was part of doing business. But there was something about this man that warned him away from making such an offer. After a moment he said, “I would be content to remain in Krondor and let my Quegan partner conduct the business at this end. I am a shipper, and a . . . cooperation with a Quegan of rank and influence would be beneficial. Also, there are cargoes that are difficult to secure anywhere else than Queg.”
Vasarius leaned forward, his voice dropping. “You surprise me. I assumed you wanted to establish a presence here in Queg, Mr. Avery.”
Roo shook his head. “I would be quickly disadvantaged by your local businessmen, I am certain. No, I need the sure hand and practiced intelligence of a man known in Queg for his perspicacity and wisdom. Such a man would benefit from such an arrangement, as would I.”
Roo fell silent. Vasarius knew what he had to offer. He could bring in foodstuffs to make this the most lavish table in Queg. Wines unmatched in all the world. Silks from Kesh for his daughter and mistresses. Luxury items that these people obviously craved.
Roo glanced around the room. He knew why these buildings were marble: there was abundant marble on Queg. Wood was scarce. Most of thearable land had been cleared centuries ago for crops. Sheep were the livestock of choice, as you got more meat for less grass than with cattle. Everything about this meal tonight spoke of a people who had prospered, but at a price. No, Queg smelled ripe for imported luxury items from the Kingdom.
Vasarius said, “What do you offer?”
Roo said, “Almost anything you can imagine, m’lord.” He paused, then he said, “Luxuries, rarities, and novelties.” Vasarius didn’t blink. Roo spoke again. “Lumber, coal, and beef.” A spark ignited in Vasarius’s eyes, and Roo knew he was now an equal player in this game. He felt a warm tingle of success begin to spread inside him; Roo was in his element. It was time to haggle.
Vasarius said, “What cargo would you wish to secure?”
“Well, as a matter of fact I have a commission, which, should I fulfill it, would be a great beginning to any such trading association.”
“What do you seek to buy?”
“Fire oil.”
Vasarius blinked. It was the most overt reaction Roo had witnessed so far, and he knew that this was a man he didn’t want to face in a card game. But he knew he had surprised him.
“Fire oil?”
“Yes, I’m sure your intelligence has told you the Kingdom is preparing for war.” He slipped into the speech James had had him memorize. “Kesh moves along the Vale again, and we fear it seeks to invade. With a new Prince in Krondor and no practiced General leading the Armies of the West, it would be prudent to equip as well as possible. We are trainingadditional men for the Prince’s army and seek to bolster our defenses with fire oil. We know how to produce it, as I am sure you’re aware; it’s no longer a secret. But we lack facilities to produce it in sufficient volume to provide any viable amount.”
“How much do you desire?”
“Ten thousand barrels.”
Roo watched and again there were flickers in the man’s eyes: shock, followed almost at once by greed. Roo reconsidered, and wondered if he could get this man into a game of cards.
4
Relationships
Dash laughed.
Jimmy said, “And then I asked, ‘Are the red bulbs more difficult to cultivate than the yellow?’ ”
Owen Greylock, Knight-Captain of the Prince’s Army of the West, said, “You came close to a personal insult, James.”
Jimmy smiled. “In that strange land, what I said was far more important than what I meant.” He took another drink from his ale. “I might have found the girl attractive in different circumstances, but her contempt for me simply because I came from another land . . . it made any notion of romance impossible.”
Roo said, “Well, you didn’t seem to have any problems with that young serving girl later that night.”
Jimmy smiled. “I thought
Vasarius leaned forward, his voice dropping. “You surprise me. I assumed you wanted to establish a presence here in Queg, Mr. Avery.”
Roo shook his head. “I would be quickly disadvantaged by your local businessmen, I am certain. No, I need the sure hand and practiced intelligence of a man known in Queg for his perspicacity and wisdom. Such a man would benefit from such an arrangement, as would I.”
Roo fell silent. Vasarius knew what he had to offer. He could bring in foodstuffs to make this the most lavish table in Queg. Wines unmatched in all the world. Silks from Kesh for his daughter and mistresses. Luxury items that these people obviously craved.
Roo glanced around the room. He knew why these buildings were marble: there was abundant marble on Queg. Wood was scarce. Most of thearable land had been cleared centuries ago for crops. Sheep were the livestock of choice, as you got more meat for less grass than with cattle. Everything about this meal tonight spoke of a people who had prospered, but at a price. No, Queg smelled ripe for imported luxury items from the Kingdom.
Vasarius said, “What do you offer?”
Roo said, “Almost anything you can imagine, m’lord.” He paused, then he said, “Luxuries, rarities, and novelties.” Vasarius didn’t blink. Roo spoke again. “Lumber, coal, and beef.” A spark ignited in Vasarius’s eyes, and Roo knew he was now an equal player in this game. He felt a warm tingle of success begin to spread inside him; Roo was in his element. It was time to haggle.
Vasarius said, “What cargo would you wish to secure?”
“Well, as a matter of fact I have a commission, which, should I fulfill it, would be a great beginning to any such trading association.”
“What do you seek to buy?”
“Fire oil.”
Vasarius blinked. It was the most overt reaction Roo had witnessed so far, and he knew that this was a man he didn’t want to face in a card game. But he knew he had surprised him.
“Fire oil?”
“Yes, I’m sure your intelligence has told you the Kingdom is preparing for war.” He slipped into the speech James had had him memorize. “Kesh moves along the Vale again, and we fear it seeks to invade. With a new Prince in Krondor and no practiced General leading the Armies of the West, it would be prudent to equip as well as possible. We are trainingadditional men for the Prince’s army and seek to bolster our defenses with fire oil. We know how to produce it, as I am sure you’re aware; it’s no longer a secret. But we lack facilities to produce it in sufficient volume to provide any viable amount.”
“How much do you desire?”
“Ten thousand barrels.”
Roo watched and again there were flickers in the man’s eyes: shock, followed almost at once by greed. Roo reconsidered, and wondered if he could get this man into a game of cards.
4
Relationships
Dash laughed.
Jimmy said, “And then I asked, ‘Are the red bulbs more difficult to cultivate than the yellow?’ ”
Owen Greylock, Knight-Captain of the Prince’s Army of the West, said, “You came close to a personal insult, James.”
Jimmy smiled. “In that strange land, what I said was far more important than what I meant.” He took another drink from his ale. “I might have found the girl attractive in different circumstances, but her contempt for me simply because I came from another land . . . it made any notion of romance impossible.”
Roo said, “Well, you didn’t seem to have any problems with that young serving girl later that night.”
Jimmy smiled. “I thought
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