For the next half of the hour when Aleister and his accountant were discussing loudly possible forms of cooperation on multiple fields – completely ignoring my presence at the same time – Charlotte did best to make me feel as little offended by her father's actions as possible. This young lass will be a great negotiator in the future… no, wait, she already is, but once she would be leading the company, her skills would ensure her father’s company well-being.

… Well, I have heard that Rosewood has another child. Son. Xavier, Xamiel, or some other Xamael, but, for some reason he isn’t appearing by his father side during any official meetings. A black sheep perhaps? Not that I cared.

Eventually, the businessmen ended their loud conversation and looked at me with a smile.

- “Mr. Whiteraven, I believe we will have an agreement for you to sign.”

Yet another vein popped out of my forehead this evening.

- “The question remains if I would be willing to do so.” I politely noticed

- “You will… Oh! Don’t look at me like that! I have no ill intentions! That will actually benefit you greatly – we have already stated that your presence on the market changed the layout of forces into more… desirable form. You won’t lose anything, quite the opposite. We are willing to provide you goods not burdened by a margin of our income. You would pay only for production costs and transport.”

That meant he was willing to give me things for free?! The margin is that merchant earns after buying and selling the good! That was… that was too good to be real.

- “Where is a catch?”

- “Too cautious, are we? There is none, the only limitation would be you signing a contract stating that you would cover at least 50% of your supplies from Rosewood cluster for the duration of next three calculation-reporting–periods.”

- “And for how long would your generous offer regarding no-products-costs last?”

- “One reporting period.”

- “So You are basically telling me that for a year I would indeed not pay you a penny, but then for next two years you could balance the prices however you pleased, and I would be forced to but at least half of my cargo from you?”

- “I am the on doing you a favor, Mr. Whiteraven, and this clause is nothing more but a safety mechanism for me, you see, the market is fluent - constantly changing. You can’t predict if there won’t be some global catastrophe that would force the product’s cost to triple! I assure you that I have no ill intentions for you at the moment of writing this contract!”

But you are already anticipating that such intentions would appear in the future, aren’t you? – there was no way I could vocalize my thoughts.

- “Here is a deal, Mr. Zariel.” The accountant gave me a few pieces of paper completely covered with columns of nicely written letters, runes, and numbers.

The agreement made on the 16th day of the month of Rain between Rosewood Trading Conglomerate and WhiteRaven Apothecary represented by… bla-bla-bla… The sides of the agreement hereby reached the conclusion… bla-bla-blaaaa… the partnership for an indefinite period of time is made yet not shorter than 3 years…. BLA-BLAAAAA

Oh, the interesting part.

The Rosewood company grants limited by time 100% cost refunds regarding costs different than cost of materials, cost of production, cost of manpower, cost of storage and cost of transport for a period up to one year…

Up to one year. UP TO! Little cunts, made a backdoor for themselves to “eventually” withdraw their offer. They will use it to try giving to me some additional post-selling services or some other shit, and if I would politely decline, they would just as politely remove their prices.

… The WhiteRaven apothecary will provide their supply report quarterly to prove that they are meeting their end of an agreement regarding 50% + 1 supplying from Rosewood Company…

And by this, they will have a clear insight into my other suppliers and could predict my yield each quarter..

Wait-wait-wait-wait!

They went sooo greedy, that they missed a vital point! according to this agreement, they will verify my supplying, but only from an official registered and tax-related sources!... It means that everything I would make by myself or I would… not put into an official taxing report (black market and such) would not count into our agreement! I could get only as much as needed from them for no-cost – let’s say 10 or 20%; other 80% I could grow by myself or get from illegal sources, and then those silly numbers from Rosewood would figure as 100%!

This way they would be getting faked financial reports, useless for the purpose of prediction! I would be pretty much sending them their own receipt back!

Corners of my lips twitched despite my most desperate actions to keep my poker face on.

- “Something amused you, Mr. Whiteraven? I hope it’s not our deal, it’s far from being a joke.”

- “I was only happy that my business partners are so generous.” I said hoping they wouldn’t notice the real reason behind my good mood “… I am indeed willing to sign this contract.”

They quickly exchanged gazes. Apparently, they didn’t give me their best agreement right away, thinking I would decline and the negotiations would keep going on. That’s why they made that mistake! It was quickly written with few not-exactly-fair deals, so the negotiator would decline it and they could keep suggesting improvements to the deal, of course asking for something in return each and every time!

