The Merchant and the Menace

by Daniel F McHugh

  Sulgor nervously eyed his master. Izgra hesitated a moment longer then turned on the Malveel.

  “It means nothing,” snapped Izgra. “The Scribes’ ravings may be interpreted myriad ways.”

  “Word has spread throughout the Elvish rank, he has begun to grow in his abilities. Already he begins to accomplish what others cannot. He is no longer shaped by the world, but begins to exercise his powers to shape it around him.”

  Izgra’s hands clenched forming bony fists.

  “We cannot allow him to learn more,” shouted the warlock.

  “Appropriate measures are being taken, my lord,” said Sulgor. “Your servant in Luxlor sets a plan in motion.”

  “Do the Elves harbor the boy?” demanded Izgra.

  Sulgor’s lips curled into a wicked smile. As much as he bridled at the control of this warlock, the Malveel Lord still took great pleasure in the successes of their ultimate master, Amird.

  “The fools act as always. That which we desire most is quite often that which they protect the least,” snarled Sulgor. “The boy is being moved toward Zodra. He is surrounded by a powerful, yet small group of allies.”

  Sulgor sensed the smile beneath his master’s hood. Izgra reveled in the news for only a moment then took control.

  “Our servant in Luxlor does well, but cannot be solely relied upon,” snarled Izgra. “So we know the boy’s description and those who travel with him?”

  “Yes, my lord but ... “ began Sulgor.

  “See to it, Sulgor,” screamed Izgra. “I want the boy and his escort dead! The Scribes’ prophecies toy with me. I cannot allow this threat to become a distraction from the triumphant return of our lord. Chaos will reign once again!”

  Izgra spun and retreated from the chamber. Sulgor bowed low and watched the warlock depart.

  “One last thing, my lord .... “ said Sulgor.

  Izgra halted without turning.

  “Ader Light Wielder accompanies the boy,” continued the Malveel. “Our asset believes Methra was lost to the Guide, but was unable to verify this.”

  Izgra paused.

  “Methra would have died at the hands of the Light Wielder a millennia ago if not for Amird’s interference in the battle,” snarled Izgra. “Our good graces allowed him to serve Chaos and the purpose for which he was made a thousand years more than he should.

  “Ader made a mistake by calling attention to himself. He emerges from the shadows at a most opportune time. Kill the old Seraph when you kill the new. Their deaths will be double the triumph,” said the black figure as he disappeared behind the curtains of the chamber.

  CHAPTER 17: THE BLACKSMITH’S APPRENTICE

  In the morning, Kael was once again the last to wake. The clearing was filled with the hazy gray of predawn. A mist hung in the air. Flair had saddled their horses and given each the remainder of the rubdown he was forced to forgo the night before. One thing was for sure about Flair. He was a hard worker. Kael knew Hamly’s ranch produced quality horses, and now he knew why. Flair worked himself to the bone to make sure these horses were properly cared for.

  Flair led the chestnut over and helped Kael into the saddle. Eidyn tossed an apple to Kael and the young man deftly snatched it out of the air.

  “Cold rations this morning, my friend,” said Eidyn.

  “Anything will do,” smiled Kael.

  Manfir put his heels into the flanks of the black stallion and the group moved forward. They wound their way around the brambles and thickets that populated this area of Zodra. It was tricky riding in the semidarkness before sunrise. The group climbed a small embankment and stood on the Great Northern Trade Route. Manfir surveyed the road in either direction. Kael saw no one on it. The big man turned to the group.

  “We will arrive in Quay within the hour. I suggest Granu ...” began Manfir.

  Kael turned to survey the group as well. Granu was not amongst them.

  “It’s disconcerting when the lone Keltar in our collection slips away like that,” grumbled Manfir to Ader.

  “Disconcerting? I call it self-preservation,” returned Ader.

  Manfir led them down the road toward Quay. It seemed a short span indeed before they came upon the outlying structures of the town. A large dog howled at them from a nearby farm. The smell reminded Kael why hog farmers always built furthest from the town center. Recent events were so foreign that the familiar smell of hogs comforted him.

