The sun barely peeked over the village’s eastern wall when I hurried out of the tavern, where I’d just finished a hurried breakfast of oatmeal. It wasn’t very tasty, but it sticks to your ribs. But that’s not why I was excited for the day.
This was the first trade fair between our villages. Lake Village would host it. They were well situated between the villages and with their large village center next to their church made it a natural location for the first trade fair.
Our village’s supply cart creaked with a load of trade goods. Several bags of wheat from our first harvest were stashed at the bottom. Over them was a bag of freshly milled flour. The scent of warm bread wafted through the air, making my stomach rumble in anticipation. I wasn’t happy about sending the first of our baked bread to be sold at the trade fair, but Wesley wanted to make a good first impression with the other villages, that we had a lot to offer.
I glanced at the box of potions loaded near the top of the cart. Mana potions seemed like pretty impressive way to make an entrance. Despite the oatmeal sticking to my ribs, my mouth watered at the smell of baked bread. I hoped Wesley knew what he was talking about.
Speaking of the Paladin, Wesley weaved through the crowd, making his way to me. He placed a hand on my shoulder, “I wish I were going with y’all. But Sarah and I are taking a group through the Victorian dungeon today. We need to do it before it resets in a few days.”
I was just glad that Wesley trusted me with such a big job. How the other villages would perceive us depended a lot on this trade fair’s success. We had a lot riding on it.
Having acknowledged Wesley's well wishes, I headed towards the supply cart. The familiar faces of our village's production class were already gathered around Jennifer Carson, our utility mage. It was her mana infusion spell that empowered the cart, making it operational.
The blacksmith, now dressed for travel, meticulously inspected the trade goods, ensuring each was securely fastened. With practiced precision, his weathered hands tightened the ropes. The farmer stood beside him, a figure of resilience with his dirt-caked boots and rough hands, giving a satisfied nod that the cart was well-prepared.
Leaning against the cart's side, the alchemist, herbalist, and baker waited, as ready as I was. The cart's contents were more than just goods; they were a testament to our village's unity and commitment.
Jennifer's eyes met mine as I approached, sparkling with the day's potential. "Good morning, Cade," her greeting was warm and sincere. "Are we set to present the best of our village?"
Returning her smile, I nodded, but with a hint of the weight I felt. “Almost. We’re just waiting for the guards.” My gaze swept the vicinity, and a grin stretched my lips as familiar figures emerged. Leading the pack was Jeff, Jennifer's husband. They always chose to serve side by side, and I understood why. The bond growing between Emily and me made me dread the thought of her facing any peril without me by her side.
Speaking of Emily, she and Hanna were next. They were followed by Jayden and Steve Jr. they were our muscle. Really, Jayden was the muscle. Still, Steve had some great gear. He was turning into a tank I wouldn’t mind having in my party. The last of our party to arrive was Brian Wallace. Having a healer that had already been to the other villages was a good thing, I hoped. Familiar faces and all that. The last member of our combat team was Lewis Warner. I’d seen what he could do with arcane magic during our fight at the hospital, but other than that, I hardly knew him.
Still, I was comfortable with our security detail; after all, Wesley had encouraged me to pick whomever I wanted. I turned back to Jenn, “Now we’re ready. Whenever you’re ready.”
As Jennifer's mana infusion spell activated, our cart began its journey to Lake Village. Every turn of its wheels carried the weight of our village's collective dreams.
Lake Village's skyline was limited to the church spire as we approached. Ahead, the stone gatehouse stood with open wooden gates, welcoming us. I felt a burst of excitement, thinking of the bustling trade fair inside.
Friendly guards at the gate nodded us through, a clear sign of the mayor's commitment to safety. Inside, the village had grown, with new wooden cabins extending its boundaries since my last visit. I wondered what had spurred this development.
The village square was alive. Beside the old church, stall owners quickly set up, laying out their products with care. The din of voices mixed with the sound of crates being moved and hammers striking.
Our merchants got to work immediately, choosing a spot next to the Doe Run village stall. In no time, our space became a lively marketplace. The blacksmith hung up a clear sign offering armor, and other artisans from our group displayed their goods neatly. Among the many attractions, the scent of our baker's fresh bread was particularly inviting, promising a taste of home to those who wandered near.
Word of the baker's irresistible offerings spread like wildfire through the trade fair, drawing a steady stream of curious customers to her table. It wasn't long before she found herself engaged in a flurry of activity, deftly packaging and selling her delectable treats to eager buyers. The success of her sales gave me a sense that even if nothing else, we had at least one product others desperately craved.
Eager to explore the rest of the stalls and soak in the lively atmosphere, I organized our security team and assigned them to rotating shifts. Despite the presence of village security, I wanted our group to be well looked after by our own guards. With the assignments given, Emily slipped her arm into mine, her smile warm and inviting.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
I felt a mix of surprise and delight at Emily's proposition. Amidst my focus on duty and responsibility, I hadn't given much thought to how exciting this would be for Emily. Of course, this was the most exciting thing any of us had experienced since the System takeover that didn’t try to kill us.
A smile graced my lips as I regained my composure. "Really? That’d be awesome," I replied, my voice cracked with eagerness. "It's a date."
With Emily's arm still entwined with mine, we set off, weaving through the bustling crowd and immersing ourselves in the colorful tapestry of the trade fair. I recognized people from Doe Run, Lake Village, and Fort Point, both minding booths and checking out the various booths and stalls. However, there seemed to be more people in the village square than what the three villages could account for.
Emily's enthusiasm led us to a fabric stall. The vendor, eyeing our linked arms, chimed in, "How about a blouse for the lady, sir?"
