Revelation (Seeds of Humanity: The Cobalt Heresy) (41 page)

“I do,” I replied with a polite bow. The bag was on the floor between my feet now, instead of on the chair between my legs, and I reached down to pick it up. It must have weighed at least forty pounds, and my arm was just now recovering from the numbness caused by having it strapped across my shoulder all day.

The short, angry woman made her way down to the lower level where I was standing, and stood impatiently in front of me. “I would hear your offer, and quickly, Journeyman,” she demanded.

I hesitated before insisting, “Your name, Magos?”

She squinted at me as though trying to determine if I was something whose fate was to be scrubbed off the windshield, or if I was even worth her time to do so. Eventually she relented. “I am Magos Tamara von Azure, Second Tier Master of House Listoh. And you are?”

I walked over to her with the bag in hand and set it gently down on a nearby table. “I’m Journeyman Jezran ‘Cobalt’ Wiegraf, and I believe House Listoh has need for the contents of this bag,” I said nonchalantly. I had to enjoy the pole position as long as I held it, and I admit it was every bit as fun as I had thought it would be. “But if I’m mistaken, then I offer my most humble apology and will be on my way.”

The woman looked to Marizzi, who shook her head slightly. Magos Tamara looked back to me with that same, angry school teacher expression before opening the bag. Her expression conveyed that she immediately recognized its contents, and her eyebrows shot up in unguarded surprise.

I smiled serenely and sat down in my chair. When the woman said nothing, I saw Marizzi’s curiosity get the better of her and she leaned over to see what was in the bag.

“Where did you get this?” asked Tamara, whose tone was now considerably more respectful—but also considerably more wary.

Marizzi couldn’t control the look of shock which covered her face for a good five seconds, eventually composing herself and closing her gaping mouth.

“Where I got it isn’t part of this phase of our negotiations,” I said instructively. “But whether or not House Listoh is interested in my mythicite
is
.”

I knew that House Listoh had a greater actual need for mythicite than any other Great House, since most of the contracts they struck with the creatures bound to their service were purported to require a quantity of the material. Even for a House as large and powerful as Listoh, it was likely difficult to acquire the mysterious mineral in any great quantity.

Apparently, the Great Houses kept the stuff as a kind of phantom arms race, as even the ones who didn’t have a need for it stockpiled mythicite for the sole purpose of keeping it out of their rivals’ hands. The amount I had brought—forty pounds—wasn’t enough to change the landscape of Veldyrian any time soon. But it was probably worth more than I suspected House Wiegraf’s entire holdings were worth—and I knew there was plenty more where it came from.

The woman sat down slowly in the chair next to the bag, and Marizzi followed her lead by sitting down in the chair she had occupied when I first entered the room.

“I must ask again, however,” Tamara insisted, “where did you get this?”

I shook my head. “That isn’t something we’re going to discuss just yet, but I assure you that this material was acquired legally by House Wiegraf and that its source will soon be a matter of public record.” I leaned forward, elbows on my knees before continuing. “I was hoping that House Listoh would like its name next to House Wiegraf’s, as co-claimants?”

Marizzi’s eyebrow shot up. “Why would you offer to share such a rich find?” she blurted.

Her Master scolded her with her eyes before turning her attention to me. “Because he knows he cannot hope to protect such a rich claim once the other Houses learn of the find,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Quite so,” I agreed, glad not to have to dance around the issue any longer than absolutely necessary. “And I also know that House Listoh could never allow such a rich find to be funneled directly into the veins of her greatest rival, which is why I came to you first.”

Marizzi looked like she was about to protest, but she was instantly silenced with a wave of Magos Tamara’s hand. “You are correct,” she confirmed coldly. “We could never allow that to happen.”

I leaned back in my chair. “And rather than destroy the find—which I’m sure is one of the many options you must consider during your coming deliberations,” I said with a pointed pause, “I propose a joint venture. I’ve already secured the area legally under Imperial Doctrine, with my Master’s—Magos Antolin Wiegraf’s—assistance. I personally confirmed today that the claim is officially recognized by the Inner Circle; all The Guild needs to do is agree to help House Wiegraf secure the area from threats foreign and domestic, and we can make our treaty official—splitting the mythicite equally.”

