Nelda, who was in the ve market, began to go through the different stalls that were.


    In them were children, women, men, and some old people who only cost a few copper coins.


    "Ashraf, what do you think of these ves? We need to bring some quality, but I''m not quite sure where to choose.


    There are too many, and none of them have convinced me. "


    Ashraf who was watching the ves put his hand on her chin and started stroking her.


    "My father rarely bought ves in Cádiz, but he taught me the two most important things that a ve must-have, which are strength and knowledge.


    Although generally the ves that were sold in the city of Tarifa, were Christians and a small number of people from far south of the desert.


    This caused that very rarely they fulfilled both of my father''s conditions, so he himself did some little tricks to choose the best ves.


    For example, you can see that ve who is there, next to the stall of that brown-haired merchant. "


    Nelda turned her head and looked at a ve who had quite a few wounds on his hand. She could tell because the scars had long since made him look like an experienced warrior.


    "I would like to say that he is a ve, he is a warrior, but I feel like that is the wrong answer, right Ashraf?"


    Ashraf nodded "That man is a cksmith I can tell because the wounds he has do not match any weapon that you Christians use and even from the shapes of the scars you can see that he is quite experienced.


    Now you just have to ask how much it is worth if it costs more than one silver coin, then it is not worth the deal.


    This is because by age I can be sure that nothing else willst like 5 to 10 more years. You may have the experience but if you do not have the time to apply it, then it is a bad investment. "


    Nelda, who was curious to check Ashraf''s words, approached the merchant who, upon seeing a possible client, was delighted.


    "Wee,e and see all the products we have, I am sure you will love one of them, whether you are looking for something to have funned yourself or something to help you in your work.


    Here in my ve shop, I can guarantee that each of them has been selected from groups of refugees who escaped from the civil war in the Franco empire.


    So they weren''t ves before we got our hands on it, so you don''t have to worry that they don''t know how to do jobs as many of them worked before they lost everything. "


    Nelda pointed to the ve who was next to her "I want that old ve, the one with wounds on his hands for how many coins are you willing to sell him?"


    The merchant smiled and turned his head to see his ve "Three silver coins, I think that''s a fair price for a grown man."


    Nelda crossed her arms and shook her head "Merchant, hoped you were a person who could be traded with.


    But with that exorbitant cost, the only thing you are going to achieve is that you lose me as a customer and that your store is damaged as a ce of scams.


    Yes, he is a grown man but a very adult man; we are talking that you must be approximately 40 or 50 years old.


    That age is big enough for three silver coins, I can give you five copper coins for it, if you ept I am willing to buy at least 30 ves here.


    Of course, I will only buy them if the price is right. "


    The merchant frowned "How about a silver coin and in exchange for every 10 ves you buy I give you 5 children.


    I think it would be a fairer deal for both of us because I get my investment back in these ves and you gain youngbor.


    That way I think it will no longer matter so much that you buy an old ve as he can live long enough to take care of the children.


    So you only have to take care of feeding them, but how can you see they are ves.


    Just give them some spoiled wheat or some leftover meat to keep them alive. "


    Nelda looked at Ashraf for some help, so when he saw Nelda''s gaze he walked towards the merchant seriously.


    "You are selling ves at a high price but tell me something, that ve who has been watching us is going to speak ournguage and otherwise it ispletely useless because I have to spend time and gold in make him learning thenguage"


    The merchant who knew that all his ves did not know how to speak thenguage of the Ind can only clench his hands with some anger.


    Before finishing bowing his head in defeat, "Your words are a wise foreigner I am willing to ept the treatment of women. In return, I only hope they speak well of my store."


    Nelda, who had been the victor, nodded and put her hand on Ashraf''s shoulder "Of course, merchant, I will speak very well about your store. As soon as the ves he will take care of choosing them.


    Just remember that he is an expert, so do not try anything like what you tried with me because I will not be responsible for what happens, you should also recognize this. "


    Nelda took out of her leather pouch a document stamped by the duke "I have the favor of the duke so you won''t want to fight me."


    The merchant, seeing that he could not refute anything, simply nodded and began to guide the dark-skinned man towards the cages where the ves were.


    Ashraf, simply following the words Nelda had spoken, began to search among the ves for those who had a profession with which they could generate money.


    Among the ve boxes, he found some quite interesting promises from women who appeared to have wounds on their hands, which were a sign that they knew how to weave.


    Even some men who seemed to have knowledge of writing, due to the fact that they had some small scars on their fingers.


    <em>''I have to admit that this stupid merchant doesn''t know what he''s selling, I guess not understanding theirnguage is to our advantage.</em>


    <em></em>


    <em>Although really thest time I could see such good quality ves were those that were obtained after some battles in the Christian monasteries within the border of the kingdom of Asturias.</em>


    <em></em>


    <em>A lot of monks were enved that day. It is a pity that as mercenaries we only received gold and silver, but not schrly ves. ''</em>


    After spending some time choosing, Ashraf ced more than 60 ves in front of Nelda, which she starts to sell very well because they had practiced a profession before.


    Nelda, seeing arge number of ves, looked at the merchant with a smile. "I think that as a man of my word and a good merchant, they will respect the part of the deal where you said that they would give me five children for every 10 people bought."


    Seeing the angry face of the merchant Nelda smiled maliciously "Well what do you think if instead of giving me five children you sell them to me for a copper coin each.


    I think that would be a fair deal because children are not of much use because as they are children they do not generate ie of any kind.


    They are just little leeches that cost money, which I may end up losing if one of them dies on the journey I will undertake.


    I hope that with these words you no longer have an angry face, this way you win and I win.


    How about my offer?"


    The merchant, feeling that he would not have a loss, rxed a little and ended up epting Nelda''s deal because he felt that if he refused or tried to convince her to give up, he would end up losing silver coins.


    After chaining all the ves, including the children they had obtained, Nel proudly scared the 100 ves he owned.


    "We have finished with the first cargo from the first ship, we only have to wait for your people toe so that we can load them.


    Now we have to buy women and a few young people, I hope you can choose them like these if I''m honest I''m just used to having ves or merchandise of all kinds.


    But to buy ves how you have realized I ampletely useless. "


    Ashraf justughed "Don''t worry I''m not an expert either, however, I think that with my experiences buying ves with my father, it will be more than enough for you to fill your ships.


    But if I''m honest, the best ce to buy women is brothels, because most ves suffer so many rapes that they often end up being infertile.


    On the other hand, brothel women receive better treatment because they are cared for and only have sex for money, not to mention that only those with money can frequent them. "


    Nelda was surprised by Ashraf''s knowledge "Wow, I think you will have to tell me a lot of things, I would love to know all the secrets you have.


    Besides, I think that if your group demonstrates their loyalty; I think we can start a long-term working rtionship. "


    While this was happening in the market, in a forest near the port city, Anders was beheading a thief.


    "I hope you have learned very well boy, that damn thief put up a fight, but nothing that I can''t control with a good ax ...."