As I'd awaken, I was met with Nelwynn's face. She remained still asleep, as I'd tried to get out of bed, I found my army being held by the still sleeping Nelwynn. It appears I'll be laying in bed for a bit longer than usual.
About an hour later, Nelwynn slowly began to wake up, seeing me already awake and smiling at her.
Landyn: "Good morning, Nelwynn."
She'd blushed, taking a moment to rub her eyes before responding.
Nelwynn: "M-morning, Landyn."
After she'd awaken, her hold on my arm had loosened, allowing me to get out of bed. I'd made my way out of the room where I was greeted by father and mother. Mother was the first to speak.
Ornelle: "Landyn? I thought Nelwynn was sleeping in your room?"
Shortly after mother said that, a drowsy but embarrassed Nelwynn strolled out of my room.
Ornelle: "Ooh I knew you were meant for my-"
Landyn: "Mother, please. Nothing happened, she'd simply told me that she'd wished to hear my trading stories with father. I ended up losing track of time and ended up falling asleep."
Ornelle: "Oh, and here I was hoping for grandchildren..."
Nelwynn, though still tired, had her face flushed red.
Landyn: "Mother!"
Arnold: "Dear quit teasing them please, look you've gone and embarrassed the both of them. As for you Landyn, you must work better on telling lies."
Ornelle: "OK Arny."
Landyn: "Yes father... wait what lie?"
Father turned away, ignoring my last statement.
Arnold: "Why not check in on your other friend, Landyn? Ah, by the way, Nelwynn you said you were from Saltbrook, correct?"
Nelwynn: "Ah, yes!"
Arnold: "Well, it just happens that I've goods to trade in that direction. Landyn, would you and your friends like to accompany me?"
I'd looked back at Nelwynn, who was now somewhat sullen, holding her arm at her side.
Landyn: "Nelwnn?"
Nelwynn: "It's fine Landynn..."
Though she was hesitant, she knew there was no hiding something like this from father. I nodded and proceeded to explain Nelwynn's circumstances to him.
Arnold: "I see, then you'd be conssidered a runaway slave?"
Nelwynn: "...Yes, I'm sorry for not telling you earlier, it's just..."
Landyn: "Father, please. Surely we can overlook this?"
Arnold: "sigh, the rules of the nation, regarding escaped slaves, is to report them or turn them in."
Nelwynn's sullen face turned darker upon hearing father's words, though before anyone could speak, he'd continued.
Arnold: "While I abhor the practice, Nelwynn, you could enter our household as a slave. Do not expect life to be any easier, in this house we'll treat you as equal, though please remember that we are a family of petty merchants, your life may not be filled with anywhere near the luxuries provided by noble families or the Institute."
Nelwynn's eyes widened, eyes watering and face flowing with tears, looking back at me and rushing towards me to embrace me.
Nelwynn: "Thank you! Thabk youvso much!"
I'd held Nelwynn and consolled her. As I did, father told me of my new duties.
Arnold: "Landyn, you'll be tasked with expanding the house to fit an additional room, until then, you and Nelwynn will share a room. Do not do anything to make me regret this decision."
Landyn: "Of course, father."
Arnold: "Good, now both of you, go get your friend, I still need to run my goods to Saltbrook. We'll stop along Traer, since it's on the way to Saltbrook, so it serves him as well."
Landyn: "Yes father."
With that, Nelwynn and I headed to the stables to retrieve Cordell, Nelwynn clinging to my arm happily while we did. When we'd reached the stables, Cordell was already awake, reading some books, presumably he'd attained these books from the Institute, and likely without their permission. As we'd approached, Cordell closed the book and turned towards us.
Cordell: "I see you two are awake."
Landyn: "Yes, father will be running a trade mission through Traer, to Saltbrook. Would you care to join us?"
Cordell: "I see no reason to refuse, since I'm headed there anyways. A larger party will make the road somewhat easier as well."
Nelwynn: "Let's go then Cordell! Landyn's father is waiting on us!"
Cordell: "hmph, you seem rather eager, very well. Let us proceed."
The three of us began headed back to assist father with arranging preparations. During the walk back, I'd questioned Cordell on the book he was reading. Though somewhat hesitant to spill the beans, he eventually let up.
Cordell: "It's a book on basic fire magics, though there are some notes on magic weapons as well."
I'd remembered that I had a low affinity for fire magic, though now was as good a time as any to learn more about it. Thus I'd asked if I could read the book as well, on the road to Traer and Saltbrook.
Cordell: "Take it, I've already memorized most of it, not that it does commoners much good, since they don't have the luxury of learning to read."
Landyn: "Thanks, Cordell!"
With that I held the book at my side while we'd finished our walk back. The mule was alread set, though father was still getting the goods and provisions arranged. I entered the house to grab my shortbow and a small bundle of arrows, along with my old spear from being conscripted. After which I proceeded to pack our provisions, having Nelwynn bring them to the cart. Cordell was assisting father in packing some of the goods.
