《The Red Lands》Chapter 5 -Different worlds same merchants
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The collection bay was empty of customers at this time of the day. The clerk in charge was in the back helping out the hired hands. The end of autumn was a busy time for the Trading post. This was the last opportunity for merchants to buy goods and bring in supplies before the roads became near impassable by snow.
The bear like man in charge of this post was called Griz. Chu felt like it suited him even though there were no bears in this world with the name grizzly. Although Griz came over when he saw Chu, his countenance darkened when he realized the kid before him didn't have the usual firewood bundle.
As someone not new to business, Chu at once picked up on that. In a busy time as this who would have time for a kid. A lazy child has no value. Chu already had a feel for this person since he was the one who provided the animal fat yesterday.
"Morning Mr Griz. I am not here to waste your time. I have a wolf carcass to sell, what's the selling price?"
Griz looked at the small kid in front of him. The child was malnourished and thin that a single blow might break him in two. Yesterday this same child deposited a load of firewood and asked for the waste materials from processing the animal pelts. Now he came today with an absurd question. Griz was sure he didn't hear correct.
"What did yo....."
"Lets not waste time mr Griz I know this is a busy time. How much for a wolf?"
Griz subconsciously answered. The tone was like he was dealing with a merchant.
"Wolf buys for five silver."
"And a grey wolf whose coat has turned white?"
Griz looked at the boy and gave the same reply
"five silver."
Almost immediately came a retort.
"Come come Mr Griz. I said we shouldn't waste each others time. We both know that a white wolf sells for much more on account of the pelt. Otherwise why would some hunters risk their lives to take a chance in winter."
If it wasn't for the sorry state of the child that his eyes were registering in front of him, Griz was sure he was talking to some old well oiled merchant.
"You have a wolf?"
"A gold nugget is coveted by many. How much for a white wolf."
Griz understood the meaning behind the kids words. What he didn't understand was how some backwoods illiterate child could rattle them out his mouth like normal. The child didn't even show fear. Instead this feeling was like two merchants haggling.
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"White wolf sells for six silvers."
"Twenty silvers, or I sell it to a merchant on the outside."
What the Heck! Griz looked like he swallowed a slug. This kid had the gall to bargain?
'Seven silver. And if you don't sell it to me, I will make sure not to buy a piece of firewood from you."
"Eighteen silvers, or I sell on the outside and just leave this village. A homeless bum like myself has nothing to lose in this dump."
'Eight silvers. Most of the merchants belong to the Trading post nobody is going to buy from a kid. Who is going to believe you killed a white wolf."
"Twenty silvers, I will sell it to a Merchant not affiliated with your Trading post. I can always say my dad killed it."
Frick the kid just jacked back up the price!
"Ten silvers then. No higher."
"Deal! Give me some time to get it. Won't be long"
The kid bounced out the post and Griz didn't even have time to think what had happened when he returned with another friend dragging a white wolf between them. Griz stepped across and inspected the animal. It was obviously killed not to long and the pelt was in great condition with only some holes at the back and neck.
"Good good. When did you kill this."
"Last night, you can tell the body hasn't even gotten stiff yet."
Griz made the usual thorough inspection glancing every now and then at the boys. The slightly larger one had a dumb face typical of the village children. His knees rattled every time Griz sent him a stare. The smaller boy was as calm as could be, the bearing like a seasoned merchant selling his wares.
"Good condition. Sold for ten silvers."
Amidst the noise from the large boy dropping to the ground in shock the younger one remained standing stroking his chin with his hands. He didn't even both sparing a glance at the racket caused by his companion.
"Very well. Throw in some of those rag bundles you have on the side and we got a deal. I need two silvers converted into copper coins. Lets step inside the shop for this transaction I want to buy some supplies as well."
Chu turned and headed into the supply shop on the side. Griz just shook his head and followed. Once inside the shop Chu purchased some items and collected the remainder of the money. At this time it was only him here, so he was free of any prying eyes.
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"Hey kid."
"Hmmm.."
"What would you have done if I just said I wasn't going to pay?"
Griz looked at the boy standing over the counter. He seemed interesting compared to the others from the slums. Even the village children didn't give off that aura.
"I take you for a merchant. No matter where you go merchants are the same. They know when to take advantage and when a good deal is smacked on their faces. You offer your water well for the slums and gain cheap and free labor in return. But you know the limits. You won't rob me because I am the same as you, we bring benefits."
