“Unbelievable...” Zar communicated, “when she sees herself in her own reflection - I wonder how she will react.”
“True... Are the vegetables finished?” Tar replied.
“Indeed, we can place them in a container, we still have some fresh ones to present to Peat so there is evidence of their pre-existing state.”
“Good, good.” Tar said, feeling that the plan was progressing.
“You figured out a plan to deal with Peat?” Asked Zar.
“Kind of, I say we lay it out bare as a babies bottom, he knows we are the Giaths having met us before, we cannot carry your hermit lie forward anymore, as soon as we step in there, he will see us for who we really are. For that reason, we should approach him with some degree of honesty, looking only for a business deal, an exchange – a percentage of our superfood for Peat not sending a small force over to take over our sect.”
“And what will we say when we ask where we get our superfood from?” Zar raised in a concerned fashion.
“If I am getting the right impression from Po’s crude mannerisms as a self-proclaimed trader, business is business, it needn’t matter where we got the superfood from, all that matters is that it works and that it is valuable. We will keep quiet when Peat asks, if he demands to know we will say we do not know. Let us simply play dumb, we are creatures who enjoy forming our own ideas and theories to fill in gaps and mysteries after all. Therefore, let us play the game, rather, play the ‘player,’ let us see what Peat comes up with as a theory to why it is that these superfoods are capable of growing. Our only goal is to cement a trade and hopefully get away with it.”
“So, Brother Tar, if I am understanding you correctly, you wish to keep quiet and let Peat develop his own theory as to how these superfoods came to be.”
“Indeed.” Tar replied confidently. “Didn’t you notice? Po didn’t care at all where we got the crops from, he was only interested in trade, perhaps that Peat is somewhat the same, treating business as business and nothing more, if Peat is going to make a fortune at the end of it, what reason does he have to understand the inner processes of the commodities production, so long as the commodity lands on his doorstep once every harvest, he will be swimming in what he apparently loves most-”
“Coin!” Zar interrupted, finishing Tar’s sentence.
“Ye- Yes Brother, I hope.”
With an air of uncertainty, some hours past, there came a familiar unlocking of the doorknob and in entered Po and his Wife Palm somewhat interlocked.
“OH My!” Zar said, seeing an unsightly romantic scene occurring before his eyes.
“OH- Excuse me! Oh, gentlemen I am so sorry, you caught me and Po in the heat of passion. I must excuse myself from this embarrassment.” Palm then ran up the stairs. Zar and Tar turned their attention to Po. Po broke the silence.
“Hehe, I told her both of ya left, then she got all excited with all that youth and energy, thought we might have another kid I did. You gentlemen kind of saved me, she’s like a rabbit in heat.”
“Well, that is obviously Zar’s fault, giving her that Min- *ehem* sweetcorn.” Tar said, having to correct himself mid-sentence, Zar feeling instant relief at the fact he did not reveal the secret.
“Mhm.” Po replied with a somewhat sudden lack of interest, “onto more pertinent things gentlemen! I organised everything for ya! Peat is expecting you as soon as possible. I’ll guide ya through Central Ploughing Sect, to the Mansion Province and then you can visit the old fart. Sound good?”
Zar and Tar nodded, packing their things and preparing for a journey of an unknown length of time.
Time passed...
It was the late afternoon, the heat from the booming sun was at its peak, but Giaths found the weather to be most pleasant, meanwhile, Po was sweltering, sweating and melting. “You hermits sure can handle this heat well, what, with those robes.” Winding interconnecting pathways lined with stools which sold all kinds of foodstuffs on the left and right side eventually led to an open circular hub, great amounts of shouts came from a great many directions, stools everywhere, on top of each other, IN each other, around each other created an ambience of chaotic order.
“KILOGRAM OF CARROTS FOR 10 BRONZE! NEARLY SOLD OUT!”157Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSB3cLrQem
“BOX OF ORANGES FOR 5 BRONZE! GET IT BEFORE YE MISS IT!”
So much shouting, so much noise, “too much noise,” Zar thought to himself, used to the quiet life of his homeland. Tar however was having the time of his life, blown away by all the kafuffle.
