Slaves to Kings

"What!?" a heavy thud rings out, scattering the coins and papyrus on the table.

"You lost me 64 coins!" Eugenios Abydos' belly heaves in exasperation.

"I've already made the decision, boy! Each one to maximize profit! Now go back in there and tell them exactly to the letter how I want the mine to operate!"

The young sailor nodded, sweat beads forming on his brow, and dashed out of the cabin, the door banging shut behind him. The ship swayed gently, its wooden frame groaning in protest against the relentless waves of the sea. On the table, the scattered coins glimmered under the flickering candlelight.

"Aye, if only the King could sponsor me a road that cuts through the entire wade of the mountains then I wouldn't be in this boat!" Eugenios is a day 1 crash out.

Eugenios stared at the map sprawled across the table, his mind racing through the endless sea of potential gold veins and shipping routes. The City of Palma on the islands off the coast controlled by the Carthaginians is one of them.

The young sailor's footsteps echoed through the corridor as he relayed the instructions to the nervous crew members.

Going back and forth between Oscapolis and Mastiapolis is tiring, but it is faster by boat than if you walked all the way there.

They arrive at Mastiapolis before dawn, the sky colored a deep blues and purples as the sun had not yet claimed the day. The city sleeps, oblivious to the ship that sneaks into the harbor. The crew, weary from the voyage, move with silent efficiency as they dock the vessel. The young sailor, still reeling from his encounter with the formidable Eugenios, jumps onto the dock and hurries into the city.

Eugenios remains in his cabin, his eyes glued to the map. The anticipation is palpable as he traces the route back to Oscapolis with his stubby finger. The cargo, a mix of precious gems and rare herbs, is worth a small fortune if sold to the right buyers. His thoughts are interrupted by the creaking of the ship as the crew starts to unload the cargo. The sound of ropes straining and wooden planks shifting fills the air, punctuated by the occasional grunt of exertion.

The cabin door swings open, and a cool breeze sweeps in, bringing with it the scent of the sea and a hint of the herbs they had brought from distant lands. The young sailor enters, his eyes downcast, and delivers the message to the eager merchant. "They've agreed to the terms," he says, his voice barely above a whisper. "The mine will operate as you instructed, Mr. Abydos."

"You work awfully fast."

"I just relayed the message sir."

"..." 'Goddamn, be there in person!' Eugenios rubs his temples and sighs. He knows scolding this sailor too much would probably make him quit, and it's good that he's a little stupid, too smart and the sailor might start stealing from him.

"Let's go." Eugenios says, calm as a tortoise, as calm as he can be heh. His beady eyes move around to look at things, his bulbous nose prominent on his face, his short stature and port belly makes him look like a human triangle.

The sailor nods, and the two of them disembark. The planks of the ship groan under their weight as they step onto the solid ground of Mastiapolis. The smell of the salty sea air mingles with the scent of baked bread and spices from the nearby marketplace. The cobblestone streets are still wet from the previous night's rain, and the cobblestones glint like tiny jewels under the early morning light.

Eugenios' booted feet hit the ground with a thud, and he takes a deep breath, relishing the feeling of land beneath him after days at sea. He straightens his tunic and adjusts the gold necklace that sits snugly around his neck, the jewels glinting in the dawn's light. His eyes dart around, assessing the value of every cart and stall they pass, his mind already calculating the profit margins on the goods displayed. The young sailor trails behind, his steps less sure on the uneven ground.

Now that he's iced out, looking like bling bling, Eugenios and his Sailor Boy walk all the way to the Markets to maybe look at some valuable wares.

The market in Mastiapolis is noisy as hell. Stall owners shouting out their wares, the clanging of metal on metal as blacksmiths hammered away, and the occasional bray of a donkey pulling a cart.

Eugenios' eyes landed on a stall displaying an array of weaponry. His heart fluttered like a moth to a flame. Spear tips. Dozens of them. Some gleaming and sharp, others dull from overuse. He marched over with the sailor lagging behind like a lost puppy.

"How much for these?" He pointed to a set of four exquisitely crafted tips. The vendor, a burly man with arms thick as tree trunks, grinned, showing off a gold tooth. "Ah, these are special! The finest iron from the mines of Mastiapolis. Twenty coins each."

'20 Gold coins, is this helot for real right now?'

Eugenios feigned indifference, stroking his chin. "Ten for all four," he countered.

The vendor's smile didn't falter. "Fifteen, and that's as low as I go for quality like this, Mr. Abydos."

Eugenios' eyes narrowed, his nose twitching as he scrutinized the spear tips. "Ten. They look like they've seen more than their fair share of battles."

The vendor's grin grew wider, a glint of amusement in his eye. "These are no ordinary tips, sir. They're enchanted to never break, forged by the legendary blacksmith, Hephaestus himself."

'Nahh is this guy on something?'

"Don't feed me your fish tales," Eugenios retorted, his voice sharp as the spear points he admired. "I've seen sharper rocks on the beach."

