*does not own anything
Horst hammered the metal on the forge over and over again, watching with the ever-present thrill as the lump of metal became a tool, even a far-from-perfect one. Never ceases to amaze me.
His reverie was interrupted by his forge door banging open to reveal Katrina, who looked like she was upset.
"What's wrong?"
"Father's shouting at Eragon, and I don't know what to do."
Horst sighed. Sloan was known for his bad temper, and Horst usually avoided him, but disputes were better resolved with a mediator.
"I'll see what I can do."
Horst walked out of the butcher shop, followed closely by Eragon, who carried his pack and the strange blue stone he'd tried to trade with Sloan. I'm not surprised Sloan wouldn't trade with him. He doesn't like anything he can't put a value on. But that stone might still be valuable. Eragon wouldn't want to take the meat for free, and he doesn't have money, so he'll probably offer it to me. If I sold it, it could take care of Elain and the boys for a long time…
But then he realized what would happen if he did that. The Empire would most likely track him down, and he and his family would be killed or enslaved, all because they couldn't be happy with what they already had. A good home, friends and family all around, and the simple pleasure of watching the work of my own two hands… No, he wouldn't risk all that. Not for simple greed.
As anticipated, Eragon offered him the stone. He refused without hesitation. The stone was pretty, but good things come in rough packages.