321. Of offers, trials and a little bit of gallantry

Cassandra Pendragon

He smiled genuinely and replied: "I'm tempted to ask for a kiss but I'm also quite attached to my life, so how about this: you need money, goods, ships, weapons, resources, food," all true, except for the money part, "and I can provide. Sure, some of your friends can do so as well, but, without sounding too conceited, I'm better and probably more devious. If you wanted, my talents could be yours. As for compensation… I'm sure you can figure out yourself what I stand to gain, should you accept my proposal." I nodded thoughtfully and finally turned my head to face him.

"And I assume protecting your hide is a given?" He shrugged nonchalantly.

"That'd be up to you but I'm confident my services would entice you to do so, anyways. Why not… go for a trial run? Tell me what you need, information, wares, whatever. Pick a few things and I promise I'll provide within a day. Whatever. It. Is."

"Are you sure? Look around. My needs are more in line with those of a kingdom."

"Try me." Holy hells, I at least had to applaud his confidence.

"Fine. I need armour and weapons, made from materials that can be enchanted, ships and I want to know who in Free Land still holds power. Especially those I haven't met, yet. Also, I'd really like to know who you are. Still think you can provide?" He smirked.

"I'm Rachmahn al Kh'Assim, a humble trader and sometimes broker. Shall we say 5 ships, 100 sets of equipment and a list? Shouldn't be a problem, but… do you know how much a sky ship is worth? I said I'd provide and I'm not going back on my word, but…"

"Don't worry, I don't mean to ruin a potential partner. Do you want gold in return?" He shook his head slowly and squinted at me calculatingly.

"I would take money, but there's something else I'd much prefer. Word on the street is you managed to turn normal humans into mages this morning." Oh my, he was even better than I had thought. Who could even have told him that? The ones I had changed weren't up yet and as for witnesses… maybe he had figured it out himself, some hints Vanya or Will might have dropped here and there could have been enough.

"Go on," I urged, intrigued.

"I'm sure you've already figured out that none of my line has a talent for the arts. If you could change that, it'd constitute something of more than equal value. I'd even consider myself still in your debt, afterwards."

"Change that as in change you or your entire family?"

"I'm quite old and already planning my retirement. I've actually had my son in mind, but of course, I wouldn't say no if you were willing to extend your grace to a few others. I have four children, all in all, and then there's my wife, of course. How about I put in the preliminary work and," his smile widened, "depending on how deeply impressed you are, you can decide yourself how much my services have been worth."

"Sound surprisingly fair. I just can't wrap my head around why a merchant would be willing to leave his payment up to the customer."

"Ah well, I've dealt with enough people to whom money is nothing more than sand in the desert. Ample and just not worth much attention. You strike me as the same type. Those usually don't bother with haggling and more often than not they're prepared to give with both hands if treated properly. Plus… I'd still prefer paying a little extra and have you and yours consider me as a useful tool, if nothing else, over making a quick coin and insulting you along the way."

"I see. Who are you Rachmahn? How can you be so sure to acquire five airships over night, if you don't already have them stashed away somewhere?" Especially since you apparently hadn't even considered bringing your power to bear when your city had been under attack.

"Now, that's my business, isn't it, and as much as I'm willing to tell you anything you'd like to know about me, my trade is off limits. I'm sure you can understand." I nodded hesitantly.

"Unfortunately I do. Fine, I don't see what I stand to lose. Five ships, a hundred sets and a list. Get it done until noon tomorrow and I will consider how to repay you, depending on the quality of the items in question. Sounds fair?" And maybe I could figure out who or what he was, somewhere along the way. Considering what he had told me, I had a hunch that he was actually doing business with and around Free Land, as well as the Pirate Islands. In a generalised context I wouldn't have cared, it's what a good merchant was for, after all, but in this particular case… let's just say I didn't mind to get to know him more intimately, or, better yet, to gain a modicum of control over his actions. Keep your friends close but you enemies closer, wasn't it?

"Not really," he replied with a chuckle, "but it is what I asked for, isn't it?" He extended his hand.

I eyed him wearily for another heartbeat or two before we shook. Just when he wanted to let go I strengthened my grip and pulled him closer. "You know what's going to happen, should I come to regret this, don't you?" 

