Serialized Pulp Novel: The Rogue and the Merchants (Part 18)

Here is serial 18 of my pulp novel, The Rogue and the Merchants. As usual, here is a link to the full transcription, thus far, if you want to know more about the project, the source of the manuscript, or the story of the novel's genesis. Also, all of the illustrations I've been composing are there as well: Pulp Novel Project: The Rogue and the Merchants

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Pages transcribed: 6 ; wordcount: 7158

Shortly after this conversation the Rogue left the village with five warriors. He had little difficulty play-acting surprise when he came upon his horse, which was terrified, having had spent the night alone. It took only a few hours to meander out of the canyon to where the merchants had bivouacked for the night. When he could see the merchant camp in the distance, he stopped to consult with the warriors.

Although he could not speak their language, he was able to communicate with them, after a fashion. Their leader, the son of the graybeard--his name was Ah'gatar--was very intelligent and understood the Rogue's non-verbal signs with no some skill. Through various hand gestures, facial expressions, and noises, he told the wolf-cloak warrior that the merchants might be threatened by such an a war party as they seemed to be. The Rogue suggested that the five spear wielding warriors should stay back and allow him to approach his comrades alone.

The wolf-cloak seemed to assent, and the warriors, shrugging, sat down on rocks and began chattering away, passing their liquor filled bladders back and forth.

The sun was at full height when the Rogue strode into the camp. He was greeted by one of the younger merchants, by the name of Pej. This one's face was pale and his eyes were wide with fright, bloodshot, and trembling insanely.

"Thank Evyat you've returned!" he said, proclaiming the name of one of the many gods of Tabun Stoh. He fell to ground and grasped the Rogue by the calves. "They killed three of us! The monsters! I watched the entire horrible display, had to listen to their gargling screams as they were dragged into the darkness! All I found were their still-steaming innards strewn about!"

The Rogue, horrified and disgusted by the outburst and Pej's lack of composure, recoiled with a hiss. Reflexively, his hand went to his blade.

"Back away, Paj!" the Rogue shouted above the man's blatherings. "Give me room and silence, and then tell me the story like a sane-person, you fear-drunken fool!"