Jacob nodded his head, ready to be on his own for a while in a new city.
"Now, Jacob, the goal in the market is to get the best price from people for our produce. The crops can be preserved for several days and sold for less if they are not a popular product, but it is dangerous to keep the meat with us for too long. So, we haggle for the crops, but I need to get this meat off the wagon as quickly as possible."
Arthur then retrieved the meat before continuing.
"You should fight for the best price possible for your enchanted goods, much more than the crops. With the crops, we can haggle in coppers and silvers, but for your goods, I think you should haggle in gold, with silver being the negotiating range.
Arthur then gave Jacob some time to understand what he was talking about, and in the silence, Jacob thought to himself, not really worried about his enchanted gear.
'I know we have had similar conversations about meat before. It seems like they know the meat is bad to eat, but I doubt they know what makes it bad to eat. I should keep up my curiosity, though, maybe I will get a funny explanation about why we do things this way.'
"Dad, why would it be dangerous to keep the meat with us so long?'
Arthur chuckled as he got one of the questions he was expecting, though it was earlier than expected, considering the potential value of the enchantments.
"We have to sell the meat to the butcher as quickly as we can so we can get the price we have agreed on, so the butcher can get the best price they can. If we are not able to keep up our end of the deal and someone who buys from them gets sick from the meat going bad, we might lose that butcher as a customer."
Jacob made a face like he was thinking, but then asked, "Why does the meat go bad, but the vegetables do not?"
Arthur smiled really big from the question, but didn't back down, "If you are asking me, I would say it's because the meat is more expensive!!! Hahahaha!!"
He laughed at his joke like it was the funniest thing in the world, and Jacob noticed that he didn't elaborate, so he left it at that and decided to play along with a small laugh of his own. Partly it was to not make his dad feel like he was not funny, but also partly it was because he thought it was funny that his dad thought it was so funny.
"Hahaha, alright, but if we are at the market area to sell this stuff, does that mean that the butchers are here too?"
Arthur calmed himself down before he said, "Yeah, actually, the butchers are just over that way, we are actually pretty close."
Arthur pointed over to a crop of buildings with hanging meat signs next to buildings with what looked like snowflakes or ice cubes hanging in front of them.
As Arthur left with a pack filled with a variety of meats, Jacob decided to take a look around at the buildings and the people who were passing by to get an idea of what the area looked like and to see what a market area in this world had to offer.
Jacob stayed near the cart at first, watching people pass.
There were buyers who moved quickly, like they already knew their way around the market, and sellers who shouted about new cuts of meat, cured sausages, or fresh-caught fish from the coast.
He adjusted the sack of clothes he kept nearby, making sure it was open enough to show off the stitching and the shine of enchantment, but closed enough to keep out curious hands.
One man selling wooden trinkets waved to him.
"Looking to buy, boy? Got carved whistles, lucky charms, even a comb made from swamp oak."
Jacob shook his head politely. "I'm selling."
The man raised an eyebrow, took a closer look at the clothes in the sack, then gave a short nod of approval.
"Looks fine enough. Best of luck, then."
He continued to look around the market, taking in the livelyness of it all, when a woman approached his stall.
She was middle-aged, sharp-eyed, and wore gloves that didn't match her apron.
"Are these enchanted clothes, young man?" she asked, gesturing toward the sack.
Jacob stood a little straighter. "Yes, ma'am. They are self-cleaning, more durable than normal, and some are lighter than they look."
She picked up a vest and gave it a long look.
"Do you have any that can help with joint pain? Something that eases the shoulder?"
"Not yet," Jacob replied, honestly, shaking his head.
The woman gave a slight smile.
"I like a merchant who doesn't promise what he can't deliver. I will be back tomorrow if you're still around."
She left, and Jacob let out a breath.
Arthur returned a little while later with an empty pack and a satisfied look.
"Got a fair deal. Butcher was quick about it. You get any bites?"
Jacob nodded.
"A few. Someone wants a pain-easing enchantment. Know anything about that?"
Arthur raised a brow. "That's not easy work. Healing magic tends to be fickle."
"Then, you don't know any?" Jacob asked with a frown.
"Whoa," Arthur began, "I did not say I didn't know any, it's just that these types of enchantments take experience in healing to use. Any I make are just as good as bandages. We tend to just use bandages instead, takes less magical power . . . but you might just be capable of making something good with your power . . . though . . ."
Arthur thought about it, scratching his chin for a moment.
"Old Thom has told me in the past, when I have complained to him about my shoddy healing enchantments, that the visualization part of these enchantments are the most important part . . . so your power might not be enough . . ."
Jacob nodded, getting excited.
"Well, it wouldn't hurt to try!"
Arthur clapped him on the shoulder. "That's the right answer, I can show you when we get home tonight."
They stood there together for a while as the square buzzed with life. For Jacob, this wasn't just a market visit. This was proof that he could stand on his own two feet, with magic as his tool and curiosity as his compass.
The city had a different rhythm than Ruvka, but he was starting to get a feel for it.