Welcome to Gaia! ::

Inside the bakery was quite different from the previous one they had visited. The floor was granite tile, scrubbed so clean that the flickering candlelight was reflected in it, and the display cases, glass shelves mounted on the walls and in the front window, were clean and empty. The main floor was empty, but the back of the shop was open so that the customers could watch the baker bake, and so that the baker could mind his shop while he baked.

The baker was back in the oven area at the moment, humming to himself as he checked on something that was in one of the ovens. He was a plump little man, with black hair, pale skin, and a drooping mustache. He wore a white apron with his sleeves rolled up, and there was a smudge of flour on his cheek. When he heard the group enter the store, he didn't look up, but called over his shoulder in the human tongue, "Five minutes to the first loaf!"

Amalirahc's mouth was watering. Bread this fresh was a rare treat, what with them traveling all the time. And it smelled amazing!

"Five minutes," Earendil murmured softly to Lin. "Shall we wait in here? Nothing else is open anyways."

Earendil nodded. "Smells good, too," he murmured with a grin.

River poked Amalirahc in the middle of his back, making him squeal. "River!"

The commotion attracted the attention of the baker, who turned to glare at them. "You!" he barked at them. "You need to -"

He stopped short when he saw them, and he clenched his jaw to keep from saying something he would regret. He just hoped they would end up to be paying customers.

"Please do not be too loud, it is still very early," he said shortly, turning back to his ovens.

Earendil reached out and put one hand on Amalirahc's shoulder. "I think he would prefer not to be disturbed," he murmured quietly into the boy's ear.

Amalirahc pouted at him. "River poked me!" he protested. "It wasn't my fault!"

Earendil eyed River, who looked ashamed.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean to make him yell like that. Do you think the baker is very angry with us?"

River nodded and stepped a bit closer to Lin instinctively, her shoulders hunched. The humans seemed to be quite a grumpy race, in general - with the exception of Emile, whom it seemed nothing could get him down.

Amalirahc put his hands behind his back and stood quietly, watching the baker work. He wanted to make things go as smoothly as possible.

At last, the baker began taking loaves from the oven and setting them on cooling racks. There were eight regular loaves of bread, plus several trays of buns and the like. The smell was making Amalirahc's (and River's and Earendil's) mouth water, and his stomach growled, despite the fact that they'd only recently had their breakfast.

"It's all right with me," Earendil smiled. He reached into his bag, which was slung by his side, and pulled out a small pouch. He dumped a few coins into his hand, then handed Miyuki five bronze coins from it and returned the rest to the pouch, which he returned to his bag. "That should be more than enough."

Amalirahc eyed Miyuki. "Will you come with me to talk to him?" he asked hopefully.

Amalirahc smiled gratefully. "All right, then. Come on."

He reached for her hand and started towards the back, where the baker was gently wafting the fresh baking with his apron.

"Excuse me, sir," Amalirahc spoke up timidly. "We would like to buy some of your buns."

The baker turned to the two of them and eyed them suspiciously. "You would, would you?" he asked, somewhat gruffly. "How many?"

The baker nodded and sniffed. "That's ten pennies," he told her flatly.

Amalirahc's mouth opened in protest, but he clamped it shut immediately. He didn't want to shout at the man, after all.

"Sir, that's twice what you charged the last time I was here," he said respectfully but angrily. "That's stealing, demanding more money than is owed you."

"Thought I remembered you," the man grunted, glaring at Amalirahc. "These are fresh from the oven. They're worth more."

"That's what you think," Amalirahc muttered darkly to Miyuki. "He's nothing but a thief! And I bet he'll do the same thing to your parents! Go on, ask your ada to buy the buns for us!"

He was furious, but he carefully kept his anger hidden, his eyes clear. He wanted a bun, and he wasn't going to let some ignorant human treat him like dirt!