:)

Shaid wasted no time getting on the road after her classes were done for the week. She pulled in the camping area outside of Westvain just after noon on Friday. Once she had her animals cared for and camp set up she went to look over the market. She had brought some fabric and hanging but wanted to look it over before trying to sale any. A glance told her there was no trader market to speak of. Westvain was one of the towns with out market stalls, all goods were sold only though established merchants. That would make it easier she could just sale to the shops, then be free to get her own shopping done, without worrying about lost sales. Her tour of the town done and some food bought she went back to her camp, and spent the rest of the day listen to the news and gossip of the other camps. Add some of her own now and then.

The next morning Shaid headed into the fabric shop she had decided to try first. The kind her father would never look at, but she thought it charming and worth a try. As she walked through the door she was pleased to see that it sold wall hangs as well as cloth. There were a few others there with item to sale, one she recognized from the camp the others looked more like locals. She offered the other trader a smile and got a headshake in return, Shaid shrugged.

The lady said, not in the local langue. “Word to the wise child. In this town you dress like your sex for trading even if you don’t on the road. All so this is my shop, try down the road, after you change.”

Shaid answered in the same langue. “You are not the shop keeper. If they do not wish to buy, then I will move on. If they choose to look at me and not the goods, then there lose. They can just keep paying more to buy my work from others.”

A lady came out, and pointed at three of them. “The rest of you can go.”

Shaid shook her head. Live and learn. As she walked out the door Shaid heard the other trader arguing. She went to her second choice which should have been her first. It was not the high end her father sold to, it looked a good deal like them in all other respects. A nice mix of qualities and colors, with hangings along the walls, there were more people and more chatter, Shaid slipped in and received a few odd looks.

She was not there long before an overly perfumed lady came up to her. “What do you need?”

Shaid said. “I am here to see if you are interesting in any of the good I have.”

She said. “We are not.”

Shaid shook her head. “You don’t even know what I have, so how can you be so sure? I will wait until the proprietor has a moment. Thank you.”

She said. “We do not sale to your kind.”

Anther lady came up. “Is there a problem?”

The first said. “No, I was just telling her that we did not need her goods. Ah here is Glend to see you.”

“She can wait a bit. You do not seem inclined to leave?”

Shaid said. “I simply felt you would like to know what was on offer before I left. If I am wrong say as much and I will be gone. But I think you would be much better off to look at the goods on offer before send them away. You might just miss a diamond.”

“That explains much. Yes I would like to see what you have.”

Shaid smiled and opened her bag. The wall hangs came out first. She laid them on the counter, not looking at faces. Then the cloth of varying colors and weights. “There you go, this is a good sample of what I have.”

“There is more?”

Shaid said. “Some, a few bigger wall hangings and more cloth, mostly of the middle weight. I was not sure what would sale here. If you let me know what you like, I can bring more in two weeks. Now this is Raling not silk.”

“The middle is fine, I am short of browns, greens and blue is all ways a good sale. I will take any raling you bring me and I give you my word it will be sold as such. Now then what is the family?”

Shaid blinked. “It is an unknown, Sundancer. I hope that won’t be a problem. If it helps it is a breakaway from the Knightsmith.”

The lady said. “Not a problem I just like to have the right names on items and didn’t know the mark. Is a center per 4 yards for the cloth and two a piece for the wall hangings acceptable? Blanket pricing is easier on me. I know some you could sale for more but I think you will find it even.”

Shaid nodded and found her voice. “That will be fine. I can be back in an hour with the other I have with me now if you wish to look at it.”

“No since in having you come back over her I will just have Ron go with you. He knows what I can use. He will pay as he takes it. Here are the coins for what is here. Ron walk back with her and buy anything she will let you that we can sale. You heard the prices.”

A man appeared at Shaid elbow. “Yes Linda.”

The lady nodded and turned. “Now Glend what do you have that Ellen wouldn’t take?”

Shaid looked at Rod and said. “I am in the campsite.”

He nodded. “Lead the way.” They went back and in short order Shaid’s wagon was empty and her coins full. Rod left and Shaid watched him go unsure what to do.

One of the other trades saw her odd expression. “Everything all right?”

Shaid said. “I am just a bit surprised. I have sold what I had and have a promise that more will be bought. Having no name behind me I was expecting to take a bit of a loses this season.”

He said. “Now I see. Westvain isn’t so worried about name as it quality.  This is a good area to get a start, which I take you are?”

Shaid nodded. “I split this last gather and am attend XXX. I plan to take to the lost lands but need to get a funding base going. Folks who will take what I have when I make a town.”

