The ride to Zel’Kassel took just nine spans, and they didn’t push their horses getting there. Stavin signaled Lovan up to the front when Zel’Kassel came into view.
“All right, Cousin Lovan, lead the way.”
The captain bowed in the saddle and took the lead. “The Commoner’s Gate is usually manned by the lowest of the City Guards. Important visitors use the Chosen Gate.”
Stavin chuckled and shook his head. “Just like Twin Bridges.”
Lovan slowed his horse to a walk as he approached the gate. “Make way for the Blessed of Arandar,” he commanded, and the two men at the gate backed away from the road until they ran into the walls.
Stavin bowed his head to each guard as he passed, and the men fell to their knees and bowed their heads in supplication.
Captain Kel’Aniston led them through a rabbit-warren of narrow streets and ramshackle buildings until they turned a corner and emerged into a wide thoroughfare.
“The Gold Merchant’s Chapter House is just ahead, Cousin Stavin.”
Stavin and Karvik exchanged a look and shrugged. “Good thing we brought him,” Karvik said as he looked around. “I tried following the directions and still couldn’t keep track of where we were.”
Stavin chuckled. “Neither could I,” he replied softly.
The Gold Merchant’s Chapter House was immediately obvious once it came into view: there were four armed guards at the door.
The entire company came to a stop and dismounted as the guards urgently pounded on the door. It opened and ten more guards came out to block the steps.
“What do you intend here?” one of the men demanded.
“I intend to withdraw some gold from my account,” Stavin answered as he walked forward. The men looked at him with a mixture of awe and reverence as he approached the steps with Karvik and Varik by his side.
“You-You-You’re the Blessed One. The Blessed of Arandar,” the leader stammered.
Stavin bowed his head slightly. “I am.”
The leader fell to his knees at the base of the steps and his subordinates followed his example. “Blessed One, we are yours to command.”
Stavin stopped just a hand-span away from him. “You men have an honorable profession, and should continue to protect your employers. Rise now, and someone go tell the gold merchants that I am here.”
The men stood and came to attention. The leader towered over Stavin, matching Karvik’s impressive height. He bowed, then turned and went up the steps and into the building.
It was just a matter of moments later that six impressively dressed men and women rushed out of the building. Each of them fell to their knees as soon as they faced Stavin.
“What are your needs, Blessed One?”
“I need to withdraw three thousand gold crowns from my House Kel’Aniston account. A good part of that can be in drafts rather than coin, so perhaps we should go inside.”
The merchants cautiously rose to their feet and bowed. “Of course, Blessed One. Of course. But what of them?”
Stavin tilted his head to the side and said, “My royal guards’ detachment. Five of them will be coming inside with me. The rest will remain outside.”
Karvik stepped forward and said, “While we have no reason to suspect any of your guards, we must insist that no armed men be inside with Prince Stavin.” He turned and looked the lead guard in the eye as he continued. “We mean no insult to you or your men. These are just the orders we received from King Kalin before we left Evandia.”
The guard started to object, but the lead gold merchant stopped him. “That is acceptable,” he said as he bowed again. “Our houses that deal with royalty on a regular basis accept these conditions all the time. Please come inside, Blessed of Arandar.” Stavin and the gold merchants went inside, followed by Karvik and the guardsmen. They went to a side room and Stavin accepted tea before they got down to business.
“I am going to need eight drafts for one hundred gold crowns each, made out to the Reynadian Traders’ Guild. I’m sponsoring eight new Masters for House Kel’Aniston. I need another draft for three hundred and sixty gold crowns made out to Nestal Zel’Aniston. I’m buying my new warehouse from him.”
One of the gold merchants interrupted. “Your forgiveness, Blessed One. We understood that you were not going to be involved in trade in this part of Reynadia.”
“I wasn’t, but Cousin Sahrana convinced me that there is a need. Cousin Sindal is allowing me to deal with the long-distance trade while House Zel’Aniston continues with their local trade.”
“That is very good news, Blessed One.”
Stavin nodded his head. “I want ten more one hundred gold crown drafts, but leave the recipient blank. I have twenty wagons and ox teams to buy. The remaining eight hundred and forty crowns I’ll need in coin. There’s always something unexpected that pops up that requires coin to fix.”
