It had seemed like another ordinary day. Ren and Rokku had begun preparing their goods for the market, and as always, the milk sat at the top of the list. It was by far the best seller, but Ren could not keep selling only milk while he had crops sitting ready on the farm. Potatoes were a staple in the village, and although he grew them, he had held back from selling them. So many of the villagers relied on the potato trade that he saw no reason to pull buyers away from them, especially when he did not need the extra income.
The crowd had taken quickly to Rokku. The spirit animal's size and stern bearing gave people the impression of something godly standing among them, and as Eldrad had said, he carried luck with him. Rokku definitely had that air. Children had especially taken to pressing themselves into his feathers and patting him down as though he were a very large and very dignified pet, which Rokku tolerated with the patience of something ancient and unbothered.
