Читать книгу Return of Magic - Steve Reilly - Страница 17

Chapter 10

The runner had arrived at her room at the inn breathing heavily after racing through the streets to deliver his message. He had shown himself to be like all the others on the floor, young and keen. She had noticed him previously but only because she noticed everyone. He left before waiting to see if there was a reply so she knew he had been instructed that there would be none. When she read the note she could not help laughing. It had come from Radford as she had expected but the trader was clearly upset. Clarisse reread the words.

You had information that was unavailable to us and used it to great advantage. I respect you for that. It shows the sign of a great trader. But you have cost me a great deal of money and for that you will discover the full extent of my ire. You will come to my trading room immediately to discuss how you may reimburse me. Do not try to run. Your funds are still with the money-changer and I have men watching them. My network spreads throughout the kingdoms far beyond your imaginings. You will be found.

Trader Radford.

She stood before the building enjoying the feeling that those inside who would find even more reason to want her skin soon. Taking a calming breath she stepped inside and all sound left the normally noisy floor. Faces watched from the upper and all about the floor as she walked slowly towards the little cubicle where Radford waited. Standing once again before the desk she felt his eyes drill into her being as he tried to assess her true abilities.

“Sit down,” Radford demanded. Clarise continued to stand before the large desk forcing Radford to look up. He would need to stand to take her position of dominance from her and all eyes watched the exchange between the wealthiest trader in Frith and the woman who had declared she was set to replace him. Radford gave a wry grin. “Please sit,” he offered, holding his hand out to indicate the chair. Clarise took the seat opposite and Radford relaxed a little. She could see he thought he could still win this battle of wits but he had no plans of underestimating her again. He had done that when he sold at a price only slightly above the market. This had been his first mistake. He had negotiated a good bonus but it was nothing compared with the profit Clarisse could now make. He should have taken the time for more research, she thought. It did not seem to matter at the time because she knew he had ordered a new shipment and expected it to arrive within days. Now he knew no more would come and there was more behind the deal. She could read his face easily—he was both curious and infuriated. “Where do you get your information?” he demanded, anger again showing in his voice.

“What do you mean?” she asked sweetly, allowing an innocent expression to appear on her face and manner.

Radford’s voice exploded from his mouth. “Don’t treat me like a fool.” He shut his eyes and forced control back into his body. “I know you are intelligent, so am I.” He took a breath. “You had information that was not known on the floor,” he accused.

Clarisse allowed him to sit for a few minutes watching her. Finally, she responded. “I had no information.”

“Then why did you suddenly appear from nowhere and buy all supplies of Poh fish on your first day. It is too much if you expect me to believe it was coincidence.”

Clarisse relaxed into her story. “I did not suddenly appear. I was in Hoate for two weeks before I set foot in the traders’ rooms. Only then was I ready to begin buying. My first day on the floor was not a coincidence, it was planning and preparation.”

Radford appeared a little more at ease when he repeated his question. “That does not tell me where you got your knowledge.”

“My departed father taught me my trade and he taught me well. He showed me many things but one lesson I will not forget and that is to observe and trust myself.”

Radford was incredulous. “Are you telling me that you spent all that money based only on your feelings?”

“Yes, partly. But the important part of the lesson is to observe. I would not rely on my feelings if the news I received came only by runners. They are either too late or dismiss important facts as insignificant. It is not their fault. They report what they see but sometimes they do not see what is before them. I have spent my time in Hoate watching people and events and when things became obvious to me I came here to make my deals.” She sat back and waited.

Radford studied the woman deciding whether to believe her. “Then your instincts have made you a very wealthy woman. Without fresh supplies the high born will pay well for their needs. But you need to know who will pay and how much. Do you have these resources?” Clarise sat watching, waiting for Radford’s next words. They came quickly. “I have a deal to offer. I can distribute your product for a piece of the sale.”

“No. I am sorry, but I must decline.”

Radford was insistent. “My deal is worth considering. I have my network in place and can get it out to those who want it most. You should also consider how many men and women in Frith are in my employ. You could find sales difficult to come by if I ordered it.” The threat was obvious, and not only from his whispered tones.

“But if you become my distributer I would be lucky to recoup my outlay while you grow rich on the back of my investments,” she smiled. “And I must do this myself or I would henceforth be known to be in your debt. That is not a position I choose since I intend to become your equal, if not your better.”

Radford laughed so hard his chair rattled. “My equal? You would have an accident long before that could happen.”

“Then I offer you a deal,” she countered. “Buy my stock from me.”

This was what both dealers wanted. All the banter and hedging were only preparation for this. “That is a reasonable solution. I will even allow you a good profit, half again on what you paid.”

This time Clarise laughed. “I own the product. I will set the price,” she countered. “You will give me ten times what I gave you.” She stared into the trader’s eyes waiting for his response.

Radford exploded again. “Ridiculous. There is not that much coin on the floor.”

Clarisse could see he did not understand how a woman was able to upset him so easily but she had done her research on him as well as the products he controlled. This man could normally put the deal ahead of everything but had not met anyone of her appearance and training before.

“I will pay twice what I sold for,” he offered.

Prices bounced back and forth like a ball on the street until Clarise gave the trader his opening. “There are two facts I know. First, the price of Poh fish will soon be ten times what it is now and second, if I don’t allow you your profit I will never spend my money. But we can both do well out of this if we are reasonable. So here is my final offer. I will sell at six times my buying price. After the deal is completed I will leave Frith and return to Sardonel. You can still make massive profits on your investment within two months and I will not be around to cause you any more grief. But this deal is only good until today’s close.”

“Impossible. I do not have enough coin available with the moneychangers and there is not enough time to sell my other assets.”

She leaned forward to make her point. “Then make a deal with the others on the floor. I know that between you, you have the ready coin and the others would be more than grateful to receive a cut of this deal.”

“It will take time,” pleaded Radford.

“You have today. I am going for a walk and I will return this afternoon for your decision.”

The trader was beaten. If he wished to make his profit he would need to make this deal. “I will make it happen if you will tell me what you saw that my runners did not,” he added.

Clarise was already standing but Radford had now accepted his loss so she delayed long enough to answer. “A fleet of Ortalian vessels were seen to enter Hoate harbour. News was that they came to protect their queen, or empress I believe they call her. Yet almost no one on board goes with her when she comes ashore. Instead they remain on board and practice swordcraft each day. Then no events are organised for the visitors though they stay for weeks.” Radford was leaning forward so as to not miss a word. “So I was led to conclude this was more than a royal visit. Only one story can provide answers for these events. They have fled their country and so I concluded Ortalia has fallen. With that knowledge I can see that trade will be disrupted, probably for more than a number of years. I then did my research into what product would be most affected. When I chose Poh fish I looked to how I could take advantage of this.” She left the cubicle and eyes followed her to the front door before the silence was broken. Radford was calling for runners.