The gold merchants stood and bowed, then went to fill Stavin’s order. In just a handful of moments, much less than a span, Stavin bowed his thanks to the gold merchants and walked out the door.
Karvik and the guardsmen carried the gold while Stavin tucked the drafts inside his mail. “We’re ready to go, men,” Stavin said as he walked over to Tru.
The royal guardsmen mounted in file, and Stavin motioned for Lovan to lead the way. Stavin turned in the saddle, raised his right hand and said, “Let the Light of Arandar the Bright shield you from evil, and let the love of the Gods Above fill your souls.” With that he nudged Tru forward and followed Lovan out of the city.
Once they had been riding for a span down the road, Karvik looked at Stavin and asked, “Where did that blessing come from?”
Stavin chuckled. “It’s what Lady Sahrana said when I spoke the Evilest One’s name and Arandar’s light surrounded me.”
Karvik muttered, “You worry me.” Stavin laughed.
They returned to Aniston at an easy pace, and Stavin spent the trip admiring the scenery, and basking in the warm sunlight. Lady Sahrana met them when they entered the manor, and a well-dressed man waited a short distance behind her.
“Cousin Stavin, this is Nestal Rahndav Serval Zel’Aniston,” she said as she motioned behind her.
Nestal bowed very deeply, then said, “I am honored, Prince Stavin.”
Stavin returned the bow, then replied, “I am pleased to meet you, Lord Nestal. I suppose you’ve come to discuss the warehouse.”
Nestal bowed again. “Yes, Prince Stavin. Sahrana, Sindal, and I have already discussed the property.”
Stavin nodded. “Yes, they both seem to think it will do nicely as House Kel’Aniston’s headquarters in Reynadia, and I trust their judgment. I have,” Stavin paused as he sorted through the packet of drafts, “a draft made out to you for three hundred and sixty gold crowns. I understand that is your asking price for the warehouse.” He held the draft out and Nestal hesitantly took it.
“Prince Stavin, I find that I am ashamed of myself,” he said as he looked at the floor. “I never would have charged you that much.”
Stavin chuckled, startling him into looking up again. “I decided to pay the asking price without haggling because you are family and I won’t begrudge you a small profit. Besides,” he said with another chuckle, “Reynadian Crowns are smaller than Evandian Crowns. In terms that I understand on a visceral level, that three hundred and sixty crowns only cost me about two hundred and eighty Evandian. It’s still a substantial sum, but not excessive.”
Nestal gave Stavin a thoughtful look, then bowed deeply. “I brought the deed for the property with me, Prince Stavin.” He gestured toward the library. “Our signatures will complete the sale.”
Stavin nodded and followed Nestal to the library. Nestal signed the parchment and added the agreed upon purchase price, then slid the document around to Stavin.
“By our signatures, I transfer ownership of the warehouse located in Aniston, Mariniva Sector, at the corner of Order and Starling roads to you, Prince Stavin Zel’Andral.” He pla
ced a large iron ring of bronze keys beside the deed.
Stavin glanced at the document and signed the indicated place in Imperial Glyphs, and then picked up the keys. He bowed to Nestal and said, “Thank you, Cousin Nestal. It has been a pleasure to meet you.”
“I am honored to have met you, Prince Stavin, both as a Dragonblessed Prince and as the Blessed of Arandar.” With that he bowed deeply to Stavin, then again to Lady Sahrana, then turned and walked out of the manor.
“That went smoothly,” Stavin said in a cheerful tone with a bright smile.
Lady Sahrana returned the smile. “We will go out and see your new warehouse after the mid day meal. I understand that you got in and out of Zel’Kassel without Sovana catching you.”
Stavin chuckled. “We got in and out quickly, and Lovan’s knowledge was invaluable. The gold merchants were certainly surprised to see me.”
Lady Sahrana smiled and bowed her head. “I imagine so.” After they had eaten, Stavin joined Lady Sahrana in her carriage for the trip to the warehouse.
When they arrived, Stavin looked at the warehouse in silent awe for a moment. It was huge, far larger than his warehouse in Aravad or Valovad. It was built as a rectangle, a hundred and fifty cubits across the front and two hundred deep. What impressed Stavin the most were the windows indicating three floors.
