Amma frowned at Dudley's words; why would she ever be on her own? The very thought scared her, enough to not even ask what on earth he was talking about. Too many unnerving thoughts ran through her head, being forced out of the town being the worst.
At first, the thought of just staying in the room seemed best, before Amma reasoned that there certainly weren't going to be any monsters here, just people. She did her best to seem presentable, and hoped the dried blood on her shirt could be mistaken for dirt.
The town, even just by appearances, was nothing like her home. The houses were not well cared for, many falling apart, and there was a strange sort of open market that she decided to wander through. One stand held food, strange fruits, and even though they were unrecognizable, Amma's mouth watered at the sight of them. But, Dudley had warned her that without that thing called money, they could not find food. Sighing, she turned to another stand.
This one was manned by a very strange sort of man; tall, taller than most back at home, with an elegance to him, just in the very way he stood and looked around and moved his hands, and his ears were strangely pointed. How peculiar. But even more fascinating were the objects in his stand. There were weapons of all sorts; knives and swords, and strange many-spiked objects, and armor. But what caught Amma's eyes were the jewelry. She'd seen some before- the ones Dudley had just shown her, and the few pieces worn by the women in the town at home, but these were much more extravagant. Red rubies the size of her thumb set in gold and silver, purple stones and blue ones and green, all brighter and more beautiful than the next. Some were set in rings or necklaces, and there were some finely carved silver jewelry that Amma couldn't help but to reach out to touch, to feel their delicate decor.
Before her finger even grazed the ring, the man's hand snapped out and snatched hers at the wrist.
"If you mean to try them on, I must see some coin first," he said, his gray eyes steely as she stared at him in shock.
"I haven't any," Amma stammered, wondering what 'coin' was; certainly another word for money. Regardless, she knew she didn't have it.
The man shoved her hand back at her. "Then keep your filthy hands off my product," he snarled back. "And get away from my stand; you'll keep any worthwhile customers away-"
Amma hadn't realized there was another man lingering nearby until he spoke, and he was right beside her, a hand on her shoulder. "Come now, Delmar, can't you see the girl just has a fine eye for jewelry?" the man who had come out of nowhere said. Amma looked to him in surprise. He was an attractive sort of man, with dark hair and eyes, and tanned skin from being out in the sun often, and there was a long, angry sort of scar running across his cheek. He looked to her and smiled, and the man with pointed ears sighed, as if his time was being wasted.
That was, until this new man tossed Delmar a gold coin. "That should be enough for her to try on whatever she wants, don't you think?" he asked, then looked to Amma again. "Go on, I saw your eyes light up at the jewelry; it was this right, wasn't it?" And before Amma could even speak, the man had picked up the intricately carved silver right, slipping it onto one of her fingers.
"It fits perfectly!" he declared. "Would you like it? It compliments you finely."
Amma stared at the ring on her finger, before wordlessly nodding; it was all happening so fast. The man tossed a few more coins to Delmar before, with his hand still on her shoulder, steering Amma away from the stand. And it was then that Amma finally found her voice.
"Th-thank you," she said earnestly, looking up to the man. "That was very kind of you, sir."
"It was nothing," the man said, smiling down at her. "What's your name, little lady?"
"Amma."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Amma. My name is Broderick. Now, wouldn't you agree that, since I spared several coins for that rather pricey ring for you, it is only fair that I receive something in return?" He raised an eyebrow at her, as if daring her to disagree.
Amma frowned. Yes, yes that did seem fair. "Yes, but...I haven't anything at all to give. I- I came with a friend, he might be able to-"
Broderick tsked, shaking his head. "Oh, no, your friend wouldn't be able to offer me anything. You see...it has been a long, long time since I'd been graced with the presence of any woman, let alone one as beautiful as you- oh no, don't blush, don't turn your head away- and I feel, for the price of that ring, a night in your company would certainly suffice as payment, don't you think?"