[Mkguild] RR: Meeting the buyer

[Rimme the Weasel]

The merchant and his two guards stepped out into the sun-lit streets, still
packed with cursed animal people and every shape of humanity. It was
mid-afternoon by now. Already, one or two market stalls had closed for the
day. Soon, the day would be over.

In the few moments where the crowds thinned out, Gwayn told them what he
knew of their buyer. He warned them that they should not be alarmed by his
appearance, and they should hear the entire proposal before casting
judgment. Jerrod didn't like the sound of that. Nothing but trouble comes
when a merchant invites his bodyguards into his business decisions.

They turned onto the main street further into Metamor, falling in step
behind a well-endowed woman warrior and a reptilian beast-man. Jerrod
tensed, but Reed subtly pointed out the leather cuffs on the reptile's
wrists. Probably some petty thief, being taken to the Watch cells for
safe-keeping.

They passed into a large open square, where wagons and riders crossed in
equal measure. Along one corner, a crowd had gathered. Gwayn led Reed and
Jerrod towards the crowd. Gallus emerged and waved them inward to where
Aldwin was standing. It was only a couple people deep, a semi-circle around
the street corner. Jerrod could already guess that their buyer was inside.

There, squaring off against a leonine spearman, was a bearded man dressed
head-to-toe in furs, armed with a pair of skinning knives. With such
pitiful range, the man seemed hopelessly on the defense, yet every so
often, when the lion-man thrusted, the man would parry the pole aside with
his left knife while he twisted and stabbed with the right for the lion's
wrist. Only a last-minute retreat took the lion guard out of danger.

"Our man got bored while waiting," Gallus said laconically, as was his way.

"This ruffian is our buyer?" Jerrod said. This frontiersman did not look
wealthy, even considering the craft behind the man's skins. Perhaps he was
a bandit.

Reed also looked unhappy, though more in confusion than displeasure. It
seemed almost as if he were already expecting to meet someone, and not this
man.

"No judgments," Gwayn reminded them, and gave a short whistle. The bearded
man glanced and straightened up, sheathing his knives and offering a
handshake to the lion. The lion returned the favor, and the crowd gave a
brief flurry of applause before dispersing.

"Thanks for the sport," the bearded man said. "A pleasure to sharpen blades
with another." He turned to the five guardsman. "This everyone in your
caravan?"

"Enough for a majority vote," Gwayn said. "The other two are at the inn
with our cargo. We'll involve them if we can't come to an agreement. Would
you repeat your offer, as you told me?"

"Right," the man said, eying the five of them. "It's like this. I'm a
trapper. I sell deerskins for wearing, rabbitskins for hauling, and
bearskins for flooring. Furs've been getting hard to get, though, with the
war and famines. Yes, I'm from up north. I sold my last bearskin in Starven
about a week ago; they cleaned me out. Lotta new people coming into Starven
lately, fleeing one battle or another. News came in as I was leaving that
Lik's been annihilated. Some of the newcomers are quite rich, wagons piled
up with stuff. They're getting new homes, but got no new rugs to decorate
them."

"Ah," Gallus spoke up. "So you will buy our rugs to take north."

The trapper glanced from Gallus to Gwayn and back, making an awkward
silence that was Gwayn's to break. "Actually, lad, it seems this man got
separated from his travelling party. He only has a small amount on him, but
he has offered his services as an escort up north, where we can make the
deal in person."

Jerrod glared. "You said he had coin on him."

"You want us to go even further north?" Aldwin sputtered. "Another month on
the road?"

"And the Giantdowns sound just as dangerous as always," Reed noted.

"I agree. This sounds more like an ambush than a deal," Gallus said.

"I understand everyone's concern," Gwayn said. "I know he can't promise
immediate payment, but think of the opportunity! The premiums! Starven is
desperate for rugs. They'll pay three times what we would normally get!
We'll make a fortune!"

"Why not he pay us the usual price now, and then we pick up the premiums in
Starven?" Jerrod said, eying up the trapper for money pouches. He couldn't
really see anything on his belt, save those two long knife sheathes. With
knives like those, he could skin up the little thief who swindled him.

"It would certainly ensure his loyalty," Gallus noted coolly.

Gwayn put his hands on Gallus's and Reed's shoulders, then turned back to
the trapper. "It seems the men and I would like to discuss the details in
further depth. If you have no other lodgings, sir, would you be willing to
stay the night at the Jolly Collie with us? Perhaps you could more properly
explain the advantages of your arrangement." At this last remark he glanced
at Reed, whose lips were drawn into a thin line. Jerrod hoped he found out
whatever private discussion had happened between them.
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