A proposal did he give him, and a proposal to would be, I say...
A good morning to you, dear reader.
I do hope this chapter finds you well.
Why, this very tale shall take quite some time, I should say.
Speaking of, I do assume that all is the same with you, dear reader?
Cold as ever, I would say?
Hmmm?
Indeed.
An icy cold and a wintry storm.
Oh, do take care to keep warm these days.
'Twould do me and you no pleasure for you to feel ever so cold, I would say.
Indeed.
Speaking of, I shall simply go along with the tale.
I do suppose you are well willing to know what would happen next.
Indeed.
Ahem.
At the very end of things in our previous chapter, our young lad had just turned his back...
Choosing to go along on his travels, as he would.
Indeed.
And of the very man by the name of Fren Chavalier.
Why, did he have it in his mind to simply...
How you say...
Thank him.
Yes...
A most interesting human, you would say.
Indeed.
Moving along, did the man propose something oh-so pertinent.
Better clothing.
The very sort of which to cover the very tatters now beholden to the grand lad's body.
Yes.
That was the sort of plan that this man had.
And of the very same, I say...
Jake: As I said... it remains unnecessary.
Fren: Oh, come now...
The very man was one oh-so stubborn, one may say.
An odd thing, one could argue.
Even so, did he continue in his pursuit of his desire.
Indeed.
Fren: Merely a piece of clothing by your own choice. Why... Madam Thornberry would be most delighted to suit you.
His very hands pointed to the stout woman.
The very one who smiled and curtsied to the rescuer of their lives...
Common place for women who know of how to live among the greater people of the lands.
Fren: Even so, why... she shan't refuse you anything you wish.
Indeed.
A bright smile on his face.
An ever so gleaming look on his eyes...
All the while speaking to a lad...
Whose very back remained turned from him.
And of the very same, did the young lad not move a muscle.
All before...
Jake: Very well then...
Indeed...
Agreeing to the man's very proposal.
Turning his back yet once more, showing the very blank and cold eyes he once showed them all prior once more.
Leaving all daunted ever so slightly, all but the very man who asked this of him.
Dare I say, a great man the very Fren Chavalier is.
Truly.
Even so, did he lead the very lad...
Fren: Come with me...
All the way to the carriages...
All the while with Madam Thornberry as they all, a trading troop and all that...
Quite methodically, I must say...
Why, 'twas as a herd of sheep to where their master leads them...
Rushed to their carriages...
All ready to start their trading...
To exchange goods with the very young man who was now approaching them...
Indeed...
This was their very plan one would have it.
Hmmm?
Why, do simply listen on...
*****
The very men and women had many a thing to sell...
Again, I shan't overtly bore you with the details...
Food, clothing, clean water...
Those are the most obvious of things, surely...
Even so, perhaps a dagger...
Perhaps a small sword...
Even so, a shield...
Not the very many of things that would catch the eye of one hell-bent on battle...
Yes and truly, I would say...
But for he or she who would like to...
Enjoy the things of another region, I say...
Indeed...
A very and most beauteous thing this shop would manage to be.
Why, the very things about them.
Several gold coins worth of produce.
Nay, even so...
The very sort enough to make a single man quite profoundly and terribly rich.
Yes.
Indeed.
Moving along.
The very lad was led to the very first of the carriages.
Stolen novel; please report.
The very one led by the man...
Why, you do know his name by now...
And also, right by his side...
The very woman walking besides him...
And once they were upon it...
Fren: This, my dear lad, is my carriage!
He said this oh, so joyously I must say...
Fren: I sell meats across the lands. Boar, cow, even lesser dragon meats. Fail to assume I lack any.
Yes, a place fully sorted with very many salted meats...
As well as animal skins...
Do imagine that in your head, my dear reader...
Scaled skins, furry skins, and the very many others.
Even so, salted meats about.
Indeed.
And of the very same, why...
Fren: And this...
The very second carriage right after the first...
Fren: Is beholden unto Madam Thornberry. A very good friend of mine, and a most brilliant expert in the things of tapestry and woolwork.
The very woman very lightly blushed before smiling to herself...
And thereafter trotting to her stand...
Nancy: Worry not, my liege. I shall surely properly clothe you.
And of the very next...
The third carriage...
Fren: And this man, why...
He requires absolutely no introduction, does he...
As he pointed to a very thin man...
One who, all nerves, did rub the back of his head...
Fren: Be there anything you require in terms of the understanding of literature... why...
The thin man's voice: Oh, come now Mr. Fren. Truly...
