Once her decree was issued, not only did the young people move eastward, but many mercenaries, like sharks that had smelled blood, abandoned their original employment tasks and ran toward Darama. Compared to the fixed salary of escorting a merchant caravan, war was more attractive. Although the risks were higher, the rewards were likewise substantial.
Some trade caravans went so far as to give up heading north, taking their goods eastward instead—their cargo naturally related to the war.
As a result, the northbound trade caravans faced a significant shortage in terms of escorts and were forced to hire many newcomers, including Gaven, who had an unclear background and brought along a goblin servant.
Gaven's employer was an independent moon elf merchant named Adeli Levine, who owned three of her own carts. Besides Gaven, she also employed a female coachman named Veron Tohar.
