Chapter 2
Jubee’s mayor didn’t give Marcus too much more information about the elf’s caravan than what he had already heard from Inessa. The topaz dwarf did let him know that Joy’s inn, where Wendel was staying, wouldn’t have space for the twelve caravan wagons.
The mayor stands from their chair to go over to the map of the town on the wall to point at a few different spots, while stating, “In fact, a lot of the townspeople tend to have at least an extra room and an extra stall or two for people to rent out. This is one of the closest oasis towns nearest to the plains, so we tend to get more caravans during the year compared to some of the others. I would suggest going to these houses to check it out to get an introduction to the caravan.”
“Thank you, Mayor Onot. I’ve really appreciated all the help that you have given me for this matter. I know you have a government communications crystal already, but I could look it over for you to see how it’s holding up if you’d like.”
“If it would make you feel at ease, you could. I don’t expect there to be any issues though.”
“I insist.”
The mayor moves over to a shelf where there is a cuboid crystal set up in a metal assembly. He takes it down and puts it on his desk, “Alright, here it is.”
Marcus takes the time to open his side belt pouch to get his small case and a soft cloth out. From my training, I remember that it is these little details that are essential to get right. Even if there is nothing wrong, this offer would at least show my kindness, especially as I am staying at his house due to the Writ of Trade. This may help other spies later, who may also have similar trade.
Using the cloth, he gently picks up the rectangular prism and carefully polishes any smudges off. Next he opens the metal case, which is filled with what looks like cotton covered in a harden leather that outlines a magnifying glass. The redhead uses the magnifying glass to check the crystal for any scratches or cracks. “Hmmm… looks like you’re correct that there is nothing wrong. Let me just check the assembly next.”
Onot nods in acknowledgement. It is easy to tell that he is a bit curious about the process, considering that he never sat down in his seat.
Marcus checks on the assembly, making sure that the soft leather isn’t torn in the cuboid’s holder before placing the prism back in it. A quick element swap changes the air on the candle’s wick to fire. He waits a couple seconds to make sure the wick lights up, then he checks to make sure the metal concave reflector is focusing the candlelight into the prism.
A glance at the wall proves that the light is going through the crystal properly. It’s all rainbow colors now, but during the Government’s announcements it should show the view in color. Similar to his crystals, when someone adds their magic and a light to the main crystal node, the light on the receiving crystals will show the whole scene in color and sound. No light means voice only, which is why Government announcements usually start with general news to let people have time to set the light up.
Marcus blows out the candle and smiles down at the mayor. “Everything seems to be working well as you said.”
“May I?” asks Onot, pointing at the magnifying glass.
“Sure,” replies Marcus, gently handing it over. He can understand the curiosity considering that the magnifying glass is pretty expensive though definitely not as expensive as seeing glasses. Those are almost like having two magnifying glasses attached at the nose on your face. Although don’t they sell flat glasses like a cosmetic? I think there might be colored lenses too for that.
The mayor used the magnifying glass to check on the assembly, to look at the wood grain of his desk, and he even looked at his citrine hair out of curiosity at the fine details. He gave it back to Marcus. “Thank you. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“No, thank you. You have already done so much for me with letting me stay at your house and the information about the next caravan,” Marcus states as he puts the magnifying glass back in its case, then in his side belt pouch.
“I will see you later then.” The topaz dwarf finally goes to sit back in his chair. A smile on his face as he waves Marcus off.
“Until then,” the human waves back and heads out the door. That seemed to go well. I don’t think I have to make a note of it, but if this little thing increases his liking towards me, I think I can count my training as a success. Goodwill towards me, goodwill towards the Government. I keep this up and I’m sure my handler will add commendations to my file, which will push me higher and eventually… wait…
He looks around to make sure no one is looking at him before Marcus pats his cheeks with a sigh. Focus. Focus. It’s the afternoon of the 6th today and Inessa said Wendel’s caravan might be leaving the 10th. I need to figure out who to talk to in town, or see if I can get one of them to send a message to the leader that I would like to join.
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The redhead continues walking to the edge of town. Caravan wagons should be easy to spot with the linen canvas covers on top of wagons with the 3 feet (0.9 meter) front wheels and the 4 feet (1.2 meters) back wheels. Still… still with the conversations. When will I just use the Government’s system automatically?
A little bored with walking through the town yet again, Marcus looks around and element swaps air to water in his hand to quench his thirst. There were a couple of shops around, but hardly anyone outside. He does know they are open though do to the colorful tarps that are set up over the entrances that are there to attract attention.
There isn’t much to the streets beyond rock or sand buildings with a house-sized palm tree here or there. Lapis sand getting blown across the area. He did notice a few very tiny birds that flitted between some purple flowers set out on some windowsills. They were even smaller than pigeons, so their size is probably protecting them from the predation from the druid’s birds that Inessa mentioned.
When the human gets near Inessa’s Inn, he slows down and starts looking at the residential buildings nearby. Mayor Onot pointed on the map that residents renting out their rooms lived in this area. Now that he is here, however, Marcus is feeling a bit anxious if he could find someone. He did spot a caravan parked at the last house, but maybe he should try further on.
