Serialized Pulp Novel: The Rogue and the Merchants (Part 2)

Below is Serial #2 of my pulp novel, The Rogue and the Merchants. Here is a link to the full transcription thus far: The Rogue and the Merchants

The Rogue had been traveling with the merchants for three days now, and, truth be told, he liked them. Although he was technically their slave, they treated him with respect and an amount of deference. It was obvious he was the only fighting man among them, and that he was skilled with a blade. He had demonstrated his fighting ability on the auction block. They were city-bred and they were anxious at being outside of the comforts of civilization. Although the rogue knew how to navigate the complexities of a city very well--he was a rogue, after all--he felt most comfortable in the wilderness. The majority of his long life had been spent in the wilderness and on the road. And part of his nature felt most at home sleeping on damp ground, eating game meat that he himself had felled, cleaned, and cooked.

The merchants took his advice on many things. On where to set up their camps, on which mushrooms to eat, on how best to prepare this or that fish. In a week's time, they grew to rely on him. Brol and the Rogue actually became good friends.