Stone of multiplicity
The marketplace had been as busy as any other day and Taneth had been as cheerful and bouncy as usual. She had the handle of her basket nestled in the crook of her arm to keep the basket from swinging as it was filled with various treats she planned to bring home for Tormay and Chester. Her grey-blue eyes roamed the area looking for something simply so special to cheer up Tormay since he has been troubled with the New Haven baronial ring, when a sparkle of light caught her attention.
The sparkle had just enough glow to draw Taneth in and make her ?ooo? and ?ahhh? over the colors of the gem as she neared a simple, shambly stall. A vendor?s stall that did not have any of the fanciful attractions like the other stalls in the marketplace and it was out of the way, far from the hustle and bustle, as if waiting for one very special person to take notice of the wares. Maybe, just maybe Taneth was the one special person.
?Care for a stone, young one?? The vendor asked in a hushed tone as his eyes raked over the blonde with a knowing eye.
Taneth lifted her gaze from the small box of colored gems to the vendor and smiled trustingly and almost eagerly until she had no idea what the stones were for. ?I should like a very pretty one, but what do they do?? Her head tilted to the side with a childlike curiosity.
?Oooh, it depends upon the color you choose and what you want the stone to do.? He rose from his short stool to wave his hands over the box of stones to indicate the variety.
?Then I should want yellow because my sweetheart loves yellow.? Taneth?s face brightened as she thought Tormay would be thrilled with a magical yellow stone.
The man?s nostrils flared with her words and he turned away for a moment before looking back. He shook his head slowly as if disappointed or concerned by her choice. ?You do not want a stone for yourself??
Taneth blinked and tilted her head to the other side as she repeated the question back to him, ?For myself? Why??
The man leaned forward as her scrunched his face up as if hiding a secret. ?Listen, lovely, the stones are like a game. If you have one and your sweetheart has one then you can play the game together. I will give you one stone free.?
?A game? Free?? Taneth had no qualms about paying for anything; however, the second he mentioned a game her eyes sparkled and her mouth fairly salivated over the idea of fun. ?I will take one. May I have the pink one??
?Lovely, I have the perfect stone just for you but it will not be pink. It will be a nice red.? He removed the dark red stone from a pouch kept separate from the others. ?This stone will make others see more of you. Think of it like a stone of multiplicity. All you do is think about who you want people to see.?
?Oooooo. What does the yellow one do??
?The yellow will make everything feel better.? He knew her worries for her husband. He had been watching and keeping track of the blonde after all.
?How much??
?For your smile, lovely, I will give them to you for free. These eyes have not seen something as bright in such a long time.? He knew the effects of the stone would work better if the blonde was on a high from compliments.
Taneth giggled and shared her best smile because she thought nothing of the lack of cost. Some people were simply giving or did not need much in return. Soon enough the stones were handed over in separate pouches and Taneth was on her merry way again. As soon as she was gone, the vendor and his stall hastily removed without much traces other than a few random witnesses with no reason to remember the encounter.
The marketplace had been as busy as any other day and Taneth had been as cheerful and bouncy as usual. She had the handle of her basket nestled in the crook of her arm to keep the basket from swinging as it was filled with various treats she planned to bring home for Tormay and Chester. Her grey-blue eyes roamed the area looking for something simply so special to cheer up Tormay since he has been troubled with the New Haven baronial ring, when a sparkle of light caught her attention.
The sparkle had just enough glow to draw Taneth in and make her ?ooo? and ?ahhh? over the colors of the gem as she neared a simple, shambly stall. A vendor?s stall that did not have any of the fanciful attractions like the other stalls in the marketplace and it was out of the way, far from the hustle and bustle, as if waiting for one very special person to take notice of the wares. Maybe, just maybe Taneth was the one special person.
?Care for a stone, young one?? The vendor asked in a hushed tone as his eyes raked over the blonde with a knowing eye.
Taneth lifted her gaze from the small box of colored gems to the vendor and smiled trustingly and almost eagerly until she had no idea what the stones were for. ?I should like a very pretty one, but what do they do?? Her head tilted to the side with a childlike curiosity.
?Oooh, it depends upon the color you choose and what you want the stone to do.? He rose from his short stool to wave his hands over the box of stones to indicate the variety.
?Then I should want yellow because my sweetheart loves yellow.? Taneth?s face brightened as she thought Tormay would be thrilled with a magical yellow stone.
The man?s nostrils flared with her words and he turned away for a moment before looking back. He shook his head slowly as if disappointed or concerned by her choice. ?You do not want a stone for yourself??
Taneth blinked and tilted her head to the other side as she repeated the question back to him, ?For myself? Why??
The man leaned forward as her scrunched his face up as if hiding a secret. ?Listen, lovely, the stones are like a game. If you have one and your sweetheart has one then you can play the game together. I will give you one stone free.?
?A game? Free?? Taneth had no qualms about paying for anything; however, the second he mentioned a game her eyes sparkled and her mouth fairly salivated over the idea of fun. ?I will take one. May I have the pink one??
?Lovely, I have the perfect stone just for you but it will not be pink. It will be a nice red.? He removed the dark red stone from a pouch kept separate from the others. ?This stone will make others see more of you. Think of it like a stone of multiplicity. All you do is think about who you want people to see.?
?Oooooo. What does the yellow one do??
?The yellow will make everything feel better.? He knew her worries for her husband. He had been watching and keeping track of the blonde after all.
?How much??
?For your smile, lovely, I will give them to you for free. These eyes have not seen something as bright in such a long time.? He knew the effects of the stone would work better if the blonde was on a high from compliments.
Taneth giggled and shared her best smile because she thought nothing of the lack of cost. Some people were simply giving or did not need much in return. Soon enough the stones were handed over in separate pouches and Taneth was on her merry way again. As soon as she was gone, the vendor and his stall hastily removed without much traces other than a few random witnesses with no reason to remember the encounter.