Griz narrowed his eyes and gazed at the ragtag boy in front. Is this boy really from the slums?
"Hey do you have books here?"
"Yes but not much here. Why?"
Griz gave him a reply surprised by the question that came out of the blue.
"Can't read, need one to learn."
Yes. This little guy was definitely from the slums.
Chu and Ming returned to the slums loaded with items. Avoiding contact with the few who remained during the day they dumped everything in Chu's shack which was the closest to the outskirts. Getting a fire going in the middle to warm up the place he took out a new pot and boiled some water. He then made some dumplings from flour for them. Ming returned with some bowls of his own and after the meal they spread out the rags they got and went to sleep.
When Chu woke up it was late evening. He was careful in eating too much since this body had survived on a near liquid diet. It would take time for them to return to normal. He woke up Ming who was still sleeping and sent him out on some errands. After last night Ming didn't mind following Chu's instructions.
When Ming left, Chu got an old rag and made it into a tight belt that could be worn under his clothes. He then took a needle and sewed in the three silvers that remained into individual pockets. Only by using a knife could you open one pocket to get the coin. The coppers that remained were separated into two small money bags that could be kept in the sleeves or hidden in the clothes.
Ming returned with a pot filled with the same kind of liquid like yesterday. Showing him what to do Chu left and went home to drop of the two coppers. When he returned Ming was still concocting in the old pot. Chu started slicing up the remainder of the mushrooms. This time he used all of them since he wanted a faster acting poison.
Chu believed he did pretty well for someone who spent the latter part of his life in a city. It was fortunate that the mushrooms followed the rules of brighter and boldly being untouched in the open means danger. What he didn't understand at the time was that poisonous mushrooms here were tens of times more potent than the ones on earth.
"Hey Ming."
Ming grunted in reply as he stirred the pot.
"I want to get another person, someone who can climb as well"
Chu didn't know he was opening a sore spot until it was too late.
"What do you mean another person who can climb. Are you trying to get rid of meeeee! Chu I can climb, next time I wont need to step on your back. I wouldn't try to grab you when I fall. It wasn't out of spite, I really wasn't thinking that I was going to take you with me!"
I pushed the snot covered face that was latched onto my legs tighter than a barnacle.
"So you admit it you bastard! I know you wanted to drag me down when you nearly fell!"
It should be noted that both were narrow-minded individuals.
After they settled down, Chu laid out a new plan.
"Selling firewood will only give us so much. We are going to have to risk it to make money. The plan is the same but we need another person to help us move faster. We need to set up in the forest so the animals come to us. Then we need to make sure that we can kill them safely. Only then can we make enough to leave this place."
"So we can get a place in the village?"
"No. So we can leave the village."
Ming finally realized he was mistaken. Chu didn't want to just leave the slums. He wanted to be able to walk out from the village into the world.
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Keeper
When I first woke up I knew only three things: My name is Reiza, I have a seed I need to care for, and a song. I was told that the forest I woke up in was mine and that I needed to take control of it and protect it. The only things standing in my way are nature itself, a bunch of strange floating boxes, and a group of crazy powerful creatures known as the forest queens. Sounds pretty simple right? It might be if it weren't for the fact that I have absolutely zero memory, but hey at least I know my name. Also apparently my enemies aren't only inside the forest. Forces from the outside got news that somthing was going down in my new home and are coming to crash my party. Can I claim this forest? Can I protect it? And most importantly can I figure out who I am and what's going on? I'm not sure but I'm going to try. Hey everyone I'm fairly new to writing novles and this is my first time ever putting my work on a site like this one. I hope you enjoy the story and would appreciate your feedback. I would ask that you read through at least a couple of chapters before leaving a rating. I know I have some trouble with grammer and how I structure some of my sentences and while feedback on that is appreciated what I would value most is feedback on the story as a whole in terms of how the plot works and if you are enjoying it or not. Cover art by Kalhh from Pixabay
8 243Age of Legends
Age of Legends takes place in the world of Noctra a decade after a man known as Lord White coveted power for himself by wiping out the two eldest races of Noctra; Ta' and Nomads. Two survivors of this horror reunite and begin a journey to unravel Lord White's world while uncovering the truth to Noctra's history. A man who is initially only known as "Silent One" seeks vengeance for his people while a lively, wild Amberosin simply fights to survive in a world that wishes her dead. As the last two of the elder races, these two wrestle with destiny in their quest for lasting peace.
