Chapter 3:The strange peddlers
962 Words
I don't know who they are.Or what they are.I frankly know that they appear out of thin air literally whenever I needed a lifesaving item during my quests.I didn't know what I needed or wanted but they did.I didn't have a foresight but they did.I didn't even know what was coming but they always did.I dont have any idea who they are.An elf,human,orc,demon ..or maybe a spirit although Spirit seems likely.All I know they were cloaked figures with red eyes and tall intimidating stature who would come all of a sudden wherever I was and they would always have a bargain for me.Sometimes by the figure I could tell whether it was a male or female.Yeah a bargain is what they came for and as they gave me a valuable or a piece of advice literally just a piece of paper with some map or poetry containing an advice which came handy always.They also took something in return something precious something I worked for.
In the long term what I got was the best bargain which the leading weapon makers or armour makers could not provide for they think only on profit terms.The peddlers would think beyond that as they could see beyond.
They never talked much but just in one or two sentences.They never told who they were or why were they helping me only.They took in one hand and gave from the other.
No matter how guarded or isolated a place was they would pop up.Even when I was taking a pee or attending the call of nature they came.
It was not they who needed me it was I who needed them.
But no matter who they were or how they appeared they helped me and I would be eternally in their debt.
It all started in the forest.After the hunt when I was dragging the bigger warthog through the forest.I was smelling miserable but in words of .my sister I smell miserable all the time as if am a swamp ogre.But need not confuse my listeners I need to say I was smelling miserable than usual.I was drenched in sweat and I was smelling of blood.blood.Blood is the favorite smell of the forest beasts.I had to get out of the forest and reach my home somehow avoiding nasties around me.The khasnah brothers were pissed at me as last time I offered a poached rabbit to the older brother’s mate and she pecked me on the cheek.
I didn't know she was his mate until I was stuffed in the rabbit hole.That day was a mess and unintentional but hey bullies dont get it.Mother Nadur created them to test the weak.
As I was nearly at the edge of the forest I got the tingling sensation and knew Nature was calling me to perform the biological duty.
I was about to open my pants for the purpose to pee then I heard the roar of the saber tooth and I peed my pants.Great now I smelled of blood, sweat and pee.Great going Ihnak.
Bad news was that the roar was of an adult and another thing it came from behind me.As I was about to turn around and run.Then came the good news and which was I heard three quick swishes and heard the groan as I saw the saber tooth dead and three crossbow bolts sticking out of the body.I saw a tall,slender figure with gleaming eyes emerge from beneath the trees.
I got scared as he figure started walking towards me.I saw it raise the crossbow.I thought I would be the next body lying here.I did the most stupid thing and closed my eyes.
I felt a soft hand on my shoulder and oh well the figure was offering me the crossbow as I tried to take it the figure kept the crossbow out of my reach.She as I could tell by her slender figure pointed towards the giant warthog and said,”Give and then take”
I was taken aback for a while this warthog which I hunted with so much effort and which could shut up my dad's ranting for weeks would be going away to this female whom I met a few moments back.Then my logical mind kicked in and told me if it weren't for her I would be dead orc meat and by look of this crossbow which looks strong as well as lightwesmoke.And I saw it's firing power.If I were to look in the bazaar it would cost around a 1000 pieces of gold and my dad would rather sell me at this price rather than buy me something at this price.
I did what I had to do and definitely don't regret it.I dragged the warthog and implored the lady to take it.She bent over and effortlessly picked up the huge corpse and tossed me the crossbow and a quiver full of bolts.She pointed towards the exit of the forest and called out to me “Good luck laddie” as she disappeared in a puff of smoke.I had a situation where I have to drag a sabretooth’s and three smaller warthogs bodies.Now I have a swanky crossbow with fire mode selection and people would believe me.
Overall the day was good and I had a great deal.
All eyes were on me when I went to the market.Even the girls in the market their eyes were on the sabertooth I killed.That day I felt special.
I sold it to Gory Gorhso whois our local tanner and got myself a furcoat and a necklace of sabertooth fangs while I moved on to my next stop which is to the meat market to get the hogs processed.Seriously those people whoever they are came handy that day and other days of my campaign as well.
I kept the broken tusk of the giant warthog as a memento as I walked on ahead
- Writer
