“Adnan? Do you think it will work this time?” The boy wearing a shawl covering most of his features sat as he looked towards the front of the carriage.

“Pfft! Why bother asking this time, young master? How many times have you tried with all sorts of costumes?” Adnan absentmindedly remarked as the horses crossed the open desert. The two have passed by a couple of villages under Mehmed’s family domain to check on them. The boy wanted to understand them and their needs for his new business venture, but none of the villages he went to believed he was an ordinary merchant, no matter how much he insisted. Even with the decrepit carriage entering the town, the villagers could tell he was an important person and treated him as much as a noble. No, Mehmed could feel that the villagers treated him like a noble; it’s just that they were playing along with him.

“I don’t understand. Maybe once or twice, they would find out. But all the time? Something must be seriously wrong.” The boy muttered as he pondered what appearance he should put on.

“Most people passing by the villages use camels. Few rarely use horses to travel from place to place. Only a noble or a rich merchant would use a carriage to travel. Considering the strong ties among the villagers, they could strike off the list of names in their heads. It only leaves one possibility, a noble.” Adnan enlightened the boy, making the boy nodded his head in understanding.

“So, I should stop with the costumes?” Mehmed tossed the shawl he wrapped around his head to the side and pouted at Adnan.

“Do continue. Maybe the next one will be fooled?” Adnan proposed, and he felt something impact his back. It was light and soft. He turned around to see the shawl that Mehmed was trying on. Laughing, he shoved the cloth back into the carriage slot.

Villagers were tending to their crops by a nearby oasis, and the sun began to cast a red shade across the ever so darkening skies. The trotting of animals whipping out the sand in the air could be seen in the far distance, spreading a tinge of fear into the hearts and minds of villagers? Peace has prevailed too long among these desolate lands; the last instance of raiders making their presence known was a couple of centuries ago, especially during the wars during the formation of the kingdom. A boy began trembling at the sight as he remembered the tales passed by the elders. With his fight or flight response triggering, he scampered off to the elder’s accommodations.

Putting everything he had into his legs, another boy ran by his side, and the two called out to one another as they sped off. “Wakil! I’m going to reach the elder first!” The boy hollered to Wakil as they turned a corner.

“Not on my watch, Alem!” Wakil cried out as he leapt over a bush, gaining a couple of metres as Alem had to move to the side temporarily.

As the boys were speeding off the elder’s hut, the carriage stopped by the town’s gates, where a couple of elderly watchmen stood on watch. Adnan dismounted from the carriage and went to the older men, holding up some doctored papers.

The elderly watchmen’s eyes bulged as they noticed the carriage, and numerous possibilities of the owner’s identity appeared in his mind. “Hello?” Adnan politely asked as he held some papers. Walking up to the elderly gent, who squinted his eyes at the individual approaching him, Adnan handed some documents to him. The watchman was silent as he looked at the strange scribbles on the paper.

“…” The man called over his friend, who he considered the wisest in the village. Handing the papers over to him, his friend glanced at the parchment before handing it back to his friend.

“They are merchants. Why are they here, though? Do we have anyone that made it big in the big cities?” His friend asked, and the elderly guardsman could only shrug his shoulders. Grunting, the watchman nodded and handed the papers back to Adnan. Their conversation wasn’t so private after all, as coachman Adnan could only sheepishly smile at the questioning gazes sent his way.

“I will head over to the village headman,” Adnan explained, but the old watchman grabbed onto the man’s arm, stopping him from moving.

“The headman is over here.” The watchman pointed at his friend, who stood by his side. His friend seemed tensed as he kept his eyes on the carriage.

“Well, that makes it easier! I will call the young … oops!” Adnan’s lips could only curl up as he looked at the change of expressions on the older man’s face. He shrugged his shoulders and decided to see how much of a fool Mehmed would make of himself this time. Heading to the carriage, Adnan walked to the carriage door and opened it.

