It was colder than usual when Naum set out from the royal's den. She was a royal servant, one of many who took care of household duties for the queen and her family. It was an honorable position, one even many leopards and cheetahs would likely want if they were able. Luckily for her, her lion bloody permitted her the chance. Some would pity her, but there was no reason in her mind to be pitied. Her bed was warm, her belly was full, the queen was kind and the work kept her busy when otherwise she would likely lay without any.
"Good morn', merchant!" She called out as she made her way down the slopes that the colony used. The colony was in a flurry of action now that the threat of war was upon them. Shan Furen, in the flesh, but being held by the Msitu'nyeusi...it was an awful thought that Naum didn't want to think, but couldn't help. No one could at this point as it was still fresh in everyone's mind.
"Mmph, what do you want Naum?" Mannan replied, stepping protectively in front of the pelts he had piled up behind him. They were higher quality than most, or at least that's what he told everyone who asked.
"My, so snappy." The lion teased playfully. "Don't worry, I'm not after your pelts. Noir is looking to procure more meat and I was sent to fetch it." Easily looking over the small frame of the black cheetah, she examined the stall he had set up. It wasn't much, maybe just a few rocks to outline his space and then everything lying on the ground behind him. "I don't suppose you have any? You and your brother seem to collect a little of everything these days."
"These days? We've always collected. It's what we do." His chest puffed slightly with pride. "And of course I have dried meat, what merchant worth his salt wouldn't? But in these times, you know I have to charge you full price. No royal discount today."
"That's fine, I'd expect no less. I have permission to offer you one kudu horn, the pelt of a zebra, large and minimal scarring and a bundle of herbs from the south in exchange for three satchels worth. You will also be allowed to sell your wares directly in front of the royal den for one week's time." That was a lot of meat, weighing close to a hundred pounds, but the herbs alone were worth one, the prize of selling so close to the temple and nobility was worth another and Naum hoped the zebra pelt and kudu horn would allow for another.
Bright green eyes narrowed as he stared her down. Mannan had forgotten what kind of buyer Naum was. There wasn't any room to negotiate, try and get more from her. He knew as well as she that she only had a set amount she could trade for what she needed.
She also knew what she asked for, it's value and it also seemed like she knew what he needed to. A spot so close would ensure his sales, the horn...he knew the scholars would pay well for it, the pelt he could sell to a noble for something greater and the herbs...He'd have to have them inspected, find out what they do, but maybe he could work that into the deal to sell the horn to the scholars...
Grumpily he agreed. "Fine, you got a deal. I'll need to fetch it all though."
Grinning widely, Naum nodded. "Of course. If you had that much meat at your stall, you would have no room for your pelts." Taking a step closer, she began pacing, looking at his wares more closely than before. The skins took up most of his room, the rest was comprised of rocks broken in half to expose precious gems inside, feathers, small trinkets, but nothing that truly caught her eye. Pausing, she glanced to Mannan, who was watching her intently with a layer of distrust.
"I'll come by to pick them up in two day's time. That should be plenty of time. I'll bring the payment, as well as inform the guards of your time allotment on the upper level. Just inform them when you'd like your week's allowance to start and be sure to leave when it's up. I wouldn't want it to start anything. Bad for business." She might be a servant, but she knew she was good at what she did. That was why most in service to the queen called on her to deal with the merchants.
"T-two days?! Naum, that's--" He could not say it's not enough time, it was, but he was hoping to be able to have more time, to ensure he got a good deal procuring the remaining meat he needed from others. In a pinch, he'd need anything he could get and that would mean he'd have to pay more. Visibly uncomfortable now, he pawed at the rock and snow beneath his small paws. Swallowing hard, the movement stopped as he nodded painfully. "That should be enough time."
"I already knew that Mannan, that's why I gave it to you."
Turning, Naum glanced over her shoulder. "By the way, if you don't have it, the deal's off. I take no half-deals, as I'm sure you already know." Tilting her chin up, she swung her head back around before beginning to make her way into the tunnel that connected the lower levels to the upper outcropping. Maybe she'd stop in the temple and give her prayers for Shan Furen's safe passage home, if the stories were true.
The deal was struck and he had two sunrises to find nearly an entire gazelle worth of dried meat. Groaning, Mannan slid onto the cold ground, letting his paws cover his face. What had he done?! There was no way he could do that, but that challenge and the prize had been too much. There would definitely be scolding in his future from Sonu. Another groan and he rolled onto his side, beginning to accept the fact he needed to get to work on finding merchants with meat to spare. He had one of the three bags-worth already. He needed to find two more. If he could pull this off...his name would become a household one.
A burning determination lit in his heart. With a new eagerness, Mannan quickly packed up everything, called for a servant to carry a majority of the pelts and set off on his new quest, silently dreading the next two days.
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