Chapter 44
AT LONG LAST, SPRING ARRIVED. AS always, the first people out of the valley were hunters, but close on their heels this year were fifty veterans and two young Warleaders, headed to Trade Town. The road was still covered with snow, so there was no dust, but Stavin and Karvik were still the last two in line.
The force made good time in spite of the snow and arrived in Trade Town on the sixth day. Stavin was called to the front as soon as the town was seen.
“Stavin,” Barvil said as he surveyed the town, “put on your vest. You’ll lead us in. We’re all going to the Traders’ Guild.”
Stavin came to attention in the saddle and said, “Yes, Sir,” then turned and pulled his Master Trader’s Vest out of his saddle bags. Once he was properly outfitted, he led the group forward at a walk.
The appearance of the Kel’Kavin warriors so early drew the attention of the local Traders and residents. They were nearly a moon early for the trade caravans. People shouted questions at the passing warriors, but no answers were given. The warriors rode in stony silence, facing forward.
Stavin followed Barvil’s instructions on how to reach the headquarters of the Farindian Traders’ Guild, and pulled his horse to a stop near the door. He and Barvil dismounted, handing their reins to the men behind them, then went into the building.
A man at the desk across the entry way snapped to his feet and asked, “What’s this?”
“I am Master Trader Stavin, of the Evandian House of Kel’Aniston,” Stavin said as he walked forward. “I wish to speak with your council.”
The man licked his lips nervously. “Ah, Master Stavin, I’ve heard of you. The council is not in session.”
Stavin looked him straight in the eye and said, “Summon them.”
The man stammered, “Th-That’s not advisable, Master Stavin.”
Stavin looked at Barvil for a moment, and then back at the man. “Tell them that fifty-two Warleaders of Kel’Kavin are here, led by Warmaster Barvil Kel’Carin. We have urgent business to discuss with them.”
The man swallowed convulsively as he looked at Barvil, then turned and fled through a door behind his desk. He was gone for almost a span, then returned and bowed deeply. “Master Stavin, the council will see you now.” He bowed and led the way with Stavin and Barvil right behind him.
The man led them to a large room with a long table across the side opposite the door. Only two men faced them. “I would like an explanation of why--” one of them began, but he wasn’t allowed to finish.
“What do you know of the fate of thirty-and-three of our men who took contract here last summer?” Barvil demanded, interrupting the man.
The man was glaring at Barvil with a look of rage few could have matched. “This is the Farindian Traders’ Guild, not some tavern. You will show us the respect we are due.”
Barvil glared right back. “You will tell us all we wish to know about our men, or we’ll level this town.”
“You wouldn’t dare!” the second man shouted.
Stavin stepped forward and removed his helmet. “We would. Three teams of our men took contract here last summer. They did not return. It is our understanding that they went to Andaria. What do you know of them?”
The two Guild Masters glanced at one another, then the one to the left spoke. “Andaria has cut off all trade. No caravan may enter or leave the kingdom. As for the specific fate of your men, we have no information.”
Barvil looked at Stavin and said, “As we feared. It looks like we’re going to have to end this war before we get our people back.”
Stavin bowed deeply, then turned back to the Guild Masters. “There is one other thing that you should know, and I am informing you as a courtesy. Evandia may be annexing this portion of Farindia. If that happens, expect the Evandian Traders’ Guild to be taking over here as well.”
“They can’t do that!” the man on the right shouted.
Stavin shook his head. “Only the threat of war with Andaria has prevented them from doing it before. Since they are already at war with Andaria, they see no reason not to go ahead and add this territory to Evandia. We of Kel’Kavin will back them in that endeavor.”
Barvil looked at the Guild Masters and said, “Don’t count on any guards from Kel’Kavin this year. We’re likely to be busy fighting the Andarians.” With that he turned and walked away, and Stavin was only half a step behind him. There was the sound of incoherent sputtering from behind them, but they closed the door and left the building.
