Dy and Cha exchanged glances.Cha stepped forward.Busted noggin or not, this was her ball to field.“The Obsidian and Moonstone fae wanted this for themselves,” she offered, sliding her eyes around as if checking for eavesdroppers.“They refused to contact your representative.”
The gnome-clerk eyed her.“I find that unlikely, human.Why would they risk the wrath of Citrine?Your kind is well known for telling untruths.I suspect you of doing so to manipulate me.”
Cha had to master the immediate sense of offended outrage.After all, shewaslying in order to manipulate him.Still, it seemed insulting for him to say so outright.Clearly the situation called for more and better lies.“Would we come all this way, risk our lives and those of our carriage animals for any other reason?We offer a valuable commodity that we have reason to think Citrine will be vitally interested in.So much so that Obsidian and Moonstone don’t want you to have it.”
She at least had Gnome-clerk’s interest now.“What do you care for Citrine’s interests?”it asked suspiciously.“Just sell to whoever will pay your price and leave fae politics alone.”
Cha allowed a broad, flesh-eating grin to stretch her lips.“That’s exactly what we’re doing: seeking the who that will pay our price.We have reason to think that’s Citrine nobility.”
It thought a moment.“What is the product then?”
Not above creating a little suspense, Cha waited an extra beat.“Agnicurna.”
Gnome-clerk stared at her steadily, expression deadpan even for the typically stonefaced fae.“What’s that?”
She guffawed and Dy snorted softly, rolling her eyes.“Oh, come on, my friend,” Cha drawled.“You and I know perfectly well that you know what it is.A big deal in your fae wars.A valuable weapon.”
Gnome-clerk’s stillness became dangerous.“What wars?I know nothing of such things.I am but a purchasing clerk.”
Okay, this wasn’t all that different than negotiating with any small time crook who thought playing dumb was an effective negotiating tool.Cha took the offensive and placed her palms on its desk and leaned over it, lowering her voice.“Let’s pretend that’s true and you’re truly just an ignorant clerk with no idea of the needs of its employers.Since we’re going with that scenario, allow me to explain to you: agnicurna is an explosive that works in the fae realms, that cannot be countered by magic.It’s what blew out the veils between the human and fae realms, so devastating that the barriers could not be repaired.And maybe there’s no fae war currently waging—at least not outright—but I wonder why the Moonstone fae would be attempting to stockpile the stuff then?”
Gnome-clerk took a breath, nearly a gasp.“You have proof of this?”
“They paid my partner and me to smuggle a shipment into Moonstone.”Cha glanced over her shoulder at Dy, who nodded in confirmation.She had on what she thought was her tough-criminal face, but it mostly made her look like a cranky angel.
True concern changed the clerk’s expression, deep worry lines forming around its black, globular eyes.“Who else knows of this?I cannot go to my superiors with information from a human, especially a sneaky smuggler.”
Cha drew herself up, hands on hips.“Insults, my friend?That won’t get you what we have to offer.”
“I’m merely telling you how they will see it,” Gnome-clerk answered almost primly.“Do you have verification from a fae, preferably noble?That is the word they will accept.”
This was almost too easy.Even half-sick with a concussion, Cha had managed to wrangle this conversation to right where she needed it.Restraining a self-congratulatory hip-wiggle, she pretended to think.“How about a Prince of Amethyst, currently a guest of the court here?He can verify our story.”
Those globular eyes narrowed.“I won’t ask how you can know about that, but your knowledge is highly suspect.Why would this august personage be bothered with human smugglers?”
And wasn’t that a question and a half?She declined to mention that the august personage in question had a thing for her magical pussy—or, at least, did at one point—and instead focused on the fact that Azul did indeed seem to be in a position of respect in the court, captive or not.Instead, she tapped her fingernails pointedly on the Moonruby wand sheathed at her hip.Pink glitter poofed out and the cricket clerk’s eyes widened to previously unknown dimensions.
“How do you have that wand?”he breathed.
Tempted to ask what the wand would be worth to him, Cha suppressed her mercenary heart and answered the primary question instead.“Never mind the how.The point is the Prince of Amethyst is a friend.Let him know a human with this wand is here and he’ll verify my tale of the agnicurna.Then we can negotiate.”Not that she really cared about that deal, but if they could make some side change on this excursion, that would be a lovely bonus.
Gnome-clerk considered for a long, breathless moment.If he said no and kicked them out, they didn’t have a viable back up plan.Probably running around the palace shouting Azul’s name didn’t count as an actual plan.Though it had its appeal.
“All right,” the clerk decided.“I send to arrange an audience with the prince.Should this be verified, how much do you have and what is your price?”
“Ten crates of agnicurna, for eight of yellow dust.”
Gnome-clerk snorted.“Don’t be absurd.I can’t go more than two crates of yellow.”
One for Nerd Girl and one to parcel out and sell, at the worst.Things were looking up.“Ha!”She exclaimed.“Seven of yellow.”
“Three,” it countered.
As they settled into earnest dickering, Cha didn’t look at Dy, because the shared triumph would give away too much, but she allowed the relief to wash through her.She would soon see Azul and then she’d know…
Something.
*