Page 56 of Galadon
We should move on to business,I said, concerned about the time.
He dipped his chin.Of course. Do you have what I requested?
I produced a rolled parchment from shiggara and handed it over. While Clyde couldn’t shift, he did have longer arms like a shifter and hands dexterous enough to hold paper while reading it. He also had a magic talent for being able to imprint words on certain mediums with his mind. It was why he chose the type of business he did because pretty much all dragons who had that ability handled toriq correspondence and contracts.
He read it over carefully before looking up at me.They finally agreed to the deal? You didn’t have to negotiate anymore?
I met with them during a patrol yesterday. Something tells me that my annoyance with their latest haggling may have been evident after I began describing how I planned to rip their heads off if they didn’t either take it or leave it. They decided you’d offered an equitable deal.
While I had my difficulties with the Takaran, I had allies within their toriq who I’d worked with for centuries on tradedeals. They knew better than to ever cross me and had nothing to do with the others who tried infiltrating my territory. It benefited them far too much to stay on my good side.
Narrow neutral zones ran on either side of my land so other dragon toriqan could reach me. Since I was almost a century old, I’d begun helping facilitate trade as a neutral party. Having an intermediary with no allegiances made everyone more comfortable, and I was strong enough to hold my ground.
In this case, Clyde’s wife ran a small restaurant that catered to shifters. She wanted to expand into seafood dishes, but acquiring the ingredients meant working with the Takaran to handle transport and the humans who lived near the Gulf of Dragons to do the fishing and packing. Their prices weren’t cheap, but a couple of years ago, I’d worked out a deal between the dangerous sea beasts and the fisherman so that their boats wouldn’t get attacked anymore.
It had been one of the most dangerous negotiations I’d ever handled, but afterward, it meant I could get fresh fish and shrimp for free anytime I flew down for a visit. The humans were most generous for their part in this latest deal due to their gratitude that dragons weren’t destroying their vessels or eating their people anymore.
For the package contents to remain fresh during their travel north, those handling transport would have to move it up to their land quickly or make one of their sorcerers do a preservation spell. It also meant having a set schedule to handle the pickup at the border. In cases where parties missed each other, they had the option of using me—for a fee, of course. I also required payment from all sides for handling the negotiations.
This is why everyone with any wisdom hires you,Clyde said to me, his gaze filled with respect.You never fail to getthe job done equitably. Oh, and I will make it known that your slayer won’t be an impediment to your negotiations.
I dipped my head.That would be much appreciated.
Some would wonder how my relationship would affect my business dealings, but with Clyde's help, they’d understand a slayer could help me enforce the deals I made if she chose. I’d already discussed as much with Rayna, making certain she understood this was part of my life. It remained up to her if she wished to become involved.
We left, heading back into the crowded street. The slayer said nothing as we walked, but she lightly clasped my arm as if she needed that touch to stay connected to me. I certainly didn’t mind. My need to be close to her was every bit as strong, though it was strange walking among dragons together without the animosity the two of us once shared.
I wanted to let out a sigh of contentment. It was a relief to have my most important business done, though this time of year wasn’t usually busy for me. In late spring, everything on Earth was abundant, so fewer dragons came to me, requiring a negotiator. During the summer, I stayed occupied with invitations from dragons and humans to bring rain to their lands. They’d pay me in coin, produce, or animals like cows, sheep, or chickens. I kept what I needed and traded the rest at the Faegud jakhal for other things.
I had enough credit to commission dozens of wardrobes for Rayna if I wished, and still have plenty left over. My mother had quickly discovered I could provide her with anything she wanted and was quite proud of how well I’d done for myself. I didn’t need much, but for centuries, those deals had been the main way I socialized and learned about my kind.
Rayna slowed her pace as we walked by a shop displaying weapons. It was then that I realized the Kandoran had stolen all of hers. She didn’t have anything anymore to defend herself or hunt, and I didn’t know why I hadn’t considered that, except we’d been more than a little distracted lately.
Choose whatever you want,I told her.I’ll be two shops over, picking up your clothes and ordering a few more things.
She frowned.I can’t. The Kandoran took everything, and I…
Which is my fault for letting you go out there alone when you came to me for help. Do not worry about the cost. I can more than afford it.
Rayna shifted on her feet in indecision. While I wasn’t a fan of her hunting my kind, I also knew she was a target.I will not leave you defenseless. If you don’t choose what you want—and I’m aware of exactly how many weapons you carried before—then I will select them for you.
Amusement filled her eyes.You wouldn’t.
I absolutely would.
Fine.She lifted her chin.But I’m warning you that I have expensive taste.
Excellent. That means you won’t choose poor weapons.
Rayna gave me a grateful smile and entered the shop. I hated letting her out of my sight, but we only had about thirty minutes before I needed to check in for the bitkal and begin preparations. Until then, I wouldn’t know if I would fight a shifter or a pure dragon. I wanted to strategize ahead of time for either situation.
With that thought, I hurried to the next shop, even more sizeable than the last with an open front and high ceiling. The female shifter inside gave me an appreciative look until I came close enough for her to catch my scent. Annoyance flared in her gaze after that.
I’d had Lorcan put in the order since I was still recovering from my injuries at the time, and until today, no one aside from my mother knew my relationship with Rayna had deepened. Many people would be giving me shocked looks today, and no doubt, by the end of the bitkal, everyone would know. I didn’t particularly care what they thought, though.
You have the garments I requested ready?I asked, noting the various display garments hung upon the walls on either side of the large building. Thankfully, they were widely spaced apart, so even a large dragon could fit inside.
She was currently in beast form. Next to her, a human female stood ready to help as well. She took one look at me before bending down to grab a package from under the counter. Everyone living in the jakhal could recognize me. I pulled a dozen gold coins from shiggara, placing them on the counter. She handed my order over, and I immediately sent it into my pocket dimension. It would be safe there for the time being.
