Free Web NovelChapter 69: Azuka Docks
They arrived at the outskirts of Sarude the following night. With Tryde’s condition worsening over the night, Dr. Lein wanted to get more medical supplies ASAP, pushing them to travel through the day.
Everyone was exhausted and hungry. Their food the night before had been scarce and this morning they’d had to skip their meal.
Sarude was a stark contrast to the forest they’d just traveled to, at least in terms of the outskirts.
Any trees that would’ve lined the area had long been cut down, in favor of vibrant market stalls that lined the area tightly, leaving empty dirt paths.
Dirt kicked up from their horse’s hooves as they approached the entrance of the market stall village.
The loud voices of those within could be heard clearly as they shouted about sales and deals or argued over pricing and haggling.
Behind the market stalls, stood large stone walls.
They stretched as far as the eye could see and appeared to almost touch the sky with their height.
Although the way they loomed over the group felt intimidating and threatening, those in the market didn’t seem to notice the wall at all.
The group dismounted just outside the market stalls. Marix approached the cart and helped Eilownia out.
"A few of us will shop for supplies. I want you to come along and walk a bit. Everyone else will wait here."
Eilownia nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck as he lifted her up and out of the cart.
"Marix what are the walls for? They’re so large. Are we being contained?"
A pit had formed in her stomach at the sight of them, causing her to trembled slightly.
"The actual city of Sarude is beyond those walls." He said as he set her down and interlaced his fingers with hers.
"Really? They’re trapped in there? Marix we have to help them!" She grabbed onto his sleeve with her free hand frantically. freewebnσvel.cѳm
"No, it’s not the same. They can come and go freely. Sarude’s has numerous jade mines, which is also where Windpipe Root grows. Neither of those are found outside of Sarude. People used to break into the mines to steal jade and windpipe root, so, they erected these walls to protect the city and their mines. Now, they send goods outside to these markets to be purchased."
The group shopped in Sarude. As much as Eilownia wanted to stop and look at everything, Marix had to usher her forward.
"One day, I will bring you back here to shop to your hearts content, but today we don’t have time for it. You understand, right?" He asked as he pulled her forward.
She nodded, although she couldn’t hide her disappointment.
"It should take us 3 days to arrive in Azuka based on the speed we’re going and avoiding the main roads. We’ll need to buy just enough supplies to last."
After purchasing more medical supplies, dried meat, rice and some potatoes, they headed back to their horses and loaded up.
Eilownia and Tryde had to share the cart with a barrel of water, causing it to be a bit cramped.
"Will my horse be okay with this weight?" She asked Marix as he secured the barrel in the cart.
"You should give him a name already. The weight is fine. He’s bred for carriage work. If I were piling up supplies, probably not, but he should be fine with this amount."
Eilownia smiled, "I’ll name him Puller since he is working hard to pull us~"
Marix laughed, "If that’s what you want."
After three days, they arrived at the Azuka Docks. The scent of the salty sea filled their nostrils, seagulls squawking above assaulted their ears and the cool ocean breeze caressed their skin.
Like with Sarude, most of the group was left behind to help avoid suspicion. Marix, Vos, Prav, Etil, Eilownia and a few others went off to do their shopping.
Marix opened his coin bag and grimaced. There wasn’t much.
Eilownia grabbed his wrist and handed him a necklace. "Marix, I want you to sell this for our supplies money."
His eyes widened as he handed it back to her, "Whin, I can’t ask you to sacrifice this."
She shook her head, "No I want to help. Everyone else is doing so much, I want to help out as well. Take it."
Marix smiled and tilted his head downwards, "Thank you, Whin."
He then turned to the group, "Alright, stay here while Whin and I go and sell this."
Marix headed to a nearby jeweler with Eilownia following closely behind him. The shop was very organized with multiple beautiful pieces on display by color. Eilownia’s eyes widened as a smile spread across her face as she headed over to look at the rainbow display.
