Is it wrong to fleece adventurers at the item shop?

I don't have much time to think about the trio of adventurers and their extraordinary circumstances. That doesn't mean I don't worry about them, and especially the pregnant archer, though.

Maybe I should write a letter to one of my teachers from the academy in Barter Town? One of them could know about the side effects of consuming this many Stamina Potions, especially during pregnancy. If there are any, that is.

Yes that is what I will do. Even if my worries should be proven unfounded I will at least have some peace of mind. Later. Right now I can hear more people approaching.

One of them is the farmer from yesterday. The one who inquired about girdles of fertility for his son's wedding. His voice gives him away even before he steps in through the door.

He isn't alone though. Entering right after him is a woman only slightly younger than him. Their light hearted banter suggests that she is his wife.

He knocks on the wood of the door frame to get my attention, just in case, while his wife waves as she sees that I already noticed them.

“Hello dear! It is so good to see you taking care of Iwona's shop. Thank the gods and goddesses. I was getting a little worried.”

The man doesn't get in a word sideways as his wife starts talking. He just smiles apologetically, shrugs and lets her keep going.

“Anyway, I take it my husband hasn't properly introduced us yet, yes? He can be a bit daft like that sometimes.”

She pats the shoulder of the man at her side as they come over to join me at the counter.

“This is my husband Eryk and I'm Gisela.”

She offers me her hand and I shake it before repeating the gesture of greeting with her husband.

He takes this chance to get a few words in.

“Well, I already mentioned that our son is getting married soon and that we need two Girdles of fertility for the occasion. I hope you understand that I can't just make a big purchase like that without consulting my wife.”

I nod, and so does his wife, as he is right. One enchanted item can be costly. Two most certainly are. Before I can add anything to the conversation the woman speaks up again.

“Yes, yes. These girdles are probably the most costly things most farmers will ever own, well maybe with the exception of the land they work, but any proper wedding simply needs them!”

She pauses only long enough to take a deep breath before she continues. She is really working up some steam there. She is getting a little louder with every word as well.

“I have heard that some of the city folk use simple unenchanted girdles these days, but that just isn't proper! You can't exchange vows under the gaze of the gods and then tie a fake girdle around the hips of your respective other! That isn't proper! Not at all!”

She obviously has a very firm opinion regarding that matter. Her husband seems to agree with her, but he doesn't get worked up the same way his wife does. He simply nods along with her words and reaffirms her with much quieter words that are nonetheless spoken with no less conviction.

“Yes, no child of ours will tie the knot without some proper girdles.”

As far as I know most people in the city simply can't afford an enchanted item. They probably couldn't even if they were to save up all their lives. Unskilled laborers usually barely earned to enough to get by. And even journeymen that were members of one guild or another don't fare much better. It is sad but true.

I don't want to argue the point anyway and just nod as well in the end. They aren't wrong after all. I inquire about other things important to me instead.

“How soon will you need the girdles? I'll need to make some new enchanter's chalks before I can enchant those girdles. And do you have some girdles ready to enchant? I can give you a little discount in that case. Or do I need to get them?”

The woman perks up at my questions.

“No worries, dear. I understand. We have the wedding scheduled in twelve days from today. I hope that is plenty enough time for you. Yes? And as a matter of fact I have the girdles I want you to use with me!”

I breath a little sigh of relief. I might be able to make the enchanter's chalks I need over night and I probably could get the girdles finished tomorrow, but I don't like hurrying things like that. I felt much better knowing I could take some time and prepare properly.

Gisela in the meantime opens the cloth bag she brought and pulls two lengths of fine rope from it.

No, calling them lengths of rope wasn't doing them justice, even if that is what they essentially are. The girdles are thin and light, yet sturdy and flexible. The ends have been seared and tied off to make sure they won't unravel anytime soon either. They even feel soft to the touch despite being made from hemp. On top of everything else they have been died a bright orange. That isn't a cheap color!

I pick one up and look at it from all sides, activating my appraisal skill.

[Ceremonial Girdle, Quality: Uncommon, A flawless masterwork piece created by a mother for her son's wedding.]

I nod and check the other as well. The result is the same. I can't quite hold back my excitement. Even master enchanters with decades of experience don't get to work with fine raw materials like these every day.

“Those are mighty fine!”

The woman nods enthusiastically at my words.

“Right! I started over more than once to make sure they would be as good as I could possibly make them! Oh, if only my eyes were still a little better!”

Her husband, Eryk, in turn chuckles and squeezes her shoulder.

“They are perfect, dear!”

He turns to me and stage whispers.

“She is the best. She has plenty experience making them after all. Our Godzimir is the eighth we see off to start a family of their own after all.”

That little tidbit of information evokes new appreciation for the two in me. Families with a lot of children aren't uncommon. Quite often many of these children never reach adulthood though. It is another sad fact of life. Seeing that many off with weddings instead of funerals is quite an achievement, even when living in a village with an alchemist and healing potions readily available.

Gisela blushes as her husband compliments her and elbows him into his side lightly.

“Oh, hush, you!”

I can't help but smile at the little displays of affection in between the two. There is still one issue of no little importance we need to resolve though. I'm not quite sure how to go about it but in the end I settle on a rather straightforward approach.

“Well, I think I can have both girdles finished in two days. Three at most. Which leaves only the question of the price.”

I clear my throat in embarrassment.

“I don't want to insult you by quoting a big city price to you. I don't really know how much grandma used to take either though. She must have enchanted girdles like that pretty regularly, right?”

The two look at each other for a moment lost in thought before they answer. The husband taking the lead for once instead.

“Well, the last wedding … wasn't that Sabina's daughter?”

His wife nods and continues.

“Indeed. Iwona charged her thirty silver Crowns. The same she charged us when our Loda got married.”

She looks at me apologetically.

“I don't think she has adjusted that price in a while.”

I tap a finger against my chin and think about it for a moment. Thirty silver Crowns is considerably less than what I could have taken in the city. It still is more than enough to make up for the materials I need to make the enchanter's chalks and for two or maybe three days of work though. Especially if I don't hire anyone else to work the mana mill. I loathe that thought but I need to make some more money before I can allow myself to splurge.

I take a deep breath and offer them my hand to seal the deal.

“Alright, thirty silver Crowns to be paid when you come to get the girdles. I'll try to have them finished the day after tomorrow. How about you drop by in the evening? Deal?”

They shake my hand and the woman pulls me into a quick hug across the counter.

“Deal!”

“Oh my dear, I'm so glad you took over your grandma's shop. You are a real life saver!”

They leave soon after, work doesn't wait for anyone after all, and I take the two girdles of exceptional craftsmanship to the backroom.