| Astra and Anina were not too well placed to barter, but since they
had no money that was their only option other than attempting to rob the
man. Anina had her armour, clothes and sword. Astra had the clothes she
wore and a broomstick. [3455] Additionally, they had what they had taken
from the soldiers who had been slain by the giants: two packs containing
supplies, a sword for Astra, a crossbow and some quarrels and a dagger
for each of them. One of the daggers had what appeared to be a ruby inset
in its handle, and this appeared to be the only item that might go some
way towards paying for a pair of horses. It had probably belonged to the
officer who had been leading the ambushed soldiers.
"Look," said Anina. "This dagger has a priceless ruby in its handle. It alone is easily worth a pair of horses." "I can see from here that that is no more than cut glass. You will have to do better than that, especially since if I am left with only two horses to pull my wagon my journey will take much longer." "The ruby is genuine," said Anina, not knowing whether it was or not, but hoping that the merchant did not really know either. "But to show our good faith, we will throw in the crossbow and quarrels and one of our swords. We cannot give you both swords, as that would leave us dangerously unprotected in this wild region."
|
Eventually, the merchant
agrees that they can have two horses. 