Four Chests of Fine Ronas Silk
The heated winds shifted through the heavy rigging, masts, and sails. Lada shielded his eyes, searching the horizon of the grand Lantas Iamor (Traders Seas in the old tongue) for his soon to arrive friend. Lada was one of the Lantas, the traders. All of the Lantas sailed the seas freely, but when forced to dock at home, they were oppressed under a strict hierarchy. The profits that were made were taxed 50%, so many of the sailors smuggled and stole parts of their cargo, at great risk. If caught, the smuggler and his crew would receive the death penalty. Lada had taken this risk. He had stolen 1 chest of fine Ronas silk to sell on the black market.
He watched as a thin, spider like messenger run to the dock. Lada's ship was the first one checked.
The spidery looking messenger sniffed impolitely, being of a higher class than Lada. "Your profits?" he demanded, eyeing the deck cautiously.

"93 mant, and 3 chests of fine Ronas silk."

"Three chests of fine Ronas silk? The queen wishes to see you then. Bring the chests too."

A feeling of gloom settled over Lada. It was just his luck! The queen was most likely expecting all four chests, and he had only spoke of three. He became dizzy and sick, his dark skin became paler, making his bright red hair stand out more. He was going to die now, along with his crew. He went through the grand palace, not even glancing up at the beauty of it. He kept his head down as the messenger introduced him to the queen.

"Raise your head, and bring me the chests." The queen demanded. Lada did so, trembling with fear. She opened one, and ran her hands over the fine Ronas silk, savoring it. "There originally was four chests, wasn't there?"

"Yes, my lady."

"What happened to the fourth then?"

Lada desperately tried to keep his voice from shaking, and thought up an excuse as quickly as possible. "Th..There was a.a storm, it washed away some of the cargo."

"I am sorry to hear that. You are not the great sailor I had thought you to be after all. Now, unless you find me another chest of fine Ronas silk, you will pay all of you cargo and your ship as punishment. I want the silk by tomorrow, is that clear?"

"Yes, my lady." He murmured and bowed out. Maybe the queen wasn't so smart after all. He threw enough money needed to pay for a chest of fine Ronas silk over board, and decided to bring the fourth chest in the next day. They could search his ship all they wanted, and could not find a reason to punish him. He had lost a little money, but had walked away with his life, and he was grateful for that.

Early the next morning, he returned to the palace. He strode confidentially through the halls, and bowed deeply to the queen. He set the chest on her lap, and she opened it. Then she loudly called out, "This does indeed have fine Ronas silk in it!" and suddenly Lada was surrounded by 100 bow and arrow bearing soldiers. "You were the only sailor to come back with fine Ronas silk, so you could not have bought it here, but in Furnime, 200 leagues South." She clapped her hands, and when the echo's had finished, there was a soft swish, and a dull thump. "Find me his crew!" she ordered.