To Catch a Merchant Princess Ch. 02

Thakkor stood as she walked down the stairs, hefting his pack and adjusting the rest of his gear. "Ready?"

"Yes. I'm ready for this all to end and return home."

"Follow me then. We'll be on our way as soon as we stow our gear in his wagon."

Alicia thought the merchant leading the two-wagon caravan looked familiar when she saw him, and thought she saw recognition in his eyes as well. His two wagons looked much like tiny houses on wheels with a place for the driver, even having gabled roofs. She and Thakkor put their gear into the first wagon, and Alicia noticed that it resembled the moving prison in which she'd awakened after her kidnapping on the inside. The merchant's wagon had far more shelves and cabinets, however. The apparent leader of the group then called Alicia up to the buckboard of the wagon. "Fantil, at your service," he said as he helped her up.

"Alicia," she said, feeling just a little uncomfortable under his stare.

"Alicia? Who's your father, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Abraham Nash, of Freeland."

Alicia saw the flash of stronger recognition in his eyes, and she thought there was something of greed there as well. Fantil slapped his knee and laughed. "I knew I recognized you. I've done business with your father. Thakkor explained to me what you've endured. Rest assured that I will return you to your family safely, and with all haste."

"Thank you," Alicia said, thinking that the reward he expected for doing so far outweighed any other consideration. She did have to admit that he'd agreed to convey her home before learning her identity, however.

"Let's be off then. Hyah!"

The wagon lurched into motion.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

The masked man cursed under his breath, knowing that reacquiring his prize had just become far more difficult — and dangerous. "Ride ahead, and let none see you. You will have further instructions when the time is right."

The men around him grunted their agreement, and then spurred their horses off into a perpendicular course to the road, gaining enough distance to safely parallel the wagon and pass it.

Once again, the masked man cursed. This time, his ire turned upon his employer. He could not fathom why the man demanded that the woman be unharmed — at least any more than absolutely necessary — and that he actually turn her over upon payment of the ransom. It was those restrictions that placed him in his current position.

Mounting his own horse, he took heart that the guards surrounding his prize would face two-to-one odds. Had she joined a larger caravan, he would have been hard-pressed to muster enough disposable men to do so.

He spurred his mount, riding to ensure that no further mishaps prevented his rise to prosperity.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Alicia smiled as she gazed upon the flag of her homeland flying over the fortification shadowing the wagons. Though the farthest outpost of Freeland within the Protectorates of Armand, it marked yet another step in her journey home. The fortress served as a waypoint for travelers, providing maintained campsites within the stone wall surrounding the utilitarian structure.

The group of merchants and guards chatted around the fire set in a ring of large stone, recalling past adventures and anticipating a profitable trip. Alicia's heart raced as she listened to the tales of the guardsmen, revealing a life full of excitement the likes of which she could only dream. With more than a little embarrassment, she realized that she paid far more attention to Thakkor than the others.

"With any luck, none of you will have opportunity to add to your campfire tales on our journey," Fantil laughed. "Though I anticipate our fortunate acquisition of magewares will find us great profit in fair Freeland, I do believe that the cost of bonuses for drawing your weapons might very well offset the gains."

"Magewares?" Alicia piped up, thinking of her lost spell book and component pouch — the one thing she had not found within the wagon serving as her prison.

"Some common magic items, roots, herbs, spell components..."

"Do you have any spell books?"

"A pair of what I'm assured are rudimentary texts," he answered.

Alicia stood, excited at the possibility of possibly acquiring new magic. "May I see them?"

A little stunned, Fantil replied, "Of course. Derell, fetch the chest, will you?"

One of the other merchants nodded and stood, walking across the well-trodden grass to the second wagon to retrieve a chest from inside. When he returned, Fantil nodded to indicate he should let Alicia look through it as she wished.

Alicia immediately recognized the spell components of every cantrip she'd learned under the Baroness' tutelage. Upon opening the most ornate spell book, she discovered that it was a slightly more advanced text than the one Gwendoline possessed, but still likely a child's primer. It contained a few cantrips she had never studied, but the two spells at the back of the book were what brought a gasp to her lips — magic missile and flame arrow. A quick inspection revealed that the necessary components for those two spells were also within the chest.

