Merchants

It stopped raining that evening.

Elengail insisted on cooking when we took a break for lunch and made camp for the evening. I could tell that she was a proficient cook.

I kept watch for enemies while we ate and the others slept in bedrolls. Faivere was particularly exhausted. The others assumedly as well. No one said anything about keeping a watch. I just did it.

I wasn't tired. I wasn't hungry. Everything felt neutral and hollow to me.

There was no trouble that night, and the others woke to me making a simple breakfast for them. Elengail fought her way out of her tangled bedroll to take over. With a small smile, I let her.

After a simple, if not small meal, we packed up and started walking again. Kendalyn took Elengail's pack, but I didn't let Mayliam take ours.

"You carried it yesterday, though. It's my turn." the blue-haired girl argued.

I had no answer, but instead, I stubbornly wore the pack myself.

Faivere started whining after half an hour.

"You don't have to keep up," Elengail reminded her.

"But you're going too fast. I can't believe you are keeping up with Argolex's pace."

"I'm willing to keep that pace if it means pork roast sooner."

The blonde's complaint died in her mouth. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get to the next village!"

Faivere pushed ahead of me, taking the lead and increasing our pace. I glanced at Mayliam.

"Don't worry about me," she replied, "I'd be able to keep up even if I was carrying our stuff. Are you sure you don't want to share the load?"

"Yes."

Elengail had a smirk, and we all kept up with Faivere's enhanced pace. It only lasted for seven minutes before Faivere wore herself out, and we went back to my slightly more conservative pace.

Three hours and two breaks later we stopped for lunch.

As we rested our feet, Kendalyn prepared food. She was gentle and conservative, which spared some of the rations for a later meal.

As we picked back up, Mayliam snatched the basket-pack before I could put it back on.

I opened my mouth to complain, but she put a finger to my lips.

"It's my turn now."

My magic eyesight caught Elengail stifle a laugh behind me. "Fine."

We continued for another hour. The forest was alive with squirrels, badgers, and a dozen other species of animals. Several of which I didn't recognize.

As we set down for another break at Faivere's insistence, Kendalyn perked up.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing," Mayliam answered, blushing.

"No, I ask Kendalyn."

"Oh." she was blushing more furiously.

"There are people coming. They have wagons."

"It's the merchants!" Faivere declared, jumping up and running down the path.

"Wait," I called out to her as I darted to keep up.

We crested a hill in the path, where we saw a small caravan. Well, I don't know what qualified as small. Maybe this was normal. They had five covered wagons, drawn by creatures that I could only describe as giant squirrels. One per wagon.

Faivere waved to them, and the front coachman waved back.

As they approached, I realized I had incorrectly labeled the creatures pulling the wagons. Their faces and tails were squirrel-like, but their torsos were more bear-like.

"You look as though you've never seen a konnen before, lad." the frontmost merchant noted, his amethyst hair framing a pleasant smile.

"No. It new to me."

"Strong as a bear, tame as a dog, and agile as a master swordsman."

"That interesting."

He laughed. "So it is, lad. Is it just you and the young miss?"

"We have three other women past hill. From Farsfield."

He nodded before calling back, "Alright, men, we're camping just past this hill."

"It's still light, though!" another man, possibly still a boy, with lemon-yellow hair complained.

"I plan leave thirty minutes."

"We're setting up camp, and you should too. There are dangerous monsters around these parts. They'll try to pick off small groups like yours, especially when you're resting for the night."

"I know. I watch through night."

"Wait," Elengail said, having approached as well, "you were keeping watch all night?"

"Yes."

"How long has this been going on?"

"Six night."

She paled. "Since that? You haven't fully rested since the battle?"

"I not tired."

"That's all the more reason for you to camp with us tonight. And turn in early." the purple-haired merchant interjected.

"We're in agreeance on that, Corbian. If I had known how much Argolex here was pushing himself..." she didn't finish her sentence.

"Yes. And it sounds like you have a story to tell me."

"Yes, indeed." she replied. Judging by her facial expression, there were going to be tears during the stories tonight.

The merchants took seventeen minutes to park their wagons. Two were off the path to the left and the others curved around the right, making a small circle around a section of the path. Each wagon had two axles and was covered with dull canvas.

As merchants exited the wagons, I attempted a headcount. Five men who seemed to be merchants. Three women who I assumed were some of the merchants' families. Nine children, all of varying ages, including an infant in one of the women's arms and the yellow-haired boy who had protested stopping for the night.

Eight guards. Mercenaries in light armor. Each had a spear over a shoulder and a large sword almost dragging at the hip. One was exhausted and collapsed within the circle of wagons.

Unless there were beds in some of the wagons, it was going to be a tight fit for everyone to sleep in the circle. It was already a tight fit for everyone to be sitting in the circle, minus three mercenaries who were patrolling at the moment. We were seated with our backs to the wagons, about four to a wagon. The mothers and older daughters had the cookware in the center of the circle. A small, magical fire was lit to cook a pot of soon-to-be stew.

"So, what's the story?" the purple-haired merchant asked Elengail, "Why are you five hiking through this forest?"

"Farsfield is gone. Goblins attacked seven days ago, and overran the village. The five of us are the only survivors. Argolex rescued Mayliam, Kendalyn, and myself from a Forgotten God cultist who was commanding the goblins."

"Is that where he got his wounds? He's pretty heavily bandaged."

Elengail hesitated.

"Yes," I replied in her stead. I trusted Kalamay. She had said to hide the black scar, so hide it I would.

"If you want help cleaning the wound and redoing the bandage, Jenecca, Darrot's wife, is our healer. She can help you out."

"For price." I mused.

He laughed boisterously, "You are one keen lad. That's good. You have no idea how many small-town villagers have been swindled when they got to Hakaibekkr or Marthy."

"I not know land well. Have... land picture?"

"A map?"

"Yes."

"We have maps. Some for our use, and some for sale."

"I want see maps."

"Let's do business later." He replied as a steaming bowl was passed to him. Not much later, another bowl was passed to me.