Adventures Of Ava Redvine

[Bowie 114]

The beginning

North of the land of Oren there stands a small dull farm. On a particular uneventful night a woman stands in the center of the farm house’s main room staring into the portrait that hangs above the dancing fire.

Slowly her eyes trail across the picture studying the family in the frame.

She suddenly turns to her right and makes her way across the creaking wooden floor up to the door. Upon opening the door light would crawl into the dark room showing the silhouette of furniture that would be placed in a nursery.  

Peering down into the crib she would see a silent and still child. She would reach into the crib and slowly caress her cheek pulling away just before the sleeping child could stir awake.

After exiting the room she would stare at the door on the opposite side of the room before heading towards the desk beside it. Fumbling through the desk’s cabinet  she would grab a few items tossing them into her satchel before scribbling on a loose paper.

Standing straight up and with one last glance around the room she would blow out the only candle in the room before heading out the door.

The Merchant
 

Slowly the sun would begin to rise high into the cloudy sky. She would put her hand above her brow covering her eyes as she looked up towards the sun.

“It’s been quite a walk. I wonder where I am.” Looking back forward her hand would go up to the side of her face and wipe away the small drip of sweat from her temple.

She would narrow her eyes at the site of an object off in the distance. Her aimless walking has turned into a path for the strange box object on the horizon.

Walking closer the square object began to take form. A stall. A stall with a greasy looking man sitting behind the counter.

The man finally noticed her approaching and grinned at her, “Welcome miss, to the best merchant around.”

Her eyebrows would raise at him, “The best merchant?”

His head would bob once, “Yes yes, best merchant /around/.”  he would begin to shuffle around behind the counter reaching for something she couldn’t see. “Missy do I have the right item for you,” pulling out a red apple with brown spots, “A delicious freshly picked apple for the tiny lady. And I’ll cut you a deal, only 2 minas.”

“2 minas! For a bruised apple? No thank you.” she would look to her right, her eyes following down the dirt path.

“I-I was only kidding…” she would look at him once more. His smile now gone. “How about…” scrounging around again he would pull up a stick, “.. this! It’ll keep you warm at night once you light it on fire.. For you 1 mina!”

While shaking her head she would speak, “I am not looking to purchase any items, I was actually only looking for direction. To the nearest town.”

His hand would reach up to slick his greasy hair back, “Ah well you see miss I am the best merchant around. So for the small fee of 5 minas I can tell you which path brings you to the next town.”

“5 minas!” she would laugh at him. “Once again no thank you. I think I’ll make due on my own.”

He would chuckle in return, “I would bet not. You see one of these roads leads right to the territory of the orcs… and the other of course to a small human town. Choose yourself and you could end up getting caught, beat, and sold into slavery.” folding his arms across his chest he would grin at her, “I stand by what I say, 5 minas.”

 

“I am /not/ going to pay 5 minas.” she would turn to the right and begin to march away from him ignoring his cursing.

“5 minas for direction, what a dirty old man..” she would huff to herself while making her way. “Even if I did have any minas, like I would pay him!” she would slowly come to a halt, “He wouldn’t just let me walk right into the wrong territory, would he?” Looking back she would wonder if she made the right choice.

[Bowie 114]

Another story has been added

[Gunner 775]

Moved to the Archive. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.