But that single hole in a deal, something so easy to overlook, bah! There was nothing overlooked if they would be dealing with a merchant that is honest and works only on the legal market. Shame, I am not one of those, Mr. Rosewood.

- “Are you sure? It’s written on the magic paper so…” accountant started off the bat

- “The fact that you suggest that I have no idea how deals written on the magic paper works offends me, Mr. Klark.”

Charlotte was also confused, she tried pulling my sleeve to let me know I can haggle more.

But I couldn’t haggle more. Right now, I was offered something for nothing. There was no way I wanted this opportunity to pass. Just for the pure sake of annoying these two. Call me petty. Call me childish – risking good relationship for a prank.

It. Was. All. Worth it.

Not waiting for anything, I moved closer to the desk, took the sharpened feather, I dipped it into a small bottle with ink and signed the deal, then I looked with a challenge deep into Rosewood’s eyes.

Now, he couldn’t really admit he wanted to use that seemingly really-bad agreement as nothing else but as an excuse for continuing the negotiations - that would be a real faux-pas. He only shrugged his arms, approached me and signed it too. The paper glowed accepting oath. A magical counter appeared next to 1 and 3 years written on the agreement.

- “Just so you know, we wouldn’t mind if you asked for more…” he eventually said

- “Just so you know" I responded in the same teaching-like manner "...you should read the agreement more carefully, then you would know, that I really couldn’t ask for MORE.” I said while moving toward the door “… I would want to say that it was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Rosewood, but it was far more educational to merely call it a pleasure. You indeed are quite a big player, Mr. Rosewood. Till our next meeting – farewell.”

I bowed my head slightly to accountant and Rosewood, then a full-noble bow toward miss Charlotte, before I left the room.

- “Klark?” Rosewood would ask as soon as mage left the office “…What did he mean?”

- “I have no idea. The deal is bad. Just bad. Bah! It was used as schooling material to teach in our schools what kinds of deal they should never sign! It has everything wrong! Supplier having insight into list of other suppliers, his partner’s expenses, a way out for supplier to withdraw from his offer at any time…”

- “Give it to me!” Rosewood ordered almost ripping paper of his 2nd in charge’s hands.

He read the whole text once, twice, thrice, and eventually noticed the same thing that Zariel did.

- “That son of a bitch…” He said still holding the agreement, though no anger was painted of his face, quite the opposite – the joy and amusement. “… that little, cowardly, two-faced, snake-tongued son of a dog!”

Rosewood started laughing aloud.

- “D-dad? What is it?”

- “Charlotte, a lesson for you. When you create a generic version of the deal, use it only for the targeted group. We underestimated that little rat and he proved to be much smarter than we thought… actually, Klerk, Charlotte. Take copies of this deal with yourself, by tomorrow, I want you to tell me exactly what we did wrong…”

- “I… have read that deal hundreds of times… I didn’t notice anything wrong with it, well, except that it’s simply bad.”

- “The deal is fine, it was a person that it was given to that made a difference. I will not give you more tips, you have to find it by yourself, also, Klerk?”

- “Yes?”

- “We could withdraw our little sale even now… but don’t do that. Keep it for the whole year. Little bastard earned it.”

The older man collapsed in his armchair and poured himself a glass of whiskey filling it till the edges, then he gulped it in one go.

For the first time in years, he had fun! He was tricked by such a young person in such a silly way! With the deal that HE suggested atop of that.

Maybe it was him getting older? Maybe it was the time to finally retire and let Charlotte take over his heritage? (with help from Klark, of course!)… No-no-no-no!

Not just yet! Charlotte is still young, she can’t lose herself in the paperwork, not just yet! It wasn’t about him doubting his daughter skills, she should be fine, the problem lied somewhere else – if Charlotte would dive deep into merchandise work now and become fully dedicated for the company, she would have less time for meeting up males. And that meant his chances of becoming a grandpa would grow even slimmer.

AND THAT IS NOT GOOD! HE DEMANDS A GRANDCHILD!

NOW!!!

Thoroughly-mentally exhausted I somehow managed to drag my sorry ass back to the main hall. It wasn’t as bad as I thought, I was afraid that they would really force me into writing some kind of annoying agreement, but this time I had more luck than brain - the offer that they gave me had more holes than Swiss cheese.

Still, the pressure that was my burden for last hour or so was more than enough to make my legs shake a little.

Whatever, it’s over, I lived. Now, I just want to get back to the table, drink few shots of vodka and spend rest of the evening with Giselle.

