Free Three Quest Deal (Tales of Former Dragons Book 1) by Rainer Domingo Page A

interested in your gold,” Jobe said. “I’m interested in your cloaks.” He stroked Drakor’s cloak. “Such fine workmanship. Would you be willing to sell them to me?”
    Tess gave Jobe a contemptuous look, but sat.
    “Our cloaks?” Drakor asked. “No, they’re not for sale.”
    “Where did you get them?”
    “They’re from Shen, east of Darvish.”
    “Ah, Shen. I see. That’s quite far from here.” He looked around at the others. “Are you all from Shen?”
    “I’m from Melhorn,” Tess said. She made sure Jobe wasn’t looking her way, and then caught Drakor’s eye and shook her head ever so slightly to warm him not to say too much.
    “The rest of us are from Shen,” Drakor said. “We’re merchants looking for goods to take back and sell.”
    “How fascinating,” Jobe said. “There isn’t much in Greffenvale except for the king’s soldiers. They’ve taken over the grounds of the old mage tower and made it their southern outpost.”
    “That would explain why there are so many soldiers on the road,” Toshen said.
    “Quite fortunate for me. This place is filled every night. We offer certain comforts the outpost doesn’t provide.”
    “You mean this place is a brothel,” Tess said.
    “Quite perceptive of you. It’s not so bad, really. As long as I don’t serve too much ale, things are actually quite civilized.”
    “Is the whole army here every night?” Tess asked.
    “Of course not,” Jobe snickered. “I couldn’t possible accommodate five thousand men every night.” He burst out laughing, slapped his knee several times, and then composed himself. “Lord Ruben only allows the knights to frequent this establishment. We never get any foot soldiers. They’re too filthy. Too vulgar. No manners whatsoever.”
    “Sounds like you have an arrangement with Lord Ruben.”
    Jobe nodded. “Nothing I can discuss, of course. My family’s had an arrangement with the Rubens ever since their family took over the grounds of the mage tower.”
    “What happened to the mage?” Xan asked.
    “Legend has it he was killed by Baldazar the wizard some two hundred years ago.”
    “What was the mage’s name?” Aesus asked.
    “Grand Master Mage Verick. He was a powerful fire mage, from what I’ve been told. Well, at least that’s what’s been passed down through the years.”
    “Is it possible to see the mage tower?” Xan asked.
    “Oh no. The outpost is surrounded by a high wall that keeps the army in just as much as it does others out. Only the army may enter and leave.”
    “If only the army can enter, how do they get their supplies?” Tess asked.
    “All the food is brought in by carts from Offen to the north. The carts are left outside the gate, and someone goes out and brings them in. The king is worried about spies and saboteurs.”
    “Spies and saboteurs? I thought all of us were under one kingdom now.”
    Jobe looked around as if concerned someone would overhear him. “So we’ve been lead to believe. But there are those from the east who think they should be ruling the kingdom. Some say the king’s decisions are benefiting the lords of the west at the expense of the lords of the east. The eastern lords who challenge the king’s decisions usually end up dead. But you didn’t hear any of this from me.”
    “Since there’s obviously nothing for us here in Greffenvale, can you think of anything in the region that might be trade worthy?”
    “From what direction did you come?”
    “West.”
    Jobe pointed to the map mural. “If you continue riding east, you’ll pass the outpost and get to the crossroads. There’s nothing for you in Offen except for food and livestock. If you go east, you’ll get to the salt and gem mines of Ulden. If you go south, you’ll end up in Wessor. They do a lot of silk trade with the orcs. You’ll find orc copper there too.”
    Drakor looked around the table and saw that everyone had finished eating. He stood, and the others followed his lead.