over 59k now. take 2. trued to poet last night and got loged out.

Danth said. “Well then that is when I must try and be back from the wood sale in Nuld then. Now I can find my bed. You do know I don’t care where you sleep right Thanel, Shaid?”

Shaid laughed. “Honestly. You don’t need to try so hard. The rumors are doing just fine as it is. I will see you all in the morning. I am going to get some sleep. You all do what you want.” Their laughter filled the air behind her.

The next day they closed out the market making a few last minuet buys to fill up the empty spaces in the wagon, and ended up using a bit of space in Than’s as well. Reinforcing the rumors and making Danth laugh.

They were all sitting around jokingly fighting over some items when one of the trade consol members walked up. “Ah good. I was worried I might have missed you.”

Shaid said. “We are going to rest and restock a bit tomorrow before we head out. What can I do for you?”

He said. “You have helped just by being here now I do not have to try in track you down in Limber.” He set a pouch down with a clink. “Now then I just need your right hand for a minuet.”

Shaid blinked and held it out. “Why? Is there a problem?”

He said. “No just a spot of confusion to clear up. Will take but. There we are.” He fastened a bracelet on her wrist below the one marking her as sworn. Shaid blinked, and he nodded. “Told them it would fit just fine. The rest is in the back there for you. When you need more Mistress Shaid you just come to the governing tent. They are on file. Takes about ten days to make a set so best to come in when you are down to two.”

Shaid looked at her wrist confused. “I don’t understand. Why? I didn’t. That is it is just me. I don’t need this. They were just joking.”

The man said. “Others will come and your family will grow. We  usually wait tell you ask but in this case we decide it was best to move now. This should take care of any problems at Secore before they start. All ways good to have a new family start helps keep prices fair. Now than anything else?”

Shaid shook her head trying to clear it. “Um I am making and selling more than cloth. It wasn’t a matter before, but is it now? I remember father saying something about trade certificates of incorporation having to be changed when Jack and Peters looms took off?”

“We don’t have you as selling any particular item so you need not worry about it. But do try and get any goods out of your area checked with some who dose have a craft master in it. As you know it won’t be that big of deal in most of them to get certified in it.”

Shaid said. “I am not sure there is a master fro what I am doing. You see I am taking Norlan chests and using a modified wagon spell to double the capacity. Some of them I provide spelled locks for as well. If I can find a good sources of chains it will help with the locks. Right now people have to bring me the items they wish to use as keys. Sorry, I am rambling.”

He said. “That would fall under the mages and they certified you years ago. So you are all good. All right then you all have a safe trip home.”  With he left.

Shaid looked at her wrist again then opened the bag and dumped the items out for a better look. “Just how long gas this been pland I wond. Giving the detail these had to have been started sometime ago. I think I was set up.”

Danth reached over and picked up a necklace to examine. After he set it down he said. “I believe you are right. The time spend on the mold alone would have been a month. And these pieces have details that could only have been added latter. I think someone has been waiting for you to split for a year or so. Well so much for the rumors drying up. Maybe I should get a bit more serous my self.”

Shaid shook her head. “I really don’t think you need to. I am fairly certain that by know everyone knows you are for the idea of tying us together.”

He said. “Well it is a good match. Not everyday you get such a chance now is it?”

Sam said. “Any of you care to fill us in? we are a bit lost as to what is going on.”

Shaid said. “Sorry. I kind of forgot you all were, are Townies. The bracelets we all wear are clan markers. That is they have the family symbol in them so that you prove you belong where. The blank ones are for those sworn to the Gods, the color depends on the face, the reason you took the oath. What just happened is I was made a head of a new family, never mind there is no family. Typically a person will hold at least one oath and have good reasons to believe others will be given before seeking to from a family. It is beyond my knowledge that the trade counsel will form a new family without having an application. I didn’t know they could. They must have dug up some old laws or made some up.”

“I can see why you are looking so stunned. What do you mean by hold an oath?”

“To join a family you give your word that you will fallow all laws and orders made by the head of the family. Accept that they make all decisions regarding who is allowed in and who is not, travel and money. Basically you give them control over your life as long as you ware the symbol.” Danth looked at Shaid. “As Shaid is sworn, you would be agreeing to not only follow her but to assist in her calling. That is you would be accepting that the goddess she follows might assigning you tasks as it dose her.”