“Do they believe we are merchants this time?” Mehmed asked as he grabbed the shawl by his side. Seeing Adnan nod, he quickly tied it around his head and got out of the carriage. The boy confidently began making his way to the village chief.

“Chief! Oi! Old man, come out here!” A boy hollered right outside the chief’s residence, but no response was warranted. The other boy by his side began knocking on the door. At first, he respectfully knocked, but he incrementally increased the force on the door. It got so bad that his knuckles hurt, so he decided to stop with the act.

“So now what?” The boy asked the other boy.

“Guess we’ll just wait.” The two boys began idly standing about.

The merchant stopped a couple of steps in front of the elderly men whilst his coachman stood at his back, benignly smiling at the two men. “Greetings, gentlemen. I am Makin Irani. Pleased to meet your acquaintance.” The boy confidently introduced himself as the two elderly men had to tilt their heads a little down to meet the boy’s gaze. The watchman could see his friend move his lips without saying a word, but he did not understand and just left his friend doing his strange actions. Sighing, the village headman turned to face the boy and tried to remember the proper way of greeting.

“Please to meet your acquaintance, Mr Irani!” The elderly chief bowed at a 90-degree angle. Adnan observed that the chief’s knees were shaking, looking as if he wanted to get down on his knees. The coachman could only nod, seeing how his fellow peasants knew how to act at times.

Mehmed could nod with satisfaction, not noticing the almost buckling knees of the elder. He turned to face Adnan and sent a confident gaze his way. Adnan raised his thumb, stifling whatever expression that wanted to appear on his face. “Tell me about yourself, sir. About the village and your wants and needs.” Mehmed walked over to the village chief and patted him on his shoulder. The village chief’s knees were about to collapse, but Adnan helped the old man up.

“He’s a noble! But what’s with the strange questions?” The village chief did not dare look into the boy’s eyes.

“Indeed, listen… cough! Listen… to Mr Irani!” Adnan helped the man up as he turned his face to the side and let out a couple of coughs. Mehmed sent a pitiful gaze toward his coachman.

“Apparently, my coachman’s throat is parched. Instead of standing around, why don’t we visit your place and talk?” The boy proposed as the chief could speed off towards his house with his guests in tow. The watchman could only shake his friend at the sudden illness that struck his friend and the coachman that the merchant brought with him.

“I’m bored.” The boy muttered.

“Me too.” The other boy grumbled.

The two boys stood there for what seemed like minutes. They played games that only required their fingers with one another to pass the time, but there were only so many games they could play before they got bored.

“It’s about time I should go home.” A stomach grumbled, causing the boys to make their exit. As they left, a group led by the village chief encountered them as the boys greeted the village chief. They looked at the newcomers with wary gazes before heading home to get their meals.

“Don’t mind these boys.” The chief dismissed the boys that temporarily intruded on them. His hands shook as he pushed open the entrance to his home. Most buildings were similar in design. Single story mudbrick home with a couple of square windows cut to the sides. Clothes are hung out to dry in a yard nearby. The chief’s house was special as it was two stories, but its design was as simple as the surrounding homes.

“I forgot to get some tea from the city!” The chief thought to himself as he slowly turned to face his esteemed guests. “I’m sorry, gentlemen. I lack tea for a man of your stature, but I have some water. My apologies for any offence taken.” The chief did another 90-degree bow, and Adnan was a little concerned as the older man’s body shook as he maintained his bowing position for quite some time.

“It’s ok, sir. I am a simple merchant.” Mehmed waved his hands, and the headman scampered off to his water reserves. The boy sat on a chair and slouched on it. Adnan stood nearby, lacking the jovial attitude he had previously. Mehmed pointed at a nearby chair before pointing at Adnan. Adnan tilted his head to the side, but Mehmed only tapped the armrest, causing Adnan to nod his head. The coachman sat on the chair and relaxed on it. Although it was a simple chair with cushions that looked decades old, it was still somewhat comfortable.

