to you Gregory Lockheed. He’s the one who secretly makes the magic happen,” Fiona took over and gave a gentle nudge, where he tried to look a little less stiff. Even his smile is stiff–she needs to get this boy a training routine to look a little less stern! “He’s good with numbers and good with keeping me and Bonnie on track. So, that’s our immediate staff, we’ll be adding more as we go. Bonnie, will you do the honors?”

“With pleasure, Fi.” She put out a gentle wave of her hand, and motes of magic formed a small circle at her paws, with a light breeze arching forward. The energy intensified and she shot out a whirling torrent of yellow energy to the bronze signpost, now hanging by the front of the building. The emblazoned sign read–along with the last-minute addition of Fiona–as ‘Fiona and Friends Emporium.’

More telling, and the part that gave her a secret smile, was the small emblem of the jeweled, winged heart that was now adorned on her wrist. She felt like it had to mean something important. No less prominent along with that icon was an intricate witch hat, and a scroll adorning the sides in a little montage, representative of her friends creating this venture, and risks, together. Even if Greg didn’t say he was part of it, and was merely the paper-pushing guy, he played an inseparable role.

Upon contact with the magical beam, the bright brass sign made a loud clang sound, like a beautiful bell resounding through the morning. Small tapestries draped from the front of the building all unfurled simultaneously, covered in green and blue coloring, fluttering in the soft morning breeze coming off the lake. Everyone cheered as the doorways slowly opened, and Fiona waved them in.

“Folks, Fiona and Friend’s Emporium is now open! Let’s go inside and check it out, and we’ll have room to expand as we go! Grab a bite to eat, mingle! I’ll be starting the showcase shortly!” Fiona announced. Slowly and well organized–except for the few kids who darted in, laughing and playing some kind of race–the crowd drew in, with murmurs of excitement.

Inside, it was well-lit by the arcane lighting, and the crowd quickly dispersed to the various displays. Many drew toward Bonnie’s rune and other enhancements displays, along with some basic items that could be upgraded with a bundled package. Witch hats, basic clothing, even a few armor stands of soft leather armor were there. She was already chatting away with her first customer, a young man who was fitting up to be an adventurer and was looking for simple wards against slime monsters and other, less dangerous pest species. She was already deep in discussion, and giving a demonstration.

Others drew to the main kiosk where Fiona had set up the register, which was warded against anyone but the proprietors or future clerks they’d be hiring. In hindsight, she was placing a bit of emphasis on Bonnie and Jake’s wards, but they’d pulled this together in record time, so a few calculated risks had been taken. She didn’t trust King Beardless to not try to up the stakes with these ‘payments’ that needed to be made every month.

She showed people around to the kiosk, and Greg manned the spot, while she took them to her first display–small baubles and relatively common items that had been at the corners of the dragon’s wealth. “As you can see, we’ve arrayed a variety of products. We believe that selling to an elite clientele, though admirable, doesn’t work for our long-term needs. So we’ve got a variety of products for adventurers and people of all walks of life. The land is filled with danger, and having the right tools means, everyone’s day ends on a positive note! Except Doug. He stole soooo many things,” she added with a frown. “Prices on these small things are fixed, I’m not haggling. Now, on the avenue of big-ticket items, follow me.”

She showed off a display case with an assortment of armor, and went through her rehearsal. “We’ve appraised these items and their utility, and there were many items that could be useful! Take this little hat here.” She showed off a bowler hat dark colored with a narrow strip of white felt material and showed it to the crowd. “Looks quite plain, doesn’t it? Stylish for a night on the town, but watch this!”

Stolen novel; please report.

She pulled the hat over her head, and then pulled it down–where the material stretched over her head and body, like someone draped a giant tent over her. It was pitch black for a second, and then she could feel her clothing shifting and moving on its own. When she pulled the hat up and over her head, people gasped at the change of dress. She was now wearing her alternate suit that she’d set aside earlier in the day, having ‘imprinted’ it while wearing it before, and a few people cheered.

Maybe the high heels had been a bit much, because she wobbled a bit and a young man caught her arm before she stumbled. “Thanks, kid.” With a quick flourish, she repeated the process and was back to her vest, jacket, and slacks, and they all cheered on merrily. “I call this one, the mobile armoire! A dress for all occasions, or maybe a disguise? It will easily take non-metallic armors, or your favorite change of clothes, if there’s a chance of inclement weather!”

“Aw, I won’t be able to bring my plate mail with me?” one wolven complained, though he still wore an enthusiastic smile. “That’s super convenient!”

“I know, right? Sadly the hat’s not my style, otherwise, I might have just kept it. Now, just as a reminder, it won’t work with a ton of metal, and it won’t work for just anything–just what you can wear. Now, if you want to wear spiky shoulder pads, I highly suggest you not sit down on this hat. You might not like that,” she added, and there were a few amused chuckles in the crowd. “This one can be yours today! We rated it at a price of a paltry two thousand gold! If any of you are interested in details, I’ll check you out at the kiosk up front.”

She moved on to show another armor in the stands, and tapped the light leather set. “Now this one is a little more intricate! Gregory had to consult a druid on this one to see what was up with this one. Turns out, only people attuned to trees, nature, and all that jazz can use it! I would demonstrate, but, ya know, not exactly something I can do. Do we have any druidly, down-to-earth types in the crowd?” she asked.

“I tend to some of the fruit bearing trees on a large farm in the south. I commune with the elements,” one dwarf with a dark beard and soft brown eyes called out. He looked young, but his hands were weathered with callouses and showed subtle strength–a man who had been laborious. “Might be a tight fit for me.”