"I do," he replied quietly, his dark eyes withstanding my gaze. "Don't worry, whatever I was, whatever I am, I'm not a fool. I'm not going to sell you out. This much I can guarantee."

Through a pinched, cold smile I said: "I'll hold you to your word," before I let go. For a second longer he eyed me wearily, the soft rustling in the canopy, the faint song of birds in the distance and the echoes of a myriad of voice, arguing, singing and cursing, the only distraction, until he finally gave a curt nod and inclined his head.

"I'd expect nothing less. There is one more thing before we part ways again. I'll need all of my resources to stand a chance to make good on my claims. Could you make sure the children are protect while they wander the city? Normally I stick a guard or two on Abdur's tail but today and tonight I'm going to need them." Through a crooked grin I replied:

"Reia doesn't need much protection and I'm sure she wouldn't allow your son to get seriously hurt, but I'll see what I can do. I'm curious, though… if you had him tailed, didn't you know fully well what he's been up to?" He shrugged nonchalantly.

"Guilty as charged, even though I didn't know he'd try to start a fight and get beaten to a pulp for his troubles. I have to admit, though, I wouldn't have done anything differently, even if I had known. In a way it worked out perfectly, didn't it?"

"We'll have to see. Now I have one last question, or rather two. Do you know a man by the name of Zuma? Zookeeper by profession and meddling alchemist by nature. And then, there's this… I'd call it a cult of glorified cutthroats. Goes by the name of Soul Catchers. Ever heard of them?" Again I was surprised by his reaction. Neither did he flinch nor did he seem overly worried, even though he apparently had a good grasp on what I was talking about.

"Well, after seeing you fillet one of its lieutenants I can comfortably say that I haven't only heard of them but have also seen them squirm and bleed. Your questions aren't really two but one, though," he explained. "Zuma… is a well known idiot. Don't get me wrong, he's a prodigy in his area, a true genius, as far as I can tell, but when it comes to street smarts or the most basic survival skills he's just an imbecile. Which is a dangerous combination, especially around here. Ever since he started making a name for himself with that weird bat obsession of his it has always been a matter of time until someone picked him up and used him for less scholarly goals. The Soul Catchers were simply the first. Even though I've heard rumours that he has been recruited by someone much more dangerous, much more powerful. Powerful enough, in fact, to have the Soul Catchers back off… powerful enough to succumb to the illusion of being able to challenge you head on, if you catch my drift. Alas, that was a gross misjudgement, as you've proven. Now, for the Soul Catchers themselves… they're a relict of a bygone age, clinging to life through superstition, cruelty and fear. I have to admit, they're splendid customers, though. Do you want a list of names?"

"It doesn't exactly instil trust to see you willingly sell out your business partners. Are you going to do the same to me?"

"I've already told you I won't, but if you want to become technical here's what I meant: I'm not going to sell you out unless I'm confronted with someone who's powerful enough to make me think of you as the less deadly party. And I'm not talking about a willingness to shed blood, I'm talking about undiluted strength. Is there anyone in this world who could hold a candle to you in that regard?"

"Two someones to be precise. One I'm married to and the other I'm probably going to either kill or, at the very least, shake until he tells me what he's been up to. So… you're basically opportunistic to a fault?"

"I'm a merchant, that simply comes with the territory. If you want true loyalty… my children aren't married, yet, and family is the only thing that trumps profit, at least in my book." I didn't even try to suppress my grin. He was a true piece of work but a likeable one.

"I don't marry off my relatives, but if your son is charming enough, I won't be the one standing in his way. Honestly, though, I don't think he's got much of a chance." He nodded slowly.

"A pity, that. It would have been interesting to boot. Has there ever been an offspring between a human and a kitsune?" By now I was chucking openly.

"Not that I'm aware of. We don't mix too well. Our age… and then there's also…" I trailed off, unsure if he'd take offence with my next words.

"The way we look and probably smell in comparison to your people. No need to sugarcoat it, I'm not blind and I've dealt with beast kin before. Like I said, a pity, even though I've already expected as much. Anyways, about that list of names…?"

"If you were willing to provide, I'd gladly take it and I'd make sure to forget who gave it to me the very next second."

