The heavy wooden door of the inn creaked softly as Elira pushed it open. Warm air rushed out to meet her at once, carrying the rich smells of roasted meat, herbs, and woodsmoke. Compared to the noisy chaos of the market square outside, the inn felt calmer, though no less busy.
Travelers sat at long wooden tables scattered across the room, their voices blending into a steady murmur of conversation. A pair of merchants argued quietly over a map near the fireplace while a tired farmer leaned back in his chair with a mug of ale. But beneath the familiar scents of food and smoke Elira caught something else.
The faint metallic scent of blood lingered in the air.
It didn't startle her as she had known since she was small the innkeeper had always served travelers from all walks of life, and halflings were known to frequent the inn when passing through the valley. Some preferred their blood brewed lightly with herbs into a warm drink the innkeeper jokingly called blood tea.
Elira had grown used to the smell over the years visiting when her mother would bring the loafs of breads to sell. Still, it always made her a little uneasy.
She pushed the thought aside and stepped further inside. Behind the long counter stood the innkeeper.
The moment he spotted her, his face lit up!
"Well now!" he called, wiping his hands on a cloth as he stepped forward. "If it isn't my favorite bread girl!"
Elira smiled warmly as she approached. "Good afternoon, Mr. Huan."
The innkeeper stopped in his tracks and leaned across the counter slightly, already peering toward the basket resting on her arm. "You've come just in time," he said anxiously. "We ran out of your bread two days ago. Travelers have been asking for it since breakfast!"
Then his brow furrowed when he saw the basket was empty.
Elira lifted it slightly with a sheepish smile. "That's actually why I came to speak with you."
The innkeeper blinked. "Don't tell me the crowd beat me to it."
Elira nodded slowly with a look of apologizing without saying it. "I sold every loaf."
For a moment he simply stared.
Then he burst into deep bellowing laughter.
"Well I'll be damned," he said proudly. "That's a good problem to have young lady!"
Elira felt a small glow of pride spread through her chest. "It was the first time I sold everything and before noon as well!"
"Your mother will be pleased to hear that." Mr. Haun said with a genuine smile. The innkeeper leaned back against the counter, folding his arms.
"Well, I suppose I'll have to survive the evening without it."
Elira hesitated.
Her mind drifted briefly to the seamstress shop earlier that day. She could still picture Carolina standing confidently at the counter, arranging the leather gloves while speaking with the seamstress about a delivery order.
Five pairs… delivered in four days' time.
The thought sparked something in her mind.
Elira straightened slightly.
"Well…Mr. Haun" she said slowly, "perhaps you won't have to."
The innkeeper lifted a brow. "Oh?"
Elira placed her empty basket on the counter.
"If you would like," she said carefully, "I could bring extra loaves for you in a few days."
The innkeeper studied her with interest.. "How many loaves are we talking about?"
Elira thought for a moment. Then smiled. "As many as your guests can eat."
The innkeeper laughed again, clearly pleased. "Now that sounds like a deal worth making."
Elira felt her confidence growing stronger with every word. Today had been a good day and it seemed it might lead to even better ones.
"So," he said slowly, leaning his elbows on the counter, "you're saying if I place an order ahead of time, you'll bring enough loaves to keep my guests satisfied?"
Elira nodded. "Yes, sir. If I know how many you need, my mother and I can prepare them ahead of time."
The innkeeper considered this for a moment before breaking into a pleased grin. "Well, that's the sort of thinking I like to hear." He reached beneath the counter and pulled out a small ledger, flipping through the worn pages before dipping a quill into the ink pot.
"How many loaves do you think you can prepare for me?"
Elira hesitated only briefly.
"Ten," she said. "Ten loaves in four days' time."
Mr. Haun gave a satisfied nod as he scribbled the order down. "Ten loaves it is."
He closed the book with a soft thump, then reached into the small lockbox beneath the counter. A moment later he placed several coins on the wooden surface between them.
"A small advance," he said. "For your trouble."
Elira blinked in surprise. "Oh, Mr. Haun, you don't have to—"
"Take it," he insisted gently. "A deal is a deal."
Elira carefully gathered the coins, smiling as she reached for the small pouch tied at her waist.
"I will return in four days' time," she said. "With ten fresh loaves!"
"I'll be counting on it," Mr. Haun replied.
Elira lifted her empty basket once more and turned toward the door. She had only taken a few steps when something felt… wrong.
Her hand moved instinctively toward her waist.
Then stopped.
Her stomach dropped.
The pouch.
Her coin pouch.
It was gone.
Elira spun around, her eyes darting quickly across the room.
"Mr. Haun—"
Her voice came out thinner than she meant it to.
"My coin pouch…"
Her hand searched her belt again, though she already knew the truth.
Gone.