I''m little a irked that I can''t explore the city inside the walls. Just a little though. Instead I saunter through the alleys beyond the walls. The place isn''t too bad, to be honest. As long as I''m careful not to step into anything at least.


    Contrary to what stories might have you believe the place isn''t littered with trash and excrement, despite the dirt roads and the obvious lack of sewers. I even come across the reason why. Or at least one of the reasons. There might be others after all.


    The one I encounter is a trash collector with their cart. The smell isn''t exactly pleasant, as they collect more than just rags and broken furniture, but at the same time people like him are the reason why the place in general isn''t a total mess. The people seem to appreciate that, judging by their colloquial tone when dealing with the man.


    For a moment I''m tempted to use [Identify] on him. I''m really curious about his class or classes after all. In the end I manage to refrain though. It would not be considered polite at best and a downright hostile act at worst.


    Instead I keep skulking about, practicing my [Stealth] in the process. Even if it only improves by a fraction of a skill point the effort is worth it.


    Except before the trash collector gets out of sight another thought strikes me. It is a spur of the moment idea, but I decide to act on it. Without delay I stop skulking about. Instead I approach the man and his cart openly. I even go so far as to flash him a pleasant smile.


    “Top of the day to you, good man. I''m sorry if this seems a bit sudden, but I''d like to ask you a question or two, if you don''t mind.”


    He stops in surprise, just as he is about to pick up the handles and pull his cart along a little further. A look of suspicion flits across his face, but he quickly composes himself. He even takes his hand back of the hilt of the dagger he wears at the belt again after a moment. Not before he makes sure I''m not just distracting him so someone else can pilfer something off his cart though.


    “And a good day to you too. What can I help you with?”


    I stop close enough to have a quiet conversation. At the same time I keep enough distance, as not to intrude on him too much. To be honest, this means I''m already a little closer to him than my nose would like, but beggars can''t be choosers.


    “I''m new around here and I was wondering, if you could recommend a shop that sells some decent second hand gear. Nothing fancy. Just some essentials and maybe a change of clothes.”


    He relaxes visibly at the question. That much isn''t really a surprise though, since it is innocent enough. After all, that is the reason why I decided to lead with it. He nods and clears his throat.


    “Well, in fact, my sister in law runs a shop that sells second hand clothing. I sell plenty of the old things I collect to her. Anything she thinks can be washed and mended at least one more time in fact. Everything she deems only good for rags I sell to the paper mill instead.”


    He points down the direction he was coming from and into which I''m heading coincidentally.


    “If you keep going this way you can find it down at the waterfront by the river. It''s called Fleas and Flotsam, but don''t worry about any actual fleas. She takes the laundry pretty serious.”


    He laughs at his own joke and I join in dutifully.


    “What about other essentials? Things like camping gear? Maybe a utility knife? Things like that?”


    He nods, all worry just about forgotten by now.


    “There is a small workshop in the street behind my sister in law''s shop. I wouldn''t call it an actual smithy, as the old man mostly makes a living sharpening knifes and mending pots and kettles, but he tends to buy and sell used metal wares. Maybe you''ll get lucky there?”


    Before I can nod a divine whisper distracts me.


    [*Ding!* You have unlocked the Gather Information general skill at Level 1!]


    Most curious. Why hasn''t this skill unlocked before? Maybe during my conversations with the adventurers? Does it only count if I actually ask for information?


    Most curious indeed. Either way, I''m not going to complain. This gets me one step closer to a level up that will allow me to instantly recover from my accumulated fatigue and injuries.


    Stolen story; please report.


    My distraction doesn''t go unnoticed. The man smiles knowingly, yet he doesn''t push the issue.


    A little belated I nod at last. I have to get my act together. There is still the other question I want to ask after all.


    “Thank you. I''ll give them a try. There is something else I was wondering about though. Maybe you can enlighten me in that regard as well.”


    He simply motions for me to continue, thus I go ahead.


    “I have noticed that just about everyone around here seems to openly carry a dagger. Is there a reason for that? Something I should be aware of?”


    Understanding dawns upon him and he nods.


    “Ah, yes. Of course, you mentioned that you aren''t from around here. Well, the reason is simple enough. All adults are obligated to carry at least one blade of at least one hand span within the walls of Riverrun or anywhere within sight of its walls.”


    His voice drops towards the end and he looks around as if to make sure that we aren''t overheard by anyone. Then he continues.