“I was right here when you met me Zar.” Po said pointing to his empty stall.
“Why do you live so well having such a humble stall for trade Senior Po?” Asked Zar.
“Aha, nosey, aren’t you?” Zar blushed, “alright, I'll tell ya. Used to work for Peat, was his right-hand man, why do ye think I got ya a meeting eh?”
“Oh.” Zar replied thoughtfully, somewhat confused since he had come to the conclusion that Po and Peat definitely did not get along due to the incident with his now wife.
“We cut through the main plaza here, as we continue north, we will eventually reach Peat's residence, buncha mansions where the Greaters and Grands live, commoners live around the plaza, lessers and pettys live in the infrequent houses far out in the boonies.”
Zar and Tar added such information into their toolkit and continued walking, carrying their silver-bullets, in the meanwhile, Po was greeting those commoners he knew on the way.
“So, what are you, a Greater?”
“Yes, yes, the only greater who lives among the commoners, commoners in the ploughing sect make up most of the traders. Ploughing sect is a trade and commerce sect, we only deal and wheel – don't need no security for that, we strong-arm thief's and cut their fingers off for their crimes, never yet have we missed catching a thief, most of em are lessers and pettys who cannot afford food, poor things, but trade is trade, business is ruthless.”
Tar took such information in far more easily than Zar, who simply thought that such a way of living was rather primitive, Tar had an avid interest in how all things about the world beyond his homeland worked, whilst Zar was only focused on taking revenge for the sake of his homeland, so different were the Brothers but so well did they understand each other.
Eventually the three men approached an incredibly wide opening from the tight winding streets and periodically opening streets. As one looked out, one could see a great many large houses separated by reasonable distances inclining up a hill, they were beautiful and well kept. “It is as though I have walked into a new world.” Tar spoke aloud.
“Indeed, totally different to those tight winding streets with men shouting their trades out, eh? Central Ploughing is an incredible trading hall where everyone is trying to fit their business in claustrophobic places, Greater Ploughing Sect is spacious array of mansions ascending a smallish hill, all connected by well-built cobble pathways going left to right as you can see… Hey, see the fountains? They were made by a genius who apparently walks our lands, something to do with this concept of ‘plumbing,’ whatever that means, all Greater families display their wealth with a trademark fountain, the bigger the spouting-statue the more coin they own, some Greater families will have upwards of 10+ Gold in life-savings over multiple generations, a man like Peat perhaps has 50+ in life-savings, give or take. If that old fart can live to see another day given his physiological disposition, and if he can make a good fortune, he may be able to buy property in an entirely different sect and register himself as a Greater in that sect, if he is lucky that is.”
“I remain confused, why would Peat sacrifice the position as Grand to be a Greater in another sect?” Zar asked. Po simply shook his head at Zar’s overall ignorance, even Tar instantly understood why.
“Silly man, you should really go back to the kitchen KE-HAHA.” Po let out a kackle and then continued giving more information. “Think about it, not all sects are equal chef! To be a Greater in a sect which holds incredible wealth and power is far better than being a Grand in a sect which has less than a quarter of said power. More power, more decisions, more freedom, more temptation. Peat, although he is at his deaths bed, will squeeze the fruits of life for all that he can, perhaps that is why he even considered interviewing ye gentlemen, you men are lucky for that!”
Zar nodded with a subtle scent of frustration, but he nodded none-the-less. They were working their way up the slight incline, looking at the beautiful mansions, small ponds, floral aromas derived from well placed flowers, cropped bushes and well-managed trees, small wildlife such as rabbits jumping hither and thither gave a strange posh ambience to what was once a chaotic city. Tar and Zar were taking it all in, never having seen anything like this before.
“Some Greaters are already taking notice of our arrival, they seem especially interested in you hermits? No surprise I guess, you do look like foreigners. IT’S OKAY!” Po begun shouting loudly in the direction of the onlookers, “THEY ARE WITH ME, GO ON WITH YOUR BOOT-LICKING!” Po then lowered his voice, “glad I am out of that rat race, always trying to pander up to a family who is richer than you, marrying your daughters and sons into other families for the potential to move up a corrupt hierarchy, I want NO part of THAT, haven’t seen my daughter in ages.” Tar and Zar noticed the slight anguish in Po’s expression.
