Free Trader Complete Omnibus

by Craig Martelle

  ‘You’re right, G. These two need to grow up a bit before they will realize how special it all is. Micah isn’t very much older than them, is she?’

  ‘It bores me with its inane drivel.’

  ‘I know that I haven’t told you this turn yet, G, but you are a good friend. And an ass. Wherever you are, here’s one for you.’ The young women watched as Braden held his middle finger in the air and waved it in all directions. They looked concerned and backed away.

  Braden laughed as they ran off.

  ‘See, Master Aadi? Mean and nasty. I don’t think they’re afraid of you anymore. It seems that they have something new to be afraid of.’

  ‘Yes, Master Human. I think you’ve made your point. I’m sorry you won’t achieve the physical coupling you desired, but I doubt it would have been as satisfying as you wished.’

  ‘Whoa. Stop right there! We don’t talk about those things, especially where Micah can hear.’

  ‘That’s what you’re concerned about? Of all things…’ Micah’s thought voice carried a sharp edge.

  “I guess this is my life now, huh, A-Dog?” Braden said to Aadi with a friendly pat on his head. Master Aadi looked at him with unblinking eyes, then shook his head, slowly, as Tortoids were wont to do.

  71 – Villagers Prepare

  The next two dozen turns were a flurry of activity. They made bows and arrows, learned to shoot, then improved their bows. Hardwood for the bow, deer intestines for strings, straight wood for arrows, bird feathers for vanes, tied on with snake skin, and flat stone for broad heads.

  By the third set of bows, the selected wood and bowstrings were delivering a nice impact. The women started hitting the trees with some regularity and then they drove the arrows deeper as they got more comfortable pulling the full draw. With continued practice, they would have the confidence to use them in battle.

  They found a good patch of ash to make the bows and other hardwoods to make the arrows. Braden filled his quiver as he showed the women how to make arrows for themselves.

  For those selected to use the swords and spears, their training was going far more slowly. They were building arm strength and that took time. They were learning basic slash and defense. Braden hoped that his new archers would keep potential enemies away. If they had to fight sword to sword, the women would probably all die.

  Micah excelled with the sword. Within the first ten turns, she was already besting the young man who sought to train them. Then Braden taught her what he knew, especially in the area of movement and parrying. He was good with his long knife, but that was limited to thrusting after an opponent offered an opening. Micah’s advantage was in her strength. She didn’t look overly thick, but her muscles gave more than any man who was her size. He watched her carefully, trying to learn where her power came from.

  He saw it in her trunk. She rotated her upper body using her core muscles. He practiced his own movements and saw where he did not use his body as much as he could. He counted on his own arm strength. He tried twisting at his waist and immediately saw the power. To match the arm swing with the twist wasn’t as easy as it looked. He needed to practice, but he wouldn’t take a sword away from the villagers. He needed to find a sword for himself.

  That would be later. If things turned out as intended, he would be able to trade for a sword.

  Braden helped build the first trader stall in what he envisioned as the village’s market square. The village, which he found out was unsurprisingly called Village McCullough after its original founder, already produced a great deal, which they shared openly.

  He showed them what they could trade. Everyone learned their own individual value. Even the children got into trading, which eventually led to fighting as they learned the dangers of envy. This got them a good cuffing, which returned them to just being children.

  Braden’s first trade earned him a tunic with sleeves that would fit Micah, including special breeches with the material woven around the most vulnerable parts of the leg. After seeing to Micah’s protection, he tried to work a deal for the same kind of covering for himself, but the price more than doubled for him.

  He could only shake his head. After all, he was the deputy to the savior of Village McCullough, as the women saw him.

  The shift in the villagers’ attitudes about becoming self-sufficient wasn’t as profound as the complete change in their acceptance of the Tortoid, the Hillcat, and the Hawkoid. At Micah’s urging, Mel-Ash took the time to get to know their companions. G-War wouldn’t allow any of the others to share the mindlink, so Micah told them what each was saying. As they got to know Master Aadi, they welcomed him in the best way. He was a dinner guest with someone different every evening. He ate well. Braden suspected too well, but how can anyone tell if a Tortoid was getting fat?

