F
astening his gloves tighter to spare his hands from splinters, he tied the strings of the first full rucksack, placing it to the side. Nodding as the stranger recounted the battle and the following events. Kaladis had not yet recognized the name or the caves, names were something he was keeping in mind for later. What grabbed him the most, was learning of the power to see his destiny, because that was too good to pass up, the way his eyebrows raised and fell might betray his interest. If one knew of fate, he could shape it and his life to his benefit. In this he was unable to hide the eager smile which crossed his face, retracting the waterskin if the stranger had finished taking his fill, and assuming he returned it freely.Wiping the sweat from his blue brow while he worked loading up the sacks, it was hard enough to resist drinking himself, learning to ration water carefully. The stranger spoke of how the undead hordes navigated, replaced by something else, so that was the key, replacing their focus. Kaladis tapped a finger to his cheek in thought, he resolved to seek Ralari’s council on what exactly could attract the undead over distance, sound, smell, noise, or the living, what would be most potent?
Snapped out of his machinations by the stranger's decisive question. Why would he sell to bandits? “Coin,” Kaladis said practically. Coin bought a temporary power and stability, a welcome measure of safety right now. Wondering how much to reveal to solidify the deal here. “My employer allows me to find contracts outside of the city, for our mutual gain.” This was a stretch of the truth, his employer was not able to sell his work at all, but there was no need to weaken his bargaining position letting the buyer know that, if he could avoid it.
Thankfully he didn’t need that drink after all, feeling the draft from the cold sands outside, the temperature was dropping as was common in this season. He lit another of the tunnel’s dry dung torches with one already burning, offering a measure of warmth more, but not much.
Bringing the flame closer to them both, “I have given you my name, and asked for none in return.” Kaladis reminded him, to try to offset his suspicions further. “Our meeting is chance, and we can both benefit.” It was unlikely he could have engineered their meeting as setup, or the stranger for that matter. “Knowing our ore would reach the city in one piece,” placing the flame down, he finished putting his mined ore in a second of the rucksacks, “while who knows what dangers await other, less informed caravans out in the desert.” Not only could Kaladis offer weapons, but also the locations of some of the routes other smiths would be taking, competing smiths. He didn’t come out and say this directly, but they might negotiate a finder’s fee for each if the raider was interested.
“Profitable Information, Warning about hazards, horse shoes, arrows, better quality steel and more if we can obtain the materials. Each for a fair price.” The Eidisi looked again at the stranger to see if he could decipher whether the offer was taken well. “We have a deal?” A dusty hand was rubbed on his leg, and then extended. The terms and pricing could be negotiated as they liked.
All that waited to be seen is if they would both walk away better off.
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