Snippet #2379423

The fishmonger didn't look too impressed with the new employee. To be truthful, Joth was hardly impressed with the job. Chucking fish around all day, especially now that it was summer, was hardly his idea of an appealing job. Yet, money had to be made, and the pay was slightly better than the last job. If he had any hope of moving out of the stable to an actual human living space, he'd have to deal with it.

Then again, the stable was free.

With just the hint of a sigh, he tried to be cordial and did his best to listen to the older man's instructions. But the day was hot, the sky clear and beautiful, and he realized with sinking dread that the last thing he wanted was to be here.

This realization was made worse when he overheard a customer mentioning excitement over the opening of the palace to, well, people like him. Hearing the guy go on and on about the occasion (apparently there were free food samples and jugglers and fire-eaters and dancers and all sorts of performances) just made Joth even more resentful of his new job, and he handed over the man's cod less than graciously in response, resulting in a harsh scolding from his boss.

He had been to the palace....maybe once? When he was still with the orphanage. He was fortunate enough to at least have been dumped in the center of the city, meaning he could at least see the palace walls and breathe in the urban life, rather than be stuck on some farm on the outskirts. And of course, the flight ships, and the harbor. Without that, he'd be absolutely miserable.

With that thought to cheer him on, he tried to smile a bit more and look less tortured as they day went on and the stink of the fish grew with the heat. Perhaps if he did well, the boss would let him off early, as it was his first day and all.