Abyssal Road Trip - 112 - Money (Patreon)

It was nearly an hour later that Trinax gave up his fruitless attempts to talk his sister out of the deal they’d struck. Once she’d given her handshake, Jaixar hadn’t for even a moment appeared to reconsider. When at last her brother had stalked away, Jaixar had let out a delighted laugh and looked back over the crates she’d yet to unpack.

“As soon as I get my tools unpacked, I’ll start on that geode, but best put it away for now,” Jaixar stated.

“Can I help at all?” Amdirlain asked, looking over the stacks of boxes in the centre of the workshop.

“No, I need to know where I put everything, and I have spots for everything planned,” replied Jaixar. “You can have the room at the top of the stairs; my kit is already in the main. Hope you don’t mind, there isn’t a window, and just a glowstone in there.”

“That’s fine with me,” said Amdirlain and slipped past the crates within the workshop towards the back stairs. “I really only need a quiet place for meditation.”

While she had to duck going up the stairs, the breadth a Dwarf needed meant there was plenty of space on the landing. At the top, the first door opened into a small room pointing towards the shop’s rear, while only the other door further along opened towards the front. The room was slightly bigger than the cell that she used in the Githzerai monastery but bare of any furnishings. A subdued red light came from a transparent disk filled with a glowing fluid attached to the back wall. Though it screamed solitary confinement with the door closed, the solidness of the room actually reassured her.

Amdirlain created a throw rug and set it down in the middle before she closed the door and knelt. With True Sight watching for any reaction from the wards, she reached out with her thoughts, not trying to read anyone’s mind, but just listened. A few hours later, it was obvious they had absolutely no Psionic protections in place. The population’s thoughts were just a mingling noise hissing like static against her awareness. As easy as it would be to dig through minds to learn whatever she needed, Amdirlain used it as an exercise in filtering her awareness instead. With her attention split, she set about practicing exercises she’d learnt from Psionic Lore, trying to get them to become second nature.

* * *

Amdirlain opened the door just as Jaixar raised her hand to knock and smiled at the startled Dwarf.

“Good evening, Jaixar. Can I help you with something?”

“I was just going to get some dinner. Did you want to come along?” asked Jaixar, her hands clasped awkwardly behind her back.

“Thank you, I’ll be alright,” Amdirlain replied and noticed another twitch before Jaixar said anything.

“Ahh, okay then,” responded Jaixar, dragging her words out as she turned to head downstairs, and Amdirlain caught the edge of her grimace.

“Actually, I will come along,” Amdirlain said, and noted a low, relieved sigh from Jaixar. “Though I’ve limited funds until we sell some goods.”

“That makes two of us,” admitted Jaixar, her tone brightening. “There is a tavern a few passages over. They have a simple meal and an ale for coppers.”

I’ve still got some coins from what Natsal advanced. I wonder how much she pried free from Norrax for the geode and ore.

The passageways they passed through were far busier with foot traffic than they’d been earlier. When they reached the tavern, it looked slightly different from the first one Amdirlain had entered, though there was less variation in the stonework. The marble countertop was missing, and the rest of the furnishings were all formed from a mishmash of coloured granite. Benches along the tables showed wear, chips, and nicks, all polished smooth over the years.

A mixture of Dwarves occupied the tables; their varied work gear showed a heavy amount of wear. Though there were groups among them that showed better clothing, the standard to beat wasn’t high. Those present had an air of labourers and workers about them. While they packed the place like the other tavern, there was no Chanter keeping those present entertained they were busy talking or simply inhaling food. When Jaixar headed for an empty table tucked away behind a pillar, Amdirlain followed and drew curious stares before they even reached it.

“Sure you really want to have Elven riff-raff keeping you company in a place like this?” asked Amdirlain, her tone light.

“None of them have wanted to introduce themselves in the week I’ve been here. I think I’ll live,” Jaixar said with a shrug as the chair scraped with her movements.

“Here a week, and you only just got to unpacking today?”

“I needed time to find a workshop in the area. My stuff arrived this morning. Didn’t want to leave crates of equipment lying around, even in the Portal’s cargo holding area,” answered Jaixar, giving a nearby server a wave.

“What are you both having?”

The question came from a server even as they dropped mugs off at a nearby table with a quick rhythm of stone against stone.

“Standard tonight?” Jaixar asked.

“Mug of lager, small loaf, three cuts of cheese, and the soup - four coppers.”

