What are the food resources that Leggiadra is lacking the most? I ask Licinium.
We have a lot of wheat, but we are low on fruits. at, maybe. Fruits are probably the resource that we lack the most. Any spice, I guess. We struggle to find salt. But mostly, seeds to have our own trees would definitely help.
He doesnt pay too much attention to the question. Ive been making a list of things I need to know and I plan to ask him everything but mixing it with different questions.
And is there any food the Vanedenis exported? Or what is their culture generally famous for, food-wise?
Oh, thats very interesting. And which rchants and companies, in particular, refuse to trade?
The Human city of Keveiz, he says distractedly. They have all the companies and people who basically cut off the trade with us. Half-giants have even considered attacking them. They are around two weeks from Leggiadra. On foot.
How good is a [Mage]s shield against an arrow compared to a blow from a sword?
Most [Mages] and wands make shields that are one big clump of Mana. The distribution of resistance is perfectly even, which makes most shields extrely weak to small projectiles like arrows.
How do [rchants] transport all those things? Do they use bag of holdings?
What? No. They use chests of holding.
Have you ever heard of nitric or sulfuric acid?
The ones [Alchemist] use and burn your skin if you touch it with bare hands?
A large smile appears on my face as I nod.
You can find a lot of it among the [Glassworkers].
Are there half-giants who want to fight? I an, Id be pretty angry all the ti. Doesnt anyone want to try and establish the trade routes once again through force?
Sure, so youngsters always think like that. But we did go to war. And we lost. We had more than one city in this region. The city of Keveiz was ours, and they still have many of the building we built there. They are also very close to a mine that we used to own. Now, its in the hand of a [rchant] consortium.
Is the mine still mineable?
Sure is. They dont have the levels nor the classes necessary to deplete it fast. It was probably barely even touched since we left it a few hundred years back.
How good is the steel that the most capable [Blacksmiths] can make in the Glass and Steel District? How even, to be precise?
If they are to believed? The most even in the whole world. Those old idiots. Do you have any idea how long they spend looking at the minerals before they even touch them? Oh, and touching is a whole other thing. Slling and tasting, as well. One would think that with age wisdom should co along. Those dirt bags just get weirder. Bah. Whatever make them level, I guess.
I look at the notes that I painfully wrote in French. It took a lot of effort to squeeze out my mother tongue from my penthis might be the first ti in my entire life that I wish I learned Arabic. That would have been hard to decode, much harder than usual. Sadly, I can only speak so. My father never found the ti to properly teach .
I have enough information to put my plan in action. These past few days Ive barely eaten to save money. I bought so dried food and a couple water canteens for the travel. It should be enough and I can always hunt a beast or two. Or Humans. Both will be fine. And with the map I sketched from the books, the indications that I got from Licinium, it will be easy to get where I want to be.
No strange beasts inhabit the forest and it has a very low coefficient of criminalswhich Im going to change very soon. Apparently, [Bandits] purposefully avoid the half-giants; the latter can be quite vindictive when soone steals the little they have. And the Humans could already be considered criminals themselves, so nothing to be surprised of there.
As Im about to enter Liciniums bookstore, I can finally see soone there for the first ti since I arrived. Its a younger half-giant in his mid-forties. I stop right beside the door, putting my back to the wall by the window, out of sight, listening to whats going on.
Dad, I told you we have to sell this place. No one cos here anyway!
Oh, would you shut up! Go back to play with whatever it is that you are doing now! Im good here and its my money you are talking about.
Dad, where are you even finding the money?!
Its not of your business Marius!
It is, dad! Look at you! You are too old to co down here every day! You need to rest. And I need the money for my marriage! Lesinia
That whore. Im not giving you one copper, do you understand? You want to marry thatcough!
I hear Licinium starting to violently cough, one of the worst attacks Ive ever heard.
The son stays silent, but Licinium resus talking, weakly, as soon as his breath cos back to him.
You never wanted to read a book. You were never interested in anything, Marius. You jumped from job to job, spending all the money I ever gave you in stupid gifts for that whore. Traianus has never shown his face to in the last ten years. I guess that you two etched from eggs that so snake laid around herebecause you are not my children, thats for sure.
