Page 106 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

“Yeah, well,Idon’t have it yet.”

Icouldbreak into his mind. I couldmakehim help me for free. No, no, I couldn’t slip back into the mercenary. I had to stay the diplomat. It wasn’t just about me now. Although there was a part of me that yearned to show anyone who tried to take advantage of me just how powerful I really was.

“Fine,” I huffed, digging into my pocket for gold. “How much?”

“More than you have in your pocket. I’d say 10,000 pieces of gold will do. I can at least buy a new ship if the monsters destroy this one.”

My mouth flattened into a straight line. I needed him, and he knew it.

“Fine,” I hissed through gritted teeth.

“Meet me at the docks with the coin in two hours,” Conrad said, returning to his work.

Baylis and I left the decrepit bar and headed up the steps to the bustling harbor.

“We’ll need to get you a bow.”

“Excellent,” Baylis said with a gleam in her eye.

We walked through the busy streets to the bank, where satyrs and halflings counted large stacks of gold and jewels behind solid iron bars.

I filled out a deposit slip before handing it to the teller.

The halfling with a mop of blond curls looked between me and the slip multiple times. “This is quite a large withdrawal, Lady Springborn.”

“Yes, I know. Is there a problem?”

“No, no, ma’am, not at all.” He hopped off his stool and hurried to the back. He returned with a velvet sack filled with gold coins. “Just sign here, and you will be all set.” He slid a piece of parchment through the opening in the bars, and I quickly signed my name in big swooping letters. “Here you go, my Lady. Have a good day and thank you for choosing Free Cities Bank.”

I smiled, grabbed the velvet sack, and tucked it into my cloak. Baylis and I headed for the blacksmith, where Tiernan, the giant with a bright orange beard, greeted us warmly. “Aelia! You haven’t been to see me in quite some time. How have you been?”

“Uh, well, that’s a loaded question,” I chuckled. “I’m fine but busy as usual.”

“Well, as long as business is good.” He pounded a hammer down on a burning blade. “Be right with you.”

Baylis examined the bows hung on the wall.

“These are all excellent. But that’s the one I want.” She pointed to a bow made of pearlescent metal.

“Aethril, an excellent choice,” Tiernan said, pulling the weapon down. “I’m happy to string it for you. What are you thinking? I have Arachne silk as well as chimera tendon.”

Baylis tapped her finger on her lip, mulling over her options.

“Let’s do Arachne silk. It’ll last longer.”

Tiernan nodded.

“Very good. Let me string this right quick, and I’ll be back shortly.” He slipped into a doorway I thought would surely be too small for him.

Baylis and I perused the selection of fine weapons hanging on the walls of the shop. The smell of molten metal filledthe air. Tiernan was known all over the continent for his fine craftsmanship, and he showed it off proudly.

“I’ll feel better with a bow in my hand,” Baylis said.

“Me too. Who knows what the guards on the island will be like.” I ran my hand over the tip of a battle axe.

“They haven’t been used in hundreds of years. They might be useless.”

“Doubtful, but I like the optimism.”

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