Free Trader Complete Omnibus

by Craig Martelle

  Braden jogged forward with his blaster out so he could cover Micah while she did what she had to.

  “I should have killed you, too, old man. But this is where we can fix the mistakes of our past.” She kicked him in the chest with a great deal of pent-up rage. He curled in a ball and started whimpering. She put her sword tip against his throat. A man, holding a spear with a thin block of wood in his hand, stood up to throw. Braden tried to aim, but there were other people in the way. The man reared back to throw, and a large gray-furred streak crashed into him. He fell to the ground and rolled to his back. He tried to sit up but Bounder straddled him, fangs bared.

  Two other men stood from behind their barricade and rushed toward the Wolfoid. Gray Strider jumped between them, aiming her spear. The first man thrust at her, and she fired a lightning bolt into his chest, then aimed at the second man. He threw his spear down and put his hands up. The other men behind the barricade put their weapons down and hands up.

  “Looks like your men have abandoned you,” Micah said as she slowly pushed the tip of her sword harder against his throat. The second man, still standing and holding his ears, dropped to his knees and pleaded for Micah not to take the old man’s life.

  “Now why would you beg for his life? He’s scum,” Micah responded, lessening the pressure from her sword point.

  “He hasn’t been the same since you killed his son, I mean, since his son died. He still wanted the best for us, that’s why he wanted the marriage in the first place. Cornwall and Trent need to merge so that we can grow. As it is, we’re both barely surviving,” the man said from his knees, bowing his head in deference to Micah. Braden looked back and forth between his partner and the two men on the ground.

  “And that’s why we’re here, to talk about trade. But craphole here wanted to fight. That’s not how you establish relations, set up trade. I tell you what I’m going to do. You can talk to us like adults who want something better for your village, or I kill him and we’ll find another adult to talk with. We’re going to talk with someone and establish trade between here and Trent, to Dwyer, McCullough and all the way to the Western Ocean. You can be a part of it, or you can get run over by it.” Micah finished on a strong note as the old man started to nod, but the sword tip made him turn it into an agreement that he was willing to talk.

  ‘G-War, if you’d be so kind. Is he telling the truth?’ Braden asked.

  ‘Yes, yes, you shouldn’t have any more trouble with him. Oh, look at you, my pretty, come say ‘hi’ to your Prince…’ Braden and Micah both bolted upright as the Golden Warrior started his mating ritual with a village cat.

  The Three Laws of Trade

  Braden and Micah helped the old man to his feet and held him between them. The companions corralled his people in the town square around the village well. Braden climbed on the rocks and held on to the well’s roof.

  “All we wanted to do was talk,” Braden said in his Free Trader voice. He didn’t want to come across as commanding them or angry at them. Braden wasn’t happy that they had to use force, although things could have been a lot worse. “We’re sorry someone had to die to prove that all we wanted to do was talk. Here,” he said as he tossed the remaining length of Amazonian rope to the chief.

  While all eyes were on Braden, Micah and Brandt went for the wagon where the Rabbits waited with the twins.

  “This is an example of what we can provide in trade, along with a special mushroom that can sustain you when you’re at sea for a long time, or you have no other food. We can provide venison and more. How, you ask?” Braden was in full trader mode, using his hand with the missing fingers to gesture, while holding on with the other. He looked at the crowd and worked them, more an actor than the leader of an ongoing war.

  “Because we’ve set up a trade route from here all the way to the Western Ocean! Maybe one day you’ll get to see it, because you could travel in one of the Free Trader wagons, like this one!” he emphasized, pointing as Brandt pulled the wagon toward the village. The people responded with “oohs” and “ahs” of wonder.