You are going to die alone, dad. No ones going to cry for your death. Most people here will just be relieved that this shop will actually be used for sothing. As soon as I can open my [Butcher]s shop, everyone will be happy that no one in the family took over the book business. As if there was sothing useful here. Why dont you look at yourself, dad? You spend all day alone in a shop where no one cos. You are just a pathetic old man. Sell the books and let have the shop. The basent is perfect to store ats. I bet that the sa runes you use for books could be easily used for the at. Ill buy you a house close to the one Im building and you can visit any ti. Lesinias pregnant, dad. You are also going to be a grandfather. Why not co with instead of dying like a sad bastard all alone in here?
I can hear the labored breathing of Licinium, clearly upset.
Im just sad for the poor life youll be bringing to this world, Marius. Whoever that kid will be, it does not deserve two parents like you and that whore. People often forget what it ans to have terrible parents. And like every other careless person did, you will just ruin his life, as you and your brother already did for yourselves.
I need the money, dad. You need to sell. Im not going to repeat
Go out, Marius. Leave alone. I dont want anything to do with you anymore. Just wait until I die and then go destroy our familys heritage for yet another transitory passion of yours.
Youll see dad! Youll see! a half-giant cos out in big strides from the shop, huffing and puffing, red on his face.
I wait a minute to enter, until Marius is out of sight. He didnt notice I was right outside the shop, or he just thought Im simply a curious bystander.
Cassandre, I hear a tired voice say from the inside, please, co in.
I didnt an to
You did. And theres nothing wrong with it. Its just another story to read, or to listen to. But its definitely not worth a [Bard]s voice and rhys. Family feuds are one of the most common subjects of fiction
Licinium goes silent, seemingly older compared to the last ti I saw him the day before. Hes drumming his fingers on a little table by his chairnot on a book. Never on a book.
I tried. I really tried. I wanted to teach them how marvelous this world can be when you read through what has already transpired. A handful of people can beco sothing more, [Heroes]. And even less among all the half-giants wholl ever live. But I wanted to teach them the stories, to have them learn from the mistakes we already made in the past. It was my attempt at bottling wisdom and spooning it to their mouths little by little.
Parents can only influence their children so much, Licinium. My father tried to pass onto the art of baking. But Im no baker.
But can you bake?
Yes, but
That would have been enough. If they did not want to manage my store, but did share so love for books, that would have been enough. I would have given them my books to read, not to safekeep. All the books in the world will have one last receptacle, one final destination. And if that had to be my children, and their children after, it would have been fine with . I didnt ask much of them. Never. I
Licinium erupts in a fit of cough.
We cant control what other people do, I say regretfully, we can only build with our hands and hope that others will follow in my steps.
The old half-giant doesnt answer. He simply stares at all the books around him, wondering what their end will be, their demise. What destiny awaits them. Will the children of [rchants] rip the pages to blow their noses or wipe their asses?
When I see that the old half-giant is not answering, it's not responsive to what I have said, I contemplate harder. What can you say to a man who is about to lose everything? Is there anything that you can say that will make him happier? Or maybe, not happier, just give him peace?
Peace.
Listen, Licinium. What if I buy all your books? I'm about to conduct so important business. I'll be back in the month. Do you think you can hold out for ?
There is no happiness in the gaze that washes over .
Cassandre, I know. Im not sure But I do have an idea of what you are planning.
A cold shiver runs down my back. I have no idea what he knows.
My classes deal with information. You tried to hide it, but I know you are planning sothing. Whatever it is, I suggest you don't do it.
Licinium, I dont think you know. I think you might have the wrong idea. Or if you do have the right idea, you are not placing enough faith in .
The old man just waves a hand, shushing .
I'm old. I don't care. But whatever you're going to do, just take this. Wait a second.
He gets up and starts searching among the sea of books lying around the shop. It takes a few minutes and him disappearing behind the tall columns of stacked books. But at last, he cos back with a small volu in his hands.
This is a collection of poems. A Vanedeni [Bard] put them together even though their people are not fond of this type of recollection. They often narrate the deeds of their heroes to their children right after they are born. They barely keep any record. But a [Bard], a high-levelled one, gathered stories and put them together in this anthology. He didnt want them to go to waste.
He looks at the battered book, kept in surprisingly terrible conditions for Liciniums standards, and smiles.
This is a copy he made himself. I have copies from [Scribes], but this is the genuine item. Wherever you go, I fear that the madness of Vanedenis might be a good companion for yours.
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