The wanderer, p.21
The Wanderer, page 21
part #1 of The Nogud Legacy Series
Paul said, “There must be many different ways in the world. It must be confusing and worrisome. Come with me. Let me put you at ease.”
He stood up and I followed him down to the water and he called to the women, “Joshua and I are going up to the house.”
Susan turned to us, her breasts visible above the water line, and said, “We’ll be up in a little bit. We’ll finish our play and then clean up and come to the house. Paul, I love you.”
Paul said, “And I love you. We’ll see you all soon.”
Paul turned and we walked up to the house. It was about a hundred yards or so along a lightly wooded path. Behind his house was a large vegetable garden, some chicken coops, and some rabbit pens. The house was larger than I’d realized. We went in through the back door and he took me past the front room and to a door that opened onto a hallway. A short distance down the hall, he turned to a door on his left and said, “This is my bedroom”.
Inside was not the single room with a bed that I’d expected, but rather a large master suite. There was a sitting area with sofas, a nook with a table and chairs, a large room behind a door with a very large bed, and a smaller room with very little furniture.
Paul said, “Until last night, this little room was Yuki’s, but last night, the women moved her bed into our room. We may put a bed in here again, but we haven’t decided. We sleep together, but when we want time alone for lovemaking, we come out here to the sitting room and use a sofa, or we make up the small room for that purpose. The table and chairs we use in the morning for coffee or chatting. It’s easier to heat this apartment than to heat the entire house in the winter. There’s a bathroom for a toilet and there’s a shower. It’s very nice. My business does fairly well and I was able to buy a nice home for us. That’s why I said that there are many places for you if you want to buy a home. But for now, you should stay with us. By the way, I never asked about your family name. I haven’t asked a lot of things.”
I said, “It’s Jensen.”
Paul said, “Jensen. Good. Well, but strange. My name is Weaver. Of course, I’m not a weaver, but my grandfather was. Come see where we’re making a place for you.”
He led me farther down the hall to the next door and said, “This is the apartment that Susan wants for you. It’s sparse for now, but she tells me that’s intentional.”
He pushed the door open and the room beyond was very much like his own except that there were no curtains on the windows and no cushions on the sofas and there was no table or chairs. In the large bedroom was a very large bed, certainly wide enough for the four of my house, and a blanket and quilt. The small room was entirely empty.
Paul said, “Don’t even think about what will be here. It’s up to the women. Your girls will be taken under wing and the rooms will be transformed as surely as Viola and the others have been. My shop is closed for the day, but let’s go for a walk.”
Chapter 21 The Jeweler
Paul led the way back through the house and out the front door and said, “Let’s go into town. I can introduce you. Now that you’re my son, you should know the neighbors.”
I agreed and we headed toward the market.
Paul chatted with me as we went, saying, “Joshua, this is amazing. All of it. I’m not surprised that you were tired last night. Magic must take a lot out of you.”
I said, “Paul, you know that I’m not able to do magic.”
He answered, “I know that you’re not able to do sorcery, but you do make beautiful women appear where none stood before and you make others act younger than they have and you bring joy to the dry and dusty. Accept it for what I say. However it happens, it must still be taxing for you. You should sit for a while and rest with your wives. I’ll give you space. If you want to, stay in your rooms and have meals brought to you. Use the cove during the day and swim. Lie in the sun and watch the clouds go by. We have plenty of work in the days ahead; it doesn’t need to be started today. First, your women will learn from mine. They’ll need time. We all will. Let me ask you something. I would never pry into a man’s personal affairs, but you’ve already referenced this. You told Viola to run to the house and bring back a thousand coins. Was that real?”
I said, “Paul, I don’t mind you knowing everything. If you need something, tell me. I’ve sworn to contribute three coins a day to the family. To answer your question, yes, after my business with the collector, I have more than a thousand on hand and I can get more. Apparently, treasure hunting can be lucrative if one is lucky enough.”
Paul laughed, “I guess so. Of course, the paycheck can be sporadic I imagine.”
