Humphrey opened the shutters on his storefront, breathing in the fresh morning air and feeling the warmth of the rising sun on his face.
He never found out what happened to his guard Akkina, but that's how things work in the East Market. People come and go. The way Humphrey figures it, all you can do is treat people how you'd like to be treated whenever you can and then just hope for the best. He had been out of the city with family for two years before checking back to see if things were safe. It was a nice break, but he was itching to return. Nothing unusual had come up for the past year he had been back, which was a nice change of pace.
At midday, the bell over the door dings as
a petite woman with a green, hooded cloak over a brown tunic walks in. Her freckled face has an expression of awe as she looks around at the trinkets and baubles lining shelf after shelf and table after table throughout the pawn shop, and the many tight braids of her light brown hair whip around as she looks from object to shiny object.
Humphrey smiles at her expression and says
"Welcome in! Is this your first time in the East Market?"The clunking of her long, brown, steel-toed boots stops as she jolts upward, noticing Humphrey for the first time.
"Oh! Hello! Yes, it is. Is it that obvious?" the woman's voice pipes out like a lark's voice as her pale cheeks turn a deep red.
Humphrey laughs
"When you've been around here as long as I have, you get a sense for who's new. Are you lookin' for anythin' in particular, or just seein' the sights?"The woman smiles, cheeks still red, and says
"Just seeing some sights, really. Everything here is so beautiful and exciting!"Humphrey beams a warm smile and holds his hands wide, saying
"Well then, welcome! You'll find lots of interesting things here in the market! If you need any help or see anythin' you like, you just let me know and I'll come right on over to help you out."The woman clomps closer to Humphrey, holding out her hand
"Thanks you so much! My name is Saffron, and I will certainly come for help if I needing it!"Humphrey takes her hand and gives it a firm shake.
"Much obliged, miss Saffron! I'm Humphrey. That's a nice little accent you've got there; where are you from, if you don't mind me asking?"Saffron's cheeks flush to red again immediately as she stammers, completely dropping her attempt to hide her accent,
"Oh! M-my... I trying so hard to the hiding of my accent!"Humphrey's face becomes the picture of compassion as he places his other hand on top of hers to reassure her
"No, please don't worry, it's very charming! Trust me. Just promise me one thing—be careful around here. You seem like a real sweet girl, and I'd hate to hear if anything bad happened to ya."Saffron looks up fighting back tears and nods, pulling her hand gently away.
"I am sorry, I have study so hard before to come here, and the first person I speak with sees right through... I guess I have lot to learn still...""Don't you worry, you're doing great! I don't know nothin' 'bout you, but I do know that learnin' a new language is no easy task! I'll leave you to your explorin'. Don't forget, if ya need anythin' just give me a holler!" With that, Humphrey winks and goes further back behind the counter, grabs an open book from atop a stool, and sits down, leaning back to read.
Saffron's wide-eyed wonder returns as she begins looking around the shop again, picking up and examining all sorts of shiny goods.
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SonnetNSunbeam