Chapter 89 – Mission log: High Quality items
Marron and Calen stepped out of the Mage's Guild into the cold afternoon air of Splitstone Row. The street bustled with activity—merchants hauling crates, adventurers heading toward contract boards, and city watch patrols maintaining their steady rhythm through the district.
Mazoga stood near the Row's central fountain with Rurrak and Garrik, her presence drawing occasional glances from passersby.
"Marron. Calen." Mazoga's greeting was brief but warm. "Done with everything?"
"For now," Marron said, nodding to Garrik. "We met your daughter inside. She was picking up supplies with a friend."
Garrik's expression tightened slightly. "Aye. I know." He glanced toward the guild's entrance. "I'm trying not to be seen with her here. Her goblin heritage makes things… complicated enough at the Academy without her goblin father interacting with her in public."
Marron nodded, understanding implicit. In Glasshold, reputation mattered more than most places. For Mira, association with a goblin innkeeper—even one as respected as Garrik—could become ammunition for those looking to undermine her.
Marron shifted his attention to Mazoga. "How'd it go with the Adventurer's Guild?"
"Gar, the guild leader, and Merl, his vice commander, were reasonable," Mazoga said. "Told them about the draugr horde, the Greater, and Rellan. They confirmed my story with a Truth Stone." She paused, mouth twitching into a faint grin. "Also turns out we've got a bounty to collect. I completely forgot about Rellan bounty. Should be quite a sum."
Marron blinked. Then he snapped his fingers. "That's what I forgot to set up."
Calen looked at him curiously. "Set up what?"
"A guild account with the Merchant's Guild," Marron said, shaking his head. "It's one of the services they provide—banking, transfers, currency exchange. Would make moving our money around a lot easier than hauling coin or goods."
He summarized quickly. "We met with Factor Kess Wyndmar on the third floor. Showed her our inventory list and now she wants to see samples before committing." Marron gestured toward the street leading back toward the outer district. "She'll be going with us to the inn to inspect what we brought on the wagon."
Mazoga nodded. "Then let's collect Kess." She glanced at Garrik. "You good to guide us?"
"Aye," Garrik said simply.
The group moved through Splitstone Row toward the Merchant's Guild. The three-story granite building loomed ahead, its polished facade catching the last of the afternoon light. Enchanted lanterns flickered to life along the street as shadows lengthened.
Kess and younger man stood outside the entrance, evaluation kit in hand.
"Right on time," she said.
Kess gestured to the younger man at her side. "This is Dain Thorne. He's a Mage's Guild member I contract regularly—an Enchantment Analyst. Competent evaluator when it comes to magical properties in trade goods."
Dain offered a polite nod, his ink-stained fingers adjusting the leather satchel slung over his shoulder. He looked no older than sixteen, but carried himself with the careful precision of someone used to being scrutinized.
Marron extended his hand. "Marron Vyren, registered merchant. Pleasure."
Dain shook it briefly, then glanced at the others.
"This is Mazoga," Marron continued, "Warden and expedition leader. Calen, one of our Settlement's specialists. Rurrak Grey-Muzzle from Threeburrow, and Garrik Thornwick—our host at the inn."
Dain's gaze lingered on Mazoga for just a heartbeat longer than necessary but the young man said nothing, simply inclined his head respectfully.
Marron turned back to Kess. "Before we head out, I'd like to open an account with the Merchant's Guild. On behalf of the settlement I represent."
Kess's expression shifted subtly. "Standard banking services? Deposits, transfers, currency exchange?"
"Everything," Marron said. "We'll be trading regularly and in bulk. Guild accounts make that simpler."
Mazoga spoke up beside him. "We've also got a bounty to collect from the Adventurer's Guild later."
Kess's quill paused mid-note.
For half a second, Marron caught something flicker across her face—recognition. The bounty on Rellan Vex had been substantial. If she'd connected the dots from earlier, she now knew exactly what they were collecting.
But Kess didn't pry.