I laughed with him and said, “Yes, I suppose so. But, I have coins for now and I have my antique clothes and a few other items, but I also have some items that the collector has agreed to buy when he has sold what he bought from me. And all of it I’m happy to share with you. There’s no reason that we should use your money for any of the work that we have planned. My money is dedicated to what we’re doing with the exceptional sisters. If we find an older widow for you, her fees will be my gift to you and your house.”
That felt strange when I said it. I knew that this is how it worked here, and I’d been assured that these were arrangements and they had found it to be the kindest way to provide for everyone, and that it wasn’t a situation involving slavery, but it was talked about as buying and selling regarding women. Of course, they were essentially free to leave at any time, and if they did the Merchant of Women or the village itself would care for them until a new home was found. Even that idea, the idea of finding a home for them, was uncomfortable for me, but if I thought about it, it was a very workable arrangement. Paul’s family was certainly not unhappy, and even the girls who’d been treated as untouchable weren’t bitter about their lives. As far as I could tell, no one was being mistreated, and they did seem happy with their customs.
Paul said, “Hey, let’s go to the jeweler first. You need a family crest for the tokens for Viola and the others. You can look over some that are available and meet the man and his wife.”
The jeweler was nearby and as we walked up to his shop, Paul said, “Grayson, hello! This is my new son-in-law.”
The man, Grayson, smiled at us and held out his hand to me.
He said, “I’m glad to meet you.”
I shook his hand and Paul said, “This is Joshua. He and his family are living with me for a while.”
Grayson said, “Paul, is it true what Linea tells me? That you’ve taken Yuki as a bedmate and that you bought your license for her this morning?”
Paul smiled and said, “It’s about time, don’t you think so? In fact, that is partly how Joshua comes to be my son. One of his women is Yuki’s daughter. What do you think of that?”
Grayson said, “I think that I’ll sell a few tokens of marriage today. You say that your name is Joshua? Linea, come here?”
A woman came from somewhere in the shop and Grayson looked at me and said, “Linea, did you say that a man came to register a license yesterday and that his name was Joshua and his second name was unusual?”
Linea looked at me and said, “This is him. I remember him. Hello young man. Are you ready to put a token on that pretty girl?”
As we spoke, another man had come up and was looking at several pieces of jewelry, but seeming to be uninterested, he started to move away. As he turned, I saw that he slid his hand across the display and several pieces of jewelry disappeared. I clamped my right hand down on his wrist and I held him tightly.
He turned toward me and screamed, “Unhand me!”
As he yelled, he tried to swing a fist at me, but as he cocked his arm, I twisted upward on his wrist and bent his hand backward in a martial arts lock of some kind and the pain of it caused him to fall to his knees and drop the items that he was in the process of stealing. I stood in front of him, with his left wrist in my hand and he on his knees unable to move lest I break his wrist.
Paul and Grayson look astonished at how quickly all of this had happened.
I said quietly, “He was stealing from you.”
Grayson ran and picked up the items and examined them.
He looked at the man and said, “Stranger, you were stealing from us?”
The man struggled, but I quickly tightened my grip and again he stayed still rather than have me inflict further pain.
Paul said, “Joshua, it looks like you have this in hand so to speak. I’ll gather some men. Can you move him without him escaping?”
I said, “With no trouble at all.”
I moved the man’s wrist in a way that forced him to his feet and then marched him along behind Paul with Grayson following behind me. At each stall, Paul would say simply, “A thief” and whatever men were nearby would join in behind us and follow wherever we were going.
It was a very short walk to the village square, where I’d first met Viola and had first rested beside the fountain. When we stopped, a small crowd was gathered and Grayson stood in the center next to me and my captive.
He addressed the crowd and said, “Friends, I am Grayson the Jeweler. I give witness. I tell the truth and these men, Paul and his son Joshua, were witnesses to what I say. Joshua is the man holding this thief…but I don’t understand how he’s doing it so easily. The thing is this. This stranger came to my shop and put these three items in his hand and started to leave without speaking or paying. Joshua apprehended him as you can see. The stranger tried to strike Joshua in the face, but was….prevented.”