  “That’s right! There are more wagons just like this, pulled by our friends the Aurochs, intelligent creatures who advise us in how best to move throughout the south. They are our equals, just like the Wolfoids, the Hillcat, the Tortoid, the Hawkoids, and the Rabbits. Planet Vii is blessed with a variety of intelligent creatures, including humans. We have to work together if we are to survive. Look at yourselves. Are your numbers greater or fewer than a generation ago? What if you met people from other villages and shared lives with them? You tried that, two cycles ago, but more as a form of slavery and not a real partnership. When you try to force something, it doesn’t work, does it?” Braden yelled, glaring at the village chief. The man looked at his feet, refusing to meet Braden’s gaze.

  Braden looked from face to face. Some nodded, no one shook their heads. He’d set the hook. He continued in a lower tone, still projecting as only a Trader could. “Do you enjoy living in fear? We don’t either, but we were able to do something about it. When the Free Trader enters a village now, people gather to see what goods are in the wagon, what there is to trade. They run to their huts and bring out their crafts, their homemade goods – a tanned deer hide, leather laces, woven armor, those things that they like to make. If you don’t like to farm, hunt, or fish, then all you have to do is trade with the people who do!” Braden hesitated as G-War’s romantic flashes briefly overwhelmed him. Micah almost fell from the wagon. She hadn’t been exposed to G-War’s interludes before. Braden recovered quicker than she did, stifling a laugh with a cough before continuing.

  “That’s all we’re offering. A regular stop on the trade route where people and goods can come and go in peace.” Braden climbed down and offered his hand to the old man, who took it without looking up.

  “What do you think of that rope?” Braden asked, giving the man something to do that didn’t involve admitting that he’d been wrong for most of his adult life.

  “It’s good. Strong and light. Where’d you get it?” he asked with renewed spark in his eyes.

  “That was made by the people who live in the rainforest, the Lizard Men who call themselves the Amazonians.” The chief called over a couple other weathered fishermen, judging by their clothes and calloused hands. They each examined the rope carefully before giving their nod of approval.

  “We could use more of your rope, mister. A lot more. We’d break fewer lines when hauling in a big catch if we had something like this,” he lisped through the gaps in his missing teeth.

  “Exactly, my friend. That’s what trade is all about. We have three laws of trade: negotiate, agree, and deliver. It’s as simple as that. Nothing is taken, nothing is given. The trade is paramount.” Braden wanted to leave the influential men before him with one last thought, so he continued.

  “Keep your spears sharp for hunting and fishing, but don’t use them to make war. There aren’t enough intelligent creatures for us to kill each other.” Braden shook each of their hands and walked away to let the elder members of the village talk. No one else left the square.

  ‘G, are you there?’ Braden asked.

  Even Braden could feel the ‘cat’s sense of satisfaction over the mindlink. Micah giggled. ‘Maybe that’s what we’ve been doing to him,’ she said. ‘I didn’t know.’

  ‘Now you do, humans. And I have no doubt, mine was better. Two cycles it’s been! If you can’t make regular stops here, I’ll slash you while you sleep,’ G-War said with some sincerity.

  ‘Just tell me, oh, Prince, can we let the villagers go? No plots of our destruction in their minds? I’d rather not have to watch my back more than we do already.’

  ‘No threats. It seems that a number of men who support the chief aren’t well-liked. The loss of one has emboldened the others. I think your speech swayed them more than usual. I wouldn’t sleep in the village, but outside that, we’ll be safe.’ G-War finished and closed their mindlink. Braden wanted to get more insight in
to the chief, but the ‘cat had more important things to do. Braden suspected that his orange friend would take a nap in the sun on one of the hut’s roofs.

  Braden climbed back up the rock and addressed all the villagers. “We’ve said what we came to say. You are free to go about your business. We won’t hold you here or hurt you, but please don’t try to attack us again.” He felt like adding a threat, but thought better of it. He wanted the people to join the trade route because it made sense, not because they were afraid. He wanted to be welcomed to the village each time they arrived, as Free Traders should.

  Seal the Deal

  Braden and the others enjoyed a sparse, but good meal with the chief and a few of the people from the village. Compared to what Trent had on hand, Cornwall was clearly in decline. Trade couldn’t come soon enough.

