The town of Semsella was now in view, perched atop a hill that overlooked the agricultural valley tended by serfs and freemen. Houses and various buildings sloped on the hill, being watched over by the ancient castle that overlooked it. The caravan of a carriage and a cart trotted closer to the town’s gate. One of the guards raised their eyebrows before barking to his underlings to open the gate. Disgruntled [Traders] and their carts were directed aside as they made way for the land's nobility. The standard of the Commerro House stood high as it entered the gatehouse, before a bowing populace.
Racieros pulled open the carriage's shutters to show himself to the inquiring guards.
"They are with me," he informed the guards about his entourage: Numisley and his men.
They were inside the town without a hitch, after almost a week of traveling. Racieros never beat Graten in their nightly spars, however, he beat Cultrost only two separate times. He felt that he learned more about fighting than the traditional cutlass-fighting manuals and the [Weapon Trainer] that his father hired. Although at first he loathed accompanying the commoners from backwater Libertalia: the Gildin Brothers and their men kowtowing to their father.
Cultrost stared at the breathtaking view from the raised stone roads overlooking the valley of three hills, where farmers harvested their wheat. On the hills are mines hidden within trees. Many of the buildings are fully made out of stone brick and clay shingles instead of the usual wooden plank and wattle-and-daub. Graten was reminded of the hilly battlefields that he fought on in the past. He guessed that any army or horde of monsters would have a hard time invading this place.
The castle bore the banner of a grey castle on a hill behind a checkered white and green pattern, overlaid with the local letters that Numisley and the rest of the Libertalians are still less-than-familiar with; the name of the noble house that rules this land. A parapetted tower taller than the rest of the castle seemed to watch the caravan.The small caravan made a beeline to the castle through the main heightened roads of packed cobblestone. The people paid their respects to the noble passing through their city, with passing [Acolytes] waving their censers in their direction. Sentries on the citadel within the center of the city saw the banner on the carriage approaching the tower and informed their superiors.
“I land in peace in the name of House Commerro.”
Racieros emerged from the carriage and called upon the people at the parapet with a traditional greeting from the lessons that he was taught about mingling with Yhrilian noble society. One of the sentries gestured to the men below to open the gate.
“Welcome to our land, scion of the coasts.”
A woman wearing a corset and a green shirt under a stylized sailor’s overcoat greeted back. Her stern eyes drifted towards the [Traders] behind the carriage.
“I was informed by your father that you have business with me, correct?”
“You?” Racieros was perplexed. He thought his father sent the letter to the head of the Kaminor House.”
“Yes, me. Castellan Adriasta Kasta Kaminor.” The older woman grunted.
“Pardon my mistake, but I thought my father sent the letter to Lord Amircoro Kaminor.”
“The head of the House left for Cerro Novoes a day ago. You were late for one day. Now, what’s your business in this Karastillar?”
“I’m…ordered to escort the leaders of Gildin Trading. To give them lodging. They want to buy Kaminorian steel.” Racieros mouthed, slightly flushed. His embarrassment for being a day late was visible on his face.
“Commerro’s scion, being an escort? Hah!” The casual barbed remark of the Castellan made Racieros' teeth clench. This was an unforgivable slight, yet he always knew that those higher in the hierarchy will belittle him for having an impure heritage and low status. He contained his protests, bubbling under his skin for he wants to prove himself.
“I accept your plea on board. Rest your steeds and we’ll talk inside.”
The horses were handled by [Hostlers] in the castle’s stables as they were let inside the castle. They walked in plastered halls of stone, with many flowing patterns of hills and clouds. Numisley glimpsed a fresco of Semsella itself behind the gap in the doors leading to the throne hall. Some of the plaster was wearing off; peeled by the passage of time. They were directed to their rooms. Graten and his two men rested in their rooms while Numisley and Cultrost followed the Castellan to her office.
“Are you going to bring this…barbarian into my office?”
Castellan Adriasta glared at Cultrost Gildin and turned towards Racieros.