Magos Tamara regarded me silently, and I held my poker face well enough that I was actually proud of myself. The truth was that I had been walking around with the equivalent of forty pounds of uncut, golf-ball-sized diamonds for the whole day and nobody had discovered it. My nerves were shot, and here was a woman who had subtly insinuated that her house wasn’t above wiping my find off the map with little more than a flick of the wrist—probably along with whoever knew about it, which unfortunately included me.

“Just how rich is this find?” she asked finally. “Before I can consider your proposal, I must have a rough estimate.”

I shook my head again. “I have no idea how big it is, but that,” I pointed at the bag, “barely scratches the surface no matter what the total volume ends up being, which I am confident is at minimum one hundred times that amount.”

She nodded skeptically as she considered my proposal. “House Listoh would be assuming the risk in such a venture,” she countered, and I felt relief wash over me as I knew she was going to agree, even if the percentages ended up being skewed in her favor. “We would require an eighty percent share.”

“You’re just being greedy,” I said dismissively. “Fifty percent is more than fair, and House Listoh will arrange for the purification process. Also, The Guild gets to use their assayer for measurement of the final product, over which House Wiegraf retains the right to audit independently and without notice at any time.”

 Magos Tamara leaned forward and made a cutting motion with her hand. “Three fourths, if we are to do literally
all
of the work,” she insisted. “Do you know how expensive mythicite is to purify, and how volatile it becomes during the process?”

“I don’t,” I admitted, “but I couldn’t go higher than sixty percent for The Guild, under any circumstance. This is literally the only thing House Wiegraf has going on, while it would just be one of many important operations for House Listoh. I can’t sign away our most significant asset like that.”

Tamara leaned back in her chair and regarded me coldly. “You are of course welcome to seek a better offer from one of the other Great Houses of Veldyrian,” she suggested airily, and for a moment I thought I had overplayed my hand. “But two thirds is the lowest share we will accept under these conditions.”

I could barely contain my smile. “Two thirds,” I repeated solemnly with a sigh, “in addition to unlimited access to House Listoh’s research library,” I indicated the books arrayed all around us, “for members of House Wiegraf, as well as the arrangement for dedicated transportation to and from the site, available on House Wiegraf’s request. I’ll also require The Guild’s assistance in transporting various sensitive materials to the site within two days from now.” I stood slowly and extended my hand. “You and I both know it’s a more than fair offer, and if you can agree to it then we have ourselves an accord.”

Magos Tamara stood slowly and locked her eyes with mine. She thrust her small, thick hand forward and accepted my own. “I believe I can convince my superiors to agree to such an arrangement,” she said with a stiff nod.

Marizzi stood slowly, clearly dumbstruck by what had just happened. With a single handshake, House Wiegraf’s power had multiplied at least tenfold—and maybe more like a hundredfold. But I wasn’t interested in Veldyrian politics; I just wanted to secure Coldetz for its people and it appeared that I had successfully done so, at least with regards to the Empire’s inevitable interest.

Magos Tamara made her way briskly back up the stairs leading out of the room the way she entered. She turned at the top of the landing and regarded the two of us before chuckling. “You see, Marizzi?” she said, pointing a finger at me, “I told you that marrying him was wise.” With that, she turned and left the room, closing it quietly behind herself.

After she had left, I turned to my ‘wife.’ “Now that all of that’s over with,” I said cheerfully, “I could really use something to eat. How about you?”

The look of cold, impotent fury on her face was worth every minute of lugging that damned bag through the streets of Veldyrian.

Chapter XXVII: Agreement, a Reading, and a Very Small Dilemma

I spent a few hours going over the finer points of our treaty with Magos Tamara after she had received authorization to conclude the negotiations. Once I felt I had a grasp of the details as presented, I decided to go over them one last time.

“So House Listoh agrees to the general terms I have outlined,” I began, my eyes having become pretty heavy over the course of the discussion, “and is willing to permanently station two of their members on-site to ensure security of the mythicite and its surrounding area, as well as to bear the burden of whatever legal battles might arise surrounding the validity of our claim.”

