Run: 2026-02-22-01KJ375RC8Q1D2NEJHY2Y4YMPC

The harbour plaza buzzed with the sound of a hundred voices. Elena pushed through the crowd, her satchel clutched against her chest. She knew the merchant wouldn't tolerate tardiness — he never waited for anyone, especially not someone from the lower ward. "You're late," Gregor commented, keeping his gaze fixed on his ledger. He trailed a thick finger down a column of numbers, his frown deepening. Elena placed the package on the counter. "The ferry crossing had to be rerouted, so I took the long way." "Not my issue." He unwrapped the parcel and presented the crystal to the sun. Rainbows danced across the stall's canvas roof as the light refracted through the gem, and Gregor's frown intensified. "This isn't the correct item." Elena anticipated this response. The man always found something to criticize, regardless of the goods' quality. She crossed her arms, ready for a debate. "It's precisely what you requested," she asserted. "Uncut blue quartz, extracted from the eastern quarries. I witnessed its extraction firsthand." Gregor rotated the crystal meticulously, scrutinizing each facet. He examined it intimately, then from a distance. Elena observed his inspection, likening him to a jeweller evaluating a diamond, although Gregor's trade involved more peculiar items. He placed the crystal down and let out a sigh. "Very well. But ensure better packaging for future deliveries; its edges were exposed." Beneath the counter, he retrieved a diminutive leather pouch and slid it toward her, its contents clinking with the motion. Elena lifted the pouch, gauging its weight in her palm. It felt lighter than expected. She loosened the drawstring, counting its contents: eight silver crowns. They had agreed upon ten. "Our agreement was for ten crowns," she stated bluntly. "That agreement predates the increased ferry fees," he smiled thinly, a rehearsed smile that failed to reach his eyes. "It's that or nothing." Her response was habitual: acceptance. The lower ward didn't afford many options, a fact Gregor exploited to his advantage. Elena departed the harbour, venturing into the confined lanes beyond. The sun hovered low above the rooftops, casting elongated shadows across the cobblestones. She nestled the pouch into her satchel and hastened her pace. With a swift trot, she'd reach the ferry crossing before dusk.