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.