  The Hawkoids searched extensively for wildlife and vegetables that could be found nearby. They were successful, but the closest was a turn’s walk into the hills. Taking the horses, Braden and Micah could be there and back during the same daylight. They shared this information with the chief and to show that they were serious, with G-War and the Wolfoids, they’d go hunting and foraging to bring back food to help the village. Plus, they’d break a trail to the area for the villagers to follow after the caravan had gone.

  Braden and Micah were perfectly comfortable leaving the twins in the paws of the Rabbits and under the watchful eyes of the King of the Aurochs and the First Master of the Tortoise Consortium. Aadi and Brandt made excellent babysitters, because they taught the children as they watched. Their conversations were long and involved for children of any age.

  At first light, the horses trotted out of the village.

  The Wolfoids jogged easily alongside. They’d gotten stronger since arriving on the planet. Even with its heavier gravity, they were no longer affected. If they returned to the Traveler, they’d find that they were far different from the Wolfoids they left behind. Which only convinced them to bring all their people to Vii where they could find a home, join the trade route themselves as ranchers, running herds of wild boars and domestic pigs.

  “Did you notice that the villagers weren’t as impressed by Brandt as they should have been?” Micah asked casually as the wind flowed through her hair and she comfortably bobbed in the saddle, melding with Speckles for an easy ride.

  “I think they’ve seen an Aurochs before. We’d heard rumors of large creatures to the south of here, maybe we can find them. We have the best friends in the world if you’re looking for something in a big area!” Braden sent a special thank-you to his friends winging ahead. Skirill and Zyena waved their wings as they continued flying above the hills, directing the horses to the best route.

  Braden led the way on Max with Micah behind. By riding single file, the horses crushed vegetation on a path wide enough for a human. If they follow the same path back, then they hoped that any person could follow it, even if they were fishermen unused to the hills and woods.

  “I think Brandt would love to find more of his people. Being this far south, they would have avoided the Bat-Ravens. Do you know how far south the land goes?” Micah asked.

  “I don’t know but we can find out.” Braden opened his neural implant for the first time since he asked Holly about cloning Pik Ha’ar.

  ‘Holly, how far south does the land go and can you please show me a map.’ Braden found it easier to ask than to dig through the files. After he asked, he thought that he could have just as easily pulled up the map showing their current position and simply expanded and scrolled. It didn’t matter as Holly was instantly responsive, as always.

  ‘The land continues for another three thousand kilometers to the south. The southern continent is the largest on Vii. The northern continent is roughly half the size. Here is a map of the continents of Vii.’ The image appeared before Braden’s eye. He asked Holly to share it with Micah as well.

  They looked together, seeing the north. Braden zoomed in to find the cities that he knew, then expanded out to see where they were in relation to the whole continent. He did the same for the south. They’d only penetrated a third of the way. There was a great deal more to be explored. He scrolled past the area, but couldn’t tell if there were any settlements or not. He also found that there was another continent in the Western Ocean, about half the size of the northern continent. Holly said that a small settlement had been established there, but they hadn’t been heard from in over four-hundred years, or cycles as Braden called them.

  “Wow,” Braden lamented. “The more questions we ask, the more we find out that we don’t know.”

  ‘Master President, the Androids inform me that the cloning process of your friend Pik Ha’ar is progressing normally,’ Holly told them both.

  ‘That is good news, Holly,’ Micah said slowly, furling her brow. ‘What can we expect when we meet the clone? Will he know us? Will he know anything?’

  ‘The cloning process is very advanced. From my understanding of your interactions, although they were brief, they helped him change his very nature. We can only hope those memories survived. If they didn’t, you’ll have to establish a new relationship with the Lizard Man, build your friendship again, but it shouldn’t take as long this time. He was open to new things, more than he let on when leading a Lizard Man squad.’

  ‘Thanks, Holly. I hope that he remembers something of us. He was, he is one of us,’ Micah corrected.

