Mastery Is Earned

Early the next morning, after sleeping soundly and eating breakfast, Raymond went to find Bob.

The two went over the accounts again. The goods had cost sixty silver and sold for eighty-five. Taxes and other expenses along the way came to five silver, leaving a net profit of exactly twenty silver. Bob’s ten-percent share was two silver. Bob also paid the four-silver escort fee they had previously agreed upon.

After offsetting the two amounts, Bob pushed the remaining two silver coins toward Raymond and said in astonishment, “This is the first time I’ve met someone who can’t read but can keep accounts this accurately.”

Raymond grinned but said nothing.

After saying goodbye to Bob, Raymond paid his usual visit to Carter. Carter was instructing Mira and smiled for the first time in a long while when he saw Raymond arrive.

The two chatted briefly before Raymond offered a few casual pointers to Mira as she worked on her physical conditioning.

Raymond did not practice swordsmanship that day. All he wanted was a proper rest. Henk was nowhere to be seen at the training yard either and was probably resting at the inn as well.

At noon, Raymond returned to the inn with Mira.

After a simple lunch, he was about to go back to bed when a member of the town guard came looking for him again.

“The Sheriff wants to see you,” the guard said politely.

Raymond nodded. After quickly tidying himself up, he followed the man to the town guard’s headquarters.

Marcus looked terrible when Raymond saw him again. The dark circles under his eyes suggested that the news about the gnolls had kept him from sleeping well.

“Martin has shown me the list for the trade.” Marcus pointed at a sheet of parchment on the desk.

Raymond looked at the parchment, then at Marcus. “Sheriff, I can’t read.”

Marcus chuckled. He picked up the parchment and read the entire list of goods aloud. Then he said irritably, “Food, spears, swords, and the like are fine, but those gnolls even want bows and crossbows. I will not give them those.”

“We can say the caravan carrying the bows and crossbows was attacked by goblins on the road,” Raymond said. “Then we can make up the difference with grain, salt, and tools. They may not be happy about it, but one shortfall shouldn’t make them abandon this trade route.”

“You want to use the opportunity to ask about the goblins?”

“Only as a casual probe. They may not know anything. As long as the trade goes smoothly, we’ll have a chance to discover where the gnolls came from.”

Marcus considered this for a moment before slowly nodding. “Then prepare more grain and tools. We can give them secondhand weapons too, but they can’t all be worthless scrap with hidden flaws. Otherwise, the gnolls will realize something is wrong on the spot.”

Raymond nodded his agreement.

Marcus looked at him. “Raymond, would you be willing to pose as one of the bandits and help Martin complete this trade? You and Martin already know each other. I’ll assign two more members of the town guard to accompany you. Don’t worry. You’ll be well paid.”

“No problem,” Raymond agreed immediately. Then another thought occurred to him. “What about Henk?”

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“Henk? Forget it. Looking like that, he could never pass for a bandit.” Marcus laughed.

“He’s a skilled tracker. Perhaps he can help follow the gnolls,” Raymond added.

Marcus rubbed his chin. “The tracking party is crucial. Henk can join them, and I’ll assign several hunters and members of the town guard as well. If you know any reliable trackers, ask whether they’re interested.” He glanced at Raymond again. “Your safety is important too, of course. I’ll have two more squads follow behind your group. If anything goes wrong, signal them and they’ll come to your aid immediately.”

“Understood, Sheriff.” Raymond nodded.

They also discussed renting the three wagons. Raymond said he would need Henk’s agreement first, then left Marcus’s office.

As he closed the door, he thought he heard Marcus and his aide discussing their shortage of manpower and where they could pull more men from.

Raymond paid it no mind. That was the town guard’s problem, not something he needed to consider.

After leaving the headquarters, Raymond went to find Henk. The half-orc was admiring the bearskin cloak he had just collected from the fur shop. He was clearly delighted with it and kept running a hand over the fur.

