Chapter 292: Silken Negotiations
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Chapter 292: Silken Negotiations
Silken Negotiations
Arriving at the small port that lay just outside the capital, where the river met the sea, Martel remembered his last trip to the place with the Night Knives. That journey had ended with them being ambushed on the return, so he kept his eyes open this time.
Not that he expected anything to happen while still on the streets; the city guards maintained a good presence in Smallport, and given its size, a patrol would never be far away. Added to that, the amount of people and traffic moving around made it difficult to accomplish a coordinated attack. Still, he kept watch for signs that might give him early warning of anything about to happen.
The carriage continued past the walls into the small harbour itself and what was basically a small town of its own, coming to a halt at one of the squares. The door to their transport opened, and the guard helped Lady Pearl descend to the street. Ruby followed with a mischievous look at Martel, who exited last.
"The ineffable Lady Pearl! Consider me charmed."
They all turned towards the speaker, a short man dressed dashingly in a doublet and black leather trousers. His hat, which he removed with an elegant bow, carried a large feather. While his clothes looked Asterian, he spoke the language with an accent unknown to Martel, and whereas most people here had brown eyes, his were entirely black.
"Master Domitian, I take it." Lady Pearl smiled as she extended a hand, which the man kissed. "An Asterian name for an islander. Curious."
"Whatever helps facilitate trade. Such is the Consortium's philosophy. In that spirit, may I offer the lady a drop of wine as refreshment? And perhaps cups of ale for her retinue."
"Most kind. You have a place for us to retire to?"
The islander nodded with a smile and made a sweeping gesture towards the tavern behind him. As he walked inside, Martel noticed another following, dressed as a clerk and looking rather self-effacing. Probably not an assassin, unless he played the role exceedingly well.
Inside, this Domitian sat at the table, as did Lady Pearl. Her guards walked up to the bar, drinking their ale, while cups of wine were brought to the table. Four in total, including one for him and Ruby. It seemed they were counted as part of the refined company, unlike the guards. Martel left his untouched; he noticed Ruby did not drink hers either.
***
Conversation between Domitian and Lady Pearl continued for a while, consisting mostly of pleasantries and a few allusions to business that went over Martel's head. He saw no weapons on the man; he wore plenty of jewellery, all of it golden in colour. Nothing to indicate an intent to harm, though, unless perhaps he hid something magical on his person. Martel wanted to extend his own sixth sense and get a feel, but inside the tavern packed with people, he would not be able to sort out the impressions. He would have to wait for an opportunity.
***
As the carriage rumbled through Smallport, taking them back to Morcaster, Martel was a little surprised; all his suspicions had been for naught. At least his obligations toward Lady Pearl had been met. He would have time tonight to practice some of his spellwork.
He became aware that the two women in the carriage stared at him. They had been discussing the meeting, which he had not paid any attention to, and now they looked expectantly at him. "Sorry, what did you say?"
"Wizards really do have their heads in the clouds," Ruby teased.
"The silk. Or the man himself, for that matter. Did you notice any sign of magic on him? Anything to suggest he may have fooled our senses," Lady Pearl asked.
"None at all. You saw both the fabric and him. Not the tiniest shine or glow of magic on any of them." Martel looked out the window again, his mind distracted.
The women glanced at each other and chuckled. "Darling, did you think us mere mortals can see the signs of magic? No more than we can see the air," Lady Pearl informed him.
Martel frowned for a moment, digesting this. Obviously, magical effects were visible to everyone, such as when he summoned a flame. But magic itself, raw rather than bound into an element – the thought had just never crossed Martel's mind, as he had never really considered the nature of magic. That it existed by itself, invisible except to those touched by it.
"I don't suppose any magical artefacts on his person would work with all his golden jewellery," Ruby considered.
"Oh no, none of it is real. I guess it must be brass," Martel speculated. "I can say with certainty he wore neither magic nor gold."
Lady Pearl gave him a sharp look. "You are certain?"
"Believe me, as a mage, I would have known. You can't hide gold from a wizard," he insisted, eager to regain some of his standing.
"Now that is curious. A man claiming to deal in silk from Cathai, yet unable to afford real jewellery? Darling, I think you answered a valuable question for me."
Martel was unsure what she meant, his thoughts already elsewhere, and he did not feel like asking; he spent the remainder of the journey in silence, trying to ignore Ruby's scrutinising gaze.
