Mark of the Fool

Chapter 459: Preparing the Proposal

Nice job, Ripp! Alex shouted. Now, lets get the hells away from here!

Way ahead of you, bosses! The swiftling cried, racing from the hill and leaping into the air then soaring well above the treetops.

Claygon! Alex thought. Were finished, get out of there!

Comingfather came the reply, followed by a boom and a flash of light from the cave mouth.

Heartbeats later, Theresa and Claygon emerged into the daylight, climbing into the sky. Brutus barked twice, soaring after them.

Everyones clear! Alex turned back to Khalik.

And what he saw

comforted him; the prince was leaving the hill with Najyah as Ravener-spawn came boiling from half a dozen tunnels.

One more thing to do! Khalik shouted. Alex, get the bag ready!

On it! The Thameish wizard pulled a small sack from his belt as the party came together in the air, still climbing away from the forest. Ripp, hold that dungeon core steady!

Whatever youre doing, do it fast, bosses! The swiftling cried.

Khalik, hurry! Alex pressed, holding the bag beneath the core.

Shouting an incantation, the prince called on a shatter spell.

Mana shifted.

A noise like glass screeching across metal erupted as potent sound waves concentrated on the dungeon core, leaving the black orb shuddering in Ripps grip; a jagged crack ran along its side.

My turn, Theresa floated up beside Ripp.

She raised the Twinblade.

And her swords crashed down.

Another harsh soundthis one like shearing stonemagical metal carved through the cracked dungeon core like water, leaving cuts that split the orb into three. It screamed in Alexs senses, tearing asunder, filtering into the sack, becoming fine dust as black as pitch.

Alex quickly sealed the bag, binding its mouth with a strong length of cord and sighing with relief. We did it! He grinned at Khalik. It worked! We actually pulled it off!

Of course we did, we are powerful and my plan was sound. The prince laughed in triumph, looking down at the hapless chitterers boiling from the coreless dungeon. Now, what do you say we clean our plates? It would be rude to leave the Thameish army to deal with our leftovers.

Agreed Claygon said, though only Alex heard. His fire-gems flared with power. Timeto end the rest.

With those words, the golem unleashed full fury on the confused Ravener-spawn below.

It wasnt long until all that remained on the hillside was a barren hill, dead monsters, and scorched earth.

Two hundred and ninety-eight, two hundred and ninety-nine, Khalik counted. And there we are, three hundred altogether. Would you like to count them yourself?

No, no, Ive got eyes, Ripp said, gazing at a small chest before him filled with shining coins. I watched you count em myself, right here in front of me, and the sums right.

Are you sure? The prince started to close the chest. By all means, I want you to be comfortable. I could have used sleight of hand to fool your eyes, and Iwould take no offence ifyou wished to be sure of our honour.

Yeah, man, I know how it is, we mightve used magic to cheat you or something, Alex agreed, leaning over the table and tapping the side of the chest. Dont think were going to get insulted or anything like that.

Listen, boys, I know you mean well. The swiftling looked at both of them evenly, standing up in his chair and taking hold of the chest. Butand I mean this as no offence to youbut neither of you are near fast enough to fool a swiftlings eyes. So, theres no sleight of hand. And as for magic? We swiftlings are closer to fae than not: Id bet the tips of my ears that my mana senses are sharper than yours by a big margin. Trust me, me counting coins now would just be wasting your time and mine.

He slammed the lid shut and dragged the chest to his side of the table, the annoying sound drew the gaze of other patrons in the Brass Grapes. Alright, then. Three hundred for the job. A good payday, Id say. The mercenary grinned. Listen, if youre ever in need of a small and quick blade, dont hesitate to call on ol Ripp, now.

With that, the swiftling jumped from his chair, bowed to the two wizards and shot from the bar in a blinding flash of speed. Before Alexs eyes could even begin to track him, he was gone, leaving the Thameish wizard shaking his head.

Shouldve hired him ages ago, he said. Let me tell you, some of those fights weve been in wouldnt have been half the trouble they were with Ripp by our sides.

Khalik shrugged, then raised his hand, catching the attention of a server. And we would be all the weaker for it: better to hire more experienced fighters now that we know how to handle ourselves rather than before we did. I have no plans to be a useless child in battle, waiting for guards and servants to save me.

Yeah, youre probably right about that. Alex smiled as the server approached. Hold onLets make our order.

The young men ordered two cups of fortified wine with shots of rum on the side to celebrate their victory. Alex might have ordered more than one if there wasnt a great pile of work waiting for him.

It was going to be a long evening.

He looked back at his friend. Right, about the mercenary thing: now that I think about it, we would have only needed to hire mercenaries recently. Until we came to Greymoor, we were fighting most of our battles in Baelins class.

It is true, Khalik agreed, his smile nostalgic behind his beard. And the only true battles we fought were against foes who sought our lives when our guards were down: like the mana vampires attack on Najyah

His familiar gave a loud screech of offence, ruffling her feathers and digging her talons into the perch positioned at the side of their table.

it is alright, it is alright. The prince stroked her feathers, his voice soothing. The monster is long dead. We have already avenged your honour, Najyah.

She gave another offended squawk, but seemed to settle down, her feathers growing decidedly less puffy.

Alex fought the urge to laugh. Yeah, there was also the attack at Isoldes cousins villa. Then those bloody demons. Ugh, let me tell you, I cant wait to get down there and show them some surprise carnage for once.

