Hank was crest fallen. He had four Suiden, 1 Gohan and change. He was going to have to start taking items out. Mentally he started removing some nuts, maybe the crabapple could go he need to find 11 Gohan in savings. However, given the way the bidding was going all the value was in the Nakarosta seeds and the Singwood tree. There was nothing else he could takeout that could get him those three. It broke his heart, but he was going to have to leave the Singwood tree behind. Hank opened his mouth to say something when his eyes lit on a girl that looked like she was about to cry.

  “I was saving this for my coming out later this year. But you saved my life. I’ll give you my Suiden if you let me hold on to the Sing tree for a bit.” Elise was looking at him holding a cherry cast Suiden. Tears were welling in her eyes. “I was going to have a nice new dress and an enormous party and everything. I’ve been saving and working for Dad ever since he allowed. This is all I’ve managed to save up.”

  It was enough for Hank to start to tear up.

  “No, you can’t, you shouldn’t do this for me.” Hank was aghast. “When you met me I was half a step away from being a vagrant. My dad threw me out because I was worthless on the farm and I drank myself through the last two years. Don’t put your money on me. I am a poor bet.”

  “No you’re not.” Her scowl was almost vicious. “No matter what else happens in my life, I will remember that you saved me. That’s not a poor bet in my book.” She smiled, and a mischievous look came to her eye. “Besides, I will have a Singtree until you find a suitable spot to plant it. They’re special you know. So we can’t plant them just anywhere. But don’t worry it likes me I can tell. I'll help you find the right spot to plant it. In the meantime Dad will be so grumpy which is fine.”

  Hank still couldn’t make himself feel good about this. “I just don’t think it’s right that your buying seeds for my village.”

  “I’m not. You and I are going halves in a Singtree. I can spend my money on what I want, and I want a Singtree.” Else stomped her foot as she pouted.

  “Why, people hate them. They’re cursed.” Jessie was just as confused as Hank.

  She turned to Jessie and with a superior tone of voice replied. “Those sorts of comments are why this lovely one will never grow for you. You hate it and they cannot abide your nasty attitude. I think it’s beautiful. I can’t wait till it’s all big and strong. Singtree flowers have the most wonderful scent.”

  “How do you know.” Hank and Jessie asked in sync.

  “Lady Mary has a preserved Singtree flower. The scent lingers still. It's wonderful, it smells like spring and first rain and ginger bread and all sorts of good things.” She paused and tuck her hand out to Hank. “So partners in a Singtree. I get the first 8 years. Quick shake on it.”

  Somehow Hank felt he was entering a bargain for more than a tree. He was completely conflicted. He wanted all those seeds and saplings however he had a feeling that the Singtree would be the jewel in the botanical crown. It was that anxious tingling feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you just know something is right. Righter than right really. Hank had learned not to ignore that feeling. But still, he was conflicted about using the girl’s money. It was a conundrum. He paused.

  “Come on, shake already.” She beamed up at him. There was definitely something more than a tree in that smile.

  Hank reasoned she would hold on to the Singtree initially whilst he found a way to earn another Suiden to buy her out. Yes that’s was a better plan. Something he could live with. He shook her hand. She immediately smiled and reached over to shake Jessie’s hand. “Agreed?”

  The florist shook her hand “Agreed” though he still looked a little shaken by the deal.

  “Yay.” She jumped around ecstatically for what felt like a full minute, whilst Hank handed over almost his entire savings. Four Suiden and change hurt. Hurt like having a leg removed hurt.

  Suddenly Elise stopped mid bounce. She ran up to the counter and started bundling all the seeds into Hank’s bag. “Come on, I forgot there’s roast duck tonight. Can’t miss that.” She stuffed the two apple saplings into Hank’s arms grabbed his Staff and the Singtree before darting off through the door.

  She ran down the first two steps before turning and running back inside. “Mister Jessie, can you look after the other saplings until I pick them up tomorrow?” Without waiting for a reply, she turned, dashing off into the fading light. A comment floated back in through the doors to a dazed Hank and a bewildered Jessie. “Yay, duck. I love duck.”

  “That girl has way too much energy.” Jessie shook his head, a rueful smile on his face. “She is will need some kind of husband to keep up with her.”

  “He’ll have to be smart,” Hank agreed as he said goodbye to Jessie. On reflection he thought the florist was blatantly understating it, whoever she married would need to be one of a kind or he would get trampled into nothing. He followed Elise out of the shop.

  Hank’s internal monologue kicked into high gear. He only had to sort out the easy job of persuading Elise's father to allow Hank’s stuff to be delivered to the inn. Hopefully he could negotiate for temporary storage before future shipment to wherever he eventually established his village. Well that and not die when a certain Fujikan father with more mass than a mountain gorilla found out the apple of his eye was spending her allowance on a vagabond.

  It was a struggle to keep up with Elise on the way back. So it proved quite impossible to persuade her not to say anything to her father about what she spent her money on. And any hope Hank had in keeping things quiet disappeared the instant they arrived back at the Duck and Goose.