    “Everyone around here is supposed to be able to fight off monsters or bandits that way since you carry at least one weapon. At least that is the spirit of the law. The guards use the letter of the law to get a few extra coins out of anyone who comes in from elsewhere armed with anything else but a bladed weapon. It''s a good thing you have that sword of yours. Otherwise they probably would have held you up already.”


    That is a rather relevant piece of information. The divine whisper that brushes my mind right as the man finishes his explanation seems to reinforce that impression.


    [*Ding!* Your skill Gather Information has leveled up to level 2!]


    I nod, not only to signal that I understand, but because this reinforces my less than flattering image of the local guards. I bow my head slightly in a gesture of respect.


    “I''ll keep it in mind. Thank you. Anyway, I better get going again.”


    He scratches the back of his head.


    “Ha, yes. Me too. Take care and godspeed!”


    With those words he picks up the handles of his cart again, to pull it down the dirt road to the next person waiting with for him with some of their trash.


    I in turn start to move with greater care once more. Except here among people that doesn''t mean quite the same thing as out in the woods.


    I show some casual interest in the shops I pass, without paying too much attention to anyone or anything. I take care not to bump into anyone without moving too much at the same time though. In general I try to be as unassuming as I possibly can appear to be considering the circumstances.


    I think I''m doing pretty well too. There is no notification yet, but I''m certain that my [Stealth] is making steady progress. It feels like I''m incredibly close to the next level up, both for that one skill and for my class in general.


    After a while I reach my destination, the waterfront on this side of the city. There is no such thing as a waterfront in the actual walled part of the city. The wall surrounds it completely. Only out here a few ragtag wooden jetties extend out into the river.


    There are a few boats. Most of them appear to be small fishing vessels. A few are larger though. I''m tempted to call them ships, although I really haven''t a clue what exactly makes a boat a boat and a ship a ship.


    The shop described by the trash collector is easy enough to spot. A sign depicting a giant flea sitting atop a piece of flotsam, carved out of some actual flotsam by the looks of it, swings in the slight breeze above the shop''s door.


    I think I can spot the other place mentioned too, as it is the only one in this part of the town that has a fire going during the day, but I decide to visit the second hand shop first. A blanket or at least a decent hooded cloak I can use as a blanket is a must in case I''ll end up out in the wilderness again.


    Without any further delay I enter the shop and stop as the door closes behind me.


    The difference is like night and day. I leave the smell of fish behind and am engulfed in the smell of fresh laundry and soap instead. Most curious! And, of course, it is much darker in here, as the windows are rather small and all closed for good reason.


    It is incredibly cramped in here too. There are racks and shelves, as well as some bins, all filled to the brim with second hand clothing and some other odds and ends as far as I can tell.


    And of course there is very little room in between all those. Very little room indeed. Just barely enough to move about without knocking anything over. I have to watch myself with every step, as I move deeper into the shop, especially considering the sheathed long sword I wear on my belt.


    The place is a veritable labyrinth. I know as a matter of fact that the shop can''t be terribly big. I have seen it from the outside after all. I know how narrow the buildings here at the waterfront are. I know too, that the next street beyond the waterfront isn''t that far, yet, I feel like I could get lost in here.


    Are these a shopkeeper''s special skills at work? Could the trash collector''s sister in law have some skill that makes her shop bigger on the inside? It may sound a little silly, but I''m not sure. I can''t really rule it out either.


    Finally I come across another person. I have to admit I''m slightly surprised. The person climbing a step ladder to get something from one of the top shelves looks a little young to be running a shop. Although maybe I''m mistaken. It could just be the bad light in here.


    I squint and look again. No, that is a child. There is absolutely no mistaking it. At least my [Spot] skill is sure to keep improving eventually if I keep going like this.


    Just as I raise a finger and am about to speak up to get her attention she seems to notice me.


    “Ah, welcome, honored customer!”


    The phrase seems like something she has been drilled to say. It seems a little out of place, yet at the same time she sounds absolutely adorable speaking like this. No, adorable might not be a strong enough word.


    I can''t help but stare a little, which in turn seems to fluster her a little. She climbs down from the step ladder and bows politely anyway.


    “I''ll go and get my mother. Please forgive me. We''ll be with you shortly.”


    I just nod and start to look around a little as she hurries off to fetch her mother who in turn is thus in all likelihood the owner of the shop. Yes, that would make sense.