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*Gate is ready for use.*
She ignored the notification and after some time the notification faded and disappeard.
She hoped that next city would appear in the time the last gate opens or she would have to find an excuse to leave.
Roads after the bridge were much better, smoother so the two mules that pulled the carriage had no problem rushing faster.
The road was muddy, but it was not so muddy to get stuck in it. Someone threw gravel and pebbles on it so it was not as bad as she expected.
She realized she would have to travel for days if she went by foot for few reasons.
On few spots the water was covering whole road and only because this driver was experienced and knew exact place, he traveled over the road section.
Water was practically knee deep and covered whole surrounding and road at the same time.
Just looking at this she knew she would have been in trouble if she even tried.
Even one whole forest was under water and he cursed as he almost got stuck.
Pearls of sweat glistened on his forehead and he finally sighed in relief as he left the last water puddles. "Child, stay in the city until water goes back. Even I have no plan going back for a few days as I really have no wish to die."
Anna Gale calmly nodded. "I anyway plan going to next city afterwards. I'm not staying in the city."
"Next city?" Something in his voice made Anna Gale look at him.
"What's wrong with the next city? " She blinked at him innocently. The problem was she can see only as far as her map shows.
"Of course, a child wouldn't know." His face became solemn. "Next city has currently a problem with angry people. The noble that had duty to care about the city and surrounding made such high taxes that people could die if they really pay it. The problem is he has army of Grom. Grom people are heartless and completely devoted to their master. So they went and... punished commoners."
Oh great. Stupid noble that kills his own people? Who does he think will work for him?
"But I just am passing trough it. They will not attack travelers, right? " Her eyes looked at him and saw him shaking his head.
"After he ' punished ' many of commoners, rest left. Literally just left with their families. Now the noble enslaves anyone who enters his land. The king already was noticed so stay still until he doesn't clean up that person."
Anna Gale really had no wish to be treated as a slave, but she had the gate to escape so she was not worried about being captured.
Of course, she wouldn't say anything to this kind man that is warning her and smiled. "Oh well, then I'll visit relatives."
The man wanted to ask names of relatives but almost got frightened as he saw rabbit jumping out of bushes and running over the street.
It dissapeard in other bushes as fast it came and he patted his chest, completely forgetting his question. "Rabbits were pushed out the forest and meadows and got closer to villages."
Luckily the villages already harvested their food so the large number of smaller animals didn't harm them in any way.
Kids went to hunt rabbits for some meat and fur as winter was near.
Anna Gale saw them passing various roads going towards villages and just when third time notification appeared, she saw huge walls of the city and was stunned.
These walls were larger, sturdier and same like the stones from the bridge. As it seems, this noble here built the bridge.
Whoever it was, he did a great thing.
The city was visibly larger as well and they entered the gate without problem..
The carriage stopped in large market in the city.
The streets were stone paved so there was no mud. Luckily she chose not to wear rain set then normal shoes and clothes.
Well, normal for her world. Here she was visibly different, but acted completely calmly.
After everyone went down, the driver went away and left them on their own.
She turned her head towards nearest store and entered.
Luckily there were only couple people that left soon. The man looked at her strange attire and came forward. "You are not from here."
It was obvious so he spoke of it.
"I'm from far away. I'm stopping just for a bit. Are you interested buying few things?" She calmly looked at him.
"Depends." A slick expression passed his face and she almost rolled her eyes. Is he planning to rip her off?
Without talking much she calmly opened her backpack and took out the bundles.
First bundle was largest. Bunch of metal spoons that made him gape.
"This..."
He saw her taking various smaller bundles and after unwrapping he saw various knives in different sizes.
The shiny blades were impressive and he gulped loudly. "How... how much?"
Oho. It seems these things are expensive.
"It depends..." Anna Gale calmly looked at him and made same expression he had before, stunning him.
First he wanted to get angry, but then gave up and started laughing. "You learn fast. That is good. In future you won't be bullied. Let's see, what material is this?"
"Stainless steel. It doesn't rust as fast as normal iron so we made spoons for people to use for decades." She was not sure if this was truth or not, but advertisement on TV often promised such things.
He knocked with the spoon on counter and loved the noise it made. "I'll give you per spoon fifty Ceresa as I must earn money as well. Knives I will pay the smallest one Kali and then Kali extra per size."
Anna Gale shook her head. "Sorry. I understand that you want to earn money, but stainless steel needs lots of various ores. Fifty Ceresa is too little, you know it and I know it. And Kali for a good knife? Seriously?"
Seeing that this child can't be fooled, the trader pressed his greedy lips and coughed. "I..."
"Just buy as much you can afford. I will sell the rest back at home." Anna Gale shrruged and he had to stop as he saw her slowly rolling the merchandise.
"Fine. A Kali per spoon and I want only two smaller knives." He could only offer certain amount as he only had certain amount in his store.
"Fifty spoons, fifty Kali. Two smaller knives five Kali each is ten Kali. All together, sixty Kali." Anna Gale put the two smaller knives with wooden handle on the counter and pushed all spoons towards him.
Rest of knives were again rolled into cloth and put into the backpack.
The trader could only grumble in his heart and slowly count small balls of silver while his eyes flashed with a stupid idea...