Instead, she flipped to a fresh page in her notebook and said smoothly, "I can have an account set up once I return from evaluating your trade items. I'll link it to your Merchant's Guild credentials, Marron—unless you'd prefer to create a separate one under the Settlement's name directly?"
Marron glanced toward Mazoga.
The orc shook her head once. "For now, sticking everything under Marron's name makes sense. We'll need to speak with our leader before formalizing anything larger."
Edda would want final say on how the Settlement presented itself financially. Until then, keeping things simple avoided unnecessary questions.
Kess nodded and jotted another line in her notebook, then tucked the quill behind her ear. "Understood. I'll draft the paperwork tonight and have it ready for your signature tomorrow."
She closed the notebook with a crisp snap and glanced toward the street leading to the outer district. "Now then—shall we? I'm ready to see what you've brought."
Garrik stepped forward, gesturing down the road. "This way. Shouldn't take long."
The group moved together through Splitstone Row, leaving the guild district behind. The streets grew narrower as they approached the outer edge of Glasshold, the polished stone giving way to packed dirt and weathered timber. The foot traffic thinned slightly, though the district still hummed with activity—laborers hauling crates, traders closing up stalls, and the occasional city patrol passing through.
Marron walked beside Kess, keeping pace with her steady stride. Dain trailed slightly behind, his satchel clinking softly with whatever evaluation tools he carried.
Ahead, Mazoga led the way with Rurrak and Garrik flanking her. Calen brought up the rear.
The inn came into view soon enough—the wooden sign of the Thornwick Rest swaying gently in the cold breeze.
Doc was halfway through clearing space in the attic when he heard Tanna's voice drift up from the stable yard below—greeting someone.
A moment later, Marron's familiar tone followed, then Mazoga's deeper rumble.
They're back.
Kipp moved to the narrow attic window and peered down. "It's them. The orc and the merchant."
Doc looked at the three of them. Kipp still watching out the window. Ren sitting with his back against a crate, arms folded. Maris tucked into the corner, knees pulled up.
"You want to come down?" Doc asked.
Kipp glanced at the other two. Ren gave a small shake of his head. Maris didn't move.
Kipp turned back to Doc and shook his head once.
Doc nodded. "Alright. Stay up here. I'll be back."
He descended the narrow attic ladder, boots tapping softly on the rungs, and moved through the second floor hallway toward the main staircase.
Garrik stood near the bar, already speaking with Elara in low tones. The innkeeper's sharp gaze flicked toward Doc but didn't linger.
Doc nodded once at them both as he passed.
Garrik returned the gesture without breaking his conversation.
Doc led through the side door into the stable yard, where the cold air hit him immediately. Snow Tusk stood in his stall, placid and enormous. Fish sat near the wagon, ears flicking forward as Doc appeared.
Bran and Tanna were already there, standing beside Marron, Mazoga, Rurrak, Calen, and two unfamiliar faces—a sharp-eyed woman in merchant's attire and a younger man carrying a leather satchel.
Bran smiled when he saw Doc. "There you are."
Tanna glanced over, Moss-ear perched on her shoulder. Mazoga turned fully. Her eyes swept the yard with the practiced assessment of someone used to sizing up a situation.
Marron stepped forward, adjusting the strap of his satchel. "Doc. Good timing."
Doc stopped a few paces from the wagon. "Marron. Mazoga." He nodded toward the two strangers. "New faces."
The sharp-eyed woman stepped forward, her quill already in hand. "Kess Wyndmar. Factor with the Merchant's Guild." She gestured to the younger man beside her. "This is Dain Thorne, Enchantment Analyst."
Doc inclined his head politely. "Robert. Most call me Doc."
Dain stared.
The armored figure standing before him radiated power. Not the blunt, crushing weight of the orc woman—this was different. Sharper. Controlled. The kind of energy that made his Enchantment Analyst senses flare in warning.
The suit itself hummed with residual magic. Dense. Layered. Far more intricate than anything he'd cataloged in three years of guild work.
But it was the weapons that made his breath catch.
A weapon at the figure's hip pulsed with contained force—raw, concentrated energy wrapped in material he can't quite identify. And the blade. Gods, the blade. Even sheathed, he could feel it. A resonance that whispered of impossible heat and sharpness.
