Chapter 48 - I’ve never met a wizard before

“Does this place smell bad to you?” I asked Kril as we walked into the town. I nodded to the guards who gave me wary looks in reply. Kril took a deep sniff and shook his head.

“Nah. It always smells like this at the cull.” We moved aside as a dead aurox was dragged past us by a pair of ponies.

“I don’t like it,” muttered Jandak. He, Mune and Kos were accompanying us to see the smith and dine with king Jagapan. The three of them all had two sacks of Kril’s finest dope swinging from each hand, having left their spears back at the camp.

“Should have brought the spears,” muttered Kos as he eyed the hostile looks we were getting from the locals.

“Nah. We’re twice as strong and fast as any of them. Jandak’s just being a baby,” joked Mune.

“Enough. Keep your guards up, blokes. These guys aren’t friendly,” I said quietly and the grumbling stopped. The camp was similar to Areskyn in most ways. Many more of the men carried bronze weapons and some of the women had woven bands of metal holding their headdresses in place.

Kril led us towards the sound of hammering and we arrived at a large open sided shed. It looked like a permanent building, unusual for the tribesmen, but I noted the fittings at the side that suggested it could be broken down and loaded on a cart.

Under the sloping roof of wooden shingles a man worked with a hammer, smashing it down on glowing metal. He was short, even compared to the nomads, and had a hunchback. Maybe he didn’t? Perhaps his right shoulder and back muscles had simply grown disproportionately large compared to the left. The hammer in his right hand swung down and sparks flew. Kril called out to him then waved a hand at us to wait.

I watched him refining the edges of a neat bronze dagger, having to reheat the metal several times in the process, then dump it into a bucket of water waiting nearby. Only then did he turn and look us over.

“Whatcha want?” he barked. His face was lopsided as well, like he’d had a stroke at one point and now his left side drooped slightly. One eye was open wide, the other squinted half closed and from only a few metres away I couldn’t see his pupils. They must be pinprick small.

“Sulk! We come for trade and opportunity!” said Kril jovially as he walked under the roof and offered his hand. Sulk looked down at the hand and clamped his right hand on Kril’s forearm. A look of confusion passed over his face before he yanked his hand back.

“You got stronger old man. A lot stronger,” he grumbled as he lowered himself down onto his anvil and shook out his hand. “I repeat: what do you want?” He waved at the rest of us and we moved in to join them.

“Trade and opportunity!” Kril repeated with a broad smile but he hurriedly continued as Sulk glared at him. Kril never seemed to care to be polite to anyone but this man was clearly exempt from his lack of respect. “I’ve got dream-spice, ched and crimson dye for trade as well as a proposition.”

“I’ll trade good metal for the herbs, you can speak to Kayla about that. What is the nature of your proposition?” He leaned back and unhooked a cup that he then lowered into the semi boiling water that he’d dropped the dagger into. He took a long drink and smacked his lips.

“We’re going to set up a new venture in the north,” said Kril as he glanced around to ensure we wouldn’t be overheard. Glimpse was parked on the roof above our heads and I knew no one was close enough to eavesdrop. “New metal and new methods! We’ve got a smith trained by Forge Master Badenyk to join us. He told us to tell you he recommends it as a worthy adventure.”

I stepped forward and offered the small talisman Klip had given me to the smith who squinted down at the intricately carved metal on his broad, burn-scarred palm. He harrumphed and passed it back to me.

“I’ve got a note from my wife Fayala for your lady Kayla as well.” I passed him the folded scrap of incredibly valuable paper and stepped back.

“You’re the new king? Split Hakubin’s herd I hear?” he said to me in a gruff voice as he slipped the note into his belt without glancing at it.

“Yes.”

“What makes you special enough to break that tribe? Those clans have lived together for hundreds of years.” I raised my left sleeve and showed him the god-mark. “That’d do it. Strange rumours going round recently. Talk of magic and armies gathering in the south. Settal fell to Urkash this summer, as well as a dozen other major cities. You know anything about that, king?” He fixed me with a beady glare.