8 60NARUTO THE REINCARNATED NARUTARD
do u love naruto? ever want somethings to be changed? well this is my fanfiction and how I want the naruto world to be! join me as I take the first step by changing naruto's name! (cover not mine, got it from google :D )
8 75Legend of the Lost Star
[More placeholder space for the next Writahon...] [Completed the October 2020 Royal Road Writathon challenge] [Completed the April 2020 Royal Road Writathon challenge] Book 1: First Light Synopsis: As a war of epic proportions enters a ceasefire, a soul from another world enters a dead boy's body. Without any memories of who he was, with only a little companion by his side, the lost soul begins his long, arduous journey to recover his memories, while unraveling the mysteries of a war-torn world. Why was he sent here? And where will he go now? Even he himself does not know. But one thing is for certain: the world will never be the same again. Book 2: Foredoomed to a Rendezvous Synopsis: As war continues to break out between the Five Lands, Gaius finds himself inheriting a legacy of ancient times. With the flames of battle spreading through the South once again, the lost soul throws himself into battle over and over, in an attempt to protect his home and those he holds dear. How will the boy, nearly unrivalled in martial might, fare in a web of conspiracies beyond his ken? Book 3: The Last and the Lost Synopsis: The boy has set himself an unbelievable target in a bid to save someone precious to him. With his former home now out of reach, he stalks the Southern Continent, inciting rebellion and revolution where possible to lure his prey out. Meanwhile, in the heart of the South, embers of war begin to rekindle. Will it be the death knell of yet another nation millennia old? Book 4: The Unravelling World Synopsis: Time is not on Gaius' side. Everyday life, already disturbed by the flames of mortal war, falls apart entirely as beings of legend once again appear on Orb. Forced to a foreign land to treat his injuries, the boy must confront the outcomes of his actions, directly and indirectly. But the tide is rising. Countless enemies are throwing themselves against the nations of Orb, cleaving a path of blood wherever they go. Gaius has to hurry...or drown with the rest. Book 5: World's End, Divines' Rondo Synopsis: The great gods of Orb have staked their claim on the world itself, killing all in their way. Each of the Cardinal Continents are fighting their own battles and making their own peace, but none are aware of the growing threat from the Wildlands, where a self-exiled legend continues to gather strength. Meanwhile, a new threat stalks the whole of Orb, killing whatever remains of the Constellation Heroes. Against such a chaotic backdrop, a boy continues to protect a semblance of daily life for his loved ones, but will he be successful when the curtains finally open? Book 6: The Frenzied Tide Synopsis: A sword hangs above the Eastern Territories. The Human God, progenitor of all life, the direct cause of the beastfolk genocide, has made his will known to the rulers of the East — make peace with the God of Water, or be destroyed in three months. Gaius, who has left the battlefield to return home, is once again called to fight, to support a do-or-die offensive upon their foe's territory. But in the background, the threads of destiny are beginning to come together. Plots set in motion long ago are coming to fruition... Book 7: Limina of Ruin Synopsis: The chalice has broken. The East is beset with turmoil, as factions turn on each other. The Great Divide, however, brims with a setting radiance, ensuring a final, transient peace. And in the midst of it all, one young boy follows the fettered winds and the unshackled waters, heading to a new land to uphold a promise. For him, the days of fighting will be a distant memory before long...and a daily event in the years to come. Uncovering ancient memories, putting to rest regrets, enjoying the last of a peaceful life...the people of the Five Lands will live to their fullest. Yet, this is but the calm before the storm. Book 8: Power Talks Synopsis: Fate. A curious word to most...and a frightening word to Gaius. Alongside the rulers of the North, Gaius witnesses frightening truths, proof of an inevitable future. Spurred by a myriad chilling revelations and urged by a god's killer, the Mortal Light Dynasty gathers both mortal rulers and divine sovereigns, covering past conflicts with a offer of cooperation of an unprecedented scale. However, can this unity, first of its kind, stand up to time, fate and mortal nature? Or will it burn, along with the Five Lands? Book 9: Homeland Song Synopsis: Gazing out at the Orb of old, Gaius ponders his destiny and the great stakes with it. Time and again, he has led a life of choices, making one after another for the sake of those he cares about. His latest choice, however, carries implications of an immeasurable scale. Charged with the protection of the future, all that awaits him is