The lamb was alone in a small pen. Seemingly full of energy, it bounced around in circles over the lush carpet of perfect green grass. With each hopping leap, it bleated in mindless joy.
If I had to choose a single word to describe the thing, it would be goofy.
"Taran?" Poppy pressed against the edge of the pen, her eyes wide. "Taran, it's so cuuute, I'm gonna die!"
I tried not to look at the way she stuck her bottom out as she leaned into the pen, her hand reaching for the little fluffy creature as it skipped past her desperate grasp.
Then paused.
Turning, it gave her a dopey look and flicked its long ears before trotting curiously towards her. Big eyes glistened moistly as they stared at her.
Its little mouth chewed thoughtfully as though it was trying to summon something appropriate to say.
"Baa," it said eventually.
"Come here," Poppy demanded, her voice deep and thrumming with frenzied desire. She reached for it, practically drooling. "Let me touch you!"
The little lamb seemed to grin, then charged at her hand with a happy bleat.
She snatched at the creature, tugging it towards the edge of the pen as she applied furious scritches to its woollen coat while gasping and squeaking as her brain was overwhelmed.
"I suppose we'll be taking it," I sighed to Henry, who was rocking on the heels of his shoes with a bit of a smirk on his face.
"I do so love when a customer finds their perfect companion," Henry said.
"Of course you do," I said sourly. "Because then you know we can't haggle."
"I assure you, that never entered my mind."
"Excellent. Then I'll propose fifty gold."
"Fifty?" He gave me a look of utter horror. "Look at the girl! She's absolutely beside herself. Would you deprive her of such happiness in her life? Don't be a monster. The price is clearly five hundred as per the label."
"See?" I sighed. "Now you're even refusing to haggle."
"Well, can you blame me?"
"I suppose not. But for five hundred, I expect the pen to be included. The grass is enchanted?"
"Complete daily regrowth," he confirmed. "With added nutrients to ensure a healthy coat and immunity to most parasites and other vermin."
"Hmm."
"Only two hundred extra."
"Two hundred?"
"I'm discounting it from two hundred and ten, because I'm clearly moved by the young lady's joy. My heart has been touched."
"Not touched enough," I growled.
"I'm a merchant," he said apologetically. "It's very hard to touch my heart in the first place."
"Taran?" Poppy aimed the widest grin at me and my heart felt like it had been impaled by a rather large oaken stake hammered into my chest with a fierce vampire hunter's mallet. "Taran, can I keep him? Pleeeease?"
"Yes yes," I said. "I'll buy him for you, too. As compensation for all the running. Just don't tell your sisters."
"I won't!" She flew at me, hugging me tight. I would have felt absolute delight at being hugged by her, but Henry's lip-smacking smirk wasn't helping my mood. "Thank you so much! You're so amazing!"
As she staggered back to petting her lamb who looked as eager as she did to be friends, Henry chuckled. "If I were you, I would never take that girl shopping again. I couldn't afford it."
"Hmm." I glanced around the room. "I'm also after something for myself."
"Oh?" He rubbed his hands together. "Let me guess. A porcupine?"
"Blood," I said firmly. "Specifically, the blood of a Lava Goat."
Henry froze.
"I'm not sure where you think you are," he said softly. "But we're not that kind of shop. We're a reputable business and I will have nothing to do with the illegal summoning of demons."
"Neither would I," I said sincerely. "I'm looking to use it to feed a very picky Vampire Bat manabeast."
"Hmm." He squinted at me. "That would be a different story altogether."
"I know."
"If it were true."
"It is." I pulled out a small bag of gold and tossed it at him. "That should cover the lamb. And its pen. The rest should be enough to consider my other request."
"I've considered it but am considering also speaking to the guard."
I tossed him another bag.
He looked at both, giving them an absent weigh to guess their value.
Then smiled. "I've had some very picky Vampire Bats in my time. I understand how difficult it is to satisfy them. They get very aggressive if they're not fed their favourite food."
"And mine really needs some Lava Goat."
"Theoretically, if one were to request to see this Vampire Bat of yours, it would be possible to produce it?"
"Would one want to?"
"If one were questioned by the guard, one might be forced to provide evidence of one's innocence."
"Then I would be most delighted to produce my Vampire Bat," I said smoothly. "Provided my void cat hadn't eaten it in the meantime."
"That could happen," he said. "Void cats are notoriously voracious in their appetite."
"And mine is no exception."
"Of course, I don't have any Lava Goat blood. However, I might have some Fire Newt."
"Is it of good quality?"
"The highest."
"Then, I suppose it will have to suffice for now."
"Excellent." He made a show of thinking, before pulling out a pint bottle of blood from his storage ring. "Luckily, I happen to have some here. For research purposes, of course."
"Of course."
He passed the bottle, and I immediately tossed it into my spatial bag. "Thank you," I said. Paused. "For the lamb."
"Oh, yes! You're most welcome. One lamb and its enchanted pen. I'm sorry that's all I could help you with today. But Lava Blood is a dangerous product and I can't afford to be associated with it."
"Taran?" Poppy's eyes were glowing brightly as her brain continued to pop and fizz. "Do you think I could get a little coat for him? Like, maybe something cute to keep him warm in winter?"
"He already has a lot of wool on him, Poppy."
"But we'll have to shear it off soon, won't we?"
I looked to Henry, who gave a short nod. "It should grow back fairly quickly, though. Some people do get smart little coats if their pet is spoiled enough. We also have little collars with bells and such."
Poppy clapped her hands and squealed excitedly. "Taran!"
"What else do you have?" I asked mildly. "Do you have anything which might be extremely adorable?"
"Oh, yes!" Henry's eyes seemed to shimmer with gold. "There's all kinds of accessories. We have bows, bonnets, and even little booties-"
"Booties!" Poppy let out a piercing cry.
"-and a leash, of course. They come in many different colours. Blue, red, gold and pink-"
"Pink!" Poppy's eyes rolled.
And then she slumped.
I caught her before her head hit the ground.
Then looked up at the merchant and grinned at him as broadly as I could. "Alas," I said. "The young lady is quite overwhelmed by this shopping experience. We will need to return another day, I should think."
Henry squinted at me.
"You knew she'd do that if she got too excited," he said accusingly.
"Did I?"
He gave me a hurt look. "That's a terrible thing to do, you know."
"I know," I said, trying not to sound too smug as I cradled Poppy's delicate form in my arms. "I'm very ashamed, I assure you."
The old merchant let out a heavy sigh.
"Well," he said with an air of finality. "I suppose now all we need to do is discuss the cost of delivery…"
I had a feeling I wasn't going to be getting a discount.