Coriander Village was a very remote and isolated settlement surrounded entirely by sparse woods and plains. The grass running through the town streets, was nearly worn down to rock and dirt by years of trampling hooves and poor men's feet. Trees dotted the trails woven between houses, but almost all of them were barren and unsalvageable, branches gnarled and twisted towards the sky as if pointing to a better place. There was no consistent scheme in housing placement, and they sat here and there on hilly plains, close to each other and all built solely to shelter the people within, rather than to comfortably house a family.
Many families resided in Coriander.
Lucian kicked up dust with every step he took. His house was situated at the end of one of the long, dead end roads that reached out from the village square. He considered himself fortunate, to have been born into one of the few families that tilled their own land. Of course, it was all but abandoned by the governors who owned everything his family lived on.
By mid-morning, the village was more than awake and already bustling with life. Many of Coriander's people were walking in the same direction as he, determined to pass on their small amount of earnings and a list of things they wished to purchase, to a group of men preparing to depart for one of their trek's to the greater cities. Lucian plunged one hand into his pants pocket and clutched at the bandana tied around his neck with the other.
He wondered what his father could want with him at such a time, and walked along the stone walls lining the road with his head down. Other villagers passed him without kind words, and street vendors skulked off to the sides gruffly shouting out descriptions of their wares. He could see people gathering in a crowd some distance ahead, once he had walked a considerable distance from his house. The noise of the people suddenly grew unbearable and Lucian turned on his heel to dart away before he heard his name being called.
"…my son, Lucian," he heard, as he spun around and slowly walked towards his father talking to a man much smaller than he, with long greying hair reaching to his shoulders. There was a healthy, radiant flush to his cheeks and Lucian surmised that the man was not from Coriander.
"Yes, Father?" He asked as he approached, and politely nodded to the stranger.
"I think that you'll find that Lucian's a trustworthy, honest young man. He's very strong for his age, and is a hefty worker. He won't let you down," Father continued, a pleased glint in his eyes and a half smile playing upon his mouth nearly buried by the gold and grey hairs growing from around his chin.
Lucian flashed a puzzled look to his father and felt uncomfortable after hearing his words.
Nonetheless, he extended a hand and the stranger took it eagerly. His grasp was strong and Lucian felt himself thinking of the feel of his skin long after they pulled their hands away.
"This man has probably never worked like I have a day in his life…" He thought to himself, but outwardly expressed greetings.
"Hello Lucian. Asbjorn here tells me that you're a reliable young man. I'm looking for someone to accompany me to Crell Monferaigne. I'm eager to expand my business on the far side of this continent," When he saw Lucian blink twice, the man smiled and continued, "I'm from Hai-Lan, in the south-west. I don't travel out here too often,"
"We're glad to see a new face around here. This village can seem pretty lonely to those of us who live here," Father offered, folding his bear arms across his chest. Lucian's shoulders sagged as he felt himself seemingly shrinking in his father's presence.
"I'm sure it can," the man said, glancing around with interest. Lucian watched him for a moment and then looked to his feet. A tinge of anger rose up through him as he wondered what his father would say next, with every intention to solely please his guest.
"When do you leave?" Father's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Tomorrow, actually. I haven't long to stay, although I've enjoyed the simplistic lifestyle that Coriander village has offered me so far," The stranger answered. Lucian looked up with his brows knit in amusement, and he realized the man was looking straight at him.
"Business isn't that good huh," He said politely, and he saw his father's fists clench, still folded inward. Surprisingly, the man returned, "No, not at all. The people here are much too involved in their lives of agriculture to be interested in what I have to sell,"
Lucian's father outwardly relaxed.
"If you are moving on past our village, then you will be glad to have someone accompany you personally. I can see no other person in this village fit to do that, than Lucian," He said.
The man nodded and smiled at Lucian. Lucian felt himself smiling back, sincerely.
"If that's the case, then would you be up for a little adventure young man?"
Lucian nodded but was taken aback from the casual, friendly nature emanating from the merchant. He felt himself searching to say yes or no, two words he never really had a chance to use in response to such a question.
"Yeah-yes that would be really good. I mean, I will help you out as much as I can. You can count on me," He stammered, feeling his cheeks flush in embarrassment. But the stranger didn't seem to notice his uneasiness.
"Glad to hear it Lucian," and once more, the man extended his hand. Something about the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled allowed Lucian to pump his hand more confidently the second time.
"Lucian has to head back to his mother to complete his morning chores. If you wish to meet with him anytime later, don't hesitate to look for us, in the eastern outskirts of the village," Father explained, "I have a field," As if the last words would make their household stand out amongst the rest.
"Yes, thank you. I will do that," the man said, still looking at Lucian, who watched his father drift into a denser crowd of people huddling nearby.
"Shall I call for you after suppertime?"
Lucian turned back to the man, "What?"
"Is that a good time for you?" Still smiling.
Lucian nodded self-consciously.
"My name is Brian, but most people come to know me as Bri," The man said, "run on home now and do what you have to do. I'm sure the day will pass quickly,"
"Yes, I'm sure too," Lucian said absentmindedly, and offered another polite nod.
"I look forward to working with you,"