Excerpts From Ordu - The Merchant

Seth Ihn Yibaresh tried to relax. Even though the situation was not looking all that good, he knew he had been able to weasel out of worse situation in the past. Though the ropes did press on his hands quite uncomfortably and made his new long red jacket all dusty. The man, the creature in front of him was thinking of his proposal. -"You let me go, I can promise to pass though here more often." The beast-man squinted his eyes at him and then at the trinket in his hands. Then he looked at the other man besides him, who in turn, looked at a woman on the other side. Who then rolled her eyes and shrugged.
Seth was surrounded by these people. little over twenty hairy, limber, yet strong looking creatures. Most of their faces were covered with skull of different kinds of animals, most of which Seth could not recognize. Their clothed were simple loose breeches and sashes, but the rest of their bodies were painted with violet and blue swirls or were otherwise covered in ornaments and jewelry. Some showed their faces, which betrayed them as Rashadin, or at least an offshoot of them. Most of them were lounging or squatting and many were puffing their thin herbal smokes. They clearly did not see Seth as a threat of any kind and instead were curious about the young merchant. Seth turned back to look at their leader. A bearded fierce looking man, scarred all over his body and painted with blue. Most people would have considered him scary, but his stern eyes showed a deep wisdom and even kindness.
-"Why you think we would not just kill you now?" He asked with a strong highland accent.
-"Because, as I explained earlier, I can bring you more of these. You kill me, I can't do that. I travel to Ussor every three months and, if I want to be, let's say, efficient- I would always pass though here, bringing you treasures."
-"And I would be able to enjoy your wonderful hospitality." Seth added to the end and tried to do the normal theatrics, but then remembered his hands were tied. The leader looked at the others again, the cocked his head and grunted in agreement.
-"Bring us more of these and you can go here. Yes?" Then he adjusted the necklace on himself and nodded. Seth smiled -"It's a deal then!" The leader nodded again and the rashi near him removed his bonds. Seth stretched and offered him his hand. The other man looked at it then Seth, sighed and shook his hand.
-"Great! I have something special to celebrate this occasion" and walked back to his wagon, then remembers it being empty and turned. -"You don't happen to remember taking a red chest out my cart?" A rashi woman pointed right next to him. -"A-ha!" Seth kicked it open and took out two bottles of Yuunian Red.
Next morning he was on his way again. Head was hammering hard and he felt sick no matter how much water he drank. "All the hells in all the veils!" he cursed to the skies. Then apologize to Hoom, his old Quura pulling the wagon. Those people sure knew how to party. They had started slowly at first. But once they opened their own bottles of that weird orange sweet wine, oh boy. After that he only remembered flashes. Laughter, songs, did he arm-wrestle someone? His hand did feel sore, stretching it he noticed a small bracelet made from, was that hair? Then he remembered the lovely woman and all came crashing back. Seth froze- and blushed. -"That would explain the hair down there." He smiled, then brushed the memory out of his mind, for now. He was glad though, things had gone a lot better than expected, they had even packed his cart when he slept. He now had a rare deal to pass though the Lioran Highlands of Rhus. And they had called him suicidal. His rivals can kiss his ass.
Passing through the highlands, Seth could only marvel his surroundings, someone would have called these lands bleak and uninviting. But it had a charm to it. Large red stone pillars rose over the sandstone hills around him. Crystalline weeds grew in small bushes near the pillars and small trees with violet leaves blew in the gentle winds. And now with the morning sun rising between the pillars, casting the light in the red sands, making the crys-weed glimmer. Seth had to stop for a moment to look at the spectacle. Hoom growled gently. -"I know, just for a moment." Going though here had been a good idea. Not a rival in sight and the tribes around here keep the smartest bandits out. Which he was grateful, especially now with the war and all, his normal trade routes near Bal-ar and Iä-Rhus were swarmed with refugees, looters and deserters. It would have cost him a small fortune to hire mercenaries. Sure there are actual road there, but this was worth it. Besides, being a wine trader made him target for mercenary types, more so than most. One more week of travel before he would reach the border. One more week before he could sleep on real bed. He looked at the bracelet again. "Idana" he mouthed her name. Seth swore to find new reasons to pass though here more often.