The Red Lands 1

by ForestRage

  With the commotion those beasts are going to cause, its therefore natural the rest of merchants will be willing to offer better deals. Let me hear what you’re willing to pay."

  Griz had the feeling that smacking this brat off the stool, wouldn't be such a bad idea. Not only was he trying to get a good price, he was even threatening him by dealing with his competitors.

  "We pay sixty silvers for a bear. You can ask around if you like. I can call in any guard, and they will say the same. Maybe even less after all a wolf pelt sells for just seven to ten silvers."

  Griz nodded his head, like a salesman selling the best used car of the century.

  "Hmm..."

  Chu jumped down the stool, and rummaged his bag Ming brought over. He returned to the counter opening the guide-book for adventurers and travelers. On the yellowed page, lay a rough sketch of a bear with some notes scribbled underneath.

  "Snow bear. A king beast of the north. Avoid at all cost since it is very dangerous. Pelt is worth its weight in gold."

  Griz nearly coughed up blood. He was close to falling off the stool from a coughing fit. Teary eyed from his unexpected outburst he looked up.

  "Since when can you read?"

  "Hmph! You think just because I live in the slums I got nothing to do, and waste my time picking up sticks?"

  Chu followed up the reply, and continued as his face looked to Griz in disdain.

  "You better cough up a good deal, or this money tree will certainly dry up! Next time you try to rob me, as if I'm an idiot like that one over there, you will cough up blood on a poor deal."

  Griz looked at the boy in front of him, who was pointing to the other sleeping in the corner. He had more gib than a street rat in the cities. It was amazing to find someone like this in the slum, where most have resigned to die.

  "The bear is in good condition. Usually when the hide is damaged it is sold to the weaponsmith for armor. Since the pelt is in good condition, this bear has a high likelihood of being sold to nobles as a rug decoration. My offer is ten gold."

  If the other were awake, they would probably have fainted. Chu on the other hand, remained quietly sitting while drumming his fingers on the counter.

  The last thing you would read about in novels was about the protagonist spending time, on an insignificant thing like basic food supply.

  Nobody ever said, 'hey I went to another world and the biggest problem was food’, only when they experience it firsthand, would they understand the importance. There is a reason why since recorded history, food and shelter was always labeled under necessities.

  Flour, oil, cheese, butter, fruit, smoked meat, provisions. To purchase these items in a bulk that had to last four months, the money would be staggering. Graduating from a fluid meal, of flavored water to solid food required money.

  When an item like salt was considered precious, that’s when you know you’re screwed.

  In Chu's mind, the cost of living just moved up from a few double-digit coppers to a single digit silver. And this was just to provide the kind of food which a low-income family on earth would be satisfied with!

  "Worth its weight in Gold. You telling me that heavy thing is only worth a measly ten gold? Two hundred, nothing less."

  A heavy hairy hand immediately smacked the counter nearly breaking it.

  "You crazy? Where the hell did you read one pound is one gold in that book? It's a stupid analogy. It's like the pelt is worth its weight in gold. Twenty gold, not a dime more."

  A small hand slapped the counter its effect pathetic in comparison to the similar action as before.

  "Heck no, I can start an auction going in front of the village gate and get a cool one hundred and seventy gold. Merchants are going to beg me to sell."

  "The garrison will whip you out before you even say what you're selling. Forty gold since it’s you. That's more than enough to tide a brat over a couple of winters in comfort."

  "One sixty, not a dime less. I'm raising a horde of children, what do I tell them when you take the food out of their mouths?"

  "You stinking brat, I'm trying to save your life. Do you know what will happen if word got out you have so much gold? You are going to have the biggest bullseye strapped to your back. Sixty gold and a guarantee that you can stay in the Trading Post lodge during winter."

  "One hundred and deal. Let's talk about the other expenses."

  Chu stared at Griz until the latter finally gave up. Of the two of them, only Griz had a real idea on how much the bear was worth. The key to bartering was how high the starting price was called and then being able to whittle it down.

  Chu's price was like a dream to Griz. Even if he paid five hundred gold, he was going to make a fortune. Being able to compromise for both thinking they reached a sweet deal was the best.

  'In business dealings there are no friends.'

  Worlds apart such statements still stand true.

  "How much for the transport cost?"

  "Four gold. That was a risky venture and we even rescued your little friend there."

  "Hell no, skim two golds off. That bear already made sure no predators would be around for miles in the forest. As for that little brat, he is since long been accustomed to spending all night in the forest."

  Chu pointed his chin over at Ming as he slept.

  "Four gold and anytime you want during winter, I sell you food supplies before winter markup prices."

  Griz was looking like a man trading on the line.

  "Haha, no need to be so serious Mr Griz. I was just thinking about some other things. By the way, do you have smoked Great Horned deer that's been cured?"

  The merchant had a surprised look at that out-of-the-way question.

  "No, you don't know this, but that meat is usually cured and transported to the cities. That meat is treated as a delicacy."

  Chu rapped his knuckles again.

  "Mr Griz I promised you a deal. One Hundred gold for the bear and the deer pelt is free. In return for this I want all the deer meat cured and seasoned. Of course, I will gladly spend the money on the sales offer you just gave."