Barvil raised his voice as soon as they were outside. “Andaria has closed its borders. They had no specific information.” There was a lot of muttering and talking among the men, then Stavin and Barvil led them out of town. Once they were on the road again, Stavin tucked his vest away and fell back with Karvik.
“They knew nothing,” he said as soon as his horse, Blu, matched pace with Karvik’s Chana.
“So this was a wasted trip,” Karvik said, but Stavin shook his head.
“Not wasted. We served notice to the guild that Evandia is going to annex them. And that none of us were going to be here this summer.”
The force rode northward again for four days, then stopped at the crossroads that led to Kavadia. They had to camp overnight, but by mid morning of the next day they were met by fifteen of Stavin’s wagons. Chief Elder Kel’Kaffrey was driving the lead. The next four were driven by the rest of the Elders.
Barvil led the warriors forward, and twenty of them, including Stavin and Karvik, joined up. The rest continued on to Kel’Kavin. Barvil rode up beside Mikal’s wagon. “As we suspected. Andaria has closed its borders.”
Mikal stared straight ahead for a moment, then nodded once sharply. “How did the Traders take the news that we weren’t going to be there this year?”
“Indignantly,” Barvil replied with a grin.
Mikal smiled slightly. “Good. Let them realize that we don’t need them anymore and they’ll be less likely to cause trouble.”
It still took nine days to reach Markavia Cross, and four more to Aravad. The advantage of having the wagons was that everyone could sleep in the beds, up out of the snow.
Stavin once again put on his vest and led the wagons into the caravansary on the south side of the city. That meant they had to traverse the entire city, so by the time they had arranged and unhitched the wagons a delegation from the Aravad Trader’s Council had come looking for them.
Lord Ahlic spotted Stavin’s golden armor and walked over to him. “Friend Stavin, welcome back.”
Stavin bowed automatically. “Lord Zel’Vandar, as you requested, we have brought our Elders to meet with your council.”
Lord Zel’Vandar looked at Stavin, then at the men who had come to stand behind him. “You brought the Elders themselves, not just representatives?”
One of the men behind Stavin answered. “It seemed the best way to deal with the situation. I am Chief Elder Mikal Kel’Kaffrey.” Mikal bowed, then introduced the rest. “Warmaster Kel’Horval, Elder Kel’Caval, Elder Kel’Vardil, and Elder Kel’Naril,” he said, and each of the men bowed as they were introduced.
Lord Zel’Vandar bowed in return. “I am pleased to meet you all. If you will come with me, I will summon my associates and we can begin our meeting.”
“Lord Zel’Vandar,” Stavin said, catching his attention, “we are also here to purchase some more supplies. Unfortunately, I’m the only Master. I have to stay with the caravan, and--” Lord Ahlic shook his head to interrupt him.
“No, Friend Stavin, you don’t. Not here. You are free to go bargain with the grain merchants, and any others you need to see. Just, please, spread it around bit.”
Stavin smiled and bowed deeply. “I shall, Lord Zel’Vandar.”
Barvil and Karvik came to his side immediately. “That’s a surprise,” Barvil commented as the Elders walked away.
“Yes, but I think they really want our business,” Stavin agreed. “Shall we go visit the grain merchants?” he asked with
a grin, then led the way out of the caravansary. “Chief Elder Kel’Kaffrey told me to load up all of the wagons. Marina and her guards depleted us even with the missing men and the extra we brought in last fall.”
Barvil grunted his agreement, then grumbled, “It’s a wonder any of them can walk, the way they ate.” The three had been walking as they talked, and soon reached the sector of the city that the grain merchants controlled.
Stavin said, “There’s House Zel’Valin, but we already cleaned them out. Zel’Jastan is next.” Stavin led the way into the Trading House and they were immediately met.
“Yes, Master Trader,” a small woman wearing a Master Trader’s vest said as they entered. “What can House Zel’Jastan do for you?”
Stavin bowed, and was amused that, for once, he was eye-level with the Trader. “We are seeking a supply of grain. Twenty bags each of wheat, barley, rye, and beans. Do you have a supply this late in the year?”
“We do, good Master Trader,” the woman replied with a bow. “You’re from Kel’Kavin?”
