“Ten Copper coins to a Silver, ten Silver coins to a Gold.”

On Illyrian Currency

Chapter 26

The falling rain made a pitter patter sound on Wil’s cloak as he sat miserably on his horse.

The thick grey clouds were blocking the pale-yellow morning sun, matching his mood perfectly. The incessant downpour was only matched by Bell’s constant talking from atop the loaded down wagon next to him.

Wil had met with the caravan leader, Annabelle Quentin, in the common room the evening before. Bell had already made introductions and was explaining the value of having Wil join before he could even say hello!

Miss Quentin, unlike Bell, asked Wil endless questions about his rank and experience. The conversation stretched late into the evening before she made him an offer to join them as a guard.

Wil, as a second rank, would be the strongest in the caravan. He learned that most of the guards were rank-less, while only Bell and one other guard were first ranks.

The rank-less, being bereft of Mana, would only be able to stop common bandits from attacking the caravan. It would be left to Bell and him to stop any of the more powerful monsters or thieves.

Miss Quentin was quite eager to have Wil join the group. Especially when he explained that he was heading west to join in the retaking of Aachen.

She made an offer of two silver coins a day, twice the amount the others would be getting. She would also cover any of his expenses during the trip to Elbing.

When Wil sat down to discuss the details his assignment, Quentin had explained that they were traveling a new route from Elbing to Angkor, the neighboring kingdom.

Her family had once had a business in Aachen, before the undead disaster. They had been forced to relocate to the nearby city of Elbing.

The city had seen a lot of merchants setting up shop there, but the loss of the Aachen port was still hard to recover from.

Wil stayed awake late into the evening with Bell, drinking too much wine and getting too little sleep. The next morning found him atop his horse, in the rain. He was hung over and regretting his decision to accept the job offer.

His horse’s hooves beat a rhythm to the pounding of his head, and Bell’s inane chatter was not helping.

He was amazed that the man didn’t seem to feel the effects at all. Although, Wil suspected that Bell just never stopped drinking long enough to let the hangover catch up to him.

If Bell ever ran out of wine, the cumulative hangover may kill him.

The caravan made its way down the road. The rain made the well packed roads muddy, but not enough to hinder the wagons. There were over twenty wagons and carts in Miss Quentin’s caravan, each with a driver and every second wagon had a crossbow wielding guard.

Wil pulled his cloak tighter around him, thanking the gods that the oiled cloth was repelling the heavy raindrops. He noticed some of the drivers and guards wearing sour expressions on their faces as their cloaks leaked.

The rest of the day passed in a similar fashion, the rain not letting up at all. Wil sat slumped in his saddle, dreaming of a large fire in a cozy inn room, with a large mug of hot, spiced wine in his hand.

After a full day’s travel, the caravan arrived at East Haven. It was one of the larger cities in the eastern region.

The city straddled the Whitewater River, the last point before the it curved sharply to the north. It was surrounded by a tall stone wall, more than 10 feet tall, and dotted with large guard towers.

When the Empire first expanded east, East Haven was the furthest and most well defended settlement in the region. Over time it had become an important trade hub, bringing goods from the eastern region northward.

East Haven was split in the middle by the river, and a large bridge connected the two halves.

The western section of the city was designated for the upper-class residents, identified by large mansion, beautiful gardens and well paved roads.

The eastern section, where Wil and the caravan were headed, was filled with the merchants, traders and crafts people.

Large warehouses and the river docks were in the eastern section and numerous shops selling goods from both the East and North could be found there.

The caravan stopped at a large warehouse on the outskirts of the eastern district. Miss Quentin’s Mercantile Association had purchased warehouses here.

As a member, the warehouse would store her wagons and carriages during her stay in the city. The Association would oversee its security.

Free from the responsibility of safeguarding the goods, the guards and drivers were able to rest in the nearby inn for the evening.