Dain's hand tightened on his satchel strap.
This person was terrifying.
The orc woman had been unsettling—level forty-six, after all—but this man? Doc? He didn't need a level. The equipment alone could flatten a city block.
Kess finished her introduction.
Doc nodded, then looked at Dain. "Good to meet you."
Dain managed a stiff nod in return. "Likewise."
Doc tilted his head slightly. "You need any help?"
Marron shook his head. "We should be fine. Kess just wants to see what we're offering."
Mazoga stepped forward, placing a hand on Doc's shoulder. "I need to talk to you about a bounty."
Doc's gaze shifted to her. "Alright."
Mazoga gestured toward the inn. "Inside. Won't take long."
Rurrak, Calen, Bran, and Tanna all followed her lead, moving toward the side door. Doc glanced at Marron. "Call if you need me."
Marron smiled. "Will do."
Doc turned and followed the others inside, the door closing softly behind him.
Dain exhaled slowly.
Kess raised an eyebrow. "You alright?"
Dain nodded. "Yes. Just... processing."
Marron cleared his throat. "This way."
He led them toward the wagon, its yellow flag fluttering lazily above the tailgate. The enchantments on the frame shimmered faintly in the cold light—Lightload, Expanded Hold, and something else Dain couldn't quite identify.
But as they approached, Dain stopped.
There was something powerful here.
His eyes found it a moment later—a sleek black wolf with violet markings, sitting perfectly still near the wagon's front wheel. Its amber eyes tracked him with the kind of focus that made his skin prickle.
Dain froze.
That wasn't a normal beast.
The energy radiating from it was dense and old in a way that made his skin crawl.
This was a monster. A high-grade one. And it was just... sitting there.
Marron noticed Dain's hesitation and glanced back. "Oh. That's just Fish. Doc's companion." He waved a hand dismissively. "No need to worry. She's not dangerous."
Dain's eyes didn't leave the wolf. "Not... dangerous?"
Fish tilted her head slightly, her gaze unwavering.
"She's friendly," Marron added. "As long as you're not threatening Doc or anyone he cares about."
Dain swallowed. "Right."
He forced himself to move forward, though every instinct screamed at him to keep his distance.
What kind of person keeps something that terrifying as a companion?
Kess stepped past him without hesitation, already pulling out her evaluation tools. "Let's see what you've got, Marron."
Marron smiled and began unlocking the wagon's tailgate.
Dain followed, his mind still racing.
First the equipment. Then the wolf.
Doc wasn't normal. Not even close.
Kess watched as Marron unlocked the tailgate and began pulling back the canvas covering. He lifted out the first crate with practiced ease, setting it on the ground before opening the lid.
Inside lay neatly bundled hearthgrain, golden stalks tied with simple twine.
Kess crouched down and picked up one of the bundles, rolling the grain between her fingers. The texture was perfect—firm, dry, no signs of rot or mold. She brought it closer to her face, examining the kernels.
Her breath caught.
This wasn't normal hearthgrain.
The quality was exceptional. Far beyond what she'd ever seen in the northern markets. The kernels were uniform, plump, and dense. No imperfections.
This was the kind of grain that only came from ideal growing conditions—rich soil, careful cultivation, and time.
But up here? In the Northern Territories?
Impossible.
She set the bundle down and reached for another crate. Marron opened it without hesitation, revealing ashroot—thick, dark tubers with smooth skin.
Kess picked one up, testing its weight. Heavy. Dense. The skin was flawless, the flesh firm beneath her fingers.
This was perfect ashroot.
She glanced at Marron. "Where did you get this?"
Marron smiled. "We grow it."
Kess frowned. "You grow it."
"Yes."
She turned the ashroot over in her hands, searching for any flaw. Nothing. Not a single blemish.
"Where?"
Marron's smile didn't waver. "Our settlement."
Kess's eyes narrowed. "Your settlement grows ashroot like this?"
"We do."