The trader nodded. “Good thinking. Now if others put in half the thought might be a few less going broke there first years. Now to see what the Misses plans to spend my coin on this time.” He went on, whistling. Shiad smiled, feeling better.

She went to town and got the odds and ends she wanted. Then went over to Norlans’ shop. She entered and stopped looking around at the shapes. An old man with a friendly face came out. “Ah you see but a few poor ones. These we do not sale, you want the other door. Lass.”

Shaid said. “They sent me here, to speak to you. See I wanted permission to spell your chest and sale them in Score and other markets I might get a stall in. I think I confused those in you shop by asking.”

The man said. “That it would. Once sold a chest is yours to do with as you wish. You need not ask. You are more than welcome to resale them. But out of curiosity what is the spell?”

Shaid said. “Manly I am going to enlarge the capacity so they hold double the goods there size would suggest. But I will be offering to spell them so only one with a spelled key can open them. Well not a key, but a charm, an item held or worn that the spell will recognize.”

He nodded. “Sounds good. So how many are you wanting?”

Shaid said. “I was hoping I god get twenty-five of the small chest and fifteen of the medium. Then if they do any good I will be back for double, and a few large ones in two weeks. If that is all right? I don’t care about the design, luckily as I could never pick if I had to. As my wagon can not enter the city I will need them delivered to the camp ground. I understand the smalls are a half center and the mediums one center. But I am willing to pay more. I plan on raising the price by half.”

The man said. “I will have them brought out to you tonight, regular price is fine. Pay when delivered if you are satisfied with what I send. Most want to pay less for bulk, not more. Let me know how they do, either way.”

Shaid said. “Thank you sir. I will see you in two weeks.” Her shoping done she went back to camp. There was no problems with the chests, the one ho brought them even helped get them in the wagon. She gave him a bit over the cost, which he did his best to give back. She detoured though another town and made a few more purchase on the way home, so it was late Sunday when she pulled in. The next two months flew buy. The chests went over better than she had hoped. The biggest problem was keeping any around. She doubled her orders twice over and worried she was running t he shop out of stock. Still he would not let her pay more At their instance Sam and Rod learned how to help at the stall, bother hers and Thanle’s. She got to know the area better on weekends, and her fabric found more buyers.

Chapter 3

Shaid looked over at Sam and held up a sign. “What do you think? And will you be able to help me this weekend?” The sign read. ‘Half off Every Piece of Red Fabric in Stock! This Weekend Only at Sundance in the market square!’ “I am going to try and talk Anders into help to as I think I might be a tad busy I am going to fill the stall with red.”

Anderson said. “Bad time to come by to exchange books. What are you going to talk me.” He saw the sign. “I will be there at ten, I am not get up with the sun for anyone. But yes I will help. Only because I like the idea. By the way the welcome banner is being done in red, and yes they know how she feels about red.”

Sam said. “I can be there. My folks won’t get in tell latter in the week.”

Shaid said. “Good that gives us three people. I think we can make it work. Thank you Anders. “

He nodded. “You have enough fabric?”

Shaid said. “I think so, take a look in there. I am not going to make anything red for a few years if this doesn’t go good.” He opened the door and laughed. She smiled and added. “Father is bring a good bit of red and will be here a few mid week. In fairness I did tell Alter that was going to have a sale on reds when I told him who the guest of honor was. Not my fault that didn’t get relayed.” Anderson had to sit down and it was a bit before he could talk.

“We need a few more posters. I am going to see that word gets all around of your sale. This is to good to pass. Maybe a few others will join in.” They spent the next little bit make posters and plans. Wallace came in and to Shaid’s shock took up a pen and paper to help.

Seeing her look he said. “I know a few places that will want to know he won’t think of. I do need a look at those maps to though. I want to make a copy of one. I think I might have found something. If I have I will share.”

Shaid said. “I will get them out and I have a new one you might be interested in.” She stood and got the Quint maps out of the trunk and the new book out of the box. “You can take the new one with you to study.”

Wallace said. “Thank you. I hope you are ready for a busy weekend. I think you will find a lot interested in your sale. Good idea. The time is just right so the new clothing will be ready for the welcoming feast and parade that marks the start of the summer festival. The nobles provide food outside the palace and at every church in the town. Brings in a lot of the farmers, who will stay to do there shopping. The uppercases come in and take up there summer residence and do there shopping. Hence the bigger markets.”

Shaid blinked. “I was wondering why summer was a big thing and of the start of the new term.”

“Oh there will be a good sized market then to. You are going to want help for both of them if you want time to rest.”

Shaid said. “I was planning on just shutting down for an hour or so each day, as my helpers will be busy, and I don’t think I can talk anyone else into. Though I might be able to get one of the older kids. I will have to think on it some more.”

