The stranger turned, smiling. "Lanko is my name," he said. "Yes, I come from the North." He swept a hand to indicate the merchandise on display, and directed a questioning gaze at the merchant. "It seems strange that your goods are all of the East. I see little of the West in all your shop." * * * * * Normally, Musa kept his own council, assuming that his affairs were not public property, but his alone. There was something about this man, Lanko, however, which influenced him to break his usual reticence. "I plan a trading trip to the Eastern Sea," he confided. "Of course, to carry eastern goods again to the East would be a waste of time, so I am reserving my western goods for the caravan and clearing out the things of the East." Lanko nodded. "I see." He pointed to a small case of finely worked jewelry. "What would be the price of those earrings?" Musa reached into the case, taking out a cunningly worked pair of shell and gold trinkets. "These are from Norlar, a type of jewelry we rarely see here," he said. "For these, I must ask twenty balata." Lanko whistled softly. "No wonder you would make a trip East. I wager there is profit in those." He pointed. "What of the sword up there?" Musa laughed. "You hesitate at twenty balata, then you point out that?" He crossed the tent, taking the sword from the wall. Drawing it from its scabbard, he pointed to the unusually long, slender blade. "This comes from Norlar, too. But the smith who made it is still farther to the east, beyond the Great Sea." He gripped the blade, flexing it. "Look you," he commanded, "how this blade has life. Here is none of your soft bronze or rough iron from the northern hills. Here is a living metal that will sever a hair, yet not shatter on the hardest helm." Lanko showed interest. "You say this sword was made beyond the Great Sea? How, then, came it to Norlar and thence here?" Musa shook his head. "I am not sure," he confessed. "It is rumored that the priests of the sea god, Kondaro, by praying to their deity, are guided across the sea to lands unknown." "Taking traders with them?" "So I have been told." "And you plan to journey to Norlar to verify this rumor, and perhaps to make a sea voyage?" Musa stroked his beard, wondering if this man could actually read thoughts. "Yes," he admitted, "I had that in mind." "I see." Lanko reached for the sword. As Musa handed it to him, he extended it toward the rear of the booth, whipping it in an intricate saber drill. Musa watched, puzzled. An experienced swordsman himself he had thought he knew all of the sword arts. The sword flexed, singing as it cut through the air. "Merchant, I like this sword. What would its price be?" * * * * *