She set the tuber down and reached for the next crate. Deeproot this time—orange, firm, perfectly shaped. Then stonebulb. Then hearthbud.
Every single item was flawless.
Kess straightened.
She glanced at Dain, who had been standing quietly beside her. He met her gaze and gave a small nod.
Kess leaned closer to him, lowering her voice. "Well?"
Dain stepped forward and placed his hand over one of the bundles of hearthgrain. His eyes unfocused for a moment as his Enchantment Analyst skill activated.
He withdrew his hand and leaned toward Kess, his voice barely a whisper. "These items have a lot of magical energy in them. Far more than they should."
Kess's brow furrowed. "Magical energy? In grain?"
Dain nodded. "It's almost like they were grown in a highly magical area. Somewhere with constant exposure to ambient mana." He paused, his expression thoughtful. "These items must have been grown near a very strong leyline."
Kess's eyes widened slightly.
A leyline.
That would explain it.
Crops grown near leylines absorbed ambient magical energy, making them denser, more potent, and far more valuable than ordinary produce. Alchemists paid premium prices for such ingredients because they enhanced potion efficacy.
But leylines were dangerous. They attracted monsters from all over.
Who would build a settlement near one?
Kess looked at Marron, who was watching her with that same calm merchant's smile.
Someone who didn't have a choice. Or someone who had enough strength to hold it.
"I'll be honest," she said slowly. "I expected high-quality items given your level, but this is exceptional."
Marron inclined his head. "Thank you."
"How much can you supply?"
Marron smiled. "Right now? We can offer regular shipments of hearthgrain, ashroot, deeproot, stonebulb, and various medicinal herbs. Our farmers are skilled, and our land is... productive."
Kess studied him carefully. "All these items would go for quite a lot given their magical energy. The Merchant's Guild would pay premium rates for consistent supply."
Marron's smile widened. "Good. That's what we were hoping."
Kess glanced at the crates again, then back at Marron. Her expression shifted — not quite a smile, but the look of someone who'd just finished a calculation and liked the answer.
"Productive land," she said simply.
"Very," Marron agreed.
A beat of silence passed between them
"Alright," Kess said. "Let's talk terms."
As Marron and Kess discussed terms, Dain found his gaze drifting back toward the inn. Through the windows, he caught glimpses of the armored figure—Doc—moving through the common room with the others.
The magical equipment. The terrifying wolf companion. Now crops grown with impossible levels of ambient magical energy.
And Doc himself.
Dain replayed their brief introduction in his mind. The man had been polite, even friendly. But underneath that calm exterior, Dain had sensed something vast. Like standing too close to something very large that was holding very still.
"—monthly shipments would work best for our supply chain," Kess was saying.
Dain forced his attention back to the conversation. Marron nodded thoughtfully, his merchant's demeanor never wavering.
"Monthly is manageable," Marron replied. "Though I'd want to start with smaller quantities. Test the market response."
Smart, Dain thought. Build trust gradually rather than flooding the market with impossible goods and drawing unwanted questions.
Kess closed her ledger. "I'll draft preliminary terms tonight. We can finalize everything tomorrow."
As the negotiation wound down, Dain's hand moved unconsciously to his evaluation crystal. Guild training demanded he report unusual magical phenomena.
But this felt different.
Whatever secrets they carried, it didn't feel malicious.
Dain thought of his cousin Ren, somewhere out there in Glasshold's streets. Making his own difficult choices. About what rules mattered and which ones could be bent when the alternative was worse.
Maybe some secrets were worth keeping. At least until he understood what he was really looking at.
Kess finished her notes and tucked the quill behind her ear. "Thank you for your time, Marron. This should be profitable for everyone involved."
Marron smiled. "Looking forward to a long partnership."
As they prepared to head back toward the guild, Dain made his decision. He'd write his standard evaluation report tonight—crops with enhanced magical properties, likely grown near a leyline. Technical details without speculation.
The rest—Doc's equipment, the wolf, the feeling that something extraordinary was happening just beneath the surface of normal trade negotiations—could wait.
Some mysteries, he was learning, deserved careful observation before hasty conclusions.