Private Tales The Lesser Key of Telemachus, Part II

[Fieravene]

Though she may not be a woman of bravado or great legacy, never let anyone say she was without courtesy or propriety. She thanked him quietly, took the freshly inked quill in hand and scratched the point across the parchment in a neat and orderly script.

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She then passed the quill back to the elf and released a slow breath. Clearly this wasn't some instantaneous magic - she felt no different aside from being particularly aware of how hard her heart was pounding in her chest. Emmeril placed her hands in her lap and, after a moment to recollect what little steadiness was left to her, gently cleared her throat and turned her green gaze from the paper to Telemachus.

"What is the next step?"

 

[Telemachus]

Emmeril? Was that not nearly the same sequence of letters as...? Bah. Telemachus would never understand whatever contrivances of fate could lead to such a thing. It was beyond him. And more importantly, he was not being paid to find out.

Telemachus collected the parchment and the quill from Lady Emmeril , returning the latter to its inkwell. He inspected the signature and, finding it to be satisfactory, folded the parchment and placed it in a drawer. Delivery would be the domain of Barkas once night had fallen. For now, there were more financial matters to attend to.

He folded his hands on the desk and spoke. "I must make arrangements to prepare the ritual. Return here with three thousand docatto tomorrow and you will be placed into contact with your future matron the following night."

Telemachus could only imagine what an exchange between this nervous woman and the Black Heart of Liremel would sound like. Somehow he suspected the whole dialogue would be... Less than wholesome. Luckily he would not have to witness it firsthand.

 

[Fieravene]

A nod. Preparations. Payment. Things she supposed she were expecting on the list. Though increasingly curious as to what involved preparations for such things, Emmeril stole herself from asking and instead posed him a different query entirely.

"Do you accept payment in forms other than docatto?"

Two thin, black eyebrows lifted in some vain hope that his answer might be yes, before suddenly launching into upswept alarm at what could potentially be inferred.

"Ahm - other materials of equal value, that is."

 

[Telemachus]

"In certain circumstances." If Telemachus had inferred that anything other than material goods were up for grabs, it did not register.

Frankly, he disliked taking anything other than currency. Telemachus had made such mistakes earlier in his career, and received no shortage of worthless junk - counterfeits and forgeries - for his trouble. He had the necessary spells to sniff out such indiscretions these days, but it was still an unnecessary chore.

And one that frequently gave whoever had scammed him a head start. Not that it ever saved them in the end.

But Lady Emmeril was the battered wife of an unscrupulous nobleman. Telemachus doubted she had the means to scam him.

"What materials do you possess?"

 

[Fieravene]

"The Kingdom of Balta uses a different currency than that of Elbion," which went without saying. The only places outside of Elbion where its currency was accepted at face-value were smaller trade hubs of norther Temeria. Balta was as far south as south went without stepping foot into the ocean.

"We carry ingots of gold, silver, copper, various cut and polished precious gemstones - all weighed and valued by an Elbion Appraiser. Will that do?"