In one sense, it was a load of junk. In another, it was barely usable refuse.
"Are you about to cry?" the minotaur asked me.
"It is glorious." I said.
He shrugged. "If you say so. Welcome to it, if you can claim it from whatever pride holds it this week."
He left as I began sawing off the remaining legs from his broken chair. One of the youths of the pride came over while I was trying to find something with screws or nails in it.
"That's our stuff; you'll have to pay a toll."
I looked at him. The words scraggly and malnourished came to mind. I mean, I hadn't expected prime warriors, but there was hardly any muscle on the lad. His eyes were sunken, his skin beginning to sag. "From the looks of how little you eat, I can afford it."
He snorted, stomped a hoof, made fists. All the things you expect from a bluff. "Just for that, your toll is double!"
I sighed. "What is the toll?" I asked.
"Four silver coins, for you!"
I can't tell you how much stress is lifted every year around this time. For so many people, it's tax time, which adds stress. I'm one of those fools who over-pays, basically loaning my money to the government free of charge over the year.
Still, it's nice to know there's a refund rather than a surprise bill at this time of year. How does this affect you? Stress is one of the causes of writer's block. Working on the next chapter now.
Gift shouts- Most Recent: The_mage1zansabar, Largest single gifter: The_mage1zansabar.
Daily shout to Hopehard, our top daily power stone donor for today.
As always, thank you for your readership! It matters to me more than I can put into words.