I closed up the hatch of my shuttle and began walking toward the location using my handheld locator, which could also summon my shuttle if needed.
My shuttle had a stealth setting, but I didn’t use it. The goal wasn’t to sneak up on the merchant, but to intimidate him a little. Just enough to shut down any games. Any trader worth his salt was scanning the surroundings, so the Durbok should know I was there. And to be on the cautious side, I made sure to arm myself. Not just my knife this time, but a small blaster tucked in my boot and another on my hip, hidden beneath my long leather duster. It had been a while since I was fully dressed for business. This was the lightest armor I had—thick, darkdrakbonhide, lined with alloy mesh threads. It was either that or arrive in something resembling pajamas, because I had that or armor, and nothing in between. I made a note to add some “normal” clothes to my shopping list. I needed something to wear when I visited the village.
My breath made white puffs as I maneuvered around thick, black-barked trees with tiny striated leaves. As I approached the location, I could hear voices and, surprisingly, music.
The woods gave way to a clearing. In the center was an old Cloudbreaker XE spaceship. I let out a bark of laughter. These were iconic, old-school trader vessels and were made to act like mobile pop-up shops. Their design—a sphere cut in half, flat side down—was unmistakable. These ships could set down almost anywhere and be open for business instantly.
I’d not seen one in decades, but this one had been through some things. What had once been a smooth white hull was gray-brown, with more than a few repaired blaster holes and plasma damage. I raised my eyebrows, wondering what kind of predicaments the Durbok had gotten into over the years. It sat there with its huge hatch thrown open. From it I could hearomnopopmusic and see colorful interior lights designed to lure in shoppers.
I stepped inside to see a male Greblin look up from where he stood with Pasek and four other Runams. Of course, the Durbok was a Greblin. I’d never encountered one of their species thatwasn’ta trader.
His gaze found me instantly, and he broke from the Runams and crossed the cluttered space to greet me. Aside from an open area in the middle, the space was packed full of shelves, containers, and crates of goods. And judging by the size of the ship itself, this was only a small fraction of his wares.
The Greblin spread his thick arms and smiled wide. “Ah! You must be Gilrox.” His hands closed on my upper arms. “I am the Durbok. Welcome to my humble emporium of goods.”
I gazed down at him and grunted. Both “humble” and “emporium” were gross misrepresentations.
Short tufts of fuzzy yellow hair sprouted over his large head. Big, blunt teeth were on full display as he smiled, and small,watery eyes evaluated every single thing his gaze fell on. His leathery skin was pale blue and heavily creased. This Greblin had been a trader for a long time.
My lack of greeting didn’t deter him. “I am always glad to see a new customer, but I must say, my new friend, the Durbok does not allow weapons in his place of establishment. You will have to?—”
“You can fleck off,” I said mildly.
The Durbok laughed and clapped my shoulders.Again. “Of course, of course they can staythistime, but next time, please—there’s no need for weapons in the Durbok’s Grand Emporium.”
I raised a brow. “GrandEmporium? I thought it was humble?”
The Durbok winked. “Very grand, for these parts. Humble for others you have seen, my battle-weary friend.” He swept a hand toward his cluttered showroom. “Take your time, look around. I’m sure you will find everything you’re looking for here, friend.”
“Do you accept galactic credits?” I asked.
“Of course,” he said, smiling wider. “Your credits are good here, mercenary.”
I did not bother to mention the retired part. Best to let him draw his own conclusions.
Pasek parted from his Runam companions and approached me, clearly considering me a friend as he clapped me on the back. “Glad to see you here,” he said. “I’m sure you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for.” He leaned in close, as if to share a secret. “And remember—something purple.”
I gave him a nod and he drifted back to the others, who were completing their business with the Durbok. Two of the Runams each carried a small crate filled with bottles containing a silvery liquid. They handed them over to the merchant, who accepted them with a practiced smile. I browsed nearby, but my ears weresharp enough to catch the Durbok telling the men how much credit the delivery had earned at his store.
It looked as though the Runam villagers had already chosen what they wanted. They gathered their purchases and loaded them into packs they carried on their backs. I felt a pang about the long journey they would have to take home, but refrained from offering them a ride. I needed time to speak with the Durbok alone.
I wandered around, cataloging everything I saw as the Runams completed their transactions. With their credit, they could afford a few more items, and they picked some out before cheerfully departing. I got another friendly goodbye from Pasek as they stepped out into the colder air and headed home. They surely had a clear trail to follow, but I still worried about them. I thought of how helpless Tregen had been against thatcalroid. I shook my head, shaking away this irrational concern for grown men who clearly knew what they were doing. I was not their bodyguard. But I did need to know more about this merchant they had come to rely on.
With the Cloudbreaker empty except for myself and the Durbok, I turned to my host.
He clearly expected more than a simple transaction and rocked back on his heels with an affable smile. “And what can I do for you, my friend?”
“I am not your friend,” I said, crossing my arms.
“So what would you like to talk about, then?” he asked, too casually—clearly familiar with tense conversations from questionable clients.
“I would like to know why you chose this spot, which is so far from the Runam village. You have them walkhiksto purchase your goods.”
The Durbok chuckled. “The exercise is good for them. Keeps them from getting too soft.” He hooked a thumb overhis shoulder, indicating west. “I also deal with the Runams in the cave mountains, further into the cold zone. This is an equal distance between the two. I see the mountain Runams tomorrow. They’re much tougher and meaner than the villagers, so I like to give the villagers first selection.”
“What do you get from the mountain Runams?”
He waved a hand. “They sell flash crystal scavenged from the deserted mines. The previous occupiers were sloppy, hasty. The Runams who still live there are able to collect a fair amount. Enough for me to make it worth my while.”