The server’s response was a flow of words and when Amdirlain showed them a silver coin, they headed off with a nod.

“I might have wanted extra,” Jaixar said after they were out of earshot.

“Should have spoken up sooner than. You can have mine,” replied Amdirlain before she added a friendly smile. “I’m only here because you were nervous about leaving me behind.”

“How could you tell?” asked Jaixar, not meeting Amdirlain’s gaze.

“Between the way you stood and the grimace, it wasn’t hard to figure out,” Amdirlain responded and tapped the table to catch her attention. “Perfectly understandable. We only met today, and you’ve got everything invested in your workshop. If you feel having a guest is a headache, I can drop by each day instead.”

“No, no, I said you could stay, and I’m not changing my mind,” insisted Jaixar, even as her gaze skittered away, leaving a sour taste in Amdirlain’s mouth.

I’ll just head on my way later.

Their food’s arrival stopped Jaixar from saying anything further, and Amdirlain gave the server the whole silver, waving them off as they went to leave change. Soup bowls sat in the middle of stone plates, with the rest of the meal resting around it. Palm-sized slices of cheese that looked like they’d hacked it from a round had an odd sheen to them. The bread at least looked fresh but the dark grain loaf was more what she’d call a dinner roll. The soup had an oily scum across the top while discoloured vegetables and a few fragments of meat floated in the murky fluid.

Despite the odd sheen of the cheese, Jaixar tucked into the food without hesitation. Amdirlain tried the brew with a hesitant sip and its sharp odour matched the bitterness. Amdirlain pushed her plate carefully across the table to avoid slopping the bowl of soup across the bread and cheese. When Jaixar glanced between the plate and Amdirlain with a puzzled look, she tried to chew faster to clear her mouth.

“I said you can have mine,” teased Amdirlain, even as she wondered if it was a disservice to give her extra.

“You said you had little coin left,” Jaixar retorted after swallowing rapidly.

“I don’t until we sell materials, but I need little. Tomorrow I’ll head back out. Let me know what you can best make use of to improve your skills,” said Amdirlain.

“No point making things if people aren’t buying them,” muttered Jaixar.

“Think about how much my share will buy from you,” Amdirlain prompted, enjoying the wide-eyed reaction

“What!” exclaimed Jaixar, a piece of cheese she’d just broken off splashed down into her soup unnoticed.

“We’ll talk away from others. Think about what you’ll need to do to challenge your skills,” responded Amdirlain, before motioning to Jaixar’s bowl. “Are you looking to have cheese flavoured soup?”

Jaixar glanced down and shrugged before answering, “It might be the best thing in it.”

“You can certainly have mine then!” declared Amdirlain, giving her lager a suspicious sniff.

* * *

When they were back at the workshop, Jaixar’s patience was obviously at an end, even as she secured the door. The workshop’s glow disks shone a clear white that added an energy to her gaze.

“What are you talking about buying?” asked Jaixar, her gaze bright with excitement.

“First, let me ask a question: What is it you truly desire?”

Amdirlain had to focus to avoid laughter, but she managed it. Jaixar stilled, and her gaze went distant for a time.

“I want to push the boundaries of what any Artificer has done before,” declared Jaixar, locking her gaze on Amdirlain. “So many of them are endlessly making the same things they don’t look beyond what they know is possible.”

“Then let’s build up your skills. Your home city, Stoneheart, is it north of a region populated by humans called the ten kingdoms?” enquired Amdirlain. “A world I know has refugees from a Dragon rampage a thousand odd years ago, to the south-west of a Dwarven city called Stoneheart.”

“Sounds familiar but I know little about Humans the Hill Dwarves deal with them,” Jaixar replied, after a moment. “Why?”

“I need a bunch of Alchemical Silver, but after that I’ll buy gear from you to give groups tackling monsters an edge. If I’m not around for a prolonged period, I’d like them transported to some people I know. If your city is on the same world, it simplifies things,” answered Amdirlain, as she perched on the edge of the workbench.

“I can make some enquiries about both when you’ve got the coin,” Jaixar offered.

“What’s the difference between inscribing and what an Artificer does?” enquired Amdirlain.

“Wizards inscribe spells into runes but it’s a set affect where an Artificer’s runes are a language in themselves. The most inscribing allows is to react if someone touches a rune after you activate it. Even if I’m using a set effect, I can establish many behaviours around what it will do, and then I can link the effects together. Where a Wizard has to provide all the mana up front, an Artificer embeds mana into an object to establish the runic pattern and when something meets the conditions, it draws the mana for the connected effect,” Jaixar explained. Her fingers traced patterns over the workbench, as if drawing diagrams on the stone.