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Chapter 292: Silken Negotiations
Silken Negotiations
Arriving at the small port that lay just outside the capital, where the river met the sea, Martel remembered his last trip to the place with the Night Knives. That journey had ended with them being ambushed on the return, so he kept his eyes open this time.
Not that he expected anything to happen while still on the streets; the city guards maintained a good presence in Smallport, and given its size, a patrol would never be far away. Added to that, the amount of people and traffic moving around made it difficult to accomplish a coordinated attack. Still, he kept watch for signs that might give him early warning of anything about to happen.
The carriage continued past the walls into the small harbour itself and what was basically a small town of its own, coming to a halt at one of the squares. The door to their transport opened, and the guard helped Lady Pearl descend to the street. Ruby followed with a mischievous look at Martel, who exited last.
"The ineffable Lady Pearl! Consider me charmed."
They all turned towards the speaker, a short man dressed dashingly in a doublet and black leather trousers. His hat, which he removed with an elegant bow, carried a large feather. While his clothes looked Asterian, he spoke the language with an accent unknown to Martel, and whereas most people here had brown eyes, his were entirely black.
"Master Domitian, I take it." Lady Pearl smiled as she extended a hand, which the man kissed. "An Asterian name for an islander. Curious."
"Whatever helps facilitate trade. Such is the Consortium's philosophy. In that spirit, may I offer the lady a drop of wine as refreshment? And perhaps cups of ale for her retinue."
"Most kind. You have a place for us to retire to?"
The islander nodded with a smile and made a sweeping gesture towards the tavern behind him. As he walked inside, Martel noticed another following, dressed as a clerk and looking rather self-effacing. Probably not an assassin, unless he played the role exceedingly well.
Inside, this Domitian sat at the table, as did Lady Pearl. Her guards walked up to the bar, drinking their ale, while cups of wine were brought to the table. Four in total, including one for him and Ruby. It seemed they were counted as part of the refined company, unlike the guards. Martel left his untouched; he noticed Ruby did not drink hers either.
***
Conversation between Domitian and Lady Pearl continued for a while, consisting mostly of pleasantries and a few allusions to business that went over Martel's head. He saw no weapons on the man; he wore plenty of jewellery, all of it golden in colour. Nothing to indicate an intent to harm, though, unless perhaps he hid something magical on his person. Martel wanted to extend his own sixth sense and get a feel, but inside the tavern packed with people, he would not be able to sort out the impressions. He would have to wait for an opportunity.
***
As the carriage rumbled through Smallport, taking them back to Morcaster, Martel was a little surprised; all his suspicions had been for naught. At least his obligations toward Lady Pearl had been met. He would have time tonight to practice some of his spellwork.
He became aware that the two women in the carriage stared at him. They had been discussing the meeting, which he had not paid any attention to, and now they looked expectantly at him. "Sorry, what did you say?"
"Wizards really do have their heads in the clouds," Ruby teased.
"The silk. Or the man himself, for that matter. Did you notice any sign of magic on him? Anything to suggest he may have fooled our senses," Lady Pearl asked.
"None at all. You saw both the fabric and him. Not the tiniest shine or glow of magic on any of them." Martel looked out the window again, his mind distracted.
The women glanced at each other and chuckled. "Darling, did you think us mere mortals can see the signs of magic? No more than we can see the air," Lady Pearl informed him.
Martel frowned for a moment, digesting this. Obviously, magical effects were visible to everyone, such as when he summoned a flame. But magic itself, raw rather than bound into an element – the thought had just never crossed Martel's mind, as he had never really considered the nature of magic. That it existed by itself, invisible except to those touched by it.
"I don't suppose any magical artefacts on his person would work with all his golden jewellery," Ruby considered.
"Oh no, none of it is real. I guess it must be brass," Martel speculated. "I can say with certainty he wore neither magic nor gold."
Lady Pearl gave him a sharp look. "You are certain?"
"Believe me, as a mage, I would have known. You can't hide gold from a wizard," he insisted, eager to regain some of his standing.
"Now that is curious. A man claiming to deal in silk from Cathai, yet unable to afford real jewellery? Darling, I think you answered a valuable question for me."
Martel was unsure what she meant, his thoughts already elsewhere, and he did not feel like asking; he spent the remainder of the journey in silence, trying to ignore Ruby's scrutinising gaze.
