Natural Ordermage

L

On oneday, in midafternoon, Rahl was at the long desk by himself while Daelyt was eating his late midday meal. A smooth-skinned man in a deep brown fharong, embroidered in brilliant gold thread, marched into the Association office.

“Understand Shyret has black wool.” The statement was in accented Temple, not in Hamorian.

Rahl lifted the sheaf of papers that held the current inventory, and the approximate asking price of each commodity, scanning it quickly and replying in Temple. “There are bales of black wool available.”

“How much is he asking?” The man switched to Hamorian, but with a regional accent Rahl had not heard before.

“You would have to ask him,” Rahl replied in Hamorian.

“You Atlans can’t even think for yourself, can you?”

Rahl saw Daelyt had entered and now stood well back of the trader, if the man were indeed that, but the older clerk did not move, just listened and watched.

“The director is the one who sets the prices.” Rahl noted that Daelyt was pointing toward the rear of the office. “I would be most happy to tell him you are here and are interested in purchasing some.”

“No. I won’t trouble him now.” The man turned immediately and walked past Daelyt without so much as looking at the older clerk or back at Rahl.

“That was Klerchyn,” explained Daelyt, moving toward the wide desk. “Whenever there is someone new here, he tries to see if he can get them to quote him a price lower than what the director offers. If it’s higher, he accuses you of trying to cheat him. If it’s lower, he insists on having you write it up, and he’ll pay for it on the spot. That way, the director’s bound.”

“Are there many like him?”

“There are a few, but he’s the worst.”

“He must do well, with all the gold-threaded embroidery.”

“At everyone else’s expense.” Daelyt slipped onto his stool and pulled out his leather folder from one of the drawers on his right.

“Is the more elaborate needlework a sign of wealth?” asked Rahl. “Or the gold thread.”

“Sometimes, but that was coated brass.”

“You recognized that. Is that because of your consort? Seorya said that Yasnela does outstanding needlework,” ventured Rahl.

“She did?” Daelyt actually looked-and felt, to Rahl-surprised.

“She said Yasnela did work for one of the best.”

“Pasnyr’s good…I don’t know if he’s that good.”

“Maybe what she does makes his the best.”

Daelyt laughed. “Maybe you ought to try selling things at the markets with words like that.”

“I think not. When I’ve been walking around, I’ve noticed something. Does everyone wear a fharong for special times?”

Daelyt offered a rueful smile. “They’re too costly for everyday wear for most of us. I only have one, and that’s because Yasnela could do the needlework.” He looked up as two traders walked into the office.

Rahl recognized the older man-Alamyrt.

The older trader stood back as the younger man walked up to Daelyt. “I need a quote for a consignment of two hundred stones of finished metal implements to Nylan on the next available ship.”

“The Legacy of Montgren will be porting in about an eightday, Hassynat. It might be as early as sevenday, or as late as the following sixday,” replied Daelyt. “The Black Holding is scheduled for about two eightdays from now. What are the nature and value of the implements?”

“They are high-quality steel shears, picks, and combs. Your Association would hold them in Nylan for the buyer. The value would be at your minimum.”

Alamyrt looked at Rahl, smiling faintly but not speaking.

“The consignment reserve would be five golds,” replied Daelyt, “and the cartage would be eleven. Storage for the first eightday in Nylan comes with the cartage. After that, it would be a half gold an eightday.”

“That would be acceptable. I will be back late this afternoon with the deposit.”

Daelyt inclined his head. “The consignment form will be ready for you.”

Hassynat nodded briskly. “Good day.” Then he turned and departed.

Alamyrt followed the younger trader without looking at either of the clerks.

“That will help,” observed Daelyt. “We don’t have that many consignments on the Montgren. That’s always a problem at the end of summer. Things pick up in fall.”

“Why didn’t the older trader get involved? Is there something about that I should know?” asked Rahl.

“Oh, he never does. Hassynat is the one who makes the consignments. He’s the one who has to find space for the cargoes that their ships can’t carry-either because they’re overcommitted or because it’s not worth their while to send a ship to a particular port at that time.”

Rahl laughed. “You’re acting as if I know who they are.”

Daelyt frowned for a moment. “The way Alamyrt was looking at you, I thought you did.”

“I saw him on board the Diev, and he said he was a wool trader. I didn’t realize he was part of something larger, not when he was traveling on one of our ships.”

“Doramyl and Sons is one of the largest.” Daelyt laughed. “They’ve got almost a score of vessels. Alamyrt is one of the family. He doesn’t always come, and he never talks when he does. I think he just wants to know what we’re charging.”

“Oh…” Rahl paused, then added, “He must want to get a feeling for it, too. He’d get the quotes from Hassynat.”

“It doesn’t matter to us, so long as they pay.” Daelyt paused. “You heard it all. Why don’t you write it up, and I’ll check it?”

“I can do that. Is the shipper Hassynat of Doramyl and Sons, or just Doramyl and Sons?”

“Hassynat of Doramyl.”

Rahl took a consignment form from his second drawer and set it directly before him. As he settled in to fill out the form, Daelyt slipped from his stool and headed back toward the archway, doubtless to tell Shyret that Alamyrt had recognized Rahl.

Rahl wanted to shake his head. No matter what he did, it seemed like something came up to create problems. Even when he went for a walk or out to find a meal.

He picked up the pen, and another thought struck him, something so obvious that he hadn’t really noticed it at first. For all that Daelyt had said about Klerchyn trying to trick him into offering a lower price for the wool, Rahl had not sensed more than the faintest trace of chaos-mist around the trader-far, far less than what surrounded Shyret, Daelyt, and Chenaryl. Nor had Alamyrt or Hassynat shown any more chaos than Klerchyn.

Rahl forced himself to concentrate on the details of the consignment form.