“So that’s how you enchant swords?”

“It’s a misleading term, the weapons just act as a container for the runic patterns. Though the embedded normal patterns focus on what the object naturally does, swords hurt more, and armour protects better. But I could put a runic pattern in armour just to cause it to glow continually when worn. Or shift colours in time to the wearer’s heartbeat,” continued Jaixar. ”What did you want to start with once we sell some geodes?”

“A variety of weapons, armour, and things to help people in dangerous situations. Items to provide healing, or allow individuals to see in the dark to start with.”

“Are you kidding me? Humans can’t see in the dark?!” Jaixar exclaimed in disbelief. “Items to heal that would depend on what you mean. I know runes and patterns for speeding natural healing, but effects that provide instant healing I’d need help from a Priest.”

“Let me explain about the Adventurer’s Guild the Humans have started,” said Amdirlain. The more she explained about the concept and what she envisaged, the more excited Jaixar became. Despite looking like she wanted to burst, Jaixar let her finish.

“So let me get this straight. You have groups that roam around and do the militia’s work of killing monsters, and they are also getting treasure and materials. You want a bunch of magical items made, to assist them and soak their coin,”

“I’m not looking to soak up their coin, but the rest, yes,” said Amdirlain.

“Guild houses set up through these nations with access to gear to sell to these adventurers,” Jaixar said. Her gaze looking off into the distance as she considered Amdirlain’s plans. “Fine, you want items to help them, but you’re still going to charge them for it. What are you going to do with your profit?”

“Besides buying supplies I need, I plan to help people,” answered Amdirlain quickly.

“Why don’t you just go to these folks yourself?” Jaixar countered.

“I can’t go to the Material Plane, not without someone making preparations,” Amdirlain said, reluctant to expand on the subject she still didn’t want to lie.

The truth always comes out, and I’m sure the High Crafter knows.

“What?!” Jaixar exclaimed,

“I’m not a Mortal, Jaixar,” Amdirlain said carefully.

“Hold up, I thought you were a fancy Wood Elf noble slumming it,” declared Jaixar, her gaze widening.

“No, that’s how I appear at present, but I’m not a Wood Elf,“ Amdirlain said, as she shook her head.

“How did you get past the wards they look for shape-changers?” asked Jaixar, suspiciously shifting further along the bench from Amdirlain.

“My form isn’t the result of shape change. While I have no ill-intent, I’d rather not share all my secrets. I believe the local High Crafter knows who I am since he told your brother to use the title Lady when addressing me,” said Amdirlain, exasperation clear in her tone.

“Is Amdirlain actually your name?” interrogated Jaixar gruffly.

“Yes, it is,” Amdirlain answered, though didn’t see a change in Jaixar’s gaze.

“The High Crafter wouldn’t bother telling Trinax to use a title for an Elven noble. Why did Trinax get told to call you Lady Amdirlain then?” demanded Jaixar.

“I’d rather not say,” Amdirlain replied.

“I’d rather know who I’m dealing with,” insisted Jaixar.

“Even though it’s not something that will harm you?” asked Amdirlain.

“How do I know that?” countered Jaixar, her gaze unwavering in its focus on Amdirlain. “If we’re going into business together, which is what it sounds like you want, then I should know who I’m dealing with.”

“My name is Amdirlain, in a few places I’m known as the Lady of the Accursed, Freedom, Hope, and New Beginnings,” Amdirlain said.

The words had tripped across her lips as she forced them out, but she hadn’t expected to see Jaixar almost floored. The Dwarf clutched at the bench and remained upright only with a white-knuckled grip on the stone.

“You’re a Power.”

Jaixar’s words were a bare whisper, her wide-eyed gaze danced between Amdirlain and the workshop.

“I’m sorry!” exclaimed Amdirlain. She reached out to hold Jaixar upright, but reluctantly stayed the motion, uncertain how Jaixar would consider any attempt at help. “I’ve not used that Title near a Mortal before, I didn’t know that would happen. Are you okay?”

“My brain feels like it got hit by a crawler. Give me a moment,” Jaixar said, as she staggered to the workshop’s sole seat.

Amdirlain moved as Jaixar swayed on the chair and knelt with a hand gently on her shoulder to prevent her slumping off it.

