Chapter 18: The Dawn of Commerce

As the shadow of the pandemic receded, the villagers of Ebonwood embraced the new hygiene practices with fervor. The once-feared scourge had taught them the value of cleanliness, and the village flourished anew. But as Ebonwood grew, so too did its needs and ambitions.

Lord Simha, ever the visionary, saw the potential for Ebonwood to become a hub of trade and commerce. The villagers had long been at the mercy of merchant caravans, their arrival sporadic and their prices steep. It was time for Ebonwood to forge its own path in the world of trade.

"**We shall create a Merchant Union,**" Simha proclaimed before the Council of Elders. "**Our surplus harvest, our specialty soaps—these will be our wares. We will trade with other towns and villages, and prosperity shall flow into Ebonwood like the rivers that nourish our fields.**"

The idea was met with enthusiasm. The villagers, skilled in various crafts and trades, rallied behind their lord. A trading post was established, a bustling center where goods were displayed and deals were struck. The soaps, with their humble beginnings, became a sought-after commodity, their quality unmatched by any other.

Caravans now came not to sell, but to buy. Ebonwood's grains, its fruits, and its soaps traveled far and wide, bringing back not just coin, but also goods and knowledge from distant lands.

Yet, amidst this burgeoning wealth, Simha's abode remained a modest dwelling near the council hall. The villagers whispered of building a grand castle for their lord, a structure befitting his status and their gratitude.

Simha, however, had other plans. "**A castle will come in time,**" he assured his people. "**But first, we must invest in Ebonwood. Let us build roads that connect us to the world, schools that enlighten our children, and libraries that preserve our knowledge.**"

The villagers nodded in agreement, their respect for Simha deepening. They understood that their lord sought not personal glory, but the advancement of the village as a whole.

The chapter closes with the first caravan leaving Ebonwood under the Merchant Union's banner. Simha watched from his humble home, his heart full of hope. The seeds of commerce had been sown, and from them would grow a future of abundance and opportunity for all of Ebonwood.