By the time we'd finished, we were double checking to ensure we were fully prepared. It was then that we'd set off for Traer and Saltbrook.
Landyn: "Hey Cordell, you never told us, but what is it your family does in Traer? It's rather expensive to live there, and most residents are either craftsmen of lower nobles."
Cordell: "Ah, yes, my father is a smithy, so I actually belong to the craftsmen class, though me being proficient with magics slightly elevates my status. I could effectively be considered a lower noble due to my talent."
As I'd expected, being capable of using magics, and being even somewhat proficient in there use does elevate their status, however this only applies to those that are craftsmen or the higher classes, commoners, and especially slaves do not receive that luxury. However, Cordell's father being a smithy is a wonderful connection for my plan.
Landyn: "Cordell, I don't suppose your father does work with any woodworkers, does he?"
Cordell: "Not often, but occassionally he works on projects in conjuntion with them. Why do you ask?"
Landyn: "I'd like to have a product made, if such is acceptable?"
Cordell 's interest was now piqued, wondering just what it was I'd like that would require both a smithy and woodworkers, since products that required both were often a subject requested by the higher classes.
Cordell: "And what would that product be? I could speak to my father to see if he'd be willing to produce it."
Hearing that, I quickly grabbed some of my old sketches of an arquebus, and presented it to Cordell.
Cordell: "Hmm? What is this supposed to be? An irin rod within a piece of wood? Is it a weapon? tlSome of these parts seem to be rather small... It will be somewhat complicated, though I'm sure even father would be interested in this."
Cordell looked at the sketches on the wooden sheets, puzzled and intrigued by what he'd seen.
Landyn: "Well, can your father make it?"
Cordell: "Can he? He's one of the better smiths within all Traer! Of course he can!"
Landyn: "Excellent! There should be an alchemist within Traer as well, no?"
Cordell: "Yes, why? Do you require one for the weapon? I've not heard of many weapons requiring an alchemist though."
Landyn: "I'll need some saltpeter, charcoal, as well as some sulfur, a yellowish smelly rock found near volcanic areas. Do you think I can find all those materials there?"
Cordell: "I'm not too sure, our family hasn't had any dealings with alchenists, aside from them requiring the occassional tools be made, so I can't tell you for certain."
Hearing this news delighted me, if I could produce firearms, even if they're primitive, will be much required if I'd any wish to topple Oswin, to topple the nobles, to topple the class system. With this, I'd presented Cordell with a few additional sketches, one being of the roundshots required for the arquebus, the other being a primitive cannon design, specifically, the Xanadu Gun. While the Xanadu gun was an extremely primitive cannon, it would serve as the foundation for future models.
Cordell's interest peaked even further upon seeing the Xanadu Gun, suddenly the cogs in his mind began turning.
Cordell: "I've not a clue what this is, however, I can tell this is a weapon. One I'd never bore witness to before. Landyn, just what do you plan on doing with this?"
Landyn: "Can your father produce them or not? If he can, I want to know how much the first sketch I handed you would cost for 200 of them. The final text I'd like an estimated cost for 6."
Cordell: "The amount of resources it'd cost to produce these won't be cheap Landyn! I'd wager perhaps at least 15 lesser (gold) coins!"
Thankfully I'd saved up around 5 lesser coins through the work with father in the past, as well as an additional 2 lesser coins from instructing the elder children. Lastly, I'd received around 10 lesser coins from the loot I'd acquired off the corpses of the fallen Korteshian soldiers and from my pay during the war. The dead had no need for that coin, besides, their coin would bring about what Kortesh was fighting for, Oswin's demise.
I'd brought out my small bag containing 17 lesser coins, along with some silver and copper coins, and presented them to Cordell
Landyn: "About this much, correct?"
Cordell flinched at the wealth I'd just handed to him, questioning my sanity, as a petty merchant just handed him a great craftsman's sum of wealth as though it was nothing. As Nelwynn and father carried on, Cordell quickly pulled me to the side and questioned me.
Cordell: "Landyn, just what in the hell are you planning?! If any noble or worse, Oswin finds out about this, it could be more than just your head!"
Landyn: "Then I challenge Oswin to take it. Cordell, I will not allow any harm to come to you, your family, Nelwynn, or mine own family. This much, I promise you."
Cordell sighed and let me go, as we'd proceeded along the road, though not before telling me:
"Very well, I'll speak to father about the production of the sketches you've given, however should you fail, my family and I had nothing to do with this."
Landyn: "Of course, do you take me for a fool?"
Cordell: "..."
Arbold: "Oi you two, keep up the pace, I won't be stopping to pick up two fools picked apart by wolves."
Cordell and I rushed towards Nelwynn, father, anfld the mule after father's warning.
Landyn: "Thank you Cordell."
Cordell: "Do not thank me yet. I've no idea if father will even produce these sketches."