“I don’t know,” he replies. He continues to eat, thinking about what James told him.
“A man back where we rescued you said that you made things?” James asks him.
Blushing slightly, Roland says, “Nothing, really.”
“What?” he asks again.
“Well, I had this idea that if you filled a bag with hot air, you can make it float,” he explains then sets himself as if he expects to be ridiculed.
“You would probably need an air tight bag of little weight,” James suggests.
Surprised at someone finally taking him seriously, Roland says, “Exactly! But I haven’t been able to find anyone able to make what I would require. All the cloth I’ve been able to afford has been too heavy.”
“That could be a problem,” James agrees. “What do you hope to do with it?”
“Do?” Roland asks as if the question had never even occurred to him.
“Yeah, do,” he says.
“I’ve never really thought past getting it done, actually” he admits.
“I’m sure you could come up with something,” James says hopefully. Could think of several applications, mostly military ones in this society, he muses to himself.
Finishing the last bite of his meal, James sits back in his chair, stomach gurgling most contentedly. Once Roland is done, they leave the inn and head over to where they’ve been told they can acquire some barrels and possibly a wagon.
They come to a building with an adjacent large open courtyard containing wagons, barrels and several other various items constructed of wood. A sign outside the door shows a wagon with two barrels.
“This must be the place,” James says to Roland.
“Looks like it,” he agrees as they go up three steps and open the door.
They enter a fair sized room, with dozens of barrels of varying sizes stacked against the walls. A man is busily stacking small buckets upon a table and turns around to greet them when he hears the door open. He says something in the Empire’s language and stands there expectantly.
When Roland replies to him, explaining that James cannot speak the language, he immediately switches to the northern tongue. “Welcome to Salli’s Barrels,” he says to James. Placing his hand on his chest he continues. “And I am Salli, how may I help you fine sirs today?”
“We understand that we may be able to procure some barrels from you?” James explains. “As well as a wagon, perhaps?”
Nodding his head, Salli says as he gestures around his shop, “As you can see, I have many barrels for every need, as well as a couple of wagons available out in the courtyard.”
“We would like to purchase a wagon and about six large barrels,” James tells him. “We are taking a trip and need sufficient water to sustain us through the journey.”
“Ah,” says Salli, “I have just what you would need.” He goes over to where several large barrels sit against a wall and then says, “These barrels are made for just such a use. See,” he says as he holds up a round wooden lid, “I have even made lids, especially for these, so the water will not slosh out during your journey.” He shows them how easy it is to seal the barrel and to reopen it again.
“How many do you think we would need for about ten horses and eight people?” James asks.
Thinking for a second, he says, “Probably four would be sufficient, provided you are able to replenish them every three or four days.”
“Very well,” he agrees, “we’ll take four. Now, can we go see what wagons are available?”
“Certainly sir,” he says as he leads them out a back door to the adjacent courtyard. Outside are four wagons of varying size and age. One is really old and looks to be falling apart, another is brand new with lots of ornamentation. Seeing James looking at the one with ornamentation, he says, “Sorry sir, that one has been special ordered by another customer. I do have these other three available.”
He takes them to one that is neither old nor new and looks to have seen service at some time or another. “This one here, though not new, is sturdy and will last you a long time.”
James and Roland inspect it, the wheels don’t show signs of cracking and overall, it looks to have been very well cared for. “How much?” James asks Salli.
“For the barrels and the wagon,” he replies, placing his hand on his chin in contemplation, “ten golds.”
“Ten?” James says in mock shock and then begins what he really hates, haggling. “Surely this wagon has seen better days, I would think six would be more than adequate for such a well used wagon.”
“Six!” Sallie exclaims. “Why not just steal it from me right now!” With a look of outrage, he says, “Surely you can see that this wagon, though having been used, still has many, many years left in her. I couldn’t part with it for less than nine.”
“Hmmm…” James murmurs as if he’s contemplating the offer. Turning to Roland, he says, “Wasn’t there that merchant trying to sell his extra wagon for seven over at the caravansary?”
“I think so, yes,” Roland says with a smile as he plays along.
“Eight, good sirs,” Sallie counters. “And I’ll throw in a couple buckets to help in the watering of your horses.”
James thinks about it for a second and looks to Roland, who nods. “Alright, eight it is,” he says, holding out his hand to clench the deal.
Beaming again, Salli takes his hand and shakes it firmly. “Thank you good sirs,” he says. “When would you like to pick it up?”
“We could just take it right now,” James replies as he hands over the eight golds.
“But you brought no horses,” Salli says, taking the coins. “Surely you two will be unable to pull it yourselves.”
James looks at Roland, “How could we forget about the horses?”
“I hadn’t,” Roland explains, surprised that James had. “I just thought you wanted to purchase the wagon first.”
Turning to Salli, he asks, “Where can I get a couple horses?”
“There’s a horse trader on the other side of town, a man by the name of Jiharan,” he explains. “Just tell him Salli sent you and he’ll treat you fairly.”
“Thanks,” James replies, “we’ll do that.”
“I’ll have everything loaded and ready upon your return,” he assures them.
Leaving Salli’s Barrels behind, they head across town to find Jiharan. They continue down the main thoroughfare, asking directions from the locals. At one point, James catches out of the corner of his eye someone who looks like Delia among the crowd. When he turns his head to get a better look, she’s gone. Figuring he’s just seeing things, he continues on and they soon arrive at the horse trader’s establishment.
Jiharan greets them upon entering and when they tell him that Salli sent them, he breaks into a smile and cordially takes them to the back where he has a dozen horses of varying size and shape.
James tells him of their need for horses to pull a wagon and he shows them two that would fit the bill perfectly. After some haggling, James hands over most of their remaining money and they leave with two fine horses. Jiharan, graciously enough, threw in the traces they would require to attach the horses to the wagon. He even went so far as to have one of his apprentices carry the equipment back to Salli’s and help them with putting it on.
Back at Salli’s, he’s pleased to discover that not only are the barrels awaiting them in the back of the wagon, but Salli was nice enough to have them already filled with water. With the apprentice’s help, the horses are soon attached to the wagon and they give him a couple coppers for his time before he returns to his master.
Salli waves a friendly goodbye to them as they pull out of his yard, James at the reins. As they make their way through town, he sees a chandler’s shop and stops. He buys some much needed supplies like better food than just travel rations, and a couple ladles to use for getting water to drink from the barrels.
Now with an almost empty coin pouch, they resume their way back to the caravansary where the others are waiting. When they get there, James is in for a shock. When they left, there were two wagons, now there are four. Two boys are there with the others as well.
As they ride up, Delia comes out to meet them before they have a chance to get to the camp. Beaming like a cat that had eaten the canary, she says, “Good news!”
“What?” asks James, looking a bit perplexed.