  G-War was a favorite of the children. Braden thought he enjoyed the attention, despite his constant protests. If they ignored him for too long, he would make an appearance, strolling regally in front of them, which always led to a game of chase the ‘cat. He seemed to like the young girls the best. They were the only ones he would let pet him. Even then, it would only be for a number of heartbeats before he moved on.

  Skirill assumed the role of master watchman for the village. He began each morning with a flight around the village and the local area to make sure that no one was near. He kept track of the deer herd so they never went without fresh venison.

  He sat in the highest branches of the largest tree overlooking the village and during the daylight, he watched everything. As the villagers passed him, they waved. He ruffled his wings back at them, to the people’s delight. The children gathered beneath the tree and endlessly watched him. One enterprising young boy wanted to see him move, so he threw a rock at Skirill. The Hawkoid caught it in his claw and launched himself at the boy. The children scattered in a panic. The Hawkoid landed astraddle the boy’s head. Gently, using his beak, he put the rock on the boy’s forehead, then shook his feathered head. It was clear to all the children that throwing rocks at the Hawkoid was unacceptable.

  The fact that the boy left bawling made Skirill’s parenting lesson legendary.

  When he resumed his position in the tree, he held his head higher.

  In the evenings. Skirill made one last flight, looking for any movement from potential enemies.

  Although the villagers fully welcomed Braden’s caravan, he and his companions grew restless. Mel-Ash shared with them the location of the road south. Skirill confirmed it, flying the route a number of times to help Braden and Micah visualize it and plan for the trip.

  They couldn’t take the cart as it was too rough. It would stay behind, waiting for their return.

  One morning, they saddled Pack and Max and said their goodbyes.

  72 – The Road

  Braden would have missed the road south if they'd had to blindly search for it, for nothing gave it away when they crossed it. It was covered by brush and even trees. The ground here was wetter than in the north. The Amazon Rainforest was reclaiming the land.

  Skirill guided them to a point where Mel-Ash told them the roadway cut through the thick trees and the heavy foliage. Once they were on the road, they could tell it apart from the encroaching rainforest. It was hot and wet. The jungle grew heavy on all sides, including overhead. It created a roof of green that let little light through.

  They picked their way carefully forward. It was hard for the horses to get through, and it was challenging for Skirill to fly beneath the canopy, between the trees and vines.

  G-War sat in Braden’s lap on Max. Micah rode Pack, because the horse was used to following Max. He simply ambled along behind. Micah did not have to do anything. Aadi floated along behind Pack, seemingly enjoying himself. He was probably getting excess water.

  “I see movement everywhere I look, but can’t quite see anything, if you know what I mean. Do you sense anything, G?”

  ‘Yes. So many different creatures. Large. Small. Dangerous. Safe. I am overwhelmed by
all their minds. It is worse than being in Jefferson City.’

  “Jefferson City is the largest city in Warren Deep. It’s where the Caravan Guild is based. It is where the Council sits and where all the important decisions are made,” Braden said for Micah’s benefit. She mumbled something in response, but Braden didn’t hear her words. He watched in front of him, then to the sides. Movement, just far enough away from his line of sight that he couldn’t see what it was. He jerked his head back and forth, trying to catch the creatures as they toyed with him.

  “Micah, you’ve been there before. How did you get through all this?”

  “We came from the east. The road in that direction is much better, or it was when we traveled it. It skirts the southern edge of the rainforest. We didn’t travel through this.”

  “You know what we’re going to find, so let me ask. Is this going to be worth it?” Braden asked.

  “It is something you need to see for yourself. Then you can judge the value.”

  The first daylight went by. They made camp, but half of them watched while the other half tried to sleep. The fire burned with a great deal of smoke. The wood they found wasn’t dry. It might never dry in this environment.

