"Cook, come here a sec." Cook nodded once and sauntered over to Izem, his sandals slapping against the floor and his foot with every step. "Keep an ear out, I heard that he's back. We need to be ready to go at a moments notice." Cook straightened up and nodded. "Got it, Izem. I'll let tha others know." Izem nodded and walked off to open the doors for the day. "Izem!" Bo was eagerly waiting by the doors; Izem smiled slightly and patted his head. "Hey, I'm not a little kid ya know," he huffed as he walked in and ploped himself down in a stool at the bar. "Ha, to me ya are. Come, since you are here, help me with openin'," Bo nodded and went over to help setting up before people crowd the eatery..
After only a short while, the morning tasks were completed and Bo walked over to thick wooden doors and flipped the sign that was hanging in the small window from "Closed" to "Open," to officially mark the beginning of the day. Like clockwork, a regular came in the eatery with a big grin on his face. "Yo, Izem, can I get my usual?" Izem stopped cleaning the last mugs and looked over to the man who was more than a head taller than him. "What do you have as payment today Quinn? You know it's not free," a sly grin appeared on Quinn's rugged face and he casually moved his tan colored dreads away from his face. "I have information as payment for today..I think it would be worth ya while to hear me out." Izem sighed and motioned for Quinn to follow him to the small side office. Once they were inside, Izem took a seat behind a wooden desk and Quinn opted to stand against the door frame after closing the door; his bulky stature covering most of the door behind him.
"Are ya going to waste my time with silence or are ya going to give me ya payment??" He asked impatiently. Quinn chuckled to himself then suddenly, his face expressed a serious look. "Ya know ya boy over in district B2?? Word is some newb is coming in and trying to clean him out of his stock. Ya know we personally picked those horses for the business. If some outta town-er comes in claiming to be settin' up a new exchange from our lot, don't ya think that's a cause for concern?" Izem listened calmly, "Is that all?" Quinn huffed then continued speaking. "No, I also hear he's been out tryin' ta recruite outlying guild members, or those unaffiliated, to do his dirty work..most of which are still missin'. A few people from A3 have already come ta tha office spouting their biggest were missing and turnin' up dead since he came in.." Izem nodded and stood up from the chair, "Let Cook know you're here. He'll take care of ya..I will send someone to look into the payment," he motioned for the door and Quinn smirked then walked out and over to the kitchen window, "Ayye Cook.." As Quinn continued the conversation, Izem went over to Bo. "I need ya to verify some things. Head to the lower districts and find out what ya can involving The Exchange," Bo's face lit up "Of course Boss. Will I need to persuade or keep under the radar?" Instead of answering, Izem motion his hand in a "down low" manner and Bo nodded then left through the back exit.
*Sometime later* There was a loud thud against the doors, instantly grabbing everyone's attention. The once noisy eatery was all but silent as Drew stumbled in covered in blood, along with 1 of his body guards looking haggard. Everyone immediately started whispering amongst themselves as Izem grabbed a wet bar rag and walked over the the pair. *PANT PANT..WHEEZE..* the body guard looked the worse of the 2. "What happened?" Izem asked as he tossed the towel to Drew. Before they could answer, Izem snapped loudly and Cook and another kitchen hand, came out to grab the 2 men and take them to Izem's office. "We..*pant pant* were attacked.. *sigh* ambushed! The men you suggested *pant pant* died almost immediately..I should at least be comp-" Withougt even saying a word or changing his stance..the pressure in the office became heavy; Drew and his bodyguard immediately shrunk down. "I did not suggest those men. They went ta you on their own accord. They just happen to be eating here when ya came inside. So I will not compensate you for anything. It was your choice to go with those men and have them look after you."
Drew obidiently nodded, "Im..sorry. I am still so shocked..They seemed like dependable men..and my -my other body guard..he was killed too. Plus the young guide..it is all just so much.." Izem looked over towards Cook and the other kitchen help and nodded once, shortly after they showed themselves out. "So do ya want a crew that will actually protect you?? Those guys were from the slums of district B2..If this really is as important as ya say, I can recommend some people for the job." Drew's eyes almost seemed to light up. "Yes, that would be great! We really need to meet up for the trade. We already lost 2 days..I would be grateful for the help. Also, would you mind if we checked out your stock?" Izem nodded and pointed towards the door. Once they were out, Desta was at the counter with a questioning look on his face. "Take em to look at tha stock. I'll round up a crew." Desta nodded and lead the men outside.
Once the 2 men neared the area where the 'stock' were held, the town became more lively. This was the center of town and was thriving with small shops with various goods and services available. The stock, which were horses, were an important part of The Exchange Grounds, of the town. People who came from out of town and needed to get elsewhere, could pay the fee for the horse and could exchange the horse at any point at the different exchange stations located along their way. The same could be said for anyone currently in town. Whether they need a horse for a day's ride to the next town or if they needed a horse more built for labor, they could pay the fee and "loan out" a horse. It was an important system that was part of The Exchange Grounds in town.