  They passed a few more small farms and an old mill set against a creek that wound into the countryside. Kael noted how early it was. None of the farmers were working outdoors yet. The sun left the eastern horizon and a sliver of sky shown underneath it.

  Finally, several hundred yards ahead, Kael saw a cluster of buildings and a few people moving amongst them. The group slowly made its way into town. They passed the local tannery and waved a swarm of flies from in front of their faces. The blacksmiths shop stood across the road and his apprentice, outfitted in a heavy leather smock stood at the bellows stoking the fire blazing hot for the day’s work.

  The boy looked up as the group passed. Kael noticed how the young man appraised them and their mounts. A satisfied look passed over his face and then he looked to the horse’s hooves. The boy stepped from the blacksmith’s shed.

  “Master Elf! Are your horses in need of any shoeing? Your young master’s mount carries his front left awkwardly,” said the boy pointing to Eidyn’s stallion.

  Teeg reined in and the group followed suit.

  “Perhaps you should take a look, my good man. We would hate for him to pull up lame while far from the nearest town,” called Teeg.

  The boy smiled and approached Eidyn’s white stallion. He bowed low as he came close.

  “Is he of a good nature, my lord?” the boy asked Eidyn.

  “The finest,” smiled Eidyn.

  The apprentice nestled in next to the horse’s left forearm. He grabbed the stallion’s leg and lifted it back.

  “What news in these parts, my friend?” asked Teeg amiably.

  “Little news here,” replied the boy. “We’re too far from anything important for anything worth talking about to happen. It looks as if a stone shard is lodged under the shoe.”

  The boy removed a small pry bar from a sack tied to his waist and worked it into the white stallion’s shoe.

  “What of business then, is it slow?” questioned Teeg.

  “Now that’s a bit different. Business is good,” smiled the boy as he looked up to Teeg.

  “Brisk eh?” said Teeg. “Why so?”

  The boy grunted a few times as he worked the pry bar under the horse’s shoe.

  “Unusual amount of travel on the road,” stated the boy. “Plenty of people heading north.”

  “People?” said Teeg.

  “Men mostly. Some riding and some walking. Those riding often require a bit of work on their mounts. Those walking need plenty of other things repaired. Plenty of shoddy workmanship down South. Reattached three skillet handles this week. They don’t take kindly to setting on the flame of an open fire. You can’t control the heat that way. Handles just pop off,” said the boy. “Plenty of sword repair as well.”

  “Sword repair? Someone looking for a battle, master blacksmith?” asked Teeg.

  The boy blushed and glanced back at the shed.

  “Uh, I’m not the blacksmith,” stammered the boy. “The smith is, uh, still asleep in the back. If you’re nervous, I’ll call him up to work on your mount?”

  “No, no. Don’t bother him. I‘m sure he is a busy man. Your services are more than adequate. But what is this of a battle?”

  The boy smiled with the compliment and worked on the horse’s hoof.

  “Oh, lots of those moving north are members of the Southern militias. King Macin called them up and they’re bound to obey. Many of those swords haven’t seen duty in years. Took me fifty turns of the sharpening stone to take the rust off of some of them.” said the boy.

  “Fifty turns! Ho, those were old
blades. Heavy in rust eh?” laughed Teeg. “Any other unusual travelers on the road?”

  The boy halted his work and looked up at Teeg once more. Kael noted a difference in his expression. He no longer looked at the group as customers he might help in return for a bit of coin. It was as if he now recognized the group for what it was. The boy’s eyes narrowed and he answered slowly.

  “No... just the usual merchants and tinkers, my lord.”

  The boy glanced at Ader with some uneasiness. After a moment of silence the old man smiled at the boy and addressed him.

  “You look uneasy, lad. Did you begin work on an empty stomach? Never a sound idea,” smiled Ader.

  “Forgive me, my lord, but you look familiar to me. I apologize for my impertinence, but have we conducted business in the past?” asked the boy.

  “Two summers ago you purchased the leather hide used to make the forging bellows from me. You just began working as Boon’s assistant,” smiled Ader.

  The boy’s eyes drifted off and a look of recognition entered them.

  “Master Jasper?“

  “Excellent memory, lad,” said Ader.