“I think you need more than a moment,” murmured Amdirlain. The sigh that escaped her drew Jaixar’s dazed gaze.

Jaixar grasped Amdirlain’s forearm with a shaking hand to keep her balance naturally darkened skin gone grey.

“You’re a Power,” declared Jaixar when her colour returned.

“You’ve said that,” Amdirlain noted, uncertain if she still needed help in sitting upright, but Jaixar’s grip hadn’t shifted.

“You’ve been meditating in a bare apprentice room, in my workshop,” muttered Jaixar, her gaze still wide-eyed. Though she, at last, focused on Amdirlain.

“Yes,” Amdirlain agreed with a smile.

“You purchased dinner,” continued Jaixar, in a stunned mutter. “In a worker’s tavern, they served you nearly turned cheese and old cheap soup.”

“Are you going somewhere with this?” asked Amdirlain gently, as amusement and concern fought in her expression.

“Trying to get my head around today,” Jaixar muttered, her gaze going distant as she fell silent.

“Are you alright?” enquired Amdirlain after the silence had drawn on.

“I honestly don’t know. I feel like a quake rang through my brain’s foundations,” answered Jaixar, blinking at her slowly.

“Should I help you upstairs to rest?” asked Amdirlain, concerned by her remaining pallor.

“Don’t think we’ll make it up together; the stairs are a touch tight.”

The words were a rambling mutter, stunned confusion still muddled her response.

“Let me worry about that. You still look pale. Perhaps close your eyes. I’ll teleport us up into the corridor,” Amdirlain suggested as she helped Jaixar stand. When she followed Amdirlain’s instructions, a quick teleport set them outside Jaixar’s bedroom. Guiding her inside, Amdirlain helped her settle on her simple palate bed and left her to sleep.

With their doors closed, she paced about her tiny bedroom and considered options before she sent a message.

“Yngvarr, I hope everything is okay with you and Alfarr. I’ve contacted a Dwarven holding called Duskstone on the Elemental Plane of Earth. They’re connected to a city called Stoneheart; though I don’t know if it’s the same one, it could be a common name among worlds. I’m trying to establish a deal with an Artificer Journeyman named Jaixar to get things for the Adventurer’s Guild. While I can’t easily get to the Material Plane, perhaps we can meet here from time to time. I think I’ll be here a few days at least.”

The spell disappeared in a rush, and Amdirlain hoped Yngvarr would eventually feel like making contact. After a moment’s consideration, she also sent the details to Livia’s journal, not wanting to disrupt the young lady’s plans.

Even as the second message vanished, relief rushed through her, and Amdirlain realised she was likely committed now. It let her find clarity of purpose that enabled her to kneel at peace, and she started work on more mental exercises. When at last a ray leapt from a fingertip and frost licked across the stone wall, she smiled.

[Telekinesis [J](25->26)]

A repeat of it didn’t provoke another increase, but Amdirlain continued to reinforce the mental pattern until it came easily.

* * *

She was practicing a different Skill the next morning when Jaixar hesitantly exited her bedroom. Practice had extended Clairsentience to let Amdirlain see the corridor outside her room. The Dwarf’s slumped posture and the way she chewed her lip while she stared at Amdirlain’s door spoke volumes. When Jaixar moved towards the staircase, Amdirlain almost sighed in exasperation just as the young Artificer stopped and hurriedly knocked.

When Amdirlain opened the door, Jaixar looked nearly composed, but the determination in her gaze made Amdirlain wonder at her decision.

“I’m going to get a breakfast loaf. When I get back, I’ll start on a geode. We can discuss materials I’ll need and initial items after I get the first sold,” stated Jaixar. The Dwarf turned on her heel and walked off without waiting for a response, leaving Amdirlain looking on bemused at her retreat.

“I hope the baker has fresh bread for you,” said Amdirlain, chuckling at the over shoulder wave she received.

It seems someone has chosen their course. I’ll get the surprise ready.

* * *

Jaixar set the cloth bag on the workbench and sniffed the air curiously before her gaze fixed on six no longer empty crates arrayed on her workshop floor.

“Where did this all come from?” asked Jaixar after she recovered from her slack-jawed state. “You showed me ore, not nuggets?”

“I have a way to separate things. This is all the metal from the ore,” Amdirlain said, gesturing to the crates. Even as she spoke, Jaixar raced around the workbench, and Amdirlain almost got run over.

