The Stubborn Horse Merchant

The Beauty’ tavern, despite its name, was spacious within, furnished with several large wooden tables.Its clientele consisted primarily of traveling merchants and their caravan guards.While the establishment’s owner was far from a beauty, the serving girls who delivered meals and drinks were slender and shapely, possessing high noses, deep-set eyes, and soft facial features—typical Slavic women.Alas, their bloom was fleeting; with age, they, like most middle-aged women, would inevitably grow plump and lose their graceful figures.

Noren and Tolke selected a seat by the window.The moment they stepped into the tavern, most gazes converged on the young woman, everyone struck by the astonishing beauty of her appearance.

“Whose lady is that, traveling with only one guard?”

“Judging by her attire, she doesn’t seem like a noblewoman, but rather a female mercenary.”

“Perhaps she’s someone’s mistress.”

“Nonsense! With beauty like that, she could be a duke’s mistress!”

The tavern patrons, initially whispering, gradually escalated into a full-blown argument.

It wasn’t until the tavern owner struck the tabletop heavily with the back of his axe that two caravan guards, poised to come to blows, finally quieted down.

During their squabble, the tavern maid had already delivered dinner on a tray: two bowls of lentil soup, two slices of white bread, two servings of smoked ham, five grilled sausages, a whole roasted chicken, two boiled apples, and a quart of dark ale.The total came to four silver deniers.True to a city tavern, the prices were indeed steep.

“Look, she has quite an appetite.”

“May the Lord judge those who commit the sin of gluttony before our very eyes.”

“Are you from Italy? A reformist impotent?”

“Blasphemy! Clerics should be celibate and, moreover, should not sell holy sacraments!”

“Are you a merchant? Can’t you calculate the business of sending your son to a monastery and paying for an ecclesiastical position?”

****

Noren gulped down a large mouthful of ale, her tongue swishing to filter out any suspended impurities, then tore off a chicken leg and savored a hearty bite.Her hands and mouth worked without pause, all while her ears remained perked, listening to the patrons’ argument.

Having likely argued themselves parched, the patrons quieted, settling back into their seats.They gazed at the empty bottoms of their tankards, smacking their lips.

Noren summoned the tavern maid and whispered instructions to her.The maid, having listened, turned and departed.

“What did she just say?”

“Couldn’t hear clearly, perhaps ‘another round’?”

Those who had been on the verge of drawing blades moments ago now spoke in subdued tones, probably too exhausted from their quarrel to continue.

As they speculated, the maid reappeared, cradling a large jug.She proceeded to fill each patron’s tankard with ale.Once the jug was empty, she returned to refill it, and after several trips back and forth, every wooden tankard was brimming once more.

The guests, puzzled, awaited the maid’s explanation.

The maid gestured towards the young woman by the window: “This lady, seeing your thirst, has graciously offered to buy each of you a mug of the finest ale.”

At this, Noren raised her own tankard. “To all of you.”

“To the generous lady!” the crowd cheered, raising their mugs.

Being treated to drinks was, naturally, the best outcome.The caravan guards, being rough men, immediately downed their ale with hearty gulps.Seizing this opportune moment, a merchant stepped forward, intending to strike up a conversation with Noren.

The merchant, with his corpulent head and large ears, sported a plump face stretched into a slightly obsequious smile.He wore a green linen tunic and a wool shawl, golden rings adorned his fingers, and a sword in its scabbard was tucked into his belt.He swayed precariously as he walked.Noren truly hoped he wasn’t the merchant named Ogmund.

The deep nasolabial folds on the merchant’s face were accentuated by his corpulence.He spoke, “My lady, allow me to introduce myself.My name is Ogmund, a horse merchant from Prague.Your generosity fills me with admiration; please permit me to offer you a toast!”

‘Damn it,’ Noren sighed inwardly. ‘Well, it saves me the trouble of seeking him out, but this Ogmund, with his sly, calculating mind, clearly looks like a scoundrel of a merchant.’

Noren took a sip of her chilled ale, then glanced up at him. “Ogmund, I believe I’ve heard your esteemed name before.You’re the one who praises Prague’s unwanted nags as rare treasures, then resells them everywhere at exorbitant prices, aren’t you?”

Ogmund’s heart gave a sudden lurch, yet his expression remained unperturbed. “You may have been misled by certain rumors, my lady.I know several stable owners in Prague who deal only in excellent breeds.As for those slanders against me, they are undoubtedly fabrications woven by envious individuals.”

“So, you only provide strong, fine horses?”

“Naturally.”

“Excellent.”

Noren exchanged a glance with Tolke, who then placed a heavy wooden box on the table.He opened it, revealing a box filled to the brim with silver coins. “As it happens, I am in need of two swift riding horses.Since you’ve given such a confident assurance, I won’t bother searching for other horse merchants.”

Ogmund was captivated by the silver coins.His fingers unconsciously twirled the small mustache beside his philtrum, and his mind began to calculate once more.

The young woman tapped the tabletop, prompting the corpulent merchant for an answer.

The merchant snapped back to attention, immediately adopting a ‘this is difficult’ expression. “Ah… er, my lady, I’m afraid these silver coins might not be enough…”

The young woman’s face clearly conveyed ‘I’m not easily fooled.’ “You haven’t even asked how much I have, yet you’ve already decided it’s insufficient? Are you attempting to extort me?”

