Merchants and Mages (Highmage's Plight Book 2) by D.H. Aire

patted the boy’s shoulder. “Your… wife comes.”
      “My what?”
      The ogre laughed. The earth promised Niota that she would like this young lady. She had… spunk.
      “You – make – good – elf—in babies.”
      Thomi swallowed, “Huh?”
      Walsh nodded, “Boy – grow—up… Soon—marry.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
     
     
    Tapestry
    Chapter 14
     
     
     
    T he house lay on the outskirts of the Provincial Capital of Lyai, the Empire’s Northeastern Province. It was neither the grandest nor the most humble. Yet, where bargains could be had and debts were left to be paid, the merchants’ auction could be found.
      The old woman who lived there had passed away without heirs to cover her debts or her Imperial taxes. No elite merchants from Lyai came for the sale, only one wizened old man, a licensed representative. This did not please the Debtor’s Man in charge of the sale. However, the Faeryn journeyman mage, who had been hired to walk through the house, although young, might be able to improve matters.
      It was the mage’s task to make note on any chance enchantments, unremarkable talismans, or banes. Enchantments significantly added to value of even ill––crafted looking items.
     
    The elfblooded mage paused to look at the odd tapestry hanging from the dining room wall. The Debtor’s Man looked at him greedily, but the youth simply shook his head, assuring him that nothing of magery lay here. 
      It was too much to expect of the old lady who had lived here. “Found a few more of its like in the attic, perhaps one of them,” he urged.
      The Faeryn mage sighed and turned away from the tapestry’s scene which had drawn his attention. “I take a look at them soon enough, but so far I detect nothing emanating enchantment.” The tapestry should fetch a fine price even without magery, he reasoned as he continued to look about. Displayed was a striking scene of battle, an advancing Imperial charge racing to meet a ghastly dark horde.
      Glancing back, frowning, the mage abruptly stared at those warriors leading the charge. That was what had puzzled him. They were not
    Imperial forces, but foreigners in black livery, one of whom was clearly a
    woman with long blonde hair. He thought it strange that the woman seemed to be clearly leading the charge. He felt that there was something he should recognize about the scene, then shook his head. Where had he ever heard a story of black liveried warriors? In time it would come to him, he was sure.
      There was a knock at the door.  The Debtor’s Man smiled in relief at the arrival of more merchants, all the better to outbid that old miser now examining the cutlery.
     
    “Come in!  Come in!”
      The blonde-haired woman entered ahead of her companion. She was remarkably well-dressed in the latest Imperial style. Her male companion, however, was less fashionable. His cloak, although finely made, ill-concealed his rugged jerkin and trousers. Least fashionable of all, the man bore a simple walking staff.
    He asked, “We’ve only just heard. Has the sale begun?”
      “It is called for one hour hence. My name is Hanrahan. I am the Imperial Debtor’s Man.  Please look through the house in the meantime. May I ask what Merchant House you represent?”
      The man replied, “We represent an endeavor from across the border in the Crescent Lands. I am Jeo d’Aere and this is my partner, Se’and.”
      Hanrahan beamed, handing them each a sales offering sheet. “You have come far and such a sale as this place offers will be perfectly exotic to those in the City–States.”
      Se’and chose to ignore the obsequious man and showed little
    interest in the items displayed in the foyer; although, Jeo seemed fascinated by the craftsmanship of each piece of furniture in the study. He knelt and looked underneath the tables and