8. Village Life

Novum walked to within sight of the gates and stopped. He was not sure how big it was but wall was bigger then he figured it would be. He made sure and kept his hand away from his sword as he continued on down the trail. As he got closer two guards came out a little ways to stop him. He was a stranger and therefore a threat. Novum did not change his pace but kept an ear out for instructions.

"That is far enough. What brings you to our area?"

"I was traveling through the area and this man burst into my camp bleeding. I tried to help him but the wolf was right behind him. By the time I killed the wolf it was to late." Novum shifted a little so that the guards could see the bodies.

The older of the two guards headed towards him and waved the other guard to stay put. If this man attacked he would have help close by. The guard watched Novum out of the corner of his eye but he had a feeling that he was not going to be any trouble. He grabbed the hair on the man's head and lifted it up so he could see his face. "Chris, local poacher."

"If he was poaching then I feel bad for killing the wolf."

"Don't be. There is a bounty on this wolf as well. He was not poaching the wolf but actually hired to kill it. I don't know what the bounty is but talk to the mayor. It is a direct one from him and not the city."

"So I am clear to enter?"

"Don't see why not. Derek get up here. What is your name by the way?"

"Novum. And yours?"

"Tom. Derek take Mr. Novum here straight to the mayor and and then come back."

"Yes sir. Mr. Novum this way." Derek turned and headed into the village.

"Thanks Tom." He gave the man a nod of his head and followed along behind Derek. As he looked around he could see that a lot of the people were dirty. Not dirty like they could not bathe but dirty as in everything was covered in dirt. It appeared to be a mining town. He was getting quite a few looks as he walked through town in his heavy armor leading a horse with a body. Most of them were looks of caution and fear but a few of them had looks of lust. This town was only so big and everyone knew everyone.

The area was starting to have less dust in the air and the buildings were getting just a little bigger. The young guard finally stopped in front of a huge, by the village's standards, building. He walked right in and Novum could hear him talking and then out he came. "Some one will be out in a minute to talk to you. I am headed back now."

"Thank you Derek." The guard stopped and looked at him and then remembered Tom had said his name. He gave Novum a nod and then took off at a jog towards the gate.

A man pushing 50 came out the door. He was starting to gray around his ears and a small gut had started to develop but Novum could tell this man earned his title through sweat and tears not his last name. "Good day visitor. I see you come with mixed news. Well more good than bad in my opinion. Hated the wolf and Chris was not an easy man to deal with. I am Greg the village mayor."

"Novum. Was just traveling through the area and," he waved his hand at his horse, "well here we are."

The mayor looked at Novum and he was a little concerned. He was not sure he could have taken him in his prime. There was something different about this one. He was young but he had the look in his eyes that he had seen war. "Well I was going to pay Chris ten gold for the wolf so would you be willing to settle for that?"

"Were you buying the wolf or paying to have it killed?"

"Paying to have it killed. Why?"

"I might have charged a little more if you wanted the body. So yeah I will take the ten."

"Outstanding. Here you are." He pulled the gold out of his pouch and passed it to him. "If you don't mind a few streets down you will see the church. If you would leave the body there, they will take care of it. And after you do what you plan to do with the wolf if you would please stop back by I have some business to discuss with you."

"Then I will see you soon." Novum gave the man a bow of his head and went in the direction of the church. It did not take him long to find the church and a young man outside saw the body went inside and came out with a shovel. It appeared he had done this a time or two. A man not a lot older than Novum walked out.

"It appears the wolf got another pour soul."

Novum shifted the horse. "Well it will be the last one for this particular wolf."

The priest was a little shocked but said nothing about it. About that time two more young men came out with a stretcher and Novum pulled the body down and put it on the stretcher for them. The priest walked over and said a short prayer over the body. When he was done he turned back to Novum. "Thank you stranger for returning one of our own." With that he turned and headed back towards the church.

Novum gave the air a sniff and he could smell fire and the funny smell that went with tanning hides and headed that way. He saw a shop with leather pelts drawn on the sign and figured that was the place to go. He tied Noctis a store down the street so that the wolf was not visible and headed for the shop. Novum looked over each and every pelt and checked the prices. He was not sure the price of leather in the area and did not want to get ripped off. He used his knowledge as a hunter and identified almost every pelt and matched the price to it. Now he had an idea of what to charge for his wolf.

A man was sitting behind the counter and did not jump up and run to him when he walked it. This guy was very hands off and did not care if you bought anything or not. He was the only place with this quality and his low end stuff while higher in price than average but way better in quality.

"What can I do for you young man?"

"What are you offering for wolf pelts right now?"

"As you can see I have a lot of wolf pelts so the price is not very high right now."

"Nine of of the ten pieces that you have labeled as wolf are actually coyote and the small wolf pelt you have is not in very good shape. So what are you offering for a fresh in tact wolf pelt?"

"How fresh and how intact?"

"This morning and the only wound is where you would cut to skin it anyways."

"Oh then bring it too me and I will give you great price for it. Real wolf in great shape is really hard to find. Is the wolf in tact or just the pelt?"

"I brought the whole thing." Novum saw money dancing in the man's eyes and knew that it was good.

"Then please bring the entire thing. I will make you a fair offer."

Novum walked out and grabbed the wolf but before he did he looked at it and asked the system to appraise the item based on his roll and current knowledge of the price of the leather in the shop. A few seconds later a notification number popped up on the edge of his vision with a number in it. Turned out the system was a lot more precise than any one he ever played with. 'System please round to nearest gold piece from now on.' He heard a notification ping and the number was now just in gold. 'Thank you system.'

The man looked over the wolf and thought about the commission going through the area for a someone to come and work for the Duke to mount all of his trophy animals. The problem was that any contender had to have a complete animal mounted for the herald to inspect when they passed through. Apparently no one had passed during the last tax pick up and the next one was about a month out. He could fully process a great specimen in that time. One demolished by a local guard or that idiot Chris would take way to long.

Novum carried the wolf into the building and he knew that he was going to be okay. This man did not have a poker face to save his life. He put it on the counter and the clerk went at it. He checked it for extra holes as well as how much the animal could still move. Before he could compose himself he blurted out a number. "Five gold!"

Novum was a little surprised by the aggressive nature on the interaction so he hesitated for a few seconds while he processed what the man said. Before he could accept the offer since it was a little higher than the one the system gave him the made, worried he was about to leave upped himself. "Five gold and I will fully process the next five no ten hides you bring me, up to the size of a bear."

"Done sir."

"My name is Richard. Feel free to come to me for any and all the hides that you manage to get in the area." He pulled the gold out of his hidden drawer and handed it to Novum.

"Richard where is the best place to eat in town?"

"There is a little shop down the alley across from the mayor's office. It does not have a name or a sign but given the time of day look for a few people in the alley and that is the place."

"Thanks."