The Fifth Beast (ManxMan Chinese/Celtic Fantasy Story)

Chapter 24

The merchant Elatha Mac Lir chose to carry out the plan was named Fergus. He had some experience of trading in the North and could even speak the Kirinches' language. Niall planned to learn as much as possible of the language during his journey. The merchant also had a young and rather attractive son, whom Elatha demanded as a hostage. Niall barely suppressed a smile. Yeah, a hostage, right. Such a hostage wouldn't want to leave the castle once Niall was safely back.

Elatha came to the merchant's house in person, accompanied by armed guards and a veiled Niall. They didn't bother too much with a new name for him, he was now called Finn — "White". Niall spent a few days learning to respond to that name, follow orders, and overall behave in accordance with the role of a slave. It was not easy. The arrogant manners of a Tuatha Dé lord and a castle owner were so habitual to him, as if he had been born this way. It was especially difficult to keep his mouth shut and not utter a word until he was spoken to.

He felt strange as he followed Elatha into the merchant's living room and stood silently at the door. He almost folded his arms and leaned against the wall, but checked himself and assumed a modest pose befitting a mortal.

Elatha began the conversation by ordering "Finn" to take off the veil. Niall took it off and bowed, hoping the bow was low enough. Why didn't he pay attention before to how slaves and servants behaved? If he did, he could now play his role more convincingly. However, he would get away with a little bit of arrogance, he was a privileged slave, a special one. There, Fergus even stepped back and turned pale, after one glance at "Finn" without his veil.

"As you might know, the Steward of the North, Lord of Lightning Niall Mac Nechtan came to visit me in my castle," Elatha said, unperturbed. "So it happens that I need to quickly get rid of this useful, but somewhat unusual acquisition. I bought him from Ailill Mac Rossa only half a year ago, and paid rather handsomely. I really hope you can at least reimburse my expenses by selling him in the North. No living soul should know about it."

The merchant fell to his knees, assuring the lord of his complete obedience.

Niall was once again convinced that the decision to turn to Elatha for help was the right one. He conducted business like an experienced schemer. He even managed to convince Fergus that the reason for sending Finn to the North was not only to get the money back and to get rid of an inconvenient slave, but also for some secret assignment, in which Fergus should help Finn. The merchant should treat Finn as a slave only in public, while in private he should carry out all his orders. They discussed the price of the slave, the fee for the service, the guards, the duration of the journey, and Niall noted with some surprise that Elatha did business not only as a good schemer, but also as a good merchant.

Niall's plan, or rather, his joint plan with Elatha, began to unfold at an alarming pace. From Ynis Celt Castle supplies and goods for sale were brought in and loaded onto a ship, and the ship was put to sea even before dawn. Niall, wrapped in a veil, in a slave collar, in a cheap short tunic and coarse trousers, sat in the stern among bags and boxes and tried to comprehend what he was getting himself into and how much chance he had of success.

At least, to the northern port of Anzhou the ship got very quickly: the Lord of Water clearly kept his promise to speed it up with his magic. Fergus sold some of the goods, bought more slaves to divert attention from his single one, and hired a guide/translator from the half-breeds, of which there were plenty in the port. A self-respecting Kirinch warrior would never work for the merchants from the south in any other capacity than a guard, and even that for a lot of money, the talkative Fergus explained.

Niall was delighted with the translator. He had already memorized all fifty words from the merchant's repertoire, and it was no strain for his good memory. Now he was eager to continue his studies. There was nothing to do anyway: a valuable privileged slave, of course, could neither unload the goods nor accompany the merchant to the shops.

Not that Niall really wanted to. He did not like Anzhou, although he hardly saw the city, remaining locked up in the inn. What was there to look at — warehouses? markets? docks? inns? The fool-blooded barbarians were few. Kirinches didn't particularly respect trade, although they allowed merchants to come to Khanbaliq. Niall had time to think how unusual it was to meet the Yuizhen of the Kirinches in Airenn. It was understandable why he kept his name and title a secret.