  For Griz this was something he never expected. That bear alone would fetch a price nearly ten time the buying price. Although he lost out on the deer meat, the price of the pelt and complete horned head with antlers would sell for an astounding price. And it came free!!

  The cost of seasoning and curing the meat could never reach above a few silvers, but these items were already worth gold coins!

  He gave a suspicious look at the brat sitting in front.

  "No need, no need to be suspicious. How long will it take for the meat to be ready?"

  "We will begin to butcher and prepare the animals today. Give or take three days for us to season and begin the curing. "

  Chu nodded in agreement.

  "Good, at that time I want to further request to borrow a horse and cart, to transport the supplies to my hideout. If you don't trust me, then I would like you to get a loyal person who doesn't run their mouth."

  Griz shot another surprised look at him.

  "You’re not staying in the slums?"

  Chu gave him the look as if he was staring at an idiot.

  "You trying to get me killed? You should have an ideal of what goes on in those village slums during winter. I should thing everywhere is the same. Best you mark a bullseye on my head."

  The man nodded in understanding.

  "Don't bother, I'll lend you the cart when you’re ready. I trust you won’t try to make an enemy of the Merchant Guild."

  Being wanted by the Merchant Guild meant death. The only way to survive, would be to live a life in isolation as a hermit. Of course, that wouldn't prevent mercenaries from trying to track you down for the bounty.

  Chu nodded and continued.

  "Let’s seal it, by throwing in a seasoned bear leg as well. I'll send some kids over in due time for some more of those free clothes you have. I'll take some free, old boots also. Gimme the gold coins now, and don'
t forget to also add my money from your dumb night assistant. It is always a pleasure doing business with you!"

  Griz finally understood. That boy already knew that borrowing a cart was not a problem. If he had stolen it after taking it, then the cost of the deer head would have been more than adequate to pay back for it.

  Before he knew it, a trust was built up between the two parties. Between two merchants these little freebies were simply small incentives to gain favors. In the eyes of a villager however, this was like receiving a huge deal. For the slum residents it was like heaven descending its favors on land.

  As Griz sorted out the coins it was this one question that kept nagging him.

  'WHY THE HECK DOES IT SEEM LIKE I'M THE ONE WHO IS LOOKING FOR FAVORS?'

  In his secret pouch, Chu carefully placed his money after counting. The coins were thin and not too bulky. If he had to get it in all silver, then he would have been struggling to carry such a pouch.

  Thank god Griz was not a vindictive merchant!

  After the deal, Chu and the others sneaked away to the slums. He was quick to blend in with the residents of the slums. Griz had long taken the beast to be processed from prying eyes. Who would believe the rumor that three kids brought in a snow bear?

  The guards who went into the forest, were the ones from the inner Trading Post compound. As a merchant Griz would not be stupid to send thoughtless blabbermouths for a task like this. You would need to upturn the whole of the slums to find them.

  Chu wasn't too worried about it, by the time any and if troubles started they would be long gone. When winter chaos hits they might simply be written off as first casualties.

  Back in the shack, wrapping up in the quilts, he decided to execute his plan.

  The foundation was finally taken care of. He was ready to expand.

  Chapter 16

  The Interviews

  The morning became blanketed with snow. A light flurry fell, regressing all the colored patches into white.

  In the shack, a fire blazed with five children circling around, while cheerfully munching on a breakfast of melted butter and bread. On the inside of the rickety shack, thick quilts made of patched rags draped on the walls. The inside of this shack remained comfortably warm.

  In the slum district, this would be considered a lavish lifestyle. Even in the village, there was no household that could afford this type of living with three young girls.

  Since girls were a liability and burden, this kind of joy would only be seen on the faces of those young misses of nobles, and well to do citizens in larger towns and cities.

  Of course, this was until they were married off as favors and tools to increase their Clan’s standing.

  One of the key words, in this society Chu understood that matters: Ownership.

  "Chu pass me some more bread, because I'm bigger."

  "Lucy! give me more butter. I'm bigger than you"

  "Dyna hot some more water for me, cause I'm bigger."

  "Sakura, gimme another blanket cause your smaller. I'm bigger."

  Bap, bap, bap.

  "Stop being a bully."

  After Chu intervened, he went back to thinking. Seeing him in that mood, the rest toned their bickering down, so as not to disturb him.

  After a while he raised his head to them and spoke.

  "Ming, I need you to find two boys who can handle a horse. Find me someone I can trust like Lucy, or else don't bother returning."

  "AH, Chu do you know how hard that is? I knew it Chu, You’re trying to get rid of me!”

  Chu turned away from the raving lunatic to Lucy.

  "Lucy, I need a girl who has more knowledge in housework. If she is willing to fight it’s a plus. Most importantly, she has to be able to cook."

  Last time he asked this question they remained stumped. Other than preparing porridge, they were all lost in the kitchen. Chu didn't want to end up with the role as a cook in this world. His goal was to explore it.

  As for them being able to find someone reliable in the slums, Chu wasn't worried. Reliable and honest people tend to stick out like a sore thumb in places like these. A network of chattering hungry children, could rate a person's character better than any lie detector.