"If you see something you like there, or anywhere amongst our wares, I will of course accept your letter of credit. Your father's reputation is indisputable."

The last thing Alicia wanted was her father to receive a letter of credit for the tools of a mage. "It is but a silly girl's interest, and one my father does not approve of," she covered, realizing she'd already revealed far too much to someone who knew her father.

She didn't fool the wily merchant, however. "Our fathers often do not approve of our interests. That does not make them any less real. Have you studied magic?"

Realizing that her attempt to misdirect the shrewd man had failed, Alicia answered, "A little."

Fantil winked and said, "I might very well see fit to forget any purchases you make, and make arrangements for payment — for a demonstration."

"Aye — some magic."

"Show us."

The interest of the men brought a blush to Alicia's cheeks. "You won't say anything to my father?"

Fantil waved his hand before him in a dismissive gesture. "Not a word. Magicians are such tight, uppity sorts that they won't show you anything. A little forgetfulness is a small price to pay to see some magic."

"I only know minor cantrips."

"More than I've ever seen," the merchant encouraged her.

"Very well," Alicia said with a smile. She gathered up the necessary components and spoke the words of a fire cantrip. The men around her applauded and asked for more when the little flame sprang up from her fingertip and she whirled it around. The light from the flickering magical flame cause the shadows stretching away from the fire to dance erratically.

The men putting her at the center of attention encouraged her, and she cast a second cantip. This one summoned up a miniature whirlwind. Created as a means to quickly dust the shelves of a laboratory, it nevertheless created an impressive little tornado while spinning around the campfire sucking up the smoke.

Fantil laughed and stood up to clap. "Well worth the price of keeping quiet, and the cost of what you used to work the magic. If there's anything you want, you have my word that I'll not mention it to your father."

Once again, Alicia's pocket change was more than enough to replace her lost spell book with a more advanced copy, and to gain the components she needed to cast any spell in the new book, even those she had not yet learned. Though she felt a little ashamed of the vanity inherent in the feeling, the attention buoyed her spirits such that her homesickness faded completely.

As she flipped through the book, one of the new cantrips stood out in her mind — mystic dart. The cantrip was a weaker, elementary form of the magic missile spell. If she could learn it, then she could likely master the more powerful spell. With several days of travel remaining, she would have plenty of time to study, and little else to do anyway. Alicia fell into the book, quietly mouthing the words of the cantrip and practicing the described hand gestures.

"The way you move your hands when you do that reminds me of a dancer I saw once."

Alicia looked up from her book at Thakkor. "Hmm?"

"Just the way your hands move. They sort of dance."

Alicia blushed, feeling a little giddy from the description. "I'm simply performing the gestures as the spell requires."

Thakkor chuckled. "Don't know about that. I think you do it with a bit more grace than you give yourself credit for."

"Thank you," Alicia responded with a shy smile.

Thakkor smiled back. After a few seconds, he blinked, and then cleared his throat. "Well, I'm going to bed down. I have the last watch, even though there's not much need of it when we're camped in the shadow of a garrison. Only an idiot would attack us here. Good luck with your magic, and good night."

"Good night," Alicia responded, and she found that her eyes followed him as he walked away. She couldn't help but admire the play of his muscles beneath his clothing, which she found almost hypnotic. He also had none of the swagger that the other guardsmen exhibited, or the pompous air that she was so familiar with from her suitors. Graceful and powerful were the words that sprang into her mind.

A warm feeling rose up through her, and she looked away from him when the sensation centered mostly between her legs. She quickly looked back at her book, but found that she couldn't focus on the words. After a few more futile minutes, she closed her book and decided to find her rest within the wagon as well.

She couldn't help but take a final glance at Thakkor where he slept, however.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

Fantil started when Alicia let out a sharp, high-pitched gasp shortly before he planned to stop for the evening. "Are you unwell?"

"I... Oh, I'm sorry," Alicia responded, a little shock on her face. Her expression then changed to one of joyful accomplishment. "I just mastered a new cantrip. It gives me this sharp chill when I have it right."

