Dawn of Man (Thanos Book 1) (32 page)

The owner scanned the pages. “Master Hunter, I don’t have the money here to even buy this much stuff,” he admitted.

Ahnon reached down and pulled a small pouch out, handing it to the owner. “This should cover half.”

The owner looked under the brim of the hat, only seeing the shiny image of his reflection in the glasses. Looking at Ahnon, he was having trouble believing he was even a person. Opening the purse, the owner looked down and gasped, closing the pouch. “The Gods as my witness, it will be done,” the owner pledged.

Ahnon tilted his head to the owner. “Good merchant. If you do what I’ve asked, not only will I pay you, but you will have a letter of marque from Lord Reardon himself by spring,” Ahnon said, and the owner went pale.

“Lord Reardon,” he gulped, and Ahnon tilted his head again. The owner handed the purse back. “I will get the money from a lender. You don’t need to pay even half in advance,” he said raising his chin.

“No, good merchant; this helps you and I. You get what every merchant wants, and I get to make the Lord Reardon happy.”

The owner bowed. “Thank you, Master Hunter. I’ll get started at once,” he said, motioning to several people.

“Good merchant, make sure your people don’t forget anything without telling me or get sticky fingers. The chief steward will be taking the inventory,” Ahnon said, walking off.

“It will all be there,” the owner called out as Ahnon opened the door and walked out. Next, Ahnon went to a blacksmith and handed him a list and some coins. They went to several more stores, and then Ahnon stopped at a messenger office and paid to have a stack of letters sent across Thanos. It was late afternoon when he led the kids to the best inn in the city.

Walking up to the counter with an air prominence Ahnon paid for the rooms and led the kids to the dining room, taking a table in the far back corner. When the waiter left, Ahnon sat down with his back to the wall and uncovered his head, putting everything on the table. The kids, seeing him do it, followed suit. Kenna looked up at him, smiling. “I like being a hunter,” she said. “People even act scared of me.”

“People are scared of what they don’t understand. Hunters kill what they’re afraid of, so the fear transfers to hunters,” Ahnon said.

“Why were we so rude?” Jedek whispered.

Ahnon smiled. “If I hadn’t, we would probably still be at the first store. If you act like you have power, then others listen, but just be ready to prove it.”

“How could you prove it to a shop owner?” Jedek asked.

“Go to another one and pay him double just to spite the first one,” Ahnon said, and Jedek nodded, liking the thought of that.

“Ahnon, who are those ladies over there?” Kenna asked, nodding to the far side of the room. Ahnon looked over with Jedek, who sucked in his breath seeing two of the biggest women ever wearing breast plates. Not fat but tall and very muscular and still beautiful. The third was smaller but still muscular and, like the others, beautiful.

“Amazons from Azonia,” Ahnon answered. “Jedek, don’t stare at them that hard. I really don’t want to fight them.”

Jedek turned back around and looked at him with wide eyes. “Ahnon, they’re huge,” he whispered.

“Not for an Amazon. I’ve met some that were two feet taller than me and twice my size.”

“But they’re still pretty,” Jedek said, getting a hard look from Kenna.

“Kenna, relax,” Ahnon said. “Jedek, they’re Amazons. I’ve never met an ugly one nor have I heard of anyone else meeting an ugly one.”

“What are they doing here?” Kenna asked.

“Probably buying prisoners,” Ahnon said, and Kenna nodded. “The small one is a priestess, and the others are warriors protecting her. More ceremonial than anything. Priestesses are magi.”

“Why buy prisoners? Don’t they have their own?” Jedek asked.

Kenna looked at him in shock. “Slaves, Jedek.”

“That’s wrong,” he said shaking his head.

“Jedek, I had three slaves, so don’t get on your high horse,” she snapped in a low voice.

Jedek took a breath, and Ahnon lifted his hand. “Not here or now, Jedek. Honch has the toughest laws on slaves there are. I know many people from other countries who go to Honch and sell themselves into slavery,” Ahnon said, making Jedek lean back in his chair. “Damn, they’re coming over. Don’t talk,” Ahnon whispered and leaned back as the three walked over.