Another man came close and said formally, “I am Charles the Fruit Merchant. I am the Justice for this season in our village. Paul is it what Grayson says?”
Paul said, “It is.”
Charles said, “Joshua, you are new. Paul is this your son-in-law?”
Paul said, “He is.”
Charles said, “Joshua, is it as Grayson says?”
I said, “It is.”
Charles said, “Does anyone contradict it? No? Does anyone speak for this man? No? Then it is established. This stranger is a thief. Grayson was property lost?”
Grayson said, “No. This young man’s quick actions prevented what would have surely have been a great loss to me.”
Charles said, “Then it’s our custom that a thief is sent away from the village and must never return. If he returns, he will be beaten. Stranger, we’ll take you to the edge of town and men will send you on your way. If you re-enter the village or cause any trouble as we leave, other actions will be taken. Joshua, you may release him.”
I let go of the man’s wrist and he stood and brushed himself off and suddenly took another swing at me! I ducked beneath his fist and coming up behind him, I put a hold around his neck and held it until he collapsed seconds later as I cut off the supply of blood to his brain. As he went unconscious, I dropped him to the ground in a heap.
Someone said, “We all saw it. The thief tried to hit him. There’s no fault. He was killed with mercy, though I don’t understand how.”
I said, “He isn’t dead. He’s just sleeping. He will recover, but he’ll have a headache. I didn’t mean to harm him.”
The Justice knelt beside the man and felt his neck for pulse and said, “It’s true. He is alive. And he seems no worse for the experience. He’s lucky that he isn’t injured. He stole from us and attacked one of us, not once but twice, and he ends up taking a nice nap like a baby for all the trouble he’s caused. Roland, will you help me by bringing a cart and a mule and go with me and put him down the road somewhere? Several miles away?”
The man, Roland said, “More than happy to. I’ll get a cart.”
The Justice said, “Thank you Joshua. Now, men, what shall we do? No property was lost, but we have been saved a great deal of trouble by Paul’s son who now is one of us.”
Someone said, “He stays at the inn for a week and we pay for it.”
I said, “Oh, please, I’m staying with Paul and his family and it not necessary to do anything.”
Another said, “A new suit of clothes and shoes.”
I said again, “Please no, it’s really not necessary. I have all that I need.”
Another said, “Tell us what you need and if it’s reasonable, we’ll do it.”
The justice addressed me and said, “Joshua, you prevented the loss to Grayson, but moreover, if this stranger had gotten away, then he would have stolen from others of us as well. Let us do something for you. You’re young; there’s certainly some need that we can help you with.”
I said, “Well, if you put it that way, there is one thing that I am in very short supply of. I’m new here and I’m very short of friends. If I could find some of those, it would be a blessing to me. Beyond that I don’t need anything.”
Charles and several others laughed.
Grayson said, “That goes without saying. A son of Paul is a friend of the village and our neighbor, but so is a man who does us service. You are doubly every man’s friend. Men, what do you say we accept Joshua’s request and give him what he wants?”
Charles said, “We’ll try. Don’t you all agree? And if any man doesn’t treat Joshua as a friend then he is no friend of ours. Is that fair?”
Someone said, “It sounds fair to me. But if he’s a friend, then he must not be a stranger. I say come visit me at my shop often, especially if there are thieves nearby! I have a daughter who comes of age soon. We could make an arrangement.”
The villagers laughed and Paul said, “Now, don’t force too much friendship on him all at once. I think that this matter is ended. Let’s go on about our day, happy that it was less of an event that it could have been.”
At that, many of the men shook my hand and welcomed me and told me their names and I knew that I wouldn’t remember so many so quickly. Roland returned with the cart and the mule and after tying the thief's hands and feet they dumped him in the back of it. In the end, four men rode the man out of town and we went with Grayson back to his store.