“I’ve heard some of it,” I hedged.

“I’ll bet. I’m not marching north for no one. Now, if you want to trade you lot-” he pointed at my fangs and myself, “-can fuck off over there and wait while the wise men talk. BOY!” he screamed and a nearby tent flew open. A young man wearing a leather vest and trousers that matched Sulk’s scurried out. “Jagalurt, take this to my wife and tell her there’s trading to do.” The boy nodded his head as he accepted the note and ran to another yurt before calling out and entering slowly when a muffled reply came back.

Jandak sat and complained about the smell as Mune and Kos teased him. He was right, something smelled off but I couldn’t be sure if it had been like this at the cull in Areskyn. I’d been soaked in arterial blood eighteen hours a day and then staggered off to sleep after a quick wash. I expect my nose and lungs were painted red by the time I quit the horrible task.

A woman, tall for a nomad and with broad hips and large breasts emerged from the tent Sulk’s assistant had entered and moved over to where Kril and Sulk were bickering good naturedly. She glanced across the four of us and locked eyes with me. She winked and smiled faintly before she settled next to Kril and began kicking his ass in the negotiations. His voice became increasingly shrill and his gestures became wilder but Sulk just laughed and turned to pull the dagger out of the water and take it to a grindstone for finishing.

“But this is theft!” yelled Kril. I couldn’t catch Kayla’s quiet words but he glowered at the end and she burst out laughing. “Fine! I only want raw materials for Aresk’s sake! This is what I’d expect to pay for finished blades!”

“You’ve got your own smith now, old man. That’s competition and we don’t need it. This will keep your finished goods too expensive, stopping you from undercutting my dear Sulk.” Kayla’s voice was warm and gentle as it finally rang out loud enough for me to pick out her words.

“Dammit woman this is robbery!” Kril complained again but he began handing over sacks that she opened to examine the contents. Once she was satisfied the herbs were as promised she called out the boy and ordered him what to take back to our camp. Then she turned and walked over to my little party.

“King Mond. A pleasure to meet you. I’m afraid dear Fay’s request is impossible for now but I’ll bear it in mind. Please could you pass this back to her?” She passed me the same paper I’d given her but Fay’s message was now on the outside.

“Lady Kayla. Fayala spoke highly of you. Is there nothing that can be done to persuade your husband? I have access to some things that might interest him.” I drew out my dagger and offered it to her hilt first. She narrowed her eyes and looked up at me questioningly. I nodded permission and she took it over to Sulk who damn near leapt of his skin after he’d had a look at it for a minute or so. He hobbled over to me and waved the blade in my face.

“Where the fuck did this come from? This is adjuntium! No one can work it anymore but here’s you with a shiny tattoo and an impossible blade!” he barked at me. I deftly snagged the blade from his outstretched hand and sheathed it at my waist.

“I can only give you details if you come away north with us,” I said firmly. “I can get more of it though.” While technically true I had no wish to spend the amount of Souls I’d need to to buy that metal in bulk. Sulk went bright red and looked ready to explode but Kayla laid a hand on his arm and pulled him gently backwards.

“That’s understandable but I’m afraid we cannot go north with you. You’ll be riding to war with the Koprig and it’s not safe for a smith and his wife to wander at times like that,” Kayla said as Sulk seemed to melt into calm at her touch. I was fairly confident she wasn’t a witch but her power over her husband was every bit as impressive as Fay had promised.

“We’re eating with King Jagapan this evening. Would you join us?” I asked, silently hoping I wasn’t breaking some obscure rule by inviting another guest. To be honest even back on Earth that would have been bad form. She laughed, her whole body shaking as the surprisingly deep sound rang out.

“Thank you mighty King but I wouldn’t presume on Jagapan’s hospitality! I’m sure we can speak again before you return to your people.” Kayla nodded her head to me and went back to her tent with a spring in her step.

“I want to see that blade again before you leave,” muttered Sulk as he gave me an angry stare, his tiny pupils flaring slightly. I nodded and we began to make our way towards Jagapan’s tent in the centre of the camp.

