Page 129 of Unrivaled
“I’ve no doubt.”He shook his chin-length hair a little back from his face, stopping beside me to look over the sea of colorful awnings, tents, stands and stalls.From our angle, one couldn’t see the neat, logical walkways I’d enforced with every ounce of my sway when this one wanted just alittlemore space and that one wanted to invite their cousin to have just a small stall, or even a half table.We had a maximum capacity for sellers.It was critical that people could move around, otherwise no one wouldbuyanything.How could they if they couldn’t get to the sellers or leave with the item?
“Guards have already turned back one noble who wanted to ride,” Luca told me, with amusement.“I suspect, next time you run it, we’ll have a small handful of people with handcarts, ready to pull the wealthy through the crowds.”
My mind went immediately to Kadan, who I’d seen riding in with the grace you’d expect from the heir of the horse-powered empire that was Raider’s Ban, and then struggling to walk across the uneven cobbles.Wedidhave provisions for people with mobility barriers, but mayhap offering to hire those provisions out for the wealthy would reduce some of the stigma.Free for those who needed it, a cost for those who wanted it.
I didn’t hate the idea as long as there were still enough for those whose bodies wouldn’t carry them around consistently or without pain.
That assumed I lived through my father’s return.
Regardless, I’d seen the full inns, the busy taverns, the money being tossed toward shoe-shiners and stableboys.While there was a huge cost to this event, there was also a profit to it.Some of it would be easily measured in taxable profits.Some of it would be measured only in the confidence people had in their own futures and their quality of life.
“Have you got a good connection with Gregor V’nell?”Luca asked me.
The name was familiar, and I thought I could link a face to it, but I couldn’t recall which company he belonged to.“Probably not.”
He nodded, steering us around a group.We both flashed smiles and they greeted us as we moved on by.“Gregor is a major supplier of metalworks,” he told me quietly.“Gregor isn’tofficiallyimportant, butunofficially,he’s Marcus V’nell’s most trusted advisor.I wouldn’t be surprised if the business passes by Marcus’ sons and ends up, at least somewhat, with Gregor.And Gregor will do good things.He’s got a lot of connections.”
Gregor’s Silver Peak Smithing and Design weren’t represented at the faire officially, but they were the power behind Silver Scrolls and Golden Bells, the biggest whitesmiths by far to show an interest in the faire.
“I see,” I said.Luca was steering me in that direction.He must’ve spent some time learning the map because he navigated us without stopping to think.
There were definite downsides to being seen with Luca.So far, I’d avoided him in public, unless he was in a group I was speaking to.Mayhap it was simply my worry, but itfeltlike there were a lot more eyes onusthan I’d had on me before as I was making the rounds with just Isolde and my two guards.
I linked my hands together in front of me and stepped a little further away.
“Just introduce yourself when we go past,” Luca told me.“Then go past at some point this afternoon, when things are quieter.Ask him for a small favor—something he could easily do, like telling you the hour.”
I frowned, glancing toward Luca, but his eyes were directed past me.I saw him smile and nod in greeting at someone at their stall.
For a backwater lordling with little to his name, Luca seemed to know people.
“Once he’s done that,” Luca said, “thenpraise his wares and strike up conversation.”
“Wait.”I went back to his earlier instructions.“I’m asking him for a favor?”
“Yes.People like you more if they’ve done something for you.”This time, hedidmeet my eyes.There was no laughter in his expression.“You want Gregor to like you.If he’s theoneconnection you get out of this event, Audrey, you’ll be well off.”
There was no opportunity to ask questions without being overheard.We’d hit the first serious group of shoppers, wealthy young men here to enjoy the tourney.One of them already had a plaited ribbon with a ticket on his belt, evidence of a purchase, including the cost of its delivery to where he was staying.
The sight made relief rush through me with such force I suddenly felt lightheaded.
I’d already been successful.Iknewthere would be sales.But the evidence of it was something different.I hadn’t expected it to hit me quite so hard.I linked my fingers tighter together and focused on feeling the ground beneath my boots as I walked.
Gregor, when we passed by, had people already gathered around the table.He was clasping a necklace around the throat of a woman who wore Azashi fashion and was visibly excited.Her friends looked in consideration, suggesting alternative pieces or commenting on the one she was trying on.I didn’t try to introduce myself, though I returned the stallholder’s greeting.I had the right name to the right face for Gregor, at least.
“Ah, Luca, escorting the lovely lady herself.”An older man wearing velvet stopped, bowing to me.The sword at his hip was in a plain scabbard, and his boots were sensible.A silver scar split one of his lips and his nose looked like it’d been broken more than a few times.The contrast ofmoneyandfightercaught my attention.“What a handsome pair the two of you make.”
That was exactly what I’d been hoping to avoid.Not that it needed to matter.My father was going to be looking down the line of my sword regardless of whether his ego was hurt.
With that in my mind, I smiled and put my hand on Luca’s arm.“He’s been paying attention to the map of the faire, sir.I haven’t had to correct him once!”
The man laughed.“You’re doing better than I,” he said, with a friendly pat on Luca’s shoulder.“Bryenne has already hit me twice with it.”
“I had an excellent tutor,” Luca told him, with a wink.“And a small head-start.”
The implication irritated me, but I kept the smile on my face until we could move along.“Who was he?”I asked Luca.
“Sir Connor,” he said quietly.“One of the Crownguard, though he hasn’t worn a tabard since before I was born.Took an arrow for the old king and accepted a nice quiet keep on the west coastline as his payment.They thought he’d live quietly, I gather.Turns out, he’s a head for business.Keep an eye on him.He isn’t here for the tourney, or gifts for his family.”
