Read Online The Free Trader of Warren Deep (Free Trader Series Book 1) by Craig Martelle - Free Book Online Page B

in the open, reinforcing the trader’s trust in the bidder. Braden thanked people for attending and bidding. As the last walked off, he opened the pouch to find two platinum pieces and fifteen gold. He’d been ripped off, as he suspected he would by the way the crowd treated the older man. Braden hadn’t though his duplicity would stoop so low as to pay a third of the agreed-to price.
    He saw the second high bidder, a man who had bid eight platinum, at the edge of the market. He went to him.
    “Are you still interested in a vial of saffrimander?” The man’s eyes perked up. “Eight platinum and it’s yours,” Braden said pulling the vial partially from his purse, shielding it from any other prying eyes.
    “I’ll give you five,” he replied. Braden appreciated the man’s shrewdness, but acted insulted nonetheless. He put the vial back in the purse at his belt and walked away. He knew that G-War was watching them as he had returned to his perch on Braden’s horse. He felt a hand on his shoulder. “Wait. Eight is all I have. Would you take my last shekel?”
    “I’ll take your eight and a loss, and give you five gold back. Final offer.” Braden wanted the power of platinum. If he ran into trouble, money could buy a way out. The more he had, the better his chances of surviving. Then again, that was how a trader in the civilized world thought. He was heading into the Great Desert.
    “Done,” the man said before Braden could further refine his “final” offer. They made the trade, huddled closely together. With one last handshake, the two went their separate ways.
    He’d keep the last vial to himself. The trader in him refused to take a further loss. And if he ever ran across the old man again, he would set things straight. The man owed Braden six platinum and five gold. That was non-negotiable. The turn would come where he would pay. It was the law of the trade.

 
    21 – Running from the Fight
     
    When the cart was ready, the Blacksmith found Braden in the market buying dried greens and hard cheeses. The big man seemed excited about how the cart had turned out.
    Braden also found himself pleased with the final result. The Woodworker had performed magic with the cart, transforming it into one that was twice as high as the rickety old version. It contained no buckboard, so a driver would have to balance across two added boards and a leather strap.
    Braden hadn’t intended to drive from the cart, but the braces and leather strap were a nice touch. He thanked both the men profusely and gave them a couple extra gold pieces for their efforts. Once the trade was made, going above and beyond solidified one’s reputation, but it generally earned the craftsman no extra gold. Their reputations for high quality helped garner greater value in future trades. Call it better marketing, as long as the buyer shared the information.
    The casks were sturdy and new. He tied these within the cart using some rough twine. He brought the horses over, tying his mount to the back of the cart and hooking up the pack horse to the harness and leads. The horse seemed indifferent to pulling or carrying. Pack took his new task as stoically as his last. Once hooked up, Braden waved at the Blacksmith and the Woodworker as he drove through the square. He headed north out of town. No one needed to know his intended destination.
    Once out of sight of the town, he turned his horse east toward the Bittner Mountains. The pack horse, pulling the cart with their two blanket packs and two empty casks, was behind him as they disappeared into the trees.
    ‘We are being followed,’ G-War passed via their mindlink.
    “I thought so,” Braden answered out loud. ‘What do you see Skirill?’ he said with his thought voice. He was answered with a picture from high above of four men on horses, trotting along without a sense of urgency. They turned where Braden had turned from the road, following the cart’s tracks toward the woods. Skirill took