Read Online The Calling (Book 7 of The Blood & Brotherhood Saga) (The Blood and Brotherhood Saga) by Jeremy Laszlo - Free Book Online
Authors: Jeremy Laszlo
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own?”
“You pay them enough to feed themselves and their families if they have them. You make sure they are all housed comfortably and I assure you that no harm will come to you or your men by orders from my lips.”
“And if I do not agree to this arrangement?” Goldenfingers asked.
Sara thought for a moment that she had missed something. Maybe it was unspoken? She didn’t know, but why the hesitation from Goldenfingers? He was getting exactly what he wanted—an army to take the town and hold it. Could he be holding out for more?
“Then nothing,” Seth said simply. “I do not demand these things, though we both know I could. I simply ask a fair trade, this town for Drakenhurst. If you do not wish to trade, then my men and I will march on without your arms.”
“You intend to take Drakenhurst? Take it , take it?”
“I do,” Seth answered.
“And what of me if you hold the capital?” Goldenfingers asked.
That was it. That was what Sara had overlooked. The man was good at striking a deal. He was looking not only to barter on the here and now, but also a possible future in which he was striking a deal with the future king of the whole realm. It was cunning of the man to think so far ahead when he was already getting precisely what he wanted, but she supposed it explained why he traveled so luxuriously.
“When I hold the capital, you will have an ally with a crown and be free to once again open shop in the city, or simply merchant and trade wares from here to there.”
“And a dowry for information given that leads to your victory?” Goldenfingers pressed.
“Greed is what leads to entire households butchered, poisoned, or burned in their beds, my good Goldenfingers. Let’s not travel that road ourselves.”
Sara grinned as her husband put the merchant in his place, though honestly she couldn’t blame him for trying.
“So everything is settled then?” she asked, knowing full well that there was much to be done if the deal was struck.
“I am satisfied,” Goldenfingers answered.
“Good,” Seth replied. Let me collect my general so that you can answer questions for all three of us.”
* * * * *
Swooping out of the sky at his master’s bidding, Borrik settled to the earth, tucking his wings and reciting the commands to recall his blessings. Feeling the grueling, crawling beneath his skin sensation as his secondary arms were reclaimed by his flesh, he shrank to his normal size with a pop. Tilting his head he twisted his neck, both hearing and feeling it crack. Grinning a wicked canine grin, he approached Seth and the decorated man beside him.
“Borrik, Goldenfingers here has information about Drakenhurst that may help us take it. We have come to terms to exchange men for arms and intel.”
“How many of his arms should I take?” Borrik asked, stepping forward aggressively.
Sharing a laugh with Seth as Goldenfingers retreated a few steps, even the merchant chuckled after realizing it was a jest.
“Goldenfingers, aside from my Sara, Borrik is my closest, most trusted ally.”
“It is very much my pleasure, Borrik,” Goldenfingers said with a grin, reaching out to take his hand. “I have heard tales of your master’s creations. Some more wild than others, I admit, but now I wonder if even those were true.”
Without knowing what the man wanted to hear, Borrik simply bowed his head slightly and waited for the man to get on with it. After an odd moment of silence, the gaudily dressed man turned and retraced his steps to the mammoth carriage whence he had emerged, and Borrik followed Seth up the three steps and into the vehicle.
Inside was much the same as the merchant himself. Like a magical money fairy had vomited over every surface, the interior was a plush hell filled with dainty pillows, decorative hangings, and an extreme abundance of silk. Borrik choked back the bile that rose in his throat, an apparent reflex of his body to try and outdo the money fairy, and located the
“You pay them enough to feed themselves and their families if they have them. You make sure they are all housed comfortably and I assure you that no harm will come to you or your men by orders from my lips.”
“And if I do not agree to this arrangement?” Goldenfingers asked.
Sara thought for a moment that she had missed something. Maybe it was unspoken? She didn’t know, but why the hesitation from Goldenfingers? He was getting exactly what he wanted—an army to take the town and hold it. Could he be holding out for more?
“Then nothing,” Seth said simply. “I do not demand these things, though we both know I could. I simply ask a fair trade, this town for Drakenhurst. If you do not wish to trade, then my men and I will march on without your arms.”
“You intend to take Drakenhurst? Take it , take it?”
“I do,” Seth answered.
“And what of me if you hold the capital?” Goldenfingers asked.
That was it. That was what Sara had overlooked. The man was good at striking a deal. He was looking not only to barter on the here and now, but also a possible future in which he was striking a deal with the future king of the whole realm. It was cunning of the man to think so far ahead when he was already getting precisely what he wanted, but she supposed it explained why he traveled so luxuriously.
“When I hold the capital, you will have an ally with a crown and be free to once again open shop in the city, or simply merchant and trade wares from here to there.”
“And a dowry for information given that leads to your victory?” Goldenfingers pressed.
“Greed is what leads to entire households butchered, poisoned, or burned in their beds, my good Goldenfingers. Let’s not travel that road ourselves.”
Sara grinned as her husband put the merchant in his place, though honestly she couldn’t blame him for trying.
“So everything is settled then?” she asked, knowing full well that there was much to be done if the deal was struck.
“I am satisfied,” Goldenfingers answered.
“Good,” Seth replied. Let me collect my general so that you can answer questions for all three of us.”
* * * * *
Swooping out of the sky at his master’s bidding, Borrik settled to the earth, tucking his wings and reciting the commands to recall his blessings. Feeling the grueling, crawling beneath his skin sensation as his secondary arms were reclaimed by his flesh, he shrank to his normal size with a pop. Tilting his head he twisted his neck, both hearing and feeling it crack. Grinning a wicked canine grin, he approached Seth and the decorated man beside him.
“Borrik, Goldenfingers here has information about Drakenhurst that may help us take it. We have come to terms to exchange men for arms and intel.”
“How many of his arms should I take?” Borrik asked, stepping forward aggressively.
Sharing a laugh with Seth as Goldenfingers retreated a few steps, even the merchant chuckled after realizing it was a jest.
“Goldenfingers, aside from my Sara, Borrik is my closest, most trusted ally.”
“It is very much my pleasure, Borrik,” Goldenfingers said with a grin, reaching out to take his hand. “I have heard tales of your master’s creations. Some more wild than others, I admit, but now I wonder if even those were true.”
Without knowing what the man wanted to hear, Borrik simply bowed his head slightly and waited for the man to get on with it. After an odd moment of silence, the gaudily dressed man turned and retraced his steps to the mammoth carriage whence he had emerged, and Borrik followed Seth up the three steps and into the vehicle.
Inside was much the same as the merchant himself. Like a magical money fairy had vomited over every surface, the interior was a plush hell filled with dainty pillows, decorative hangings, and an extreme abundance of silk. Borrik choked back the bile that rose in his throat, an apparent reflex of his body to try and outdo the money fairy, and located the
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