The two giant Amazons wore thick, bronze breastplates, gauntlets, steel tasset belt that looked like a skirt and shin guards with red capes flowing off their shoulders. Their hands rested on sword hilts at their waist as the priestess stopped at their table and looked down at Ahnon. “Your apprentices were staring. We thought they might like a better look,” she said. She was wearing the same armor, but hers wasn’t as thick, and she had a bag on one hip and a dagger on the other.

“Forgive them; I was just assuring them that women could be beautiful and still be strong warrior priestesses,” Ahnon answered with a slight bow of his head.

All three smiled at the compliment, and the priestess nodded at Ahnon. “Thank you, hunter,” she said then looked at Kenna. “It’s refreshing to see a woman outside of Azonia trained to fight. Except for Nazar, I didn’t think anyone else did.” Kenna smiled and lowered her head to the priestess.

One of the female guards, the bigger one, stepped around the priestess. “The priestess spoke to you, child. Speak back,” she grumbled.

“Captain, talk to my apprentice like that again, and you will die before you finish your sentence,” Ahnon warned as his eyes narrowed. “As you can see, she is an apprentice and doesn’t talk until I give her permission, just as it is on Azonia. I’m sure if you take off your breast plate, we can find some whip marks from your master,” Ahnon said with small sneer.

The priestess grabbed the captain’s arm and squeezed it, glaring at the huge woman. “Hunter, I apologize for the rudeness of my escort,” she said through gritted teeth, and the captain looked down at the floor, grimacing, clearly afraid of the smaller priestess.

“No need to apologize, priestess. It was just a misunderstanding. I’m sure your captain didn’t mean anything,” Ahnon said then stood, motioning to the other chairs. “To prove our respect to you and your guard, please join us for supper,” Ahnon offered with a slight bow.

The priestess groaned, trapped by the hospitality. “Thank you, hunter. We would be happy to,” she said, pulling out a chair. The other two sat on each side of her with one next to each kid. Jedek was staring at the captain with what could only be described as awe. Ahnon looked over at Kenna, seeing the same from her as she stared at the one sitting beside her with an open mouth.

“Apprentices, you may speak openly,” Ahnon said, smiling.

“Wow,” Jedek said, staring.

“I want to be this big with muscles and still be pretty,” Kenna said, and Ahnon tried not to laugh as the guard blushed.

“Young apprentice, don’t stare,” Ahnon said quietly, and the priestess was chuckling silently.

“You seem to know a lot of Azonia, hunter,” the priestess said.

“Yes, I have an open letter of invitation from Queen Immeril,” Ahnon said, getting a surprised look from all three.

“You have hunted on Azonia?” she asked.

“Once, but I’ve visited several times. The queen likes my company,” Ahnon said, taking a sip of water.

The priestess was at a loss for words, but the captain wasn’t, “Hunter, you’re a man, and only a man who has faced the coliseum can have audience with the queen,” she said.

“Well, actually, I met her first then heard about the law, so I went and beat everyone there for a season,” he said casually. “The queen gave me her key.”

The priestess bowed her head to him. “Then you have my respect, hunter,” she said, almost making Ahnon fall out of his chair. Amazons were almost as hard as griffons to bow to anyone other than their own royalty.

“Thank you. Maybe it will excuse me for one of my apprentices, who keeps staring,” Ahnon said, kicking Jedek under the table.

“Sorry,” he said and looked away.

“It’s of no bother,” the captain said, nodding at Ahnon as Kenna gave the captain an ugly look. Fortunately, nobody was looking at Kenna.

The food arrived, and they ate together as the kids asked about Azonia, and the priestess questioned Ahnon. When supper was over, they all parted with both guards kissing Jedek on the head, making him blush. Ahnon put a hand on Kenna’s shoulder, squeezing it to remind her to keep her mouth shut.

As Ahnon left the table, Kenna and Jedek followed. “Ahnon, why didn’t they tell us their names?” Kenna asked, still giving Jedek an ugly stare.

“Amazons only tell their names to friends. Their positions mean more to them. If we would’ve been in Azonia, the guards would have told us what units they were with along with rank, and the priestess would have told us which temple she belonged to. They see themselves above the rest of us,” he said, climbing the stairs to their room.

Glancing out of the corner of his eye and seeing the look Kenna was giving him, Jedek said, “They seem really arrogant and ostentatious,” hoping to appease her.

