84 Ashan 722
It was one of many reasons that Balthazar decided to negotiate with the University rather than to go in on his own. Whatever he learned with and through them now, he could use to pursue more of the metal in the future. Working with scholars would never come without a cost, but Balthazar was trying to look ahead. Give a little now, get a lot more later. He had some things on his side that he was hoping would help him persuade the Dean but he was a little concerned that Henri would ultimately try to defer to the Chancellor who was not there at the moment. A lot could go wrong, but a lot could go well.
"What sort of agreement did you have in mind, Mister Black?" Dean Wagstaff asked after a few trills of settling in behind his desk. He'd adjusted a few papers and moved a small rock sample on top of them to keep them down.
"I am going to be blunt, because I think it benefits us both to be honest." Balthazar said plainly. "I would like to come to an arrangement that guarantees a supply of the metal you're researching for Haven. The settlement has a research station set up by the University and is a closer to the mountains than Scalvoris Town so it would be easier to transport the ore there for refinement. I am willing to pay the university for any ingots I would need for personal study, though I would appreciate a discount for the help I would be offering you here."
The Dean held up a hand, indicating that he wished for Balthazar to stop without directly interrupting him. "I am familiar with the station in Haven. Indeed, they are closer but I was not aware they had the resources to process the ore?"
"I have recently commissioned a forge in Haven. It will have everything needed to process the metal and I know of individuals in the settlement who could help at the station if needed." Balthazar countered.
"But not for free." The Dean said, "We have the means and the University has no qualms about waiting a few more trials for the metal to arrive."
"Nothing is ever free but I will learn what I am curious about by helping you. And as I said, I would just like a better price for ingots of the metal that the Academy is willing to sell." Balthazar reminded Henri, "With my help you'll be able to find twice the metal you're find now- maybe more."
"What do you mean?" Dean Wagstaff gave very little away with his eyes and expression as he negotiated. It felt more like Balthazar was being questioned than negotiating. Balthazar didn't mind. He believed that logistically the best way to get and process the metal was to work with him through the research station in Haven. The University already had control over it so why should it have bothered them to move through it first?
"I have come with a company of men I trust to offer help in the mining process." Balthazar said, "My men don't know how to mine but they make good security. They could reinforce your guards, while I help you find and extract the metal from the earth."
"We have some of the best minds in Scalvoris looking into this. I don't mean to insult you, but what I was asking is what can you offer that they could not?" The Dean paused for a moment and added, "I'm aware of who you are. You were an Element. A recently fired Element at that. I'm not sure you have the expertise we are looking for."
"That's not necessarily true. I was fired because I broke rules, but every rule I broke revealed something the Elements would not have found out about otherwise. Sure, they didn't approve of how I got results, but I did get results. I was given the opportunity to train Elements because I'm a good leader. Guided by me, your miners will perform better than they have been. That isn't to imply your efforts haven't produced results. I'm sure you have good workers here- but you haven't seen what they can do when I'm in charge of them." Balthazar countered. "But apart from that I have three different sparks which can help me find the metal- and they work better than most books." Balthazar noticed that he seemed to catch the Dean's interest. Henri was a well educated man but he was the Dean of Science and not exactly Theory of Magic. "Defiance would allow me to search the earth at a depth none of your scientists would be able to. I might not be able to pull the metal out of the ground or guarantee it's the metal you're seeking, but if there is something other than earth where I commune with the elements I should be able to tell- and I'd be able to soften the earth for the miners. Attunement will allow me to locate more of the metal through dousing- it's a fairly simple spell. Probably more useful than Defiance in finding the metal. It'll also, along with Transmutation, help me figure out exactly what the metal does and I'm more than willing to let the research station know if I find anything they don't."
The Dean seemed intrigued but there was something holding back his decision. He knew and trusted science, not magic. He was educated enough to know that the magic Balthazar spoke about was real, but there was still an issue of control. He wasn't sure Balthazar could be trusted. He wasn't sure anyone who showed up with a company of armed men could be trusted. After a few trills he said, "You have made interesting points. I'll need the night to consider them and consult the professors in magical theory to ensure your claims are true. We don't have much space, but you and your company can spend the night in one of the spare tents."
"I understand. Just remember that there is a difference between theory and practice. I've lived with magic for a long time. I didn't just study it. I'll give you the night, but I do need an answer tomorrow." Balthazar said, "I have a wedding come up and I can't stay forever. I'd like to be as much use as I can while I'm here. Whether or not we come to an arrangement, I'd like to help and I'm going to look for the metal. It would be a shame to have wasted the trip. I'd prefer to work together."