Fifty large wagons made their way north, each pulled by teams of eight mules. The wagons had oversized wheels to make travel easy across rough ground. Wide rims made it easier to drive them across sandy soil and mud. The routes by which the merchant train traveled were through wilderness areas where narrow roads connected small villages. If the train of wagons stopped near a village, they traded in the evening, but otherwise, they ignored the little hamlets, needing to make good time and deliver their goods.

One hundred mercenaries from The Golden Company traveled by foot, scattered among the wagons. A hundred cavalry from the Red Banner scouted the woods and scrublands for ambushes and monsters. There was little chance that any bandit group was big enough to attack the caravan, but orcs or large monsters might be a problem. On this trip, though, things seemed to go right for once. Orcs were sighted, but they moved openly under a flag of truce and offered to trade three swamp dragon hides for 20 barrels of wheat flour and a barrel of ale. They would have preferred 20 ale and one flour, but Evan remembered his father's lessons about not selling large amounts of ale to orcs, and most especially goblins. The civilized tribe you dealt with in the morning could transform into a drunken horde by the evening.

Evan Kallvek dealt with them himself. He would thank his mother for teaching him enough orcish to negotiate the deal. He remembered how much trouble he had given her over learning 'silly monster languages.' The dragon hides were worth many times more than the flour when delivered to an armor smith in the capital or Wolfsburg. The orc he dealt with said he represented 'many-many tribes' and could bring more skins. Evan arranged to meet him in the same spot in six months. He was proud of the deal and happy that he might have found a new market for goods here in the wilderness. From such small sales had the large trading houses been born.

Of course, the newest and most important market for his family was Sedgewick, where all these wagons needed to get to. The trade there looked to be very lucrative, and it opened up opportunities for all of the family. Being tasked with overseeing such a huge caravan of goods wasn't something he'd ever thought he would be doing. All the more reason to keep moving. As he was overseeing the storage of the swamp dragon hides, he saw riders coming in from the land to the north. Captain Bernice rode up and dismounted. "All looks good, sir, but we need to discuss a small problem."

"What sort of problem?"

"It's a people problem, sir. We're skirting the lands technically controlled by Baron PinchPenny. It's all wildness and scrubland, but there are people here. A lot more people than there used to be. The little hunting village used to be only twenty adults who made a living from hunting game, growing a few vegetables, and gathering nuts and mushrooms. They trade some with the orcs in the swamps. Now they have an extra fifty mouths to feed; refugee farmers from Pinchpenny's lands."

Evan pondered her report. Lots of stuff wasn't being said. "And tell me why you think this is a problem."

"Because they want to go with us. And that is probably my fault. I may have cleared out some bandits the last time I was through this area and helped get some refugee families up to Rowan Keep. These people have heard the story and recognized our banner. They're begging us to take them or let them follow behind. Sooner or later, food will get tight, and the hunters will have to drive them off or see their families starve."

The young merchant considered the problem. His father always said to look for opportunities. "Ok, we'll take them. The caravan will go to the village they are in. We'll take half a day to trade and make plans to move them with us."

Bernice smiled but was curious. "Just like that? Such a generous merchant. Not worried about the cost."

Evan was glad the woman approved. Something about her made him want to live up to her expectations. "There are other costs than just gold. If we leave them, their deaths might be on our souls. They might also talk and tell others of our route through here. It's not a secret, but I'd rather not have someone running to the Alchemarx people and telling them about things. On the other hand, Baron William has plans to settle five hundred farmers on his lands already. Half of this caravan is goods to supply the new hamlets. He may be happy with fifty more if he values those people."

She nodded. "And if he's happy, you can bill him the costs of moving them to his lands. Smart. I'll ride back ahead and get things set up. Do you have any wagon space? They have two ramshackle carts and not much else."

"As a matter of fact, I have two empty wagons. We'll fit all we can in those and then put one or two people with each of the other wagons. The Golden Company like to ride on top; it would be sad if they got out of shape from lack of marching."

That got a laugh from Bernice. "A damn shame. Yeah, tell the gold bugs to walk. It's good for them." She rode off, and Evan got back to work. He would trade with the forest folk and ask them for permission to set up a trading post in their village. It would be safer than in the area he had met Bristlehide, the orc trader. The family could keep a man there year-round, trading for the herbs and rare mushrooms from the swamps and give him a place to trade with the orcs twice a year for hides. If it worked out, all three groups would prosper.

If it worked...nothing was certain when trading in the wilds. But the profits were much better. He wondered what else was in the area.

