The Merchant

A Norman Kingdom border checkpoint was wedged in the pass between two tall mountains, flanked by steep rock faces covered in withered vines and moss.

The wall was not particularly high, with crossbowmen stationed every few paces.

The road in front of the pass was cut off by wooden palisades and spiked barricades, leaving only a narrow lane open.

A winding line stretched out before the lane—travelers carrying backpacks, merchants driving carriages accompanied by guards, and pilgrims in gray robes.

The line moved exceedingly slowly. The inspection up front was painfully inefficient, stopping every single person to question them for a while, searching their bodies, and only waving them through after confirming there were no issues.

Rosie stood near the back of the queue, looking at the line that barely moved at all, then up at the checkpoint ahead, and finally over at Vera.

Vera did not stop at the back of the line. She walked straight past the queue, making her way forward along the edge of the road.

Rosie followed, and Balu trailed behind them, carrying their packs.

“What are you doing? Get in line at the back!”

The soldier sitting at the checkpoint entrance looked up and barked expressionlessly.

Vera did not say a word.

She reached into her coat with her left hand, pulled out a badge, and flashed it in front of the soldier.

The badge was small and polished smooth, reflecting a clear glint in the winter sunlight.

At its center, a dragon with outstretched wings soared toward a radiant sun above.

The moment the soldier's eyes hit the badge, he snapped straight from his slouched position, his voice instinctively rising. “Dawnguard?!”

Vera nodded, slipping the badge back into her coat. “I am a member of the Dawnguard. I must leave immediately on urgent business.”

The soldier's gaze swept over Vera quickly, her severed arm particularly eye-catching.

He then glanced at Rosie standing behind her—the young woman had a neutral expression, a sword hanging at her waist, her posture relaxed yet grounded as she met his gaze calmly.

Next, he looked at the green-skinned beastkin carrying the pack, holding an iron axe in one hand, staring back at him with a “what are you looking at” expression.

Retracting his gaze, he adopted a respectful tone. “Lady! You may pass.”

Vera said nothing more and stepped through the checkpoint.

Rosie followed, and then Balu. As he walked past the soldier, the guard instinctively leaned back.

Only when the three figures disappeared around the bend in the road beyond the checkpoint did the soldier pull his gaze back, clearing his throat. “Next!”

The three continued along the road beyond the pass.

The view on both sides of the road opened up gradually. Exiting the narrow passage between the two mountains, they were met by a gentle slope leading into a snow-covered wilderness stretching toward the distant horizon under the sunlight.

“From here, it'll take us a day's walk to reach the city of Hiyota in the Kingdom of Redian, where the Dawnguard has a stronghold,” Vera said. “We'll head there first.”

Walking beside her, Rosie gave a slight nod. “Whatever you decide.”

Balu walked at the rear with the supply pack, silently following the two.

After walking for a while, the sound of horse hooves came from behind them.

“You three! Please wait!”

Rosie and Vera stopped simultaneously and turned back.

A rider was galloping down the road from the direction of the checkpoint.

He wore dark leather armor under an old brownish-gray cloak, its hem fluttering backward as he rode, revealing a sword hilt at his waist.

The rider reined in his horse before the three. The mount snorted, paced in place for a few steps, and came to a stop.

His eyes swept over the trio before he spoke:

“Greetings. May I ask if you belong to the Dawnguard?”

Vera looked up at the rider. “I am. Is something the matter?”

The rider's expression visibly relaxed.

Switching the reins to his other hand, he turned slightly and pointed back down the road. “Wonderful. My master will be here shortly. He would like to invite you all to travel together.”

Rosie looked in the direction he pointed.

Further back on the road, a four-wheeled carriage was approaching.

Vera turned her head toward Rosie.

Rosie glanced over the carriage, then smiled lightheartedly. “Works out nicely—we get to hitch a ride.”

Vera looked back and nodded to the rider. “Then thank you for the invitation.”

Under the driver's control, the carriage pulled up smoothly and stopped before them.

Turning his horse around, the rider approached the carriage and said, “Master, the members of the Dawnguard have accepted your invitation.”

The door opened from within, and a figure leaned out.

It was a chubby middle-aged man wearing a dark suede coat, a warm smile on his face that clearly had been honed by years of trade.

“Honored guests, please step inside for a chat.”

Without hesitation, Rosie stepped onto the carriage footboard first and bent down to climb inside.

Vera followed right after her.

As Balu was about to follow, one foot already on the step, Rosie leaned her head out of the window. “Balu, you ride in front.”

Balu grunted in agreement without any objection.

He pulled back his foot, climbed up onto the driver's bench, set the pack by his feet, and sat beside the coachman.

The coachman shifted over slightly to make room for him.

The door closed.

The interior of the carriage was somewhat more spacious than it appeared from the outside.

The seats were arranged facing each other in two rows, lined with dark suede cushions trimmed with fine piping along the edges.

The plump man sat on the far seat, his broad frame occupying nearly the entire row.

Once the two women took their seats opposite him, he adjusted his posture to sit up a bit straighter.

“I am Jerald. It is a pleasure to meet heroes of the Dawnguard.”

Vera smiled faintly. “Hello, Mr. Jerald. I am Vera of the Dawnguard, and this is my companion, Rosie. Outside is Balu.”

With a soft call from the driver, the carriage set off slowly, the interior swaying gently as it moved.

Jerald rested his hands on his knees. “Fair ladies, I am a merchant from the city of Hiyota in the Kingdom of Redian. I hold deep admiration for the Dawnguard, which is why I presumed to invite you to travel together.”

Vera offered a few polite responses.

The two began conversing.

Rosie sat beside Vera without chiming in.

She was a novice adventurer who had yet to figure out how many kingdoms existed on this continent, what factions there were, or how those factions related to one another.

When others were speaking, she preferred to gather information first.

After chatting for a while, the merchant shifted the topic, asking in a slightly secretive tone, “I wonder if Miss Vera is familiar with Stratholme?”

Vera remained calm and unruffled. “A bit. I heard Stratholme suffered a plague and was quarantined by Norman Knights. Did something happen?”

“The Norman royal family ordered Stratholme burned to the ground. They say everyone in the city is dead.”

Jerald lowered his voice slightly, his eyes lingering on Vera's and Rosie's faces in turn.

“But that's not even the worst of it. Word is that when they destroyed Stratholme, they even used dark magic.”

Vera feigned surprise. “Dark magic? But that is strictly forbidden.”

Jerald leaned back against his seat and spread his hands. “In a remote backwater like the Kingdom of Norman, who would bother to enforce it?”

The carriage wheel rolled over a protruding stone, sending a soft jolt through the cabin.

Vera directed a scrutinizing gaze at the merchant's face. “How do you know about such a well-kept secret, Mr. Jerald?”

Jerald chuckled softly.

“Because I am a merchant... and a merchant must be well-informed, mustn't he?”

Vera did not immediately reply.

She stared at the merchant's face with a calm gaze, neither looking away nor probing further.

Rosie's eyes paused on the merchant's face before moving to Vera's.

A brief silence settled over the carriage cabin.

Jerald cleared his throat, breaking the silence.

Rubbing his hands together, he put on a slightly embarrassed expression. “Well, actually... there is a small favor I would like to ask of you.”

Vera did not avert her gaze. “What favor?”

Rosie narrowed her eyes slightly.

Here it comes.

Unsolicited favors usually mean ulterior motives.

Having a request actually made this feel normal.

Jerald looked back and forth between the two quickly before settling his gaze on Vera's face.

His tone turned earnest. “I want my second son, Henry, to join the Dawnguard.”