  Then it started to rain.

  And it kept raining as they broke camp. It rained as they traveled further south. They lost the ability to judge how far they’d traveled. Everything looked the same in the steady downpour.

  Night came. The rain continued. G-War was at his most miserable. He was soaked and in a foul mood. Worse than that, he smelled like a wet dog.

  Skirill stopped trying to fly and resigned himself to riding awkwardly in Micah’s lap as a miserable Pack mindlessly put one hoof in front of the other.

  Aadi was indifferent to it all. ‘Water off a Tortoid’s shell and all that,’ he said with annoying frequency.

  They plodded south, sleep after sleep, growing more tired and hungry as they went. They snapped at each other constantly, so they stopped talking.

  Finally the rain stopped as they approached the southern edge of the rainforest. The canopy above thinned, the ground dry in areas where the sun shone through.

  With a more welcoming world in front of them, their spirits lifted.

  Until they saw the man with the spear standing in the road.

  73 – The Lizard Men

  As they got closer, they saw that the man wasn’t a man at all. His skin was green and textured, similar to the skin on Aadi’s neck and legs. His eyes were large and bulged out of his head. His three fingers and three toes were separated by small flaps of skin. As Braden sat in the saddle, the creature’s head was even with his.

  Braden stopped Max. The green creature seemed unable to take his eyes off the horse.

  “I am Free Trader Braden from the far north of Warren Deep.” He bowed his head as he remained in the saddle. The creature didn’t acknowledge that Braden had spoken.

  “So where do we go from here?” he asked no one in particular. Micah shrugged, fear creeping into her expression the longer they sat.

  The Tortoid used his swimming motion to go around the horses, stopping when he was directly in front of the creature. When you’re two hundred cycles old, you aren’t afraid of anything, Braden thought.

  Master Aadi floated higher until he was eye to eye with the creature. They stayed that way for what seemed like forever, although it was probably only a dozen heartbeats.

  The creature bowed deeply to Master Aadi, then waved his arm in a circle. Braden watched as numerous green creatures appeared from the trees and jungle. The creatures surrounded the caravan. Many had spears. Others had coils of vine. Others carried limbs that looked like clubs.

  “Master Aadi, if you would be so kind as to explain, I would appreciate it. If this isn’t your doing, then I fear we are farged,” Braden said.

  ‘Yes, yes. No problem. These are, shall we call them Lizard Men? Yes. They are the Lizard Men of Akhtior. I suspect that’s their word for the Amazon. No matter. They live here and we have crossed their territory, but I have smoothed things over. They initially asked for one of our horses to share in a feast, but I know that you wouldn’t be able to part with either of them. So I offered our smoked venison instead.’

  “Really. Then what are we supposed to eat?”

  ‘A moot point, Master Human, as the Lizard Men were going to eat something, if not the horses or the venison, then I fear you were their next choice. I assumed you wouldn’t agree to that.’

  “Venison it is! Are we allowed to pass?”

  ‘Oh no, not yet. First, we must attend their celebration. It appears that Tortoids are somewhat revered in their culture. I am to be honored at tonight’s feast. You and Micah will attend.’

  “Of course you are. They never considered eating you, did they? Don’t answer that. I know.”

  ‘It’s funny. They call you two the pinkies.’

  “Do they know about Skirill or G-War?”

  ‘We didn’t discuss them specifically. Why do you ask?’

  “I figure wherever we’re going, we won’t be able to take the horses. Someone will have to protect them. I’m sorry, G. I would much rather have you at my side. We don’t know what we’ll run across in there. We don’t know if it’s a ploy to separate us so they can eat us all. Protect the horses if you can, but save yourselves first.”

  Braden and Micah got down off their horses and joined Aadi with the one they assumed was the leader of the Lizard Men. He led the way into the trees with Master Aadi at his side, the humans behind them, followed closely by a number of the larger Lizard Men. The rest drifted away, disappearing into the heavy undergrowth.

