The Twelve Orders: Traders

The king's legacy: 'Looking up, looking left, they are drawn together to become the Order of Traders. At first reluctant to be distracted, then delighted to ply their new skills, they set about their work.'

A trader gives insight into the Order: 'Traders deal in value; we know the worth of things. We are intermediaries and risk-takers. We work through a network of connections and we cannot be successful unless we can recognise quality and spot opportunities. We facilitate exchange. The goods in which we deal are not only material: there are other types of negotiable commodities, including ideas and energies. We are dedicated to balance.'

In the early days, trade was often dedicated to a god, and called 'Silent Trade' because neither party in the exchange ever met, but only left their offerings to each other in a sacred spot. Later human traders stepped in to fill the place once occupied by the god.

Orders of Traders include:

• Chambers of Commerce
• Commodity and Stockmarket Traders
• Silk Road trade caravans, who carried not only goods but myths and religious ideas
• Trade Guilds
• Rotary clubs
• Internet Newsgroups
• Various illegal operatives, such as kidnappers, pirates and 'The Ring' of price-fixers
• Early monasteries as places of hospitality and exchange of knowledge.