The Path of the Merchant - Part 2

[Stildawn]

Calais was a busy town... Many northern trade routes visited the town and as such the place was crowded with trade ships as the Merchant arrived on his ship...

Johny who had been sleeping came up on deck... The town this day was shrouded in mist... Yet it was still alive with noise as they docked...

Johny wondered when they would leave back for England... But then admitted to himself that he didnt know his employers plans or if they planned to return to England at all... But Johny didnt care as long as the money kept coming...

[Dark Storm]

Andrew yawned and scratched his head. He felt the ship grind to a halt. Still half asleep he rolled out of his bunk in the captains quarters and staggered across the floor in an attempt to assemble an outfit befitting a merchant. He teetered into his desk the sharp corner knocking the wind out of him. "Bugger" he exhaled, his sides protesting at the pain. He turned and walked straight into a low beam of wood. He momentarily saw stars and fell back into the Captains chair. His head in agony, he made a groaning sounds and slumped over the desk, resting his head on the cool wooden surface, notnyet processing the connotations of the ship coming to a stop...

[Stildawn]

"Bienvenue à Calais... Mr Graham..." Johny said walking up behind the merchant...

[Dark Storm]

"Piss off," Andrew groaned, he thought he had been cut out for the life of a merchant but his seasickness proved otherwise. Suddenly, however he processed what Johny had just said, "Wait a second..." he murmured weakly, "What did you just say?" he continued, "And in English this time, not in the tongue of the frogs."

[Stildawn]

"Eh... Welcome to Calais..." Johny said, shrugging off his bosses foul mood...

[Dark Storm]

Andrews eyes lit up slightly, "We're here?" he spoke, with a lighter tone to his voice. He stood quickly, pushing his chair back, then bowled past Johny, reaching the cabin door he slammed it open, and walked through into the light. He smiled, and turned to Johny, "Aye, we're here."

[Stildawn]

"I have a man going ashore to secure warehouse space Mr Graham... I assume you want to sell off our cargo and pick up French goods for the return?"

[Dark Storm]

"Yes that I do." he nodded, "A good idea Johnny." Andrew smiled slightly, "Now, what cargo would you suggest for the continuation of our journey?"

[Stildawn]

"Well thats just it Mr Graham... Where does our journey take us to next... For I will need that information to better read the markets... To make your more money at our destination..."

[Dark Storm]

The next few days, they passed in a blur. A blur of faces, exchanges, ploys and ideas. The deck of the ship was alive with bustle as goods were hauled away for examination by customs and then for sale at the market. Slowly but surely, the plan came into fruition and soon Andrew stood triumphant on board the boat that had started his dream. He turned to the boy who had soon become his confidante, "Johnny," he smiled widely, his teeth gleaming in the French sun, "This is not the end of our journey boy, no 'tis not." Andrews eyes sparked with mischievousness, "Today boy, we take out stock and we depart, not to England boy, but further, to the Holy Roman Empire. Today boy, we truly shall make our fortunes."

"But sir," Johnny protested quietly, half heartedly, "I had not expected to go any further," He sighed wistfully, "I would love to go sir, honest, but my ma' and pa' they would not know what's become of me."

Andrew turned towards the boy, "John, lad, think about it," he paused and made a sweeping gesture with his arm, outlining the landscape that stretched for miles and miles out from their position on the ship, "so far you have come, your parents boy, they would be proud. Would you give everything up now, now that we are so close? Could you?" Andrew left the question hanging in the air, he knew Johnny would not require much persuasion, and the lightest of touches could bring him around.

Johnny remained silent for a few moments. The seconds ticked by as he surveyed what he could have. His eyes flickered momentarily out to sea, as if he could see England from his position. Then, he sighed slightly, and with determination he turned to Andrew and stated solemnly, "I shall go, my parents can do without me for a while longer yet."

"Excellent," Andrew smiled, "Well then, young sir..." he took in a deep breath and bellowed, "Get back to work." Andrew noticed with satisfaction the way in which the boy jumped at his command and when straight back to work. Smiling, he splayed his hands out on the wooden balustrade of the ship, and watched his men scurrying about their duties. They were ready, and, God willing, they would make it in time.

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A line of carts, specks upon the open ground trundled into the horizon, teams of oxen strained to heave the heavy cargo through the French summer sun. Sweat rolled down the flanks of the beasts of burden as they struggled with their hefty load, and drivers, reining in their animals with low shouts and the cracks of whips were sweltering in the open air.

Armed guards patrolled the caravan, their watchful eyes surveying the land, assessing dangers to ensure there benefactor and his goods would remain safe and secure from those who preyed upon unsuspecting travellers.*

Ever so slowly the carts pushed on towards their destination, eating up mile after mile of road and countryside. "I hate France," grumbled Andrew, as he poked his head outside the carriage window, "Too much bloody heat and too few business opportunities." Then, quite violently he wrenched shut the carriages small curtains, ripping the thin fabric within his impatient grasp. He stared angrily at the two pieces of cloth as if they were the source of his problems, before flinging them out the window and slumping back Heavily into the leather lined seat of the carriage interior, waking an exhausted Johnathan in the process.

"Wuh?..." exclaimed Johnny blearily, his eyelids shooting wide open to reveal bloodshot eyes.

"Ah, I see his Highness has awoken..." Andrew said sarcastically, "Have we enjoyed our little nap Johnathan? Have we?"

Johnny, still half-asleep and disorientated, missed the warning tone withon Andrew's voice, "Yes thank you..." he yawned and stretched, "..sir. 'Twas very enjoyable." he said sleepily, smiling.

Andrews face became almost purple with irrational rage, but he kept quiet, and spoke in a dangerous tone, "I think you better go aid the guards Johnathan."

