>>5564449The merchant of opportunities scratched his head he talked in his language with his fellows and one of them produced what you could only describe as a kind of strange book. Since you did not knew how to read you looked at him and while he flicked at the pages he told.
-My friend here can sing for you if you are bored while I consult the register.. It contains all the names of our past customers... You say Prester John, could you describe him to us ?
-No songs thanks. And he is well known, it is a Christian priest who established a realm in India, or in Abyssinia according to legends. So he is a kind of priest king.
-Well, I have it, we have had a lot of Johns who were happy to use our services but only one has pursued an ecclesiastical career. Here, we sol... Sorry for my lack of professionalism, we gave him the opportunity to join the Cult of the Bloody Hand, a religious organisation lead by Shratizzar the impaler, a filial of B'beg the Terrible's forces that is one of our numerous sponsors and partners. He joined as "sacrificial victim" it is a dangerous work, but very useful for society.
You had trouble understanding, was he an acquintance of B'beg the Terrible, and was he partaking in pagan human sacrifices ? Like the druids of Old ? Your voice became dangerous.
-You are partners with the vile B'beg ?
He became fearful and immediately justified itself.
-Our company takes a stance against barbarity and evil but we are forced to travel through his lands and merchants cannot forces lords to change their policies.
Well, he knew how to please an honest nobleman, if more merchants thought like him the world would be a better place. You remained suspicious but decided to push another subject.
-If I understand well you offer work in other places to some people... We could... make an agreement, I am in need of labourers and farmhands, but no free food and wine for them, they will have to grow it themselves.
His eyes shone with the light of cupidity and happiness, a light that you recognised from practically all burghers that you met.
-A sponsor ! What a pleasure ! It is an honor to meet you my lord... We have a lot of packages for human lords, we work with a lot of noblemen here, discreetly of course, but all of them like our services. We have a lot of packages to propose.
-Packages ?
-Yes, you see, all in our business is a question of presentation, and some lords like to look heroic. For exemple we can persuade peasants to accept our opportunities in a rough manner, with nets, stones, clubs and javelins, keep them for a few days, and then you would come and free them. Against a small fee for us. They should thank you and accept to work for you for cheap.
