by Allan Joyal
“Five or six?” the merchant who was still holding onto Dared’s shoulder growled. “No one needs more than one bolt at a time.”
“We live several days travel from Fairview,” Dared said. “I expect in the future we’ll be relying on caravans and wandering merchants. I want my wife to be very happy and comfortable.”
“But a bolt can make four or five garments if you take care in the cutting,” the merchant said.
“Do you have any wool?” Dared asked. “We could definitely purchase some. The winters do get extremely cold around here.”
“I thought you didn’t live near Fairview,” the merchant said.
“We live up in the mountains,” Dared replied.
“Dared!” Jerisa shouted. “I need you to pay. We have an agreement and her daughter will deliver all the bolts to the tavern.”
“No wool,” the merchant said as he released Dared. “But if you want some fine silk in the future, I’ll remain here. The councilors all come to me for their needs.”
Dared entered the room. The daughter was standing next to a woman sitting in a high-backed chair. Dared could see that a ribbon of cloth was wrapped around the woman’s torso. It appeared to be attached to the chair.
Jerisa rushed over to Dared. “I got the light green, two different blue bolts and then three that are dyed a dark green. We agreed to a price of five silver per bolt.”
“Did you get the thread you’ll need to sew clothing? Also do you need needles or pins of any kind?” Dared asked.
“I can deliver needles and pins,” the daughter volunteered. “We don’t have any here, but I can purchase them on the way. Thread is included with each bolt.”
Dared nodded and carefully pulled his money pouch from the hidden pocket in his jerkin. He opened it and counted out four gold pieces. He tilted his hand so Jerisa could see it and then placed the coins in the girl’s hand.
The girl immediately looked down. Her eyes were wide. “This is too much,” she complained.
“Use the funds to help out your mother,” Jerisa said merrily.
“Oh, do you know of any merchants who would have warm wool cloth?” Dared asked.
The daughter closed one hand on the coins and then pointed back towards the entrance Dared and Jerisa had used to enter the street. “Look for the first door on the left. Groshel doesn’t have anything on display, but he’s got the best wool and charges a fair price.”
“Thanks,” Dared said. “Now we should be going. We have other products to purchase.”
“Happy trading,” the mother said softly. “And remember us if you ever need more cloth.”
Jerisa and Dared left the store and headed towards the one the daughter suggested. As they did Jerisa looked back towards the storefront with the silk scraps still on the rack.
“Thank you for distracting that man,” she said. “We don’t need any silk right now. Perhaps we will if Montgar’s influence expands. I can see a need for silk gowns if we want to impress visiting nobility, but you are the only true noble in Montgar.”
“I think Roquel has some noble titles,” Dared replied.
“Whatever,” Jerisa said with a shrug. “Now help me purchase four or five bolts of brown wool cloth. We want something heavy.”
“I’ll follow your lead on the cloth,” Dared said as Jerisa moved to open the door to the store.
“Welcome, welcome!” a booming male voice called out. They stepped in to find a tall and powerful man standing in the middle of several wooden racks. All of the racks had bolts of thick wool cloth draped over them.
“She didn’t steer us wrong,” Dared said in an awed voice. “Jerisa is this wool any good?”
The merchant stepped forward. “What are you looking for? Just simple wool for farmers? Or are you expecting to make some winter cloaks?”
“We living in a brand-new town that was founded far to the east up in the mountains,” Dared said as Jerisa moved to look some of the wool.
“This one bolt isn’t sheep’s wool,” she said carefully.
The merchant smiled. “I only have two of those. The raw wool actually comes from rabbits. That wool is very warm and won’t cause any itching. It also sheds water very well. The only issue is that its hard to get. I’m asking a gold coin for each bolt.”
“Dared,” Jerisa said with a wheedling tone.
“We’ll take both,” Dared said. “But look for two more bolts of less expensive cloth. We’ll want to have plenty of warm clothing in the middle of winter.”
Jerisa nodded and then turned to look at Dared. “Shouldn’t we purchase about ten bolts. I think we can make two cloaks from each bolt and at some point, we’ll need to provide cloaks for the guards.”
“We’d have to get money from the dwarves,” Dared said. “But I agree. If this merchant has some good wool.”
The merchant rushed out of the room. “Wait there,” he shouted as he left the store through an open doorway.
The man was back a moment later carrying two different bolts of wool. He held out one that was in his left hand. “I have this for cloaks. It’s a wool blend. Most of the wool comes from the local sheep, but the weaver I get this from mixes in some of the wool that comes from Tallqurik. I’m not sure what kind of creature it comes from, but it softens the wool while shedding dirt well. It would be perfect.”
Jerisa looked at it. “How much?” she asked.
The merchant looked over at Dared. Dared just nodded. “She knows cloth far better than I do.”
“And don’t you forget it,” Jerisa said firmly. “I have to make sure Montgar doesn’t go bankrupt.”
The merchant frowned and looked at Jerisa. “I could give you three bolts per gold coin if you purchase twelve.”
“We’ll do that. Can I have the dwarves deliver the coin later. It would be a total of six gold correct?” Dared asked.
“Not going to bargain?” the merchant said in surprise.
