After grabbing his coat, Sean heads out the door and up a nearby set of stairs, stopping to make sure Louisa was following him.
Louisa follows him, keeping her head down. Her eyes dart here and there, waiting for something to leap from the shadows.
Sean leads her until they get to the center of the city, about two levels up. âWelcome to the Central Garden.â He says. âYou go ahead and try to find what youâre looking for.â
âR-right.â She slowly moves into the market space, glancing at booths to see if any of them had some garlic for sale. Hopefully it would be one close to the entrance, she didnât like being out in the open like thisâŚ
She might see a fresh produce stand on the the other side of the roof that made up the Garden.
Checking both ways for Nikidian soldiers first, she darts over to the stand. She hangs back a bit in the crowd, scanning over it for any garlic.
She would see none, but she would startle the stand owner. âUmâŚhello?â She says.
She seemed to sell fruits and vegetables, among which was some garlic.
Moenir opens the door for Sarah.
Inside is a wide office with a large wooden desk with piles of paperwork. Behind that paperwork is a bear⌠not a literal bear, but the Bear. Taeland Berl stands and smiles, âWelcome⌠youâve just made it in time.â
He gestures to his left at a couch and a small coffee table, on the couch sits a elegant red-haired lady. The Lion, Jana Amethyst smiles at Sarah and Moenir. On a chair near the couch, sits a small dark haired man, the Snake, Nevis Garnet. He wickedly smiles and gestures for them to sit down.
Taeland sits in a separate chair at the table and pours out tea, âYouâve barely been here for two days and already youâve put our lands in quite a situation⌠I wonder what you want⌠I hope itâs worth our time. For your sakes.â
Sarah takes a deep, shaky breath, and tries to gain her composure. âI have ta thank ye ever so much fer takinâ the time tâlisten tâus. Tâput it simply, Iâm from Kenasa, and weâve been fightinâ for our independence from Nikidia and Marsada. Fer too long have we lived under their iron boots as they kick us âtween each other, destroying our city and those of our old country anâ destroyinâ our culture and language in the process. We simply ask fer yer help in guarenteeinâ that future fer ourselves, be it with direct aid, or helpin us gain other allies in thâfight. Now, I know what yer gonna ask, about why you should help, and while itâs true we may not have too much now, what we will have is our city, anâ its port. More importantly, insteada closinâ it every time we get taken over, it will stay open as a good port to trade inta thâmainland, tâwhich youâll have first access.â She takes a deep breath, waiting for some response.
The Snake speaks up, âA port? Youâre offering a port for aid of your rebellion? We could easily sell you out and gain access to the same port from your enemies⌠which letâs be honest have more military power compared to what you have⌠Iâm not about to throw away my riches to a lost cause.â
The Lion speaks, âYouâre proposing that we provide aid, in promise of future trade? Unless you can guarantee that future, Iâm afraid I would agree with NevisâŚâ she shivers, âWhich is something Iâd rather not do.â
Taeland looks at the other two, âI am willing⌠willing to help you.â Nevisâ eyes widen in shock as he looks at the Bear. Taeland continues, âI for one am done with dealing the Nikidians and their trading methods⌠treating out merchants like dirt, doing what they please on our soil. Make no mistake, if the Nikidians were more respectful I would have had my soldiers at your door last nightfall.â
Taeland eyes Moenir, âYou know youâve put us quite in a peculiar situation. On one hand we could hand you over and betray one of my own people for an empire⌠which letâs be honest thatâs giving them more reason to trample over us in trade. If we stand our ground, we lose our trades with that empire for one measly port. Iâm afraid you, the son of a pirate, have put your home in a lose lose situation. Jana do you not agree?â
Jana looks at Taeland, âYouâre saying that if we let the Nikidians win they will only act more cruel in their trades and be more forceful⌠Are you saying that a war is inevitable?â
Nevis waves his hands worriedly, âDonât overthink this! We can negotiate terms with them to ensure that they cannot be as forceful⌠Trade is still booming, there are richest yet to be had!â
It seems Sarah had the Bear at her side, but the Snake is against her, and the Lion will not be as easy to tame. Moenir stares at Taeland, for a moment before speaking, âYou know my father?!â
Taeland smiles, âYes⌠I am quite familiar with Blud Beard. If someone of such importance visits my city, I know. Blud Beard has a bit of a reputation in the seas, so I am very aware of his presence in my city and his relations.â
Nevis scoffs mockingly, âHow am I supposed to trust a name, who lets pirates into their city.?â
Taeland stares the Snake down angrily, âHow can I trust a name who would use his own people as merchandise? Do you want to explain that to me?â
Nevis leans back in his chair, âIndentured servitude is not slavery⌠Bear. Know the difference.â
âA port and an ally.â Sarah elaborates. âThink about it, Nikidia and Marsada are both land hungry and tyrannical. Once they subjugate Kenasa, and eventually one the other, who do you think is next? âCuz I think we all know they arenât gonna stop at that point. Anâ two islands right off thâcoast seem like prime candidates.â
âYou make an interesting pointâŚâ Jana says, âYouâre brave to say the least. I know that Gathens has always been in a bad position with empires rising. Most didnât bother us, for the booming trade⌠however if they should pressure us, it would be a mistake. We have those who would support usâŚTrade is very powerful.â
Nevis nods, âIt would be a mistake for them-â
Jana interrupts, âHowever, should they grow more powerful they could overwhelm those allies. It seems that this port⌠it will have to do.â
Nevis breaks out, âWHAT DO YOU MEAN!? ONE PORT OVER A NATION OF PORTS, ARE YOU FORSAKING THAT WEALTH!â
Taeland stands, âYes⌠Snake⌠We are forsaking wealth for our future, You only see the coin⌠That is your biggest flaw.â
The Snake curls his lips and grabs one of the cups, hurling it at Taeland. The ceramic teacup shatters as it collides with the Bearâs shoulder, Taeland indifferent to the Snakeâs action.
