The Merchant and the Menace (45 page)

‘Use the gaff ya fool! You’ll break the line!”

I never landed such a fish, and held no inkling
that its girth might snap my corded line or sturdy pole. One hand fumbled in
the boat as the other strained with the thrashing creature. My hand came across
the handle of a short gaffing stick. I quickly hooked it into the side of the
Urgron and hauled the monster aboard.

The walk back across the bridge was a trial as I
buckled under the weight of the beast. As I approached Weneth I expected to see
the man beaming at me. However, he stood with lips pursed and head downcast.

‘Look at this beauty!’ said I delightedly.

The watchman barely looked at the monster.

‘Aye, tis a beauty.’ he acknowledged softly.

‘That was one of the grandest moments of my life,’
I said with exhilaration.

He smiled and slowly nodded.

‘What in heaven’s name is the matter?’ I exclaimed

‘I apologize,’ said Weneth. ‘My excitement got the
better of me.’

‘What are you on about?’ I laughed.

‘I did not mean to call you a fool young, Prince
Manfir,’ said he, hanging his head lower still, ‘but I stand here many a night
dreaming of casting a line and catching a monster such as that. The fear that
you might lose him right next to the boat overcame good judgment. Many
apologies.’

I laughed heartily and told him I cared not. 'Twas
the heat of the moment. Weneth rang the bell. As Gency opened the gate, the
doorkeeper’s eyes went wide at the sight of my catch. On my return to the
castle, I passed the fishmongers’ booths. The idea of returning with my catch
to the palace did not seem right. News would surely travel within the walls
that the queen’s son caught a grand Urgron. My mother would be none to happy with
my antics. Therefore, I slid in behind the fishmongers’ booths and found the
man the palace purchased most of their fare from. I negotiated a fair price for
my catch and he was happy to accommodate me, knowing he would sell it to the
palace for a profit. We agreed to keep my activities a secret and if I were to
continue, he would buy all I caught. Ironically, the next evening we dined on
my own grilled Urgron.

Late the next evening I had tremendous luck with
some schooling pike Weneth had seen jumping near a sandbar mid river. As I
returned to the gate I stopped and produced a medium sack of coins from beneath
my belt. I held it out toward the watchman.

‘What’s this?’ exclaimed Weneth.

‘I didn’t throw that beast in the trash you know,’
I laughed. ‘Geleg the fishmonger paid a good price for it.’

‘Well....’ stammered Weneth pointing at the bag.
‘That’s yours. You caught the monster.’

‘Tis true, I pulled the line to the skiff, but it
was you and your knowledge that showed me where to go.’

‘No, no I can’t,’ replied Weneth.

‘This fool insists,’ I demanded. ‘It’s not proper
for me to profit off of another’s knowledge.’

The reminder of his indiscretion and his desire to
share in the glory of the achievement prodded Weneth into acceptance. He smiled
broadly.

‘I knew you’d get that one. It toyed with many a
boat throughout the week, but I knew you possessed the patience to play it just
right.’

I smiled and once again handed the bag of coins
toward him. His hands shot up once more pushing them away.

 ‘I’ll share in the profits, but not take them all.
The fish was your catch. You deserve the most. I’ll accept a seventy-thirty
split.’

 ‘I wouldn’t have caught the beast without you.
Besides, I wouldn’t even be on the river without the help of you and your
brother. Gency deserves a cut as well. Fifty-fifty.’

‘That silly bookworm. He’s taken to reading the
night away by candlelight inside that blasted gate. He neither enjoys nor
appreciates this beautiful river. He isn’t even sure what your about as you
sneak out at night,’ grumbled Weneth.

‘Nevertheless, he is a part of this and deserves a
share,’ said I.

‘Sixty-forty,’ frowned the watchman. ‘We’ll take
twenty parts each.’

 I smiled as a plan formed in my head. I was the
heir to the throne of Zodra, a duke of Rindor. My family’s wealth was almost
countless. I had no need for the money, nor a want for it. However, this goodhearted
man would not accept more than his share. I negotiated the price with Geleg, so
only I knew the contents of the purse.

‘Done!’ I exclaimed. ‘I agree to a sixty-forty
split. I will deliver your share to you each evening after a sale.’

I quickly counted out some coins and handed them to
Weneth. He gaped at the sum as I laid it in his hands. It was more than three
months his salary. He thanked me profusely for the coin and I returned to my
quarters after first visiting Geleg.

 This arrangement lasted for the three summers I
visited Rindor in my youth. I daresay it was quite profitable for all
concerned. I satisfied a young man’s urge to rebel against my parent’s orders,
and satisfied my love of the sport. Weneth and Gency purchased land together
South of the city. Their sons and daughters work a profitable ranch the two men
purchased with the extra coin they received.

“What plan did you put into play against the
watchman?” asked Flair.

Manfir smiled as the group arrived in front of “The
Singing Mermaid”. A crudely drawn sign depicted either a mermaid diving beneath
the waves of the river or an otter. Kael wasn’t certain. As they dismounted,
the prince continued.

As the end of my third summer in Rindor approached,
I knew I wouldn’t be returning for a fourth. My education at the Hold was to
begin in my fourteenth summer and I would spend the entire year in Zodra. One
evening as I returned across the bridge I smiled and tossed a small sack to
Weneth. The watchman’s normal grin was gone.

‘I never need to go into the markets, for I leave
all of the supply gathering to my wife,’ said he. ‘I sleep a good portion of
the day away in order to be alert in my city’s service.’

‘It’s admirable that she takes the full task upon
herself,’ said I in confusion. ‘Why do you tell me this?’

‘My wife is ill,’ he replied.

