Despite the relatively small size of Coral's marketplace, it didn't lack for carts and carriages. That was the good news. We'd need one for the journey to Blackrose, otherwise we'd be slogging it out on foot for days while searching for a shortcut through the wilderness. The bad news is that few of the sufficiently sized carriages were destined for the port city. Most did the rounds through the local towns and villages, and a few were headed to the capital or the other major provincial cities.
However, it wasn't only Blackrose's reputation which kept most honest merchants away. It was the time required to get there.
In due part to our late entrance into the afternoon sun, there was simply no carriage that could make us to the coastal port before night fell. That's not to say there were no merchants willing to brave the moonlit roads, only that it made a rare species even harder to find.
Our party gazed at the latest apologetic face to return to his work. We were barely thirty minutes into our search and I could already feel my plans for the day unravelling.
The problem is that there weren't even carriages headed in that direction. At least not far enough that it'd be worth us shelling out for the brief cost of transportation.
It was a given that we'd need to stop at a halfway house of some manner, a roadside inn or one of the many villages that dotted the way. But as things stood, we may need to consider another night in Coral or a hop onto one of the carriages headed towards another province. Yet I also knew it wasn't enough another Coral we needed. We were deep enough in the kingdom that even in a large city, there would either be a lack of opportunity or an excess of competition.
Beside me, Magnus was eyeing glassware that was being hawked at least three times its value, whereas Iris was diligently scanning four corners of the marketplace, watching as more carriages came to settle for the day than prepare to leave.
However, I wasn't unduly concerned.
In the end, there was no need to reach out to every carriage in the town. Merchants being merchants, meant that it was a given that the moment we stopped looking like experienced heroes and started looking like fresh faced adventurers instead, the offers would start pouring in by themselves.
"Ordained heroes," said the merchant, smiling genially at all of us in turn, but longest on Iris. "Might I a moment of your time?"
I almost let out a small whistle. The man had appeared with the subtlety of an accomplished rogue. I doubted if that was entirely a coincidence.
Well dressed, well groomed and well on time. A merchant with an easy gait and wide grin who would promise us an expensive answer to our needs presented himself. My only surprise was that he'd appeared so early.
I smiled.
He could've gotten more by waiting another thirty minutes.
~ ~ ~
The carriage steadily rumbled as it made its way across the Prince's Road towards the coast. Other than a splintered wheel early in the journey, this was by far one of the most comfortable carriages we'd ridden in. It even had a full tarp, shielding not only our heads, but the ample amounts of crates that filled up all the space where we weren't seated.
The weight from a full carriage likely explained why it was so steady. Most carriages shook with the fury of a capsizing ship. Here, it might even be possible to catch some sleep. A prospect that usually came rarely when sat in anything pulled by horses.
Not that the merchant would let us sleep, of course. If there was one thing he enjoyed speaking about more than himself, it was Iris.
Naturally, she did her best to steer the conversation away.
Therefore, as the carriage made its way down the dirt road, we were treated with both the sights of the kingdom's verdant heartlands from the gap in the back tarp, as well as the sounds of a man who, by his latest account of heroism, should be abducted by the Royal Army and sent straight to duel with the Demon King.
"The lass was bleeding all over," said the merchant, his voice carrying easily past the laden wheels and trotting hooves. "The scent drawing goblins of the meanest sort. An entire raiding party sent to raid the nearby village had caught onto us. Fifty or more. I had a choice. Do I take the girl and flee? Or do I run to warn the village?"
Opposite to me, Magnus yawned like a beast snoozing in the sunshine. Sitting languidly against a crate, he probably wasn't even all that tired given his inherent stamina. But there were only so many tales of valour you could hear before the names and details of every rescued damsel in distress became mush.
"The answer is neither," declared the merchant, the timbre in his voice shaking with fiery passion. "I could neither carry the girl to safety, nor could I abandon her to warn the village. The answer was blood."
Beside me, Iris's shoulders sagged, a sigh leaving her lips as she gazed out into the greenery peeking at us from the back of the carriage. I didn't know whether that sigh was in admiration of the scenery or her ear's final surrender.
I couldn't help but smile. As dazzling as the countryside beneath a clear sky was, it was nothing compared to the girl who only needed to be there to steal away any attention from it.
"10 silver pieces he says he purposefully cut himself," I said to my companions. "And then used himself as bait to run away."