“They acted like all Amazons,” Ahnon informed him. “The warriors of Spree are just as bad.”

When they reached their room, Jedek immediately apologized to Kenna for anything he did wrong, making Ahnon sigh with relief. Kenna smiled at him and kissed Jedek’s cheek as they all laid down on the bed, still dressed, and quickly fell asleep.

Chapter 25

The next day, the kids followed Ahnon around the city again as he dropped off lists for stores to send to the general store. The last place they went was an armory, and the kids grinned upon entering. Weapons of war were everywhere, and they looked on in wonder as Ahnon talked to the owner.

After giving him a list, Ahnon took the kids around the store, measuring them and pulling out chain mail, gauntlets, axes, spears, over a dozen different swords each, and many other things. Then he bought them each a wooden sword just like every sword he just bought. Last, he bought each a bow and quiver full of arrows. These he told them to put on their back like his except to let the bow down. When they left, Jedek moved closer. “Thank you, Ahnon. It’s a great bow,” he said.

“No, Jedek, it’s a just above a piece of trash,” Ahnon told him with a snort.

“It was the most expensive one there and the best-made one.”

“The reason I bought them is for you two to practice till we make your own,” Ahnon said.

Jedek stopped. “You spent that much on training? You bought the wooden swords why?” he asked as Ahnon stopped and turned around.

“Don’t ask, just do. Remember?” Ahnon reminded him and spun around, heading back to the inn. They ate again with the Amazons then again slept in their clothes.

They left the inn before sunrise as Ahnon instructed them how to drive a wagon as they walked the deserted streets. When they reached the store, it was still dark, but the owner was waiting outside for them and led them around back.

Coming around the store, they saw three teams of wagons with one team that had two wagons trailered together. Pulling the wagons were the biggest oxen the kids had ever seen with two oxen for each wagon. Their heads were so high up even Ahnon could walk under one without ducking. They had huge horns that curved out then back toward their faces, and their bodies were covered in thick, long, brown fur.

Ahnon walked over as Jedek and Kenna gaped at the massive animals. “Giant woolly oxen,” he said.

“Bet they aren’t that fast,” Jedek said.

“You would be right there, but they walk as fast as a horse. They can walk for a week without stopping and are ten times stronger than a horse,” Ahnon replied, and Jedek groaned.

“We aren’t stopping, are we?” he asked.

“Only to eat and water the oxen.”

Kenna pointed at the wagons. “Ahnon, why are the wagons bowed down in the middle? Are they fixing to break?” she asked.

“No, Kenna, they are heavy load wagons. Each one can carry ten tons,” Ahnon said as the owner came over, handing Ahnon several sheets of paper.

“Here is the inventory, and I will have Lord Reardon’s supplies ready in two weeks. I’m sorry we couldn’t get everything on three wagons,” he said as Ahnon handed over what he owed.

“Fine, merchant. It has been my pleasure to do business with you, and if the next transaction is this good, your letter of marque will be here this spring. And you will be our primary purchaser here,” Ahnon said with a nod.

Looking around, the owner leaned over. “My wife put four days’ rations in bags for you, but I put more. I’m sorry, but she can’t cook. That’s not why I married her,” he admitted.

Ahnon chuckled, and with the mask on, it sounded creepy to the owner. “Tell your wife I’m in her debt, and I’ve eaten worse; trust me, good merchant,” Ahnon said and motioned to the kids to get up on a wagon. Jedek got on the one in the back and Kenna in the middle wagon that had cows tied to the back and Ahnon driving the double wagon up front. Jedek’s wagon was piled high with hay, and as he looked at it towering over him, he hoped it wouldn’t fall. He looked over the side at the full chicken cages lashed to the side and grinned.

With the eastern sky getting brighter, they followed Ahnon out onto the street as it wound its way out of the city. It was hours after dawn when they pulled through the city gates. Jedek and Kenna were both amazed at just how fast the oxen moved with their steady walk, and they were out of sight of the city before noon.

Ahnon was looking around when Kenna jogged up beside him. “Hey pull me up,” she said, holding out her hand. Reaching down, Ahnon pulled her up and put her on the seat.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I’m not riding by myself for days and nights not talking to anyone,” she said. “Don’t worry; I told the oxen to follow you and tied a rope from them to the back of your last wagon,” she said. “They are smarter than cows but still not the sharpest knife in the drawer.”