All three of them bowed. “We are,” Stavin agreed.
“You’re not buying much,” she said, her tone making a question of her statement.
Stavin smiled. “We were asked to spread our purchases around. The bargain I made in the fall caused some friction.”
“You infuriated everyone except Zel’Valin, young man,” the woman said as she stared him in the eyes. “But you might want to increase your order a bit. There are only six houses with a decent supply left.”
Stavin nodded. “We have fifteen wagons. Fifty bags each is seven hundred and fifty bags. By six houses is one hundred and twenty five each.”
“And the distribution?” the woman asked.
Stavin looked at Barvil, but he just nodded toward the trader. Turning back to her, he said, “Twenty-five each of wheat, barley, and rye, and fifty of beans.”
The woman nodded. “Ten gold crowns.”
Stavin looked at her with a shocked expression on his face and the game was on. He bargained hard, starting at just two, and they played the game per the rules. In just a span they had agreed on four gold and two silver. Stavin laughed as he shook his head.
“You got me.”
“You do well for one so young, Master Stavin. Who taught you?”
Stavin sighed. “Kethlan, Sahren, and Rahlina Kel’Vandar.”
The woman laughed uproariously. “Kethlan?! I thought I recognized that style. Oh, you had a worthy teacher in that scoundrel. Do you have your wagons here?”
Stavin shook his head. “I had thought to make the bargains first and pick up all of the grain at the same time.”
“That will do,” the woman said with a bob of her head that might have been a bow. “That will do fine. I’ll have your order separated. When will you pick up?”
“Late tomorrow. Our Elders and your Trader’s Council are meeting today, and I can’t imagine them finishing before the end of the day tomorrow.”
Stavin, Barvil, and Karvik all bowed, and the woman bowed in return, then they left to move on to the next house. The bargaining went about the same. Stavin got the hundred and twenty-five bags of grain from each house for close to the same price. One was four gold crowns even. One was four and three silver. By the end, Barvil was shaking his head.
“Maybe all that time you spent with Kethlan wasn’t such a bad thing after all,” was all he’d say on the walk back to the caravansary.
Stavin was shaking his head. “I didn’t do as well as I did with Zel’Valin,” he complained. “I got a thousand bags for thirty gold. Seven hundred and fifty shouldn’t have cost more than twenty-three, but I spent twenty-six and three silver.”
Karvik laughed. “Only you would think you didn’t get a good deal. What about the butchers?”
Stavin nodded and let Karvik lead the way. At the butchers, they had less luck. There was little to be had, and the prices were more than even Stavin was willing to pay. They did get ten of the good hard sausages that Stavin liked, but he paid for them with his own gold.
They returned to the caravan and Barvil sent three men to an inn for food. Stavin tossed them his purse to pay with. Barvil just shook his head. “The town can buy us a few meals, Stavin.”
“Not the way I bargained,” Stavin muttered, then went to sit by the fire.
* * *
Ahlic Zel’Vandar led the Elders through the city to a large building. It had once been the palace of the Kings of Kavadia, but the Traders had taken it over for their own use. Most of the ornate carvings and frescoes were still intact, but thieves and looters had stolen everything else of value.
Lord Ahlic led them into a large meeting room and motioned toward seats around the table. “If you gentlemen would care to take a seat, we should be joined soon by the rest of the Traders’ Council.” It was less than a span later that the last member of the Council arrived. Twenty-three Houses were represented.
A different man stood and bowed his head to the Elders. “Gentlemen, I am Perrit Zel’Kaudell, Leader of the Aravad Trader’s Council. As Ahlic no doubt explained to you, we are very interested in maintaining a relationship with Kavinston.”