The dwarf picked up a bit of metal and licked it before she smacked her lips appreciatively.

“This is pure adamantine.”

A delighted expression lit her face as she picked up another piece to give it the same treatment.

“The non-adamantine material I separated into that last crate,” said Amdirlain, motioning to the one closest to the forge. “I’ve got the separate rock, dirt, and other things still stored.”

Jaixar grabbed a green baton and whistle from under her workbench and hurried back outside. After a few moments, Amdirlain heard a piercing whistling noise, and Jaixar came back in the door without the baton. Her gaze fixed on the crates for long moments before she turned towards Amdirlain.

“I won’t need to assess this, they’ll be able to send it straight through their sorter,” admitted Jaixar.

“It’s part of the package - you get a share of what they pay me,” Amdirlain said, patting a crate. “You’re my business partner. The deal was you get twenty per cent of goods I bring in for your help in selling them.”

“Master Norrax drove you away?” Jaixar asked, gaze shining with delight.

“I didn’t like him being rude, so I left,” Amdirlain corrected.

The suddenly glum Jaixar left Amdirlain whiplashed by her mood swing.

“I’ve got a two-year lease on this place,” Jaixar grumbled. Amdirlain was still laughing minutes later when a young Dwarf tapped on the door. The youngster’s beard barely covered their jawline, the green baton lightly held in their grasp.

“Lass, good to see you,” Jaixar said, over the laughter. “Ask Gildenshield House to send an assessor and cart, please. Five standard crates of adamantine pellets, and one containing sundry minerals for them to including in the next auction.”

The Dwarven lass set the baton on the bench and raced off, the noise of booted feet echoing back in the door she hadn’t closed.

“Why the auction house?”

“Better to let the Master Crafters beat each other into submission bidding, than trying to haggle with them,” Jaixar stated, moving around the bench as she closed the door. “Non-Dwarves get skinned alive trying to sell ores and gemstones to them.”

“The High Crafter sent me to one. How nice,” said Amdirlain dryly.

“It’s a rite of passage for outsiders to endure them, just like we have to,” laughed Jaixar.

“You could get started on this while we wait,” offered Amdirlain, waving an intact geode, and its appearance cut off her laughter.

Motioning to the bench, Jaixar retrieved a toolbox from underneath it and settled down to work. It was nearly an hour later that there was finally a rap on the door. When Jaixar opened it, two guards and a finely dressed Dwarf entered the workshop. The sceptical look vanishing as the well-dressed Dwarf took a deep breath and spoke in a low gravelly voice.

“Goodness, here I thought I was going to have to chew someone’s hide off. Lass, come in here.”

When the young Dwarf came in the door, they handed a silver coin larger than those Natsal had given her over, and the suddenly smiling messenger raced away again.

“Now then, I’m Dunlan, son of Tardan, Master Assessor of Clan Gildenshield. Your names are?” asked Dunlan, not introducing the guards. One guard stepped around the workbench and moved to the base of the stairs, while the other remained by the door and Dunlan stepped past the bench. Dunlan glanced between the geode Jaixar had carefully cut open and the open crates. He stroked a ringed hand over his honey-blond beard as his sharp deep emerald gaze moved between the two of them.

“I’m Jaixar, daughter of Xarpel, Journeyman Artificer and Alchemist of Clan Forgeshield. This is Lady Amdirlain, a traveller and my business partner,” Jaixar said, with a gesture to Amdirlain.

“Lady Amdirlain is it? Not sure why you partnered with a Journeyman, but her Clan is solid. Now, the messenger said crates, but you also have an interesting geode. What is it we’re dealing with?”

“Just the crates presently, Master Gildenshield,” said Amdirlain, trying to be polite. “Jaixar has to work through the geodes I brought in to check the crystal’s quality.”

“You should look at hiring better miners, Lady Amdirlain; that one looks badly treated,” Dunlan observed, glancing at one half of the geode. “I can provide you with the names of some skilled crews.”

“Unfortunately, it was a dangerous area, so I was retrieving them in between battles, and I’m an inexperienced miner,” stated Amdirlain.

The sudden silence and wide-eyed looks she got from all the Dwarves in the room prompted her to ask, “What?”

“An Elf mining?” Dunlan murmured in astonishment.

“You don’t look like no miner,” muttered the guard by the stair before falling back into silence.

Dunlan pulled a set of scales, similar to what the guards had used, from a small belt pouch. When the first pellet of adamantine went on the scales, he looked up at her from the glowing plate.

