The noise from the main hall was growing louder. Heathbrand downed the dregs of his second goblet of wine and walked slowly towards the door, feeling the pockets of his loose tunic to make sure he had the things he needed. It was encouraging that so many of the tradesmen of Bree had come along with the villagers to hear what he had to say. If this was going to work, he would need all their support. Steeling himself, he straightened up as much as his old wounds would allow and walked into the large room filled with faces he knew. Ignoring the blades of pain that stabbed into his scars, he climbed the wooden stairs that led to the raised portion of floor that would've held the head table in happier times. Facing the throng that was gathered around the fire pit, he raised both his hands and his voice,
"My friends, welcome. " Eyes and faces turned towards him." I call you here, because of late I have come to see changes in our lands that trouble me." The crowd silenced, listening.
"There are strangers roaming our streets and our shops in greater number than ever before, yet they do not bring better us commerce and trade. Instead, their fear and discourtesy frights our honest customers and their thievery and brutality stops our flow of goods before they even reach us."
The faces before him darkened and voices could be heard muttering under the sound of the crackling fire. A murmur went through the crowd, Roger Hawkling raised his voice from the back of the room.
"Aye! even Breelanders turn against us at their behest! We've had no end o' trouble from that Bill Ferny..."
Heathbrand raised his hand for silence once more. "It is clear that this flood of newcomers is too much for the Watch to deal with..." an angry murmur rose from the crowd and Heathbrand raised his voice further. "Nor is it their fault! I served among them, as you know...their numbers are too few to deal with so many. But there is another way!" Hush fell across the room once again.
"With enough profit we can protect ourselves. Gold is a fair trade for steel."
Thomas Thistlewool scowled and said " And how are we to do that, Mercer? Eh? You have a wizard in your pocket? Business is down and it's only gettin' worse." His face was flushed and his eyelids drooped; it seemed Heathbrand wasn't the only one to fortify himself with drink before the meeting. The former guardsman swallowed his irritation with the man and kept his voice strong and steady as he took some small pouches from his pocket and held them up for the room to see.
"This. My friends, this is new life for the tradesmen of Bree. Even the strangers and wanderers will empty their pockets for this. " He held up the small, embroidered pouches.
Thistlewool growled, "Wat 's that then?" and pushed his way to the front of the gathering . Heathbrand lowered his hand so that he could see and smell the purse's contents. The master carpenter leaned forward and sniffed at it cautiously, drawing back sharply at the pungent odor. "What th'... What is that, Mercer?"
"It is profit, Thomas. And a lure to stranger and Breelander alike to empty their purses. And not just spices, but woods and oils from far off lands."
"Bah!" said Whelan Appledore "Brigands robbed us before, what's to stop 'em taking it along with the rest?"
"We will. We will have enough gold to buy an army, if needs be." Heathbrand paused as he saw the idea sink into the faces of his listeners. "These are rare things...and they grow in value when they are used." He took a small, crusted roll from his other pocket and tossed it to Appledore. The red-cheeked man caught the small, brown missile and sniffed it before taking a small bite. A look of wonderment suffused his face as he chewed..."I've never tasted such a..." His words failed and he took another bite, this time a large one.
Heathbrand took another piece of bread from his pocket and turned to another, "Tell me, Gil Greenbush...how many would come to buy your breads and rolls if they tasted like this?" He tossed the roll to the master cook in the front row. He sniffed it, took a bite and after a moment said. " I could double my sales, at least ....what is this?"
Heathbrand smiled. That strange cook Hrothric had hired had more than earned her keep as far as he was concerned. She had not seemed the least bit perturbed when he had handed her the unusual golden seed pods and had known exactly how to grind them and add the powder to the yeast dough she was working with.
"It is a taste of the eastern lands, my friend. And if we are to be overrun with southern vermin, let us have them pay us for a taste of what they left behind."
Heathbrand continued, "I have the means to procure these spices and much more which I will sell to you at a minimal price and you in turn may drain the gold from their pockets." He lofted the small purses bearing the sign of two crossed spears below a lidless eye. "These will give us the means to hire steel and keep our families and businesses safe. If you give me your word that you will join with me and pay fair price, then I will give the word to bring these things here...We can make Bree prosper once more. "
Bonny Thatcher stepped up from the back of the room.
"And what is it you are calling a fair price, Mercer? What's the good of it, if it empty's our pockets as well?"
"For every piece of gold you pay me you will be able to ask three and have it paid gladly. You can start with as much or as little as you like to prime the market; all I ask is that each of you contribute some portion to the cost of bringing it here if you wish to be a part of this venture."
The dark haired woman thought a moment then nodded her head. "Fair enough."
Heathbrand turned to the rest and called in a loud voice, "Are you with me?"
A tremendous "Aye" came from the assembled crowd.
"Then I will see it done...as will you!"
It was decided. Heathbrand would send word to the stiff-fingered man on the morrow. Wheels were now in motion.
