Rusco grunted and hauled out the barrel in question. Some people called his work easy, but his arms were as hard and thick as any that swung an axe or scythe. He broke the seal and popped the top off the barrel, scooping rice into a shallow pan for Ragen to inspect.
âGood Marsh rice,â he told the Messenger, âand not a weevil to be seen, nor sign of rot. This will fetch a high price in Miln, especially after so long.â Ragen grunted and nodded, so the cask was resealed and they returned upstairs.
They argued for some time over how many barrels of rice the heavy sacks of salt on the cart were worth. In the end, neither of them seemed happy, but they shook hands on the deal.
Rusco called his daughters, and they all went out to the cart to begin unloading the salt. Arlen tried lifting a bag, but it was far too heavy, and he staggered and fell, dropping it.
âBe careful!â Dasy scolded, slapping the back of his head.
âIf you canât lift, then get the door!â Catrin barked. She herself had one sack over her shoulder and another tucked under her meaty arm. Arlen scrambled to his feet and rushed to hold the portal for her.
âFetch Ferd Miller and tell him weâll pay five ⦠make it four credits for every sack he grinds,â Rusco told Arlen. Most everyone in the Brook worked for Hog, one way or another, but the Squarefolk most of all. âFive if he packs it in barrels with rice to keep it dry.â
âFerd is off in the Cluster,â Arlen said. âMost everyone is.â
Rusco grunted, but did not reply. Soon enough the cart was empty, save for a few boxes and sacks that did not contain salt. Ruscoâs daughters eyed those hungrily, but said nothing.
âWeâll carry the rice up from the cellar tonight and keep it in the back room until youâre ready to head back to Miln,â Rusco said, when the last sack was hauled inside.
âThank you,â Ragen said.
âThe Dukeâs business is done, then?â Rusco asked with a grin, his eyes flicking knowingly to the remaining items on the cart.
âThe Dukeâs business, yes,â Ragen said, grinning in return. Arlen hoped they would give him another ale while they haggled. It made him feel light-headed, like he had caught a chill, but without the coughing and sneezing and aches. He liked the feeling, and wanted to try it again.
He helped carry the remaining items into the taproom, and Catrin brought out a platter of sandwiches thick with meat. Arlen was given a second cup of ale to wash it down, and old Hog told him he could have two credits in the book for his work. âI wonât tell your parents,â Hog said, âbut if you spend it on ale and they catch you, youâll be working off the grief your mum gives me.â Arlen nodded eagerly. Heâd never had credits of his own to spend at the store.
After lunch, Rusco and Ragen went over to the bar and opened up the other items the Messenger had brought. Arlenâs eyes flared as each treasure was presented. There were bolts of cloth finer than anything he had ever seen; metal tools and pins, ceramics and exotic spices. There were even a few cups made of bright, sparkling glass.
Hog seemed less impressed. âGraig had a better haul last year,â he said. âIâll give you ⦠a hundred credits for the lot.â Arlenâs jaw dropped. A hundred credits! Ragen could own half the Brook for that.
Ragen didnât care for the offer, though. His eyes went hard again, and he slammed his hand down on the table. Dasy and Catrin looked up from their cleaning at the sound.
âTo the Core with your credit!â he growled. âIâm not one of your bumpkins, and unless you want the guild to know you for a cheat, youâll not mistake me for one again.â
âNo hard feelings!â Rusco laughed, patting the air in that placating way he had. âHad to try ⦠you understand. They still like gold up there in Miln?â he asked with a sly smile.
âSame as everywhere,â Ragen said. He was still frowning, but the anger had drained from his voice.
âNot out here,â Rusco said. He went back behind the curtain, and they could hear him rummaging around, raising his voice to still be heard. âOut here, if you canât eat something, or wear it, paint a ward with it, or use it to till your field, itâs not worth much of anything.â He returned a moment later with a large cloth sack he deposited on the counter with a clink.