Ahnon laughed. “Yes, you’re right,” he said and looked over and saw Jedek climb up on the other side, smiling. “Lonely?” he asked.

“No, but the oxen don’t really like to talk. I did the same thing Kenna did to her team,” Jedek said, and Ahnon laughed.

“Ahnon, what is a letter of marque?” Kenna asked.

“When a merchant does good business and pleases a noble, they will give him a letter of marque. It lets others know that the noble likes doing business with that merchant. The more letters of marque a merchant can get, the more nobles and others will use them.”

“I bet when you get one from Lord Reardon, that means something,” she said with raised eyebrows.

“Yes, merchants try hard to get his business,” Ahnon said.

“Who’s Lord Reardon?” Jedek asked.

“The richest man in the world,” Kenna informed him.

“Kenna, when we get home, I’m teaching you money,” Jedek said.

“I know money,” she said with a sassy tone.

Jedek shook his head. “No, you don’t. There are other coins besides gold,” he said, and Kenna gave him a mean look. “Ahnon, how do you know Lord Reardon?” Jedek asked, ignoring the look from Kenna.

“After his wife gave birth to their second child, a group of men kidnapped her and the two kids. They threatened to kill them unless the he paid them an enormous sum,” Ahnon said, leaning over, looking behind him, making sure the oxen behind him were still following. “Reardon was going to pay it, but I stopped him, telling him they were going to kill them anyway. I told him to go ahead with the money but not to let it out of his sight. I tracked them down and killed the kidnappers and rescued his family before he reached the exchange point.”

“Bet he was thankful,” Kenna said.

“Yes, he was. He tried to give me the ransom.”

Kenna looked at him burning with curiosity. “Just how much?” she asked.

“Seven tons of gold.”

“WHAT!” she screeched, and the oxen jumped. Taking his glove off, Ahnon reached up and stuck a finger in his ear, shaking it to make the ringing stop.

“Kenna, please don’t do that,” Ahnon begged, and the oxen grunted in agreement.

“Why didn’t you take it?” she asked.

“I didn’t need it. I already had money; what I needed was someone to show me how to make more. So I asked him to go into several businesses with me and to be a trusted friend,” Ahnon explained then leaned over close to her ear. “Besides, I’ve made more than that with him partnering and showing me how to make money,” he whispered.

Kenna went into shock as Jedek smiled. “That was smart, Ahnon,” Jedek said.

“I thought so,” Ahnon said.

“Do you own any land here in Racor?” Jedek asked.

“Yes, I own an estate outside the capital and several houses around the country,” Ahnon said.

“How many countries do you have houses in?” Jedek asked, looking at the still shocked Kenna.

“All of the five kingdoms: Spree, Azonia, Brant, Calkran, and Ocnus,” Ahnon said.

“That’s every kingdom in the south,” Jedek said.

“I also own houses in the three northern kingdoms,” Ahnon added, and Jedek shook his head.

Jedek looked over at Ahnon. “How did you know Ava was a witch?” he asked.

“Jedek, that’s easy. She doesn’t smell like spell components, and Delmuth is a pretty good warrior but not good enough to keep the creatures at bay there. Only someone with power can do that. She’s not crazy like a demon catcher, so that only left one option.”

“Snot, that’s just smart reasoning,” Jedek said, disappointed.

“Most of life is,” Ahnon said, looking down at Kenna, who was still wide-eyed. Ahnon smiled and patted her leg as they continued on.

They rode straight through, only stopping to water and once to feed the oxen even though the oxen said they were fine. On the morning of the seventh day since they left, they pulled up to Delmuth’s farm. They loaded up on the wagons and horses and left with Ahnon once again driving through.

When they reached the cottage, Delmuth stared at it in wonder as Ahnon and the kids started unloading. Ava walked over to him. “Ava, we should’ve looked around more till we found this instead of the house and barn,” he said waving his arm at the buildings.

Ava put her arm around him. “This was not for us,” she told him, making him give her a double take. “Let’s help unload so we can start our family’s future,” she said, pulling him to the cottage.

