The traders arrived just after midmorning.
They did not march.
They did not announce themselves with horns or banners.
They came the way money always did—quietly, confidently, already assuming they would be allowed inside.
Liam stood near the outer gate as the Rathmore caravan rolled into view along the northern road. Six wagons, well-maintained but not flashy. Pack animals calm. Guards alert without being aggressive. Trade seals hung openly from the lead wagon, the sigil unmistakable even at a distance.
Rathmore.
Sun Tzu stood at Liam's side, eyes unreadable. "Notice the spacing," he murmured. "They're not here to intimidate. They're here to be remembered."
Leonidas watched from the training yard, the Shield Core formation pausing briefly before resuming drills. Shields locked. Rotations smooth. No wasted movement. If the traders were watching—and they were—this was exactly what Liam wanted them to see.
Orin arrived from the barracks, spear grounded, posture firm. Lira joined moments later, calm and composed. They stopped beside Liam without discussion, presenting a united front that was not accidental.
The traders halted a respectful distance from the gate. One man stepped forward, older than the rest, his clothes practical but expensive in subtle ways. He smiled easily, palms open.
"I am Halvek of Rathmore," he said. "A trader by charter and contract. We seek permission to conduct business and restock supplies."
Liam studied him for a moment too long.
"You came a long way for a village that didn't invite you," Liam said.
Halvek's smile didn't falter. "Trade favors initiative.
"Yeah," Liam replied flatly. "So do parasites."
Sun Tzu coughed once.
Halvek blinked, then chuckled lightly, as if Liam had told a joke that skirted the edge of offense. "I assure you, Chief…?"
"Liam," he said. "Just Liam."
"Chief Liam," Halvek corrected politely. "We bring coin, not chains."
"Everyone says that."
The guards behind Halvek stiffened slightly. Orin's grip tightened. Lira's expression remained calm, but her eyes sharpened.
Sun Tzu stepped in smoothly. "Ridgebrook welcomes trade conducted in good faith. Our chief values honesty."
Halvek inclined his head. "As do we."
The caravan was allowed inside under supervision. Villagers gathered at a distance, eyes flicking between the wagons and the Shield Core drilling nearby. Goods were displayed—salt, cloth, metal tools, preserved food. Nothing extravagant. Everything useful.
As negotiations began, Halvek spoke easily about roads, safety, and supply capacity. His questions were casual, but Sun Tzu caught every angle.
"How many hands work your fields?"
"How often do monsters trouble the roads?"
"Your population seems… healthy."
Liam answered selectively. Enough truth to be plausible. Enough omission to stay safe.
At one point, Halvek gestured vaguely eastward. "Trade has been difficult lately. Routes delayed. Contracts suspended."
Sun Tzu's eyes flicked to him. "Because of the war."
Halvek sighed, the sound practiced. "Yes. Rathmore's attention is… occupied."
"Which kingdom?" Liam asked.
Halvek smiled thinly. "One that will not matter when it ends."
That answer said more than any name could have.
Liam leaned back slightly. "So you're here because Rathmore's busy bleeding somewhere else."
The guards stiffened again.
Halvek raised a hand calmly. "Because trade must continue, even during war. Especially during war."
Sun Tzu spoke quietly. "And because villages not tied down now become options later."
Halvek's eyes flicked to Sun Tzu, sharp for just a moment, then softened again. "You have an astute advisor."
Liam snorted. "He never shuts up."
Sun Tzu ignored him.
As the talks continued, Halvek's gaze wandered—not rudely, but deliberately. He noted the Shield Core formation. The discipline. The lack of panic. The way villagers moved with purpose instead of fear.
"You train often," Halvek remarked.
"Monsters don't care about trade agreements," Liam replied.
"Nor do armies," Halvek said mildly.
That earned him a longer look from Leonidas across the yard.
At midday, the traders broke for a meal. No alcohol. No excess. Liam watched them from a distance, unease crawling under his skin.
He reached for the Ledger again, thumb brushing the edge.
[NEXT SUMMON: 25 DAYS]
Time moved forward whether he liked it or not.
Sun Tzu joined him quietly. "They are not here to threaten us."
"No," Liam said. "They're here to remember us.
"And to report," Sun Tzu added. "Rathmore is distracted by war. That gives us time."
"How much?"
Sun Tzu's lips thinned. "Months. Perhaps a year. When that war ends, their attention will return."
"And then?"
"Then Ridgebrook must be too valuable to crush and too strong to ignore."
Liam exhaled slowly. "No pressure."
In the afternoon, Orin and Lira deliberately walked the market path together, visible to the traders. No affection. No hostility. Just presence. Halvek noticed. Of course he did.
"Your people are… loyal," he remarked later.
"They know where they stand," Liam replied.
"And you?" Halvek asked lightly.
Liam smiled without warmth. "Same place."
As the sun dipped low, the traders prepared to leave, wagons rolling back toward the road. Halvek paused before departing.
"We will return," he said. "With larger caravans. When the war allows."
Liam met his gaze. "Bring fair prices."
Halvek smiled. "Bring stability."
The wagons disappeared into the trees, leaving behind coin, questions, and the quiet certainty that Ridgebrook had been noticed by something far larger than itself.
That night, Liam stood at the edge of the village again, Orin on one side, Lira on the other. Campfires glowed in the distance where the traders had been.
Rathmore was at war.
And when that war ended, Ridgebrook would be waiting.
——
A/N
To everyone who has stayed with this story until this point—thank you. Truly. Every chapter you've read, every moment you've spent following these characters, is something I don't take lightly. Writing may feel like a lonely journey at times, but knowing that there are readers out there waiting, imagining, and feeling alongside the story makes it all worth it. Your time is precious, and the fact that you chose to give some of it to this novel is the greatest encouragement an author could ask for.
This story exists because of you. The excitement, the tension, the theories, even the silent readers who never comment—I see you, and I appreciate you more than words can properly express. I'll continue to do my best to make every chapter worthy of your support.
Before you go, I have a small request, please comment your favorite historical figures that you'd love to see added into the story. Your ideas might shape what comes next. ❤️