  The big problem was that such people were just as scarce as gold in these parts. Living too long in the slums tend to change people, and not for the better.

  "Remember. No freeloaders, I need people who can work. Don't bring me any lazy, trouble-making bums."

  With that instruction, Chu grabbed a book to continue his self-study. Dyna and Sakura cleaned up after breakfast and shifted to a corner, to continue their sewing. That corner was presently filled with bales of new cloth hustled from Griz.

  It was in the evening that Ming returned first. He knocked on the shack, and waited for Chu to come out. When Chu exited in the cold air, he found Ming standing with a taller boy.

  "This is Clod. Don't be fooled by his size he is only fifteen. He's been in the slums, since end of last winter. He is the only person I think I can vouch for. He once lived on a farm."

  Chu scanned the boy at the side. If not for the usual conditions caused by a lack of food, the boy would have a typical build of someone used to hard labor. His short brown hair and honest face were typical of those who preferred the simple life.

  You can always recognize a farmer. Nature has a way of whittling down them into hardy lifeforms.

  "With your age and skills, how come you weren't scooped up by other farmers or a village tradesman?"

  Chu asked.

  "I got a lame foot. I can't do much walking on it. People aren’t gonna waste time on a handicap."

  "How do you live then?"

  The only work Chu was familiar with that paid money was delivering firewood. Clod certainly would not be able to handle the walk to the forest.

  "I work tending horses at the Trading Post. Most of my payment comes in firewood, and sometimes I get food scraps from the merchants. I normally barter firewood for food from my neighbors."

  Chu nodded and led the boys to the Trading Post. After talking to Griz for a minute, he went to the stables. Talking to the guard for a moment, he turned to Clod.

  "Hitch that horse and cart for me."

  Clod looked at Chu in amazement. This younger boy just waltzed into the Trading Post, and blatantly had a talk with the fierce-some master. He then had the gall to lead him to the stables, and drop an order like he owned the place.

  Worse yet, the guard didn't even bother with him!

  Clod wasn't aware that most of these guards were present when the Snow bear was carted in. Nearly all of them became aware of the relation between the Master and this young boy.

  He was shaken out of his thoughts by the yell at his side.

  "Hey! You think we don't all have better things to do? Stop wasting time, and show me what you can do!"

  Clod walked across to the stable and led the horse. Chu noticed that he had a slight limp, as if one leg was longer than the other. In the space of a few minutes, Clod got the cart hitched and led the horse around the yard.

  "Good job, put it back to how it was."

  Thanking the guard politely for his time, they left after Chu spoke to Griz.

  They walked to a quiet spot until alone outside the slums.

  "I am going to be straight with you. What we do is dangerous. It is very easy to lose your life, especially with your lame foot. If you don’t want to risk it tell me now, so that we won't bother you again."

  Winter was already here. Clod was one of the few children still living alone. The main reason being because his foot made him a liability in the eyes of others. Associating with him held no advantages.

  Worse yet, when the merchants left, his little job would come to an end. His option to survive, was to beg for the entire winter.

  "What risk are you talking about?"

  "We go into the forest at night for hunting. Are you willing to chance it?"

  Clod stared with a stupid expre
ssion. He struggled to decide. One was a slow death, the other was a swift demise. Painful memories resurfaced in his mind and an overwhelming fear shocked him into trembling.

  He swallowed down the bile building in his throat.

  "I... I will join, I will go with you but I really don't know how useful I can be."

  He looked down at his leg in grief.

  "Hey, hey. You will be going with company. If we end up in trouble we can just use you as bait."

  When Chu finished smacking Ming, he told Clod to meet them at the Trading Post in three days. He also bought him a rock bread, so he wouldn't starve. Sending him off amidst the numerous thank you and sobs, Chu and Ming returned to the shack.

  "Can you do anything right? I send you the first time to find someone strong, you then come back with a girl. I send you to get a fit and able boy, you further come back with a lame duck. As a result, give me one good reason why I should keep you.... heh, huh?"

  Ming cast his teary eyes at Chu. He knew the boy wasn't mad and just joking, but he had to try to defend himself. He was smart enough to realize this person spoke frank and straightforward.

  "I'm sorry Chu, it's just that there are really two reasons a boy lands up in the slums. One is if he has no value, and the other is if he has broken the law. Clod just happens to be one of the few from the first."

  Chu understood where Ming was coming from. Both fell here through family circumstances. Most of the boys and the couple of younger men ended up here, because of some run in with the law. They waited, simply biding time until spring when the bandits showed up for recruitment.

  "Don't worry about it, if it wasn't for you I would still have to hustle firewood. You did good."

  A slum congregates the lowest of society, and pools them together. Harsh means of survival, is obviously going to breed anarchy in some form.

  This was also the reason why chaos descended on the slums so quickly. If Ming wasn't acting as a deterrent, Chu might have already been beaten into submission. A small child like him was ripe for easy pickings.

  Now that the gangs were forming, such a deterrent would simply have no meaning. The young men would eventually use them as work-dogs, or destroy their shacks for firewood.