Silver Mage (Book 2) (10 page)

“Very well done,” Bren heard Cass say. “Would you mind if I went a few rounds with you?” He asked, pulling his own sword from its scabbard.

“Your guard eh,” Brenda said with a pinched look. “He has a nice look to him, but all that muscle would make him uncomfortable to use as a pillow. Oh well, he will work as a sparring partner. You’re still not good enough to make me work up a sweat, Bren,” Brenda said turning toward Cass. “But don’t worry, I will be seeing you tonight,” she added, giving Bren a wink over her shoulder.

Putting his own sword away, Bren watched Cass and Brenda spar for a few moments before heading back inside. They were both skilled, but from the looks of it Cass still had far more skill with a blade.

“Mother still mopes around the palace,” Sandrea said as soon as Bren walked back through the doors of the palace. “You could send more letters you know. She almost had an attack when she heard that the tower had imprisoned you. I thought she was going to start a war,” his sister added, shaking her head.

“Mother is the one who refuses to treat me like an adult,” Bren said defensively.

“You are both acting like children,” Sandrea said, putting her small hands on her hips. “You know mother will always see you as her child, so just accept it.”

“Are you sure you’re only thirteen?” Bren asked, eyeing his sister curiously. “Sometimes you act like an old man.”

“Someone has to act like an adult in our family,” She said embarrassedly.

“I will try to get along with mother,” Bren said laughing. “At least you’re not marching around as if you hate me, or are you saving that for later.”

“I never hated you,” Sandrea said as small tears formed in her yes. “It just wasn’t fair. You got to do whatever you wanted while I had to spend every day shut up studying to be the queen.”

Unable to help himself, Bren broke into a fit of laughter. “What’s so funny?” Sandrea asked as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

“For years I was always jealous of you,” Bren said, trying to hold back the laughter that boiled out. “To find out that you were jealous of me was just absurd.”

“You were jealous of me,” Sandrea said, her eyes slightly ringed in red. “Why?”

“Mother never spent much time with me,” Bren admitted as he took a seat back in his chair. From the corner of his eye, he could see Shariel smiling at him so he decided to continue. “You were the golden child. The next queen, I was just the left over son that wasn’t needed.” As Bren spoke, his bitterness seeped into his voice.

Sandrea didn’t say anything in response as he finished, but tears once again began to pull in the corner of her eyes. Bren stood and walked over to his sister and laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I think we were both a little foolish,” He said in a gentle tone.

Sandrea grabbed him around the waist and buried her face in his chest. Her gentle sobs were muffled by his thick tunic. Unable to help himself, a small smile spread across his face as he softly patted his sister’s head.

“Now that you and your sister have made up, why don’t you tell me what you have been up to this past year,” Shariel said, taking a seat next to where Bren stood.

The rest of the night passed with Bren telling what had transpired after he had left the capital. Shariel and Sandrea were both interested in Faye for some reason and made Bren promise to introduce them during their visit.

They listened to the rest of his story without many interruptions, except to ask choice questions every now and then. When he got to the part where he had executed a number of tower guards and a mage to exercise his authority, he noticed a sad look wash over Shariel’s face.

“Bren, I know that you had to make tough choices, but don’t lose your humanity,” Shariel said, her voice edged with worry.

“Are you afraid that I will turn into some kind of monster?” Bren asked trying to lighten her mood.

“In a way yes,” Shariel said smiling sadly. “It seems to happen to anyone who wears a crown. Over time, they forget they are human and only look to act as they think they are supposed to. Just try and remember that no matter what your position, you are still just a human like the rest of us.”

As night began to fall, Bren had Lillian show the three ladies to their rooms as he retired to his own. That night, as he drifted off to sleep, he thought about what Shariel had said. Her words haunted him, but he tried to push them aside, promising himself that he wouldn’t become a cold ruler who forgot what it was like to be human.

CHAPTER X

As Bren had expected King Killian arrive the evening before the roundtable. He didn’t arrive with much fanfare and after making a quick appearance at Bren’s palace he returned back to his camp with four of the new guards that he had offered. King Killian didn’t offer any words but acceptance but the normally stern man did give him a wry smile when he had made the offer.

As Killian left Bren wished that everyone else would have taken the same approach as he had. Instead the past few days had been more like an endless part. Luckily for him the tower was making sure to keep Eloen and Maria entertained but that still left him with two young ladies and a wild beast staying with him.

“My lord you have a visitor,” Lillian announced shortly after King Killian had left the audience chamber.

“Who is it?” Bren asked sighing.

“She said her name was Monique of the Merchant’s Guild.”

“Please see her in,” Bren said with a large smile. While the rest of the meetings so far had been boring with little accomplished this was one that would hold great benefit.

“It’s been a long time,” Monique said as soon as she walked into the room. Her familiar manner put him at ease and the small bag in her hand caught his eyes and imagination. One thing about Monique was that she always seemed to have the most unique gifts out of anyone he had ever met.

