B2 – Chapter 22: A bit of flattery goes a long way

Tristan got up and when he made his way outside of the Queen’s Wood he was greeted with a slightly humorous sight – dozens of fairy dragons who were arguing over the best way to stack up various boxes, crates, and other containers. One of them was painting with some type of ink on a large board, and another two were trying to put together a cart under the supervision and with the assistance of Dorothy.

“Ah, you woke up! Come on, the markets open early!” she said to Tristan.

He walked over with a chuckle, “Decided to help out after all?”

“Yes, I did. These ones,” she gestured to the fairy dragons, “are helpful, but need specific guidance.”

One of them stuck their tongue out at her and blew a raspberry, whilst the other shook his paw, “Oh shut it, you old goat!”

Dorothy wheeled around on him, “Goat? Sheepkin! I told you!”

Both fairy dragons cackled, and Tristan couldn’t help but smile at the seemingly over-the-top reaction of the grandmother-aged woman. “How is Meeshka doing today?”

“Oh. Well, she heard about this whole thing and wants to just get out of her head for a bit. If you don’t mind, would you be willing to take her with you into town? She can lose herself in work a bit.”

“Of cours-” Tristan began to reply. But he was interrupted as the half-breed Broxtar, Beatrice, ran over.

“I…I…Can I come along?” she asked in between breaths. “Sorry…was…out for…morning run.”

“Sure,” Tristan replied. “You two ladies can make the sales from this wonderful cart that these amazing fellows are helping with.” He emphasized those two words as he looked at the fairy dragons hard at work finishing up the moveable stall, and both beamed with delight, redoubling their efforts.

“We’ll leave the horses,” Tristan said as the Foxkin Meeshka walked up to him and Beatrice. “I don’t want to deal with stabling them and maybe having someone take them.”

“Why?” Meeshka asked. “They’re pretty horses, sure, but just horses.”

Tristan shook his head, “Destriers. From the king of Bhant’s personal stables – a gift to my father. Bred true from different breeders. Onyx is from that original sire given to my father; Midnight is from another breeder. They are as close to purebred as you can get.”

“They’re valuable,” Beatrice said simply.

Meeshka nodded, “Well…thank you, Lord Tristan, for bringing me along.”

“Sure. Get close.” Tristan got next to the cart and when the two ladies had joined him, activated his ring. There was a flash of white, and the trio were standing on the beach with a cart laden with supplies. It was low tide, and the sand was still damp and firm. Tristan got behind it and pushed – not easy, but it was not laborious either. The two ladies steered the cart, and in a few minutes, they had arrived at Jewel’s Point.

Meeshka spoke up, “We should start up near the Sapphire Citadel. There’s a marketplace up there with standing stone shops and a small market square. But this wood-like gold? It’ll make a killing in profit.” Her voice was filled with some lightness and a little enthusiasm.

Tristan heard a flapping noise and glanced up, spotting invisible Felicity who flew down and landed on his head. “Hey there! I found out some interesting stuff!” She cocked her head sideways as she leaned over to look at him, “No disguise today?”

Tristan shook his head, “Not today. I want to be noticed in the market square – this is one way to do it.”

“Lord Tristan, who are you speaking with?” Beatrice asked.

“Ah, Felicity. Only Elves and those who have Elf blood can see her while she is invisible. Same goes for hearing her.” This answer satisfied Beatrice who kept piloting the cart while Tristan pushed.

“That might invite assassins,” Felicity commented.

“Maybe, but I doubt it. I’ve kept a pretty low profile since leaving Bhant, minus helping out at Priam’s Overlook. Word of me being here would take a while to travel, unless they already had agents in the city.”

Felicity swiveled around and plopped herself on his head facing behind him, “I’ll keep an eye on the rear, just in case. Oh! By the way, I got some nice loot! I stole a bunch of naughty statues from rich people’s houses!”

Tristan chuckled as he kept pushing the cart.

