Carl approached the city gate right on schedule around noon. After clearing with the guard he heads to the market to start setting up his goods. The side of his cart let down with the removal of two large metal pins on either side. After it was folded out he would pull a strap that would open a panel that folded out and locked into place acting as shelves the length of the cart.
He unloaded and positioned his goods in typical order. The more expensive things at the top and the smaller and cheaper things at the bottom. After positioned Bing his items he unleashed his horse and tied him up to a post near his cart and allowed him to feed and drink.
People began to approach, most purchasing his tasty meats (a local favorite), some children begging for a few of his little wooden toys and dolls, and even a few guards/ warrior types inspecting his bows and swords. Things were going steady, if not a little slower than he had hoped. Still business was business and he would have more than enough by the end of the third day to stock up on the things he needed to take home with him.
A couple of hours later his favorite customer came calling. "Hey CW!" He'd know that voice anywhere. It was Billy. "What ya got this time?" Billy said as he climbed onto the back of the cart and plopped down beside Carl.
"Oh you know, the usual, hungry?" He held out a piece of savory deer jerky for him to take. "How are ya kiddo? Getting along alright? Hope you're staying out of trouble.
"Well, honestly? Ugh, those kids won't stop calling me names. Since you were here last they keep teasing me about standing up for you. They've been going around saying mean things about me." He looks obviously upset, despite his usually cheerful demeanor. "I don't regret it you know. It's just I wish they would stop being so mean. It wasn't right what they were doing to you either.
What a good kid, too bad he's been put in this situation. The war had left Billy without a family and forced him to grow up alone living in the refugee camp. Whenever Carl was in town he tried to make sure Billy had everything he needed to get him through till the next visit to the city. "sorry to hear that kid. Sometimes people are just bad by default. Like those people that attacked the city awhile back, they just aren't the same. And that's alright, because it makes you stronger in the end when you stand up for what's right. Which reminds, I have something for you. For that game of yours you're always begging me to play." He reached in his vest pocket and pulled out the pouch that contained the highly polished hand carved deer bone dice set and handed it to Bily.
"Wow, thanks. These are super cool CW! He exclaimed as he rolled the dice around his hands.
The two Sat on the cart eating jerky and drinking fruit juice while people walked around the market. Flanders the horse stood like a sentinel chewing his feed in silence.