Deliverin' the Goods, 82nd Winter, 514AV
When Shakune woke up, the first thing that she noticed was that she wasn't shivering. The past season had been cruelly cold, and even with the addition of her faithful dog beside her, she still spent half the night trying not to freeze to death. But within the first five chimes of waking up - and granted, it was nearly midday by the time she stirred - Shakune could already tell that the frost had broken and the day would be warmer than the few just passed.
So it only seemed sensible that given the warmer weather, she should finally deliver the small number of parcels that she had collected over the past five days. Her customers, it seemed, were not that bothered by the terrible weather. But this did not surprise her; it was far easier for them to drop by her home than traipse all the way to deliver something themselves, especially when there was no guarantee they would be able to find the recipient.
Shakune though, after her time as a courier, had learnt the daily schedules of most other traders in Sunberth. And they in turn knew the agendas of their most loyal customers, so given these not-so-secrets-of-the-trade, Shakune would find it relatively easy to deliver her parcels.
Not that it made actually getting out of her bed any easier, though.
When she was finally vertical, Shakune dressed quickly and began investigating the parcels. They were all wrapped in brown paper or parchment, save for one that was swathed in a silky strip of material. No doubt that package in particular was important or expensive, so Shakune placed the hand-size parcel between her breasts - it was as good a place as any to keep something safe. Another two parcels fit snugly in her bag, and the fourth she carried.
Her first visit would be to Silvertongue's, a shop that Shakune had only stepped into once or twice before. She had no interest in jewellery, least of all that sold by a Benshira. Shakune may have turned her back on her Chaktawe heritage - most of it, at least - but having been raised within the Kalanue tribe, she still took little pleasure in dealing with a Benshira. They had a fierce rivalry with her people, and fights were not uncommon.
It was therefore not a great surprise that when Shakune entered, she received a less than warm welcome. The two women exchanged a lingering gaze, as if daring each other to say something out of line, to make the first move.
Shakune cracked first under the Benshira's endless stare. "Got a package for ya," she sight brightly, determined to not allow racial prejudices of her people to get in the way of business. When Cosette Demoya said nothing, Shakune began to admire the glittering wares of the saleswoman. "How's business been?"
Urgh, smalltalk. Shakune detested it, but knew most other women delighted in trivial talk.
So it only seemed sensible that given the warmer weather, she should finally deliver the small number of parcels that she had collected over the past five days. Her customers, it seemed, were not that bothered by the terrible weather. But this did not surprise her; it was far easier for them to drop by her home than traipse all the way to deliver something themselves, especially when there was no guarantee they would be able to find the recipient.
Shakune though, after her time as a courier, had learnt the daily schedules of most other traders in Sunberth. And they in turn knew the agendas of their most loyal customers, so given these not-so-secrets-of-the-trade, Shakune would find it relatively easy to deliver her parcels.
Not that it made actually getting out of her bed any easier, though.
When she was finally vertical, Shakune dressed quickly and began investigating the parcels. They were all wrapped in brown paper or parchment, save for one that was swathed in a silky strip of material. No doubt that package in particular was important or expensive, so Shakune placed the hand-size parcel between her breasts - it was as good a place as any to keep something safe. Another two parcels fit snugly in her bag, and the fourth she carried.
Her first visit would be to Silvertongue's, a shop that Shakune had only stepped into once or twice before. She had no interest in jewellery, least of all that sold by a Benshira. Shakune may have turned her back on her Chaktawe heritage - most of it, at least - but having been raised within the Kalanue tribe, she still took little pleasure in dealing with a Benshira. They had a fierce rivalry with her people, and fights were not uncommon.
It was therefore not a great surprise that when Shakune entered, she received a less than warm welcome. The two women exchanged a lingering gaze, as if daring each other to say something out of line, to make the first move.
Shakune cracked first under the Benshira's endless stare. "Got a package for ya," she sight brightly, determined to not allow racial prejudices of her people to get in the way of business. When Cosette Demoya said nothing, Shakune began to admire the glittering wares of the saleswoman. "How's business been?"
Urgh, smalltalk. Shakune detested it, but knew most other women delighted in trivial talk.