Emily's gaze settled on a vivid purple blouse, its flamboyant shade reminiscent of garb from pirate lore. Though initially garish to me, her evident enthusiasm warmed me to it. Drawn in, Emily inquired of the vendor, "Is this unique design your handiwork?"
The woman's face brightened, "We crafted it, yes. But the design? Inspired by one from the System store. Once we set up our looms, my family and I wove this very fabric."
She brought the blouse closer to Emily. My date’s fingers danced over the fabric's surface, exploring its texture. "It feels so soft. Is it silk?" Emily inquired.
The woman shook her head, strands of her hair swaying with the movement. "Not entirely. It's a blend of silk and cotton. We purchased the materials from the System store and carefully wove them together on our looms. We've had some success selling them on the auction house. Surprisingly, there’s quite a market for them in Arabia."
Emily held the garment up, examining it closely. "How much for this lovely piece?"
The woman pondered for a moment, rubbing her chin in contemplation. "We've been selling them for the better part of a gold on the auction house. However, for you, I can offer it for sixty silver."
Though I was familiar with the workings of the System store and auction house, my research had mainly focused on other aspects. I had no idea that silk and cotton could be purchased directly from the System store. Glancing at Emily, I noticed the wistful look in her eyes. "I wish," she sighed, "but I'm afraid I only have forty silver, and I shouldn't spend it all on one item."
The woman's expression twisted with a hint of disappointment. "I understand, but the silk and cotton from the System store come at a high price. I couldn't possibly part with this piece for less than fifty silver."
Contemplating our options, I realized we still had available land for farming. The System store offered a variety of seeds, albeit at exorbitant rates. However, the prospect of adding a cotton field to our village seemed promising. Driven by the news and Emily's longing gaze upon the purple blouse, I made a decision. "We'll take it, ma'am. Fifty silver."
Unexpectedly, I received a small surprise. Since the System took over, my transactions had been limited to the System store and auction house. As soon as Emily took possession of the garment, my System coin purse was debited fifty-five silver. The process bore an uncanny resemblance to the System store's operations. The additional deduction caught my attention. "Is there a tax?"
The woman let out a resigned sigh. "Yes, I'm afraid so. The Mayor Parker imposed a ten percent tax for the duration of the fair."
The news struck me, causing a sudden pang of indignation. I had an urge to confront the mayor about the exorbitant tax rate. However, the more rational part of me realized that we could adopt the same approach when it was Columbia's turn to host the trade fair. Practicality overruled my initial reaction, as I silently acknowledged that every village sought to benefit from such an arrangement.
As we continued around the village square, I noticed that the stalls representing Lake Village tended to focus on fish products, fished from the nearby lake. They also had wool products. I was a bit surprised by that until I heard bleating from within the village. Additionally, one of their own had made craft products for sale. The stalls from Fort Point were plentiful. Also as much as a hit as our baker, was a stall selling shaved ice. I opened my wallet to try it. They flavored the iced treat with various flavors. Liquids tended to be more resistant to decay than most other pre-System creations. I didn’t complain as I bit into the tasty treat.
There was a machine at the back of the stall that looked very similar to our own excavator. Someone added water and after a moment, the machine produced ice. A setting on it turned it to shaved ice. Even as I enjoyed the treat, I couldn’t help but wonder how much someone had paid for it. It had to have been expensive.
Additionally, Fort Point had several stalls given over to weapon-smithing and other products. Emily and I had to drag Jayden and Steve away from a stall selling beer made in the village.
The sun was directly overhead when Emily and I discovered that the medieval style church was open. Tables had been set up within it and a dinner was available for a few coins, of course. The coolness of the stone walls kept the heat of the day at bay. As my eyes grew used to the inside, I saw Mayor Parker talking with Zachary Connolly at a nearby table. When the bard spied me he waved.
“My, my, Master Cade, you must be touched by God to have such a beautiful young woman on your arm.”
Emily preened at the compliment. I turned three shades of red, but I still felt proud at the compliment. I stammered, “This is Emily Bridger.”
The bard motioned to some chairs, “Please, have a seat. Emory and I were discussing the trade fair. Your baker has been a real hit. No doubt she’ll leave empty handed but with a fat coin purse.”
Aware that Zachary Connolly held Emily in high regard, I offered her a chair before sitting down myself. “Your ice-making machine impressed everyone. It was a real delight.”
The bard blanched, “It should be. That fool Jones spend twenty gold on the damned thing.”
I bit back a curse upon hearing the news. That Resource Excavator cost me a whole five gold. The mayor, smirking, said, "You peninsula elites always did splurge without thinking, Zack. With such investments, we should definitely host more trade fairs."
I finally found my voice, “Seems like this one is going well. There’s a lot more people than I expected.”
The mayor flashed a smile, “Yeah. We advertised it across the causeway, on the other side of the lake. We’ve had quite a few folks from Sun Valley come.”
Connolly shook his head, “Don’t let Emory give you half the story, Cade. There was a campground near the lake full of recreational vehicles when the system hit. Those folks tried to make a go of it, but this week they gave up. Both Lake Village and Fort Point picked up several families.”
I sensed that Doe Run was on a similar trajectory as the other dwindling village. My hope was to persuade them to join us. It wasn't about competition, but I aimed to bolster our village's numbers to two hundred before the rest. While I wasn't clear on the specifics, it felt crucial for Columbia to be the first to unlock the Squire position.
After some parting words and friendly exchanges, Emily and I said goodbye to Mayor Parker and Zachary Connolly. Exiting the cool confines of the stone church, we headed to our stalls to cover the final guard shift.