First Haggling
(( DWC February 2024 Day 3, Bargain/Myth, CW: None, @daily-writing-challenge ))
Clinking sounds filled the air as a goblin laid out various flasks and phials on the counter where Lorellai could see them. Behind her, Ghorren leaned against the door frame, acting every part the bored bodyguard-slash-father figure. "I'm telling you kid, you came to the right place. Your problems will disappear in a puff of applied alchemy, or my name's not Bindle Glintgold, accomplished alchemist!"
"I thought it was Bindle Glintgold, excellent entrepreneur?" Ghorren scoffed.
"That's enough out of you, or you might find your special weapon oils delayed by my emotional distress." Bindle shot back, turning back to Lorellai. "Now then, what seems to be the problem, young miss?"
"Well, it's not me, but my Hornswog. He got out of the pen and was rolling around in something just outside the city, and now he's got a nasty rash on his underside. The hornswog experts said I would need a mixture of decay-roused saxifrage and unaltered bubble poppy to salve it?"
"Ahhh, not a common mixture, but one I know well! I should be able to have a nice big jar ready for you by sundown, so all we need to discuss now is how you'll be paying for this wonder cure?" the goblin answered, all smiles.
"Well, I've got plenty of gold, how much will it be?"
"Ah! Great to hear. Let's see, we've got the raw supplies, there's a bit of a price adjustment on the decay-infused herbs these days, market forces, what are you gonna do, two hours labor, overhead fees.." Bindle began to list, before looking past the earnest eyes of the dwarven girl to see the glare of the troll behind her, idly cracking his knuckles. "-and of course, a discount for a bonafide hero making her first visit to my shop, hopefully the first of many eh?" the goblin quickly corrected.
"Oh! Well that's very kind of you mister Glintgold!"
"I am nothing if not kind, and I do love to provide first time customers with a true bargain so they remember me kindly when next they have need. Just come back this evening with thirty gold, and I'll have your salve ready," Bindle declared, ears drooping a bit as he looked at the troll again, who nodded quietly.
"If you're done here, girl, we still need to get those bags of gryphon feed for Jeb," Ghorren declared, pulling aside the curtain that seperated Bindle's little space from the greater chamber the alchemists were working out of.
"Coming! Thanks again mister Glintgold, see you tonight!"
They waited until they were out of earshot before speaking again. "You know he wanted desperately to wring out every last gold piece from your wallet."
"I'm an optimist, but I'm not a fool. When you and Hlin recommended him she mentioned that he was always looking for a big score. Why do you think I asked you to come along? I know I can trust you to have my back, big fella! Now I'll be able to deal with him more truthfully in the future."
"You aren't half as dumb as you look, short stuff," Ghorren teased, chuckling as she aimed a punch at his shin.