  Braden and Micah’s boots were not made for walking through the swamp. The tangled growth beneath the mud caught their feet often, tripping them and filling their boots with water. Braden could feel his skin getting rubbed off as he continued to march forward. The expression on Micah’s face suggested she was losing the skin battle, too.

  The leader called a halt, sniffing at the air. He used his spear to point to the right around a small pond. Before he took two steps, a croc surged out of the water. The Lizard Man drove his spear downward, but it skipped off the outer shell of the croc. Braden thought this looked like a supersized version of the cold-water croc that wanted to eat him so long ago. But this time, he had his weapons with him.

  In a smooth motion, he pulled his bow in front of him, nocking an arrow in nearly the same instant. He drew back as the croc renewed its efforts to get at the Lizard Man, who was trying in vain to pull his spear from the mud. Braden’s arrow embedded itself in the beast’s left eye. The croc stopped instantly and slowly slid backwards into the dark water.

  A second croc broke the water, then a third. With a powerful swish of their tails, they came at the leader, who now stood, brandishing his freed spear. He waited, ready for the attack. With a fearsome jab, he drove the spear point through one croc’s snout, pinning the creature in the mud.

  Braden had a second arrow ready, but Micah stepped in front of him, her sword held high. With all the power she could muster, she swung her sword into the head of the third croc. The sword buried itself between the thing’s eyes. It froze where it was. Micah used her foot for leverage to pull her sword out, while the second croc thrashed about trying to free itself from the Lizard Man’s spear. Her croc was dead, its brains oozing out around the split in its skull.

  Once her sword was free, she leaned into another swing. Braden didn’t think it possible, but she turned even faster, driving the sword’s blade even deeper into the second croc’s neck, nearly severing it. The sword readily slid out of the massive wound.

  Before it could slide back into the water, the Lizard Man grabbed it and pulled it from the water. The carcass of the first one that Micah had dispatched was also saved. The Lizard Men bobbed their necks and their heads, eyes rapidly blinking.

  ‘Well done, young humans!’ Master Aadi cheered with his thought voice. ‘These creatures are quite a delicacy a
nd will take the place of the smoked venison at tonight’s feast. Zalastar is quite impressed with your strength and courage. You will have places of honor next to me. I am very pleased. You should be proud of yourselves. By the way, the Lizard Men are secretive people. They avoid contact with humans.’

  “Thanks, Master Aadi. If they avoid humans, then why did they reveal themselves to us?”

  ‘Me, my good man. Me, and they had never seen horses before. To the Lizard Men, the horses smelled like a tasty meal.’

  How quickly they went from being the meal to being honored at the meal. Braden still wasn’t sure they’d leave the horses alone. He asked Aadi to get that assurance from Zalastar, but he was waved off as if it was a trivial thing. He and Micah would wait, but not long before they had to escape and get back to their friends.

  74 – A Celebration Like No Other

  As the celebration was being prepared and darkness fell, Master Aadi, Braden, and Micah were given a place to sit in the middle of an open area, a glade. Water stood throughout, and they couldn’t move without being knee-deep in muck. There was no need for cook fires; the Lizard Men ate their food raw.

  The humans expected nothing different. They’d watched Aadi eat in the past. It was nature against nature. The Tortoid avoided smoked meat and the fabricator-prepared foods as much as possible. He said that they didn’t sit well in his stomach. Aadi would readily eat a bug or a fresh caught fish and be happy.

  There were far more Lizard Men than they expected. A hundred or more filled the area, half squatting in the water. Braden and Micah tried to tell them apart, but couldn’t. They assumed the small ones were the children. Otherwise, they all looked alike. They realized that there may not be a difference between Lizard males and females. They all wore harnesses of some sort and they all carried weapons.

  The Amazon was a more dangerous place than the humans realized. Maybe the Lizard Men had escorted them the entire way, ensuring their safe passage, but only because of Master Aadi.