“So joining a family is like entering servitude, but you are in control of when or if you leave?”

Danth said. “Yes that is as long as you are an adult, over fifteen years, you may leave. But if you do not have a master’s knot you will not have an easy time of it. A knot is needed to run a stall on your own, so unless you know a family that will take you or have a job in a city it is not easy to leave. Once you take off the bracelet not even your blood family will be able to help you unless their head agrees. That said. The place if head is earned, not inherited. The person must be judged able by the other heads, and often the family members. It is there job to keep all feed and safe. The life of the road is not easy, as you saw. Having to many voices can make it harder. Yes there have been some mistakes in who was made head, but over all it works. Everyone has to set the masters test at least once and there is no limit on the number of times you can take it.”

Shaid said. “So you see by saying you were my family they were giving me control over you. So far there have not been any Marriage offers but that may change at the sale in Score whether I will have a stall. As long as I can show a profit they will think me as a good place for a fifth or sixth child. Though as my name gets better known the offers will get better.”

Sam said. “Really? You mean?”

Shaid said. “The head says who joins, that has grown into setting mirages. Even those with in the family its self must be approved by the head. So yes there is a good chance offers will be made. Some will believe you are in my family because that is what is being said. In truth it is a good thing it keeps strife down and helps forge alliances. Though I bet it seems a bit overbearing to you.”

Rod said. “In truth it happens among us all the time, just a bit more hidden. Parents see to it that you spend a good bit of time with certain young ladies but are not alone with others. Setting it so you are more likely to end up with who they want. It just has more of a chance not to work.”

Shaid nodded. “Must heads do try to see there is at least a bit of an attraction there. But sometimes it just is not possible, the alliance is more important. And there are some that do not care, people will but up with a lot as long as they are have food and are safe. Any way it is not that important, but something you might want to think about before traveling with me again. Not that I won’t set any one straight that comes to me, but sometimes just the offer can be embarrassing. And um chances are you will have offers coming straight to you. Not that they will be of a last from, but um the newness will interest some. Accepting or declining them will not reflect on me. I just thought I should warn you.”

Hope said. “Not to worry I was thought all I need to know, and I can bet the boys were as well. It is usually girls that don’t get told these things.”

Shaid said. “Still odd to me that you would be. I could not believe it when one of the city kids told me that because her big brother kissed a girl she was going to have a baby. I um cleaned that up and then next break I found my self giving the older ones the facts on birth control. Then I was removed from that school. That helped me to understand that things worked different in the cities. Since then I am more careful about what I say.”

Sal said. “No worries here. We made sure these boys knew everything once we started taken care of them out of the hearing of their folks.”

Shaid nodded. “I have been wondering about that. How is it that you are together? I mean it seems like each boy would have a separate detail, but the way you guys talk that has not been the case.”

Sam said. “We id when we were younger but as we got older we were together so much it just did not make much since. So we started ditching them. These guys were the only ones we couldn’t mange to ditch. Finally our folks gave up replacing the ones we got away from.”

Shaid smiled. “I can see where you would be hard to keep track of.”

Gard said. “Oh they have tamed down a good bit. A few years ago they would have been even less ported that Shalern was when we bumped into him, and thinking even less about it.” They spent the rest of the even joking and the next day they finished packing. The trip home went smoothly.

CHAPTER ??

They had just been home a few days when Sam wet over to Shaid’s and found her packing the wagon again. “Where are you going? More importantly can I come with?”

Shaid said. “I am going to Limber. I was going to any way but now I have to know why the commissioner was so sure I would be there. No you can’t come. I won’t be back before your parents are do in. Plus you would find it dull. It is just textiles and dyes. I am just going to refill my store rooms and get a bit to trade with the deeplanders.”

Sam said. “I am sure they wont miss me. It sounds like fun.”

Shaid said. “There will be other trips I am not going to upset your family now. I want you and Rod to be able to help me at my stall so I can get a break now and then.”

Sam said. “Can’t blame me for trying. See you when you get back then? Oh did you get the house or want me to?”

Shaid nodded. “I will be leaving when I get back from town. I rented the big house at the end there. The one that is basic in the woods. I think they will like it. Still have to get the stall he was to be back today. So If I can get him before he gets to busy I should be out of here in an hour. I will be back in four days, likely just after your folks get in.”