Taeland looks at Jana, âI believe we have come to a conclusion.â
The Lion nods, âIndeed we have. We will support your revolution and fund it.â
Taeland smiles, âYou can expect safe passage from my city, Iâll deal with the Nikidians that were on your trail.â
Moenir lets out a sigh of relief and nearly falls backwards from the stress. Taeland glances at him, âMoenir⌠I believe we have something to talk about⌠primarily your punishment for bringing our country to war⌠andâŚâ
Nevis growls and walks away, eyeing Sarah and Moenir, âYouâve made a ginormous mistake, kenasian. All of you have⌠Not a coin from my wealth will fund your little insurgency.â
Sarah breathes a shaky sigh of relief, then looks at Nevis. âAnâ I canât say I blame ya, but weâll prevail all thâsame. I only hope we change yer mind whenâr victories start flowinâ in.â
Jana looks at Sarah, âI believe weâll need to discuss the logistics of this alliance, I can only speak for my city and my wealth, so it is likely my side of the deal might be the tiniest bit different.â
Taeland strides over to Moenir and places his hand on his shoulder, âLetâs go for a walk, get some fresh air.â
Moenir nods and leaves the room with Taeland.
Jana continues, âI am from Marketshire, the largest city in Gathens⌠I can supply you arms and coin once on a bi-monthly measure⌠does this suit your needs?â
Taeland grips Moenirâs shoulder as they walk, âI knew your father⌠a bit better than what I let on⌠Blud came to me for help once. it was well before his fame in piracy. He asked me to hide his identity. Your father wanted to hide from his brother.â
Moenir looks at Taeland, his eyes looking at the Bearâs. âMy uncle?â
Taeland softly smiles, âYes. Your uncle is a soldier of the Marsadian Navy⌠Your father⌠Richard, fled his life as a Marsadian and came here.â
Moenir eyes widen, âMy dadâs name is Richard?!â He says almost yelling before he stops himself.
Sarah nods. âYeah, thatâll work great. Thank ye so much fer this.â She responds.
Jana looks at Sarah a bit surprised. âYouâve hardly bartered have you? Some advice for the future, counter-offer when someone makes an offer. People will usually make an offer that suits them more than it suits you. My offer only guarantees weapons and coins once every two months, is that really what you need or is there a counter-offer you could make? Suggest an offer that would suit you better, that will cost you less. Our negotiation could be made better for both sides, I donât even know where Iâm sending these coin and arms to yet.â
Sarah contemplates for a moment. ââŚMonthlyâd probably work better if ye can. Itâs a war against two nations at thâworst of times, and weâre gonna need a decent bit of help. Thâbest place to sent it would be to the Kenasan port. If it goes well, weâll be in control of thâcity by time thâfirst â â â â â â â â comes.â She thinks for a moment. ââŚBut how much coin are we talking per â â â â â â â â ? I need tâknow what Iâm workinâ with fer what I have to offer tâothers, especially to ma troops I need târaise.â
Jana smiles, âIâm afraid I canât do monthly⌠perhaps every 45 days? and for coin⌠Iâll take two gold kenasian coins per firearm.â
I wonder⌠what will she do?
Taeland walks with Moenir, âThat is correct. He came here distraught⌠his clothes tattered⌠He was afraid.â
âThe timinâll work well, butâŚcorrect me ifân Iâm wrong, I mighta misheard ya, but just earlier you said yâwere providinâ guns and coin, right? And right now, it sounds like yer sayinâ it was guns fer coin. And as a right now, we donât have that. Weâll rack up a debt, yeah, but we can pay you back said debt after we win, or at least get a good foothold. What I had been askin was how much you were planninâ on givin each â â â â â â â â , so we can budget where we need tâput it.â Sarah says, raising an eyebrow, slightly confused.
Jana smiles, âI was hoping you would catch that, what I meant is that with every firearm I supply I would give you coin⌠in the future youâll likely run into those that will give you a difficult time and will try to trick you with words.â
Jana walks over and grabs a sheet of paper, she begins writing on the paper. As of the expressed agreement of the proxies of the Free People of Kenasa and the City of Marketshire. I, Jana Amethyst, the Name of Marketshire, agrees to supply the Free People of Kenasa arms and coin. For every firearm gifted, two gold kenasian coin shall be given.
She looks at Sarah, âSounds like a bargainâŚâ