“If you’re sure,” Crow shrugged and walked with Penelope towards the merchant. He glanced at her when she changed directions and followed her lead when she headed to another stand where a vendor was selling various foods. Standing aside, he waited until she had finished selecting and purchasing food that would last during their travels and then rejoined her when she stepped away from the merchant. “I think that’s enough to tide us over as long as we don’t get delayed. But if it’s not, then we can always stop at an inn for a meal or two on our way,” he winked at her wryly. “I’ll never object to an opportunity to eat meat that isn’t poultry while I still have the chance.”

When they arrived at the merchant’s stand, he looked over the saddlebags that the man had on display. Having hardly any experiences with horses, he didn’t really know the differences between them, so he just chose two sets that looked big enough to strategically cover the objects they were trying to smuggle out of Younis. He was just about to look for the vendor in order to make the purchase, but he saw that the man was approaching them instead. He took Penelope’s hand supportively when the merchant referenced her previous outburst.

“Everything is fine,” Crow answered him with a casual shrug. Changing the subject, he went on, “How much for these two saddlebags?” He gestured to the ones he had been looking at.

“Ah, you have a good eye,” the man grinned. “You can’t find saddlebags of this quality in all of Younis. Usually, I would sell them for fifty Tael apiece, but for you, I’ll give both for ninety.”

Crow crossed his arms, contemplating the offer. While he didn’t know much about the product the man was selling, he knew enough about merchants to tell when one was trying to overcharge him. After a moment, he threw in a counteroffer, “That’s a steep price. How about sixty?”

“Sixty?” the merchant snorted, shaking his head. “These are quality bags, my friend. I’m afraid I can’t go a single Tael below eighty.”

“And I’ve got more important supplies to buy for our trip,” Crow lied airily, glancing at another nearby stand as if he was growing disinterested. “But fine. I’ll give you seventy Tael for both.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” the merchant shrugged. “I stand at eighty.”

“Well then, I’m afraid we’ll have to take our business elsewhere,” Crow reached for Penelope’s hand again and turned away from the stand, guiding her along slowly towards a vendor on the other side of the market. He muttered underneath his breath as they walked, “Three, two, one…”

“Wait!” the merchant selling the saddlebags called out after them. “I’ll give them to you for seventy-five. That’s my final offer!”

“There it is,” Crow glanced down at Penelope and smirked slyly. He turned back to the merchant and nodded, “We’ll take them.” He stepped back up to the stand and made the exchange, taking the two saddlebags and heading towards the side of the town where they had left William waiting.