15 Chapter 15 A Rogue And Dungeon Loo (2/2)

”Yea, it would take us all day to run around selling these things,” complained the black-haired warrior.

”I know that I definitely don't have the coin to buy the rings,” he said, shaking his head. ”They're magical and that can be thousands of coins.”

”How about we leave them with you, and you pay us what they're worth later?” asked the red beard.

”Lucas, just because I'm a merchant, doesn't mean I can buy everything. You need to take them down to the market and speak with Alastair, the mage who deal with magical goods.”

”Aw, Bob, we're desperate. We trust you to do us right. Could you please? We'll let you keep half of whatever you can get for 'em?” begged the black-haired man.

”Giles, just how am I supposed to know what they're worth? I don't deal with magic weapons. Or the alchemy stuff. I sell cheap normal things, that most people can use.”

”Bob, I tell you what,” said Lucas, ”How about you pay us a copper for each ring, then once you sell them, for whatever, doesn't matter what, you keep three-quarters of the profit and pay us the other quarter when we show back up?”

Bob thought about that long and hard. He knew that Alastair wouldn't cheat him, even if he didn't have a clue about magic, but he wasn't cla.s.sified as a seller of magic things. He could get in trouble if he was found out. No one would think he didn't know what it was, he was too good for that. But, if he did only pay a copper, he could swing by the merchant guild hall and get a new permit from Jack since he did deal with the adventurers more than anyone else…

”Alright, but you better give me time to deal with this stuff properly. If you come back tomorrow wanting to get paid, you're going to be out of luck!”

Both men laughed at Bob's words, as they all knew it would take them longer than a day just to get back to the dungeon ruins. As he paid them and packed everything away in the back room, the sound of the door opening and shutting drew his attention. Poking his head out from the back room, he saw that Sam was there from the builder's guild.

”Sam! How can I help you?” asked Bob, rus.h.i.+ng out with a smile.

”Well, we showed up to get started, but the smell of that wonderful soup has my men all wound up. Think we could get some before we got started?”

”I charge a copper a bowl,” said Bob with a laugh.

”That's all? For the smell alone, I would fathom it cost at least a silver a bowl. You, uh, wouldn't happen to have any bowls for sale, would you?”

Bob laughed again and quickly sold the man some bowls before showing him around to the side where the line was for the soup kitchen. When he saw the length of the line, Bob was astounded. It stretched almost to the gate, with both poor people and workers who had walked this far to enjoy his soup kitchen.

Leaving the leader of the builder's guild at the road, Bob entered the shed where Liam was busy cooking away.

”Are you doing alright, Liam?” asked Bob, looking around at the small area. The soup kettle took up most of the s.p.a.ce, and Liam was frantically stiring the soup to keep it from burning, while also trying to fill the bowls and take the money of the people in line. Bob felt awful when he saw how hard Liam was working!

”I'm doing alright,” Liam lied, giving Bob a weak smile.

Shaking his head, he moved to the side door and poked his head inside.

”Max!” Bob called, spying the girl by the fire.

”Yes, sir?” she piped up, her head snapping in his direction.

”Liam needs you to take the money from the customers!”

She nodded, wiping her hands on her pants and hurrying over. Bob spied Will, the oldest boy and had him come over too.

”Liam, Max is going to take the money and Will will dish out the soup. Alright?”

”Thank you,” said Liam, with a genuine smile this time.

”Why didn't you call and ask for help sooner?” asked Bob, taking a couple of bowls for the builders.

”This was supposed to be my job, and I didn't want you to think I was slacking!” exclaimed Liam, startled that Bob could be upset with him.

”I enjoy the fact that you take your job so seriously, but I hate that you are working so hard when the kids can help you out!” rebuked Bob.

”Alright, sorry,” said Liam, seeming to calm down now that he was getting help.

Bob saw that the people were moving along much quicker now that Liam had help, which cheered them all greatly. Handing the bowls to Sam, he nodded at him and hurried back to the store. Once he had the kitchen and the dining hall built, things would calm down even more for Liam, he was sure.

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