Chapter 296- Washed incense stones?

Washed incense stones?

Another intermittent groan interrupted the monotonous creaking of the axle as the wooden wheels tumbled over another dried rut. The dust raised from the clopping horse and rolling caravan sought to powder their sweaty skins and accumulate between their toes. The taste of clay past their tongues and itched inside their throats.

"Brother Chu, how long do we have to travel on the road? It's been nearly a month since we left the town of Karst. After that merchant convoy passed us last week, we haven't seen a soul on the road."

The golden-haired girl pouted from her position on the flat caravan roof. The rays of the late evening sun might appear waiting but beads of sweat yet formed on her fair brows. The six-year-old tried to use more of the hot, uncomfortable fur rug to cushion herself.

"Don't turn too much, Hope, or you will aggravate your sores. I blame Brother Ming for boasting about adventuring. He never mentioned how boring and painful traveling could be."

Yin muttered beside her younger companion. The nine-year-old similarly lay on her belly while trying to fan herself. Miki had just treated the chaffs and sores on their rumps with ointments and left them bare to the heavens.

"Don't worry, we should arrive in Limerock within a few days. We can spend a little time there before departing. I think merchants are yet awaiting the all-clear from the Military, so we will not pass many single traveling peddlers. Most of them will prefer to leave the city in larger groups like the convoy that passed us by last week."

Chu replied to the little grumblers laying above him. He reclined on the driver's chair while holding the reins. As a man who commuted in air-conditioned comfort, high-speed vehicles, and on paved roads, this form of travel could only be described as a living hell.

The present him, however, learned to accept his fate. Small favors like the suspension lifts on the wagon and springs on his chair brought tears of joy to his eyes. Yes, he wished for an airconditioned hummer to burn across a journey that would have taken less than a day on earth, but he lacked the knowledge and technology to bring it to reality.

"I know you two are bored to death but when you travel, you need to prepare for this. Besides, you brought it all on yourselves by riding and romping around. I told you not to follow Dyna and Ming when they went scouring around the bridge we battled the Bitzers."

"Brother Chu, I couldn't help it. Lucy told us the story of how you rescued the soldiers from the Military from the ambushing Bitzers. She said even the commander of the military treated you with respect afterward. Miki showed us the place where you stopped the wagon and faced the demon beasts."

"Brother Chu is amazing, Hope, but I want him to teach me some more on how to swim. Maybe we can find a warm river where we can practice again. I think I am this close in being able to float in the water."

Chu shook his head from below on listening to their diverging discussion. Hope and Yin might be children but they possessed a mindset that differed from regular children. Yin had experienced the slum live with Sally and Brella which imprinted a natural sense of fortitude.

Although Hope never lived a life of hardship and grew up in a large loving environment, she acquired an open mind. She watched the world through a pair of calm, patience eyes. Chu considered this to be a product of the different personalities who surrounded her.

Mrs. Thomas who raised her with the etiquette of a lady, Jim who showed her how to make her own pheasant trap, and sitting on a stile for hours with Clod and his band of farmers while gazing silently over the fields. By now, a child of her age might be riling and railing on this torturous journey, but she simply voiced her displeasure to inform him of her thoughts.

"Instead of thinking about when you could ride on a wolf, why don't you continue increasing your magic? Didn't you say you wanted to impress Mrs. Thomas by showing her a light ball like mine?"

"Brother Chu is right, I forgot we could practice anytime. I will use all this time to meditate and open more stars."

The reply floated from above. Chu drove the caravan in silence for some time before he heard a few sighs of frustrations. Chuckling, he glanced around the untouched meadows and then clicked to the contented horse. His wagon might appear lonesome on the road, but no one could approach within a mile without him knowing.

Reclining into a lazy position, his thoughts wandered around. Recalling a particular one, an evil grin surfaced on his slightly tanned face.

"The fireworks should have started in Frost City by now. Poor merchant Gofart, his face would be priceless..."

***

The major news spreading across Frost City by the town carriers contained the long-awaited Military report. Commander Fredijack of the Rear Guard completed his sweep throughout the northwestern lands of the Empire. The experienced Commander assured the public that the demon beast threat had ended.