Sam nodded. “Safe trip and we will be watching.”

Shaid head into the market office and was in look. The manger was just taking his coat off. “Good timing. I know you are going to be busy so. I am looking to rent a stall in the art area for anther party. High end preferably. I have a sample of the work with me and an image for the sign.”

He smilled. “Let me see the work, high end stalls come with certain expectations in the art area. I can not just.” She had set a bear on the desk and followed it with some jewelry.

“I am not sure just what they will have with them, just is just a few ideas of what I shown. There bear there is the lest detailed of what I was offered this is the high end.” She set the dragon next to the bear.

“Whi? Where? Why haven’t I seen the work? Man are they going to be busy. I had best see what’s on main.”

Shaid said. “They are new, this will be there first try at selling here. This is the image they want. I am coming directly to you with as I do not want it out. I want the mystery to build. If it goes good they will be at more sales I think. So what do you say?”

“There is one, but it is costly. I don’t know, maybe off main.” Shaid handed him the coin. He blinked. “Let me get you the change and the papers. When do they needed.”

Shaid smiled. “They hope to be in half way though the first week of the sale. And keep the change for the taxes if that will do.”

He said. “I was going to take the taxes out. I don’t think you looked close enough at the coin. This is a three crown.”

Shaid said. “I knew it was imperon, but I do not know there coins. We never saw much of it up north. Perhaps it would be a good idea to get some lessons on it before I embarrass myself again. In my defiance the one who brought it to me did not think it would be enough. Of course they have no idea what a stall would cost.”

He said. “In truth we do not see a lot of it here, but I make it a point to know all the big coins. I will be back with the change.  And I love the fact that no one will know what will be in the stall. It will bring just the right amount of excitement. This is going to be a big year I can fell it..” He was back in a bit with the change and papers then Shaid was on the road.

“I said I am not going to!”

“I said you are and that is final.”

“No it is not I am not going and you can’t”

Judging from the other faces this had been going for some time and no one had thought to stop it. It was clearly not the sort of thing to be talked about in the street. Such disputes were usually kept among the wagons. Shaid coughed and the said. “Excuse me sir, but are you going to be buy all that redum root or may I get some?” Not that she really needed any, but it was the only thing she could see close to him.

He turned and looked at her. “Anther Kightsmith. Just what are you doing all over. This is my area not yours. What brings you here?”

Shaid said. “I am not Kinghtsmith sir. My base is in Secore and I did not know you owned this area, I thought this was a free market. I must have missed a sign. Well if this is all yours I will just move on Sorry I bothered you.”

The man said. “I know a Knightsmith when I see one. I do not like being lied to. I will take this up with your Father. I am sure he will set you straight you strumpet. He never did take lip.” He reached for her arm.”

Shaid moved and saw to it that both bracelets were plan to see. “Perhaps you need your eyes checked. I do not ware the mark of Knightsmith.”

“I know full well you are Knightsmith brat. The wired one always off reading.”

Shaid said. “Yes that is me, but I am no longer a Knightsmith I dropped that part of my name. It is just Sundancer. I been selling in towns near Secore as I am taking classes. Which would be why you didn’t know.” She went to move on to the next stall only to be stopped.

“That is a family bracelet. Whose?”

“Mine, though I will admit it is not much of a family at this time. Now if you will excuse I do want to make it to the rest of the stalls when they are open.”

The girl said. “Are you interested in adding?”

Shaid said. “I am not looking to be a safe have for runaways. Think it though before you leave. I will be going east when I am done with school so anyone who joins must be willing to take servile classes, and work. There will not be many opportunities. Leaving is not something to decide in the heat of the moment.”

“That wasn’t a no.”

Shaid answered him. “I see no reason to tell her no. I will accept her if she has thought it though and is sure. You do not scare me, I think that is why you never liked me. See you in Secore next week if you make it.”

The girl said. “Thank you. I will think it over, but I am sure that is my best move. But at times things do look different when tempers are not cooled.”

Shaid nodded. “Jumping is not to be done lightly think about all I said. Are you sure you want to go east, for months or years at I time? I plan on retracing the lost explores steps so there is the chance that I and any with me will become lots. Even with taking every care I can. Think about it and look at all your options even if you if you leave there might be a place you would like better. That sir, is the closest I am going to come to telling Amber no. I would be crazy to her away if she comes to me. As my sales grow I find my self run short of time and your daughter is highly skilled, and would be an asset to any family.” With that she moved on, ignoring the buzz. The stalls where prices suddenly raised she left the goods, where they dropped she bought double.