Wallace looked at Anderson. “You’re not going to?”

Shaid answered looking at the two of them. “I am not going to let him so much as offer to help when Father is in town. I am asking for his help with this sale though as my stall is going to be as full as I can get it with reds.”

Wallace said. “I am missing something. Why would it matter?”

Anderson said. “My family, and the Head still think I will return to them. Seeing my working a stall might give them false hope.

Shaid said. “True, but I was more think of the fact that you would be working with me. I do not want the headache. Even if I have left I am still blood. If helping me will cause a problem I can make do.”

Wallace said. “Why? Wait you grew up together so, you mean it is your family? And so you two? Now I understand. No, I was saying it wasn’t a problem. But maybe I have caused one.”

Shaid said. “I don’t see how you would have. After all everyone here knows what is shared here stays here. By the way you are so good it just dawned on me. I take there is reason?”

Wallace said. “Just my family I have yet to find the time to tell them. We have little to do with each other but I think they deserve a warning. It was totally unexpected.”

Shaid nodded and saw the confused look on Sam’s face. “Anders was the one my Father had arranged for me to marry. Seeing use working together might make them think it is still a possibility was my thinking. It didn’t occur to me that they might think it would mean he was missing the road. Which is what he thought the problem was.”

Sam said. “Ah that puts everything in place. Not worry I don’t care and it is no ones business. I think we have enough signs. I am going to get some supper. Yes I bring you all some.”

Anderson watched him go then looked at Shaid. “No. Thanel has stayed over a few times, but he is the only one. Don’t go playing matchmaker. Besides, nothing has been said, but I don’t think it would work.”

He laughed. “Fair enough. You want some help copying the maps you need Wal?”

Saturday was nice and sunny Shaid’s stall and those near her were full of red and the market was a busy place. Even with three of them they barely found time to catch their breath. The neighbors kids were kind enough to bring lunch around. The oldest said. “Mom wants to know if you will trade lunch for six yards of summer weight fabric, your choice. She said to tell you it is for us, and that she loves your idea.”

Shaid picked a few pieces of fabric and hand them over. “Next time your brother wants to run can you send him with some of those ribbons. I was wanting to get over there but can’t get away. The spotted ones hang at this end, and one other bunch you feel like. I add a couple more yards, so I think you can all have a new dress. If there isn’t enough just let me know. I have a lot of fabric. I bought any I could get, as well as kept my loom busy.” The lass grind and skipped off with the fabric. It wasn’t long tell the ribbons were delivered.

Shaid waited tell Monday night to do the books from the weekend. Rod found her setting at her desk scratching her head. “Problems?”

“Just trying to do the books and it is not working. Would you mind?”

He was already reaching for them. “Why you just don’t wait for me in the first place instead of trying to pull your hair out I don’t know.”

Shaid shrugged. “Before I forget. This is yours, and this is Sam’s. No guff I do not have slaves, you work you get paid. Anders will be to.”

He shook his head and went to works on the books. After a bit he looked up. “You were just about right. Here you go.”

She looked at numbers and shook her head. “I was expecting a loss, or even at best. Still don’t know how this happened. Some must have over paid, it was hard to keep track.”

“I don’t doubt it. Some probably paid twice for the items you gave away.”

Shaid said. “Well there was no reason they shouldn’t have a new dress. They were counting their coppers, trying to get a yard. I just added a bit. Like I said this was to be a loss so I didn’t see what it hurt. Maybe I should make a few more delivers to the churches. I can afford it.”

Rod shook his head. “And to think I used to think traders were cheep. Just goes to show me not to listen to tales.”

Shaid said. “Some are, but not all. Just as with anyone. So how are the papers coming? I can’t believe that the classes are almost done.”

He nodded. “I know what you mean. Seems like just yesterday we didn’t know what Shallt was little own where. Just think in a few months we can be the ones telling the lost looking kids where to go.” The talk drifted to other things.

Shaid woke with the knowledge that she had to go to the big Opal book sale. She had been planning on going, as it was something she had wanted to do for years, but never been allowed to. But this was different. There was something there the Goddess wanted in her servants care. She stilled her mind and found the link to the other plan. ‘I hear and will heed. What am I looking for?’

Anther voice said. ‘Are you sure you can? I might be able to.”

Shaid answered. ‘It is good brother. I am in Secore and was planning on attending the sale. I can go.’

The voice that was man and one answered. ‘Thank you for the answers. We have what we need. Shaid you will have what you need. Thank you daughter. Trust your heart, it leads you right.’  She some how knew that all heard the first, but only she head the last. She found herself out back in her bed. Not a lot wiser, but she would know when the item was near.