‘I’m terribly sorry,’ I returned. ‘Is there
anything I can do? Is it serious?’

‘It’s but a small thing. However, I needed to make
a visit to the markets.’

‘Yes, and ..’ I prodded.

‘I’m not a man of letters, but I’ve a meager
understanding of numbers.’

The watchman dumped the contents of the small sack
into his hand and slowly counted the coins. When he finished he looked up to
the crescent moon floating in the cloudless sky. He calculated figures in his
head, abruptly stopped and frowned.

‘I’m quite cross with you,’ he stated. ‘How long
has this been going on?’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ I
exclaimed defensively.

‘Well,’ said the watchman. ‘I stopped by the
fishmonger’s booth yesterday. I wished to see that Urgron you caught last
evening in the light of day. Twas a fine fish.’

‘Yes, it was,’ I returned.

‘Unless I’m mistaken, it seems that master Geleg is
selling his fish at a loss to himself,‘ frowned Weneth.

I stood in silence for a moment staring at my feet
and fidgeting.

‘Manfir, the backbone of every man is his
integrity, his honesty. Knowing you’ve been fair in your dealings allows you to
expect fairness in return. We were to split the proceeds sixty-forty.’

‘Ah, but I did!’ I exclaimed smiling. ‘I just never
specified who was to get the sixty.’

Weneth furrowed his brow and frowned once more.

‘Are you telling me this entire time you’ve been
givin’ me sixty parts of your profit?’ asked Weneth.

‘Per our agreement,’ said I and quickly cut off
further protest. ‘Weneth, I’m the heir to the throne of Zodra. I require
nothing. What use might I find for this coin? You stand here year after year
serving the citadel. You deserve it. Our arrangement will come to an end
shortly anyhow. I must leave for Zodra at the end of the week and attend
training at the Hold for my next several summers. Please accept that you were
misled, but deserve even greater rewards than this.’

‘I proudly do my job for the price agreed upon by
the stewards of the city. I never expected more. I can’t repay you. The coin
was used to support my family and can’t be retrieved. However, I’ll hold myself
indebted to you, my prince,’ said Weneth bowing lightly.

‘I’ll accept that,’ said I smiling.

I reached up and tugged on the chain. The bell
sounded and a moment latter the huge gate swung open and I marched into the
darkness of the city at night. From behind me in the darkness I heard Weneth
softly call out.

‘Take care, my boy. The patience you learned on the
river will serve you well on the battlefield.’

I never returned to fish the river.

The group entered the cramped lobby of “The Singing
Mermaid”. The horses were tethered to a series of posts set out front. Granu
remained with them in the shadows of the street. A small cluttered desk sat
unattended near the front door. Past the desk and through the lobby sat the
smoke filled common room. A small bar stood on the right side of the room and
several rough looking characters leaned against it, chatting to one another
over pints of ale. Teeg stepped into the room and all went quiet.

“What can I do fer ya, Master Elf?” asked a rotund,
balding man pouring ale from a tapped keg.

Teeg surveyed the room quickly and pointed to a
large empty table in the corner.

“That will do nicely. The horses on the street need
housing. Seven billets in your establishment are required. I need that table
full of whatever hot fare you serve, and an equal measure of ale to go with it,”
said Teeg as he produced a small pouch from beneath his belt and threw it to
the landlord.

Quick as a cat the landlord’s hands shot out and
snatched the bag from the air. He hefted it for a moment then smiled.

“Of course, me lord,” said the man. “Briny! Get out
here and set up the corner table.”

A greasy haired young man poked his head through
the swinging doors that led into the kitchen. He surveyed the crowd in the
common room for a moment then disappeared.

“Send the wash boy to Hentil’s stables and secure a
number of their stalls! Tell Hentil the usual deal applies!” bellowed the
landlord as he filled mugs retrieved from a wall.

A crash was heard off in the kitchen and Kael
imagined several employees scurrying about to fulfill their employer’s wishes.

“Woman! Can you not see we entertain
paying
customers?”
continued the landlord.

Kael followed the man’s gaze to a sultry woman at a
far table. The woman smiled and slowly stood. She smoothed her tight dress over
her voluptuous body and sauntered forward. Auburn hair cascaded over her
exposed shoulders. Kael flushed slightly as the woman brushed past him.

“I don’t think our old friends will mind if we take
our time getting the rooms ready. They’re hungry and will spend some time at
the table,” purred the woman.

“Eh, old friends?” said the landlord squinting at
the group in the darkly lit and smoky common room.

The woman glided past a smiling Ader and slid up
tight against Manfir.

“Hello, Rin,” she whispered through pursed lips.
“You never said goodbye the last time you were here.”

“Rin?” said the landlord as recognition crept
across his face. “And old Jasper too. How fare you?”

“My father never sees past the man with the fattest
purse,” said the woman. “Your Elven friend blinded him as soon as he tossed
that coin across the bar.”

“Now, now, Lete. There’s no need to be mean. I was
looking after the interests of my new customer,” frowned the landlord. “It’s
not often that we receive guests of such high station.”

A few of the men at the bar grumbled disapproval.

“Oh, you know what I mean,” growled the landlord to
his regular patrons as he rubbed the thumb and index finger of his right hand
together.

They laughed and nodded their heads at the gesture.
Manfir stood stock-still and rigid as Lete tightly circled and inspected him.

“You look no worse for the wear,” she commented. “A
few more scars and a few more lines in the face, but as handsome as ever.”

“Vetic, your daughter has gained weight,” said
Manfir softly to the landlord.

Lete stopped in her tracks, and a few men at the
bar winced. Vetic looked about the room as if trying to find a means of escape.