The Exchange Grounds as a whole, is a collection of businesses with goods and services that allow for specific trades. Each business has a sign signifying that they will accept currency as well as a trade for the payment of their good or service. The concept was said to be founded by an old lumberjack who had no where to go. Townspeople talk that an old widow noticed he was hungry but had no currency for food so she allowed him to trade his labor for food. Per the town romantics, the 2 fell in love and grew their small eatery to the bustling business center that the Exchange Grounds is today. The horses and Exchange Stations were added fairly recently, but are now the main producer of income. The Exchange Stations for horses are one of the few businesses that deal strictly in currency.
"So word is, you want to open up an Exchange Station of ya own, further inland no?" Drew froze and for a split second, and glared at Desta, then immediately went back to his normal face. "Word travels in small places huh? Yes I am and part of the reason I came to this specific location was because I heard that there were some of the best here. I was hoping to do a trade of sorts to take some off of your hands." Giggling of children and noises from dogs and the horses filled the area..Desta looked skeptical then put a hand on Drew's shoulder. "I'm sure we can work something out," he said as he grinned. Drew was noticibly uncomfortable as they continued their discussion.
As Drew and Desta walked further through the area, Drew was able to see the different stations setup within. The Exchange Station, had a central location that housed the horses that were available. The exchange has only been in act for 2 years but is wildly successful with new location popping up along the coast and further inland. If someone was traveling to a new location but didn't have a means to travel aside from walking, they could go to The Exchange Grounds, find the Exchange Station, and "rent" a horse for their journey. They are then able to Exchange or close out their contract for that horse at any other Exchange Station.
Along with the main area where the horses are held, there are many smaller divisions within the fences. There is a nook that has someone cleaning and fixing new horseshoes to the horses. A section where the horses feed and drink, a section for bathing/grooming, and finally the last area was where the person "renting" the horses, could interact and get ready for their journey.
"Wow, everything is so.. well maintained and organized. Is that where the customers pay?" Drew was looking around the place in disbelief. "Yes. They pay 1/2 to get the horse then the other 1/2 when their journey is done and they take dem to the new exchange station. If someone were to get lost, have an accident, or even try and pull one ova on us," Desta paused and looked directly at Drew, "Then we have a way of tracking the horses. Since the people completing the purchase have to discuss cost and tha length of their use, it's easy ta track em down." He explained with a smirk. Drew chuckled nervously and continued walking until he reached the area where the horses were held. Off to that side was another pen that houses less horses. "So if I wanted to purchase them I could right? I mean it's a free market. I think those 3 in the far pen look well. How about we start at-" *CLANK!* There was a loud metallic clank that interrupted Drew.
"Whoa now girl, you're fine, you're safe. What's gotten into you?!" There was an older man trying to calm a frightened mare, but having little luck. At the same time as Desta took a step forward, another younger man stepped in. His thin body and short stature looked out of place, but almost immediately as he put his hand on the side of her neck, the mare began to calm down. "Wow, tha kid has gotten better," Desta chuckled. As the young man led the mare to the separate pen, Drew called out, "Hey kid! Want to be a guide to get me inland? You really seem to have a way with the horses!" Drew had a mischievous look on his face which caught Desta's attention. The young man raised his hand in response and motioned for him to wait. After the young man returned he walked over to where Desta and Drew were standing. "Sorry, did ya say ya wanted a guide to go inland? I have to haul some feed to the next Exchange Station up the way, so long as you keep on my trail, I can lead ya there for sure."
...*Later at The Inn* "Just stay aware. I don't trust him and we need to know what he's up ta. Cook, Klein, I want ya both to be tha main ones. Desta already told me he eyed the kid at the exchange so he will be there too. He isn't well equipped but he's smart where he needs it. We need one more of ya ta go since he's bein picky." Izem was sitting at his desk with the others in the office, which looked rather small with all 3 men in the office. "What about Ammon? He is quick as a whip and just as good at hand to hand as Klein. He's a talker too." Izem pondered Cook's suggestion for a moment.
"What about Esme?" Both Izem and Cook were stunned that Klein threw out a suggestion. "Well, that would definitely throw him off...How about this, go to ya posts and when I call for ya 2, come out. We'll give em a little shock. I'll check if Esme is around and if nothing else I'll have someone from the guild tail ya in case of an ambush." Both the men nodded. "Thanks Boss. I'll make sure to be my charismatic self while I keep this one from running rampant, yeah?" Cook chuckled as he put a hand on Klein's, stubbled light grey hair. Izem waved his hands in a dismissing manner before contacting Esme. "*sigh* what a hassle..."