Trade Grains

Ink was hard at work digging in the cool of the night. There was much construction to be done in the morning and the trade village was always busy. His eyes had become adjusted  to the near darkness in the pale moonlight. As Ink moved another shovel full of the gravely ground aside, a soft glow winked amid the grains of sand and gravel. He stopped in his work and carefully picked up the tiny shining grain of earth.

As dawn broke over the distant horizon, Ink enjoyed a meal at the local inn. He had a habit of running up a tab and the old inn keeper shrew narrowed his eyes upon the young mouse. 

"Mr. Ink. It is time that you pay your tab. Harvest day is nearly upon us and I must pay my workers. You cannot leave until you pay, I hope you understand."

Ink sighed and nodded, placing his hand into his pip pouch to grab the currency, but all that he found inside was the single glowing grain he had found that night. Ink thought for a moment, realizing he had already spent his money in the nearby tavern with friends the other night. He had not realized he had spent it all. Sheepishly he placed the grain on the table, its light reflecting in the wide eyes of the old inn keeper.

"Will that cover my costs?" Ink ventured. The shrew picked up and held the grain between his clawed fingers with a nod of approval.

"Yes... yes it will."


Written and Illustrated by Lux.