Fantil nodded and said, "Ah. Well, perhaps you will show us this new magic soon."

Alicia felt a profound sense of exhaustion sweep over her, also a symptom she frequently experienced upon learning a new cantrip. "Perhaps after I've rested."

"You'll have that opportunity soon. I know of a fine place to make camp for the evening, and we will reach it in a short time. I'm afraid you won't have the luxury of using garrison jakes this time, though."

"I will endure, and I thank you for thinking of my comfort when we stopped yesterday."

"It is my honor to provide you with a pleasant journey home," he said with a nod of his head.

The location Fantil had chosen was indeed well suited to their needs, providing all the wood and water they could ask for, with several existing fire pits. The banter around the campfire proved quieter, as all knew that there was no fortress full of soldiers looming next to them this night. Alicia lay down shortly after the evening meal, feeling exhausted from the journey and learning a new spell.

When she awakened to a full bladder some time later, she knew the hour was near dawn upon rising to see Thakkor on guard. He nodded to her, and her cheeks warmed as she moved away from the encampment to the concealment of the bushes. As she returned from answering nature's call in the gloomy darkness, she approached the fire near where Thakkor stood. She felt the need to chase away the imaginary creatures of the dark that her mind had conjured up while away from the circle of light in the encampment.

Thakkor nodded and smiled as she approached, but suddenly turned his head away and slapped his hand to his sheathed sword.

"What..." Alicia began.

Thakkor snapped up a hand to cut her off. "Go back to the wagon and stay down. Something's out there," he whispered as he drew his sword.

Alicia hurried back to the safety of the wagon, instinctively reaching for the dagger she'd worn in her flight from the kidnappers. She'd not put on the belt and sheathe after stopping at the inn, however. Her steps quickened from the feeling of vulnerability that revelation awakened within her.

Just as she stepped up into the wagon, Thakkor shouted at the top of his lungs, "Ware!" Alicia turned to look and saw him planting his feet. The firelight reflected off the swords and buckles of several men rushing into the clearing from the ebon shrouded forest beyond.

Chaos erupted as men cast off their bedrolls and snatched up weapons. A heavy-eyed Fantil leaned into the wagon to fumble for something inside, emerging with a crossbow. Alicia scrambled to her bag for her dagger in the darkness.

Shouts and the sound of steel ringing on steel broke the silence of the night. Alicia hurriedly tore through her bag, finally locating her dagger. She snatched it free of its sheathe, and then grabbed her pouch of spell components as well. Despite Thakkor's warning, she crouched low and looked out of the wagon toward the battle now raging outside.

A loud twang startled her as Fantil's crossbow rang out. A man let out a horrible scream as his chest sprouted a feathered shaft. The merchant cursed as he worked the windlass to reset his weapon. Already, two of the other attackers lay sprawled on the grass near Thakkor, and a third fell to another of the guardsmen. Despite losing four of their fellows, the marauders still held the advantage of numbers over the caravan's defenders.

One of the guardsmen near Thakkor cried out and fell back, trying to keep his weapon ready while clutching a wound in his shoulder. Somehow sensing the approach, Thakkor brought his shield in line to defend against the attacker that had stabbed his fellow.

Seeing Thakkor hard-pressed by two of the ill-kempt brigands turned Alicia's heart to ice. She tore open her spell pouch with worried determination, pulling out the flint-tipped maple twigs that were necessary to cast her newest spell. The words burned bright and clear in her mind, screaming for release. Alicia chanted the words perfectly, if in haste, her hands flying through the necessary gestures. As soon as she intoned the final word of the spell, she hurled the miniature dart toward one of the men facing Thakkor.

A streaking bolt of light hurtled from her hand, striking the attacker square in the back. He screamed and flinched, but did not fall. Created to deal with rodents, not men, the cantrip simply didn't possess the magical power to do more than cause pain.

It did cause him to drop his guard for the fraction of a second Thakkor needed. The quick young warrior blocked an overhand slash from his other opponent, and then cleanly stabbed the man Alicia's dart had distracted. With a gurgling scream, the man fell away, allowing Thakkor to go on the offensive against his other opponent.

