Trading Voyage Up The River Cromil : Life In Shalirion Before The Invasion
A merchanting voyage upriver by Alos and Princil with other employees before the conquest of Cromilil. Alos, Princil's halfbrother, was in charge. Young Princil learns more about his powers now he has come of age.
Alos oversaw the loading of goods, dressed smartly in his travelling tunic, with the red cloak he probably would not need as it was the height of summer. Every day was hot and the evenings were warm. A variety of goods produced by the factories and workshops of Cromilil were brought onto the large sail boat, in amounts they expected they would be able to trade with the hinterland. There were metal goods, pots and pans, swords and shields, and products and raw materials from distant shores of Shalirion. On the return journey foodstuffs and maybe some wood from up the river would likely be the main cargo, picked up gradually on the way. The House employees loaded most of the goods from the house warehouses on the river quay.
Princil, for whom this was his first merchanting voyage to the hinterland, now that he had just come of age, was looking forward to this tour, which he regarded as more of a pleasure than hard work. There were no dangers upstream. The river was wide flowing gentle and kind; the people were their own people, friendly and accommodating. House boats journeyed upriver mainly in the summer, generally avoiding the colder weather when parts of the river could freeze. They just preferred to travel in the summer. He had been up here before on Family Tours, so he did know the country, but had been forbidden this journey on a Company ship until he had fully come of age. As an apprenticed mage he would be able to use his magical skills to aid the ship in its voyage and to aid its protection. Also he would learn the company's business. He might also be useful in using magic to levitate particularly heavy goods in or out of the hold.
Princil was excited by the journey. He loved the beauty of the farmlands they travelled past, interspersed by trees and low hills beyond. The farms were rich and profitable, but they remained in perfect harmony with nature. He loved where rich and verdant thick forests came right to the edge of the riverbanks. The forests called to him. He was probably sensitive to their magic because of his growing knowledge as a mage, but he did not yet understood what use they might be to him, or how he might draw upon their magic.
Soon they came back to wide open fields, full of many crops, and their first port of call, a small town called Lourd. Alos seemed very much at home here as the ship glided onto the quayside. Other trading ships were tied up at the quay, similar sized vessels, most of which were probably from Cromilil too. There were warehouses along this quay. Alos was the first off the ship, and Princil moved quickly to accompany his halfbrother. Traders from more than one warehouse had evidently noticed their arrival and came towards the ship swiftly.
"Greetings my friends," said Alos. It came to Princil that his brother really did know these local merchants well. Alos had been sailing this route inland, as well as others along the coast, for years. This route must be his most frequent journey and these merchants must be regular partners in business.
"Hail Alos. What tidings are there from the City? Any news of importance?" asked a tall maturing figure who looked strong healthy and sun kissed beneath his straw hat.
"No great news to tell, I am sorry to tell Ibradin. The world appears quite calm and peaceful. I wish there was more to report!"
"How about the Council? Were they not concerned that barbarians have been plundering in the far north?" asked the merchant of Lourd.
"Yes that's true," replied Alos. "There was some talk of that, but as I am not a councillor myself I have heard no more than when we last spoke. The summer has been good to us, as usual. There have been parties, feasting, competitions, readings, plays, many entertainments of great note, but such things are difficult to tell in detail."
The other merchant had arrived, having walked up the quayside on seeing the Chanceleord ship. This merchant was broader in the shoulders and stomach and wore colourful clothes, as one who lives particularly well. A full head of dark hair sat on his shoulders, and his face seemed to Princil to be full of mirth. Perhaps it was his training in wizardry which led him to such insights, a deeper sight into people.
"Hail Alos, we know what you get up to in that city of yours! You are not the only ship to sail upstream from Cromilil you know. We are blessed that you come inland to visit us provincials at all. We know you have enough pretty ladies and the rest to occupy yourself in Cromilil."
"We are kind to you. We could not leave you unsupplied Corsal," said Alos wittily.
Princil could see what friendship Alos had with these merchants, and was encouraged. Alos, with his blonde full head of hair and his easy sociability was popular amongst these men, with whom he did business.
"What entertainments have you got for us here in Lourd tonight gentlemen?" asked Alos easily. "You see I have brought my halfbrother Princil with me on this voyage," he introduced Princil, who had been standing back in shyness so far. "I want you to entertain him, and the rest of my crew, when we have completed our business."
"Well I think my secondwife would like to meet you again Alos," said Corsal, "and I am sure Princil would love to meet the younger women of the town. It is good to meet you Princil," he said, holding out a hand in friendship, which Princil took graciously. "I presume this is your first voyage upriver young man?"
"It is my first trading voyage," replied Princil. "I did travel upstream on family tours a couple of times in the past, but I do not recall stopping at Lourd before."
"Well you will certainly see our town today and tonight. Welcome.'
"Indeed welcome," said the other merchant Ibradin, holding out his hand in greeting also.
"Now my friends perhaps you would like to come on board and take a look at the produce we have brought. Then perhaps we can go to my dining room. I will bring my papers and we can sit with a drink and share out the stock you wish to purchase from us." The merchants agreed to this happily, as it must be the usual arrangement.
Crew members helped the merchants aboard and Alos led them down into the cargo hold. "Attend closely," he said to Princil. Another clerk named Jumard brought the stock lists, clipped to a clipboard, and pens. As the merchants surveyed the stock and offered to buy those quantities they wanted he marked items on the lists as sold when prices were agreed. Princil observed that while most prices stated clearly were agreed by the merchants without further discussion, some of them were queried. Ibradin would say, "Well I could buy those cheaper from the last boat, which docked here yesterday," or "Those I could buy for ..... nickels at the next town. Unless you can come down to .... I shan't be buying."