The vendor's laugh boomed across the market stall, his belly jiggling. "Ah, Mr. Abydos, always the charmer. Twelve coins each, and I'll throw in an extra for your skepticism."

Eugenios' lips curled into a knowing smirk. "I'll take it. But only because I'm in a good mood today." He pulled out a leather pouch, the sound of jingling coins music to the vendor's ears.

The vendor's hand shot out to snatch the bag, his grip firm and greedy. He counted the coins with astonishing speed, his eyes never leaving the merchant's face. "Forty-eight coins, as agreed." He said with a nod, the gold pieces disappearing into his pocket like water down a drain.

'Hmph, you may scam me now helots, but after my research is complete, only I, Eugenios Abydos can be legally allowed to sell spear tips, shields, armor, and all types of weapons once his Majesty's decree comes out and I am awarded the monopoly on all standardized equipment.' Eugenios thinks to himself as he takes the spear tips for research.

Eugenios turns on his heel and heads back to the ship, the sailor struggling to keep up with his brisk pace. The market's commotion fades behind them as they approach the dock. The crew is still busy unloading the cargo, and the sight of their boss with a new purchase brings a spark of curiosity to their weary eyes.

"Sir, don't you need to meet with the King first before assuming?"

"No need boy, the King needs the cooperation of the biggest family of merchants in the Colony, and right now that's mine, that's me." Eugenios replies, not even looking back at his attendant.

The sailor nods, understanding the weight of his words. The Abydos family had indeed built quite the reputation over the few years they've been here. They had their fingers in every pie from mining to trading, and it was rumored that they could make gold from a handful of sand.

Although they claim to be descended from Horus, and the wealthy merchants from the olden times, this might all be bullshit, but their money sensing skill is real.

They reach the ship, and the crew snaps to attention at the sight of the returning merchant. The young sailor helps Eugenios back on board, his eyes lingering on the spear tips in his hands. The merchant notices the curiosity and says, "Just a little something for a friend. Now, let's get moving. We have a meeting with the Governess of Oscapolis, and I want to be there before she starts her royal breakfast."

The ship sets sail again, leaving Mastiapolis in its wake. The journey to Oscapolis is smoother than their previous one, the sea seemingly cooperating with the urgency of their mission. The sun climbs higher in the sky, casting a warm glow over the crew as they work in harmony.

Ah, the money sensing skill, a special skill honed by the Abydos. It is true that while all human beings have similar potentials, the Abydos have been sniffing for gold in the sand dunes of North Africa for centuries, but haven't had as much luck as they did as in Iberia.

Eugenios' nose twitched slightly as he felt the coins in his pocket. It was a subtle scent, metal and minerals that sang to his blood. The very air of Iberia was thick with the aroma of wealth. 

He had a knack for it, a sixth sense if you could call it that. He could smell gold from miles away, like a shark to blood. His ancestors had passed down this gift, and he had only refined it.

The young sailor watched him with a mix of awe and wariness. He had heard tales of the Abydos family's uncanny ability to sniff out gold, but to see it in action was something else entirely. It was said that their ancestors had picked it up during the reign of Ramses III, where the riches of Egypt were ripe for the taking.

But the truth was far less glamorous. The Abydos family had been poor enslaved merchants from the town of Abydos, scratching out a living in the shadow of the mighty Nile. It was only when they stumbled upon a treasure map, hidden in the dusty archives of a forgotten library, that their fortunes changed. The map led them to Iberia, a land teeming with gold and opportunity.

The family had come from a long line of opportunistic traders who had learned to bend the truth to their advantage. They crafted a grandiose history, weaving together myths and legends to create a lineage that stretched back to the very gods themselves. The people of Iberia were hungry for the exotic, and the Abydos were more than happy to serve it to them on a silver platter. They claimed descent from Horus, the falcon-headed god of the sky, and painted themselves as noble emissaries of a lost Egyptian dynasty.

Basically? They made shit up.

And it worked. More people would buy stuff from them, exotic goods from wherever they found them to the 'poor and savage' Iberians. The presence of Greek colonies on parts of Iberia helped that trade accelerate.

And when the Antigonid Macedonian hosts arrived to colonize vast swaths of Iberia, the Abydos followed, moving their enterprises inland, the mines, the fields, all of them.

Eugenios' nose twitched again, and his eyes lit up like stars in the night sky. "Do you smell that?" He asked, his voice filled with excitement.

"No sir."

Eugenios' eyes darted around the ship, searching for the source of the scent. The young sailor looked at him, puzzled. "You mean the gold in your pocket, Mr. Abydos?"

"Look where I'm looking."

"The sky?"

"Ehem, let's try this again. Do you smell that boy?" Eugenios looks to the sky.

After a long enough pause, and before the sailor boy can say anything, Eugenios answers his own question.

"It smells like a money filled future. And there will be more wealth for the Abydos, and there will be more for all of us, and one day, we might even rule Macedonia for ourselves. Can you imagine that? From Slaves to Kings."