  “Papa, papa. Guess what” Elsie didn’t wait for ‘papa’ to guess anything but just blurted it right out. “Hank and me have gone halvsies in uncle Jessie’s Singtree. Isn’t that fantastic? I’d didn’t even need to wait until next year.”

  “Elise, what on earth were you thinking. I told you not to get that thing and how on earth did you con him into paying for it?” Rupert jerked a thumb in Hank’s direction. “Didn’t Jessie want 3 Suiden for that sapling?”

  Now she really couldn’t hide her satisfaction. “I know, he did didn’t he. But I got it a Nakarosta pair, two apple saplings, a bunch of other saplings and sprouts, oh and about a hundred seeds for 5 Suiden and change.”

  There was a groan from Rupert. “When Jessie wakes up from his stupor, I’m going to have to explain that my daughter is not the terror of the market place, just a normal girl. Oh good luck to me.” He grumbled to himself pausing on the point of turning away. “Hang on a minute. Are you planning on keeping that tree in the inn?”

  “Of course, we will keep all the saplings until Hank has an agreeable place to plant them.”Elsie responded simply. “And I get to hold on to this delightful little Singtree for eight years isn’t that great?” She was positively bouncing again.

  “No that’s not great.” Rupert growled back at her. “You heard what your uncle said about the rotten things that happened to us when our family had a Singtree.”

  “But you didn’t remember the story properly.” Elise glared back at her father. “Uncle Ed said that it was friends with the Sakura tree your dad ordered cut down. Only after that things started to go wrong.” She paused. “Of course uncle Frank says that any time you cut down a Sakura tree you get 20 years of bad luck. So maybe your singtree had nothing to do with the family bad luck.”

  “I still maintain those overhyped trees are no good.” Rupert wasn’t persuaded.

  “That’s only because one wasn’t planted on your birthday. But uncle Ed reckons he heard its voice once. That must be so awesome. This one will speak to me for sure.” Elise sweetened her voice as she said the last part looking at the sapling she still held.

  “Useless superstition. Not going to happen.” Rupert grumbled.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “Yes it is, you watch.” Elise’s attention snapped back to her father.

  Hank felt that now he could get in a few words without things going badly astray. “Rupert, sorry to change the subject. I don’t know where I'll be building my village, I was hoping I could ask you to hold on to these saplings for a few months and pickup the odd book or seed for me. Is that something you would be willing to do? I was hoping to pay for the service but Jessie has almost cleaned me out.”

  “Why ask me. My daughter seems to regard this place as hers. Hang on a minute, saplings, there’s more than one? I…” whatever Rupert was going to say as he continued grouching was cut off.

  “Of course you can, and if papa wasn’t in such a grumpy mood because of Bartholomew’s drinking from the last couple of nights he would say yes too.” Elise piped up.

  “I am not in a grumpy mood. He bought it all. It’s just that I am going to be short of various beverages due to his drinking in the last month. He’s getting bad and… Well you don’t need to know about the inn’s business Hank. So I guess you can do that. They can all go into the kitchen garden we established on the roof. At least then someone,” he glared at his daughter “will do her chores and water the garden.”

  “Dad, the books can’t go on the roof. We can put them in the storage with the rest of Dad’s junk.”

  “It’s not junk, it’s stuff from my youth.” He paused and continued in a softer tone. “It’s precious.”

  “Yeah dad right! It’s junk that mum didn’t get to throw out that nobody uses. Bunch of old robes and silly Fujika papers that are boring and only talk about money and taxes.” Elise rolled her eyes.

  “Once they were all very important. They will be again one day.” Rupert said.

  Hank decided to interject a second time. “Once again, changing the subject. I am off early tomorrow morning, can I take an early breakfast with me?”

  “Of course, Elise will sort you out for that and also for a cut lunch.” Rupert replied.

  On that excellent news Hank turned, heading for his room. As he did, he mentally opened the blinking icon failing to notice a sudden change in Elise’s demeanour. As he rounded the first level stair landing, he heard a shout from below. “You what? A whole Suiden.” There was a pause. “Yes I know he saved your life. But we shouldn’t rescue every dam vagabond from here to the sea of infinity.” There was another pause. “It’s a tree not a dam pet. You can’t share it when it’s planted in the ground.” The volume had increased. Whatever Elise said next obviously was the final straw because Rupert’s response was a roar Hank was convinced the entire Inn and bar herd. “Baka! You certainly will not.”

  Hank decided that some things, such as family arguments were best stayed out of. It was time to see what all the notices he received in the flower store contained.

  “Another one of those wisdom points. Seriously what are they for?” It was starting to bug him he didn’t know.

  There was more. His quest log seemed to have gone crazy.

  Obviously from when he had been in the book store, he thought to himself. He would have to impose on the good will of Elise’s father a little further. The quest had a point there was no way he could carry that many books with him. He needed to leave some behind.

  Hank realised that the unique nature of both the Singwood and Nakarosta trees had given him quests. Obviously they would not be easy to cultivate but as the notes for the Singtree quest suggested there was obviously some enormous benefits to be had from them. He was quite excited by the prospect. However all these new quests pointed him toward developing his new village. He would need to complete the main quest first.