7 Chapter 7 Dreams (1/2)

”That map Hugh gave you was pretty expensive!” Joseph said, glancing at the small tube hanging on his father's belt that contained the rolled map.

”It was, but I wasn't paying for the map,” his father explained.

”Huh? What do you mean?”

”I was paying for his willingness to do something that not many people would do. I was paying him for possibly getting in trouble if anyone else saw that map. The political situation in the three kingdoms right now are a little rocky, so if any of the kings currently in charge get their hands on this particular map, a war could easily break out. Normally, us merchants only get to see a generic map, that may or may not be correct, of the current kingdom we are in, and then we would have to travel to the next kingdom to see a map of it.”

Joseph nodded in understanding. With the details Hugh had placed in his maps, he could easily see generals using them to maneuver troops.

”Why might there be a war?” Joseph thought about his mother. If he was traveling with his father, and war broke out, the borders would be closed and he might not be able to visit his mother in six months, like they had planned.

”Normally the three kingdoms would have kids that could be married to each other, for example, Rathwold might have a daughter that could be married to a son from Sedonia, and then a daughter from Sedonia could be married to Oxalium, and so on. However, this time, they all had sons. Not one daughter was born. So, tensions are getting pretty high. The oldest child is only ten, so we probably have another five years or so before things get nasty, but it's not looking good at the moment.”

”Wow.”

”Exactly.”

They continued on to the caravan that was waiting for them. Over the past week Joseph had gotten new clothes from his father that matched his own, and he was now wearing them proudly. Everyone who saw them in matching clothes would smile. Joseph had heard the word cute a few too many times, but he didn't care.

They were preparing to head to his father's next stop. As the children slaves reached certain milestones and ages, they were moved from the caravan to places his father had set up. The place they were heading to next was called Town 4. When questioned on why it was a number instead of a name, William explained that he didn't have the status to be able to set up a real town. He could buy estates as a merchant, so he had purchased large estates and then had many buildings built. Each location was set up as a self-sufficient town, capable of teaching his slaves to a certain point, then they would be moved along to the next 'town'.

”If I were to have my own kingdom, you could provide a lot of people, couldn't you dad?” Joseph asked while they traveled.

His father glanced at him, thoughtfully mulling over his answer.

”I have a lot of slaves. What happens to them, after they are sold, is up to the new owner. As long as those slaves are not mistreated, I don't mind what is done with them.”

Joseph understood that his father didn't want to expose their secret. He felt bad for his choice of words, but knew that anyone who overheard him, would automatically a.s.sume it was nothing more than the rambling thoughts of a child.

Nodding in understanding he asked, ”Do you have any slaves capable of doing magic?”

”It is very hard to have slaves capable of doing magic, but it is not unheard of. The few that I have were very expensive to be trained. I have one at the next location that does food magic, three who do some form of healing magic and one who can do fire.”

”I would very much like to learn magic.” Joseph looked at his father long enough to make sure he understood the implications.