“We have a lot more to purchase and just today to do it in. Also, I want to make sure you remember us fondly. I get a feeling we’re going to want to purchase more from you in the future,” Dared said.
“I’ll have a courier take the bolts to your inn once the funds are delivered,” the merchant said. “Where are you staying?”
“The Boiled Turtle,” Dared said.
“I know where it is. There will no problem delivering as long as I receive the coin before the sun touches the horizon,” the merchant said.
“Thanks,” Dared said. “Jerisa, we need to visit the bank.”
“I can see why,” she said. “I’m sorry to spend so much.”
“We’ll probably spend many days sitting in the inn due to snow storms. I completely understand,” Dared said.
The duo walked out of the merchant’s store. Jerisa was holding Dared’s arm fondly as he led her through the streets. Both of them noticed pairs of the councilor’s guard wandering the marketplace. Most were clearly scanning for thieves. The guards also stopped an occasional wanderer to ask a few questions.
“Will they stop us?” Jerisa whispered after a third pair of guards looked at them closely.
“They shouldn’t,” Dared said as they approached the unassuming stone building that was the dwarven bank. “We haven’t stopped at any of the market stalls and are not openly trying to sell anything.”
Jerisa just shivered as they reached the door to the building. A long-bearded dwarf wearing finely woven chain-mail leaned on an axe as he stood next to the door.
“Name and reason for visiting,” the dwarf said boredly.
“I am Dared, fifth son of Poulmius, King of Rockgar. I’m here to make a withdrawal from the account he set up for me,” Dared said.
“Go ahead,” the guard said. “Coin-master Solgi will meet with you.”
The door opened. A faint cloud of smoke wafted out as Dared and Jerisa stepped into the bank.
Inside there were four tables. Two had a pair of candles set up, but no one sat at the table. A third had a
dwarf talking to a richly dressed man as they examined some papers.
The last table was completely empty. A dwarf rushed out and set two candlesticks on the table and lit them. He turned to wave at Dared. “Sit here.”
Dared moved to sit at one of the two chairs at the table. The dwarf had already retreated out of the room, but returned a moment later leading an old dwarf. The old dwarf was carrying a leather-bound book. He set the book on the table and sat down across from Dared.
“Dared?” the dwarf said in a raspy voice.
Dared raised a hand thinking to speak a greeting, but the dwarf immediately opened the book and started reading the first page.
“Fifth son of Poulmius, current king of Rockgar. Only children born of Poulmius and Dafrinya, a maid in the castle. First started travelling four years ago. Left Rockgar for a final time in the spring less than a year ago. Poulmius set up an account for him at this time,” the dwarf said.
“I understood that it was designed to draw upon the resources of the kingdom,” Dared said.
“I hear you have found a dungeon,” the dwarf responded.
“I didn’t find it. I first heard about the dungeon from some caravanners who had passed through Zathmorlu last fall. The Kindred had a group passing through and complaining about how some new dungeon has banned them from entering,” Dared said.
“Good,” the dwarf said. “You are honest. Now, I’m guessing you have heard about your father’s health.”
“He was sick before I left,” Dared said. “And he warned me that once he died my brother will almost certainly try to get my account closed and have the money returned to the crown accounts.”
The dwarf nodded again. “We would not have returned the money. It belongs to you.”
“My brother would have tried to retaliate against your bank and against all dwarves. You do not deserve that, nor do the people living on Rockgar. So, I want to take the remaining gold out. I will keep it in Montgar as the start of our treasury,” Dared said.
“You need safe storage,” the dwarf said. “We can handle that here.”
“I can’t trust the council of Fairview. They have already threatened to try to conquer Montgar. I’m not sure I’d be able to return here to get my money once I leave tomorrow,” Dared said.
“Human’s and their need to control everything,” the dwarf said angrily. “If we did not scare them, we’d pull our people out of this town.”
“Merchants,” Dared said with a nod. “How much is left?”
“Your father set up an account with sixteen hundred gold. So far, you’ve withdrawn and spent four hundred, so you have twelve hundred left. Unless you have a heavy wagon, you won’t be able to return to your town with that much coin. And I’d recommend that you hire additional guards,” the dwarf said.
“I have a friend journeying with me and if we load the chest at the last moment, few should realize we have the gold,” Dared said. “Oh, I need six gold sent to the wool merchant in weavers’ passage.”
“Good merchant,” the dwarf said. “He’s honest. We’ll make sure he gets the coin before sundown.”
“And can you deliver the chest tomorrow to the caravansary? And deliver it to Narhert’s wagon. We’ll be returning to Montgar with him.”
“Should you tell him that?” Jerisa asked.
“Dwarves are honest,” Dared said. “They are interested in gold, but won’t steal. They merely look for opportunities to profit. I expect my father paid one hundred gold to set up the account.”
“So much,” Jerisa said with a gasp.
The dwarf turned the book around so that Dared could see it. “Sign to show that we’ve agreed to close the account. And should Montgar prosper we might want to talk about establishing a new bank there.”
“We probably won’t get much trade, but I would welcome your people,” Dared said as he signed the book where the dwarf indicated. “Now my wife and I would like to do some more shopping. Can I get ten gold coins now?”