An hour of navigating crowds and drawing attention brought Tristan and his two companions to the market square in front of the Sapphire Citadel. It was well named, as the whole building was made from stone but covered in blue, dried-out coral that was affixed to make it appear as if it were a castle under the ocean, minus the water. The market square was surrounded by well-to-do shops, and as Beatrice began to open up the cart and pulled out various pieces, a group of guards dressed in deep, silver armor walked over. They had a coat of arms on their tabards hanging down the front – a single, blue sapphire set upon a field of gold.

Tristan turned away for a brief moment, spinning his essence crucible, put his index and middle finger out, curled in the other fingers, faced the palm outward, and placed the middle finger in a line with the top of his eye. “Katsokaa kasvojani ja ihastukaa viehätysvoimaani.” (Look upon my countenance and find yourself enamored with my charm). He felt the slight drain on his essence, and a warming flush hit his cheeks as he cast the Persuasive Charm spell.

Tristan turned to face them, bowing graciously at the waist. “Ah, I see the welcoming committee has arrived,” he said as he mustered up all the cockiness and confidence he could. He knew that playing the part of an arrogant, powerful noble would earn respect in a foreign land – at least if his father’s few lessons were anything to go by.

The lead guard, identifiable by his pendant pinned above the sapphire symbol on the tabard, walked up. “You are?”

“Tristan Winterbloom, the ruler of the Fey Realm.” Tristan stood upright and smiled broadly. “I have wares from another Realm to peddle. Is that a problem?”

“Pff. Fey Realm?” One of the guards said.

But the one in the lead shot a glance at the underling and he went silent. Turning back to Tristan he frowned, “Setting up in this marketplace without a permit is illegal.”

Meeshka walked over and put on a frown, “There’s no sales permits in Jewel’s Point. The whole of the Sapphire Coast has no such system. It’s a shakedown, Lord Tristan.”

Tristan looked at the man who appeared slightly flustered but kept remarkable composure. “I see you recruited a local to advise you about affairs,” the man commented. “Then we’ll do this the plain way. You pay me to leave you alone. You pay extra? We make sure others don’t interfere in your business. But only for today.”

Tristan walked over to the cart and pulled out a small box with three sapphires cut in the Baguette style – long rectangles with inner rectangles that seemed to reflect the other sapphires on the sides. “I trust this will do.”

The man looked down and his eyes went wide, “Well…Lord Tristan…welcome to Jewel’s Point. With this type of stock…you may wish to speak to Queen. She loves sapphires.”

Tristan looked back at the ladies who were finishing up setting their wares. “I trust my donation is enough to warrant protection for the day?”

The head guard nodded, “Yes, Lord Tristan. We’ll keep our eyes out for bandits and other unsavory folk. Just make sure your merchants here do not leave the market square.” He hiked a thumb over his shoulder, “There is a place around the corner for merchant carts overnight. We guard that, and with what you gave? You get a night free.”

Tristan smiled and bowed once more, “You are too kind.” Standing up, he walked over to Beatrice, “How expensive were those sapphires?”

“A hundred gold coins apiece. Not the most valuable piece we have.”

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“What is the most valuable piece we have?”

Beatrice produced a small, thin box. Sliding it open, she revealed a golden chain with dozens of Barion cut gemstones intertwined between the golden leaves and branches along the length. “This is around a thousand gold coins if sold outright. But I’d expect haggling.”

Tristan closed the box and took the item, “Great. You two, start selling. I’m going to visit a Queen and give her a gift.”

Meeshka and Beatrice both nodded and finished setting up the cart, placing out sample pieces of cheaper quality to show the style and uniqueness of the wood-grain gold. Felicity tapped Tristan’s head, “I’m going to stick around the ladies just in case. Plus, I can pick some pockets of these rich folks who probably have way too much money.”

“Sounds good to me,” Tristan replied as he headed to the towering edifice at the north end of the market square. He spotted several guards who were stationed along the entrance, which was a large, vaulted doorway that was currently propped open. He walked up to one of them and dipped his head. “My name is Tristan Winterbloom, lord of the Fey Realm. I seek an audience with your Queen and have a present.” He pulled out the wooden box, opened it briefly for the guard to see the contents, and then shut it.