Run: 2026-02-22-01KJ35WJ8P8HT7E3JM3JXBZTGE

--- The market square hummed with the chatter of a hundred throats. Elena shouldered her way through the press, her satchel pressed tight against her ribs. She knew Gregor wouldn’t wait—he never did, especially not for someone like her, a girl from the outer ring. *"You’re late,"* he muttered, never lifting his gaze from the ledger. A thick finger traced down a column of numbers, his brow knitting in irritation. Elena dropped the package onto the counter. *"The bridge was out. I had to go the long way."* *"Not my concern,"* he snapped. He peeled back the cloth, holding the crystal up to the light. Sunlight fractured through it, scattering rainbows across the canvas roof. Gregor’s frown only sharpened. *"This isn’t what I ordered."* She’d known that would happen. The old man always had something to gripe about, no matter how flawless the goods. Elena folded her arms and stood her ground. *"It’s exactly what you asked for,"* she insisted. *"Blue quartz, uncut, straight from the northern mines. I was there when they pulled it from the rock myself."* Gregor turned the crystal slowly, inspecting every facet. He pressed it to his eye, then held it at arm’s length. Elena couldn’t help but think he looked like a jeweler weighing a diamond—though Gregor traded in far stranger things than gems. He set the crystal down with a sigh. *"Fine. But next time, wrap it properly. The edges are raw."* He reached beneath the counter and produced a small leather pouch. The coins inside jingled as he slid it toward her. Elena scooped it up, feeling its weight in her palm. It was lighter than it should’ve been. She untied the drawstring and counted: eight silver crowns. They’d agreed on ten. *"We agreed on ten,"* she said, her voice flat. *"That was before the bridge fee went up,"* Gregor replied, his smile thin and practiced, never reaching his eyes. *"Take it or leave it."* She took it. She always took it. The outer ring didn’t offer many choices, and Gregor knew that as well as she did. Elena stepped out of the market and into the narrow lanes beyond. The sun hung low over the rooftops, casting long shadows across the cobblestones. She tucked the pouch into her satchel and quickened her stride. If she hurried, she’d make the bridge before dark.