บท 749: Unsuspecting Fluff

The child gives her a wide-eyed look, as if they'd not expected her to say such a thing... "Are you sure?" they ask with an innocent smile.

Ciaran sighs and looks at them, "Do you need something?"

They look unsure, walking over and sitting next to Ciaran while unknowingly using Sif as a backrest. "Mum is busy selling stuff to people, and all of my friends are busy helping their mums and dads. It's really boring!" they say, slumping into Sif's fur.

Ciaran "I'm sure your mother needs your help selling goods, why don't you go bothe-help, her?"

"Mum already has helpers for her stall, I'd just get in the way..."

...

Ciaran "What's your name?" she asks, deciding to know then same of the child if they were going to stick around.

"Lut... What about you auntie?"

...

Ciaran "It's Ciaran, and I'm not your auntie." she states, leaving no room to maneuver.

Lut grins, "Alright Aunti Cia."

Ciaran glares at them, but relents with a sigh, deciding that it's not important enough to pursue...

Lut "So... Who were you talking to?" he asks again, not having gotten an answer earlier.

Ciaran pats the wall of fur behind them, "If you must know, it was my companion Sif." she says, the big wolf exhaling as if it'd been holding its breath until now.

Lut "Woooahh, its moving... What is it? I thought it was just a pile of hides.." they mutters.

Ciaran "Sif." she states, the wolf pushing off of its paws and bending over to look at the duo, blocking the light of the setting sun from above.

...

Lut "OOOooohhh! So cool!" they exclaim happily.

Ciaran gives them a confused look, she'd thought they'd run away as fast as possible once they'd seen Sif, but apparently not. "You aren't scared?" she asks, not letting her emotions be audible within her voice.

Lut shakes his head, "No, why would I be... This is your, your compan-onion...? Right?"

Ciaran manages to hold back a snort but nods anyway, "He is."

Lut "Where are you from? I've never seen anything like him before!"

Ciaran thinks of Lordran for a moment before shaking her head, "Our home is in Ichor, near the blue mountains."

Lut smiles, "That's cool... I wish I could explore far-away places. This city is fun, but I don't think I want to spend my whole life here..." he mutters thoughtfully, in a way that doesn't befit a child of their age.

Ciaran "Travelling? I do not think it's a bad goal, but you would need to learn how to defend yourself first... Monsters, Brigands, and Armies await you if you choose that path." she cautions them, not wishing Lut to die a foolish death.

...

Lut seems to be lost in his thought for a while, before eventually turning to Ciaran with a wide smile, "Then, could you teach me Auntie?"

...

Ciaran "No, I couldn't." she states, having other duties more important than tutoring a child.

Lut "Plleeasssee?"

Ciaran "No."

Lut "Why not?" they press, not willing to let this topic drop apparently.

Ciaran "Because I have other more important things that require my attention."

...

Lut "You weren't doing anything just now though!"

...

Hm, he's right... Ciaran shakes her head, "I was taking a brief respite from a long day's work." she says.

Lut "But, you are really strong right? Not even mum could lift something that big! You are lying about resting aren't you!" they accuse.

...

Ciaran looks up at Sif who's not giving any indication as to what his thoughts on the matter are... Until he nudges her towards Lut with his nose, making clear his stance on the matter. She didn't really have any reason to refuse either, apart from the fact they'd only be in Ard Carraigh for two more days.

Lut "Pleeaaaaaaaaaaaa-"

Ciaran "Fine! Be here tomorrow at the same time and I'll teach you some things, but that's it, we'll be leaving soon after so don't get your hopes up!"

Lut's eyes light up as they hug Ciaran arm, "Thank you Auntie!" they exclaim, letting go and hugging Sif who's for some reason unperturbed by the child affection.

"Lut!?! Where are you?" a feminine voice calls for them.

Lut "Ah, that's Mum, see you tomorrow Auntie!" they say with a giggle, running off in the direction of the voice.

Ciaran looks at Sif, "Don't think your getting outta helping Sif, I'll have the kid practising strikes on you." she says.

Sif whimpers in response, even despite the fact there was no way for Lut to actually injure him.

The next day :

It's the last day of the Auction and expectations were higher than ever, the previous days had sold goods that hadn't previously existed in this world or, more accurately, shouldn't.

Triss was wearing the fire retardant top Tankred had purchased for her, though, she was still reluctant to drink the Breast Enlargement potion he'd also acquired... Their relationship was a strictly Professional one, even if the King did desire to court her, she wouldn't stoop low like so many other Sorceresses and use their beauty to manipulate their leaders... Again... Her time in the Lodge had taught her enough to know that subverting countries was playing with fire, and if you were unlucky, Pyres.

She was yet again sat next to Tankred at the VIP balcony seating as Zoltan started the final day of the auction. Tankred had already spent a small countries worth of gold here, but it didn't seem likely that he'd be stopping anytime soon...

Triss "My Liege, maybe we should allow others to have a chance to acquire some goods today? We've already filled a carriage with the items you have bought, any more and I don't doubt we'd be chased all the way back to Kovir." she says warily.