"I'll take that," replied Magnus, instantly waking from his slumber. "And raise it. 20 silver pieces he says he cut off a whole limb, which he somehow grew back."
"If there are goblins in a raiding party, then there are also wolves. And I think this repeated saviour of the world would know that. I'll take that bet."
Iris looked exasperated at us, but didn't chide us. Gambling was acceptable, as long as the money never left our circle. Importantly, it was also where she made a significant amount of income.
Neither Magnus nor myself were quick learners, apparently.
"It was the blood of the witch I'd slain," continued the merchant, voice growing ever louder. Now the horses had to fight to be heard. "I had her phylactery, still in my pocket. Blood infused with the raw essence of unbridled magic. And I tell you this in warning, should you ever attempt it, because when I drank the concoction, my soul had to wrestle with the echo of every witch in that bloodline before I was given that terrible power."
I could almost see him smiling from his seat in front of the carriage.
Magnus made an unseemly noise. A unique sound that was between a curse and a grunt. I sent him an obligatory victory smile, but immediately gave up on chasing his debt. I didn't want him to resort to stealing food.
Iris, however, had finally had enough. She brought up her knees, wrapped her arms around them, then dunked her face in the cushion she'd created.
"He says he drank a witch's phylactery," she whispered, her voice pained. "That is, frankly, disgusting."
As expected, she cared more about the sanitary issues with drinking witch's blood than the factual concerns of somehow drinking a witch's power.
"He did it to save a girl," I replied amicably. "Sorry, I mean a lass."
Iris rolled her eyes, less than impressed that I was indulging the man.
"We ever killed a witch?" asked Magnus, also not mentioning anything about the failed wager.
"No," replied Iris, looking up from her knees. "Why would we have?"
"Just seems like the sort of thing we'd have tried. Why haven't we?"
"Because they are very rare and very powerful, and have a unique ability to seize the souls of comely maidens."
"Well, we're all immune then. That's great."
Retribution came in the form of Iris reaching up to grab whatever object was in the nearest crate. She pulled out a potato, thought about it, then carefully put it back.
That's right. Arguing with Magnus was already a waste of time. May as well not waste food as well.
"… Alas, power consumed is not power earned, and now I have nothing left but my wits and my wiles."
I shook my head, surprised at my ability to begin blocking bits of the merchant's voice. For a moment, I thought about asking if I'd missed anything, but I figured my companions were tormented enough already.
"Indeed, I'm glad to not have it," said the merchant. "The will of magic is powerful, but frightening. In that regard, I applaud your restraint with your abilities, Sword Princess. To be both a fighter and a mage would often lead people to unruly ambitions."
Iris let out a small groan.
I offered her my pity. Still, I understood the man's fascination with learning about her. She was easily the most famous of our party. There have been Sword Princesses before, but none as young as her.
Or as well endowed.
"Thank you," she called out in reply, bluntly ending yet another conversation before it could begin.
The silence was allowed to last approximately half a second.
"If I may say so, it's a travesty for a lady as famed as yourself to be lacking coin," said the merchant. "There are barons and lords who would gladly have you join their household guards."
"I'm a heroine, not a guard," she replied simply. "There are more suitable people for that role."
"But you're also an adventurer. Would you not, by any chance, also consider work as a personal escort?"
I felt something immediately shift in the air.
There was something about the way he worded that, as well as the breathless way he spoke it. It was markedly different than the flourish he used when speaking so far.
"I offer protection to those who can afford my skills," replied Iris politely. "But this is different to being a full-time member of a lord's household."
"Of course, of course. But this is excellent. You see, I happen to know a number of highly famed members of the aristocracy who would pay generously to be escorted by the Sword Princess. Would you be amenable to such a role?"
Iris frowned.
I suspected that even if the merchant was in front of her, she'd still be doing it.
"I'm a member of a party. I cannot accept individual employment."
"Oh, I understand. But that needn't be a barrier. In fact, I'd hazard to say that the price you could command is so high that your two companions could also be hired. However, they wouldn't necessarily have the same responsibilities as you."
"Is that so."
"Indeed. Many of the nobles I know are old or fragile, and require careful guarding by those with a gentle touch. Their guards are more than brutes with swords. They are retainers. Stewards who see to the care of their charges. By any chance, do you also offer services other than magic and swordsmanship?"