“Are you here for personal or business matters?” Bren asked trying to do his best to keep his eyes off the large richly decorated bag.

“A little of both but why don’t we start with the personal side of things,” Monique said with a lavish smile. “It never is good to have lingering thoughts hanging when business needs to be attended to.”

“Then if we are being personal it is very good to see you Aunt Monique,” Bren said jumping from his seat and wrapping the older woman in a tight hug. “It has been far too long.”

“That is had” She said happily. “And here I was thinking that you were all grown and I would have to do some hard bargaining to get any affection out of you,” She said holding up the bag in a defeated gesture.

“I have to act like an adult all day,” Bren said grabbing the bag quickly. “Being a child once in a while doesn’t hurt anything.”

The bag felt heavy in his hand and opening it he found out the reason why, inside was a large assortment of scented bath oils from Luremar that were hard to get this far to the south.

“Well now that the best part is over shall we get down to business?” Monique said sadly.

“The best part was over the moment after you walked in,” Bren said with a flourish. “Nothing could compare to the simple enjoyment that your timeless beauty brings to my halls.”

“I see you have already started,” Monique said with a sly smile. “You have gotten much better since the last time I saw you. Before we get into the compliments and maneuvering I have another gift for you. It is more of a business matter than a personal one,” Monique said holding out a small box to Bren.

Bren took the offered box and quickly opened it to find a small ring with rose engraved on its face. “It is the signet of the Rose trading company,” Monique explained. “Years ago when I was just starting I made a deal with your father since I didn’t have the gold to purchase his wares up front. He would get a percentage of my business in exchange for his goods. If you require gold as payment we can have it ready shortly but most of the guilds funds are tied up in expansion so hopefully you will allow us to continue to invest your portion of the funds.”

“I don’t know,” Bren said trying to hold a calm face. “My small country is in badly need of funds and at the moment beside taxes we have few ways of getting it. What little trade we have is from the neighboring countries but we must transport everything ourselves which greatly decreases out revenue.”

“But if you were to have another source of income then you wouldn’t need to draw on the funds that you have amassed within the guild,” Monique said with furrowed brows.

“Another source of income for the country would be helpful in alleviating our financial problems,” Bren replied.

“You are a shred young man,” Monique said with a huff.

“How so?” Bren asked innocently.

“I hope you know that you have taken all the fun out of this exchange,” Monique said slumping down into a chair near the edge of the room. “I had hoped to get a full day of battering with you until I had the best possible deal. Your father would have simply agreed and forgot about the money,” Monique said tartly. “Kids are not cute once they get past ten.”

“Sorry that I am not as malleable as my father was,” Bren said with a smirk.

“See not cute at all,” Monique said disappointedly. “If you’re going to take all the fun out of this then I will get down to what you want. I can offer you nine percent and guarantee four merchants a year.”

“Nine percent is the same that you offer the other kingdoms, and four is way too little,” Bren countered. “We have goods here that you won’t find elsewhere so we would need at least ten merchants a year as well as fifteen percent.”

“Fifteen percent is too high, even at nine it will be a large sum of gold,” Monique said fiercely. “It is true that you have goods that can’t be gotten elsewhere but it is also true those goods cost a lot more. If I was just transporting them back to Rane to sell that wouldn’t be too bad but the prices will go up even more when the merchants have to sell them. If it’s too expensive then thy will be hard to unload. I can go as high as ten percent and as for merchants five is the best I can offer. That is not to say others won’t come in on their own but we don’t have the power to order too many expeditions to one kingdom. The merchant guild is built on different merchant companies working together not just me.”

“We can live with five merchants a year but eleven percent is as low as I am willing to go. If I go any lower it would be better if I simply started my own trading company with the funds owed to me by the Rose Trading Company and hire my own people to travel to different lands.”

“I told you that you weren’t cute didn’t I,” Monique said sighing. “Eleven percent but I want a deal that ensures us the sole rights over nonaffiliated trading companies for ten years.”

“Deal,” Bren said with a large smile.

“Well done my lord,” Elyse said handing Bren a contrite detailing what they had just agreed to. “You were right about the number of merchants but you didn’t get the twelve percent that you had suggested.”

“She was a tougher than I had expected but eleven percent will be more than enough to make the tower as well as the merchants happy with plenty of room left for profit,” Bren said as he signed the paper and held it out for Monique to read.

Monique took the contract and read it over numerous times. Finally after almost a half hour of reading, she took out a quill and signed her name and added her signet stamp to the contract right below Bren’s.

“Now that business is over why don’t we get something to eat,” Monique said brightly. “After having traveled with Killian and his men for five days I am ready for something other than field rations.”

“Lillian is anything prepared?” Bren asked laughing.

“Yes my lord we have various things prepared since we didn’t know when delegates might be dropping by.”

“Then bring something with a rich taste, Monique has an exquisite palate,” Bren said smiling. “Also contact Crusher. I am sure that the magical races council would like to have their own summit with the merchant guild.”

