The Barter System (28)

“We might want to move faster Sert.” Meli commented suddenly. My head snapped up in time to see an apple bounce of the back of Sert's head. “They seem to have noticed us watching them.” she reported. Sert glance angrily at her while snapping the reigns to urge the oxen to move faster. His eyes returned to the road avoid the two soldiers that had broken from the ranks to approach the cart as it rumbled along. He stared ahead blind to their waves as I turned to flash a salute back toward them. I looked at the back of Sert's head.

“What have you learnt?” I asked as we entered the town.

“Not to stare at soldiers.” Meli replied quickly. I heard Sert chuckle.

“They seem to think that marshalling closer to each other gives them better protection.” he finally commented over his shoulder. “But it would make the group an easier target for area weapons, correct?” he added.

“Yes.” I interjected. “But these people do not use weapons like that toward soldiers, only to breach walls and gates.” I explained. “Their formation gives them an edge when fighting other foot soldiers.” I clarified.

“It would make for the strongest formations they could use.” he agreed slowly. I could see him thinking through it. “But would be without substance against an Atlantian foe.” he added quickly. I tapped him on the shoulder to have him look back at me. I nodded slowly as his smile was sad at being correct. We pulled into the yard of the inn I had planned us staying for that night.

“Which town will we be crossing at?” Meli asked. We disembarked and huddled by the cart as we spoke.

We still have two to three towns before we cross over into Greek territory.” I answered in a whisper. “We will change country in a smaller village that may not know yet about the ongoing war.” I explained. “It may force us to cross the territory of a giant but we should be safe if we remain on the main road.” I added.

“Are not giants known also as titans within this land?” Meli returned. “Same as the ones in the Greek lands?”

“Yes but most are not as harmful as stated by the myths of the people that wrote those books.” I returned calmly.

“Are the titans not viewed as a step between deities and mortals?” Meli continued. She already had the one book open in her hands as she quoted ideas. “Would they view us as equals since we are Atlantians or Alton?” she added. I could see the little smile that formed on her face. I could see in her mind that maybe the titans would be friendlier to us knowing our origin.

“Yes.” I interjected back. “If they see us as Alton, we would be warmly received.” I agreed. I turned toward Sert who waited in silence for us to enter the inn. “Bring one of the baskets of mixed vegetables and fruits in with us.” I ordered. He nodded and piled a mix of items including bread and cheese.

“Would this be a lesson in the barter system that is similar to the Atlantian way?” Meli asked. I moaned before turning to face her again.

“Not exactly, but you will see once in the inn.” I remarked. “Fresh produce does not last long so best we share the wealth we have.” I explained. “And it will teach you the greatest lesson of travelling the world and gaining information.” I added. We entered the inn slowly under the suspicious eyes of the owner standing in his common room. I side stepped a bench letting the owner notice the basket in Sert's hands. He smiled brightly at us before motioning us to a table near the back of that room.

“Not many farmer coming through town lately.” he stated politely. We sat at the table with the basket set to one side. I had remained silent giving him just a nod acknowledging his words. “We have been short on many fresh products with the war on Troy even if the fields should still provide our needs.” he continued. I could sense his distress at the situation. “Best we deal in comfort.” he added. He motioned to his wife to bring wine to the table.

“We have three baskets full that can be transferred to your hands.” I explained quickly. The man nodded to me as he smiled. “That and a few coins should hopefully secure us rooms for the night?” I hazarded easily.

“The town barely get that much from our fields lately.” the inn keeper returned. I could feel his amazement at the offer I was making him. “Coins, we have many just no way of gaining fresh food for our guests and patrons.” he reported slowly. “A fourth basket would get you coins to help you out if possible.” he offered.

“That would not leave us much to continue our travel to the next town.” I remarked. To my surprise, both Meli and Sert had remained silently listening to the debate. “One basket now with two heavily loaded baskets in the morning without coins transferred from either of our pouches?” I suggested.

The inn keeper smiled as he nodded to me. He spit in his hand before offering it to me. I spat in mine before we shook hands sealing the deal to a chorus of strangled choking from Meli and Sert. The inn keeper and myself chuckled as we wiped our hands on our upper leg.

“They are too young to understand customs?” the inn keeper asked me.

“They have never been upon Roman lands to learn our customs.” I replied. “The Alton would never think of spit as a person's word during negotiations.” I continued slowly. I watched the inn keeper's eyes grow wide as my words sunk in. “A pair of youth placed in my charge for a bit.” I added with a shrug.