“I’ll have my grandson deliver it,” the dwarf said as he closed the book and stood up. Wait outside.
The dwarf walked out of the room. Dared stood up as he left.
“More shopping?” Jerisa asked.
“We have until the start of sundown,” Dared said with a nod. “Let’s go.”
The couple headed out of the bank. Jerisa happily talking about items she wanted to look for during their time in the market.
Chapter 14: Faestari Is Taken on a Trip
As Dared and Jerisa were looking around the market, Faestari and Aylia were having a friendly argument. Aylia was saying that Faestari needed to provide her with some new water features in the dungeon.
“Why can’t you make more changes?” Aylia asked. “I mean I just want to triple the amount of water flowing through the caverns.”
“I don’t have the ability to summon up that much water. I use cisterns to gather melting snow and use that stored water to keep the current stream going all year. The amount of water I’d need for your ideas is more than I can store,” Faestari said.
“So?” Aylia said. “You can make it so that the water flows in a circle. My wizard master did that.”
“And then the village would not receive all the water they need,” Faestari replied.
“You just don’t love me,” Aylia said with a pout.
Faestari was going to respond when the air in her heart chamber started to swirl.
“Oh, who is it now,” Aylia whined.
The swirling ended and Wynterhold was standing there. He looked over at Faestari and frowned. “You probably shouldn’t let that water spirit have too much influence over you.”
“I listen to her because she has good ideas,” Faestari said. “But I’m sure you aren’t here about that.”
Wynterhold nodded. “I need you to come with me. We have to visit the new dungeon.”
“He’s come back and tried to steal my mana. And he could get his avatar to manifest outside my domain. I’m not sure how much the new dungeon knows, but he can do things I can’t,” Faestari said.
“That’s why you are not being asked to go alone,” Wynterhold said. “That dungeon has visited a couple other dungeons and tried to steal mana. He must be brought to heel.”
Faestari nodded. “I’m ready to go then. My adventurers are preparing for the winter so I only see a group entering about once every three to five days.”
“So few?” Wynterhold asked.
“One of the groups lost their delve organizer and leader, so they left to return to their primary camp. Another has a female member who is pregnant. I’m not sure she fully realizes it, but she has said she wants to take a break,” Faestari said.
Wynterhold just shrugged. “I can’t remember not having hordes of adventurers trying to enter. Now, do you know where this new dungeon is?”
Faestari pointed to the southeast. “It’s off that direction. I can feel it from here. Not close, but I imagine that a determined man might hike to that dungeon in less than ten days.”
“That is very close,” Wynterhold said. “I don’t know of any other pair of dungeons that is that close. Especially not two at the same age.”
Faestari looked directly at Wynterhold. “I’m at least one hundred years old and I did not originally wake here. I just was moved here during a dormant period and then spent a few years growing a new series of chambers.”
“Let’s get going,” Wynterhold said. His avatar seemed to spin and then vanished from sight. Faestari could feel the mana of the avatar slowly travelling to the southeast.
“Faestari?” Aylia asked as the young woman had her avatar lie down. She released her spirit from the body and sent it chasing after the slowly moving mass of mana.
Wynterhold’s mass of mana waited for a moment and then touched Faestari. “I’m glad we are away from that water spirit. You really need to watch out for spirits like that. Most are very selfish.”
“The few dungeons I’ve met have also been selfish,
” Faestari said. “But I have noticed that Aylia wants more than I’m willing to give. That’s what we were discussing when you arrived.”
“Don’t get too attached to her,” Wynterhold said.
Faestari did not answer immediately. They were passing over increasingly jagged mountains and she was scanning the landscape. “I’ll admit it’s nice to have someone to talk to, but that’s all. Her lair is so deep in my dungeon that very few adventurers will ever reach her. I could banish her and it wouldn’t hurt me.”
“Would you?” Wynterhold said. “Oh, there is the domain. It is all underground. How did it form? I don’t see any paths indicating that humans have found the area.”
The duo sent their spirits downward. Faestari was looking very closely at the area.
“It’s a fold in the landscape. The mountains here aren’t granite. It looks like there was some kind of inland sea here before the mountains were pushed upward. But I don’t see any signs that adventurers visit,” Faestari agreed.
The two spirits stopped moving on the ground above the edge of the domain. Wynterhold’s spirit used a mana probe to examine the area. “I find a single small cave leading into the domain. Should we follow that or should we try to appear in the heart chamber?”
“I don’t want this dungeon thinking we are attacking,” Faestari said. “And so far, it’s been very hostile every time I’ve encountered it. We should probably follow the cave and cross over there. But my avatar will be just a thing of light. I don’t think a physical avatar is a good idea.”
“That is wise,” Wynterhold said. “I never thought about that, but in my experience no dungeon will be actively hostile to other dungeons.”
Faestari entered the cave. She noticed a couple of kobolds standing guard just a short distance inside. They could not see the still invisible dungeon spirits.
“Kobolds as guards,” Faestari said. “But they aren’t within the domain. I’m expecting that we’ll find out that it was kobolds that somehow gave the stone enough mana to wake.”
