Midget
By Rey
6. Bartering
"What flavour, boyo?" the strange Midgardian asks again, this time in an affected accent from… some other place.
I frown. Putting aside the odd diction, I show her the small sandstone sculpture that my seiðr has just crafted. "I wish to barter for three of the drinks on offer with this."
She looks at me oddly, her gaze blank. "You all right, kid?" she says instead. "You know you need money to buy things, right?"
`Oh.`
My heart plummets to the depths of my belly.
I struggle to keep my irritation, embarrassment and utter confusion from showing, as impatient grumbles are rising from the column of Midgardians standing behind me. – The villages still did bartering last time! I do not have the copper, silver and gold coins that they used with me right now. I doubt Asgardian currency would do. Besides, I am attempting to be anonymous, here!
Well, my anonymyty is beginning to fray badly, in any case, with how I am attracting quite the unwanted attention. I need to escape this presently.
"Could I barter this with some money, then?"
`Damn. I sound so inane.`
And the shopkeeper sighs, while looking pityingly at me. I feel so humiliated.