----------------------------------------

The caravan arrived at Rowan Keep two weeks later with only minor troubles. Evan paid off the Golden Company. Before using the teleporter to travel back to Wolfsburg, they would take a day off to drink and sleep. All of the Golden Company were ex-Legionnaires and could use a Legion teleporter for free if on a job. In return, they were called up in times of emergency as additional troops. The Red Banner continued to Sedgewick for some rest and recovery for the horses. Captain Bernice wanted to take a good look around the place before heading back. Rumors were flying about, often contradictory, and she wanted to see things for herself.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Her second in command, Sgt. Barhausen rode next to her and spoke in a low-pitched, conversational tone. "What are the main things you want looked into, or other objectives? Most of the men need the rest, some drink, and time to take care of their horses, but you have me and two corporals who don't mind wandering around for a couple of days looking into things. I'll have the men see to our mounts to free us up."

"We're in unknown territory. I want an unbiased look at things. I will personally escort these wagons to where they plan to build new villages for the refugees. I need to know how those people are being treated and what the Baron has planned for them. The three of you should roam the town, spend a bit of coin, and pick up some rumors. I've heard the Baron is cutting timber and putting in orchards; take a ride out to see the extent of those operations. Poke into things, see what you find, and then we'll all visit Gadobhra. I've heard the ruins are impressive. What supplies do we need?"

Barhausen took out a thin pencil and a sheet of thick paper. 'We went through a lot of extra food getting here. We're low on corn meal, lard, beans, and bacon. It would be nice to get a couple of barrels of dried fruit. The livery stable has a good supply of groats for the horses at a good price. I'd recommend giving the nags a good feed for the couple of days we're here. They may send us right back out again when we get home."

"A good guess. The Duke needs his information, and we're one of the ways he gets it. But I'll see you all have at least a few days with your families if you have to head back out."

The caravan of wagons turned off onto a dirt road leading to the area the locals called Unicorn Vale. A pretty name, but Bernice had seen that too many times a lovely name hid an ugly reality. She rode to the head of the caravan next to the merchants. His father had joined Evan Kallvek. The two of them shared an awkward look as she rode up, but he nodded and kept his silence. She'd have to talk to him.

"I don't suppose that little town has any good place to eat?"

He chuckled. "A couple, one of which I am proud to say is mine. And, of course, Myrna is with us and cooking in her own establishment. But let's not hear of you eating in the inn or the tavern tonight. You've been on the road and could use a good meal. We will set an extra place for you tonight at my home in Sedgewick. Then maybe catch up on news of the empire?"

He obviously felt like talking to her as well. "That's generous of you. I accept."

----------------------------------------

The new Hamlets were not at all what she expected. The road came up to a sturdy wooden gate that made an opening in a thorny hedge of bocage. On both sides, large stone houses were being built. She saw piles of lumber and stone near each. "New housing? Those seem rather large for peasants."

Kallvek chuckled. "Those are being built by some of the workers the Baron has under contract. They are outgrowing their stout barracks in Sedgewick. And several have paired up and want places of their own. The Baron has allowed them to build their own homes, hauling in the stone and cutting the lumber needed. They'll be done in a couple of weeks. They work fast and only sleep a little each night. When done, they'll be the guards at each end of the road. We are in the north, and wild beasts aren't unheard of."

Bernice had seen the people working for Alchemarx. She could believe it. Although some of those slabs were quite large...

Her next surprise was when they came to the first hamlet. She had expected tents and a shanty town. What she saw were snug farmhouses with a paved village square and well. They even had a tavern! Vegetable gardens were full of mature plants. She smelled baking bread and meals on the hearth. Both Kallveks saw her looking around. The elder had a smirk on his face. "They work quickly here. The Baron even used some precious building points to hurry things along. But you must excuse me; I have customers to sell to. You should grab a beer at the tavern so the locals can brag about how many gophers they killed."

Wagons were unloaded, and customers lined up to take the goods. They would haggle for a bit with Evan or his father and then haul off the furnishings, food, spices, and housewares. No gold was being exchanged, and she doubted that the Kallvek Merchant House was suddenly giving away goods they hauled across half the Empire. She approached Emilio as he finished with a customer and pulled him aside. "Explain this, please. These were impoverished refugees when we helped them get to Rowan Keep. Now they look healthy and happy, and I'd swear they'd all gained a few levels. And how are you just handing over these goods to them?"

Emilio was delighted that she had noticed. He was going to enjoy her visit. "It's simple; each of these families earned at least a hundred gold coins in the Gopher Wars. They opened accounts at the Royal Gnomish Bank of Sedgewick. I also have an account. An agreement and a handshake transfers the money. So convenient, isn't it?"

She stared at him. "They have a bank?! And when did another Gopher War happen?"

He chuckled again. "So impatient. I was going to tell you at dinner. I know you have an account with the gnomes of Wolfsburg; go buy a beer at the tavern and pay for it. Then sit and ask your questions of the locals. They will enjoy telling their war stories to a hardened veteran such as yourself. Meanwhile, I will try to take as many of those gold coins as I can from these crafty farmers. The Mayor has been lecturing them on economics, and they know the value of a coin."

Bernice took his advice. She needed a beer right now. By the time she had heard the tale of the Gophorian Behemoth, she was on her fifth beer and making new friends.