Chương 26

Merchant Ellen It was a little damp as Ellen walked down the slightly muddy road. An early morning rain, just before sunup, had led to a few puddles in the old trail of packed earth, but it was packed tightly enough that most of the road remained firm even under much more heavy rain than this morning's. The sun was already climbing into the sky, and the village starting their work days, when Ellen dared to ring the village bell. A loud clanging sound echoed through the small community.

Used to signal important meetings or emergency announcements, it hadn't been used much in the last few years. Even so, it didn't take long for the crowd to form around the bell, looking for Pauley or Tobias or someone else who might have news. Village Ellen was there, with a crudely-crafted wooden crate she'd found in the attic. Builder Ellen had really done a lot with what little was there, but her earlier efforts weren't much good for their intended purpose.

This one, at least, could be used as something to give Ellen a boost and make her petite form more visible. She hopped onto the box and waved her arms.

"EXCUSE ME, EVERYONE! HELLO!" The girl's voice carried well even over the murmured hubbub of the village, leading to a surprisingly rapid quieting of the voices. The unusual sight of a redhead calling for their attention was enough to give her a few moments to state her business. She waved a hand again.

"Hello everyone!" Ellen put on a warm smile.

"Most of you know me as Trisha, the sister of Bea at the Treetop Inn. Some of you may have heard my adventurer's alias, Ellen. That's me! I have news about the recent purchase of land that includes this village!" That caught everyone's attention, as she'd expected. She waited for the bulk of those present—mostly the working men and a few of their wives—to be looking her way before she continued.

"I didn't become an adventurer for the money, but money did find me, and so did the dungeon," she began.

"So I'll skip to the important part… I'm the one who bought the land! And I like this village, so right away I want you to know that I won't be raising your taxes if I can help it. We'll be paying the extra taxes out of the profits we get from the dungeon, so you can rest easy about that!" A few of the gathered people started to murmur, which was a bad sign. Only about a fifth of the village was actually present, but that was still about forty people. If they all started talking, she wouldn't be heard at all.

Ellen purposely avoided looking toward Tobias and Lauren.

"I just want to reassure you that I did this because once people heard about the dungeon, someone would buy up the land anyway." Ellen waved her hands again to draw the crowd's attention back to her.

"I see you, Mister Jenson, but I'm not answering questions right now. Let me finish." She took a deep breath. Her Gambler's Face helped hide her nervousness, but it didn't stop her from feeling the fluttering in her stomach as she addressed the people who had helped her when she was lost and confused.

"So I decided I should be the one to buy it first!" She clapped her hands.

"Now there are some things that will have to change. I can't help that. We'll get a new road, and I'm sure the Treetop Inn will need expansion. I'll be investing in that to pay back how helpful Tobias and Lauren have been to me. I was in a bad place and they helped me, as did all of you in your own way." She pointed down the road to Merriweather.

"There's a large city close enough that we don't need to make many changes beyond that. If you want to, then come see me, and I'll do what I can. But I love this village and you're all wonderful people, so I want to make sure you can get what you want out of this as well." Ellen pointed the other way, toward the inn.

"I won't answer questions right now because I need to talk to some of you right away, but I'll be at the inn frequently when I'm not busy with other things. If you have questions or concerns, you can see me there. Is that all right with everyone?"

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" One voice called out from the crowd.

"I just said I won't answer questions, but that's a good one." Ellen admitted that with her hands up in a gesture of peace.

"I didn't want the adventurers to know, yet. That's all. That's why I'm telling you now, right after they've left!" Another raised their hand and called out a question, and Ellen sighed. She'd suspected this might happen. Hopefully they were important. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings. It was almost an hour before Ellen and Village Ellen could extract themselves from the confused crowd of the villagers. Ellen couldn't blame them…

it was a big change, even if she promised the changes would be minimal. Even the idea that they were answerable to someone when before they weren't was a big deal to most. These were people who loved being away from the complexities of bureaucracy and crown rule. Pauley was at the inn, as she'd requested, and both Tobias and Lauren were there as well. Village Ellen blushed and mumbled an apology, but Ellen didn't follow suit. She just pulled up a chair.

"Sorry again for hiding it from you," she started. She didn't get to finish. Pauley grunted and slammed his hand down. Ellen started at that, but when she saw his face, he was grinning.

"Cheeky girl," the huge man laughed.

"Glad we got on your good side, then! Never thought I'd be working for you instead!" Tobias cleared his throat.

"Are you really going to help us expand the inn? We weren't sure we'd have the money…" Ellen shook her head.

