Merchant in Need

"Thank you once again for your patronage!"

An energetic man hands me an item over the counter with a bright smile on his face. I'm not sure if the oil puddle beside his mouth is the same as before, or if he simply made a mess a second time.

"You have quite the eye Mr. Knight! Ash Bison fur will keep your belongings safe from any unexpected arrows or firestorms!"

"That was the intent."

I grab the black satchel and run the strap across my body. The hard material knocks against my hip, carrying some amount of weight despite being empty. Briefcases don't exist in this world, so I had to settle for its ancestor.

"C…"

A small hand tugs my mantle. Peo is standing behind me with a large backpack sitting over her twin blue dragon scales. The pale leather straps awkwardly wrap around her body to fit over her weapon of choice.

"Uncomfortable…"

"We'll adjust it later."

Money slams against the counter and the two of us prepare to make our way to the next stop. Before we reach the door, our eyes are met with a busy sight.

"Mr. Smith! I have come to deliver your order—Hm?"

A man with exotic furs and fabrics pushes into the shop with his arms outstretched. Even in this shop with some unusual colours of armour, this man stands out.

"My! If it isn't the brave knight from before!"

"It is a pleasure to see you again, Odart."

I bow my head to the hearty merchant, though he quickly reaches into my space and places his hands upon my shoulders.

"I have not received a moment to express my gratitude for your help before! Were you not there, I fear my lodging fees would have suffered!"

"Protecting the citizens is my duty. You need not thank me."

One of Odart's employees carries heavy crates inside as the merchant pays his pleasantries to the shop owner. The entire process seems practised as everything is moved to the back just as the payment is made. I was looking for an opportunity to make my exit, but never found it amongst the efficient transactions.

"Mr. Odart, that is everything."

The final person to enter is different from the small group of labourers.

"Many thanks, Bailey! That should finish our work for the day."

A young girl appears at the entrance to the peculiar shop. Her cloth garments appear faded and worn, with several patches across her pale red dress. White sleeves travelling down her arms meet at her collar, all of it sitting beneath a face of freckled skin and sky blue eyes. Atop her head is braided ginger hair beneath a blue bandana.

"Sir, about before…"

She leans forward with a troubled look towards the merchant. Odart's face twists with discomfort at whatever they had previously discussed.

"Sorry, dear. I haven't been able to find an escort…"

He looked around the room for something to save him from his predicament, but he wasn't going to find anything. At least, that was what I had assumed before his eyes landed on me.

"You must be a pretty distinguished knight to have been escorting Melior's prince! Surely you could spare us an ear for our troubles?"

All eyes in the room are on me. With the shopkeeper handling items in the back and the labourers outside, that just leaves the girl and the merchant. However, the two of them alone contain enough anticipation to fill the entire room with excess.

"I see no reason not to listen to your concerns."

"Sir Knight!"

My legs take an instinctive step back at the sudden rise in volume. The girl he called Bailey takes a step forward with both passion and plea.

"Could you possibly find me an escort back to my home town?"

"An escort…"

It isn't unusual for merchants to travel with armed guards between cities, but that is normally handled by local offices. There should be no reason to ask a random knight to set up an appointment for them.

Odart steps in beside her after my lack of response.

"News has made its way around about the roads being freed of the threat of beasts. That is splendid to hear, but that is not all. It would appear that Melior has found itself short on knights available for escort."

So that's what it is. Over two hundred knights lost their lives in the forest to deal with the aforementioned threat, not without the involvement of two individuals present currently. Many of those were seemingly for patrols, but the rest likely performed tasks such as these.

While I may be at fault for this situation, taking responsibility would be equal to pleading guilty for my crimes.

"Unfortunately, that is outside of my control. My role does not grant me the power to assign knights as such."

"I-I suppose it can't be helped…"

Bailey casts her gaze downwards at my words, Odart seemingly also struggling to find something to say in comfort. It's nothing personal, but I lack the time to become involved in this issue.

Peo and I begin to take our leave, passing by the merchant and his helper. I reach for the handle of the door as Odart clicks his tongue.

"Curse that storm! If it hadn't delayed business, we'd have finished soon enough for you to have joined Lord Bermar's journey back."

My hand stops just shy of the round metal holding us inside. The mention of one name opens up possibilities that all of us involved may find mutually beneficial.

"Excuse me, young lady. To where is it that you require escort?"

Light returns to her youthful face as I address her. She stands up straight and folds her hands in front of her with manners that I think even modern people can appreciate. Her voice strains to maintain its respectful tone, but the effort is more than commendable for someone who looks fresh from the fields.

"The village of Cadell. It rests a short ride away from Norwin's capital city."

"I see…"

I walk to the side and take a glance outside the shop window. Seeing the large vehicle parked outside with Odart's men is enough to set my body in motion. My hand finally reaches its destination and pulls the door open.

"I believe that an arrangement can be made."

"Is that so!?"

I don't bother to witness the surprise on her face. It's far too soon for her to be getting excited.

"When is it that you wish to depart?"

"Ah, tomorrow morning if possible."

"How many passengers?"

"It will be just myself."

"Very well. I shall be your escort. Be at the gates by sunrise—"

My turn towards the target of my instructions is cut short by the young girl. In a matter of moments, she found her way directly in front of my face with a wide smile. She has to look up slightly given the height difference, but that doesn't make her energy any less potent. At this range, I can count every freckle above her nose.

"Thank you so much! I'm not sure what I would have done if not for your kindness!"

I have to take a step back to open up the distance between us. My radar did not register her as a threat, so my body was slow to react to her movements. 

"Allow me to thank you as well. Bailey is a trusted supplier of mine, so I would be pained if a terrible fate were to befall her on her journey."

Odart bows towards me with Bailey joining in as well. It would be in poor taste to inform them that this arrangement may or not come to pass, but it's my job to handle that part. All that matters is that everything is ready for when I succeed in negotiations.

"Do not be late."

"I will absolutely be present!"

I leave the farm girl with those doors before hastily retreating from the shop. Peo has to jog to match my march back towards the towering walls of stone, the structure where I need to check off one final box for this trip.

"This is in our favour."

Peo's curiosity is clear as mud on her expressionless face. However, I can assume it from her occasional glances as we walk down the busy streets. I begin my explanation without waiting for a quiet voice that would never speak out in public.

"It is approximately a three day journey to Norwin. Our official escort leaves only four days before our fight with the Stone Titan begins, offering us little time to perform a meaningful investigation of the site. Besides that, I would rather not be surrounded by knights at all times."

The beast doesn't respond, but I no longer feel her gaze on me as we walk. As the castle grows closer, I prepare myself for the fight ahead.

"All we have to do is find a way to cancel our prior appointment."