At the counter was a gentleman in a suit, his gray hair slicked back neatly, and a monocle placed on his left eye.
"How may I help you, sir?" He asked as Marix approached the counter.
"I’d like to sell a piece from my collection." Marix pulled the necklace out of his pocket and gingerly handed it to the man.
The man’s eyebrows raised and he let out a low whistle at the sight. Despite the tarnishing on the silver and the smudges on the gems, the beauty of the piece still shined brightly.
He grabbed his loupe from underneath the counter and began to examine it.
The silver piece that hung down from the chain had an ivy design on it with red diamonds surrounded by white ones that formed leaves scattered along its vines.
"10,000 Relude."
Eilownia gasped and turned around, her eyes sparkling.
"Dea-!"
Marix cut her off with a laugh as he held his hand up to stop her.
"Do you think I’m a fool? Only 10,000 Relude?" He asked with a smirk.
The gentleman smiled and cleared his throat, "Sir, with all due respect, the necklace is worn and is tarnished. It’s going to require tools and product to clean it up and polish it, not to mention the labor."
Marix smiled wide, "Of course, of course. However, it’s clear that you already have the tools and product in your shop. Plus, judging by the shine of your other displays, I’d say that you polish them often, so it’s not going out of your way for this piece, is it? Besides, it’s worth far more than any of the pieces you have on display combined."
Eilownia came up to the counter, looking back and forth between the two during their exchange.
"Well. Sir. It’s still product that gets used."
"Yes but that is your business model. You expect to buy and use that product regardless of what jewelry I sell you in terms of upkeep anyways. Besides, you know this extravagant detailing and craftsmanship can’t be beat, not to mention the rarity of a pure red diamond. How many are on there exactly?"
Marix asked the final question with his eyebrows raised and his head lifted as he looked at the necklace in the man’s hands.
A few minutes later, Marix and Eilownia left the shop with eight large bags full of coins. Eilownia’s arms were full of them and her face filled with surprise.
"Marix, you’re amazing! That man was offering triple what I was offered for a similar necklace I sold a while ago and you got him to pay...I don’t even know how much more!"
Marix stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her, "What?!"
She looked up at him, blinking, "When I left home and came to the Viraaz Flower Festival. I sold a few pieces. I had a necklace with purple jewels on it that was similar. The man I sold it to gave me 3,000 Relude! I thought for sure when this man offered 10,000 we were getting a great deal!"
Marix scoffed, "He scammed you, big time. Even without rare red diamonds, if it was anything like that, probably amethyst, 3,000 Relude is what you should charge just to look at the thing."
Eilownia sucked on her lips and twisted her mouth around, "I really don’t know much do I...."
Marix reached out and ruffled the top of her head, "No one does at first, but you’ll learn, just like every else has."
He leaned down and kissed her cheek, causing a huge smile to spread across her face as if she’d never had a single worry to begin with.
When he arrived back at the small group that was waiting for him at the docks.
"Alright. It’s going to take us much longer to arrive in Vasis since we don’t and will not have a luxury ship or a large crew. So we’re going to need to restock our supplies the best we can. Once you’ve all procured what I’ve asked of you, bring it back to this spot, we’ll go get the rest of our troops and depart at nightfall."
"Yes, sir!" They saluted as Marix began to divide the coins.
He handed Vos and a group of three soldiers, two bags of Relude, "Vos, you three go and buy as much water as you can."
They nodded and headed off.
"Prav. I want you three to go and buy food. Dried meat, potatoes, things that won’t spoil while we’re out at see." He handed him one bag and the group headed off.
"Etil. Your father was a fisherman, correct?"
Etil nodded, "Yes, sir. He grew up in Vasis."
Marix handed him a bag of Relude, "I trust you know good fishing gear and what we’ll need at sea."
Etil nodded a second time "I do, sir. I won’t let you down."
Marix wrapped his arm around Eilownia before taking two of the bags from her.
"You and I will go secure a boat and a crew."
