8 She Returns to the Scene (1/2)

Robin turned to the stall owner. ”This is more than I can accept alone.” She said. ”Won't you split it with me?”

The stall owner looked at her and laughed. ”Me? But I've done nothing to help you earn that. You were the one that gave the speech after all. After such a rousing speech about how money buys freedom, do you want to put me in your debt?” He teased.

Robin hesitated, but finally placed the coin in her magic bag. In any case, the extra coin was an unexpected windfall. 'I'll just treat it like a normal tip that a waitress would get for entertaining their guests well.' She decided.

Since the stall had run out of skewers, the stall owner decided to close up for the day. Robin quickly calculated the total amount of money and reported it. ”57 coppers 32 large coppers...and one silver. Altogether that's 1,005 Zetu” She said, presenting the money box to the stall owner.

”Right.” He reached into the box and took out the silver. ”Here, you take it. It's your pay.”

Robin looked at the coin, and then looked up at the stall owner, confused. ”Um, but I was already payed?”

”You can't call a single set of skewers proper pay! Besides, because of you, my profits tripled today. I can at least afford to give my workers a proper salary.”

”But this is practically half of your proceeds! I can't accept!” Robin shook her head. ”At least make it one third!” The stall owner was eventually talked down to giving her 300 Zetu instead. Even then, Robin was reluctant to accept it, until the stall owner huffed.

”Just look at you! I've seen people who raised their wages by self-praising their skills, but I've never seens someone who argued with their boss to lower their wage! If you don't accept this much, then my own heart will not be at peace. As an honest stallsman, I have to give out a living wage, after all.”

Heading back to the Magpie Inn, Robin thought over what had happened that day. The people here were very kind-hearted. Then she made a face as she remembered that merchant. He really needed to learn a lesson on how to save and spend money! Wasting it because they liked what some kid selling meat skewers said to them in passing!

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As she was eating dinner in the common room, she happened to overhear the discussion going on at the next table. It was hard not to hear, because they were the loudest table in the inn.

”You mean it? Whoever pulls that sword out of the stone will be given a gold coin!?” A red-bearded man exclaimed.

”Yeah! And they get to keep the sword too! Just think of all the meals and ale you could get with that, eh!” His walrus-moustached companion replied. At this point, one of the regulars cut into their conversation.

”It's no use. People have been trying to pull that sword out for years, an it hasn't even budged a speck. Instead of disappointin' yerselves so early, why not go out and do a bit of real work!” The regular then downed his entire mug of beer in one shot.

”Meeh! You're just sour because you can't do it either!” Red Walrus Moustache jeered.

”Oy, Green-y! What would you do with a gold coin?”