“Bloody thieves!” Kril grumbled loudly. “Four ingots for all those herbs? They were out to shaft us!” His voice dropped and he glanced around then grinned at the rest of us and winked. “Good thing they don’t know how easy it is to grow more!” he whispered as he waved a finger like he was casting a spell. The Fangs grunted in amusement as we threaded our way through to the heart of the camp.

Jagapan’s tent was the largest in the settlement, perhaps eight metres across it was even larger than Hakubin’s. Two guards with bronze daggers, maces and spears waited outside the entrance. I eyed their simple armour in appreciation. It was much more refined than the junk I’d inherited from Jetan. Smooth discs of bronze overlapped from their throats to their thighs and provided impressive coverage all around their bodies.

“Here at Jagapan’s invitation. King Mond wishes to pay his respects,” Kril said with a mocking bow to the one on the right. He scowled and spat to one side before heading into the tent. We waited patiently as the remaining guard fidgeted and glared at us. A few moments later the other guard returned and held the flap open for us.

We ducked inside and I was impressed with the place. Bronze sheets hammered thin and cut with intricate designs hung on the walls and there were metal swords and spears propped upright all around us. The light from the central fire danced and flickered on all the reflective metal giving the place an aura of constantly shifting light.

“Come in. This is my wife, Lady Habene.” said Jagapan from his throne-like chair. The elegant woman bowed her head to us. Her face was hidden by a scarf but her eyes were blue, almost as bright as my own.

“Please be seated. I’ll arrange some food for you,” she said in a gentle voice, a strange counterpoint to the harsh and staccato speech of her husband, then moved past us and out of the tent.

“You fight well boy. Although you lack manners. It would have been better to let me win at least a little,” chuckled the one eyed man. His bronze orb flickered in time to the fire.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any offence,” I started but Kril snorted and Jagapan chuckled, slapping his knee.

“A king doesn't apologise, Mond,” he laughed. “If we fuck up and get away with it, that’s what we meant to do in the first place! Please, sit.” He gestured to the cushions placed around the fire. They were the first soft furnishings I’d seen in this world and I resolved to buy as many as were available before we went back to Mondit.

“Thanks. We’re looking to establish a more regular trade with your people,” I said.

“Pah! Kril and Kark can sort that out between them later. Where did you learn to fight that way! You moved like liquid metal,” he leant forward to stare down at me eagerly.

“I’ve had some training that your people may not be familiar with,” I offered, hoping to avoid any comments about my abnormal strength and speed.

“Where are you from? You speak the language fluently but with an accent I’ve never heard before. I’ve been to forty Halleth festivals and never heard its like. You aren’t one of us so you must be either from the tribes in the far west or somewhere in the south. You’re not a shit-sitter are you boy?” he asked with a mock glare.

“Speaking as a ‘shit-sitter’ myself I must say I do not recognise the accent either so it must be the far west,” said a mellifluous voice from the entrance. As my head snapped round I was already reaching out to lock a hand on Jandak’s arm. He’d started to rise and draw his knife at the same time.

At the entrance to the tent stood a man in flowing robes of fine linen, dyed red and lined with dense yellow thread work. His face was angular and his eyes were intelligent. Grey hair that had retreated from his brow covered his head but what remained was gathered in a ponytail at the back that he had pulled over his shoulder and stroked with one hand.

Every finger had an iron ring on it and behind him stood four bandaged men. I tightened my grip on Jandak’s arm and forced him back into his seat. This man didn’t have any stats floating over his head in pale red letters. He wasn’t a soulbound servant. The stink of rot floated into the tent on the draught that passed by his escorts.

“Wizard Grell,” said Jagapan, rising from his seat and nodding his head at the man. “Friends, please meet the emissary from Urkash who has chosen to grace us with his presence.”

Kos and Mune had risen to their feet but I quickly stood and stepped between them and the newcomer, one hand behind my back gesturing for them to sit back down.

“A pleasure,” I nodded my head. “I’ve never met a wizard before. What’s that like?”