By Khadaajin
Bayar
Greetings
unto the people of the tents and of the stone houses. This humble trader bows before the audience
and asks for mercy upon this story.
So it happens
that this winter has been harsh and bitter for the people of my land. Cattle have died in the snow banks and the
rivers have frozen. Food is hard to come
by. Eagles come down from the mountains
and take what little is left. My family’s
reserves ran low and so they bade me ride to the west to trade for food.
I took my
best horse, the snowy one, and my sturdiest yak, and went off early in the
morning. After a ride into unknown lands
not yet under the rule of the Khan, I stopped at a traveler’s inn, owned by a
man called Berus.
It seems winter had been
equally hard for these people, for plenty of them had sought refuge at the inn,
and were quite busy engaging in trade and merriment. The inn was packed, so I searched for a seat
at a table, to catch my breath and regain strength before trading. I was joined by other gentle persons: a man
of the far North called Eirik, and a couple of gallant Franks, decked in
splendid clothes, called Berend and Mahault.
We made our introductions and were soon fast in friendly
conversation. While I went around the
inn, they engaged other friends in conversation and games with square bits of
dark bone that they call “dice”, much like our knucklebones.
All through
the day, merchants arrived at the inn and displayed their wares, and several
illustrious ladies set out their wares, being offered in aid of their Kingdom’s
coffers. I was amazed at the display of
generosity that these ladies and the guests showed, for by the end of day, nine
thousand offers were made for these goods!**
I myself offered some silver and received a group of finely spun yarns
and a set of spindle, needle and case made by a local artisan. These gifts will surely become a family
treasure, for their workmanship is great.
Business was
very brisk that day, for all kinds of wares had been brought from all corners
of this land. Such was the enticement,
that I walked among the merchants to and fro, until hunger got the best of me,
and I noticed a group of ladies from the lands of the cliffs, offering tasty
fares not known in the land of the tents.
These ladies, Sof’ia, Naja and Jean-Margaret, were such great cooks
that, without doubt, they must be married, for I was tempted to pass the word
on to the men of my clan to come and steal them.
During my
trade with these foreigners, I noticed a gang of ruffians had collected in the
back room and had started scuffling amongst themselves. Other gentles soon joined this brawl, which
grew to alarming proportions. On
occasions, bands of gentles decked in finery and capes fought with very slender
swords, with such flowery movements that reminded me of Chinese sword
dances. Other times, groups of heavily
clad men sparred and fought with axes, daggers, swords and shields, with much
bravery and boasting. This I must report
to my peoples, for it is good to know these things if we come to conquer these
lands in the future.
At times, the
air inside the main room got so heavy and noisy, that I sought calm in the
halls outside. I found groups of gentles
gathered around musicians, who sung of their land and their princes. Sweet music did they make, and so was it,
that Her Majesty, Lady Susanna, appeared and bade them to sing some more. They sang rousing songs of battle and honour,
of courtly love and land, and my heart yearned for my steppes.
I decided to
start loading my yak with the goods I obtained this day. I must make my way
back home to retell the things I have seen and heard to my people, happily in
front of the fire, with a cup of mare’s milk, in the comfort of my ger. Much would I have to tell, and many the
questions I would have to answer, about this people with great hearts, the
inn-keeper Berus, the fighters, traders, royalty and musicians, to satisfy the
curiosity of my clan.
*Whoever
provides the funniest ending to this phrase, will be awarded a “Green Bison”
token of esteem (and its not fermented milk!)
**Raffle held
by the Daughters of the North in aid of the Kingdom travel fund. Of 10, 000
tickets brought, 9, 000 were sold by the end of the evening.
No comments:
Post a Comment