The merchant leaned his plump face closer, scrutinizing the box once more. “I’ve been trading for many years; I can tell how many silver coins a box of this size holds.There should be… no more than six pounds of silver.”

“Precisely, 1300 deniers.” Seeing that he possessed some skill, Noren revealed the exact amount.

The merchant shook his head. “And this is far from enough to buy riding horses.You’d need at least this much.”

With that, the merchant spread both of his palms.

“Ten pounds?”

“Yes.”

“For just two riding horses?”

“Indeed, my lady, you are most astute.”

“In that case, I’ll reconsider.I’ll seek out other horse merchants; their prices surely won’t be this exorbitant.” Noren instructed Tolke to pick up the box, then made to leave the tavern.

The corpulent man, with surprising agility, darted to block their path. “No, wait! The horses I brought from Au… *cough*, Prague, are all top-quality steeds.I’ve already sold three in Kroměříž…”

Noren attempted to bypass the stout merchant, but when she moved left, he shifted right; when she moved right, he moved left.

“Get out of the way!” Tolke bellowed, his eyes blazing, and kicked Ogmund to the ground.

The caravan guards, drinking behind them, saw their employer knocked down.With a slap of the table, several of them immediately swarmed forward like brigands.

Ogmund, rubbing his backside, scrambled to his feet. “My lady, I won’t stop you from seeking other horse merchants, but all they have are lame nags and old horses that can barely walk.In the end, you’ll still return to me.Why not just buy from me now?”

“But your prices are too steep,” the young woman said, clearly annoyed.

“I can offer credit.”

She gave him a look of utter bewilderment. ‘Black man asking why’ (TL Note: This is a Chinese internet slang term referring to a face of extreme confusion or disbelief, often depicted with a specific meme). “Credit?”

The merchant grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellowed teeth. “That’s right, credit.”

“No, thank you.Credit still means I have to pay it back eventually.” She stepped past the merchant, pushed open the tavern door, and walked outside, heading straight back to the Mayor’s residence.

To her surprise, the corpulent man relentlessly pursued them, following Noren and Tolke all the way, finally watching them enter the house to rest.

****

In the early morning, as the melodious church bells began to chime, Noren groggily pushed Anna’s arm away.She rose, dressed, and rinsed her mouth in one fluid motion.After securing her waterskin, she pushed open the window and flung the mouthwash from her wooden cup out into the street.

“Damn it!” a passerby cursed.The young woman silently closed the window.

Morning exercise was the perfect start to a good day, and Noren’s naturally formidable physique made her particularly devoted to fitness and self-care.Yet, the moment she stepped out of her room, she spotted the same horse merchant from yesterday.

With an obsequious smile, he stepped forward to greet her. “Good morning, my lady.”

The young woman’s good mood instantly shattered.She furrowed her brow, then relaxed it. “And to you, Ogu—”

“Ogmund.”

“Right, Ogmund.Do you have some business to attend to at the Town Hall? It’s quite early; the clerk is likely still fast asleep.”

“No, no, no…” The corpulent man hastily waved his hands. “I’ve come to see you.”

Upon hearing he was there for her, Noren grew impatient, and a complaint about the mayor couldn’t help but form in her mind: ‘What kind of people does Sithi introduce? First, he tried to force a sale yesterday, and now he’s this persistently annoying.’

A thought flashed through her mind, and she ceased to engage with Ogmund, beginning a slow jog along the road.

The morning air in Hradec was cool and crisp.Most residential doors and windows within the city remained tightly shut; blacksmiths’ forges were still cold, and tailors’ and leather shops had yet to open.However, some fruit and vegetable vendors had already set up their stalls, awaiting customers.At the monastery, the monks had long finished their morning prayers and were now gathering for a communal meal; a friar loudly recited precepts at a long dining table, his voice drifting through the window, occasionally drawing the sidelong glances of passersby.Merchants preparing for departure were also tallying their goods, while caravan guards, leaning against walls with their spears, were still heavy-eyed with sleep.Two short-haired sighthounds dashed past one guard, bursting the dreamy bubbles that floated from the man’s slumber.

“Tell me, how long do you intend to follow?” Noren ran effortlessly, her breathing steady, while the corpulent man was drenched in sweat, his lungs seemingly on the verge of bursting from exertion.

“Hoh… hoh… wait, stop… stop, stop!” The man barely managed to keep pace with Noren, feeling as though his heart was pounding out of his throat.

Seeing that if he continued, he might genuinely collapse in the street, the young woman halted, taking a moment to appreciate the merchant’s pained demeanor.

“Why do you keep following me? Wouldn’t it be better to just wait where you are?” Noren scoffed, mocking the man’s intelligence.

Ogmund, hands on his knees, gasped for breath.Hearing her words, he couldn’t help but ponder: ‘Yes, I could just wait there… No! I must keep an eye on this plump sheep lest it be snatched away.’

“La-lady, I implore you to first look at my horses.They will absolutely change your mind.And, if the price is fair, I might even offer you a suitable discount.”

Ogmund’s face radiated sincerity as he gazed earnestly at the tall young woman.

Noren tugged at a strand of her hair.Out of trust for the mayor, she decided to give the horse merchant before her a chance.

“Very well.The usual place, ‘The Beauty’ tavern.I’ll be there shortly.” Noren agreed, then, unswayed, resumed her morning run.

“I shall await your esteemed presence,” Ogmund breathed a sigh of relief, secretly rejoicing in his heart.