âPeople here have forgotten that gold moves the world,â he went on, reaching into the bag and pulling out two heavy yellow coins, which he waved in Ragenâs face. âThe millerâs kids were using these as game pieces! Game pieces! I told them Iâd trade the gold for a carved wood game set I had in the back, they thought I was doing them a favour! Ferd even came by the next day to thank me!â He laughed a deep belly laugh. Arlen felt like he should be offended by that laugh, but he wasnât quite sure why. He had played the Millersâ game many times, and it seemed worth more than two metal discs, however shiny they might be.
âI brought a lot more than two sunsâ worth,â Ragen said, nodding at the coins and then looking towards the bag.
Rusco smiled. âNot to worry,â he said, untying the bag fully. As the cloth flattened on the counter, more bright coins spilled out, along with chains and rings and ropes of glittering stones. It was all very pretty, Arlen supposed, but he was surprised at how Ragenâs eyes bulged and took on a covetous glitter.
Again they haggled, Ragen holding the stones up to the light and biting the coins, while Rusco fingered the cloth and tasted the spices. It was a blur to Arlen, whose head was spinning from the ale. Mug after mug came to the men from Catrin at the bar, but they showed no signs of being as affected as Arlen.
âTwo hundred and twenty gold suns, two silver moons, the rope chain, and the three silver rings,â Rusco said at last. âAnd not a copper light more.â
âNo wonder you work out in a backwater,â Ragen said. âThey must have run you out of the city for a cheat.â
âInsults wonât make you any richer,â Hog said, confident he had the upper hand.
âNo riches for me this time,â Ragen said. âAfter my travelling costs, every last light will go to Graigâs widow.â
âAh, Jenya,â Rusco said wistfully. âShe used to pen for some of those in Miln with no letters, my idiot nephew among them. What will become of her?â
Ragen shook his head. âThe guild paid no death-price to her, because Graig died at home,â he said. âAnd since she isnât a Mother, a lot of jobs will be denied her.â
âIâm sorry to hear that,â Rusco said.
âGraig left her some money,â Ragen said, âthough he never had much, and the guild will still pay her to pen. With the money from this trip, she should have enough to get by for a time. Sheâs young, though, and it will run out eventually unless she remarries or finds better work.â
âAnd then?â Rusco asked.
Ragen shrugged. âItâll be hard for her to find a new husband, having already married and failed to bear children, but she wonât become a Beggar. My guild brothers and I have sworn that. One of us will take her in as a Servant before that happens.â
Rusco shook his head. âStill, to fall from Merchant class to Servant â¦â He reached into the much lighter bag and produced a ring with a clear, sparkling stone set into it. âSee that she gets this,â he said holding the ring out.
As Ragen reached for it, though, Rusco pulled it back suddenly. âIâll have a message back from her, you understand,â he said. âI know how she shapes her letters.â Ragen looked at him for a moment, and he quickly added, âNo insult meant.â
Ragen smiled. âYour generosity outweighs your insult,â he said, taking the ring. âThis will keep her belly full for months.â
âYes, well,â Rusco said gruffly, scooping up the remains of the bag, âdonât let any of the townies hear, or Iâll lose my reputation as a cheat.â
âYour secret is safe with me,â Ragen said with a laugh.
âYou could earn her a bit more, perhaps,â Rusco said.
âOh?â
âThe letters we have were meant to go to Miln six months ago. You stick around a few days while we pen and collect more, and maybe help pen a few, and Iâll compensate you.
âNo more gold,â he clarified, âbut surely Jenya could do with a cask of rice, or some cured fish or meal.â
âIndeed she could,â Ragen said.
âI can find work for your Jongleur, too,â Rusco added. âHeâll see more custom here in the Square than by hopping from farm to farm.â
âAgreed,â Ragen said. âKeerin will need gold, though.â
Rusco gave him a wry look, and Ragen laughed. âHad to try ⦠you understand!â he said. âSilver, then.â
Rusco nodded. âIâll charge a moon for every performance, and for every moon, Iâll keep one star and he the other three.â
âI thought you said the townies had no money,â Ragen noted.