But, the mood in the main hall appeared to be bit different, more nervous. Apparently, the Rosewood’s guards didn’t manage to keep news regarding commotion in the lower city a secret. Who could have guessed, that the most powerful merchants would have their own sources of information? Who, indeed? Except for everyone, of course?

I quickly headed toward our alcove, and just as I was warmed, a small crowd gathered around it as Giselle was kept on being challenged by merchants, one after another, for a drinking contest, poor fellows were thinking, that just because Giselle was “weakened” by few matches, she would be an easy target.

Fools! She was not weakened, only warmed up and ready for an actual battle!

- “Enjoying yourself, sweetie?” I asked with a smile sitting by her side

- “Zari! You have no idea! These guys can actually drink! Maybe they are not on Jason’s or Morgul’s level, but I am pleasantly surprised!” she chirped happily between two next shots. Her cheeks were reddened, her eyes were sparkling, her lips were curved in a pure, gentle smile of amusement.

- “I am glad to hear that.”

- “How did the bargain with the devil go?” In the meantime servants gently removed another unconscious VIP from the floor, making a place for another challenger.

- “Much, but MUCH better than expected.”

- “See?! And you were sooo afraid to come here!” she cheered once again “… anyway, let me defeat that one guy too, and we can go for another dance!”

- “You like dancing THAT much?”

- “Only because it is with you!” that cheeky smile! That god-damned smile!

- “My-my! Who could have guessed that you can such sweet things! Giselle, this evening you surly are full of surprises! Wonderful surprises!”

- “Just don’t get used to such treatment! It’s a one-day-only service.”

- “In that case, I think I will have to use it to my heart content!”

It took about thirty more minutes for the last challenger to back off, taking into consideration that they were drinking glass after glass every thirty or so seconds, bastard indeed could drink. Tomorrow his head and liver will "thank" him thought.

Slowly, effects of intoxication started appearing on dragoness face, nothing much, she still had (more or less) clarity of mind (well, actually less) but she got bit more straightforward in her actions, her tongue got sharper as she was friendly insulting merchants (hopefully, they indeed treated it as jokes) and occasionally she would miss her footing. We were about to “hit the dancefloor” again when the door to the mansion was slammed open and two magicians (guessing by her robes and mask – sentinels) protected (if you can say that) by city guards entered the inner rooms.

- “Sorry for intrusssioooon!” a male’s cheerful voice could be heard from under the hood “… we are looking for so-called Zariel Whiteraven.”

For fuck sake. What now?

Rolling my eyes I stepped forward.

- “Just be quick, I don’t have much time to spare.”

- “Okie-dokie! We will be reaaally fast!...

By my command! The king of thy!

Embrace my foes with shackles of ice!

Let them not move, let none escape,

Maintain thy form in unchanging shape!

Glacial Prison!”

The chant was quick yet the power of the spell was quite spectacular, within seconds my entire body was immobilized in the pillar of ice, letting only my head to pop out.

- “What’s the meaning of this!?” I can’t deny it – I actually panicked there for a second.

- “Mr. Whiteraven, we are arresting you for starting a commotion that resulted in multiple casualties and damages in the city. You have a right to remain silence bla-bla-bla, you are coming with us. You have a right to the lawyer…”

- “Does he?” his female companion raised a question.

- “Actually, no, he doesn’t, I just really wanted to say that quote.”

If someone would ask me (though I knew no one would) this whole pseudo-arrest was just a charade. Even if someone was suspected, he had the right to clarify the possible misunderstanding by personally attending the meeting with the head of Sentinels. Arresting was used against targets that were either resisting or dodging such meetings (after being informed about it). Or extremely violent. I was none of the cases.

I couldn’t do that as I was just informed about the whole situation, therefore… I could fight back, couldn’t I?

I definitely could, that was the reason why Sentinels were the most skilled battle mages in the country – just in case you wanted to use that law of yours. Just because you were allowed to do something, doesn't mean anyone wanted you to use your rights.

- “I hereby wish to inform everyone, that I want to use the law stating I am free to personally attend the meeting to clarify the misunderstanding with the authorities within a period of fourteen days since the date of accusation.

- “Yes? And how do you wish to execute this law? Punch me?”

I smiled with a corner of my lips. This day was rather a long one. First I spend hours putting on myself so many accessories, that in my humble opinion I looked like a fucking chandelier, then I was forced to listen to dozens of deals and partnership offers made by lesser merchants, then I was forced to make a bargain with the devil and now they didn't let me spend some well-deserved time with Giselle.

Yes, punching you is exactly what I needed.