“Sorry to hear that old man.” Replied Tar, enjoying a chance to be informal.
“No biggy, let’s keep up this incline, over the horizon you will see the roof of the Grand Mansion, where Peat and his relatives live, when we get there, a butler will take us in. Just listen to everything he says, even if he asks for you to take the baskets you are carrying off, he will simply inspect their contents, but he won’t do anything out of character to-‘em.”
“Very well,” Tar replied with some level of excitement to see the Mansion, Zar following closely, somewhat sceptically, hoping the plan would succeed.”
Eventually the roofing of the mansion was insight, it was overly sized, evidently a great many families could live in the mansion due to its sheer size. “So, this is how people live in distant lands?” Tar pondered aloud.
“Y- Yep!” Po said in reply, dodging and weaving an annoying bee who was innocently looking for another flower. They all reached the gate, a butler soon came walking at his own leisurely pace toward the gate, greeted Po with some level of familiarity, and opened the gate to allow passage. The butler looked at the rather significant stature of the Giaths, looked at the baskets on the back of said Giaths, looked at Po again, and then said...
“This way, he is waiting for you. Before you enter, remove any foot ware, clean your feet at the foot-sink, a new invention mind you, and continue to Peat’s residence as guided by the maids. I will guide you to the door, mhm, mhm.” The butler then begun walking back to the mansion where he had once came but with his new followers this time. They reach the overly sized door, the butler opened it with all his strength and was panting by the end of the exchange, Po took his fairly fancy shoes off, Tar and Zar took their humble sandals off, they all washed their feet and a maid was suddenly before them with incredible timing.
“This way gentlemen, mhm, mhm.” Said the maid, this time in a higher pitch.
“Mhm, mhm?” Zar asked Tar and Po. They both shrugged. After some right angles, left angles, twists, turns and a few staircases, they eventually reached a very well decorated door.
“Our Grand Master awaits you, mhm, mhm, in you go, mhm mhm, no sudden movements, mhm mhm. Goodluck!” The maid quickly opened the door and ran off as though she was scared of something. Tar watched her but felt the gravity of the situation was pointing his attention in a different direction.
Po waltzed in first, as though he all but knew the place, followed by Zar who was looking a little down, clearly hoping to not be noticed, his orange hair now a dead giveaway, Zar had somewhat hoped that when Peat met his people the first time, their hair had retreated back to being red, but in the heat of the moment, he could not recall. Tar hardly cared, he looked around the room, pictures, stuffed animals, a large shimmering table, fancy chairs, a beautiful carpet, square windows with geometric patterns, candles, decorations, papers, random odd objects, strange smells emitting from a small cylindrical object with a fat head in Peat’s mouth, it was all too stimulating.
“WELCOME HERMITS! *cough, cough* I hear you have product for me to inspect! Come, sit, sit, I will have a maid bring you tea and hot biscuits.”
“Tea and Hot biscuits has been a theme recently,” Tar thought to himself, Zar was most tense, anxious, Po, incredibly relaxed and excited for Tea and Biscuits.
“You men look familiar... I’ve definitely met you before.” Peat said, after which Zar’s cheeks – but not his face cheeks – squeezed. “Yes, yes, you Giaths.” Peat grew somewhat angry and said with subtle aggression, “I don’t know how you sneaked in here you filthy rats, but what do you want?! I was expecting trade, not primitives.” A maid broke the tension with tea and biscuits, placed them on the table and left, and Po not having a care in the world for what was occurring, begun gouging himself with them as he sat down whilst Tar and Zar stood like told off children not knowing what to do with themselves. “Well, I'll tell you what. You Giaths have guts coming up in here. I like that. Sit down you primitives, Po said you have something for me to see. If it’s good stuff, I might forget our previous troubles.” Peat added with a mysterious tone toward the end.
End of Chapter 21.
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