“What were you doing in the Abyss?” asked Dunlan politely without looking at any notes, and both guards suddenly tensed.

“Killing Demons,” replied Amdirlain, carefully not acknowledging the guards’ looks. “The noise of mining was a useful lure.”

“We’ll have to check it’s all properly purified. What process did you use?”

“I alternated saturating the materials in Celestial and Order Mana,” answered Amdirlain. At the mention of Celestial Mana, the guards relaxed back to their previous watchfulness.

“That matches the energies the scales detect. You live a dangerous life Lady Amdirlain. I’m not sure I know of any mining crew that would care to accompany you. Though perhaps I can get some to provide you mining lessons if you plan to do so again,” Dunlan stated. “You declared these goods to the gate guards?”

“Yes, I provided them samples of ore, geode, and reagents,” confirmed Amdirlain. Stepping clear of the crate, she leant on the workbench as she watched the pair of them work. Though it put her back to one guard, she kept him under observation.

“This isn’t ore; its metal pellets,” Dunlan pointed out, gesturing to the crates.

“I can separate substances; it’s an ability I have,” offered Amdirlain ensuring she kept a casual tone.

“You separated this metal after entering the holding?” asked Dunlan. The sharp tone in his question earned him a raised eyebrow from Amdirlain.

“Yes, is that a problem?” Amdirlain enquired, aware the guards were unbothered by the question.

“Did you do so through the operation of a smelter or spell?” enquired Dunlan, fixing his gaze on Amdirlain.

“It didn’t require either,” Amdirlain replied.

“That’s good then; otherwise, the current commander would need to levy a fine for violation of the foundry charter,” Dunlan replied, with a sigh of relief. “I’d have to report the matter, and such can spoil relationships with customers.”

“Is there a book of the regulations I should know?” asked Amdirlain. “My guide from the guards was going to tell me about the rules, but there has been a bit of confusion.”

“You can find a current copy of the code at any guard station; they might let you read it on site. There is one near the Gildenshield’s Headquarters on the main concourse. If you wish, I can point it out to you when we transport these goods,” responded Dunlan.

“Thank you. I’ll let you get on with your assessment. Sorry for all the questions,” responded Amdirlain.

“Not at all. We pride ourselves on assisting our customers. Now, given the size of the consignment, I’d say the auction fee would be eight per cent of the total. Unfortunately, there will be an additional handling fee of three per cent to have the goods all confirmed as purified. Should I proceed with my assessment on those terms?” asked Dunlan.

When Amdirlain directed an enquiring look at Jaixar, she nodded.

“Better terms than my Master used to get,” confirmed Jaixar.

“That’s fine, please go ahead,” confirmed Amdirlain.

Pulling out a scroll case, inkpot, and quill from the same small pouch, he paused as he went to unseal the inkpot.

“You mentioned reagents. Do they also come from the Abyss?” Dunlan enquired curiously.

“No, they’re from a completely different source,” replied Amdirlain blandly.

“Would you be willing to let us handle selling those for you?” asked Dunlan.

When Amdirlain made a pouch appear, Jaixar set her tools aside at the odour and watched Dunlan check the materials with a similar glass spoon to Lorrella. When the scale’s plate went white, Dunlan quickly retrieved the pouch from them.

“How much of these reagents do you have?” stammered Dunlan.

“Just under two hundred pouches,” Amdirlain said with a shrug. “Would that improve the offered terms?”

“We’ll waive the handling fee for the purification checks,” Dunlan stated as he set to filling out his paperwork. “Would you care to open an account? We’ll need to sell these through a few locations to maximise the return you’ll receive.”

“Only waiving the fee? You should drop your commission to five per cent as well,” huffed Jaixar.

“Seven and a half,” countered Dunlan.

Jaixar just sighed and retrieve the baton and whistle from under the workbench.

“Seven is the lowest we can go,” grumbled Dunlan.

“Then seven is what we’ll take, with the waived fee for purifications,” Jaixar stated, and tucked the baton and whistle back away.

“Twenty per cent of all sales proceeds are to go into an account for Jaixar,” declared Amdirlain.

“We can certainly make that happen,” agreed Dunlan, happily giving Jaixar and her workshop a bewildered look.

“You can’t,” protested Jaixar, causing Dunlan to glance between them.

“It’s the deal we struck, Master Dunlan,” answered Amdirlain. “I hate backing down on my word.”