The guardsman who had taken a wound ignored it to return to the fight, preventing another attacker from joining his fellow against Thakkor. Heartened that her magic had aided him, Alicia reached for another of the twigs to cast her spell again. Just as she retrieved it, a slash of Thakkor's weapon felled his opponent.

The tide of the battle quickly turned as the odds evened. Seeing another guardsman giving ground, Alicia cast her next dart at the man driving him back. As before, the startled reaction to the pain of her magic provided an opening for the defenders of the camp. Yet another of the scruffy attackers fell.

Fantil's crossbow rang out again. Though the bolt missed, it was enough to send the man running back into the trees. Others quickly followed, though Thakkor cut down one before he could break free of their clash to escape. The guardsmen quickly gathered close to the wagon, their weapons at the ready and panting for breath.

Slowly, the men relaxed as no new threats emerged. One man darted to the fire to toss on more wood, increasing the illumination of the clearing. All of the warriors nursed at least one minor wound, but the guardsman who had fought at Thakkor's side leaned against the wagon, his sword falling to the ground.

Fantil tossed aside his crossbow and said, "Alicia, there is a wooden case just to your right. Please, bring it to me quickly."

She nodded and set her pouch of spell components down, easily locating the box and handing it to Fantil. He opened it, retrieved a bottle from inside, and scurried to the opposite side of the wagon where Thakkor supported his groggy fellow guardsman.

Alicia watched with nervous worry as Fantil helped the man to drink, and then sighed in relief as color returned to the guardsman's face. He stood up straight, and nodded to Thakkor, who stepped aside to let him stand unaided. Thakkor bent to retrieve his fellow's sword, and the man grunted his thanks as his fingers closed over the weapon again.

For another hour, everyone remained on edge, expecting another attack to happen at any moment. Finally, the sun rose over the horizon, and swords returned to sheathes.

"I am of two hearts concerning these men," Fantil said, gesturing toward the fallen brigands that Alicia was taking pains to avoid looking at. "None deserve to lie unburied, but I fear to remain where we have already faced attack."

Unconsciously, Alicia glanced toward the bodies, and let out a startled gasp.

"What is it?" Thakkor asked.

"I... I recognize that man. He was one of those who brought me my food when I was captured."

"I am of only one mind, now. The danger to us, and the black hearts of these men convince me to leave them as they are. We leave immediately, and will break our fast with simple fare as we go."

The guardsmen and merchants acknowledged Fantil's proclamation, turning to the task of breaking camp and preparing the wagons for travel. The work proceeded quickly, and they were soon on their way.

Once moving, Fantil signaled for Thakkor to jog up next to him. He then said, "You will receive pay equal to that of the others who fought in our defense this night." He then turned to Alicia. "I consider the cost of your passage paid in the welcome aid of your magic."

"I owe you one, too," Thakkor acknowledged with a smile. "I was having a bit of trouble until you zapped that fellow trying to carve a hole in me."

Alicia's face flooded with color as she remembered what had prompted her to act, in light of his smile. The thought of the handsome warrior falling was simply too much for her to bear. "I did what I thought I must," she responded, smiling back at him.

"Well, you have my thanks," Thakkor said, bringing his hand to his brow in a salute of gratitude.

"You're welcome." Alicia's eyes locked with his. In that moment, she felt something she'd only read about previously. Her heart fluttered as feelings she was beginning to think she'd never experience welled up within her.

"And you have my thanks, as well," Fantil said, breaking Alicia out of her almost reverent study of Thakkor's face. Her blush deepened as she realized that she'd been staring. "Little did I know that my passenger would become a warrior." The merchant let out a loud laugh.

Alicia found it quite difficult indeed to take her gaze away from Thakkor for long as their journey continued.

†ΞΞΞ♥ΞΞΞ†

The masked man kicked the corpse at his feet and snarled in frustration. He'd lost too many men in this abysmal failure, and only a fool would provide him such an opportunity again. The merchant and his prize traveled into ever more densely populated regions by the moment, making the probability of successfully recapturing the woman now a remote possibility, at best.