"I couldn't help but overhear your conversation, mind if I join?" He asked as he confidently sat down. He eyed the young man, no still a boy up and down. For just a moment he thought he saw the boy also sizing him up.
Ashton immediately controlled his expression and leaned back as he brushed his elbow against his father. "Hello Sir," He added in a meeker tone.
Thomas took the hint and sized up the young merchant, barely twenty, shrewd inquisitive green eyes turned to him. He had dark brown hair and pleasant enough features, slimmer than most and dressed moderately nicely. "My name is Thomas, how can we help ya?" He asked in a mildly distant tone.
"Goodness me, my name is Wesley, Westly Emmerson, I have taken over as new head for the Emmerson merchant caravan. We mostly buy and sell food, so your topic had some professional interest." Wesley added while offering his hand to Thomas, though he continued to glance at the boy with golden blonde hair and blue eyes.
Aston quickly thought about the Emmerson caravan, they tended to buy at market price and sold it for marginal profits in other areas, they mostly sold spices from the Kingdom and Isles. They also operated under the Marquis of Silas, while not the wealthiest they were a trusted brand in the Empire for almost 40 years.
"Ah, well don't mind us, just speculation and nonsense." Thomas said almost dismissively as Ashton continued to cut his potatoes and slowly eat.
"Now now friend, no need to be nervous. Any thoughts you share I'll keep to myself." Wesley cajoled eagerly as he turned to the stall owner, "Sir, a round of your best ales on me, it's my first year making the routes and I'd rather be cautious than caught off guard." He added as he noticed both adults glance quickly at the silent boy before remaining stoic. The owner seemed to have gotten a signal since he got up and went to fetch the ales himself.
"Just speculation among us little folk, I doubt anyone would attack an armed merchant caravan." Thomas added as Ashton made the quickest glance to a clearly armed guard at the merchant's previous table.
Wesley hesitated, something was off. He narrowed his eyes then deliberately turned to the younger man. He hadn't seen what the boy had done but suddenly two of his guards had shifted their attention to him, "Come now, might I get your name friend? You're a local and would know the local lord far better than me since I only pass through a few times a year. Do me this one favor and I'll bring you something nice next time." Wesley tempted sweetly.
Ashton finally looked at the merchant, those guards had immediately noticed his attention. There was also a mage in the group since they had a ward to notice such subtle interest. Clearly this man had shown promise to have such an extravagant entourage.
Wesley noticed the speculative looks the young man gave him, "Come now, how about a discount on any of our wares? Surely, we can come to an agreeable conversation? I'm just curious, even if you're wrong, we can still be friends." Wesley added with a bright smile.
Ashton deliberately let his gaze linger on the guards, "I'm Ashton, this is my pops and my uncle. Didn't think we were loud enough to be heard." Ashton added as Gale returned.
"Ah yes, I do tend to enjoy gossip so I have good ears." Wesley added as he held his hand out, Ashton shook it then returned to cutting his already minced potatoes.
"Well, the nobility has already been throwing roadblocks for any policies the emperor passed in the last two years. Even the corn seeds took armed guards to deliver when he was crown prince." Ashton offered vaguely.
Wesley nodded, "True enough, we helped carry the seeds in the eastern territories, my father had to triple his guards. Do you think the attacks will be the same scale?" He asked genuinely curious about what this youngster would say.
Ashton shook his head, "I doubt it, eventually the local lords will want to use the threshes so at most a few broken bones. If the people don't put up too big a fight, I doubt it will escalate, and the local lords will of course be swooping in to claim credit for running off the robbers and bandits. I very much doubt any merchants will be affected if there are guards." Ashton added, especially since the lords wouldn't want to discourage trade. Wesley looked unconvinced.
"We also transport fresh corn, why only attack the villagers?" Wesley asked sounding out just how thorough this young man's considerations were.
"The emperor is a war general, he solves almost everything with military power. So now that we aren't at war, the nobility who opposed him are just showing their dissatisfaction with the emperor constantly going over their heads. First with new crops directly to the common people, then rooting out bandits in several territories, and now with new crop technologies. Objectively, everything the great emperor has done will help the people and the territories, but it also signifies he doesn't trust the nobles to manage their territories and thus might take them. The nobles are simply banding together to maintain their independence." Ashton explained relaxing as Wesley seemed naïve.
Wesley's face almost couldn't maintain his poker face, "Does it matter? It's not like the emperor can strip them of their territory, and we've been at war for years, we are just barely able to fill our bellies, who cares whose idea something is?" he asked trying not to overplay his hand.
Ashton sighed, "Us little people don't care, but the Emperor didn't have a great reputation as crown prince, especially with the death of crown prince Alphonse, even though he was never proven guilty, he was never able to clear his name. The former emperor wasn't a strong ruler like our current Emperor. Think of it this way, you're a new merchant taking over your father's previous route. Your clients don't really care who sells them their spices as long as the prices don't change too much, but if another merchant who worked with your father started selling in direct competition of you, then you consider the pros and cons of keeping the route, moving on, or simply giving it up." Ashton explained, a merchant probably wouldn't be able to understand nobility, but if the reference was closer to his station he would understand.
Wesley nodded, "Makes sense, so the nobles see the emperor as taking over their routes?" he asked internally shocked how easily this young child explained the political economical struggles of the courts.
Ashton shrugged, "Yes and no, you're a small merchant, imagine if Marquis Silas suddenly started sending products directly to your customers that would make your current wares useless. Not only are you not compensated for the loss, you now have to change your entire supply routes because next year you have to provide the materials at the same price. Marquis Silas only paid transport costs because he wants the people not to starve, but you have to buy from him, sell the product for no profit, and still pay tax. Not only are your customers not happy if you try to increase prices, but neither is Marquis Silas for you taking advantage to raise prices just so you can break even. On top of that he is using your wagons and stalls in each town without having to pay anything. You also still have to feed, house, and pay his guards at your own expense." Ashton explained enjoying the conversation, until he saw the astonishment on Wesley's face.
Wesley had cold sweat running down his back. No commoner should be this well versed in merchant politics, let alone court politics. Wesley noticed Ashton's gaze cool, "No, that makes sense, I never thought of it that way. I was just in shock, come friend, some ale." Wesley added pushing the mug to the young man, because despite his age he was indeed a man.
Ashton gave a polite smile, "I don't care for ale, besides we are meeting someone else soon." Ashton informed as he started wolfing down his food.
Wesley could tell Ashton was deliberately keeping his mouth full so they couldn't continue, he had small talk with Thomas and the stall owner before he excused himself back to his table. He kept an eye on the boy and signaled one of the guards to discreetly follow them back.