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Authors: Seth Skorkowsky
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color of parchment.
Konrad stood and extended his hand. “Welcome, Count. I am Konrad Amkire, owner of Sudwinde Shipping.”
“Good day.” The count grasped the offered hand and shook it firmly. “Your company comes highly recommended.”
“Please.” Konrad gestured toward a chair on the other side of his desk. “Have a seat.” He seated himself, propped his elbows on his desk, and laced his fingers into a single, loose fist. “How can I help you today?”
The count sat and fidgeted with his brass-knobbed cane. “I am in need of a vessel to carry a shipment of wool and other goods from here to Rhomanny. Frobinsky, in fact. Depending on how my business fares, I will be in need of more vessels and would want a long-term relationship with my shippers.”
“I understand. When would this cargo be ready?” Unable to hold back his excitement at a permanent client, Konrad stood. “Would you like a drink, Count?”
The count stiffened and a frown tugged at the corners of his mouth. “I need to ship as soon as possible. I was ready last week, but one of the captains of the shipping company was murdered aboard his ship. A second captain almost met the same fate, though I am informed that the killer was apprehended.” He dismissed the situation with an impatient wave of his hand. “Regardless, I can’t afford to do business with a company so prone to losing ship’s executive personnel and thus losing my shipment.” He grasped the cane firmly, walking his hand idly up it as he made a visible effort to calm down. “I apologize, I get carried away.” He inhaled deeply, released it and gave Konrad a thin smile. “I would love a drink.”
Konrad stared at the young noble in shock. “They caught…”
The count nodded with a half-shrug. “Late last night. Miss Khamleir assured me the threat was over, but I cannot afford to take any chances.”
Konrad dabbed his forehead with a small cloth and stood. “Let me fetch your drink.” He crossed the room to the small table. His hands shook slightly as he unstoppered the bottle and filled two glasses with amber rum. “I’m sure Miss Khamleir was devastated by the loss of one of her captains,” he said, watching the count’s reflection in the mirror. “Rumor is that many of his crew left after the murder. I’m afraid many more will leave now.”
“Perhaps.” The count’s hands twisted his cane knob. “But hopefully that will cease to be a problem once they’ve finished questioning the assassin.”
“He was captured alive?”
“He was. Or so I’m told.” The count turned a probing gaze on Konrad.
“Good.” Konrad set a glass down in front of the count. “Miss Khamleir and I may be competitors, but she is a good woman from a good family. And sailors gossip. If this continued, her men and mine may all decide to find a different line of work.” He settled back against his chair and placed his glass before him on the desk.
The count nodded, sipping his drink. “That makes sense. But back to my offer…”
Konrad chewed his lip. “I’m sure we can do business. However.” He knocked his drink back. “I need to see about fitting your cargo onto the next voyage. If you can give me size and number, I can have a date and price ready for you by the morning.”
The count finished his drink, his pale eyes sparkling. “I understand.” He flashed Konrad a smile as he removed a folded parchment from his doublet. “The warehouse cost in this city is damn near criminal. I need these shipped before I have to pay another week’s fee.”
Konrad glanced over the paper and scribbled down the information in his ledger. “I have several warehouses that you can use any time you need.” He handed the parchment back to the count.
“I would be very grateful for that.”
“I’ll have everything ready for you by tomorrow morning.” Konrad stood. “Let me escort you to the door.”
Konrad stood in the doorway until the nobleman was out of sight before
Konrad stood and extended his hand. “Welcome, Count. I am Konrad Amkire, owner of Sudwinde Shipping.”
“Good day.” The count grasped the offered hand and shook it firmly. “Your company comes highly recommended.”
“Please.” Konrad gestured toward a chair on the other side of his desk. “Have a seat.” He seated himself, propped his elbows on his desk, and laced his fingers into a single, loose fist. “How can I help you today?”
The count sat and fidgeted with his brass-knobbed cane. “I am in need of a vessel to carry a shipment of wool and other goods from here to Rhomanny. Frobinsky, in fact. Depending on how my business fares, I will be in need of more vessels and would want a long-term relationship with my shippers.”
“I understand. When would this cargo be ready?” Unable to hold back his excitement at a permanent client, Konrad stood. “Would you like a drink, Count?”
The count stiffened and a frown tugged at the corners of his mouth. “I need to ship as soon as possible. I was ready last week, but one of the captains of the shipping company was murdered aboard his ship. A second captain almost met the same fate, though I am informed that the killer was apprehended.” He dismissed the situation with an impatient wave of his hand. “Regardless, I can’t afford to do business with a company so prone to losing ship’s executive personnel and thus losing my shipment.” He grasped the cane firmly, walking his hand idly up it as he made a visible effort to calm down. “I apologize, I get carried away.” He inhaled deeply, released it and gave Konrad a thin smile. “I would love a drink.”
Konrad stared at the young noble in shock. “They caught…”
The count nodded with a half-shrug. “Late last night. Miss Khamleir assured me the threat was over, but I cannot afford to take any chances.”
Konrad dabbed his forehead with a small cloth and stood. “Let me fetch your drink.” He crossed the room to the small table. His hands shook slightly as he unstoppered the bottle and filled two glasses with amber rum. “I’m sure Miss Khamleir was devastated by the loss of one of her captains,” he said, watching the count’s reflection in the mirror. “Rumor is that many of his crew left after the murder. I’m afraid many more will leave now.”
“Perhaps.” The count’s hands twisted his cane knob. “But hopefully that will cease to be a problem once they’ve finished questioning the assassin.”
“He was captured alive?”
“He was. Or so I’m told.” The count turned a probing gaze on Konrad.
“Good.” Konrad set a glass down in front of the count. “Miss Khamleir and I may be competitors, but she is a good woman from a good family. And sailors gossip. If this continued, her men and mine may all decide to find a different line of work.” He settled back against his chair and placed his glass before him on the desk.
The count nodded, sipping his drink. “That makes sense. But back to my offer…”
Konrad chewed his lip. “I’m sure we can do business. However.” He knocked his drink back. “I need to see about fitting your cargo onto the next voyage. If you can give me size and number, I can have a date and price ready for you by the morning.”
The count finished his drink, his pale eyes sparkling. “I understand.” He flashed Konrad a smile as he removed a folded parchment from his doublet. “The warehouse cost in this city is damn near criminal. I need these shipped before I have to pay another week’s fee.”
Konrad glanced over the paper and scribbled down the information in his ledger. “I have several warehouses that you can use any time you need.” He handed the parchment back to the count.
“I would be very grateful for that.”
“I’ll have everything ready for you by tomorrow morning.” Konrad stood. “Let me escort you to the door.”
Konrad stood in the doorway until the nobleman was out of sight before
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