I recollect myself as much as I can, trying to hide my embarra.s.sment even just slightly."Ah, yes. I just, just like to establish my bottom lines. Especially the part about protecting Elyn over myself. I a.s.sume the girls in the parties will be capable of helping with that. I will mention though that she doesn"t understand this language properly as she only knows the language from our homeland."
With a few nods of agreement we leave the courtyard and start writing up contracts, the guild does most of the writing. Making sure there are rules set so they can"t attack or rob me or Elyn, that they can flee if I take them to a significantly dangerous place and I ignore their warnings among many other small rules. Both of the party leaders and I sign a copy causing a small glowing chain to briefly appear from the contract towards one of each persons wrist who was included in the contract, as if binding them to it.
Along with a long note written by Loreena we now are prepared for travel. I can"t help feel a bit unprepared and uninformed, but I"ll take my chances away from the dangerous woman, apparently named Ilmilmis. I make sure to have bought a cart along with two horses and some valuable goods I saw on notices in the guild as being harder to obtain. Apparently people value a herb called Pudina Milfoil which is used in healing along with Hard Tulips which are more common but less effective as a subst.i.tute.
Pudina Milfoil is usually found in swamps but there was apparently one up north in a more dangerous area, the plants have spiny leaves which are usually collected for potions.
Harp Tulips on the other hand are harvested for their buds, which are harvested at nighttime when the flower is asleep they told me. Apparently it also has a mild laxative effect which Elyn laughed at a bit when I explained it to her.
We head the only way we can safely which is south, towards greater civilisation. Heading to a place with more people also gives me a chance to learn what I need in regards to continents that the guild didn"t mention. According to the guild only 6 nations exist in the world, which confused me for a second. Either these people have been hidden from the outside world for a very long time, or this isn"t my world. I"m starting to believe the latter.
I make sure to buy a few of the wrapped eggs since Elyn liked them so much, the man at the store even gave me one of the spices he was using that Elyn enjoyed.
"Hey, Elyn. What food do you think you want once we reach a larger city?"
"I want the large fish, I miss the fish you used to buy on a Friday along with those chips, do they have chips? I also want more sweets, why aren"t there sweets Emmie? Do people not get to eat sweets here? Why can"t we make people some? People look unhappy do they not have enough sweets, why can"t we give them any?"
"I"m sure if we try we could make and sell sweets to people, when we reach a place with more people do you want to try it? I"ll let you taste test before we sell them to people."
"But what about the other kids? Don"t they get sweet things? If you sell them then won"t the adults steal them?"
"I"m sure we can sell some to children, if you don"t eat them all that is."
In response to her pouting at my comment, I laugh to myself as we finish buying the food and other supplies needed. On the pretence of having a servant usually prepare for my travel I got enough help from Loreena about what to take and what routes are better towards Undam, the capital.
I still feel a little embarra.s.sed at my lack of knowledge, so I make sure to ask a larger number of questions before I leave, having the answers noted down for me to carry which is the paper I was carrying all day, trying to remember the replies and answers I was given.
Surprisingly enough though, only one person; one of the girls we hired for protection, was able to recognise the language I was talking to Elyn in. The girl referred to it as "magic language" as her teacher taught her a few words in it. It looks like no one in the guild or elsewhere could understand what I was saying, or notice anything wrong with it besides not understanding it.
Through experimenting, I learnt I was able to switch which language I was using as long as I focus on a person it switches to something they can understand. A useful but awkward ability since it stills feels like I"m talking normally.
So with the 15 guards, a large cart and two horses pulling it along with weeks worth of supplies and trade goods, we head out.