An Ogre at a Market Stall

At an open market near the western settlements I watched an Ogre merchant attempt to purchase cloth from an Elven vendor. The interaction attracted attention because most of the surrounding Humans seemed to expect violence; instead, the dispute concerned colour. The Ogre insisted that a bolt was blue and the Elf that it was green. Neither yielded.

They compared it against three other fabrics, moved it into sunlight, moved it back into shade, recruited a Human bystander, rejected his opinion, and eventually summoned a Dwarf from the neighbouring stall. The Dwarf examined the cloth and said, “Blue-green.” Both were offended. The argument lasted perhaps fifteen minutes, and the Ogre purchased the cloth anyway.

As he left, I heard the Elf tell another customer, “He has no eye for colour.” The Ogre, already several yards away, shouted back, “You have no eye for honesty.” The Elf smiled. I later learned they had conducted business together for nine years. Civilisation is sometimes nothing more complicated than learning which arguments are safe to repeat indefinitely.