Fall of 514AV, 32nd
The market was, as usual, bustle with the early morning workers. Everyone grabbing things for work or to eat at work. Silana found it was like a dance. Each person zigzagging through the other to reach the stall of their choice. Stalls that all held new and different foods, Silana food one that held little orange balls.
“What are these?”
“Oranges, last of the season. They’re hard enough to grow here as it is but when fall and winter hit, let’s just say I’m lucky if I have a handful left.”
Silana smiled, “Then this is a large handful.”
“Almost gone bad.”
Silana turned the orange over in her hand, feeling the softer parts with her nail. A bit of juice dribbled down her hand. She licked it and frowned. It was sweet, bitter, and tasted like she had licked a rock before eating it. “Its—“
“Overripe. Try this one.” The stall owner tossed her another, and threw the other off the side of the stall. Silana pierced it (on purpose this time) and licked the juice, it was still a little bitter and sourly sweet, like a lemon. It wasn’t terrible like the other one. Silana nodded, “How much?”
“A gold for the whole thing.”
“I don’t need all of them.” Silana said, eyes wide at the thought of what she would do with all the oranges. Some of them might taste just like the other and that would be a waste of miza, she still had to buy parchment for notes.
“I’ll make you a deal, you buy these and I’ll throw in the basket.”
“I really don’t—“
“Best deal of the season, I promise.”
The young Symenestra fidgeted as the stall owner went on. She felt obligated to listen but…”Yes!” Silana gasped, “Here. I’ll take it, thank you very much.”
“My pleasure…oh and don’t eat the peel.”
SIlana gave a little bow and walked away with a basket full of oranges with a sigh. What was she going to do with all of them? Although, at least she had breakfast now. She used her nail to rip one open and began to suck at the juice, wondering whether to go home first or continue on her way when she spotted a familiar face.
It was the woman from the Notok Festival. The one she had spilled the wine all over. Silana hesitated to go over but looked down at her oranges, perhaps she could give one as another apology? Or an offering of friendship?
Shakily Silana balanced the fruits while she walked down the street, wobbling oddly with the added weight. “Sibeaee!” Silana called out in a loud whisper, her hand reach to get Cassidees attention. “How are you…and your clothes? I hope I didn’t ruin them.”
There was an awkwardness to the words as Silana shifted the basket on her hip, carrying it like a child so she could hold out her hand to shake. “I’ve not seen you since the Notok, ah….would you like an orange?”
Silana shrugged the basket in Cassidee’s direction with a smile.
Ledger1/2lb of overripe/underripe oranges.
-1GM