Shaid pulled into her yard as the sun was setting, She got her animals turned lose saw that there was plenty of grain and water for them then tuned to look at the wagon. She really should try and get a few things into night. She needed to get it sorted and out of the way so she could get the things ready for the sale. A whoop caused her to jump. “You made it! Welcome home. Want some help? I will get my brothers and we can have you unloaded in a jiff. Then come over mom has enough food cooking to feed an army and I bet you like a meal.”

Shaid laughed. “So your family made it then. I wasn’t sure the gates were up. How about Rod’s?”

Sam said. “His older siblings are here, but his folks got trapped by a meeting and kept the younger ones. They will be here as soon as the next gate can be raised. They said the wave should fall in a bit? I don’t know, but mom thinks they will be here in time to eat. I will be right back and we can get you unloaded then you can come eat. That way I know you will.”

Shaid smiled. “I would love the help, that will leave me with less to do in the morning. If you are sure I won’t be in the way a meal I didn’t cook sounds lovely.”

Sam was heading down the walk before she was done talking. “I am sure, and don’t do to much before I get back.”

Shaid had opened the door and taken one box out when Sam was back with a bunch of others. He looked at her wagon. “What did you do? Buy the town again?”

“Not quite. The prices were so good I forgot when to stop. Well I did need some to trade and never hurts to have extra incase a lean year comes along. If you can use the cheaper materials you can keep your costs down as others go up. If you will just put it all in the front room I can get it put away in the morning. Thank you all for the help.”

“What is all this? Looks like a lot of fluff and some plants?”

Shaid said. “Right now that is what it is, but with time and work it will become cloth of different kinds.”

“Looks pretty dull. I like color for my clothes.”

“The powders and roots will be used to make the colors.” She picked up a piece of root out of a box. “This looks ugly, but when done right can a make a bright blue.”

He looked at the root then at her. “If you say so.” And took the box into the house. It wasn’t long until they had the wagon emptied.

Shaid said. “Thank you all again. It would have taken me three times as long to get it emptied. Now I can get it put away in no time. So I will have plenty of time to get things sorted out for the sale.”

An older man said. “Thank you for letting them help. they were diving the wife crazy. We will be so glad when the other rooms are ready, the boys place is just to small.”

Shaid nodded. “I can see that. I do have a coble of empty rooms if some of you want to bunk here, long as you don’t mind sleeping on the floor. Well there is one bed in the one”

“Thank you but we are managing. The wife said I was to see to it you came to supper. She wants to meet you and so will Rod’s folks if the wave dies long enough for them to get here.”

Shaid said. “Sam had already invited me and knows I love not to have to cook. As to the disturbances. This one will fade in about five minuets and there is a good thirty minuets tell the next one hits, but it looks bigger do it might be felt before it gets here. Sorry, magic is like breathing for me.”

“Oh it is not that, just that our guy couldn’t be sure how far the next wave was. He said it was to big to be sure or something.”

“Likely isn’t used to being so close and so the distance is hard for him to get a fix on. The eastlands can be tricky to read when you are not used to there pattern.”

“You can say that six times over child. Bosses I think I will have time when just one dies From watching the wave it seems to be slow moving.”

Shaid said. “Thirty minuets between, but there might be some ripples felt before it hits. The big ones sometime cause them as the get near the clean lands. So for safety might be best to call it twenty. Is that enough time?”

The mage nodded. “I just need ten to get them all though so twenty is perfect. Thank you.”

Shaid nodded. “You might get a few more if you were to move away from the woods”

“I thought of that, but the woods seem to make it easier to get the gate up so don’t want to if I don’t have to.”

They had made it back to the boy’s place and to the table. Rod said. “So how was the trip? Anything happen?”

Shaid said. “It was nice and smooth. There was a minor problem in the market, but other tan that it was dull. Thank goodness.”

“What was the problem in the market?”

