15 A Business Transaction

Gabriel's cloudy green eyes stared eerily at Avril. In turn Avril stared strait back into his eyes.

"What can a small goblin chieftain like I do for the Mighty Kitsune Princess?" Gabriel's' deep rough voice filled the small room.

"I want to make a deal with this goblin chieftain here." Avril's' voice sounded steady and clear as she spoke.

"Please do go on, I am willing to listen to what you have to say for yourself." Gabriel said

"Thank you for hearing out my proposition."

"Don't thank me yet, if I don't like your deal Ill feed you to my troops for the fun of it." Gabriel said in a dark intonation.

"Over My dead body." Bain the forgotten third wheel in the room said with a voice full of power.

Avril quietly sipped the coffee that had been served onto the table.

"Now Gabriel, I think you'll like the little deal I plan to make with you today. So lets be civil to each other for now. We might be partners by the end of this."

"What is this deal you speak of. I shall hear it first before I am civil to anyone."

"So impatient...fine I will try to summarize the main points of what I wanted to talk to you about."

Avril paused to wet her throat before continuing.

"Today I came to ask you if you could act like you had been bribed to kill me. I want to use you to get rid of some pests that have been buzzing around lately. In payment for this I am willing to set up a weapons shop with you. This weapons shop will be co-owned by you and I. You will get a 60 % share out of all profits made, and I will get 40 % of the profits. You would have to bring in raw materials for me, and I will have someone shape them into weapons, In addition to the extra profit, you could have a permanent base at the back of the shop for when you and your goblins need to take a rest. Along with this I will cover the rental fees until our shop pulls in enough revenue to cover its own rental. If we want to continue business in larger towns we could start setting up more shops."

Gabriel's dark blue scaled brows scrunched together as he thought of the pros and cons of this agreement Avril had set forth. Avril and Bain sat quietly sipping the proffered coffee with calm collected looks upon their faces. Inside Avril's mind however all of her brain cells were screaming and running around. Her anxiety levels shot through the roof as she thought of what a gamble she had just made. Avril as a street urchin had always been cautious when it came to brokering deals. Not only that but she had never before made a deal that her life depended on. As Avril and Bain sat there the day wore on. As the sun reached its peak Gabriel finally looked up from his contemplation.

"If we are to go through with this deal and it succeeds it will benefit both of us, however if the store that you speak of fails to gain revenue what will you put in as collateral damages to compensate for my time, money, and resources?" Gabriel asked as his magnetic eyes fell onto Avril again.

"What do you want as collateral?" Avril clear calm voice asked

" Your indentured servitude to me." Gabriel said seconds after the question was dropped.

"Not the kitsune treasury or all the riches I have stored away?" Avril asked with a sly smile

"While my goblins may like that, I have no use for shiny things. I have long outlived many people and gold does not shine for me any more."

"Very well Gabriel Goblin chieftain, I Beltane Rakalu Kitsune will serve 3 years as an indentured servant to you if our store falls through in terms of revenue. This I swear on my Fox fire."

Gabriel smiled like he had come across a treasure, and Bain gasped in shock at Avril's solemn oath upon her fox fire.

Gabriel's smile got wider as he heard Bain's shocked gasp. "That will do quite nicely for collateral." Gabriel's calm rough voice stated.

"Now what are you going to put down for collateral if you fail to meet my expectations?" Avril's water like voice asked inquisitively. Gabriel looked at the coffee in his hands, his misty green eyes contemplating the question.

"What do you want if our failure happens?"He asked solemnly.

"A favor." was Avril's quick response. Gabriel's eyes turned confused then dangerously sharp as he considered.

"This favor can be anything I want that is within your capability to provide. Even if it's at the expense of your reputation as a goblin horde." Avril stated her terms plainly. Gabriel sat and considered the pros and cons of the deal laid out before him.

"Fox, I think I like your deal." Gabriel said in a ornery tone. Avril smiled at Gabriel, her tiny kitsune fangs flashing and a small dimple forming at the corner of her mouth.

"I'm glad you like my proposal. Shall we discuss the finer details of the arrangement then?"

"At your leasure my lady." Gabriel replied.