Nick Swindle smiled as he left the town of Peres.  He wasn't sure what he liked 
more, all the money he swindled the people out of there or the special rare item 
he got from a collector in that town that he had big plans for.  As Nick Swindle 
was driving his carriage Northward away from town, the bow merchant Barry Scott 
was riding into Peres.  He had been selling bows and arrows for a long time.  
People usually bought them for hunting, but recently sales had been much better 
because there had been a lot more fighting between clans recently.  Most people 
were getting nervous and wanted weapons for protection.  As Barry rode into 
town, he noticed a man preparing to use a bow similar to what he sold.  Barry 
rode his horse over to where the man was and said, "Hello, sir.  If you don't 
mind me asking, where did you get that bow of yours?  It looks like the ones I 
sell, but I've never been to Peres before."  The man said, "I got it from a 
great man named Nick Swindle.  I still can't believe the deal he gave me on it. 
 Only forty talics.  I'm about to practice with it at this moment."  Barry got 
an angry look on his face, "Swindle?  You bought something from Swindle?  I'm 
selling bows for only twenty five talics.  Try your bow out."  The man looked 
puzzled but tried the bow out.  As soon as he raised it and tried to fire the 
arrow, the bow's string broke and the arrow simply fell to the ground.  The man 
was furious, "Nick Swindle!  I damn you!"  Barry said, "Did Swindle sell bows to 
everybody in town?"  The man said, "Yes, he swindled all of us.  Afterward he 
headed toward the North."  Barry quickly rode his carriage off in that 
direction.  Up the road, Nick was thinking about his plans.  The more he thought 
about it, the more he smiled.  He heard the sound of someone coming up behind 
him, and saw Barry Scott riding up to him with an angry look on his face.  Barry 
stopped as he came up beside Nick.  Barry yelled, "This is the last time you're 
going to do this to me, Swindle.  You knew I was on my way to that town."  Nick 
said, "Barry.  If I had known you were going that way I would've gone straight 
to Rolen City without stopping there first."  Barry said, "Cut the crap, Nick.  
I'm a business man and I'm just trying to stay in business."  Nick said, "Every 
man is a business man.  And I know you know good business when you see it.  You 
are that good a business man aren't you?"  Barry said, "Of course, but you. ."  
Nick interrupted, "Yes, and I have information a business man like you would be 
a fool to pass up.  I know you're not a fool, but I can't share information in 
good conscience with someone who's going to accuse me of taking his business."  
Barry said, "Oh, um, well I'm sorry for. ."  Nick smiled and said, "Of course, 
no hard feelings my friend.  I'm always willing to help a good business partner 
out.  I happen to know that Rolen City is in dire need of bows.  They're near 
some of the fighting and they need someone to help them out.  That man is you, 
that is if you're up to it."  Barry said, "Of course, what should I. ."  Nick 
said, "Just do what you do, my friend.  Sell your wares and help those people.  
But, I don't know if you have enough with you.  Demand is awful high up there.  
I'd be glad to offer you some of mine, if it would help."  Barry said, "Well, of 
course.  Even a little more would. ."  Nick said, "Well, then.  Let's get this 
transaction in gear so you can get to where you're needed.  I've got 3 cases.  
Only 600 talics."  Barry said, "Well, I only have. ."  Nick said, "Whatever you 
have is fine.  You'll be able to pay back the rest later with all the business 
you're going to be doing."  Barry smiled.   After the transaction was complete, 
Barry rode off toward Rolen City and said, "Thanks, Nick."  Nick just smiled and 
waved goodbye to him.  Nick decided to get moving in case Barry realized that 
he'd been swindled and came back after him.  There was no demand for bows in 
Rolen City, because Nick had been there just before he went to Peres.  Before he 
left, Nick took another look at the prize he had gotten in Peres which was 
instrumental to the swindle he had planned next.  It was a large golden sword 
with the symbol of the Kin Shi Tal. . .