Wil walked his horse to the nearby Inn. The building was three stories tall, busy and named “The Merchant’s Respite”. He led his horse to the rear of the building, where the stables were located.

After obtaining his room, Wil soaked luxuriously in a scalding hot bath. He stayed there longer than necessary, soaking the cold from his body. His cloak had kept the rain off him, but the damp air had still set a chill in his body.

Freshly bathed and dressed in his black overcoat, white shirt and black pants, Wil entered the common room. He had forgone wearing his armor and sword while in town, he doubted he would be stabbed in civil establishment like this.

A quick cleaning charm had made his clothes and boots spotless, cleaning away the mud and rain from the days travel. He sat at a table with Bell, who was drinking as if the tavern were running out of ale.

Wil was enjoying his meal, a thick stew and warm buttered bread, when Miss Quentin sat down next to him.

She looked freshly bathed as well, with her long blond hair still damp. It was combed straight and reached down to her lower back. Her pretty cheeks were still slightly flushed from the hot water, and she had replaced her silk dress with warm woolen clothing. A long dark dress and jacket, brown cloak wrapped tightly around her shoulders.

“Wil, you will escort me while I run some errands.” She stated primly.

Wil raised an eyebrow at her, a questioning look on his face. “Expecting trouble? Maybe Bell and the others should come as well.”

Quentin looked at Bell and the other guards. “I hardly think they are suitable to escort a Lady around town.”

Bell was roaring drunk. He was telling the other guards, and half the common room by the volume of his voice, how when he was younger, he had been captured by a group of female bandits. Wil had tuned him out after the man claimed to have seduced his way out of his cell, the story quickly going downhill from there.

“So I took off runnin’, naked as the day I was born. The whole lot of them chasin’ after me! Every single one of them was lookin’ to ring me little bell!” He finished, gesturing towards his lower half, as the crowd howled and stomped their feet.

“Fair enough.” Wil said, turning away from the others and looking back at Quentin. “I’ll go get ready.”

Quentin nodded. “I hired a carriage to take us, it’s waiting outside.”

Wil left the common room, heading back to his room. Not expecting significant trouble from a shopping trip, he left his armor in his room. He strapped on his sword and wore his cloak over his shoulders, but left the hood down.

Looking into the mirror, he assessed his appearance. Clean shaven, his long dark hair was in a half topknot to keep it away from his face. His clothes and cloak were spotless, the mud and dirt magically cleared away.

Leaving his room, he met Quentin at the front entrance, and they both left the Inn. Spotting the carriage waiting nearby, Wil opened the door to her first, before entering the carriage as well. The driver was a local and had his dark brown cloaked pulled up over his head against the rain.

Wil and Quentin sat in silence, before Wil noticed that she was slightly wet from the heavy rain. Despite the short distance from the inn to the carriage, it was raining heavily, and she had gotten damp from the walk.

Wil waved his hand and murmured a short incantation, using some of his Mana to dry her clothes. Quentin noticed what Wil had done and nodded in appreciation at the kindness.

“So, where are we going?” Wil asked flippantly, turning to look at Quentin.

“The East Haven Mercantile Association are holding an auction this evening. I’ve had several items delivered to them. We are going to observe the sale.”

“Sounds fun.” Wil said sarcastically as he turned away to lift the curtain slightly. He ignored her and looked out the window of the carriage.

“I take you have attended auctions before?” She said, not appreciating the sarcasm.

“I have, the Academy would hold them for the public every month.” Wil said, not turning away from the window.

“Good, then you will know how to act appropriately. The auctions here may not be at the same level as those in the Capital, but you would be surprised what goes up on the block from the frontiers.” Quentin said, turning her nose up slightly at Wil.

Grinning, Wil turned away from the window and gave her a mock salute. He banged his closed fist loudly against his chest, nearly knocking the wind out of himself. “Your servant obeys, I would never dream of embarrassing the Lady!”

Shaking her head at his behavior, she turned away from him and looked out the window as well.