Name: Florian Addison
Age: 34
Description: A thin man. Why, a bit thinner and it would be very concerning. He does already look quite a bit ill, I would say.
Occupation: Novel seller and curator.
Weapon of choice: Knowledge.
Threat level: F
Fact: Intelligent as he is, the very man is not unbeknownst to bad habits. Why, he does eat quite untidily... most especially when he is alone.
Fren: Oh, no, no, no...
With a jolly walk to him and a smile, why...
Did he ever so kindly pat him on the back...
One pat that did slightly shake the thin man...
Indeed...
Fren: The very fourth of our carriages, why...
Voice: 'Tis me.
Name: Reginald Walterson
Age: 35
Description: A tall man with an oh-so eloquent disposition, the very likes of which are befitting of one very important. Even so, he carries with him a cane.
Occupation: A seller of fine trinkets and random things of the sort.
Weapon of choice: His cane and, how you say, an odd concoction that he always has somewhere about him. Why, now... it is in his carriage.
Threat level: F+
Fact: Strangely, the very man is far more affluent than his choice of career would suppose. Why, 'tis only Fren amongst his compatriots that remains aware of this.
Fren: Yes, but of course!
The very man did soon come to the lad, a most eloquent gait, I would say...
And thereof, did he bow to him...
Reginald: The very pleasure remains mine, my dear lad.
Fren did nod his head with a smile...
Fren: A most interesting seller of many a thing. Some most peculiar, some most absurd, some most unique. All the very same, all truly worthwhile.
Reginald: Should you require anything of any sort, do ask it of me. I assure you, I shall have it!
Yes, a most interesting individual to be sure...
And of the very last of them did he speak...
Fren: And last but not at all the very least...
Yet another woman...
Fren: Madam Hathaway.
Indeed...
And she followed this introduction with a curtsy as her other female compatriot did...
Voice: Pleased to meet you, kind sir.
Name: Victoria Hathaway
Age: 20
Description: A beautiful young woman, not too much older than the young lad, of a slim body and a round face.
Occupation: Weapon saleswoman.
Weapon of choice: Axe
Threat level: F+
Fact: As with the very man Reginald, is she also of a somewhat more affluent upbringing as the very men and women with whom she travels, albeit not as much, one would say. Even so, did she curtsy towards the young lad with the slightest of distastes in her.
Fren: A very seller of the finest weapons from across the lands, and a barterer at heart.
Victoria: Should you require any weapon, do feel free to come along to my carriage.
This she said, following yet another bow.
Fren: Indeed. And a beautiful woman she remains.
The very woman simply remained with her head to the ground as he said this.
And of the very same, did the man by the name of Fren Chavalier fail to halt himself...
Fren: And that, my dear boy, is that. My merry band of merchants.
Yes...
He did say this all...
All the while as the young lad simply stood by and watched this all go on and along...
Fully undaunted by any sort of greeting, or even so, any sort of colourful expression from the trader's faces...
Indeed...
A face blank and cold...
Fren: Do feel free to partake of anything from our carriages. Free of charge!
Indeed...
And the very traders, one after the other, nodded to one another...
Acceptingly, one would say...
All before the very young lad did without a second moment turn to the very carriage held by the very Madam Thornberry...
Nancy: Oh, ho, ho, and a good morning to you, my dear boy.
The very young lad's eyes crossed her's...
As he then looked for a moment into the very things of her carriage...
The very many textiles...
This and that...
That and this...
Oh, so many textiles...
Before she herself, oh...
A bit nervously, I must add...
Nancy: Well, seeing your size, I do believe I have just the right fit for you.
Indeed...
She turned to the back of her carriage, all the while rummaging through clothing...
The very sort of which seemed ever so expensive, I would say...
All the same, as the very man by the name of Fren Chavalier did walk to them...
Fren: You see, my dear boy, Madam Thornberry is an expert at her craft. Why...
As he pointed to the very textiles hanging from the window to the carriage...
Fren: She is not merely a trader in clothing, but also, an expert who has learned to clothe just about any man or woman given enough time. Why, there remains not a single thing in this world that she cannot turn into suitable clothing.
Nancy: Oh, Mr. Chavalier...
She did reply oh-so shyly to his remark...
Fren: But it remains true, I should say, why...
'Twas then and there that the very woman did pluck from her very chest of clothing one brown piece...
Indeed...
One made of animal skin...
Yes...
Nancy: Oh, Mr Chavalier, please...
And turning to the young lad...