Even with Delmuth’s family, it took two days to put up everything. On the third day, Ahnon was sitting outside with Delmuth, watching the kids play. “Ahnon, we don’t need this other bag of money,” he said, handing one of the bags to him.

“Keep it,” Ahnon said as Kenna brought him a glass of tea then went to play.

“You sure?” Delmuth asked, feeling the weight of the bag.

“Yes, I want you to buy weapons and make sure some of the ones you bring back know how to use them.”

Delmuth sat up. “You expecting trouble?” he asked.

“No, but I’m ready for it,” Ahnon answered. “I know you’re a good soldier, but get a few more. But remember you are the boss, no questions asked.”

“This is going to take some getting used to. I was only a corporal,” he said as Ava walked up, joining them.

“You’ll do fine,” Ahnon told him. “The supply list I left with you will be ready in seven days.”

“Yes, when we leave tomorrow, we are just heading to the city,” Delmuth said. “When we leave the mountains, Ava will travel ahead to get the rest ready before we get there.”

“I can’t travel as fast as you, Ahnon, but I will be there a few days before them,” she said, sitting down beside Delmuth.

Seeing Ahnon talking, Kenna and Jedek ran over and sat down beside him. “Jedek, hand me that rock please?” Ahnon asked, pointing at a rock next to him. Jedek picked it up, handing it to Ahnon. It was longer and bigger around than Ahnon’s fist. Ahnon gripped both ends and closed his eyes, steadying his breathing, and the rock started to glow a dull yellow. “Two will always be one,” Ahnon said as the rock split in half and stopped glowing.

Shaking his head, Ahnon opened his eyes, feeling a little dizzy. “Boy, does that one hit you,” he said, turning to Delmuth, who was close to freaking out. “Your wife is a witch,” he said, then looked at Ava, who was also close to freaking out. “You’re a witch,” Ahnon informed her.

“Ahnon, it takes most witches a full day to make a communication stone,” she said weakly.

Ahnon snorted. “The witch who taught me could do it faster than I just did,” he said.

“Who was your teacher?” Ava asked.

“Esta of the Moors,” Ahnon said, and Ava smiled a wicked little smile.

“That makes sense,” she mumbled. “She was my teacher as well,” Ava said, shocking Ahnon.

“I went back to check on her, and she wasn’t there.”

“Esta left Fantshu right after I left her.”

Ahnon looked at her. “I studied with her in Nazar,” he said, shocked.

“She’s not like most witches; she likes to move around,” Ava told him as he narrowed his eyes in thought.

Shrugging, he handed over half of the rock to Delmuth. “Your wife can tell you how it works.”

“How does it work?” Kenna asked.

Ahnon laughed and held up the rock. “You talk to one, and it comes out of the other one,” he explained.

“You are so teaching us witchcraft,” she said.

“Let’s worry about magic first.”

“Ahnon, you didn’t use components and didn’t have to worry about blowing up or getting melted,” she cried out.

Ahnon nodded. “You’re right; I just had to worry about trapping my mind inside a rock,” he said, and the excitement left her face.

“What?” she said.

“No matter what you do, there are risks, Kenna. Granted, demoncraft has the most, but magic and witchcraft are equally as dangerous. You learn one before the other, or you will die,” he said, and she nodded.

“Listen well to him, Kenna,” Ava warned her. “I’ve seen many witches, male and female, die because they didn’t respect the power of Thanos.” Delmuth put an arm around Ava’s shoulders, hugging her tight.

Ahnon and the kids saw them off the next morning and kept one wagon, a team of oxen, three horses, and a mule with them. When they were out of sight, Ahnon went to the barn and came back with shovels, picks, hammers, and wooden buckets, throwing them in the back of the wagon. Like the kids, he was wearing a regular shirt, pants, boots, gloves, scarf, and a leather, wide-brimmed hat. Putting his spell bags on, he grabbed his bow and staff.

They loaded up on the wagon, and Ahnon headed back across the valley then followed the river north with Minos and Talon roaming ahead of them. Two hours later, Ahnon stopped at an ugly, rocky outcropping. “Okay, you two. Get the picks, hammer, and shovels,” he said, getting out then pointed at the rock. “That’s iron ore. Break it up, and fill the wagon.”