"I'm sure they can sort themsel..." Johnny did not finish the sentence, he had now fully awoken and had realised truly how angry Andrew was. "Yes sir," he stuttered, "I shall see to it immediately." and with that, he hastily departed the slow moving carriage.

Andrew twisted into a more comfortable position in his seat, and stared at the oaken ceiling of the carriage, his eyes tracing the many knots that covered the wood, he sighed to himself, maybe he had been to harsh on the boy, but then again, it was his venture, and he would treat anyone on it, however he wanted to, and as the carriage rolled on he slowly drifted off, to sleep.

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An arrow pierced the carriage door with a low, 'Thunk' it's metal headed embedded in the padded lining. Andrew woke with a start and heard the sound of a great commotion outside his carriage, he scrambled over his seat and slowly stared out of the uncovered window.

The first thing he noticed was the height of the sun on the horizon, already it was slipping down below the surface of the great mountains in the distance and the world was bathed in a murky twilight. His eyes focused on the cause of the noise and soon realised his worst fears, they were under attack. Too his left he saw a group of guards engaging bandits, he watched as the armoured men slowly cut the criminals to ribbons, he smiled slightly. His satisfaction did not last for long however, a low whistle cut through the air, and suddenly two of the guards keeled over red plumed arrows embedded deep within their stomachs, the other guard looked in disbelief at the deaths of the comrades momentarily before he let out a gargled cry as an arrow caught him in the throat.

The deaths of the guards brought Andrew to his senses instantly and he jumped back over the seats and rummage around in one of the carriage compartments, before uttering a grunt of triumph and extricating a claymore from beneath his seat.

He stared at the long blade, it was honed to perfection, sharp and well balanced to fit Andrews hands. He had fought before and was actually a well accomplished swordsman, he would now put his skills to good use. He kicked open the door and charged out of the carriage...

Andrew was met with the sight of utter carnage. The bandits had swamped the front of the caravan, killing the drivers and cutting lose the oxen, to prevent escape. They had then turned their attention to the guards who they heavily outnumbered. Vicious fighting broke out between the many carts, movement was impeded by the closeness of the transport and the guards had barey any room to swing their swords, the bandits however, used their short daggers to effect, luring guards close into their range before delivering a deadly blow. Andrews eyes shifted to his left, where he soon pickedout a slight figure amongst the crowd, Johnny was fending off an attack by three bandits who had cornered him against the side of a low wooden cart. Andrew hardly had need to think, he instantly charged at the three men, throwing himself into the fray, the surprise of his sudden attack threw the three men off guard momentarily and that was all Andrew needed, he swung low with his blade, catching the first bandit in the midriff, his blade skewered through the mans sking, creating a gaping wound in his side, the bandit sunk to his knees, gasping raggedly, clutching at his side and shaking violently. Andrew gave this no thought, he immediately moved on to his next opponent, who like his fellow bandit was still unprepared, this time Andrew's claymore hit the mans neck and then continued onwards, removing it from the body completely, dismembered head flew away into the darkness and landed underneath the carriage, it's body collpased to the ground, blood pouring from the stump where once it's neck had been.

The last bandit circled Andrew slowly, he was wary of the man that had killed two of his friends, and would not present him with an opportunity to attack. The bandit fainted, an Andrew, in the dim twilight fell for it, he moved up his sword to block the weak attack, exposing his lower body for attack, the bandit, quickly cut low, but Andrew's refelxes saved his life, he jumped backwards from the blade, causing the Bandit to overextend his arm, Andrew turned the mans mistake to his advantage and moved to end the mans life, he put one step forwards and then keeled over, his ankle gabe way below him and a hot feeling spread through his leg followed by one of terrible pain. He stumbled to the ground, and smashed his head off the cart which he had been standing next to, dazed, the last thing he saw was the face of his attacker holding a sword above his head and grinning maniaclly.

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Andrew woke disorientated, a cloth bandaged around his head. He attempted to stand but was pushed back down into his bed by the person at his side. "Where am I?"

"Holstein..." came the reply, "we arrived three days ago."[/COLOR]

Andrew quickly calculated something in his head, "How long was I out for?" he sighed

"A month on and off, you've been lucid at times, but mostly asleep, that was rather a nasty head injury you received." Came the reply of the man

Andrew looked across and recognised the face of the boy, "Johnny?" he asked uncertaintly.

"Yes?" the boy replied smiling

"Why are we in Holstein?" Andrew asked slowly, "I specified the Holy Roman Empire, we need to make our money."

At this Johnny smiled, "They had a bad harvest this year." he commented dryly, "The price of wheat has rocketed."

Andrew looked incredulous for a moment, "I do not care about the wheat, all I care about is the Cargo and the mon..." He fell silent, wracking his brain for something he was missing, "Wheat!" he exclaimed, and a grin lit his face.

"Finally..." Johnny replied, also smiling, "We decided to make straight for here," he added, "Due to your condition, we didn't wish to risk the entire venture on the Holy Roman Empire..."

"Of course," Andrew nodded, "Please, continue."

"Anyway, with the fight over, we had lost most of our guards and two carts full of Cargo, so we decided to head here, a month later we arrived with a cargo and to a great audience on the streets, they had heard of what we were carrying and were eager to buy." Johnny smiled, "We were approached by many tradesmen, each offering more than the last for the gold, and I, I negotiated, and I managed to get a good price."

Andrew raised his eyebrow, "How good a price?" he asked quietly

"Ten for the lot." Johnny smiled

"Ten hundred?" Queried Andrew, disappointment etched upon his face.

"No," came the quick reply, "Ten thousand."