Is it wrong to fleece adventurers at the item shop?

A little later the very diverse group of adventurers responsible for all the early morning excitement pours out of the bathhouse and heads down in the direction of the inn. They indeed seem very lively. In the way I know best from fellow students who decided to forego getting any sleep at all after a long night, keeping going instead.

At least one of them, the elf, takes note of us too, but they are quickly pulled back into the conversation going on amidst their comrades. That's just the way things are and I don't mind either.

We get back up and cross the creek once more to have our own bath now. Only Ulryk's gaze keeps lingering on the backs of the retreating adventurers. He probably wouldn't have minded a little more excitement. Well, maybe another day. For now he'll have to make do with us and whichever other ladies from the village drop by this early.

Whatever disappointment the boy might have felt about missing the added excitement is soon forgotten though, as he gets to play in the usual wooden tub with just enough warm water in it, while Elzbieta washes him head to toe.

I enjoy the chance to once again wash thoroughly again too. Even more so I enjoy the soak in the warm water afterwards though. Oh, how I have missed this! I feel like a whole new person afterwards. Add a fresh change of clothes afterwards and I'm as happy as I can possibly be.

A sentiment Elzbieta's little boy seems to share. As we return home afterwards we get talking again, with me taking the lead.

"So, could you head down to the inn and grab us something to eat? While I watch Ulryk? We need some fresh cream for the cat too."

She looks over at me and blinks, but thankfully she understands without any further explanation on my part.

"The others are down there right now. Including elves and half elves. I see. Sure, so some snacks for all of us, which includes sour cream for Sour Cream."

I nod sheepishly, but before I can say anything else, she pulls me in close for the rest of the way back home. Nothing else needs to be said. By the time we reach my place Ulryk has fallen back asleep too, dreaming happy dreams by the looks of it.

The boy gets nestled into the bed for a change, while I clean up the pillow and blankets sleeping place by the fireside. I'm not sure if Elzbieta wants to return the borrowed things right away once she returns, thus I set them aside for the time being, much to the joy of Sour Cream, who promptly occupies the blanket tower at the foot end of the bed. Since she is keeping another pair of eyes on Ulryk from there I don't mind, and Agnieszka will probably wash them anyway, so a little cat hair won't make much of a difference.

I hum softly and pet the cat a little for good measure, then I finish up cleaning the room. After wards I'm a little at a loss though. To make new enchanter's chalks, one of the remaining items on my list for today, I'd have to get the fire started. The big cauldron is still full, so I don't have to get any water, but I'd have to get firewood. I'd have to chop some down to kindling too. And that would either mean leaving Ulryk behind inside or disturbing him to bring him along.

In the end I decide to do neither. Instead I wait for the boy's mother to return with our morning meal. It's only reasonable not to do any serious work before I have had something to eat anyway. It's this very reason why I don't open the shop just yet either. That too can still wait a little.

It's not hard to tell when Elzbieta draws close either. The wind gives her away. Quite possibly on purpose. She is an experienced hunter after all. Thus the smell of fresh baked bread and smoky pulled pork probably hits my nostrils on purpose. Ulryk's little nose twitches a little too. Goodness, that looks so cute!

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A moment later Elzbieta is already at the door, carrying a basket with the requested items. Something to eat for her and me and a fresh jar of Sour Cream's favorite treat. She winks at me.

I pull over tow chairs and motion for her to sit down with me by the bedside so we can keep an eye on the boy. I have a hard time keeping my voice down.

"What did you get? That smell. So mouthwatering."

She reveals the contents of the basket with a big grin but without any further words. It's two freshly baked buns, cut open down the middle. They are indeed stuffed with pulled pork. That isn't all though. There are finely cut pickled vegetables too. And, as if that wasn't enough already, there is gravy and dressing too.

That the smell is mouthwatering isn't an exaggeration either. I may be drooling a little as I look at the food. Sour Cream's nose twitches a little too. In the end I have to distract the curious feline by pouring her some of her own treat. That way Elzbieta and I can get started on our own meals without any further distractions.

It's almost a bit much for an early morning meal, but it's oh so good. The bread, the meat, the vegetables and the whole rest, it all comes together just right. By the time we finish, Sour Cream lies there curled up on the stacked blankets again, Ulryk is still sleeping peacefully and Elzbieta and I, we both let out a long sigh. We are both stuffed. Yet we are incredibly satisfied too.

"That was so good."

The young mother's words sum it up nicely. I can only nod in confirmation.

"It was. It sure was. Do you need to return the basket?"

She nods, as she answers.

"Later. There is no hurry. Should I mind the shop? That big group will probably be catching up on sleep first after having something to eat, but one or the other might drop by later."

Once again I nod. She is right on just about any accord. There still is one thing bothering me though.

"Should we put out a sign with a warning, just in case it's either the elf or the half elf of the party?"

She taps her chin and tilts her head for a moment.

"The board you use for designs? Like you did for quick notes of absence and the likes before? It probably won't hurt, although I suspect someone at the inn will have told them by now that we have cases of the Scarlet Rash in the village. You have potions to cure diseases in stock anyway. Most adventurers make do with those in cases like this. Head out and take one, once you are far enough from the village, just keep going as if nothing ever happened and hope it has all blown over by the time you return again."

I let out one more sigh and get up. After cleaning the board in question I write a quick note to warn potential visitors. I use some of the new chalks for that purpose. Especially the white and red ones. I make sure none show any notable signs of use though. I still want to sell them after all.

And while I put up the sign on the bench besides the front door, making sure it'S easily visible, Elzbieta gets Ulryk to carry him close to her heart wrapped up tightly in the usual baby sling. The boy only stirs a little before going right back to sleep, supremely comfortable.

Elzbieta moves the basket with the chalks to one of the shelves in the shop too. That's another little thing taken care of.

This allows me to focus on my first project for the day without worries or distractions. One last batch of chalks. Enchanter's chalks this time around. I'll need them after all and besides I need to put some of the stored up enchanting dust to good use.

In most regards the recipe is similar to the plain chalks. The right mix of wax and oil is still essential and so is the right temperature which is once again achieved in a smaller cauldron in the bubbling and boiling water of the bigger cauldron.

Beyond that I have to get a little creative though. Sure, I have more than enough enchanting dust and I use a little more of it than usual, but I add some ground up creeping vine and equally ground up twilight lichen to the ground up slightl off whit Ocher too, to make it more potent. It's not the usual mix. It's not in fact a recipe I have tried before. The creeping vine from grandma's stores of gathered herbs is already a little older. That shouldn't be a problem with that particular ingredient, but I worry a little anyway.

I hope for the best anyway, as I stir the mixture until the consistency is just right and I can pour it into the prepared molds.