Mikal stood and bowed deeply before speaking. “Lord Zel’Kaudell, I am Chief Elder Mikal Kel’Kaffrey. We are also very interested in maintaining a relationship with Aravad. However, there have been several developments during the winter that we should inform you of before we go much further. First, and possibly most important, we have received a communication from Evandia that they wish to annex Kel’Kavin. There is the possibility that they will annex all of southern Farindia.” He paused as the Traders all began discussing his revelation. When they had quieted, he continued. “Second, the war with Andaria has already affected us. Three teams of our men went to Andaria, and did not return. We do not know what happened to them, but--”
“They were conscripted by the Andarian Army,” a different man said. “All of the guards we hired were conscripted as well. Our caravans are also stuck in Andaria.”
Chief Elder Kel’Kaffrey bowed his head. “We were afraid something like that might have happened.”
“How serious is the Evandian Crown about annexing Farindia?” a different lord asked.
“At present, it is only a proposal. King Kalin is definitely interested in annexing Kel’Kavin, but the rest of Farindia is a question that we still haven’t answered. We of Kel’Kavin favor the idea.”
“You said several developments,” another of the lords prompted. “Is there more?”
“Yes,” Mikal agreed. “Third, Master Trader Stavin of House Kel’Aniston is interested in establishing a permanent base of operations here in Aravad.”
“Is he interested in becoming a full member of the Traders’ Council?” a man farther down the table asked.
Charvil stood and shook his head as he said, “No, he is not.” He bowed slightly as Mikal sat down. “What he wants to do is establish a place where his wagons and animals can be kept through the winter so that they don’t place a strain on the resources of our valley. That will also let him schedule deliveries of our orders rather than having the wagons driven down here and back. It would get our supplies into the valley earlier in the spring, and give us a better selection in the fall.”
One of the lords said, “He’d need to hire Masters for the caravans.”
Charvil bowed his head deeply. “Or sponsor others to the Guild.”
“He has the resources to do that,” Lord Ahlic said as he looked around. “Anything else?”
Mikal took over again. “There is one other major point that we wanted to discuss. We would like to start sending our full expedition to Aravad rather than the Skykon Trade Town.” He paused as shocked looks were shared all around the table. “Would there be a market for additional teams of guards?”
“Yes,” at least ten of the lords answered together.
Mikal bowed his head slightly. “We thought there might be. Last, and the reason we are here right now, are ou
r supplies. Typically, we buy a thousand bags of grain in the fall and another five hundred in the spring. Stavin’s status and skill has convinced us to bring all of our business to you. The Traders in Kahrant’s Pass are in for some hard times.”
A man stood and bowed to Mikal before speaking. “I am Rahndahl Zel’Valin. Young Master Stavin bargained very well last fall. How many of your people can match that skill?”
Mikal sighed. “Few. Maybe one or two.”
There were nods of satisfaction around the table. “Master Stavin will have to establish a House here in Kavadia,” Lord Zel’Kaudell said as he looked at the Elders. “It won’t be as expensive as Evandia. Even we,” he gestured around the table, “find the Evandian Traders’ Guild bond to be excessive.” There were some chuckles from around the table now. “There is, however, one question that must be answered: Who is Master Stavin’s Chosen sponsor?”
“I am,” Lord Ahlic said as he stood to face his associates. He looked around and saw some shock, but more satisfied expressions as if his action had been expected. “Zel’Vandar owes Friend Stavin a debt that we’ll not soon repay. His actions in Valovad, taking on the Evandian Traders’ Guild and establishing a House for the express purpose of bringing our caravan home, was nothing short of heroic. I will negotiate an agreement with him, but Zel’Vandar will stand for Kel’Aniston.”
Lord Zel’Kaudell bowed slightly. “That’s good enough for me. Dissent?” He looked around, but no one made any signal. “I didn’t think there would be. Very well. Ahlic, get together with Master Stavin and see to the establishment of his House. Did you have somewhere in mind?”
“The Zel’Gavak property. We own it, but we don’t need it. It needs some repair, but nothing major. Chief Elder Kel’Kaffrey, do you know how many wagons Stavin owns?”
Mikal shook his head, but Charvil nodded and stood again to address the lords. “Stavin has twenty-four cargo wagons and two enclosed.”
“That’s quite a few for such a young House. Are you certain?” Lord Perrit asked.
The Andarian Affair Page 29