Mhmmmm. Khalik nodded, still gently stroking Najyah. Of that, we are in full agreement. And speaking of that His eyes fell on two small sacks by Alexs side, each containing a share of dungeon core essence. What will you do now? Will you begin crafting your staff immediately? Start on my armour? Research spells?

Well, Id love to do any one of those things, to be honest, Alex said. But what Ive got to do first is a bit less glamorous.

Oho? Khalik raised an eyebrow. What comes next?

A business proposal. Alex reached into the satchel beside his chair, pulling out a notebook and setting it on the table. He quickly flipped pages until he reached a long, formal document that seemed to go on forever.

The prince whistled, eyeing the pages dubiously. Interesting. Vastly interesting. What is it for?

My boss, Alex glanced around the Brass Grapes and leaned across the table, his voice dropping to a whisper. Im going to try and set up a business partnership with Toraka Shale.

Khaliks eyebrows shot so high, they threatened to melt into his plaits. That isvery interesting indeed. But why are you doing it first?

Well, the staffs going to take a bit of coin to make. Well, a bits putting it mildly, its going to take a good chunk of coin: more than Ive got currently. He flipped through the notebook again, stopping when he reached the set of schematics for his staff. Theyd increased from when hed shown Khalik them a couple of days earlier. I have ways to design it so that its cheaper, but Ill be bloody damned if Im going to waste aeld tree wood and dungeon core essence on a crappy staff.

He scoffed. Itll be a masterpiece, or Ill throw myself in the Prinean.

I understand, you have a good quality canvas so you do not wish to spoil it with fingerpaint, Khalik agreed. And thisbusiness plan will provide you with the war-chest needed for your staff?

Alex chuckled evilly. Oh itll get me more than that, Khalik, a hell of a lot more than that. But, yes. Ill need the coin from this if Im going to build a proper staff.

Hence the business proposal, then The prince ran a hand through his beard, eyeing Alexs notebook. ...do you feel comfortable with it?

Alex gave him a look. Do you want the truth or a lie?

Hmmmmlet us have the lie first.

Well, I think its brilliant and no one could resist it, he nodded with a confident smile.

And the truth?

Oh by the Traveller, Im so bloody nervous about it I feel like my skins going to rip itself off and go running to the Rhinean Empire, he said mournfully, his head dropping to the table and his fingers raking through his unkempt beard. Ive never done anything like this before, man, and the you-know-what's been helping, too. Butwell, a lot of my familys future is riding on this.

He tapped the business plan with a finger. If this goes wrong, its bye-bye staff until I can come up with something else, and bye-bye financial freedom for the foreseeable future.

That is not so bad. Khalik shrugged. You are clever, and even if this fails, you will create another plan. I know you will. Besides, you now have a well-paying job that will give you its own opportunities.

Alex gave the prince a withering look. Thats easy for you to say, youre loaded. Youre swimming in coin. For me, this is different, man. Andlook, for reasons that would be abundantly clear if you read the proposal, theres a bit of a time limit on this sort of planand Im not sure what Id try next if time runs out.

Then show it to me, Khalik said.

Hm? The proposal?

Yes.

Ooooh, bah! Alex scoffed, waving him off. Trust me, you dont want to read it, its dry as a bone, and its like ten pages long so far.

I am curious, all the same, bone-dry or sea-wet. He waved the book toward him. Come, hand it here.

Alex sighed, sliding the book across the table. Alright, but dont say I didnt warn youAnd ah! I see the server is on the way with our drinks. Good thing too, youll need at least one just to get through that.

Let me be the judge of that, Alex. Khalik frowned, flipping to the first page of the proposal. Now be quiet for a moment, I need to concentrate.

Yeah, well, shutting up then, if thats what you want, but Im telling you

Alex.

Right, right, shutting up for real.

The young Thameish wizard went quiet, watching the prince read through his proposal with a deep frown lining his forehead as drinks were placed on the table. Khaliks eyes travelled across the pages line by line, lips muttering in Tekish under his breath.

Anxiety-filled, Alex picked up his wine cup, giving it a swirl and taking a larger sip than hed intended. He sipped nervously as Khalik read, andby the time the prince had finishedhed drained one cup and had ordered another.

Well? He asked as Khalik put down the notebook. Thoughts? Is it great? Terrible?

Oh, most terrible! The prince offered, his face a mask of disgust. The worst writing I have ever seen: you must have been taught the common tongue by a wine-addled frog.

Alex rolled his eyes. Oh, haha! I just told you that Im so nervous Im about ready to skin myself, and you go making fun of me. Some friend you are!

Apologies, apologies! Khalik held up his hands in surrender before noticing his wine glass and taking it up eagerly. In more serious words, thoughit is goodbut it could be better.

Alexs heart dropped slightly. Really? Have you written business proposals before?

I have not, Khalik admitted. But I have read many proposals for matters of state, all written to convince a king that they would be beneficial to him, his queen, his house and his kingdom. I have seen proposals that have succeeded. And those that have failed. I can teach you some tricks from the ones that found success.

Alexs green eyes grew wide. KhalikI could kiss you right now.

Even if you could, I would never allow it with that foul, neglected thing on your face. The prince waved his hand in mock disgust. Now come, bring me a pen. I will show you tricks on how to get those with power to part with some of it.

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