6 Crossing into the Middle Ages 006

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The Count of Brudo governs five counties, including Brudo, Brie, and Bra, which together form a vast plain. This region was once powerful enough to rival the royal family itself. The expansive territory begins just a few miles east of the royal capital Westside, spanning from the basins of the Seine and Oise rivers all the way to the borders of Moberhan. To the south lies the equally prosperous Duchy of Rhone, while to the north is the County of Vautel.

Brudo is most renowned for its thriving commerce and bustling markets.

Its prosperity can be attributed to three main factors. First, it is a fertile plain, rich in resources and densely populated. The land yields abundant grapes, cheese, grains, wool, and livestock, with enough surplus to supply basic local products.

Second, its geographic location places it at a crossroads. It serves as a midway point for the thriving northern trade cities of the Low Countries, the high-quality wool-producing region of Goldenland, the fishing hub of the North Sea, and the importers, bankers, and merchants of Rolandcy. It is also a bridge between Moberhan and Vason.

Third, the region benefits from a dense and convenient river system:

1. The Upper Seine flows through Brudo into the Duchy of Fucen, reaching the Channel coast for export.
2. The Muse River runs along its eastern border, flowing south to north into the County of Vautel and the Low Countries, emptying into the North Sea.
3. Just a few miles southeast, within the Duchy of Rhone, flow the Moselle and Saône rivers, enriching this equally affluent territory.
4. The Saône is also a major tributary of the Rhone River, whose mouth is a vital Mediterranean port and commercial outlet.
5. To the southwest in Bra, the Loire River passes through, its estuary located west of Vason, serving as an important waterway.
6. The Marne and Moselle rivers run east-west, connecting the Rhine and Seine basins.
7. Alpine routes link Brudo with northern Rolandcy, complemented by numerous fine rivers, attracting merchants from northern Rolandcy and radiating influence across the entire Rolandcy commercial city-state.
8. Rolandcy merchants who do not traverse the Alpine routes to Brudo can also ascend the Rhone and Saône rivers.

Under such favorable conditions, Brudo’s markets have gained international renown. More importantly, the markets bring immense revenue to the land’s rulers. Markets may exist elsewhere, but none possess the international status of Brudo’s.

Among these, the Troyes market, which also leads the Brudo markets, is famous for its “Cold Market,” generally opening on November 2 and lasting until about two weeks before Christmas—over six weeks in total. The Troyes Cold Market has already been open for a month and is still ongoing. Troyes is Brudo’s capital and the primary seat of the Brudo court.

However, the castle is not within the city itself but situated northwest of Troyes, guarding a strategic point. Still, the city remains easily accessible from there.

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Louisa only asked the count and countess for permission to visit the market once, and they quickly arranged for knights to escort her. The countess had no reason to refuse, while the count believed that as Brudo’s future ruler, the sooner she became familiar with the Brudo market, the better. Even if she was visiting for leisure, she would still learn something.

Accompanied by her lady-in-waiting, Lady Hugo, and four knights, Louisa traveled smoothly by carriage to Troyes.

Before entering the city, Louisa heard an unusual clamor—a cacophony of voices, animal cries, clashing metal, and the creaking of wheels on the ground. Remarkably, the noise was rarely harsh; rather, it carried a sense of fullness, as if the city itself was swelling with life.

This sound signified prosperity, a rarity in this era.

Along with the noise came a complex mixture of scents—smoke, the pungent odor of tanned leather, fresh farm products, spices, the body odors of humans and animals, manure, and the aromas of boiling food.

The intensity of these smells was overwhelming for Louisa, who quickly lowered her white veil to cover her face. It was lightly sprayed with a citrus-scented perfume—both fresh and striking—which provided some defense against the market’s odors. She had evidently anticipated this challenge before arriving but had underestimated its impact.

The carriage slowly entered the city, where crowds of people and animals gathered from the city gates onward. Some vendors already began selling goods here, even though this was not the designated market area. The influx of consumers brought by the market created numerous opportunities beyond wholesale trade.

