Chapter thirteen B.

As I disembarked, the woman said, “welcome to Eastern dusk city, my name is lady Shauna, may I know who you are?” Lady Shauna said in an officious-sounding voice.

“My name is Eric Grayson, it’s a pleasure to meet you lady Shauna.” I said.

“Yes, all well and good. Let’s get this over with quickly. What is your reason for visiting Eastern dusk? What is your port of origin and your destination?”

“My reason for visiting is resupply and to potentially purchase slaves. My last port of call was Laga’vast, and my destination is the mage college in the capital.” I said, getting the response I was looking for. As she wrote down the information, I saw her eyes widen when I mentioned the mage college.

Her tone immediately changed from one of official business-like to a much more friendly and flirty demeanor as she said, “forgive me exalted hopeful initiate, it is most certainly a pleasure to meet one of the potential esteemed peerage. May I inquire as to how long you will be docking with us?”

I chuckled inwardly at the complete reversal of her tone and replied, “I believe I will only be docking for the day, potentially one night. I wish to finish my business quickly and set sail for the capital.”

“Very good sir Grayson. The docking fee for the day and one night is three gold regardless, I do apologize that I cannot make any exceptions, even for such an esteemed one as yourself. Would you like to hire any guards for the day to watch your vessel?” Lady Shauna said, still continuing in a pleasant and flirtatious tone.

“That is quite all right lady Shauna I understand. How many guards are usually hired to watch a vessel such as mine?”

“It would be my recommendation that you purchase four guards for the day. That would bring the total cost of your stay with us to five gold coins.”

“Then I will do just that, thank you for your assistance lady Shauna.” I said as I summoned five gold coins for my storage ring and handed them over.

Lady Shauna quickly took the gold coins into a pouch at her side and turned to one of the guards, “Sergeant, go and tell the captain that we are going to have to assign four guards to Sir Grayson ship.”

The guard thumped his right fist over his heart and bowed slightly before doing an about-face and dashing off to go and get the additional guards.

Lady Shauna exchanged pleasant goodbyes with me and moved on her way back down the dock and off to tend to her other tasks. I set off with Sasha following behind me into the well-maintained trade district.

Sasha had put on a small revealing pleated blue miniskirt, with black flat shoes and white stockings that came up to her mid-thigh. She wore a crop top that revealed the toned flesh of her abdomen. She had also attached a long silver leash to the collar she wore at her neck and had instructed me to attach the lead to my belt. She looked beautiful, if not a little over the top.

I wore my nice black boots with a pair of black pants. At my belt, I wore the sword I had purchased on my left hip, and a large dagger angled slightly to the back on my right. I wore the ever-present standard for any adventurer in medieval society, the white poet shirt. This one differed slightly in that the sleeves ended just past my elbows. Making it almost like a tee-shirt.

Sasha approved of my look and said that I cut quite a dashing and handsome figure in the outfit. Though she said that I could do with some more embellishments, but the fact that I had a finely crafted sword and dagger at my waist should be enough to indicate to anyone my wealth and standing.

With Sasha’s silver chain lead attached to my hip and the soft tinkle of the bell at her throat chiming away, we walked into the trade district.

The guards at the gate gave me a polite nod of their heads but did not interact any further with us. Upon my approach to the marina, I had retrieved the map of the city that I had purchased and had studied the indicated locations that I wanted to visit.

The streets of the trade districts were tightly packed with far fewer of the nobility wondering about and people in far more practical attire going about their business. Carriages passed along the two-lane main thoroughfare, but there were far more wagons carrying boxes of goods than palanquins carrying the asses of the nobility.

It took nearly 20 minutes of walking down the sidewalks and dodging other citizens going about their day; before we arrived at the first destination. It was a bulk cloth and textile merchant. The storefront was rather small for the size of the building, but the back was actually the main trading warehouse where the majority of the stock for the company was kept.

The dangling sign that hung in front of the door to the storefront of the trade warehouse read Cotton Stitch and Sons. As we entered the store, it became apparent that it was not designed for lavish display. Six long tables extended in straight lines towards the back were a counter with a young woman stood behind it.

On the six tables were neat binders filled with examples of color and cloth types that the merchants sold. As I made my way to the back counter, the young woman, who was clearly human but wore a silver metal collar around her neck, said, “welcome sir to Cotton Stitch and Sons, how may I assist you today?”

“Yes, I would like to make a large purchase of various bolts of cloths today. Do the selections I see on the table represent what you have in stock?”

“Yes sir. We only display the selections that we currently have in stock. If you would like, you can tell me what you require the cloth for, and I can make suggestions.”

Continuing on in my best snooty nobility voice, I said, “I require cloth to make, mattresses, bed linens, pillowcases and pillows themselves, and clothing for an entire household of about 100 slaves. The finest quality cloth you have to make an entire set of a yearly wardrobe for myself. Sailcloth for at the minimum twelve large sails. Finally, a variety of other cloths for upholstery and other needs.”

The woman smiled and nodded happily. It was then an hour of poring through books of fabric, selecting the various materials Sasha and I felt would be best for the colors of my forming house. 350 gold coins later and miles of cloth stored neatly in Sasha’s storage ring, we left the store.

We had decided that my house colors were going to be black, silver, and forest green. Upon being given the title of noble, I would have to make such decisions along with coats of arms and other noble trivialities.

I was surprised at how efficient the entire process had been, and when we exited back onto the street, it was just about past midmorning. Next, as Sasha and I had decided earlier, before disembarking into the city, we were going to have to purchase a large amount of food for the slaves she intended me to purchase. Sasha wanted me to purchase upwards of twenty slaves and crammed them into the ship. I had said I would purchase some, but I would definitely not be purchasing that many.

The bulk food warehouse that we made our way to was another pleasant surprise. The owner was at the counter and quickly and efficiently got all of the supplies that I requested. As Sasha stood demurely, his slaves loaded large sacks of grain, flour, oats, and vegetables of every variety in front of her, and she stored them in her ring. Huge slabs of beef and other meats from various beasts were also added, along with crates of various spices and seasonings.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the owner of the warehouse had a type of survival ration. On earth, it was called pemmican and had been partly responsible for the destruction of the great buffalo herds. I purchased hundreds of pounds of the stuff, knowing that in a pinch, it would ensure the survival of me and any of my purchased slaves.

The quantity and quality of food that I had purchased cost an entire platinum penny. The owner of the food distribution warehouse was immensely respectful. If not a little fearful.

“Well now that that’s all taken care of Sasha, it’s time to head to the slave trading district.” I said.

“Very good my Lord master Grayson. Shall we by chance purchase a carriage to take us there?” Sasha said in her most demure voice so as to not raise suspicion from the surrounding citizens at her suggestion.

“Yes, I think that will do most nicely.” I said as I tugged on her leash, pulling her close to me as I wrapped a hand around her.