"Much appreciated, but that's hardly necessary. You plan on visiting them, don't you? They'll probably be much too preoccupied to even bother with such minutiae. Still, I'd like to ask you to not advertise where you're getting your information." He had already produced a roll of parchment from the depths of his robe, with the corresponding piece of coal, and was scribbling away furiously.

"That's a given. Now… one more thing. Richard Tudor. I assume the name rings a bell as well?"

"Indeed it does," he replied without looking up. "But… not for free. I don't think he'd mind terribly if I were to spill the beans but his father is another matter." He underlined the last name he had written down and handed me the scroll. "As another token of my good will, why don't you ask around? I'm sure there are quite a few people who could tell you a story or two about the "Black Duke in a land of gold". Just… if I were you, I wouldn't make it sound like I'm headed towards a confrontation with that particular… human." 

"Ominous…," I glanced down at the list of maybe twenty names. "Thanks. That's already more than I expected. Would you…," I was interrupted when Reia and his son made their way back. She was looking exasperate and he was grinning from ear to ear. With a thought I stowed the parchment and smile at my sister.

"I assume, your afternoon plans have changed?"

"Don't remind me," she mumbled and leaned in closer to whisper in my ear: "I think I've earned a reward. Did you know what he's been up to?"

"Know? No. Did I guess? Very much so. It's half a day. Play along and I'm sure you can find a decent excuse to make yourself scarce quickly enough."

"From what I've heard, you wouldn't even have entertained him for an hour," she complained. "Didn't you cause a scandal when you slapped a suitor from the fourth palace?"

"I was 6 at the time… do you really want to compare?"

"Probably not. Still… you better pick out a really fancy restaurant when I get back."

"I will, even though the best one is currently without an owner… I wonder if they still serve there, though. I'll find out. Now, chop chop, off you pop. Enjoy the day."

"Bite me," she growled and rearranged her facial features into something resembling a smile. Or a toothache. "I'll fetch my friends," she explained graciously, more or less. "I'll be back in a few minutes. Don't run away." If she had been looking at me like she glared at Abdur, I'd have run for the hills, but the poor boy only nodded enthusiastically. Stopping myself from facepalming was about the only think I managed when she rushed off and her admirer stared after her wide eyed.

"Ah, to be young again," his father lamented while he slapped his son's shoulder. "Where are you taking them," he added jovially.

"Out of town," he immediately answered. "I thought they'd like to see something less… you know… cluttered, something clean and growing." Surprisingly thoughtful. Maybe his chances weren't as bad as I had thought, once she had calmed down, that is.

"Good idea," I commented while I looked up at the sun. It had long ago crossed the zenith and the weather was changing, fluffy clouds billowing on the horizon. Around 3.30. I really had to get moving. "If I were you, I'd give her some space, though. Take her somewhere… beautiful and don't pester her. Also… don't dawdle, the winds are picking up. Just a bit of advice. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to talk to our elves and ask for a favour. It won't take long." I didn't wait for a reply but I still heard Rachmahn's quiet words:

"I'll also be off. Much to do. I expect you to be home before nightfall but, whatever happens, you'll escort your guests back here, am I clear? I won't mind if you're late for that reason. Anything else and you'll be chopping firewood for the rest of the week. One last thing: try to act your age, once in a while, won't you? You're not that young anymore and I think you understand pretty well what's at stake here, don't you? You've seen what they can do." Even more quietly, barely more than a whispered breath, he added: "should I hear that you've shown anything but the utmost respect towards the lot of them I'm going to devise a fitting punishment and believe me, chopping wood won't suffice. That woman is dangerous and she loves the girl. Should you truly manage to anger her I doubt there's much I can do to keep you safe and, in all honesty, I'm not even sure I'm going to try." That was a lie. I could hear his heartbeat just as easily as I could followed his murmured instructions and whatever he was trying to accomplish, it was plain as day that he loved his son. If push came to shove he'd protect him with everything he had, which just made me like him more. Unless the juvenile Casanova would try to abduct the lot of them, there wasn't much he could do to incite my wrath. Not that I was going to tell. I've mentioned before how I had come to enjoy my devil persona in the past and slowly but surely we were getting there again.