Grayson said, “Thank you young man, I can’t thank you enough. If I can do more than be your friend, let me know. Oh, but you both need tokens! A discount at least!”
I said, “But Grayson, please let me pay a fair price. It’s my pleasure to support your family. I’ve had good fortune in my business lately and I want you to have a profit from me.”
Grayson started to protest but Paul jumped in and said, “Grayson, save your breath. When it comes to negotiations, you can’t win against him. He negotiates upside down and if you try to argue, he’ll end up paying twice what you ask and calling down God’s own blessing as well. If you’re not ready for your women to all bear triplets the next time you’re with them, take a fair price and count yourself lucky.”
Grayson laughed and said, “OK, if that’s what you want. What business are you in, Joshua?”
Paul said, “He’s a wizard as far as we can tell, but he claims to be treasure hunter.”
Grayson raised an eyebrow and said, “Tobias the collector left this morning on a journey, and he mentioned that a famous treasure hunter had passed through the village and sold some extraordinary items that he hoped to make a profit from. He mentioned that the man was surprisingly generous. OK, my extraordinary new friend, what can we do for you?”
I said, “Well, two things. I’ll bring my three women later, and two of them still need licenses. I need tokens for all of them.”
Paul said, “And he doesn’t have a family crest because Viola was his first.”
Linea had been with us since we returned to the shop and said, “The pretty one yesterday was your first, and now two more? I look forward to meeting them. Let me get the available crests,” and she turned away for a moment.
Grayson said, “And Paul, you need a token for Yuki as well. What will you want?”
Paul said, “I hadn’t thought about it. We were mostly out for a walk and I stopped to introduce Joshua because I knew that he had business with you. My women wear…wait, my women don’t have tokens! Not one of them. When I took Susan, we were poor and we said that we’d save our money and use it to start our business. I never thought about it after that. They’ve been with me for so many years that I forgot to notice.”
Linea was back with a display box and said, “It hasn’t gone unnoticed by them, let me tell you. Here are some crests that are available.”
The crests were various pieces of stamped or cast metal, of different materials, with various designs on them. They were made so that they could be permanently attached to a band of metal that was used as the token of marriage. I looked at some that had representations of various trees or animals or fish and things like that. Some were purely geometric. None of them particularly caught my eye.
I asked, “Is it possible to create my own design?”
Grayson said, “If you have a design in mind, we’ll see what we can do. What do you think you might want?”
He handed me a slate and a piece of chalk and I drew a small inverted triangle. The sides were a little longer than the top and I put a small dot near the apex at the bottom.
I asked, “And is it possible for a small gem to be set there where I’ve drawn the circle?”
Grayson showed the drawing to Linea for her opinion and a few questions for clarification were answered. Linea agreed that they could easily produce the crests as I described them. I asked about having them made in gold with blue stones and the price was more reasonable that I’d expected. Apparently raw gold wasn’t especially sought after except for jewelry and that didn’t create a high demand. My antiquities were much more valuable than the ‘modern day’ jewelry that Grayson and Linea normally dealt with. These were more or less common adornments and because the amount of gold was so small and the stones were tiny, each would cost about a day’s wages. About two coins. They had the materials and stones in stock and making three of the crests would take just a few hours.
The next decision was the type of band to put them on. Paul had told me that collars, anklets, and rings were common. As we discussed it, Linea advised me in the choices. An anklet would be pretty, but not visible if the girl wore a long dress. I asked how the crest could be attached to a ring and Linea showed me that the ring was for either the nose or an ear. I didn’t like the idea of a nose ring at all. It sounded ugly to me. An ear ring would be fine. The collar had a negative connotation to me for some reason, even though the ones that I was shown would be attractive. There was no negative connotation for Linea and she was actually very proud of hers and assured me that the girls would love one. She explained that the difference between a necklace and a collar was only that a necklace could be removed, but the collar had a feeling of permanence that was appealing as a commitment to a girl that she could demonstrate in no other way. It really was like a fine solid necklace, not a thick heavy band of some kind.
