Chapter 164: Mirrors and Loyalty
Varis, the merchant leader, adjusted the collar of his gold-embroidered tunic and stepped forward with a smile. Despite the exhaustion from the journey, his eyes gleamed with the cunning of an experienced trader.
"I see..." said Varis, looking at the guards’ dark rifles. "If the Overlord Tribe claims this territory, it is with you that we must deal. My name is Varis, representative of the Golden Rose Company. We had to detour through the Shadow Forest to the north to avoid the beast packs. It is an unknown territory, but we managed to cross it."
Lennis stepped forward, keeping his hand near his battle axe.
"No one crosses the Shadow Forest without paying a price," said Lennis. "What are you seeking so far out here?"
"High-value trade," said Varis, making a gesture to his men to open the back of the main wagon. "We seek to purchase what these lands offer in abundance: high-rank beast cores, rare medicinal herbs, preserved beast meat, and pure minerals. In exchange, we bring wonders from the great cities."
Varis reached into a velvet chest and pulled out a polished crystal sphere that emitted multicolored flashes upon contact with the air. He held it high, spinning it between his fingers.
"An artifact that stores light for the night without fire," said Varis. "But that is not all. We bring forged steel weapons, light armor, invocation scrolls for pack beasts, exotic beast cores, and... this."
Varis gave a signal, and one of his assistants unfolded a silver-framed mirror alongside several fine silk tunics in crimson and gold hues.
The mirror’s reflection was so clear that Helga couldn’t help but step forward. She had never seen her face with such clarity; the softness of the fabrics and the luster of the dresses nearly made her give in to the desire to purchase one. Beside her, the patrol guards stretched their necks, staring at the items and weapons. None of them suspected these were low-cost tricks to the merchants; to them, they were true treasures.
"These are extraordinary items..." said one of the young guards, staring at the shine of the weapons. "Can we trade a few beast cores for those dresses and swords?"
Varis smiled, sensing the impact of his wares.
"Of course, warriors," said Varis. "We can make a direct trade right here if you wish. A few cores and beast meat in exchange for these jewels and armor sets."
Helga gazed at the silk dress for another second, feeling the temptation. However, after a deep sigh, she stepped back and shook her head, regaining her composure.
"They are beautiful things, Varis... impressive," said Helga, bringing firmness back into her voice. "But we cannot purchase anything. In the Overlord Tribe, the Great Shaman is the sole authority permitted to negotiate resources and sign trade agreements."
The soldiers, though looking at the weapons and mirrors with obvious yearning, nodded in agreement. Their devotion and loyalty to Kellar weighed far more than any personal desire or fascination with shiny objects.
Lennis looked at Varis with a calm smile.
"Our loyalty belongs to the Great Shaman," said Lennis. "If you wish to sell your goods and purchase the tribe’s minerals and cores, we will guide you under escort to the main fortress. There you may present your merchandise to our leader directly."
Varis observed the group’s discipline with awe. Although he saw the fascination in their eyes, he was amazed that not a single soldier attempted to bypass the rules out of personal ambition.
"It is an admirable loyalty," said Varis, bowing his head in respect as he closed the chest. "We accept your guidance. Please, take us to your Great Shaman."
Helga looked up at the sky, which was beginning to stain with orange and purple hues, noticing that night would not take long to cover the territory.
"There’s no sense in setting out on the trail at this hour," said Helga, adjusting her sword belt. "Why don’t you rest for tonight? Early in the morning you can set out for the main fortress, as it is far and the road is not safe in the dark."
Varis evaluated the offer for a moment. Although the idea of a solid roof was tempting, a seasoned trader’s caution prevailed.
"We appreciate your hospitality, my lady," said Varis, bowing slightly. "However, we prefer to camp outside, near the perimeter. Our draft beasts are skittish from the journey and my men need to keep watch alongside the cargo."
Helga nodded without pushing. She knew the merchants feared a closed trench or a night ambush. She assigned them a cleared space near the defensive post, guaranteeing them access to clean water and dry firewood.
Shortly after, the heavy wagons formed a defensive circle on the outer plain. The mercenary escorts lit campfires and set up their watch posts, alert to any movement among the shadows of the trees.
Beside the main wagon, sheltered from the cold wind, Varis brewed a cup of hot herbal tea and handed it to a dark-haired young man in ostentatious clothes who was gazing at the post walls. This was young master Caelen, the true owner of the caravan and son of the Golden Rose Company’s magnate.
"Young master," said Varis in a low voice, making sure the tribe guards couldn’t overhear from the trench. "What do you make of the situation?"
Caelen took the cup, blew off the steam, and let out a long sigh before answering.
"It’s strange... far too strange, Varis," said Caelen, frowning as he contemplated the torches on the wall. "This was the Black Skull Tribe’s territory. They might have been brutal killers, but they were simple to manage and generous. It was enough to hand over a few slaves for them to give us tons of pure ore without asking questions. But these people... they are too orderly. Everything is squared away, they have military discipline."
"And that poses a problem for us," said Varis, crossing his arms.
"A massive problem," said Caelen. "With this level of control, I fear it will be complicated to meet the ore quota my father demands for the capital this year."
"I thought the exact same thing, young master," said Varis. "When I unfolded the mirrors and silk fabrics, I could see the greed in their eyes. That woman, Helga, and the soldiers desired our goods. But upon mentioning the words ’Great Shaman,’ I saw something stronger in their faces: they felt terror. They fear their leader far more than they desire our things."
Caelen looked at the campfire’s reflection in his cup, reflecting on his advisor’s words.
"A leader who manages to keep his own commanders’ greed at bay through fear or blind loyalty is no ordinary savage," said Caelen. "This Great Shaman won’t accept trinkets for his land’s resources. Tomorrow we’ll have to tread carefully, Varis. If we try to play dirty with this new lord like we did with the Black Skull barbarians, we won’t leave this valley alive."
"I agree, young master," said Varis, adjusting his cloak. "Get some rest. Tomorrow we will see the true face of the Overlord Tribe."