The Collapsing Tunnel - Chapter 3

 

3 –Tesh – The Grand Market

As an apprentice rope-maker, Tesh Varu Dagan helps to lay out the items that they carried from the Two Forges School to the Grand Market. His master, Varu-Gashki, hangs up a couple of nets and then fastens overhead ropes so items for trade can hang. Tesh unrolls the sample trade goods and ensures that the stock items are properly rolled and tagged.

He listens to the chatter of the Bimkor market kids as they share gossip faster than the elders.

“Silent ones caught two stone sniffer cross-border, down-below.”

“Trussed ‘em like spider food, I heard.”

“Runner says one of us got hurt down below, too.”

“Border down-below or Deep-deep?”

“Deep-deep.”

“Who and how?”

“A hairy-bear Bimkor crushed by stones”

“Not a Half-heat?”

“No. Runner says he still breathes.”

“Must be a big hairy bear.”

“Mosek.”

 Tesh stops checking the stock and looks for the speakers. He is about to leave the stall when Varu stops him. “Where are you going? We’re not done preparing, and the market opens soon.”

He wants to explain what he overheard, but realizes his Master is right. As an apprentice on Market Day, it is his turn to learn and practice the skills of trading and exchange. Everyone in the school does it. Spinning, braiding, and weaving are done at the School, and trading is done at the Market.

“Yes, Master Varu. You are correct. I was distracted by the gossip of the runners. I won’t let it happen again.”

Once the Market opens, there is a mixture of voices. Mishikwe, Durask, and “Market Speak”. Tesh wishes he were a runner again. Then he’d know the latest rumors, but his place is in the stall.

An old goblin, with the earthy reek of damp fungus, walks up to Varu and begins making hand gestures. Tesh moves closer and says in Mishikwe, “There is no need for the old trade language. We speak the words of the Children of Bruna.” But the old goblin glances at Tesh, wrinkles his nose, and focuses on his non-verbal discussion with Master Varu.

Tesh is used to dwarves looking at his mixed-blood heritage as ‘impure,’ but not goblins. Regardless, he steps back and waits for Master Varu to tell him what to do. Soon, the elderly goblin holds out small bags of dried powders. Master Varu examines samples of each one, then nods silently and makes a number of hand and arm gestures. Finally, they both clasp arms.

“Tesh, he gets one net and two of the short coils.”

“Yes, Master,” he replies, pulling a net from the cave wall and then removing two red-tagged rope coils, using the shears to cut the tags. Handing them over to the elderly goblin, he says in his most polite tones, “May the blessings of Bruna be on you as you return home.”

Silently, he nods, but still has that look of uneasiness at being so close to a Naawaii-wakwan. A moment later, Varu quietly strokes his intricately braided beard and says, “Tesh, don’t take it personally. They rarely leave the swamps and almost never see your kind. Let me show you the rare dyes he brought.” Varu shows him a small pinch of each: The Wahkom Blue, Miskwa Red, Mashk Brown, and Zhingwa Purple. Each is highly valued by the weavers and cloth merchants. A valuable exchange, benefiting the whole school.  Master Varu locks them in a storage trunk.

The rest of the morning is less exciting. Dwarves are buying ropes with gold.

“Master Varu. Do you think most of them were miners?” he asks after selling his fifth coil of rope.

“My young apprentice, we are not to judge who we trade with, are we? Isn’t dwarf coinage as useful to use as goblin-traded goods?”

“Of course, Master, but after the news this morning about stone-sniffers, I mean miners who were captured by scouts…”

“Tesh. Don’t worry yourself. We craft fine items and exchange them at the market. We don’t worry who uses them.”

Tesh has heard this before. “Don’t judge. Don’t assume. Don’t fear.”

 It isn’t until the Market pauses for Mid-Bite that Tesh hears how Mosek was hurt and had to have a “binder-of-skin” heal him. If he were a runner, he could visit Hairy Old Bear, but he’s no longer a child. He has responsibilities. The large tables are pushed to the center of the market space, and food is set out. Varu and Tesh unwrap the platters of “Fry-Flats” they kept covered at the back of the stall until now. They also place their personal bowls and carved utensils on the table. Tesh hands the platters to the other merchants.

When he was a child, he would have taken a fry-flat fresh off the plate, but now he has to wait until they come back around to get one. A hot earthenware pot of Stone stew is passed around, and he quickly ladles some into his bowl. A pot of warm root-tea also makes the rounds, and Tesh unfolds his waxed cloth cup. Varu uses an old stoneware mug, but most of the cloth-craft apprentices use their handmade cups as a sign of their skill in crafting and proof to their masters that they can make something that can even hold liquid. When all have filled their plates or bowls, the Bimkor Mid-Bite Caller offers a blessing of thanks to the workers who prepared the meal that they will share. Dwarven merchants make the sign of Durn while Goblin traders tap out blessings of Bruna. Then they all eat.

As bowls are emptied and platters are passed, news and rumors are shared. Tesh keeps listening for news on Mosek.

“You look disturbed, my apprentice. What weighs on you?” Master Varu-Gashki asks Tesh.

“Master, I heard that the old trader Mosek was gravely hurt. I wish I knew more.”

Varu lifts his mug and slowly sips his tea. “He’s a good man. I’ve known him for years, too. He’s carried many of the School’s goods to both the Clan strongholds and the Deep-deep. But if he’s being tended by a Mihkwa, he’s under the best care he can receive.”

Tesh looks sadly at his cloth cup and the texture of its tight weave. “I just wish I could help.”

“When we return to Two Forges, spend time at the loom, and weave bindings and clean wraps. We will send them the Deep-deep. That way, if fresh bandages are needed, you’ve supplied them. Does that help?”

Tesh thinks about it for a moment. As a child, he would have yelled and cried, ‘But he’s my friend. I want to go to him.’ But he understands the meaning of his master’s words. So, he softly smiles. “Thank you, Master. When we finish, I’d like that. Yes. I want to be helpful any way I can.”