The sun was beating down heavily on the dusty roads. At the horizon one could see the slowly meandering river moving, a small rim of palms and plants along speaking of shade and relief but up here the wind was relentless and scorching. A few vendors had set up shop at this small crossroads in the borderlands. It was not quite clear if this was still the Turchinan Exclave of Thurmatia or already the northern reaches of Muragenn, but of the shady traders that met here it did not really matter. The crossroads was Turchinan if a patrol of the Republic was close, and it was Muragenn when Riders of the Kaiser where close. Both cases send the Traders away in time to not be confronted by either. Dromedaries and Camels where chewing lazily. And chained men where sitting in what small shadow there was.

"Could I interest you in something to drink, perhaps? Some tea, or Muran delicacies?" Asked Dommak, a tall merchant in spices. "Our people are famous for our sweetmeats."

Agostino Maestri was looking at him stroking his chin beard. The short, beige clad turchinan smiled. "Your people are infamous for the tasting of other meats too." He said jokingly, but his face betrayed no ill will. "May I have a look at the merchandise?"

"Certainly. Such is the right of an interested buyer. Boberto! Get me my things!" A naked man standing behind Dommak rushed off, and returned with two others. All three were carrying large bags. They set them down with a loud thud, then dropped to the ground themselves. "Who said you could sit?" Dommak shouted angrily. They all scrambled to their feet and began muttering apologies in their Surani tongue. Dommak then turned back to the merchant. "Forgive this slight, my good sir. They have not had a thorough disciplining for too long."

Agostino raised an eyebrow at that, as opposed to most Turchinans he was not entirely opposed to holding slaves, often he had bought men himself, for his Plantations and Fabricoriums but the way the Southerners treated their own slaves was still after all these years distatefull to him. Well probably the other man would consider the Maestri way of holding men as far to soft and spoiling them, thus was the way of the world.
With an experienced Eye he set about looking at the wares. inspecting grain and colour licking a finger full, nodding. "This is fine material, I like the colour and the taste is satisfactory too. How much can you sell?"

"That depends. How much do you want?" Dommak asked, chuckling. "But enough with business for now. Boberto! Bring my esteemed guest some tea! Quickly, or I'll have you flogged!"

Agostino gave a weary look at that, oh these barbarian southerners, not much different from the timlucks at times. "You honour me." He nodded at his own two bodyguards who relaxed just a little. "So how was the track down from the mountains? I hear one of the oasis has been plundered? "

"Oh yes, it was terrible. They burned the entire pak plantation, and killed all the slaves. If you ask me, His Excellency the Kaiser doesn't keep a good enough eye on his own men." Boberto returned, bringing with him a teapot and two cups and setting it down on the table. Dommak took the pot and poured the thick, rich brew, first into Agnostino's then his own. "All things are better with tea, no? Especially business."

Agostino nodded at that, "It grants the time and peace of mind to properly think about business and get to know your opposite, which helps coming to fair trades so yes. Also it honours both Traders, so there is that. So you only sell normal Stonesalt? Or can you organise Potash too? I know some of the mines have deposits of it too, and it is highly sought after at our plantations."

"Perhaps. We have salts in all forms. It would be little trouble to obtain some. Now, let us talk of value. I have been dreading this, for it causes bad emotions and disharmony, but in our line of work it is inevitable. What say you to twenty thousand Turchinans?" Dommak sighed.

Agostino made a surprised face, two can play at this game. "Did you hide a caravan of 50 Camels somewhere around here? In the name of the Saint, I could buy you and everything you own for that amount. Do not insult me, you have how much 50 sacks? No, we are talking about maybe 50 sacks you have here which would mean maybe one thousand at current price. Granted the price will go up due to the oasis, and no one can say I am not generous so make that one thousand and one hundred Fiorin."

"One thousand One hundred Turchinans? I pray to God that you are mistaken. Please, take the time to look at it's superior quality, it's fine grindwork. How about we drop it to eighteen thousand and call it there?"

"That may all be true, but we are not at the Great Palazzo in Turchina, but here out in the no where. My ships do not sail for free, my horses and camels need to eat, my workers and sailors ditto. No, no this will not do at all. thousand eighthundred, because you have shown me hospitality but that is what I can pay you."

"Well, I do enjoy a good jest as much as the next man, but please. Trade and humor simply do not mix. Does fifteen thousand sound about fair?"

"I agree, maybe I am mistaken here I was asuming we are talking only about the salt, why did you not say that you want to sell your animals too! Then we are slowly coming to realistic prices. A dozen Thousand with all your Camels and one of your slaves. Does that sound better?"

"As appealing as that may sound, my workforce is indispensable. You cannot expect a good Muran to part with his greatest resource. I offer ten thousand for my salts and one slave in a show of goodwill."

"That would be fair if you treated your slaves, properly like we civilized Turchinans do, but alas you treat them worse than I treat my dogs and it shows. They are broken wretched beings, and I would have to invest a lot to make them halfway useable. No, no. five thousand must do, and two of your slaves."

"My slaves are strong, and can take a good beating. However, we are both civilized men, loyal to the One True Faith. Surely we are not incabable of seeing eye to eye. My final offer is six thousand five hundred in exchange for my salt and two slaves, if you don't mind a humble trader starving."

"If the times were saver and I could count on seeing you again, and making business another time I'd mind but like this I am fine with this." he snapped his finger and one of his men threw him quite a huge bag of coins. "Feel free to count it at your laisure. We can inspect the salt once we are done with the tea."

Dommak clapped his hands, and Boberto picked up the bag and staggered away, out of sight. "I wish you prosperous trade in the years to come, good sir." He said, sipping the last of his tea.

Agostino did the same, smirking. If Dommak had known that he was not just any Turchinan merchant. It always made him giddy to go out incognito from his great plantations.

(Conceived and executed with [@Hygswitch])

[hider=Summary]
A Turchina merchant and a Muran merchant haggle over the price of salt and slaves
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