The Canterbury Tales The Merchant Novels & Stories

Beyond its borders were all sunny and clear of any speck of rain. “This storm is a freak one, I tell you, lassie,” said a merchant with a pipe. He was blowing smoke as if his life depended on it. His voice was raspy and deep as he addressed the woman on his lap. Seymor reckoned that the woman was from one of the many brothels in the central town. A stout bald merchant snorted. “Aye, ‘tis a freak one. I can wager my entire fortune that it is a witch who is responsible for this one! Such a bother, I may add.”

"I hear from my housekeeper that you are traveling merchants?" There was the sound of heavy footsteps on the stairs, and then the door of the reception room opened. A fat man who looked exactly like the portrait hanging on the wall walked in. He was so fat that his facial features were no longer obvious, the two moustaches curled up as he spoke. "Yes, we are gem merchants. We are leaving after doing some business in the city. Before that, we are here to express our gratitude to you." Alen's face was full of sincerity. He's obviously very good at this sort of thing.

Had I been distant a lot that I didn’t notice? My instincts flared. I needed to investigate. I found the merchant, Elias, a short man with a booming laugh and a penchant for bartering, in his usual stall. He was surrounded by a colourful array of goods, from woven baskets to gleaming knives. The earthenware cups were prominently displayed. "Elias," I said, my voice deliberately gruff. "Those cups. Where do you get them?" Elias chuckled, rubbing his hands together. "Ah, a discerning eye! These are treasures, my friend, treasures! Imported from a faraway land. A foreign trader comes through now and then. Good prices too, and strong. Everyone's buying them."

I lean in and whisper my plan, under the noise of the bar. He blinks a few times, then shoots the rest of his drink. “You’re one crazy bastard. Let’s go get your girl.” *** “Business of the king.” I lift my chin and tap my fingers on the hilt of the dagger. “You wouldn’t refuse him, would you?” The merchant standing in front of me swallows. “The Whirlwind is halfway through a journey. I can’t just abandon my cargo—” “Then unload,” Baz growls like he’s some kind hardass. I almost laugh when the merchant starts trembling.

"Damn it, I'm in trouble. I don't think these clowns are going to pay for it either." The shopkeeper points at Lucia and Clarisse, "how about those two? Aren't they with you?" Zane gasps… Lucia walks forward and drops exactly the amount told by the shopkeeper. She then says, "there you go, mister. Apologies, my master here is quite broke," Lucia kindly and gently said. The shopkeeper came to his senses and was surprised, "Lu-Lucia Monesy?! And...and Cla-Clarisse Krix?! The battlemage of Etheria and the knight of Esperia! A pleasure to meet you! I'm Grucius," the shopkeeper bowed.

Sarina explained as she tried not to find his discomfort amusing. "And then what?" Canagan asks. " Don't worry about that, if you don't know then you will look surprised." Sarina said putting a hand on his shoulder. " I'm not sure I like not knowing. It's OK though I trust you." He said as he got Devon and they returned. When they reached The Mountain Lands it wasn't long before they found a merchant. Canagan took a deep breath as he focused on what he was supposed to say. " I'll give you a hundred for the lot." The merchant says and starts to count it out.

You tell me what. The end of the speech got stuck in the merchant's throat. Because the student of the Citadel looked at him. And there seemed to be no anger, no anger, no discontent in the heavy blue eyes, but only the words hung on the tip of the talkative merchant's tongue and he almost choked on them. He broke off, as if he had been hit in the belly, and did not utter a word more for the whole journey.

"The merchant decided to go home but was caught up in a terrible snowstorm. He tried to seek shelter against the largest tree he can find and try to fall asleep but with the howls of wild animals plus the deadly cold, the poor man couldn't bear to fall asleep." Cathedra realized she had been holding in her breath by the time Miss Yumi flipped to the next page. It was morning now, but still the grounds were covered in snow that it was hard to tell the path to home. "By the help of the sunlight, the merchant noticed an enormous castle within walking distance. Deciding to take his chances, he set off for the heavy metal gates surrounding the castle and went in."

If I didn’t know for sure he was rich before, I certainly knew it now. We stepped out of the merchant’s stall and were immediately swarmed by the neighboring tents’ merchants. Every single one of them called out in sweet voices, trying to coax us like sirens to their wares. Every stall we passed had a salesman trying to pull us into their shop. One physically grabbed my arm to pull me under his tent to look at his jewelry, making me squeak and stumble away. Jack’s face twisted as though he tasted something sour, and he grabbed my hand and pulled me to the water. The merchants still kept hawking their wares, but at least they couldn’t pluck at our clothing. We walked through the waves, still