The dense crowds made progress difficult for the carriage, but with knights guarding on all sides, Louisa’s carriage received some “privilege” compared to the carts and wagons carrying goods. People clearly noticed the lavishly decorated carriage and the knights dressed in bright attire and bearing swords, immediately recognizing the high status of its occupant.

No one wished to cause trouble.

Though slow, the carriage managed to squeeze through the busiest sections, arriving at one of the market venues.

Unlike most markets fixed in small areas—such as around monasteries, cathedrals, or trade halls built by lords—the Brudo market often encompassed entire cities, with several large venues scattered across different corners.

Through her veil, Louisa surveyed the stalls and shops on either side: spices, medicinal herbs, salt, silk, dyes of every color, fats, honey, wax, brass pots, silverware, gloves, stockings, mirrors, swords, parchment, and jewelry.

Lady Hugo explained from opposite her: “Milady, this is the ‘General Goods Market’ of the Cold Market. The goods here are all sorts of miscellaneous items.”

Louisa knew a bit about this. Over the years, the Brudo market had established its own regulations. The market lasted about a month and a half, with the first eight days after opening set aside for preparations rather than trade. Merchants used this time to rent shops and display their goods.

Following this, there was a ten-day textile market, where only cloth was sold. Then a ten-day fur market, offering all kinds of leather, raw hides, and furs. Finally came the general goods market, marked by its diversity—almost anything could be found here.

The general goods market lasted somewhat longer, provided the last five days were reserved for merchants to complete unfinished business—usually official matters such as paying taxes, having contracts stamped with the market’s and Brudo count’s seals to ensure security.

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“Oh! Isn’t this young Master Alan? What brings you here!” A middle-aged man, looking like a broker, spotted a young knight on the right side of the carriage and approached him to chat. “You remember me, don’t you? I had the honor of witnessing your ‘Sword Ceremony’ this spring!”

The ‘Sword Ceremony’ is the rite of passage where a squire is knighted. Alan, the young man in question, was the capable son of a prominent knight who served as one of the Brudo market’s “market secretaries.” Though not a high-ranking position, for merchants visiting the Brudo market it was more influential than a county official, and the income was substantial.

Alan, as a second son, had been knighted at the age of twenty-one—a rare privilege for noble second sons. He was immediately summoned to serve as an attendant guard to the count, a promising future indeed.

Alan pondered and said, “Ronald the scribe is your relative, isn’t he?”

The man quickly replied, “Yes, Master! Ronald is my cousin and often deals with your father!”

The ‘scribe’ is the market’s record keeper who drafts contracts for merchants, ensuring their legality—somewhat like a notary but specifically for market transactions.

Alan was no fool; he noticed the man, while trying to make friends, was mostly focused on the carriage. He said, “Hey! Are you trying to sell those cheap jewels to the Brudo heiress?”

The man had just emerged from a shop that seemed to wholesale various inexpensive jewelry. The sparkling trinkets piled high behind the counter were mostly glass and bronze, with only a few pieces made of silver and cheap pearls, enamels, or crystals.

Upon learning the carriage held Brudo’s heiress, the man put on a broad smile: “Of course not, Master Alan! You see, in our line of work, we can’t just promote one patron’s goods… If necessary, I can bring the finest jewels in this market right before the lady!”

This was the first person to approach them proactively. Louisa became somewhat interested and, through her veil, looked at him, producing a rosary bracelet originally worn on her wrist. “Can you find jewels of similar quality?”

The broker’s eyes widened. He had assumed the noblewoman in the carriage was just a child, easily tempted. But she had just challenged him—

The rosary on that pale, delicate hand was strung with a dozen or so large amethyst beads, each as big as a grape, rich and vivid in color, crystal clear and flawless. The rosary also bore a small amber cross pendant.

He had never seen amethysts of such exceptional quality before!