an eternal solitude... On the other side of the false world, a single star shines, one whose light is meant to protect. Gemini, who has long found a homeland in the form of Ark City, has spent years defending it with friends and family alike. However, an inexorable end is approaching. The day the Great Divide falls looms ever closer. At the crossroads of destiny, when the chains of fate bind him fully, what will the last Constellation choose? And what will his choice mean for the rest of the Five Lands? Book 10: Immortal Indignant Synopsis: As the Five Lands reel from an unexpected revelation, Gaius continues his struggle to accept his immortal destiny of eternal vigilance. Mortal fetters continue to tie him down, with the prospect of breaking them a heart-rending prospect. There is little light for him in the darkness; his emotions seemingly a poisoned apple. For him, the days ahead are one of balancing his emotions; his immortal destiny is antithetical to the aspects that make one mortal. However, he isn't the only immortal indignant at the current state of affairs. Behind the scenes, huge powers push and pull, tussling in an insane game of wrestling sanity. The Five Lands and the great gods prepare in the background, awaiting their time to strike... Book 11: Cause Convergent Synopsis: As Orb reels from an unexpected turn of events, the crumbling of the Great Divide speeds up. With time now at a premium, Gaius travels the world, addressing a particular personage's last will, while ensuring that he leaves no regrets behind. Revisiting the Five Lands with his beloved one last time, he casts his eyes to a new future, a world full of a peace forged by collective resistance. Far away from Gaius, at the very borders of the Southern Continent, soldiers train day and night, awaiting the day the rift between worlds crumble. But the battlefield there isn't just between the Five Lands and the Wildlands... Book 12: Boundary Belligerent Synopsis: The rift between worlds crumble. The moon, the sun and the sky shatter, revealing the vast expanse beyond. The cold light of the stars gaze down upon Orb, illuminating a bloody battlefield at World's End, where gods and mortals wrestle. Immortal troops charge the Five Lands, over and over again, only to be repelled by vast engines of war. For many, the moment of destiny has arrived. The Third Extermination has begun. However, Gaius gazes not at the present, but at the future beyond. What does he see there? And what will he do? Book 13: Destiny Divergent Synopsis: Bells ring, and destiny veers. Mortal miracles, having pierced a divine destiny, now turn their light of annihilation upon the legendary land of dangers and dark myth. A single being who should have slept forever reawakens, carrying out a inherited duty to protect. Under a dome of absolute law, the hulks that darken the skies are grounded, forcing the Five Lands to move ahead on foot. Hidden differences erupt, comrades turn upon comrades, and the alliance begins to crumble. What should have been a happy ending begins to fall apart. Watching from high above, the Abyss Sovereign laments his weakness, cursing the new destiny laid upon the world. And yet, he will never give up. Book 14: Abyss Ascendent Synopsis: As a future of never-ending conflict draws closer, Gaius stands at the centre of Orb, his will tempered and set. What the Wildlands has ceased to be, he will inherit. Divine Kingdoms and mortal nations clamour for peace to prepare for greater wars, but Gaius will no longer stand for that. For the sake of his dream, the Five Lands — and now, the Wildlands — must be unified against a common enemy. Gaius himself. Raising the flag of rebellion against mortal nature and destiny, the Abyss Sovereign commences a festival of creation for his new world, a paradise unimaginable to both mortal and divine minds. With his intentions made known now, there is no going back. He will succeed. Or die trying. Book 15: Terminus Transcendent Synopsis: ??? This is a story that may, depending on how impatient you are, take some time to spin up. I have enough in my mind for a long run, so it's essential that I lay out a great deal of groundwork at the start. Eleven books have been released so far, and this work will end at Book 15. Be aware of late arrival spoilers! My Patreon link is here, which allows for up to sixty-five advanced chapters ahead of the free releases, or if you'd just like to support me. Release schedule: My original promise was 2 a week, minimally, but it's been a daily release for a long time. So yeah...
8 835Onyx Dragonling
There a story about Anthony Harris a 89 year old who died from a heart attack. Not caring one bit he let fate choose his next life for him. Now he a dragonling and curious about the situation he is in now. This is the first time for me to write.
8 111It's hard being the fourth wheel in a love triangle
Ayva reacts to his childhood friends as they slowly grow up and become heroes
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