Tamara nodded. “Should your representations prove accurate, The Guild agrees to provide legal defense for the claim as well as to physically secure the immediate area containing the mythicite,” she rebutted. “But seeing as you have still failed to provide a description of the ‘area’ to which you continue to refer, we must insist on this point, as our liability in this matter must be limited in some fashion.”

“I understand that part,” I allowed. “After we’ve agreed and our agreement is officially recorded, the details of the area which
I
must insist on being policed will be revealed and not a moment sooner.”

Tamara leaned forward, clearly just as tired of the wrangling as I was. “How large is the area we are discussing?” she asked wearily. “I must have some idea before agreeing to anything, even in principle.”

It was a good question, and one I had hoped to forestall until a later date, but House Listoh was clearly experienced at this sort of negotiation. “The immediate area’s no larger than the Veldyrian city limits, and no smaller than the Great Tower,” I said, still unwilling to give up any critical details. “The force won’t be needed to physically police behavior of anyone who may enter the premises,” I assured her, “instead we’re mostly just talking about keeping the Veldyrian wolves at bay. For the immediate future, House Listoh’s name should provide enough of a deterrent so a token force of two of her Magos’ should suffice.”

Tamara shook her head. “House Listoh would not permanently station two Magos,” she countered. I had expected to argue the point, and the topic needed to be broached sooner or later. “Our commitment would consist of one Journeyman and one Apprentice.”

It was my turn to shake my head. “That won’t work,” I insisted, “because unless I’m mistaken, only a Magos can properly oversee the refinement of mythicite. The continual presence of at
least
one Magos-level member of House Listoh is necessary.”

Tamara paused before admitting, “The mythicite will be processed here, in Veldyrian.”

She had hoped to slip that one by me apparently, and I was suddenly very grateful for my diligence in overseeing the ‘finer’ points of this negotiation.

“Magos Tamara,” I said slowly, trying to keep my voice level as my face flushed, “we both know that isn’t going to happen, and to suggest it at this late hour is anything but a cooperative gesture.”

Now it was Marizzi’s turn to get her Master’s back. “Jezran, be reasonable,” my ‘wife’ said in a voice that was almost pleading, “the refinement of mythicite is a delicate procedure and requires a very controlled environment. Failure to observe the necessary safety protocols can lead to disaster!”

I locked eyes with Marizzi before I shifted my gaze to Tamara. “I must insist,” I said coolly, “that the refinement occur on-site. I can relent in certain aspects of these negotiations, but not this one.”

Tamara chewed her cheek in thought, and Marizzi looked on in a mixture of wonderment and frustration. Finally, the Magos nodded her head. “If House Wiegraf will share the costs of establishing the facility where refinement is to take place, then House Listoh will provide the equipment and expertise to carry out the process.”

I nodded appreciatively. “So…we agree on two full-time Magos, yes?” I pressed, knowing I wouldn’t get it, but I had to at least try.

Tamara smiled wryly. “I believe one Magos and her Journeyman should suffice,” she said knowingly. Marizzi’s face slackened as she realized what her Master had just implied.

“Master, you cannot be serious!” Marizzi yelped.

“Indeed I am, Marizzi,” her Master assured her. “Our presence will raise fewer questions, given the relationship between yourself and Jezran. We cannot raise any more alarms than are absolutely necessary. Even House Listoh must respect the long arm of House Tyrdren…at least until we have taken control of the resource.”

I really wanted to groan but apparently these two ‘ladies’ were about to become my liaisons to House Listoh, so I didn’t need to muddy the waters any more than I already had.

“That’s acceptable,” I agreed, standing slowly to my feet so I could stretch. “Now we only need to hammer out The Guild’s commitment to protecting the area.”

Magos Tamara nodded. “The Guild will accept responsibility for securing the resource, as well as providing support for House Wiegraf’s efforts to defend any geographic area it deems fit, so long as such an effort of defense can be adequately proven to be necessary for continued harvest of the mythicite.”