“Cultrost is-”
“With all due respect, Numisley Gildin and Cultrost Gildin are both owners of Gildin Trading. They both claim the writ of the Signo Dato.” Racieros informed, interrupting Numisley's objections. Adriasta regarded them both and acquiesced to their request. They entered the office, lined with tapestries with embroidered animals and trees that seemed to move by themselves between neatly organized shelves.
Numisley, Racieros, and Cultrost made themselves comfortable.
“As the Castellan of Semsella, I shall negotiate on the Kaminor’s behalf.” The Castellan spoke.
Racieros gripped his knees and Cultrost avoided the gaze of the Castellan. Numisley fearlessly faced the governor of this land.
“Us, Gildin Trading wish to sell your steel on your behalf.”
“Steel?” The Castellan raised her eyebrows.
“Steel ingots. How much do you have?”
The Castellan reached for a document on her table.
“Sixty-five ingots as of the last moon.”
“I want to buy twelve ingots.”
“That will cost four gold each.”
“Four gold…how much is that if we use coins from Commerro?”
“Our kingdom uses one currency. A recent change that the Commerros and the rest grumbled about.”
“Coin deprecation.” Numisley mouthed silently. He imagined a bunch of nobles watching their coins depreciate. His [Evaluation of Information] deducted that this statement is factual. He was surprised since he was used to the various currencies between city-states back home.
“How about two gold per ingot? We can buy and sell more if that’s the case.”
Her eyes bored through Numisley’s, then turned her gaze next to Cultrost. Whatever they want to say winked out in the face of the pressure exuded by the Castellan of Semsella.
“Three gold should be enough,” Cultrost suddenly uttered, eyes wide as he voiced the resolution that is least profitable to them. “We can buy fourteen more ingots at this price.”
Cultrost and Numisley stared at each other, as they realized that a Feat of hers pressured them to give the least advantageous answer that they can feasibly give. Adriasta’s [Disadvantageous Agreement] and her noble’s Aura overpowered any resistance they had. They were intimately familiar with [Merchants] who have Feats that do the same. Numisley calculated that this would cost forty-two gold, double the cost that they are willing to spend. However, they felt the urge to comply.
Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
“I’ll write the contract then.”
She fished for a blank sheet of paper, a feather, and a pot of ink to write. The feeling that hung over the brothers dissipated. The contract was handed to them, and Numisley and Cultrost analyzed it.
The contract stated that she wants a third of the profits that they will make for her metal. They felt the power of the words through the contract, compelling them to follow the deal written if they sign the contract. The contract seems fair, with a bit of an advantage to the Castellan.
However, Numisley wanted to confirm something first.
“We notice that you have bountiful fields of wheat. I would also like to inquire about those.”
“How much do you want?”
“We will buy 4 bushels the next time I visit. You can use the steel ingots as collateral if I don’t buy it when…around a week or more from now.”
“It shall be 30 silver.”
“Deal.”
Words were added more in the contract. After finalizing the details, they signed it, bound to its words. Numisley wished he had more contract-related Feats than his risky [Bloodbound Contract].
“We shall enjoy your hospitality for a few days. I wish to explore the sights of your town.”
The Gildin Brothers departed from the Castellan’s office. Adriasta Kasta Kaminor stared at the letter sent to her by the patriarch of the Commerro House.
Racieros left early during the Gildin brothers’ negotiations. They didn’t need him anyway. He was only a key for them to Semsella. He silently stood on the ramparts, leaning on the battlements.
“Useless…I’m so useless. If only I was pure enough.”
He knew that sometimes he acted like a spoiled brat. He knew he was useless. He was born from his father’s second wife: one of the lower nobility with less-pure blood. He knew that he didn’t really govern his “domain” of Ascogres; it was one of his father’s underlings who did. All he did was beg his father to allow him to exterminate the Goblins in his domain so he can prove himself to him.
“If you’re useless, then what am I? I can’t walk without a cane. I can’t run without my brother carrying me. I can’t even help setting up camp. I can’t even fight alongside them.”
Numisley lifted himself up the stairs with his cane.
“I can only tell them what to do. We’re the same in that regard. Thank you for defending my brother, by the way.”
Numisley overheard the noble’s lament. He knew that he needed to build Gildin Trading from the ground up, especially connections. So it's an investment to cozy to the [Merchants] and [Lords] in this land, while Gildin and the others walked around the city to buy some goods and supplies.