Raymond first handed him eight silver coins. Six were Henk’s share of the trading profit, while the other two were his share of the escort fee Bob had just paid. Then Raymond said, “Henk, I’ve taken another job.”

“What is it?”

“The town guard plans to pose as the bandits and trade with those gnolls. They want to rent our three wagons. I told Marcus we could discuss it, but I didn’t agree on your behalf. They’ll pay us. What do you think?”

At the mention of payment, Henk smiled. “Of course. The wagons are just sitting idle anyway.”

“Marcus also wants you to join the tracking party. You’ll follow the gnolls and find out where they take the goods,” Raymond explained.

“Fine.” Henk nodded.

“Are you going to wear that cloak?” Raymond glanced at the bearskin cloak.

“Now? No. It’s too hot.” Henk smiled. “I’ll wear it when I return to the north.”

“Ah, the north—the Duchy of Nightraven,” Raymond mused. “Perhaps I’ll go see it for myself one day.”

“There’s nothing worth seeing there.” Henk shook his head.

After chatting for a while longer, Raymond left the room and went downstairs.

A few patrons were still eating in the inn. Several mercenaries had gathered around one table to eat and drink, and Teddy was among them.

The mercenaries greeted Raymond warmly when they saw him. Teddy hurried over excitedly as well. “So, my friend, found any work lately?”

“Work?” Raymond looked him over. “As a matter of fact, yes. But we can’t talk here. Let’s find somewhere quiet.”

Teddy immediately followed Raymond to an empty corner of the inn, and the two sat down.

“Two ales over here.” Teddy beckoned to Anna. She smiled and nodded. Then he lowered his voice. “Tell me about the job.”

“Remember the bandits we fought last time?” Raymond asked.

“Of course. Didn’t we wipe out their entire hideout?”

Raymond rolled his eyes at Teddy before continuing. “Do you remember who they were trading with? Think about those wagons from last time.”

“Those wagons? You mean...” Teddy glanced around. Anna arrived just then and set two mugs of ale before them. Only after she walked away did he lower his voice further. “Gnolls?”

“Exactly. Marcus is hiring trackers. I can’t tell you the details, but the job involves gnolls.”

“Tracking? You want me to follow those gnolls?” Teddy flinched and shook his head furiously. “Don’t ask me. I can’t do it. You do it yourself. There’s no point earning money if I don’t live long enough to spend it.”

“Are gnolls really that terrifying?” Raymond asked curiously. “How do they compare with goblins?”

“Goblins?” Teddy laughed. “The only thing the two have in common is their breeding rate. Gnolls are nothing like goblins. I hear a gnoll stands six feet tall and weighs two hundred pounds. They’re savage and vicious. An ordinary mercenary can’t defeat one alone.”

“How do you know? Have you seen one?” Raymond was surprised. He had heard that gnolls were among the fiercest monsters, but he had not expected them to be quite as dangerous as Teddy claimed.

Teddy shook his head. “There’s a small village at the foot of the Blackstone Mountains. A gnoll came down from the mountains once and slaughtered three entire families, along with two members of the town guard. Gnolls can even turn the tables on anyone tracking them. Many of the hunters who tried to kill that one were eaten alive. It caused a huge uproar. Haven’t you heard the story?”

Raymond clicked his tongue. “I have, but I thought the old mercenaries were boasting.”

“Whether they were boasting or not, gnolls are dangerous. I’m not taking a job like that.” Teddy stood to leave.

Raymond stopped him. “Aren’t you short of money?”

“I may be broke, but I’ve only got one life!”

“You’ll only be tracking the gnolls, not confronting them directly. All you have to do is follow them to their hideout,” Raymond explained.

“Follow them to their hideout?”

“That’s right.”

“Then I’m definitely not going!” Teddy shot to his feet, drained his mug of ale, and shouted toward Anna, “Put it on his tab!”

Raymond was left sitting there in bewilderment.