Nancy: Why, I should say that it is most often that it is women that ask for new pieces of clothing. Therefore have I not too many options at the ready. However...
Did she then unfold what was a two-piece set of clothing...
One for the upper body and one for the lower body...
Long sleeves, covered in fur to keep one warm, as well as to cushion blows, one would say...
Strapped around it were the fangs of a few beasts, a decoration, one may call it...
And as for the part for his lower body...
Indeed...
Quite the same...
Trousers as well beholden unto long lengthy parts...
Covered in a not so thick layer of hair, just as the shirt itself...
Truly, there was no mistaking it...
This clothing was made for a warrior...
All the same, did she present it to him...
Nancy: This piece was made from the very hairs of dire wolves, and the very skin, why...
She herself held the piece to her side...
Nancy: Was brought ashore from the very great big beast of the ocean. The whale.
Indeed.
Why, did Fren Chavalier nod assuringly.
Fren: Truly and truly... a most expensive and valuable piece, wouldn't you agree, my dear boy?
Yes, one would...
Well, moving along...
Did the very young lad refuse to answer, only looking unto the skin of the animal...
Nancy: Of course, it remains only a mite too big for you. However...
Did the very woman soon turn to the lower side of her carriage, picking up a blade and a thick sowing thread as well as needle...
Nancy: Shall I have a mere several minutes, shall you have a most precious piece of clothing... one worthy of your calibre.
Indeed...
Why, was the very man by the name of Fren Chavalier most pleased.
Fren: Indeed, my dear boy, indeed.
He nodded his head once more.
Fren: Why, Madam Thornberry can judge a piece of clothing's ability to suit you with a mere glance, I would say. Indeed. A most clever woman.
Nancy: Mr Chavalier, please...
Yet another blush to the woman as she turned back to her wares...
Nancy: And so, kind sir, I shall need but only a moment. And worry not, I shall make it perfect for you.
Yes, a very kindly statement, one would say.
Even so, did the very other traders find themselves paying utmost attention to the words coming out of their mouths...
Yes...
Fren: Indeed, my good lad, only a mere moment.
With a smile on his face did he still notice the unmoved face of the dear lad...
Why, one would have thought him uncaring...
However and even so, was it then that Reginald did come to the very three of them...
Reginald: Why, I do beg your pardon. If it is so that you require some more time, is it alright with you that I borrow the lad for a bit. 'Tshall only be a moment, I say.
Nancy: Surely, 'tis alright by me.
And with yet a continuous smile...
Fren: Why, Reginald. What have you planned for the dear boy?
Reginald: Oh, ho, ho, ho! You shall have to come and see for yourself.
Yes...
Did the pair walk alongside the carriages...
As the young lad walked with them...
Reginald: Ah, you, my dear lad, remind me of this tale my father once told me...
The very Reginald Walters started a story of his own...
Reginald: ... of a young lad, gifted in the blade, gifted in battle. Why, was the very man a war hero, a soldier, and even so, one of the very greatest in all of Vanamour, at a very young age. Truly...
'Twas then that the three of them were at his carriage's doorstep...
Reginald: Up, up and away...
Did he say as he walked to his carriage step.
Step, by step.
Before closing the door behind him and reappearing at his window...
And with the very eloquence one would expect of a man of his own calibre...
Reginald: Welcome my dear boy to the very varied assortments of mine own collections. I call it, the very many things of this world.
Fren: Hahahaha.
'Twas a joke between the two of them...
One that Reginald was most terrible at making names for things.
And the very man, fully unperturbed, did pat down his coat...
Reginald: By my shop does the motto remain...
And with a play of outstretched arms over all the various trinkets of his shop...
Some shining, some gold, some in glass jars covered by liquids...
Some dull...
And some of an odd smell...
Yes...
A very...
Assortment, one would say...
Reginald: Jewels, herbs, claws, poisons, ... shall you require it, do I most certainly have it.
Yes, a most beauteous proposal...
Even and so, as the very man did in full confidence ruffle his coat once more...
Indeed...
And as for the young lad, why...
Not a word, I would say...
Not a word...
Why, did the very man simply wait in silence...
A very perturbing thing to be sure...
As the very young lad simply looked on...
Wildly unperturbed by all the things that lay before him...
Indeed...
The very same stare...
Before...
Reginald, the very proud man, refusing to be undaunted...
Did...
Reginald: Aha!
Soon find himself turning around, all the while to procure something from the back of his...
Oh, well...
Time is up...
Do take care, dear reader...
Do take care...
