Primordial Slime: I Devour The World

Tanaka just finished reviewing the first set of trade records with Kessa when a guard appeared in the doorway. "Lord Tanaka, Karesh is waiting outside." Tanaka looked up from the tablet he was studying. "What does he want?" "He asked to speak with you about the trade." Kessa, the young Greater Kobold who stood by the table, turned to Tanaka. "Trade?" Tanaka nodded. "Let him in." The guard opened the door and a single figure came inside, holding a bundle of parchment under one arm. "I hope I’m not interrupting." Tanaka turned to Kessa. "We were just working on this." Karesh smiled. "Then perhaps it isn’t an unwise time to be here after all." He set the bundle on the table and unrolled it. Kessa leaned forward to read. Tanaka studied the page. The first items listed were things Eldoris produced or gathered already in greater quantities, medicines, grain, dried meat, cloth, metal goods and weapons of various simplified styles. His eyes went to the opposite column, materials of monster origin, unusual ores, mana crystals, processed leather goods and several types of mineral he wasn’t familiar with. Karesh studied him for a moment. "Varkesh would like to trade regularly with Eldoris." tanaka turned to him. "Trade regularly?" "Yes, rather than a one time exchange."

Kessa took the parchment from him. "These amounts are quite substantial." Karesh nodded. "Our territory produces things you don’t have." Kessa ran her eyes down the list. "You want these goods in return for..." She turned to him, "this much?" Karesh’s smile never wavered. "We require these supplies." Kessa frowned. "How does this balance out?" tanaka studied her. "What do you see?" Kessa tapped the parchment. "He’s offering more than he asks for in return." Karesh gave her a long hard look. "Too much?" "For what you’re getting in return." Kessa turned to tanaka. "Some of these monster goods would have a considerable value in an ordinary market. The Mana Crystals are almost priceless." She held up one section. "But Varkshe isn’t asking for a significant amount of medicine or military supplies in trade. They would have to buy most of these at more than standard prices." Tanaka’s interest sharpened. That was exactly what he suspected. The man had been managing trade for years already in his past life. One had to be alert to opportunity and threat, understand how value could change based on scarcity, supply and demand. Varkesh offered the goods they wanted at prices that seemed high compared to supplies. Unless there was something else at work. Either they had a greater abundance of certain materials, or a particular need for the supplies offered in return. Kessa nodded. "Either they have significantly more of some goods than we thought..."

Karesh’s smile did not leave his face. "We have problems in our territory." tanaka stared at him. "What type of problems?" "A shortage in several areas." The explanation was simple enough. Too simple. Tanaka studied him for a moment longer. "You want food, cloth, tools and medicine."

"Among other things." "And you will pay well for them." "Correct." Kessa rolled the bundle slightly. "There is another issue." Karesh looked up. "Transport." Kessa moved her finger along one side, "If this is a regular trade, hauling these amounts back and forth would be quite expensive." Karesh nodded. "That is why we have included another proposal." tanaka’s eyes were on him. Karesh placed another bundle of parchment on the table. "This." Tanaka unrolled the second bundle. A rough map. His eyes went immediately to the northern side. "You want to establish a formal trade road through Eldoris." Kessa frowned. Tanaka didn’t speak. Karesh continued, "Varkesh merchants would enter through the north gate, trade in the market, then return the same way." tanaka studied the map. It all made reasonable sense. The northern gate was the shortest distance from Varkesh and the road from there was a direct route to the center of Eldoris. If they were going to establish regular trade, that would seem like the logical starting point. That was what bugged him. That was why he stared at Karesh. "Why the northern route?"

Karesh answered at once. "Because it is the most direct rout from Varkesh." Tanaka studied him. It was the most reasonable explanation, but not the one he expected. He still remembered the fifty two warriors and human mages standing in formation beyond the north wall. They were looking for something. The dungeon was just past that wall. Now they wanted free access.

tanaka looked at Kessa. "What do you think?" Kessa considered the question seriously. "The trade is good." Karesh’s smile was faint. "But the route needs to be restricted." Karesh’s smile faded. Kessa tapped the map. "Regular caravans requiring guards, storage space and escorts. We would also need to have an idea what is entering and leaving the Dominion." tanaka nodded. "Agreed." Kessa hesitated. "And the prices are quite favorable to us."

Karesh spread his hands. "Varkesh needs these supplies."

tanaka believed him.

Maybe.

"He’ll consider the trade." Karesh nodded. " Of course."

"But there are conditions.

Varkesh merchants may trade freely in Eldoris," Kessa looked at Tanaka, "but the movement through the north region will need to be supervised." The reply was calm. "Naturally." Karesh’s expression stayed the same. "No armed group from Varkesh moves through the north region without Eldoris’s permission." "That seems reasonable." Tanaka kept his eyes on him. "And nobody approaches the dungeon." A pause. Karesh’s fingers tapped the edge of the table, once, twice. "I don’t see why any merchants would have reason to approach a dungeon." Tanaka said nothing. Karesh rolled the map slightly. "The trade road would stay on its designated route." "I know." Karesh held his gaze for a moment then smiled. "I believe we have reached an understanding." Tanaka turned to Kessa. "Go over the trade, figure out what we stand to gain and lose with the transport routes and what restrictions will be required."

Kessa nodded. "I’ll have those numbers ready." Karesh was already moving toward the door, and at Tanaka’s call he turned. "You said Varkesh needed our goods urgently."

"We do."

tanaka studied him a moment longer. "Then don’t waste my time." Karesh smiled. "I wouldn’t dare." He was gone before the door closed behind him. Kessa turned to Tanaka. "You don’t trust him." tanaka stared at the map. "I don’t know him well enough to trust him." Kessa nodded. "But the trade still looks good." "It does." She looked at the northern travel route, "Then why do I get the feeling that is not what concerns you?" Tanaka still stared at the map. "The deal is good for us." He paused. "The route is beneficial for them." Kessa frowned. "And?" Tanaka looked at the north gate marked on the map. "That is what I don’t like." Kessa understood. "The search party." Tanaka nodded. "They are already working outside the northern wall." He looked at the parchment again. "Now they want an excuse to keep using the same side of Eldoris." He fell silent. Neither of them spoke.

Karesh walked through the courtyard outside the hall, stopping by an archway. He tapped the ring on his finger and magic flared to life. The glowing form of Rhazek appeared before him. "Did he accept?"

"He’s considering it."

Rhazek’s crimson eyes narrowed. "And the northern route?" "He’ll allow the trade, but he intends to oversee the movement in that sector.

That isn’t what he worried about." Rhazek smiled. "Let him."

Karesh’s expression was dark. "What about the search?"

"We have discovered a direction."

Karesh looked toward the northern wall of Eldoris. "How close?"

Rhazek’s smile widened. "Closer than before."

The image of the spell faded. Karesh let his fingers fall away. Outside the walls of Eldoris, the Varkesh mages continued their ritual. The black mana beneath the earth pushed forward again. The line of tracing magic moved slowly but surely toward the gate at the northern end of Eldoris. Past the gate tower, into the deep underground tunnels, and the chamber awaiting discovery.