Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-Two - Dine Another Day

Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-Two - Dine Another Day

Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-Two - Dine Another Day

Mister Sebastien and Mister Geoffrey sat down across from us and remained very silent for a while.

It got a bit uncomfortable, awkward, even.

Im sorry, I said. It was only nice to extend the first olive branch. That was sort of rude of me. Were your guests, and I did the whole rank thing. I mean, it was kinda fun, since I never got to do that before, but still mean.

Edmund coughed into his fist as if to hide a very inappropriate grin.

I didnt have a full picture of how things were going down between him and the company men, but I could feel a bit of tension between the two.

Sebastien, the younger of the pair, cleared his throat and spoke up first. Its... all well, Captain Bunch. Please forgive Geoffrey and myself. We acted rashly. You are, of course, guests, and deserve all the courtesy that comes with that.

I nodded, a big smiling coming on. Civility was so nice.

Yes, Amaryllis said with a tone that had me worried. I imagine that you treat all of your guests with such wonderful hospitality.

I placed a hand on her thigh under the table, a small gesture to tell her not to go too far.

She huffed and rolled her eyes. So, I asked. You two dont look like lumberjacks, I said. I cant imagine theres all that much busywork to do in a camp like this.

Youd be surprised, Edmund said. We do need to keep track of supplies and the like, not to mention how much lumbers being shipped down south, and how many goods we need from up north.

That made some sense. Why do you get things from one direction and send them to another? I asked.

The river, he said. Theres a little river that runs all the way down to Needleford, or at least a little village between us and the city where they can load the lumber up onto wagons to haul down to Needleford. We get most of our supplies from Cherryhold.

Awen perked up. My family sells a lot of things that end up there, she said. Its closer to ship to Cherryhold than to Needleford. Or, well, its faster and safer. Otherwise you need to go the long way around the Seven Peaks.

Neat, I said.

Geoffrey grumbled something and shifted on his seat. Were here on official business, he said. Nothing that ought to bother you, ladies.

That... was fair. I probably shouldnt pry. So what sort of business? my mouth asked before I could rein it in. I slapped a hand over it, just in case. Im sorry! Its none of my business.

Edmund snorted. Theyre here to make peace with the dryads, he said.

Unfortunately, Sebastien said. Its not going as well as it should.

Did you snub them? Amaryllis asked rather snobbily.

Judging by the quick grimace that crossed Sebastiens face, the answer to that might have been a resounding yes.

Theyre trees! Geoffrey said. Trees! No money, no property, no idea of how propriety works. He smacked the table. Theyve no king or nation. Id call them savages, but even savages have some form of society.

Edmunds expression darkened quite a bit. And yet theyre beating us at every turn. Ever since they got that leader of theirs.

I met a really nice dryad once. He was pretty cool. He helped me find some flowers and we fought some monsters together. I dont know if he had a nation, or a king, but he was a nice person, I said.

Thats not most folks experience with the tree people, Edmund said. They can be mighty violent and territorial.

Well, I said. You are encroaching on their territory.

This territory belongs to the East Mattergrove Company, Geoffrey said.

I had the impression Id heard that before in a history lesson or two. It didnt usually end well. How much did you pay the dryads for it? I asked.

The East Mattergrove Company is not without some financial resources, Sebastien said.

Awen nodded. They are one of the biggest companies in Mattergrove, she said. We used to have a lot of them come to Greenshade because its a trade city. Theyre probably the richest non-noble group in Mattergrove.

Richest in one of the poorest countries, Amaryllis said. That means theyre a small fish elsewhere.

Perhaps we could give you a favourable deal on some cargo, Sebastien said. Or if your vessel is at capacity already, we could offer you a letter of introduction, perhaps a rebate on some of our wares.

Do you have fuel for ships? I asked. And a place to maintain them?

Sebastien nodded. We do. The East Mattergrove Company does a lot of shipping between Mattergrove and Deepmarsh by sea and air. Were the principal traders with our eastern allies.

I looked to my friends for guidance, Awen first, since she knew the company best.

Awa, theyre, um, a company. But we do have something they want, so I think theyll be fair, Awen said.

It would take up some of our time, Amaryllis added.

Were not in that much of a hurry, though, I said.

Bastion hummed as he gestured for seconds. The main diplomatic mission is only leaving in a week and a bit. Were set to arrive quite a bit earlier than they are, even if we make a little detour to assist these fine gentlemen.

Mister Sebastien, would it be possible to receive a permanent discount on any purchases we make? Amaryllis asked.

The man frowned and looked to his older partner. Im not senior enough to make that kind of deal, he said.

I am, Geoffrey said. A permanent discount sounds like a whole lot of trouble.

Ah, but its to fix a problem youre not competent enough to fix yourself, Amaryllis said. Ill have you know that Captain Bunch here, despite her appearances, is an expert negotiator. Not only would you not have to hire your own negotiator, youd have transportation to and from a dangerous area, and its safe to say that no one on this side of this table is a slouch when it comes to combat. Awen takes after her uncle, Broccoli came in second place at the Rosenbell tournament this year, and Im an accomplished mage myself. Bastion here is, well, hes a royal paladin, Im certain that I dont need to elucidate on his abilities in combat.

One of Bastions brows perked up. I could sympathize, I was wondering what Amaryllis was up too as well.

Thats... quite tempting, Sebastien said. Maybe if the sum of the discount is low enough we could make it permanent.

No more than two percent, Geoffrey said.

Thats a pittance, Amaryllis said. Wed lose more than that dealing with transportation to and from such a backwater. Ten percent.

Ten! By the kings beard, are you trying to bankrupt us? Geoffrey asked. Three.

Three? For a tiny, insignificant company run by bureaucrats too incompetent to be hired by the royal family? Seven.

Five, and Ill have you know that the crown wishes it had our astute business acumen, Geoffrey said.

Amaryllis hesitated. Five, and the right extends to anyone in our crew.

Anyone? Are you mad, you bird? Geoffrey asked. Well give it to the Captain and the Captain alone.

Fine, then ten percent, seeing as how any of us would need to go through her as an intermediary anyway.

Geoffrey huffed, then grumbled something under his breath. Four, and its transferable.

Five, and it can be transferred to any of us, Amaryllis insisted.

The old man nodded. Five.

I had no idea what just happened, but Amaryllis looked particularly smug, so I decided that it was probably for the best to just push on. Then its decided, I said as I extended a hand over the table. Tomorrow morning, when the suns up, well see about flying you closer to the dryads. And then I can act as a translator for you, if you want.

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