Shaid said. “There was a bit of an augment going on at one stall that was bit loud. Judge by the others around it seemed to me the two had forgotten where they were. So I interrupted it by asking the man if he was planning to buy all of some item next to him. Seemed innocent enough. However he looked at me and wanted to know what a Kinghtsmith was doing in his market. So of course I told him I was not a Kninghtsmith and I didn’t know it was his market. Once I got him half convinced his daughter that he had been fighting with asked if I was accepting new members. I told her to cool off and think it over before she left. He got mad because I wouldn’t tell her no. It was all silly, but after that the prices I was told rose at some stalls and fell at others. So I guess he did have a bit of influence in the market. Oh and some one wants to arrange a marriage with Bert.”

That had them all choking. Sal recovered first. “Really? What did you do?”

Shaid said. “I said no then remembered to add that I didn’t have the right to talk of such things. It was a very bad offer. I couldn’t believe they were serous at first. Still not sure they were, might just have been sounding me out. I was a bit startled he was not the one I thought they would come to me about first. No offence, it is just you guys stay in the back so much.”

Bert said, doing his best to sound serious. “Now just how do you get by saying no. I might be interested.”

Shaid said. “The offered bride was a dim witted fool who made that lady who was accusing me of stealing look like a sweet heart, but I can arrange a meeting if you want.”

“No, no that is quite all right. Really it is.” He looked horrified. Shaid busted out laughing.

Mr. Hillfinder said. “I am still a bit puzeled. Why would they come to you?”

Shaid said. “So the boys didn’t share that winkle with you?”

Mr. Gold said, as he came in. “We think the glossed over a good bit of the trip. I know they underplayed the attack.”

Sam said. “It wasn’t that big of a deal. We made it though.”

Rod said. “There is only so much time and I thought it far more important to tell you of the deeplanders. And what of your list I was able to find.”

Mrs. Hillfinder said. “Well there is time now. Sit and eat and we will hear about the trip. I want the rest of the attack, and that business about being a thief explained. As well is this marriage stuff. Shaid here will help see you don’t skip to much.” So over diner the story of trip was laid out, with a bit of imblishing and glosing, a lot of laguter and a few head shakes. Sam and Rod left to get some of the finds to show off.

“So” Shaid said. “due to the rumors and my foolishness it is now believed that Hop your sons and there guards are my family, and in our community the head of a family sets marriages. There will no doubt be more offers made, and as I want help at my stall I will only be reinforcing the rumors. Sam and Rod know what things sale for buy now so have them help is a lot easier for me, if it won’t cause you problems. But I don’t think that trader rumors will cause you problems but there might be other things I am not aware of. I do not know much about city politics.”

Mr. Gold said. “Or there will be some talk, we had all ready heard that they were working for you by the way, and not from them. But they might as well get it out of their systems now. The gossips that is. I am fully expecting the boys to run off into the east with you in a few years.”

Mr. Hilllander nodded. “We knew where they were headed when they insisted on come out here. I was just hoping they didn’t try it alone. With you here at least I can count on them finishing the classes first.”

Shaid said. “You do not go into the east without training and preparation. Even the edges. The classes we are taking will involve a few trips all them and we will make more before going deeper. Now they have me doing it. I meant I would, and so you boys will if traveling with me.”

Mrs Hilllander said. “Oh I can bet that in time those rumors will be more than just rumors no matter how you try not to make it so. Don’t worry dear, they started taking about coming out here before they knew each other and the time together just reinforced it. We knew they would be, even as we tried to discourage the idea. It helps to have a change to get to know you. Even in this brief time I can tell you think more than most young folks do.”

Shaid blinked. “Thank you. I   it is not. Your kids are yours I do not want to change there road. They told me when we first met that they had lives waiting for them out west but they wanted to see the lostlands at least once. I just want to help them get that look. I do not want to take them away from their lives. If you feel I am then perhaps this is mistake.”

Sam’s older brother said. “There is nothing they want, just a misplaced since of obligation. You are just going to help them realize what they really want. Now then about the deeplanders, wouldn’t they help you find what you are after a bit a safer?”

Shaid said. “They share those things they feel is safe and will guide you to places they feel are safe for outsiders to see. However I want to see places they don’t feel it is safe for me to see. Well they might me, but noe westerners in general. The deeplanders are protective of there secretes, not without reason. Not all needs to be shared I will agree, but I might not agree with what. They have a different view of the world. As you can see from their art, which I think Sam has brought in.”