Stavin walked up to the door and sorted through the keys until he found one that matched the lock. Opening it, he found himself in a suite of offices. There was an assortment of desks and tables, stools and chairs, and bookcases distributed throughout the offices, but everything was empty.
Lady Sahrana said, “Nestal has been trying to sell this place for years, but not many people need this much space or could afford what he was asking. The warehouse itself is through here.” She indicated a door to the side and Stavin had to sort through the keys again to find the right one.
The warehouse had a huge open lower floor, with a large square hole leading to the upper floors at one end. Stavin paused and looked at the enormous space and whispered, “This will do,” as he mentally measured it against what he thought he needed. “This should hold all twenty wagons easily.”
“Indeed,” Lady Sahrana agreed. “The upper floors are divided into shelved cubbies for storing medium and small sized items. There is a hoist that can be used to lift bulky items, though I would recommend having the ropes replaced.”
Stavin nodded. “This will do nicely.”
Karvik was at Stavin’s shoulder and asked, “Are there living quarters, Lady Sahrana?”
Lady Sahrana looked at him and nodded. “On the second floor, above the offices. They are about the size of a Revered Clan’s home.”
“What are you thinking, Kar?” Stavin asked.
“Nothing specific. I just remember your warehouse in Aravad.”
They returned to the estate and Stavin began preparing to move on again. “I’m going to have to go to the Traders’ Guild offices and sponsor the new masters to the guild, and I’m going to have to see the wainwright as well.”
“Not in Zel’Kassel,” Lady Sahrana corrected. “Their Council isn’t sufficient. You’ll have to take them with you to Rey, to the Traders’ Guild Master Council. As for the wainwrights, they and the livestock merchants will be by tomorrow morning.” She gave him a self-satisfied grin. “There are advantages to owning the entire town.”
Chapter 9
THE NEXT MORNING TWO WAINWRIGHTS AND three livestock merchants were waiting with their hats in their hands when Stavin and his hosts finished their morning meal. Lady Sahrana took them all to the library.
Stavin nodded to each of them, then sat, motioning toward chairs. “Please be seated.” When everyone had taken a seat, he continued. “I am placing an order for twenty wagons of this design,” he slid a drawing of the wagons he wanted across the table, “and a dual-ox team to pull each of them.”
The wainwrights had taken the drawing and were humming over it. “Blessed One, based on this design, each of these wagons would cost about seven gold crowns,” the elder of the two said with a bow.
Stavin nodded. “That is a moderate price, goodmen,” he replied. “I have a one hundred crown draft for each of you. Take that drawing and make these wagons into something special for my traders.”
“Blessed One, we will make these wagons worth every spark you’ve paid.”
Stavin bowed his head slightly and said, “Thank you.”
Stavin turned his attention to the livestock merchants now and all three of them bowed deeply in their chairs. They were all about the same age, but one seemed to be the leader.
“Blessed One, the ox teams for your wagons will cost five gold crowns per animal.” When Stavin’s eyebrows drew down, he quickly continued. “That will include the yokes and harnesses for each pair, Blessed One.”
Stavin thought for a moment, then nodded. “Very well. That’s two hundred for the oxen. How will it be divided?”
All three men bowed deeply. “Blessed one,” the spokesman began, “we are willing to take the payment together and divide it amongst ourselves when we have delivered the animals to your manager. Forty oxen may take a while to acquire and outfit, but not as long as it will take to build the wagons.”
Stavin looked at Lady Sahrana and said, “I should have arranged for a manager with Sindal.”
Now that she had been drawn into the discussion, Lady Sahrana stepped forward. “Sindal’s uncle Rhovan might be a good choice for your manager. He’s a Kel’Aniston by birth, and married Veralyn Zel’Aniston. He was the guard on her wagon for years, and was drawn into trade because of it. Veralyn is Sindal’s aunt, her mother’s elder sister. Rhovan is Arandar’s age, maybe a little older. He’s old enough that I don’t think he’ll miss the road, and he has plenty of experience. And, come to think of it, he’d probably welcome the chance to manage House Kel’Aniston for you. You see, neither he nor Veralyn owns a home of their own, and they’ve been living with Vera’s son from her first marriage. All other factors aside, those living quarters Karvik asked about would suit them nicely.”