Racieros’ looked up at Numisley. A young man a bit older than him, with a wealth of experience compared to his sheltered life.
“If you didn’t interrupt me, who knows how the deal would go? I’m not from here. I do not know the stupid titles that your kingdom has. I might have antagonized that…baroness or whatever her title was.”
“Castellan. An [Governor] of a castle.” Racieros weakly corrected.
“See? Know this. If you feel useless in your family…you can help us more. Gildin Trading is a fish out of water, so we don’t know the particulars of your kingdom. Especially the nobility.”
“A foreign concept for you Libertalians.”
“Exactly.”
“I do not serve commoners.”
“It’s a partnership. ‘Commoner’ or not, we can help each other. I do not know what’s special with nobility here. As far as I know, a title isn’t worth shit…most of the time. Even an [Governor] affiliated with one of the Corps is no better than a beggar he shares the same streets on.”
“Being one of the nobility means that you are ordained by the royalty of the Thousand Bloodlines and the Divine Decree to rule the land on their behalf.”
“See? You are helping me right now. I have no idea who is the ‘Thousand Bloodlines’ or the ‘Divine Decree’ are, so this bit of information is helpful. Point is, I scratch your back, I scratch yours. We can help each other.”
Racieros stared at Numisley and realized that he made sense. He found what he was looking for. Not yes-men that followed every command, but people like Numisley’s brother who isn’t afraid to beat him up. People that he can truly rely on.
“So, what do you need help with?”
Numisley sat beside him on the ramparts.
“I want to prove myself to my father. I want to let him know that I’m as useful–no, better than my two older brothers.”
“Let’s start in Ascogres then. We’ll learn how to manage a town.”
“We?”
“I want Gildin Trading to have a large cut of what Ascogres produces. As your town’s foremost [Merchant], I will help Ascogres’ economic issues. I will help you manage the town.”
Racieros was expecting this. He knows how opportunistic [Merchants] can be, seeing how his father gave away rights to the various foreign [Merchants] affiliated with Libertalia’s Diamond Shore out of necessity.
“Know your place. You will not usurp power from me.” Racieros barked.
“I will not!” Numisley sighed. “Rather, I’ll make your territory fat with coins. I’ll bring Kaminor’s steel and wheat to Ascogres. When I travel to other cities, I’ll bring goods to Ascogres where we can sell it. With more money, you can make your town better, and your father will surely take notice, right?”
“Right.”
“You can manage the rest. I’ll just make money for my company and your town. It’s fair right?”
“Fair. You’ll have your cut.”
Numisley tried to stand up, but his only remaining healthy leg was aching.
“Erm…can you help me? I can’t walk.”
Racieros nodded and lifted Numisley on his shoulders as they went down the stairs of the battlements. For the rest of the day, Numisley rested in the guest rooms of the castle. Cultrost bought the supplies they needed to go back home. The Gildin Brothers and Racieros accepted the Castellan’s invitation to dinner, making small talk. After that, the Gildin Brothers went to the stables where Graten and his two men stayed and ate with them; much preferable to the stiff company before that.
Finally, Numisley closed his eyes, satisfied with what he had accomplished today.
[Reclaim Birthright, uncovered; Rare Feat - Noble’s Disposition.]
[Role Played, Trader.]
[New Role Attained, Merchant.]
[Rare Feat - Exploit Emotional Vulnerability developed.]
[Feat - Basic Negotiations → Rare Feat - Intermediate Negotiations developed.]
Numisley was happy when his Role evolved, along with a couple of useful abilities. The next day, they headed down to the fields, to observe the [Farmers] and to ascertain how much wheat they produce for their next purchase. They established acquaintances with the other [Merchants] within the town, beginning the gestation of Gildin Trading’s network of acquaintances and potential informants. On that night, he signed the trade contract with the Castellan after finalizing the terms of the contract.
A week later, the Gildin Brothers had arrived at their headquarters in Ovespuerte, now with more employees that Palden hired through the local Merchant Guild. Numisley went home to find that they were now in the red from spending too much.