"Thank you, sir," Barthaew smiled amiably as the old man nodded and turned away, a gingerly wrapped stack of new plates under his arm.
Placing the coins into the makeshift till his mostly-empty knapsack at his feet had become, he looked up, allowing his eyes to settle on the play actors in the middle of the street, as a strange, high cry, reminiscient of a bunch of cheerfully-braying foals erupted from the crowd around them.
"My lord!" he heard one of the players exclaim histrionically, soon interrupted by the pleased laughter of the crowd. Barthaew smiled, watching with interest until he saw a figure break away from the crowd; a girl in a faded dress, looking knocked-about and rather put out.
She was very pretty. Barthaew watched her with muted interest, as she seemed bent on a task. He watched her pick out several pelts from the vendor at the stall across from him. Having made the transaction, she turned around to continue walking, coming close to Barthaew's stall.
"Hello, M'lady," he said pleasantly as she came close enough to hear him. He hoped to catch her eye.
She looked up at him, slightly startled, seeming almost to question whether it was her he'd spoken to.
"Might I interest you in something?" he tried again, gesturing vaguely to the collection of mugs, goblets, plates, vases, and like clay creations before him. He didn't know if she was really interested in buying something, but he hoped she might stay for a moment at least.
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