Stavin asked, “Does he have his vest?”
“Yes, both he and Veralyn have Master Trader credentials, but he has the better head for trade. Vera--well, Vera can hold her own, but she’s never been very aggressive.”
Stavin nodded and pulled out two of the hundred-crown drafts. Turning back to the livestock merchants, he slid them across the table. “Take these and see to it that the oxen are ready to pull my wagons.”
Stavin rose to his feet and bowed slightly as the men hurriedly came to their feet. “Go with the love of the Gods Above in your hearts.” All five men bowed deeply, then backed away, leaving the door open. Aran took control of them and escorted them out of the house.
“Nicely done, Cousin Stavin,” Lady Sahrana said when they were alone. “You overpaid for the wagons and oxen, but not by much.”
“Their figures were close to what I was expecting,” he explained. “There is also the added benefit of having them well disposed toward my House.”
Lady Sahrana nodded. “And when the word spreads, it won’t be just them. Everyone is going to be pleased to have House Kel’Aniston with us. But they would have anyway. I asked Sindal and her master candidates to join us for the mid day meal. With your permission, I’d like to send for Rhovan and Veralyn as well.”
Stavin bowed his head as he replied, “Of course, Cousin Sahrana.”
The mid day meal was a tense affair. Six of the master candidates were young, close to Stavin’s age or younger. The other two were in their forties. It wasn’t hard to figure out that they were Kel’Aniston guards-turned-trader. The surprise was Rhovan and Veralyn.
Rhovan Kel’Aniston was lightly built, lithe and graceful, but his movements set Stavin’s warrior instincts quivering. Where Karvik was a bear, Rhovan was a snow leopard.
Veralyn reminded Stavin of his mother. She was about the same age as Marinis, with much the same coloring. Her movements were no
t as fluid and graceful as her husband’s, but Stavin was convinced after just a few breaths that she was every bit as dangerous as her husband.
Stavin stood to greet all of them. “Good day, good cousins. I’m sure Cousin Sindal has explained what we are proposing to all of you. Well, maybe not Rhovan and Veralyn, but you’ll catch on quickly. Eight of you will be going to Rey with me so I can sponsor you to the guild as House Kel’Aniston’s caravan masters. Rhovan,” he said, turning to face the man squarely, “I would like to hire you as my manager for Reynadia.”
Rhovan stood and stammered, “M-Me, Blessed One?”
“You, Cousin. You and Veralyn.”
Rhovan bowed deeply. “I am honored, Blessed One.” Veralyn simply nodded.
Stavin chuckled. “I’ll offer you the same deal I gave my managers in Evandia, Coravia, and Luxandia: Fifteen percent of the profits from this branch of House Kel’Aniston.”
Rhovan glanced at his wife, then bowed to Stavin. “You are placing a lot of faith in us, Blessed One.”
“I think it’s faith well placed,” Stavin replied with a slight smile. “You are, after all, a Kel’Aniston. I’ve purchased a warehouse from Nestal Zel’Aniston.” He smiled at Rhovan’s startled look. “I think you know the one. You are, of course, welcome to the living quarters above the offices. House Kel’Aniston is going to have four caravans dealing with long distance shipping, leaving House Zel’Aniston free to see to the local trade.”
Sindal stood and bowed to Stavin, then addressed her traders. “Master Trader Stavin and I have entered into an agreement that puts House Kel’Aniston in a subordinate role to House Zel’Aniston. That does not mean that I will be running Kel’Aniston. It just means that I’ll be passing the longer trips, such as those up to Rey, on to House Kel’Aniston. I will also be calling on Kel’Aniston to supply extra wagons on occasion, such as harvest time.”
Stavin smiled at Sindal for a moment, then turned back to his traders. “Eight of you, and eight Kel’Aniston guards, will be traveling to Rey with me so I can sponsor you to the guild. You’ll be returning with eight enclosed wagons that will be the Master’s wagons for the caravans. They will all have built-in hearths for the cooks.”
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