Chapter 292: Silken NegotiationsSilken NegotiationsArriving at the small port that lay just outside the capital, where the river met the sea, Martel remembered his last trip to the place with the Night Knives. That journey had ended with them being ambushed on the return, so he kept his eyes open this time.Not that he expected anything to happen while still on the streets; the city guards maintained a good presence in Smallport, and given its size, a patrol would never be far away. Added to that, the amount of people and traffic moving around made it difficult to accomplish a coordinated attack. Still, he kept watch for signs that might give him early warning of anything about to happen.The carriage continued past the walls into the small harbour itself and what was basically a small town of its own, coming to a halt at one of the squares. The door to their transport opened, and the guard helped Lady Pearl descend to the street. Ruby followed with a mischievous look at Martel, who exited last."The ineffable Lady Pearl! Consider me charmed."They all turned towards the speaker, a short man dressed dashingly in a doublet and black leather trousers. His hat, which he removed with an elegant bow, carried a large feather. While his clothes looked Asterian, he spoke the language with an accent unknown to Martel, and whereas most people here had brown eyes, his were entirely black."Master Domitian, I take it." Lady Pearl smiled as she extended a hand, which the man kissed. "An Asterian name for an islander. Curious.""Whatever helps facilitate trade. Such is the Consortium's philosophy. In that spirit, may I offer the lady a drop of wine as refreshment? And perhaps cups of ale for her retinue.""Most kind. You have a place for us to retire to?"The islander nodded with a smile and made a sweeping gesture towards the tavern behind him. As he walked inside, Martel noticed another following, dressed as a clerk and looking rather self-effacing. Probably not an assassin, unless he played the role exceedingly well.Inside, this Domitian sat at the table, as did Lady Pearl. Her guards walked up to the bar, drinking their ale, while cups of wine were brought to the table. Four in total, including one for him and Ruby. It seemed they were counted as part of the refined company, unlike the guards. Martel left his untouched; he noticed Ruby did not drink hers either.***Conversation between Domitian and Lady Pearl continued for a while, consisting mostly of pleasantries and a few allusions to business that went over Martel's head. He saw no weapons on the man; he wore plenty of jewellery, all of it golden in colour. Nothing to indicate an intent to harm, though, unless perhaps he hid something magical on his person. Martel wanted to extend his own sixth sense and get a feel, but inside the tavern packed with people, he would not be able to sort out the impressions. He would have to wait for an opportunity.***As the carriage rumbled through Smallport, taking them back to Morcaster, Martel was a little surprised; all his suspicions had been for naught. At least his obligations toward Lady Pearl had been met. He would have time tonight to practice some of his spellwork.He became aware that the two women in the carriage stared at him. They had been discussing the meeting, which he had not paid any attention to, and now they looked expectantly at him. "Sorry, what did you say?""Wizards really do have their heads in the clouds," Ruby teased."The silk. Or the man himself, for that matter. Did you notice any sign of magic on him? Anything to suggest he may have fooled our senses," Lady Pearl asked."None at all. You saw both the fabric and him. Not the tiniest shine or glow of magic on any of them." Martel looked out the window again, his mind distracted.The women glanced at each other and chuckled. "Darling, did you think us mere mortals can see the signs of magic? No more than we can see the air," Lady Pearl informed him.Martel frowned for a moment, digesting this. Obviously, magical effects were visible to everyone, such as when he summoned a flame. But magic itself, raw rather than bound into an element the thought had just never crossed Martel's mind, as he had never really considered the nature of magic. That it existed by itself, invisible except to those touched by it."I don't suppose any magical artefacts on his person would work with all his golden jewellery," Ruby considered."Oh no, none of it is real. I guess it must be brass," Martel speculated. "I can say with certainty he wore neither magic nor gold."Lady Pearl gave him a sharp look. "You are certain?""Believe me, as a mage, I would have known. You can't hide gold from a wizard," he insisted, eager to regain some of his standing."Now that is curious. A man claiming to deal in silk from Cathai, yet unable to afford real jewellery? Darling, I think you answered a valuable question for me."Martel was unsure what she meant, his thoughts already elsewhere, and he did not feel like asking; he spent the remainder of the journey in silence, trying to ignore Ruby's scrutinising gaze.