He wanders all the way to the last house on the street, and it also had a caravan parked there. Marcus wanders a bit closer to see it. Though it just seemed to be a regular covered wagon, some of the sides of the wagon were painted with anvils and weapons. Either a smith or potentially a Priest of Gorn. That could help me in talking about the crystal metal assemblies, which I could use in segueing into how to join the caravan.
His fingers run through his hair to sooth it down and gather some of the sand that might have gotten caught in it. Marcus flicks the sand down, wipes his hand on his pants, then goes to knock on the door. He starts tugging down his shirt before stopping just as the door opens.
Marcus smiles at the topaz dwarf opening the door and asks, “Hello, can I speak to the owner of the wagon outside, please? I had a few questions I would like to ask them if it is no trouble to them.”
The topaz dwarf simply nods and gestures him inside. They lead Marcus to a small table in the kitchen, pointing at the chair and heading off. Marcus sits in the chair. He didn’t have to wait long before the topaz dwarf arrives back with a night-sky human behind them. Barely noticing the dwarf leaving again, Marcus looks at the other human, seeing her mismatched red and gray eyes as well as the weapon tattoos covering their arms and neck, there is no denying that she is a priest of Gorn.
“Hello, you had some questions?” the priest asks when she sits down. She flicks her pink, red-streaked hair behind her shoulder out of her face.
“Yes, thank you for talking with me. My name is Marcus, and I noticed your painted wagon outside. I guessed that you might’ve been a smith or a priest, and I see I was correct,” Marcus states, with another smile on his face.
“You were indeed correct. My name is Amelia, so how can I help you?”
“I wanted to ask if you crafted any metal assemblies for announcement crystals? I don’t have very many, though I do have plenty of crystals to trade.”
“I see…” Amelia’s lips quirk up slightly. She leans back in her chair. “While I haven’t crafted any assemblies as my main crafts are weapons, it is not what you really want to ask. You want to see if we will take you on the caravan.”
“I…” He trails off as she is correct, and he is not really sure where to go from here.
The night-sky human chuckles at his reaction. “Nothing to be concerned about. We don’t have a crystal trader in our caravan, and we certainly have space for one if you wanted to join. It will cost you thirty kredits, but you will get two meals a day and will be protected like anyone else in the caravan. Another ten or more kredits if you want to store your items on a wagon depending on how much you have.”
Looking at her confidence, Marcus makes another guess. “You’re pretty high up in Wendel’s caravan, perhaps the second-in-command?”
“Close,” Amelia replies. “I’m the quartermaster, so newcomers and logistics would fall under my purview.”
He can hear her laughing at him, in her voice if nothing else, as he lets out a sigh, while she continues speaking. “You are not the first or last person to join a caravan to go somewhere else. Besides at least you have a trade, so I’m sure you have the expenses needed.”
“Yes, though could I interest you in a trade for an announcement crystal to set my gear in a wagon?”
“Hmmm…” she ponders visibly. “It’s the Government announcements, correct?”
“That’s correct.”
“Well…” She taps her fingers lightly on the table as though it helps her think or calculate something. “You know what, yes. As long as your gear is not more than 100 pounds, I’ll accept.”
“Great!” Marcus exclaims before quickly calming down. “I don’t have it on me as you can see, but I could get it to you tomorrow along with the kredits. When will the caravan be leaving? Is there anything I should do before? Where will I stow my gear?”
“One moment. I’ll be right back,” Amelia says, getting up from her chair. It really only took a minute for her to come back with two green loose-leaf papers. She places one in front of him as she goes to sit again. “Here. This will be the contract that outlines the responsibilities of the caravan that you will sign tomorrow with the payments.”
The redhead looks it over, seeing that it describes the basics of the two meals a day, the basic security measures of the caravans and what would happen if a trader gets hurt or has their items lost. Also, that traders would be on rotations to be responsible to refill the water tanks for the animals. “It looks good so far. And about my other questions?”
She hands him the other loose-leaf paper, which she had just been writing on. “A few suggestions of clothes and some foods you might want to bring. We will be leaving in four days on the 10th. We’ll meet at the edge of the oasis outside of town in the morning, then we’ll probably leave by noon. Any other questions?”
“None that I can think of now. If I can think of any more questions, can I come back?”
“Not a problem. I’m generally here in the afternoons.”
“Thank you very much.”
“You’re welcome,” Amelia stands up, her pink red-streaked hair slipping briefly into her face before she flicks it back again.
Marcus stands up as well, gathering the two papers, and gently, rolling them up. He starts to put them in a pouch, then stops and just holds them. He doesn’t want his case to break the papers, so they can’t go in his side pouch, and they don’t really fit in his pockets.
Following the other human to the door, he thanks her again as he leaves. A wide grin crossing his face as he heads back to the mayor’s house. That went easier than I thought. Decent price too if they follow through what I saw on the contract, then again with a contact, I could always appeal to one of Triton’s priests for judgement. Soon I’ll be out of here and somewhere else and that is something to celebrate.
He ponders if he has enough money to buy a pastry along with the other food items on the list, before deciding to figure it out later. After all, Marcus has been getting free food as well as board at the mayor’s house. No need to overspend now when he has the major expense of the caravan passage to buy. He’ll double-check his money pouch tonight, relook over the papers and take the time to have a clear head for tomorrow.