Page 25 of Unrivaled
There was a storm brewing around me and I just had to sit in the center, appearing calm.
Brian was in the bailey when we arrived, standing beside a saddled horse, his face turned toward the stables until the door swung closed noisily behind us.
“Good morrow,” he said, cheerfully.“I hope you don’t mind, my lady, but we’ve taken the liberty of organizing your horse, and those for your staff.”
Storm, my mare, wasn’t visible, but Isolde’s was.Chay excused himself, his stride long as he headed toward the stable to make sure his gelding didn’t take anyone’s fingers off.
“Where are we off to?”I asked, settling my cloak more firmly over my shoulders against the chill I hadn’t dressed for.
“The sailors of the Siren’s Ally have requested your attendance,” he told me, pushing his spectacles up his nose a little further.“They have little of note to trade—some salted meat, some mead—but they’re offering to go and find whatever we need.And you, my lady, need wheat.”
I knew I needed wheat.“How will they acquire it?”
He smiled at me.“I knew you’d worry about that.I’ve a list of items we can trade with farmers—namely winter greens and some eggs, but also some bolts of fabric and furs—I’ll have you look over it, of course.”
There was little to keep the pirates honest if we used them as go-betweens.Movement from the direction of the stable caught my eye, but Thomas had already left to go and retrieve Storm’s reins from the hand of the stableboy, so I turned back to Brian.“What’s to stop them taking everything?”
“They want papers,” he said, eyes sparkling.“I thought they might.With one port to legally trade at, they’ll earn significantly more for doing a lot less.They’ll have plenty of room in their hold for your wheat and their own cargo.Our markets are dead now, my lady, but soon enough they won’t be.With some spare coin and some credibility, they’ll be able to buy their way into a few more ports.”His hand swept toward the city as if he could see it already.“If they’re smart—and I do suspect they may be—and if you’re willing, this might be the foundation of another trading company.One that’s loyal toyou.”
My mind whirred.The benefits of having a merchant fleet whose home port was La’Angi would be huge.But if it was that simple… “What haven’t you told me?”
Brian patted his horse’s muzzle.“I forget you’re an only child, my lady,” he said, sounding apologetic.“Those of us who grew up with siblings mayhap understand the delicate balance of managing the different trading companies’ egos, wishes, and capabilities.”
I’d be playing favorites and put established traders off-side.
I couldn’taffordthat.
More to the point, I didn’t know if anything I did would stand up in the King’s court if anyone chose to inspect it.My signature was merely ink on parchment, same as anyone else’s.They were just letting it mean more for now.
Storm snuffled at my hair.I leant into her familiar warmth, greeting my old friend as the worries simmered.
Without the wheat, I was standing to lose a significant amount by producing cider over knappchs.I already didn’t have the staff to uphold our trading contracts.I was taking the riches of the dead in my city, leaving living relatives mere trinkets.If their relatives returned after I’d absorbed the deceased’s resources?It would be too late.The most impacted were, of course, the wealthy.
Those traders, they were going to be off-side already.
Brian climbed up into his saddle with a grunt of effort.He’d already figured it out.He knew this was what I needed to do.That was why we were here, and I was being dragged out to meet them.
“Don’t look so glum, my lady,” he said, peering down at me.“Family gatherings are much more enjoyable when there’s someone new at the table.”He grinned, the expression not entirely friendly.“There reallyisenough gravy for everyone, if only they’ll pass the bowl.”
Thomas returned, reins in his hand.Isolde was already in her saddle, and Chay wouldn’t be far off.I lifted myself up, my mind on the seemingly endless list of contracts we had with the different companies.
Brian was right, of course.Therewasenough gravy for us all.But we were probably going to need to break the fingers of the people holding the tureen.
How many people’s fingers could I break before they turned on me?
“Look at that,” Brian said, surprised.“Is that an albatross?”
“There’s four of them,” Isolde said, crisply.“Brown-breasted.”
I followed Brian’s gaze and saw the dots above us as they wove in and out of the clouds.“That’s a good sign, my lady.Those birds rarely come ashore.”
“The last good omens carried on dark wings were seen before the plague,” I told Brian, knowing Isolde would hear.“I’m sure they’re majestic birds.I won’t base any important decisions on their presence.”
“And so you shouldn’t,” Brian agreed, sounding amused.“I’ll note, my lady, that we could’ve done much worse from that hideous plague.”I didn’t glance back, keeping my eyes on the city unfolding before me.Beneath me, Storm’s pace was brisk and steady.
Once again, Brian was right.I didn’t want to dismiss anyone’s grief, or minimize the dire position we were in, but it could’ve been much worse.
Above us, the birds soared.