  The boy turned to Manfir and nodded.

  “And your son, Master Rin. I apologize for not recognizing you, but you changed your station in life dramatically. Such beautiful mounts. And where is the old nag and cart?” the boy asked Ader.

  “The nag is put out to pasture, and the cart is no longer needed,” replied Manfir.

  The boy appeared stunned to hear Manfir speak.

  “And in the company of Elven royalty. Things certainly changed for you,” stated the boy. “Congratulations.”

  The apprentice bent over once more smiling and shaking his head. He was obviously pleased with the good fortune of Jasper the tinker and his son Rin. Teeg’s face grew into a broad smile and Kael knew immediately the old Elf was planning something.

  “Tell me, my boy, any unusual weaponry amongst the travelers?” asked Teeg.

  “Not too much,” replied the boy as he forced the stallion’s shoe away from the hoof. “Mostly blades with the usual Southern style. Not much sophistication. I saw a few dozen arrows made by the river folk, very distinctive heads of steel. Some cutlass from the Erutre. I assume the owners bartered for them. The Erutre keep a good deal of contact with the Southern towns that border their lands. A few unusual crossbows, but people make them all different ways anyhow.”

  “You’re gifted with a keen eye for detail,” smiled Teeg. “A good deal of information to be gained by noticing the weapons a man carries.”

  “More than not it’ll tell you where a man has been and whether he keeps coin in his pocket,” smiled the boy.

  “Coin?” asked Kael.

  The boy turned to Kael and nodded.

  “A poor farmer or merchant doesn’t retain money to spend on the mending and maintenance of a weapon,” explained the boy. “If he’s traveling, he ought to keep a weapon in its finest condition in order to protect himself. If he doesn’t, he’s either an addlebrained idiot or too poor to get it done. Since I pick out the addlebrained idiots once I talk to them, I’m able to determine which ones simply can’t afford it.”

  The boy clenched his teeth and applied pressure to the stallion’s hoof. The pry bar popped and a rock shard shot from beneath the horse’s shoe and landed on the street.

  “There we go,” exclaimed the boy. “That’ll take the pain out of his step. Hold here a moment.”

  The boy stepped into the blacksmith’s shack and returned with a bucket of water. He washed down the hoof and scrubbed out the area that held the rock.

  “You don’t want him to get infected,” he commented. “He should be just fine.”

  “It was the ring on my young friend’s hand?” interrupted Teeg pointing to Eidyn.

  The boy stood, wiped his hands on a rag and for a moment looked confused. Comprehension crept across his face.

  “His ring, my lord?” smiled the boy.

  “Come, come Master Hindle. How did you know we were Elven royalty? We might be any two Elves traveling on our good King Leinor’s business. Messengers. Military men. Craftsmen sent to Rindor. You knew we were royalty,” stated Teeg.

  “The young prince wears the crest of the House of Leinor on his ring finger,” stated Hindle. “I’m a blacksmith’s apprentice. I notice beautiful metal work immediately. Tis quite a remarkable piece. I wager it was given to Prince Eidyn when he came of age.”

  Kael and Flair looked at one another in astonishment. Ader coughed loudly and Teeg just beamed.

  “I did not tell you my companion’s name,” smiled Teeg.

  “You didn’t need to tell me. Your companion is young by Elven standards. There is only one heir to the throne of Luxlor, and only he wears the crest of his family on his hand,” stated Hindle. “In turn, I never gave you my name, Master Elf. How did you come upon it?”

  “Tis my business to know many a place and those who are important to those places. I daresay I was required to search my memory for the blacksmith’s apprentice in Quay, but you moved yourself to the top of the list in this small town,” said Teeg turning to Ader. “A remarkable boy don’t you agree, Lord Ader?”

  The old man grunted and nodded his approval. Hindle cast a probing glance over the old man and Manfir. He was unable to reconcile the pair from what he knew of their past. Teeg interrupted his deliberations.

  “Well, my boy. We must be about our business. Is the stallion’s shoe set?”

  The boy smiled and returned his gaze to the horse’s shoe. Hindle produced a small hammer from the sack tied to his waist and hammered the shoe back into place.