“Have you been there?” he asked in a whisper. His eyes remained wide as he glanced from me to my companions.

“Yes.” I replied with a chuckle. “My tales of the Mystic Island are free over supper if you accept to split bread with us.” I countered. His eyes return to gaze at me as he smiled and nodded. I saw and felt the annoyance from my companions as we left them out of the discussion. “Or they may be willing to tell their own tales in our tongue.” I hazarded softly. I motioned toward Meli to let her know she could speak while the inn keeper still stared at me wide eyed.

“I see no problem with my lord's words.” she returned in Roman. The man's head snapped as he turned to stare at her in astonishment. “Our guide has given us a chance to learn your tongue for this voyage.” she added. Even in Roman, her voice carried the musical edge of the Atlantian tongue while she had smiled sweetly to the inn keeper as she spoke.

“My words are not as crafted as hers.” Sert responded with a harsh accent. I nearly choked at this coming from a man that spoke flawlessly the previous day. “I will try my best with my friend's help.” he added with a quick nod to Meli. Her face remained undisturbed by this sudden accent Sert had developed.

“Beware if they speak of me in their tales.” I warned the inn keeper. “They believe me to be a lost member of their own race.” I explained with a wink. The man's rumbling laughter echoed in the common room.

“Anyone with eyes can see you are Roman through and through!” he retorted unable to quell his laughter.

Meli suddenly stared hard at me with a look of have just meet me. I read in her mind that she finally noted the minor changes in my appearance that made me appear as a typical Roman as she had seen so far. She glanced at Sert knowing he had the proper coloration already to be seen as Roman. I saw it finally click in her mind that he also shared many features with me that could lead to him being mistaken as a son to me.

“Why did you not warn me when you noticed this?” she reprimanded Sert in Atlantian.

“I thought you understood when I played son to Kestrel.” Sert answered with a shrug. The innkeeper's eyes moved with their speech.

“Of course I did not understand or I would not be vexed with you.” she returned.

“But you are the one that usually explains these things to me?” Sert replied. I listen but did not interfere as I sensed the amazement growing with our host.

“So next time when one of us notices something we mention it to the other person.” she retorted quickly. “Agreed?”

“Agreed.” Sert returned with a quick nod. Both turned to smile at the inn keeper.

“Very musical their language.” he commented to me.

“Some words are the sounds of barely known notes in our world.” I replied softly. “If you have a crowded common room tonight,” I began to offer, “I may speak in a different way.” The inn keeper's face brighten as I pulled out my ocarina, an instrument of legend and mystery for the Romans.

“I am sure that word will spread thanks to my wife of our special guests.” he admitted with a nod. “My wife will surely add that a musician will be here also making many visit tonight.” he continued. “If you wish to to lay a hat for collection, I have no problems with it.” he added.

“It would be a pleasure to perform without the hassles of splitting the take for the night.” I remarked calmly.

“Your rooms are paid for already and our common room is open to all freely.” he replied quickly. “This town could use a night of music and stories to remove the thoughts of war from their minds.” he added softly.

“Good stories and lively music will be a good offering to give peace to the people.” Meli commented. In her mind I could see that see realized my true plan. “I pray they are as forth coming with tales as we will be since we wish to learn everything we can about this land.” she continued. One quick glance to me showed her understanding of my machination so far. Sert nodded his agreement wordlessly. I rose the ocarina to my lips and practice a few soft notes.

“I am assured they will want to talk your ears off as much as hearing of your wonderful origins.” the inn keeper said to her. “The men will adore a chance of being close to you will the women will relish conversing with your friend.” he continued. I could feel his excitement rising as he dreamt of the night's events. “Including music that is never heard in this part of the world as a back drop,” he interjected, “it will be a night of true magic for all.” He nodded to them before returning toward the kitchen area with the basket.

“This might be your first chance to gather information on your own.” I told them in Atlantian. “Keep it simple and we should be able to know what we face along the roads we must take.” I added quickly. The inn keeper returned but did not seem to notice me speaking Atlantian. He smiled at us before heading upstairs with a bundle of fresh looking bedding followed by a young pair of children. We smiled back at them as the children giggled and dashed ahead of their father up the stairs. I felt the thought of Meli and Sert offering to hunt down musical instruments of their own as I place the ocarina to my lips again. I let a soft thrill of notes rush out with a hint of the bardic magic allowed to humans and practice in Atlantis.