I drummed my fingers against my lap as Iris testily bit her lips. The air in the carriage had gone colder.
"I cannot cook to the standard required of the nobility, if that's what you're referring to."
"Oh, I hardly think that'd be an issue," said the merchant, unaware of the danger he was boldly walking into. "Cooking would be an invaluable skill, but as I said, many lords simply require their retainers offer a familial warmth. Dressing them, for example."
"… Dressing them."
I sighed.
I suppose it'd been too much to hope for that bragging about saving the world was the worst it got with this merchant.
He wasn't doing anything … wrong. He wanted to act as an intermediary. That much was obvious. As was everything else, even if he was only choosing to infer.
But while there was plenty that was warped about mine and Iris's relationship, it would never come to the point where the thought of selling her off to some distant castle would enter my mind. That, I knew, was certain.
I drummed my fingers again, well aware that Iris's rising discomfort was not getting across to the merchant. I was inclined to be diplomatic, especially as I knew that Iris could speak for herself, but there was only so much I would be willing to let this conversation proceed.
"Stop the carriage."
And that limit had already been reached.
Not by me. Or by Iris.
But by the other man sitting opposite us.
I placed my hand on a crate as the carriage came to a sudden halt, the merchant asking no questions. He probably heard the seriousness in Magnus's voice and deemed that he'd sensed a threat before he did.
"What is it?" asked the merchant, his voice suddenly unsure. "What do you see?"
He gave no answer. Both Iris and I looked on in surprise as Magnus immediately went to his feet, then exited the back of the carriage with a graceful swing of his legs.
"What's he doing?" asked Iris, her voice a whisper as she wondered whether or not she should be joining him.
I looked at her, unsure how to answer.
Not because I didn't know what Magnus was doing. But rather that he was doing it before me.
Magnus also knew that Iris was well accustomed to unwelcome advances and propositions. It was part of life for someone like her. But he'd never felt the need to act on it before.
And in that moment, I realised I should've been the one leaping out of the carriage. Diplomatic or not, I should have immediately cut off the conversation. That was my responsibility. Not only because Iris was a member of my party. But because she was my girlfriend.
I clenched my fist. It should be me defending Iris, no matter the circumstances.
"I think … he's having a kind word," I said, knowing the exact ones I'd be using also.
"A kind word?" replied Iris, raising an eyebrow.
"Or two."
Iris looked uncertainly at the opening made in the tarp. For several moments, there was no sound other than the whinnying of horses, but I could tell that hushed voices were being exchanged. By one person, at least.
After only a minute, Magnus returned, his rare expression of drive replaced by a more traditional, easy smile.
"Good news," he said.
Neither myself or Iris immediately responded.
"What is it?" I cautiously asked.
"The merchant has agreed to take us all the way to Blackrose."
I had to do a double take. All the way? To Blackrose?
But he was only headed to the edge of the province. We'd negotiated on it without complaint. After all, travelling all the way to the coast would require us to spend the night on the road.
"All the way? How? What did you do?"
Magnus shrugged.
"You know. I smiled."
"You smiled."
"Sure. I smiled. Just smiled."
As though to demonstrate the earnestness of his statement, he flashed his set of white teeth.
It wasn't necessary. I had no doubt that he smiled. Probably while shaping his hands into fists.
I looked to the front of the tarp, even though there was no way to spy the merchant from within. If I tried hard enough, I could likely feel his presence quivering in horror.
"And what will it cost us?" I asked. "You know, this extension to the journey, which I assume will mean we'll be spending the night in the carriage?"
"Nothing." Magnus's grin intensified. "We'll be getting half of our travel costs back, though."
I simply looked dumbfounded at him. There was smiling. And then there was extortion.
"What?" he said, immediately cutting me off with an innocent rise of his palms. "Don't you know? The coastal provinces are dangerous. The carriage needs guards. And guards need to be paid."
For a moment, I wondered whether or not I should hop out and at least renegotiate the fees for this sudden ordeal. After all, the merchant had not outright done anything to earn an extended trip far from his original destination.
But then again, a better merchant wouldn't have tried inquiring about whether or not a heroine was open to leaving behind her companions to join some noble's menagerie of women.
It was an expensive lesson, but perhaps one he'd learn from.
I sighed. As did Iris. But unlike me, there was no exasperation in the way she did it. Her sigh had the faint tinges of amusement to it.
And, maybe, also something else.