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Chapter 1269 - Anthony On Tour pt 10
🕑 Added 2023-11-28 05:22:58 +0000 UTCEran Thouris is beaming like a cat who got the cream. Also the fish. Probably nibbled on a rare and endangered bird as well.
[So it really went that well?]
[Oh yes,] she assures me. [The number of offers we received is modest, but the impression we made was devastating. Once we prove we are able to move the quantity and quality we promised, orders will start flooding in.]
Fair enough, I suppose. On the surface once again, Lakespire is now in our wake as the brathians are counting their gains.
[Quick question. Is Eran your name, or your title?] I ask.
She turns to me, still struggling to keep the satisfied smile from her face.
[It’s both,] she says. [The Eran is the head negotiator for the Conglomerate, which also became my name when I assumed the role.]
[Wait, you have to give up your name to become the head negotiator?]
[Of course,] she nods. [In this position, I am the sharpest blade and the stiffest shield of the Conglomerate. In many ways, my role is more important than that of the Satrap. An Eran is required to be ready to go into battle at a moment's notice and fight to the bitter end. There is no role for ego in someone who takes up such a burden.]
Yeesh. There’s a glint of steel in her eye and I know she means what she says, but I remind myself she’s just talking about haggling. She doesn’t literally have to fight anyone. The brathians take their commerce way too seriously.
[Soooo, can I just call you Eran?]
[That’s fine.]
[Right. So, Eran, where are we going next, and for the love of life, will I be able to stretch my legs when we get there?]
Stuck in the middle of this tub, I’ve barely been able to move for days! If this goes on much longer, I’m going to lift myself up using gravity and I don’t care how dumb it looks!
[We are on our way to Freehill and should be there in another two days,] she says.
[That’s where the Folk hang out, isn’t it?]
[It’s where they… live. They’re a fairly nomadic people, but Freehill is the largest permanent settlement they have. They don’t have a centralised government, as such, but their council meets in Freehill to discuss matters that impact all of their people.]
[Oh right. I wonder if they’ve decided if the Colony qualify as people yet.]
Eran frowns at me.
[I’m not sure what you mean.]
[We’ve met some of the Folk before. Found two of them on some sort of training journey and they stayed with us for a while. White and Grey, they called themselves. Helped us out in a pinch. I should probably try and meet up with them if I get a chance.]
Marzban, who’s been listening in nearby, chips in at this point.
[Where did you meet these two?] he asks.
[Up in the second stratum. We were in a tight spot at the time and they really helped us out.]
Do I need to detail the siege we went through, fighting against the Legion and golgari at the same time? I’ll go with no.
[It’s unusual to see them that high up,] Marzban says, arms folded across his chest. [Whoever was being trained must have been fairly young.]
[Yeah, White. Some sort of prodigy, or so I’m told.]
[Do you have any idea what sort of rank your associates were? Grey was the trainer, I think you said? It might be helpful if this person can vouch for us when we set up our stalls.]
[Pretty sure Grey said he was blademaster.]
Eran freezes and Marzban blanches as I speak.
[What? Is there something I should know?]
Their reaction tells me that something is going on. Thankfully, they’re willing to explain it to me.
[Blademasters are the most respected—] Eran starts.
[—And most dangerous,] Marzban mutters.
[Figures amongst the Folk,] the trader finishes, shooting her brother-in-law a glare. [If a blademaster is willing to vouch for the Colony, then that will help a great deal in legitimising our business venture amongst their people.]
I didn’t realise Grey was such a big deal.
[Alright, that’s good, I suppose. I have no idea if he’ll be there when we arrive, but we can try and reach out, I suppose. He said he was going to try and get his people to approve an alliance with the Colony. Or at least not have them hunt us.]
I consider for a moment.
[What sort of place is Freehill anyway? I’m going to assume it’s above the water at least.]
Marzban fills me in.
[It’s a mountain, same as every other one in the fourth. The Folk don’t live inside it, like your people do, but Freehill is a city that runs around the outside of it.]
[Like… it encircles the whole mountain.]
He nods.
[It’s enormous. The Folk don’t really believe in dense living, so everything is quite spread out, and different sections of the city are usually inhabited by different breeds of Folk. The communal areas are higher up the mountain, and the council meets right at the top… of the city, not the mountain.]
Well, if it’s spacious then surely I’ll get to move around a bit. Under guard, I’ve got no doubt. Who lets a mythic monster run around amongst your people? Soon to be eaten people. I mean, I wouldn’t, but someone like Garralosh? Doesn’t bare thinking about.
As we speed through the waters of the endless Lake, I can’t help but get excited about the chance to meet some new people, stretch my legs and catch up with some old acquaintances. The Folk are tightly allied with the bruan’chii, so I’m guessing they’ll be more or less happy to receive me and my siblings.
The only real question is whether they’re in need of finely made and well-priced goods.
Comments
KopiCAT
Hence why I think he used " to mark it. I think it was meant as sarcasm. "Oh we are such good friends, we try to kill each other whenever we meet" kinda thing.
CUI13
That could be because the colony doesn't have a friendship with THE Golagari, just some Golgari
Gopard
Thanks for the chapter!
Pierre-jean Samaran
The part with the Golgari and the Lizards Overlords is gonna be so much fun ! Everybody's a gangster until someone say something a little threatening about the Queens or the grubs during the negociations and suddenly its Holy War and even Sloant will think Anthony has been moderate in his approach when he blasts the Golgari Capital =D After that Crinis emerge from her transformation and Golgari's History become confuse
Joshua Morris
Going to be honest, I had forgotten all about White and Grey.
Grey Knight Lord
I know enough about cultivation that it was either straight up Master on Student Action, or there was a ritualistic reason for their nudeness. Plus, fur
Codered999
They were naked but stuck in a small space in the second stratum.
Kiongku
Anthony is not telling Eran of his "friendship" with the golgari... I wonder how it will turn out when they go to their market.... 😏
Rahsheem Reid
Been a while but I’m glad too see the folk again.
kjrubberducky
Finally back to the Folk! It's been a while.
Kieran S.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Grey and White get caught in a “compromising position” when the colony stumbled on them in the second? I wonder if our Master of Tact Anthony is gonna bring that up 😂