Frost City consisted of an amalgamation of residents and visitors who all possessed one goal in mind. To become a Sersen. In the case of the merchants and tradesmen who supported the soldiers and thrillseekers, their goal of becoming rich was much easier.

With all these various groups and individuals, the news from the Military was guaranteed to spread to all corners and even beyond the Empire. While the taverns and inns hosted patrons sharing their take on the welcome news, a merchant convoy entered the estate of one of the large villas located outside the city.

The dusty wagons and accompanying riders slowed to a halt before a few servants led them into a large open field adjacent to the stone structure. As the drivers parked their wagons in a crude lineup, a group of guards exited the villa and positioned themselves as sentries. Merchant Gofart slapped a palm of oil across his dying hair before hobbling across to meet an approaching contingent.

"Merchant Gofart greets the Patriarch."

The balding man bowed while clasping his hands in greeting.

"Good, good, it seems like my years of perseverance has not been wasted on you. Your name will hang high in the halls of the Merchant Guild after this accomplishment. Never have any merchant dared to cross and travel deep into another kingdom. The value of your years of travel will propel our clan into the elite class of nobles within the Empire."

The spotted, old patriarch praised. His eyes could barely contain the greed and anticipation as his flabby arms trembled in excitement. He had spent half his life in preparing for this trade and waited for over four years for his second son to turn it into a reality. By slicing the profits from all the middlemen through this journey, the expected income approached staggering proportions.

When one considered his decision to sink over half of the clan's wealth as an investment into this undertaking, one could only imagine the gold involved. What many in the clan remained unaware of, however, was that the Patriarch had also borrowed a considerable sum from the Merchant Guild for this endeavor. Only himself and his second son knew the true purpose of the borrowed gold.

Patriarch Gofart shrewdly used the profits from the clan's usual trades to keep the moneylenders at bay. Now, those moneygrubbers could only stutter and drool as his clan ascended the social ladder.

"Patriarch surely jest. We all know this is the culmination of your years of toils and planning. Bring a crate! Let the Patriarch feast on his achievements!"

Merchant Gofart said while turning to his accompanying servants. He knew well enough the old man did not leave Frost City to shower praises on him. If he delayed any longer in showing the cargo, his old man might wring his neck. The servants soon returned with a crate from the nearby wagon. Prising the lid open, they retreated in the presence of their masters.

The old man hobbled up to the open crate and gazed at the contents. His heart relaxed on viewing the white stones nearly filling the wooden box. Only by viewing the merchandise himself, could his mind be placed at ease.

"You should have bargained some more and let them fill the crates to the brim. Every nook and cranny wasted on a journey like this means a loss of gold coins. No matter, no matter, for each stone that burns and spreads its fragrance across a nobleman room, we will earn its weight in gold."

"You have done well second brother. The blood of a merchant flows freely in your body. Knowing you, and your bargaining skills, I am sure you wasted not a single copper. Even the stones look as if you had them washed."

The Elder brother laughed while rubbing his hands. With their merchant connections, the distribution and sale of these stones would fly off the shelf like rock bread during the height of winter. Patting his younger brother on the shoulder, he failed to notice the forming frown on the wrinkled face of his father.

"What did you just say?"

The Patriarch asked while frowning at the stones in the crate. The words from his older son seemed to spark a warning doubt within his mind. Years of experience told him such a feeling could never be ignored.

"I told him the blood of a merchant runs..."

"No, you said something about the stones and washing..."

"Oh, I was only joking about the stones appearing as if washed..."

The frown on the old man deepened as he tried to force the spark to ignite his mind. His eyes widened on grasping the doubt surfacing in his head. Watching the rounded stones in the crate, he then staggered backward.

"Incense stones are chipped and jagged because of how they are gathered. Why are these stones rounded? The desert kingdom doesn't possess water to waste on washing stones. Light a lamp and burn a few stones. Now that I think about it, why don't they smell?"

Witnessing the agitation rising on the face of the Patriarch, merchant Gofart sought to ally the old man's worries. Deep in his own mind, he shuddered and refused to believe the words of his father.

"Please Patriarch, calm down. I assure you there is nothing wrong with the cargo. This son of yours personally performed random checks on every crate and also confirmed the stones I selected back then all burned with the soothing smell of incense."

"I SAID find me a lamp!"

****