“Ah nonsense, it has an auto-adjustment enchantment! It’ll fit a brownie or a giant! Might need to check on the latter of those two, haven’t met many.” After a few moments of putting on the armor, the man flexed his arms gently, and checked the padding.

“Good fit. It’s light, and feels like a second set of skin, almost.”

“Alright, cool! Now, think of your favorite tree!” Fiona suggested, and crossed her fingers. Magic always made her uneasy, like something could go horrifically wrong at any time. But she trusted Greg and his assessments, even more than her own, and she’d seen plenty already in a scant few months. The man relaxed and closed his eyes–and in a blink of an eye, his limbs contorted and his body shifted in an instant–into a very stubby apple tree, with a thick trunk. The leaves shivered and the limbs creaked lightly.

Ah. This is a ‘blend with the grove’ enchantment. Very fine work. I feel natural in this form. The words seemed to come out of the very air, and she saw one tree limb flex lightly, as if stretching. I believe this would be well suited for one who spent a long time in the wilderness, to tap into the ‘root’ of what ails it.

“Gordy, that pun was so bad!” a tall male elf groaned, and put his palm to his face. “Please tell me that enchantment goes both ways!”

“Oh don’t be silly, I’d never sell something that wouldn’t have reversible effects! Please note we advertise only on known enchantments, and yes, we do indeed check for curses or hexes. Nothing like buying a new set of armor that falls apart the second it gets hit by more than a gremlin, or a wizard hat that tries to possess your soul and has this big, beady, demon-looking eye! Yeah, spoilers, don’t put those on.” Fiona tapped the tree limb, and the tree shivered lightly. “From what I gathered from my assistant, just think ‘true form’ and you should revert to normal.”

Yes. It is quite intuitive. The druid who did this, knew their craft well. Within seconds, the stout dwarf reappeared where the tree had been–though there were now a few fresh red apples in the hands of a few eager kids, including a kitsune who took a big, hearty bite of the fruit. “Oh dear, I left bits of uh, myself,” the dwarf stammered.

“I’m sure it’s fine,” Fiona assured him, and he gently took the armor off and placed it gently back on the stand. “Thank you for the demonstration, mister…”

“Gordy. Or Gordon Freedmon, for formalities,” he added with a polite bow, and the crowd clapped and whispered excitedly. “Miss Swiftheart, I do believe my circle of druids could use an item like this, you have fortuitous timing. May we talk business?”

“Oh, of course! Everyone, please excuse me for a few moments, we’ll continue the tour once I take care of this. Greg, can you assist them?” she called out, her heart filled with joy. Was this her first sale?

It totally was her first sale. The place hadn’t been open for more than a half hour, and she couldn’t help but smile faintly. She did her best to remain calm, she was a merchant! She had to look her best and not grin like an idiot until the sale was final! She walked Gordy back to the kiosk and began discussing terms.

“Hmm. Three thousand, four hundred gold?” he asked with a frown. “That is a steep price.”

“It’s actually below market. Here’s the breakdown,” she explained as she went through the math. First, for the basic armor set, compared to other leather sets, and the material which appeared to come from an Eteran stag–a rare monster known for its fine leather, if properly cured, and its ability to blend into the trees almost seamlessly. She also detailed the ability, and the extra ability of producing edible fruit while in that form.

He tapped the paper, and frowned. “You’ve done your homework, Miss Swiftheart. But our circle does not have much gold. Not that much at once.”

“I’m flexible. You can make a down payment now, and we can settle the difference over a period of time. We know that many people can’t afford these items with that up-front cost, which is why we try to make it in reach of those who might not otherwise be able to.” She did have a minimum down payment to at least break even, and that was the tax amount that Greg assessed on the item. It was small potatoes compared to the bigger items. She waited while Gordy creased his fingers and stroked his beard.

“Hmm. there is much use for such an item, if not for me, then the grove in particular.” All the while, her wrist kept tingling–was her shirt that poorly made? She took a moment to roll back her sleeve, to see what was bothering it. She tried not to react, but her eyes widened in disbelief, all the same.

Her heart's wings were fluttering lightly. She squinted, and looked at, then back at the dwarf, still peering over the numbers. She didn’t know why, but it was like this little symbol was trying to tell her something. But what?”

Make the sale? She thought to herself. She was hoping to sell items flat-out, as it would be easier, but…if people could use these items, and make an impact now…

She felt a slight flowing warmth going from her wrist to her fingers. Almost as if beckoning her to make a handshake? Or, that she had carpal tunnel. Probably not the latter. Gordy glanced up, and saw her hand extended.

“You know something, Miss Swiftheart? You seem an honest sort. I believe you live up to your namesake,” he added with a soft chuckle, and extended his hand to give her a firm handshake of leathery, but no less capable flesh. “I can pay half now, half after the harvests. I believe we can use this to cull weak trees and strengthen others. Nature has a balance, as do you, it seems.”

She nods politely and gives a beaming smile. “I can work with this, Mister Freedmon.” that flutter became a flapping sensation, as if the heart was doing aerobic exercises on her skin–what was up with that? Was this a good thing, or a bad thing?

Either way, it felt good to make her first sale, and she motioned to Greg, barely able to contain her excitement. “Greg, we’ll have a delivery to make, we have our first sale. Can you finish the paperwork?”

“You got it, Fi,” he replied with a small smirk. “Looks like your showmanship matches your battle prowess. Let’s hope we use more of the former, less of the latter, from now on.”

“Me, too.” Both hearts were fluttering now, and she felt filled…was it energy? Or just a general, warm fuzzy feeling, that this impossible task might not be so impossible?

Time would tell, as she headed back to the crowd, eagerly awaiting the next demonstration. Not every day would be like this, but this was a strong start.