Not long after we had left our house we ran into Amina and Namir, the rchants from a distant land Far South.
From them I bought a silk tunic that was made from materials he got from rchants half a world away. I trade chainmail equal in quality and durability to my own which I craft before their eyes. I make one for each mber of his family.
"Perhaps not equal in value." I said my brows pinched together from worry.
"No. It is more than enough." Namir answered swiftly.
"Perhaps, three more. Silk is most rare and if we could trade so of your fine armour we might provide for our family." Amina requested.
I paused to think. I could give every single person chainmail armour, it would take, maybe half a day to get it done. To conjure then fit the tal for hundreds of people. Perhaps longer. It would be the fairest and keep the most people safe.
It was equity in distribution. They were weak and I could help them. However, how does trade work if I give everything away? There was plenty I couldn't do. Will I crash trade, how will people who make tals for a living do now?
"That seems fair, Amina." I answered, next I crafted the mail and a few minutes later passed them over.
Caution was the best approach to take. I would ask Morgana, on her thoughts about the matter.
"Is it possible if I talked to Samiya about sothing?" Iris asked.
Amina eyes squeezed tight, "What do you need from my daughter? Has she done sothing wrong?"
Iris blushed furiously from the misunderstanding, "No, rather I think she may have a talent for druidry."
"Druidry." Nazir repeated.
"Druidry." Iris affird.
"It is not our way..." Nazir began to say.
"Would it bring her harm..." Amina cut to the point.
Iris glanced at , and I gave her a confident nod and smile back. She exhaled and then focused on Amina, "The magic no... but the Romans hate druids. They will hunt her for the rest of her once they know her to practise the old ways."
"I am sorry, but I won't bring such hatred down upon my daughter."
"I have to agree with my husband on this."
Iris placed a fist to her heart, "I promise I won't let anything happen to her!" Iris promised.
Amina couldn't look Iris in the eyes.
"Is it not better that she has the power to protect herself? At the very least, I insist that it be her choice. I won't allow you to deny her the chance to seize power for herself." I said.
"I don't agree with this, I am grateful for the offer. But, not my daughter." Nazir insisted.
"Frankly, Samyia would be safer under the protection of Iris, Morgana and myself. Not that is all that matters. But, she won't be in more danger than she already is, in fact she would beco far stronger. One day be able to protect you."
Amina nodded to herself, "Samiya decides, if she says no that is the matter closed. But, just because she says yes you won't take her from us. We are a family. We will remain one."
Iris glanced at again and I gave a small nod, "Agreed."
"Tomorrow, co back." Nazir said reluctantly.
"Good day." I said in farewell and they responded in kind.
Iris and I wandered around.
"Will Samiya be your first apprentice?"
She looked vaguely ahead, "If she accepts." She said gloomily.
"What will you start with?"
"What I started with the basics. How to access the power and knowledge of herbs."
"Sounds like you are both going to have a lot of fun together."
Beaming with joy, Iris said with confidence, "We will."
There was not a market as such but with such a great density of people it was a matter of finding the right people who were open to trade.
I bought grey robes, so plain tunics, so trousers and a grey cape similar to the one Iris wore but without the knotwork. I bought belts as well as ordered so shoes to be fitted. Iris bought dresses for herself and Umbra then so spare clothing for Morgana.
None of what we bought was fancy, rather we were restocking lost essentials. People seed happy to trade for goods we offered; stainless steel pots and pans as well as knives. So to replace inferior equipnt, others because they had nothing.
We strolled on to the house, loaded with new clothes. We passed Gainor retelling my resurrection and saving of the villagers and warriors. He seed to miss out Iris, Umbra and Morgana entirely, in his version I smote the hag to the adoration of my wives. It was news to . I was married. Not once, but twice. Umbra didn't even get a ntion.
First, Umbra was the one who saw . Secondly, Iris was the one who called here. h from Tír na nÓg. Thirdly, stop with the romance rubbish specially to the line about Morgana Pendragon and I being in a love story that echoed the ancient romance between Oisin and Niamh. Iris said that was rubbish, but hers was true though. Mostly. She placated , and pointed to the enraptured crowd telling not to spoil their fun.
"In tis of misery there are few better ways to keep on, keeping on, than a story." She said, wisely, I think.
"Can you tell a story?" I asked her when we returned.
We joined Morgana and Umbra in the house. Both looked fresh and sexy, wearing comfortable dresses that Iris had traded for in town. On Morgana it revealed enough plunging cleavage and long, lithe legs to tantalise without forsaking practicality.
Morgana was 'practically sexy' I joked to myself. Not yet brave enough to try witty remarks with my lovers-strangers who I had bound myself to for life in exchange for limitless power and opportunity.
It hung off a bit on Umbra, but with the use of a belt it fit properly. A more skintight clothing might suit her more for sex appeal. My modern society view aside, she looked pretty and cute in her dress.
Iris sat on her lover's lap, and used my legs for a stool. It may have begrudged my pride, but I had so little at that point, I was simply glad she had washed recently.
"What kind of story?" Iris asked back when we were inside.
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