"You don't work for me, not unless I pay you. I'm leaving you logging rights along most of the area you were already working on. I may have to restrict hunting rights in some areas, but I don't think most people are hunting in that region anyway. It should be fine." She smiled over to the innkeeper.

"And yes. Within reason. I don't have a lot of funds yet, but I'm pretty sure the harder part will be getting everything built in time. We're going to get a surge of visitors after winter, and I'm not sure how much we can get done during winter, so I can't really work miracles."

"We'll need to figure out how it's being expanded. I can put my boys on building the frame once we know that." Pauley crossed his arms and looked at the innkeepers.

"We have the materials, and I'll let them go a bit cheaper because we don't need to transport them." Ellen turned to the large man.

"Which reminds me. I need a ridge beam. I have the dimensions with me, if you can prepare one as soon as possible. I'll need that and to rent one of your donkeys, if you can spare one for a day. I also have some logs for you upriver, if you want partial payment that way." Pauley grunted.

"It'll have to be Diane. Jack's still hurt from yesterday, remember? You saw what he was like, he can't get working for a few weeks. But we can spare Diane for a day if it's for you." Ellen blinked and quickly covered for her lack of knowledge with a smile.

"Trying to get on my good side? You already are. I don't want to make trouble for you, I'm just working on a project up nearer the dungeon and need a ridge beam. I'll bring some people in to work on it so you don't need to hike any of your guys up the hill for it. I just need the beam and some planks, and I'll use Melissa to haul most of it." The man nodded.

"Right, your girl won't be able to handle the big one by herself… that's why you need Diane. Lucky you bought your own."

"Very lucky," Ellen agreed.

"I hadn't thought about the injury. Things have been pretty busy, I can't believe that slipped my mind." She rubbed her head and sighed. Which Ellen had seen that? It was getting harder and harder to cover for the fact that they all didn't have the same experiences.

"Are you all right, dear?" Lauren asked, her earlier frown replaced with concern.

"Is Bea still going to be staying here? I know you've been up in the forest quite a bit. You are welcome to a bed down here…" Ellen smiled lightly.

"I'll be fine, it's just complicated. And don't worry, I'm sleeping fine… and I'll have to be down here anyway to answer questions. It'll be just like when we first arrived. Except you've sort of made my sister much more domestic."

"I heard that!" Village Ellen called from the back of the room. Edmund Briar The drizzle of early morning cleared up by the time the sun crested the ridge ahead, marking the way east to Merriweather. It was still chilly, but Miriam had been kind enough to maintain a gentle Warmth spell again, keeping the three travelers reasonably comfortable despite the cool autumn's dawn. Warming air dispelled the low-hanging mist, a visible signal that the dreary start of the journey would have a more comfortable stretch ahead.

"Nice place," Edmund commented, for lack of anything better to say.

"I don't think the villagers were happy to hear about more adventurers on the way, but they were nice enough while I was there. And Ellen's sister was a real looker." Miriam sighed.

"I hope you didn't hit on her. Ellen may have words with you about that." Edmund laughed and shook his head.

"Don't worry. Those two are different as night and day, but I get the feeling they'd both slap me if I made a move. I'm just saying, they're both pleasing to the eye. You disagree?"

"I don't," Miriam allowed with another exasperated exhale.

"She's hard to understand. One moment she barely knows what she's doing, the next she's surprisingly competent. I'd forgotten what it was like to be young and excited and curious all at once."

"As opposed to now, when you're a curmudgeonly hag?" Edmund laughed and danced aside from the jab Miriam made with her staff at the verbal tease. Even Vincent let out a small snort of amusement. The grin faded into a more thoughtful look as Edmund slowed down to rejoin the other two.

"I know what you mean, though. I didn't expect a Hunter to be so competent in battle at that Level, but so oblivious to their surroundings. And at the table she was downright shrewd. In a few years she'll clean out the merchant stalls at any place she passes through."

"I've no doubt." Miriam wore a rare smile.

"She's certainly curious. She spent a long while just listening to me explain magic to her, and what it would take to be a mage. I doubt she has the talent for it, but you could stand to learn more about what your allies use, Edmund."

"Heh, busy girl." Edmund shook his head.

"And here I thought she was spending all her time with me yesterday. I guess I shouldn't feel special, then?" Miriam quirked her lips into a smirk.

"She also said you'd stand a better chance with her if you bathed more often."

"Ouch." Behind the two having a friendly bickering session, Vincent chuckled. The large and stoic man trudged along, quiet but enjoying life in his own way by seeing his long time friends having fun. As he walked, he turned over what had been said in his head. The chuckle faded into a vague frown. A busy girl, indeed.