Post by mcian on May 11, 2023 20:20:40 GMT -5
In short order Thraxas arranged a meeting with the archon of Papua, a hefty, short, balding man named Chumsol. He had held that office five times previously, being a friendly, approachable, intelligent man, quite capable of looking after so small a settlement as Papua. He was a good friend of Scar's as both men respected the other as equals, each having a love for the tiny backwater but commercially successful town. The three of them sat at a table outside the Inn, imbibing ales casually as they talked of random topics that came to mind, especially shipping trade.
"You say you are from Moonglow? Is that your home and do you plan to return once your ship is repaired?" Chumsol inquired.
Thraxas took a swig of wine, shaking his head. "No, I was born there and raised a while but have moved about, living all across the lands in one place or another. I choose to call it home because it is the only thing nearest to home in my mind and experience. My home is where I land," he replied, smiling.
Scar felt uneasy. Thraxas seemed congenial and harmless enough, but there was something about his features that suggested he was not all he claimed to be. The man's hair color was quite unusual; a bright, vibrant, red without a hint of yellow or orange interspersed as often was the case. Even his eyes seemed to glow, likely from the reflection from the thick eyebrows and mustache, Scar guessed. Scar prided himself on refusing to judge by appearances and so passed it off as some old prejudice remembered reluctantly from his sordid past. "How long do you plan to stay here, if I may ask?"
Thraxas looked around, allowing the cowl of his hood to fall back being pushed by the breeze which flung wisps of dust along the nearby road.
I have never seen such bright red hair! Nowhere! It is otherworldly. Scar mused.
"I like it here. The climate suits me. I enjoy the steady heat. I think my coming here was not by chance and it has provided me with a suitable market for trading. I can bring in whatever is needed here and can sell what I take out at an impressive rate elsewhere. We might all stand to make a fortune for ourselves," Thraxas declared, taking another sip of his drink.
Chumsol smiled, elated to imagine such a thing. "We have a lot to sell: lumber, gemstones in the mines of the hills to the west, along with ore, livestock, and good hunting for just about anything. There is a lot of blackrock in the northern desert, though many refuse to mine or handle it."
"Blackrock you say? That which is purported to destroy worlds?"
"Well, those are just tales used to frighten people. It has other uses I suppose," Chumsol explained.
"How many ships do you have, and what connections? Will you have to brave pirate waters to get here, in and out?" Scar asked, changing the subject.
"If so, I shall be better prepared the next time."
"What have you brought along on your ship?" Chumsol asked.
"I was taking crates of wine to sell in Nujel'm. Several crates were damaged, costing me a lot. I figured I would sell it here at cost or less, buy what you have to trade and get this business going."
"Wine? What variety?"
"It is a very select and choice brand. Very expensive to obtain and is definitely something for the discerning palate. Deepwine it is called. Created in the depths of the earth from grapes grown without sun by elves who dwell therein."
Chumsol's face lit up. "Amazing! I have never heard of such a thing! Please allow me to test it, if you will?"
Thraxas smiled. "I brought my crates here for safekeeping. I will give you that chance. In fact, I would be happy to provide the town with what I have, to see if it is something they might want more of. Set the time and date, and I shall make ready the supplies."
The archon clapped his hands. "Brilliant! Yes! After all we have been through, I am sure they will want to make merry. Thank you for your generosity, Lord Thraxas! Let me sleep on it and I shall inform you of my decision."
Thraxas nodded, yet noted that the archon's enthusiasm was not shared by the other member of the group. "What say you, Lord Scar? Do you object to this?"
Scar shook his head. "No, not at all. The archon is right. We have had much tension here the last few months. It has subsided, thankfully, but if this will help us move into a happier period, I am all for it," he said, offering a toast with his ale bottle raised high.
They joined in the toast and shortly thereafter adjorned the meeting.
Thraxas returned to the ship and called its captain to him. "Bring the rest of the crates to the Inn. We shall have need of them. Be sure that neither you nor your men drink the wine. I need your wits about you at all times."
The captain nodded. "May we drink other?"
"Ale only. No cider nor liquor. Do not fail me in this, captain. I have much riding on this shipment. I must not have anything fail due to sloth or incompetent handling of my goods. Do you understand me? I shall brook no mishaps nor failures!"