“Magical races council?” Monique asked her face pinched in interest.

“Yes it is a small group of non-humans who each have a voice not only in my halls but also speak for their respective people as well. I am sure that you would find it beneficial to talk to them since there are still many things that only the races produce away from the eyes of men.”

“I take it all back you are still as cute as the day you hugged my leg and called me Moni,” Monique said smiling brightly.

“Thank you my lord,” Lillian said with a slight smile gracing her normally stoic face. “I have been trying to think of a way to broach the subject but I must admit that I couldn’t think of a polite way to contact Lady Monique.”

“For such a young man Bren has always been attentive to the wants of people around him,” Monique said laughing. “The only thing that holds him back from taking over the world is his soft demeanor.”

“I think you might have my lord mistaken,” Lillian said tilting her head slightly. “I will admit that he prefers a relaxed atmosphere among those that work for him but he is anything but soft when it comes to his decisions.”

“My senses are telling me that some good stories are brooding behind those eyes,” Monique said leaning forward. “Bren be a good boy and make yourself scarce so that me and Lillian can talk.”

“You do know that this is my palace?” Bren asked seriously.

“Why should that matter,” Monique said dismissing his complaints. “When women want to talk you better go while you have the chance, otherwise I will call for Brenda to keep you company. I know I saw her around here somewhere.”

“I think I will take a walk around town,” Bren said quickly getting to his feet.

“Such a good boy,” Bren heard Monique said as the door closed behind him.

In the courtyard Bren found Cass and his other guards practicing with a large crowd gathered around. It seemed that many people learned of the roundtable and thought that it was some sort of festival and had come from many of the neighboring counties. Bren didn’t mind, though it did stress the resources that they had available, it also meant a boost in profits to the merchants and later to himself.

“Would you like to join us my lord?” Cass asked his voice strained from the hard exercise.

“Maybe later Cass,” Bren replied. “Right now I would like a bit of fresh air.

As they walked Cass moved in to stand beside Bren. “I noticed the lady from the merchant guild go inside. Did the meeting go worse than you had expected?”

“I wasn’t really prepared but she gave the fight away for the most part though I still didn’t get as much as I hoped,” Bren admitted. “She was more interested in Lillian though so I was officially kicked out of my own home,” Bren added smiling.

“Haven’t you learned yet no man can own a home when there are women about,” Cass said laughing. Even if they're just a guest, a woman owns a home the second she steps foot inside.”

“You are a wise man,” Bren said laughing.

“If you are banished from your home what are you planning to do?”

“I think I will take the chance to see the town and what everyone is up to,” Bren said looking down the street. “Hopefully there hasn’t been much trouble.”

“Nothing more than one would expect from this large a gathering of people,” Cass said. “Honestly Flynn is handling it very well and so far no one has been injured. Jacob also has his trainees
doing patrols under the guise of training so that helps a great deal considering how short we are on numbers.”

“That is good, I need to think of a way to thank him for his efforts,” Bren said thoughtfully. “The real challenge will be tomorrow. There is no telling how the different monarchs will act when all three of them get in the same room. They each are different in their way of ruling and honestly none of them mesh well when it comes to policies.”

“Do you expect trouble? I was the only one of your guards to be present during the talks… Should I have more of the men available?”

“No
, even if we had more, if anything happened it would cause more trouble if we interfered. It will be a touchy few days and tensions could reach a boiling point. Our real job as hosts is to make sure that once the day ends they are able to forget about as much of it as they can.”

“I will trust you on this but if at any time your safety is at issue I will intervene in the manner I think is best,” Cass said with a determined look on his face.

“Just try not to start a war,” Bren said sighing deeply.

As they walked through the town they found many stalls set up for the visitors to look through. Even crusher had many of his wears placed on a large wooden table for people to buy. When Crusher saw Bren the burley dwarf called out to him.

“Ya been so busy lately I haven’t had the chance ta bring this by,” The dwarf said bringing out a long package wrapped in thick brown paper.

Pulling on a thin string that was wrapped around the paper the warping fell away to expose a long black sword. Bren held the sword up to the light
and he could see his reflection in the polished blade but as he ran his fingers over the edge he could tell that it wasn’t made of metal. The hilt was exquisitely made and was carved so that many small eagles seemed to be in flight all coming together to form one large eagle that held a large emerald in its claws.

When Bren lowered the sword Crusher handed him a black scabbard that was trimmed in dark green. “What is it made of?” Bren asked as he slipped the sword into its sheath.

“I don’t mind telling ya if ya promise that ya will keep it a secret,” Crusher said in hushed tones.

“Is this one of those secrets that your kind loves to tell but keep to themselves at the same time,” Bren asked with a wry smile.

“They are the only kind worth keeping. It’s a test of friendship. If ya tell anyone, I will kill ya than lament the loss of a good friend,” the dwarf replied seriously.