A Simple Merchant

"Dear, we need more eggs, can you go get some?" Asked a mature looking woman, her hair put up into a bun. A man looking about her age walked over and reached around and held her. "Of course, is there anything else I should pick up while I'm out?" After which he gives her a peck on the neck. "As long as you don't spend too much, whatever you want. We still need enough to pay for tribute." She responds turning to kiss him before gently pushing him. "Now go, I've still got work to do and I can't do that with you bothering me." The man listens and heads out, saying goodbye to his wife and stepping outside of a well-made and decently sized cabin.

"Father, are you heading out? Can I come with you today?" Asked a boy who couldn't be any older than 20. He appeared to have been splitting some firewood. "I'm only going out to pick some things up in town, you need to stay here Marco. Remember, I need you-" Marco lowered his head, "To watch over mother and my sister when you're out. Nothing ever happens though and I was hoping to go anyway." His father sighed, "And when it does I'll have you to count on. You know where my bow is right?" Marco just nodded. "Good, now, I'll see you later today, don't go slacking off now." With that he headed down the trail that led away from their house.

After about an hour's walk the man arrived at a small village, "Good morning Mr. Hauser, how's the family?" Asks a young man wearing some leather armor. "Thank you Alsonso, and yes they're doing quite well. Marco wanted to come with me but you understand." Alsonso nods, "That's a shame, I've been hoping to hang out for a while. Anyway, you came just in time, a travelling merchant just arrived with some pretty good quality fabrics and furs and for a pretty good price."

Finally, the first sign of civilization I really need a distraction from everything I just learned. I looked in the back at the stacks of fabrics. It's nice that I can actually see the worth of items with my HUD. I was riding up to a small village when a young man in leathers stopped me. "What's your business here stranger?" A guard? Let's see, Alsonso Flores, Human, No class. Probably a volunteer guard for the village. "I'm a simple merchant seeking to sell my wares." Though I don't think any villager will be able to afford some of this stuff, these silks are worth a fortune. "Alright, just don't go causing any trouble." He pats the horse and steps aside as I ride into the village. When I reach what's roughly the center I stop and hop off and walk to the back. I grab a small table from the back and set it up next to the wagon before putting some animal hides on it. Sure I wasn't an actual merchant but acting was second nature to me, I'd done this sort of thing plenty of times. I grabbed some of the furs, the cheapest stuff I had which were still pretty nice, and laid them out on the table. I also grabbed a roll of cloth just to display so people knew I had some.

It isn't long before I have quite a crowd, or the equivalent for a small village, about 6 people who mostly seemed interested in me than my wares. With the questions they were asking it was pretty evident none of them had actually gone very far from their village. Even the guard from before was curious, though he didn't stay long. I did manage to get a few of them to actually buy some furs, though I had to let them haggle for a lower price to afford it. By the time most of the people went on their way I had gotten about 50 silver pieces, which when I put them in my inventory came out as 5 gold. The actual sale also gave me a bit of experience which was a nice bonus. I had also learned that there's only about 25-30 people in the village with most of them living further off around it.

"Excuse me sir..." A man by the name Dar Hauser approached, "I'm hoping you have something nice I could get for my wife. It's kind of for a special occasion." Compared to the previous villagers, he seemed a bit more rugged, probably a hunter as he didn't have a class. "Of course, though are you sure you know what she'd like?" I say as I move the remaining furs into the wagon. He took a few moments and looked at the roll of cloth left on the table. "I'm sure something like that would do, it's not like I have a lot of gold to throw around. I still need to keep enough for the tribute." Tribute? This could be interesting. "Tribute you say? What for?" I ask as I lean on the table. He took a breath, "Yes, we have to pay a tribute every month to a group of bandits, in turn they not only leave us alone but keep danger away from out village. We're not exactly very close to civilization and despite what Alsonso thinks, we don't really have any other choice out here." Interesting, sounds like something I should check out. But for now I have something else to do. "Well that's a shame, regardless a simple cloth isn't a proper gift. How about this, you pay what you can and you can ride with me back to your home and she can pick out something herself." He looked surprised, before he could respond though I spoke, "Don't worry about it, I can afford it. Though maybe something to eat in return would be nice." He blinked his eyes, "Uh, yeah. That works for me, do you need any help packing up?" I shook my head and motioned him to the front of the cart as I packed up the roll of cloth and table back into the wagon.

"So, what's your name?" He asked as the horse pulled us out of the village. "Dalen Orben, and you are?" I answer as I follow the directions he gave me. "Dar Hauser. I appreciate you doing this, mind if I ask a few questions?" I nod with a smile, "You don't have any guard, how'd you get all the way out here on your own." He looked at him with a more serious face, "I wasn't." He gulps, "I... understand, sorry." I figured out why he wasn't threatened by me, I looked like a slim young man more used to reading than anything else. That was exactly how I could do most of the things I had in my previous life. "So, you have any family other than your wife?" I asked, "I do, a daughter and son, Mary and Marco." He chuckles, "They probably do more for us than I do now." Family of four; father, mother, daughter, son. "How it should be, it's a child's duty to surpass their parents." I say. He asks, "How about you? Any family waiting for you to return." I let out a sigh, "No, not yet. I haven't really had the kind of life for a family. Maybe I'll settle down one day." He remained mostly quiet for the rest of the ride which took only 10 minutes as we headed into the forest.

"We're here." Dar says as we ride up to a clearing of trees with a fairly large cabin in the middle. We both hop off the wagon as he leads me toward the cabin, "Sarrey, I'm back." Dar calls out, a moment later the door swings open as a mature woman looks out from the doorway, despite her wearing a rather plain tunic, she was clearly well filled out. This is going to be a fun day.