“Aye?” Hamish replied, his heavy brows lifting. “She’s grown like any other city, whenever and wherever she’s needed to. Come on, if you want to see the docks before me mum sends guards after us, we best shift it.” With the click of his tongue, the man urged his horse into an easy trot with Warrior following at a slightly faster pace to keep up.
Hamish glanced at the ambassador every-so-often as they rode through the middle of Mullhind. The man didn’t seem the least bit interested in the stalls and shops they plodded by. Darshan had expressed mild interest when Hamish mentioned visiting a nearby pub, but insisted on the docks first.
Now they stood in the midst of the raucous. Black-backed gulls screamed as they circled the ships and stalls, seeking an easy meal. People shrieked to be heard over the birds and each other. One man nearby battled with one of the bigger gulls. It was precisely the type of noise Hamish often sought to avoid.
That and the smell. Unlike the earthy, alive scent of the surrounding forests and the dry, grassy aroma of grazing fields, there was nothing welcoming about the docks. When the fishing vessels weren’t in, the breeze had an almost pleasant briny smell, but with them moored, their stench of death permeated the air.
Darshan rode wordlessly along the dock front. He seemingly paid little heed to the sound and, although his nose wrinkled at first, made no mention of the smell. His gaze was fixated on the larger trade ships moored along the northern half of the docks. The vessels sat in the water like summer-fat ice seals. Men and women swarmed their rigging and winched crates of wares onto the decks.
The ship Darshan would’ve arrived on still sat amongst the trading vessels in the southern half, the crew clambering all over it. Unlike the other ships, there seemed to be not a man in sight. “Is it common for Udynean ships to only be crewed by women?” Hamish knew from watching the ships as a boy that a large percent of the crews tended to be equal in gender. Those that weren’t generally came from foreign shores.
Darshan shook his head. He halted Warrior once they were a good distance from the stalls and bird-swarmed fishing boats. “My father requested that particular crew. Said I would be less distracted from duties that way.” He nodded at the ships and stalls. “I have been told that your people deal mostly in textiles; wool, linen and the like. I see very little of that here.”
Hamish swung his head from side to side, taking in the rest of the ships and smaller fishing vessels lining the docks. Much of what came to Mullhind by sea also came out of the dark, icy waters. “I think you’ll find they send a great deal of the linen by land. And there’s nae an abundance of flax around Mullhind. Those fields are a wee bit more south.”
Darshan frowned. “How much more? And do they have a suitable dock?”
Hamish peered blindly at the trade ships. “I cannae say for certain,” he confessed. “Nora would be the one to ask there.” His older sister was the one who knew the most about their economic state. Upon glimpsing Darshan’s slightly puzzled face, he elaborated, “She’s me sister and will be with me mum during the negotiations.” She’d also be happy answering any of the ambassador’s questions.
The man’s brows lifted in mild surprise. At the reference of his sister being included in the trade discussions? Or was it because she wasn’t a man? The latter did seem at odds with the Udynea Empire’s decision to originally send the now-departed countess as their ambassador.
“Not your brother, then? I would have thought the heir would be involved in his kingdom’s trade. Or did I misunderstand his ranking?”
“Nae, he’s the eldest amongst us. And aye, he’ll likely pop in at some point, but Nora is better suited to the task. She’s good with figures and is sure to ken anything you want to ask about what we trade and where.” Hamish still wasn’t sure how she managed to keep all the numbers straight in her head. He had tried in his youth, and quickly gave up to instead pursue the more amiable task of mingling with those living on the surrounding farms.
Darshan nodded, seemingly to himself. “I look forward to availing her of such knowledge.” He pointed at the crates and barrels still being hauled aboard the nearest ship. “So what are they loading? Do you know what comes out of Mullhind?”
Hamish swung his attention to the ship. Whilst he couldn’t identify everything at a glance, he was well aware of what lurked in the barrels. “A lot of fish and salted pork.” Hides, too. Leather, sheepskin, the occasional bearskin… “There is likely some wool already aboard. Only from the closest farms at this time of year, though.”
“I would assume much of the exports from here go to Cezhory?”
He nodded confidently. “I cannae tell you how much, though. Nora can.”
“I will be sure to ask her.” The man swung Warrior about with practised ease. “I would like to see the markets now.”
They rode down the streets, halting occasionally as Darshan eyed a stall or window front. He seemed especially curious of places involving wares that took some crafting—the smithies, cobblers and the like—but asked no questions. A shame considering Hamish knew a little more about them than exports.
“I notice a distinct lack of elves beyond the ships’ crews.” Darshan smiled. “Or are you keeping me away from their district?”
“There are nae districts. And there have never been a lot of elves in Tirglas. They always seem to be coming through.” And most of them travelled further