The man brought out a tea set and poured water into the teacups. Setting the set onto the table, he placed a teacup in front of his two guests. He stood up, waiting to hear what his guests have what to say. The boy gestured towards his seat, and the chief hurriedly staggered to his seat and plopped down on it.

“As I’ve said earlier, do tell of yourself.” Mehmed urged as he sipped on the water. The water had a certain subtle taste to it, probably due to the minerals in the water.

“Imran Hashim, sir. I am the current village chief of Hashim. For our needs and wants, I don’t know how to answer that question, Mr Irani?” The chief answered as he thought to himself, “Or should I say Mr Alkhadra?” Imran tried to remember all of the nobles that inhabited these lands, and the only one he could think of was Bob the Berserker’s descendants.

“For needs, think about what you need for your village’s survival. For wants, think about the things your fellow villagers would like.” Coachman Adnan interjected.

“What … our village … need?” Imran mumbled to himself as he stroked his bushy beard. Brushing it helped put his mind at ease and allowed him to think at times. “Well, we could use a lot more money!” Imran unconsciously let slip some of his inner thoughts. To his surprise, his two esteemed guests laughed at his response.

“Of course, Mr Hashim! Even a merchant like me would like some more money!” Mehmed played along.

Imran shook his head in understanding, thinking to himself, “Who wouldn’t want more money?”

“It would be great if we could reach the city easier. A road between our village and the city would allow us to procure and sell our goods easily.” Imran made a probing statement, trying to see whether the individual in front of him could carry out infrastructure works.

Mehmed nodded and remarked, “Do you know, Mr Hashim? Every village headman I met previously have all said the same thing. They all asked for a road between the city and the village. But you should understand, I am a simple merchant; what profit can be made from a simple road? If I put a tow, you could walk around it without resistance.”

Imran kept his mouth silent as his doubts vanished. “So, he’s saying he probably can make it happen.” The chief thought to himself.

“Anything else, Mr Hashim?” Adnan asked on Mr Irani’s behalf.

“Anything else I ask for would require more money. We want to enjoy some of the luxuries that city folk have.” The chief honestly put forth, and his guests nodded in response.

“If that is all, then I shall take my leave. Mr Hashim.” The boy stretched his hand out, and Imran immediately went to catch it.

“No. Thank you, Mr Irani!” Imran emotionally thanked him as his two guests bid him goodbye. Collapsing back onto his seat, Imran made plans for him to rest for the next few days.

“That was so stressful!”

“I want to retire soon!”

Imran smiled as he thought such enjoyable thoughts that he took a nap on his seat.

“Shall we head to the next village?” Adnan asked as the two headed to their carriage.

“No, go back to Alkhadra. We should be able to make it before the day ends.” Mehmed ordered, and they climbed into his carriage.

“So, have you figured out what you need to do? Are you going to build a road, Mr Irani?” Adnan chuckled as he ordered his horse to start at a steady pace. Mehmed tossed his shawl to the side and began thinking about Halimah’s words as he rode through the night.

“They need a road. But how can I make money?” Mehmed thought to himself as he looked at the beautiful night sky. The moon was half-full and the stars accompanying the celestial object danced around its glamour. The environment became cold as Mehmed grabbed a blanket and wrapped himself in it. He watched the endless sand threatening all life that stood upon it, leaving only the toughest to thrive in this harsh environment.

As he closed his eyes, a thought popped into his head. “It is nice to be in a carriage. But what if I also offered such a service to the villagers.” Mehmed opened his eyes and let his brain start working rapidly.

Horses will be fast but are expensive to procure and maintain. What is an animal that is cheap and widespread? Only one animal came to his mind, the camel! He could have the camel haul people to and fro. There will be some space left behind as the carriage will not be complete due to the low population in the villages.

“procure and sell our goods easily” Imran’s words appeared in his head, and Mehmed began thinking in that direction. What if he stocked the empty spots with some goods that the villagers needed? Maybe he could take pre-orders!

Mehmed let his mind run wild under the shadows of the night.