  “What do I owe you for such fine work, young man?” asked Teeg.

  The boy hesitated and swept his gaze across the group once more.

  “However much it pains me to pass on some coin,” frowned Hindle. “I’ll charge you nothing. I’m not a knight or prince of the realm, but I too am Zodrian. I never stood toe to toe with an Ulrog pack, and I don’t expect to. However, I’m thankful to those who do and I wish to contribute to the fight in anyway I can. Instinct tells me you’re important, far more important than I might imagine. Therefore, I render my services happily and free of charge. May Avra bless your proceedings.”

  Hindle bowed deeply and stepped back from the group. Teeg quickly glanced to Ader and the Guide nodded.

  “The town of Quay requires a bit of competition in its sleepy streets,” stated Teeg. “While your master, Boon the blacksmith, spends most of his day sleeping, and the remainder swilling ale, you do the work of the blacksmith of this village. Perhaps a new blacksmith’s shop is needed here.”

  The old Elf deftly produced a small sack from the folds of his riding cloak and tossed it to Hindle. The young man caught it and from its weight and feel knew immediately it was filled with gold coin. He shook his head vigorously and walked back toward Teeg.

  “I can’t accept this in good conscience,” said Hindle holding the sack toward Teeg. “I didn’t earn it.”

  “I never said you earned it, my boy!” laughed Teeg. “But you will.”

  “Pardon?” questioned Hindle.

  “You’re a bright young man full of initiative and honesty. Just the sort of lad deserving of a benefactor, don’t you agree?” asked Teeg.

  “Well, I ...uh..” stammered Hindle.

  “Exactly! This town requires a skilled, and might I say sober, artisan to supply them with their forged goods. Master Boon hasn’t provided this service for some time. The only quality work to come out of his shop is yours, my boy. Therefore, certain powers are determined that you be given every opportunity to advance yourself.”

  Upon hearing “certain powers”, Hindle glanced at Ader. Kael wondered what Teeg was up to. Hindle’s eyes narrowed and he smiled.

  “And what must I do in return?” asked Hindle.

  “Why nothing, my boy. Absolutely nothing. Simply offer the quality goods and services this community requires to grow and prosper,” smi
led Teeg and he paused. “.... and maybe a few other chores.”

  “Such as?”

  Teeg’s smile and flippant manner disappeared.

  “Continue to keep your keen eyes open. Merely what you do now. Observe. Maybe a bit of conjecture. Ask some innocent questions during the course of a conversation. Remember what you learn. Lastly, report that information to me.”

  Hindle became as serious as the old Elf.

  “These things I can do, and would do for my crown. But I know naught of you, Lord Elf, and though your companion’s ring tells me he is of the royal Elven house, he is no master of mine. Why should I do these things?” asked Hindle.

  “Because this ring asks it of you,” came the reply from beyond Teeg.

  The young man looked past the Elf to see Manfir sitting on the back of his giant black warhorse. His hand clasped a chain hung about his neck. Dangling from the end of the silver chain was a large ring. Hindle inspected it from a distance and smiled.

  “My prince calls me to do his bidding and I will obey,” said Hindle bowing once more.

  “You may never face an Ulrog pack, master blacksmith, but when you do the things Lord Teeg asked of you, you serve as well as any Guardian of the realm. An army does not support itself. All who serve are heroes,” stated Manfir.

  The village stirred as the group stood in growing sunlight.

  “What of Master Boon?” asked Hindle. “He works me hard, but pays the wage agreed on and teaches me a skill. He was once a fine craftsman.”

  “Master Boon is a good man,” said Teeg. “He simply loses sight of what life is about. Once you establish business, he will need employ. No doubt the townsfolk will come to you over him. Try to help him if you may, but remember, you are the master now.”

  Hindle’s face remained serious and he bowed to Teeg in acknowledgment. Teeg turned to Ader and Manfir.

  “I will hold here a moment while you move on. I have further instructions for our young friend. He’ll need an effective way to transport his information. The town wakes and we must depart before too many eyes fix on our strange troop,” said Teeg.

  Manfir nodded and turned the midnight stallion down the road.