Day 6
"That's today's loot." Marana was feeling nervous. "Also... I need a favor."
"I don't grant favors. If you don't have the money for whatever you want, we're done for the day."
"Wait!" The merchant was hiding in the shadows on the fartherst corner of the cave. Marana had no idea where he was from, but she was sure he knew how to find his way in that place better than anyone, even if it was her home. She had no choice but to trust in him, and eventhough she never saw his face, it looked like he was worthy of that trust. As long as she proved to be a good customer. "I need... A loan."
"Really? I didn't think you would be that kind of shopper."
"I'm not. It's... Our clan must be perfect, and I can't spend any more time waiting. We need two Facets."
"And how much would you need to buy them?"
"Well, as of now..." She looked at her notes. "778,289 treasure."
He thought for a moment. "That's quite a lot. Unless you get lucky again with those eggs, of course." He laughed. "But the festival is over now, and your loot wasn't that great today, huh?"
"I know. But I'll get your money back, don't worry."
"Oh, I'm sure you will. And you'll get it quickly."
"What are your conditions?"
"You have five... Incubation periods."
Marana was stunned. "What...?"
"If you don't give my money back by then, I'll take what you want the most. And I'll keep taking them, until you do."
"No, that's not happening! You won't take my children."
"I won't. If you keep your word."
Marana was desperated, that definitely wasn't what she hoped for. She trusted Machai, and most of all herself. But was that enough? Should she risk everything just to make sure her clan would look perfect?
"Do we have a deal?"
What a hard choice. But she had to make all the hard choices in there. "I... I..."
"Yes. We have a deal." said Machai, entering the room.
"I see. Nice to meet you, Machai." said the merchant.
Marana was confused and desperated, unable to react.
"I would say the same... If I could actually see you." Machai smiled.
The merchant laughed. "Well, that's all for today. I'll bring your Facets shortly. Keep your deadline in mind."
"Machai..." He wouldn't look at her as they walked, and she was too ashamed to look straight.
He didn't answer. He was never that quiet.
"I'm sorry..."
"For what?"
"For risking our clan."
"I don't care about that. I trust you enough to know you'll do everything you can to get that money. I'm not angry at you because of that."
She looked at him. Machai was definitely holding his cry.
"Why don't you trust me, Mara?"
"Machai..."
"I know you think I'm not strong, and well, I'm definitely not strong as you are. But we're partners! You should trust me with your plans. You didn't even tell me you would get children, I don't even know how..."
"Machai! I trust you. I just didn't know what to do."
"I could help you make that decision."
"Well... You did, didn't you?"
Machai smiled.
"And about the children... Well, that's the ritual we'll have tomorrow."
"You mean... We are having kids?"
"Of course! Do you see any other gaoler around here?"
"Not yet! But soon we'll have a great clan, full of hatchlings running around! That's so cool Mara, I can't wait!"
She couldn't wait either. Eventhough she was worried about the loan, Marana felt happier than ever.
"That's today's loot." Marana was feeling nervous. "Also... I need a favor."
"I don't grant favors. If you don't have the money for whatever you want, we're done for the day."
"Wait!" The merchant was hiding in the shadows on the fartherst corner of the cave. Marana had no idea where he was from, but she was sure he knew how to find his way in that place better than anyone, even if it was her home. She had no choice but to trust in him, and eventhough she never saw his face, it looked like he was worthy of that trust. As long as she proved to be a good customer. "I need... A loan."
"Really? I didn't think you would be that kind of shopper."
"I'm not. It's... Our clan must be perfect, and I can't spend any more time waiting. We need two Facets."
"And how much would you need to buy them?"
"Well, as of now..." She looked at her notes. "778,289 treasure."
He thought for a moment. "That's quite a lot. Unless you get lucky again with those eggs, of course." He laughed. "But the festival is over now, and your loot wasn't that great today, huh?"
"I know. But I'll get your money back, don't worry."
"Oh, I'm sure you will. And you'll get it quickly."
"What are your conditions?"
"You have five... Incubation periods."
Marana was stunned. "What...?"
"If you don't give my money back by then, I'll take what you want the most. And I'll keep taking them, until you do."
"No, that's not happening! You won't take my children."
"I won't. If you keep your word."
Marana was desperated, that definitely wasn't what she hoped for. She trusted Machai, and most of all herself. But was that enough? Should she risk everything just to make sure her clan would look perfect?
"Do we have a deal?"
What a hard choice. But she had to make all the hard choices in there. "I... I..."
"Yes. We have a deal." said Machai, entering the room.
"I see. Nice to meet you, Machai." said the merchant.
Marana was confused and desperated, unable to react.
"I would say the same... If I could actually see you." Machai smiled.
The merchant laughed. "Well, that's all for today. I'll bring your Facets shortly. Keep your deadline in mind."
"Machai..." He wouldn't look at her as they walked, and she was too ashamed to look straight.
He didn't answer. He was never that quiet.
"I'm sorry..."
"For what?"
"For risking our clan."
"I don't care about that. I trust you enough to know you'll do everything you can to get that money. I'm not angry at you because of that."
She looked at him. Machai was definitely holding his cry.
"Why don't you trust me, Mara?"
"Machai..."
"I know you think I'm not strong, and well, I'm definitely not strong as you are. But we're partners! You should trust me with your plans. You didn't even tell me you would get children, I don't even know how..."
"Machai! I trust you. I just didn't know what to do."
"I could help you make that decision."
"Well... You did, didn't you?"
Machai smiled.
"And about the children... Well, that's the ritual we'll have tomorrow."
"You mean... We are having kids?"
"Of course! Do you see any other gaoler around here?"
"Not yet! But soon we'll have a great clan, full of hatchlings running around! That's so cool Mara, I can't wait!"
She couldn't wait either. Eventhough she was worried about the loan, Marana felt happier than ever.
Art by Rashakiro | _________________________________ |
~ Crazy
He/him Brazilian (FR+5) |