Looking into the flaring, glaring, red eyes of his master, the captain nodded slowly. A shiver ran down his spine. The words he heard seemed almost melodious, but within them, the aroma of malice, like choice wine laced with deadly poison - not a thing to be survived.
"You say you are from Moonglow? Is that your home and do you plan to return once your ship is repaired?" Chumsol inquired.
Thraxas took a swig of wine, shaking his head. "No, I was born there and raised a while but have moved about, living all across the lands in one place or another. I choose to call it home because it is the only thing nearest to home in my mind and experience. My home is where I land," he replied, smiling.
Scar felt uneasy. Thraxas seemed congenial and harmless enough, but there was something about his features that suggested he was not all he claimed to be. The man's hair color was quite unusual; a bright, vibrant, red without a hint of yellow or orange interspersed as often was the case. Even his eyes seemed to glow, likely from the reflection from the thick eyebrows and mustache, Scar guessed. Scar prided himself on refusing to judge by appearances and so passed it off as some old prejudice remembered reluctantly from his sordid past. "How long do you plan to stay here, if I may ask?"
Thraxas looked around, allowing the cowl of his hood to fall back being pushed by the breeze which flung wisps of dust along the nearby road.
I have never seen such bright red hair! Nowhere! It is otherworldly. Scar mused.
"I like it here. The climate suits me. I enjoy the steady heat. I think my coming here was not by chance and it has provided me with a suitable market for trading. I can bring in whatever is needed here and can sell what I take out at an impressive rate elsewhere. We might all stand to make a fortune for ourselves," Thraxas declared, taking another sip of his drink.
Chumsol smiled, elated to imagine such a thing. "We have a lot to sell: lumber, gemstones in the mines of the hills to the west, along with ore, livestock, and good hunting for just about anything. There is a lot of blackrock in the northern desert, though many refuse to mine or handle it."
"Blackrock you say? That which is purported to destroy worlds?"
"Well, those are just tales used to frighten people. It has other uses I suppose," Chumsol explained.
"How many ships do you have, and what connections? Will you have to brave pirate waters to get here, in and out?" Scar asked, changing the subject.
"If so, I shall be better prepared the next time."
"What have you brought along on your ship?" Chumsol asked.
"I was taking crates of wine to sell in Nujel'm. Several crates were damaged, costing me a lot. I figured I would sell it here at cost or less, buy what you have to trade and get this business going."
"Wine? What variety?"
"It is a very select and choice brand. Very expensive to obtain and is definitely something for the discerning palate. Deepwine it is called. Created in the depths of the earth from grapes grown without sun by elves who dwell therein."
Chumsol's face lit up. "Amazing! I have never heard of such a thing! Please allow me to test it, if you will?"
Thraxas smiled. "I brought my crates here for safekeeping. I will give you that chance. In fact, I would be happy to provide the town with what I have, to see if it is something they might want more of. Set the time and date, and I shall make ready the supplies."
The archon clapped his hands. "Brilliant! Yes! After all we have been through, I am sure they will want to make merry. Thank you for your generosity, Lord Thraxas! Let me sleep on it and I shall inform you of my decision."
Thraxas nodded, yet noted that the archon's enthusiasm was not shared by the other member of the group. "What say you, Lord Scar? Do you object to this?"
Scar shook his head. "No, not at all. The archon is right. We have had much tension here the last few months. It has subsided, thankfully, but if this will help us move into a happier period, I am all for it," he said, offering a toast with his ale bottle raised high.
They joined in the toast and shortly thereafter adjorned the meeting.
Thraxas returned to the ship and called its captain to him. "Bring the rest of the crates to the Inn. We shall have need of them. Be sure that neither you nor your men drink the wine. I need your wits about you at all times."
The captain nodded. "May we drink other?"
"Ale only. No cider nor liquor. Do not fail me in this, captain. I have much riding on this shipment. I must not have anything fail due to sloth or incompetent handling of my goods. Do you understand me? I shall brook no mishaps nor failures!"
Looking into the flaring, glaring, red eyes of his master, the captain nodded slowly. A shiver ran down his spine. The words he heard seemed almost melodious, but within them, the aroma of malice, like choice wine laced with deadly poison - not a thing to be survived.