arpa 10, 1031
Over the last few days, the soldiers keep coming and coming. They’re
eating and drinking all of our food and wine, and they don’t work. Maria tells
me I worry too much, but Norman has seen nearly one soldier for every three
citizens on some other sites.
What’s more, a young captain arrived today who gathered the whole site in
congregation. Genzak has issued an ultimatum to Vashti not to expand any
further west. I have never understood the tension between Genzak and our kingdom;
this land dispute will only fuel this exhausting feud. Besides, before we came
and settled it, the west was nothing but untamed bramble that belonged to no
one. I refuse to believe Genzak has taken an overnight interest in this
land.
Erickson is royally furious because this means we can’t trade with Genzak
merchants whose supplies and tools are not only cheaper than Vashti’s, but also
of better quality. Now we’ll have to wait for Norman to deliver the orders from
here to Vashti and have the supplies carted out to us.
On a map, we are more toward the
Genzak border than the Vashti border and Erickson has been dealing with them
since before I began laboring with him. They already have what we need when we
need it. There is little sense in buying from Vashti.
Right after the congregation we went to work, and after work we were at
the pub. Maria was singing again, her voice is truly a gift. I met a man who I
hadn’t noticed on the site before. He is Marcus, the traveling Genzak merchant.
We talked for a long time about politics, Maria’s singing, and the sword.
With a few drinks under our belts we went outside, got two swords from
his stash, and he taught me a few techniques. I don’t remember much of it, but
I do remember that he wanted to teach me more. I think I agreed, but Erickson
found us and was very upset.
He
told me that if I am not intending to enlist, then to keep away from such
things. He also said he’d never seen Marcus, and there was something very wrong
with a man who would up and teach a youth like me, whom he’d just met, to use a
sword.
I
trust Erickson, but this time he is wrong. Marcus makes me feel grown up. We
can talk like men about politics, women, and combat. It’s settled, I will
continue to learn under Marcus in secret.
-Gerrik of Vashti
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