  They continued in silence as both thought of meeting their friend again, after seeing him die in a shower of Android laser beams. They both determined not to give him blasters this time around.

  When the group arrived at the hunting ground, they hobbled the horses and left them to graze the more fertile grasses at the edge of the forest. G-War showed them an area where deer were feeding. Bounder and Gray Strider loved to hunt deer, so they followed G-War’s directions while Braden and Micah took their woven bags and went where the Hawkoids told them they could find wild tubers and a type of green bean that grew near black raspberry bushes. The berries weren’t ripe, but the green beans were coming into their own.

  After a short fight, the Wolfoids informed the group of two kills, and that they were dragging the deer back to where the horses were. Braden and Micah finished with the beans and started on the tubers, a small, red potato that tasted good raw but was better cooked.

  When Bounder and Gray Strider dragged the deer into the clearing, Max and Speckles pranced and tried to move farther away. For as much blood had been shed in their presence, they still shied away from the smell. G-War was pleased as he knew that he’d get the choicest parts. Half the group stayed away from the entrails, while G-War, the Wolfoids, and the Hawkoids readily followed the ‘cat’s blood-fanged lead.

  Braden and Micah returned and quickly gutted the deer and removed their heads and lower legs. The deer were too big to carry on the backs of the horses, so the humans took extra time to cut down a few saplings to make a game drag. They threw the carcasses on that along with the bags of vegetables and headed back to the Village of Cornwall.

  Micah checked in periodically with the companions and Ax and ‘Tesh to make sure everything was fine. It was, but the children missed their parents.

  “Braden, Rabbits are raising our children,” she stated in a way that said it all. He started to laugh and then threw his hands up in surrender.

  “Yes, they are, along with a mammoth who is the King of the Aurochs. How about Hawkoids that look like Eagles? Lizard Men? Let’s not forget the furry orange creature who named them in the first place and a floating Tortoid who understands human philosophy better than humans. And another child who is only twelve. Yes, that’s who’s raising our children, except for the rare occasions when we get to help. I’m sorry about that,” Braden finished, but didn’t mean to end on a sour note.

  “If we don’t bring peace, then who will and would it be the kind of peace that we want? No, we’ve surrounded ourselves with good people, of all shapes and sizes, fur and feathers.
Our children are always in good hands, partner mine. I couldn’t ask for better for me and them,” Micah said, easing any tension Braden may have felt.

  They continued the rest of the way in silence. The game drag that Speckles hauled scraped the earth and made a trail for the villagers that would last for the rest of the cycle and maybe even beyond that.

  Max followed to make sure nothing fell off and by dusk, they’d returned to the village. This time, they were greeted without spears. They dropped off the vegetables and deer with the chief, in the hopes that he would join the trade route. The people gave him no choice as they cheered and went away with the food to prepare some for now and save more for later.

  Micah pulled out a small bag that she gave to the Rabbits. They deserved a treat for watching the twins all day, although they said they much preferred that to hunting. They also missed their own children back on the ship, even though they were grown and having their own babies by now. No, the Rabbits had spent a day that was fulfilling for them, although they readily accepted the fresh green beans and ate them all in short order.

  Aadi and Brandt were happy to see the successful return of their humans. They had no issues with the villagers and since they stayed behind, it gave the people of Cornwall confidence that the Free Trader would live up to his word. With the gifts of venison, deer hide, and wild vegetables, the village of Cornwall became a confirmed trading partner.

  Micah would have never believed it. She wanted to kill the chief for how he had treated her, but she still carried his blaster and always would. Without it, the chief was just an average man. Braden and the companions had helped her establish her place as an equal in these societies where men ruled supreme.

  Braden didn’t care about any of that. He looked forward to bringing rope and mushrooms, hoping that the Amazonians had a village closer to the Easter Ocean to shorten the trade route. They knew the Lizard Men liked fish and the villages of Trent and Cornwall could provide for them. Trade could happen without Braden and Micah once they introduced them and taught the people some basic hand and arm signals, like the villagers from McCullough used.