"We heard Thornhaven stopped trading with Redingham," one of you says.
"Can you tell us what happened?"
The woman's expression shifts.
Not anger, exactly.
More like... resignation mixed with frustration.
"We sent goods," she says flatly. "Grain, fish, vegetables. For weeks.
Never saw a single coin in return."
She crosses her arms tighter.
"Our merchants kept saying the payment was coming, that there might be delays, that the roads were uncertain. But nothing arrived.
Her jaw tightens. "We have families to feed."
She glances back into her house, then back at you.
"So we stopped. Simple as that.
Now we're looking for other cities to trade with.
Places that actually pay for what they buy."
Her tone isn't hostile toward you specifically, but there's clear bitterness there.
"If Redingham wants to do business again, they can send the money they owe us first.
Until then..." She shrugs. "We'll manage on our own."
🎯 What's next?
- Explain that Redingham's merchants haven't received goods, and you have been sent to investigate.
- Ask if she knows why the payments stopped
- Apologize for the trouble and leave
- Other → Your call.