Tides Collection

7. Lies

The next day, the rain grew heavy. Triglav didn’t seem to mind. He flew hidden in the low clouds, but Syrina wasn’t worried about losing him.

* * *

Rina took a steam car. It wasn’t as smooth or as elegant as a palanquin, but Fom wasn’t such an elegant city as Eheene. Between the mud and the potholes and the crowds, she reflected that a Temple Boy could have run there in half the time. But she was what she was, at least for now.

She’d sent a hawk from the hotel with word that she was on her way—short notice, but that wasn’t her problem—and when she arrived early that afternoon, the gate was open, and Stysha N’nareth was sitting in her office, waiting for her. The walls and desk were made of plain polished wood, as was the floor. A few framed documents hung on the walls, but other than that the room was unadorned.

Rina was taken aback by the fact that the importer didn’t employ a secretary. There wasn’t even a foyer or waiting room, and N’nareth greeted Rina in person. She was stout and withered, with wisps of whitish-gray hair reaching out at various angles from her head, disregarding the array of glass hairpins that attempted to hold it all together. Her clothes were fine silks and linens, all red and amber. She looked like a beggar in stolen garments, complete with a large, crooked nose.

Rina bowed.

“Rina Saalesh, I presume,” N’nareth said, her tone pleasant.

Her voice was low and as craggy as her face, but strong.

“Call me Rina. There’s no need for formality among friends.” Her N’naradin was slow, but her accent was good.

The old woman chuckled. “So we’re friends already, are we?” She gestured for Rina to sit on one of the two identical wooden chairs on the other side of her desk, padded in thin, reddish leather.

Rina smiled, bowed again, less deeply than before, and sat, crossing her legs and laying an arm across the back of the empty chair.

“I’ve made my fortune with the belief that anyone who does business together is a friend, and you’ve confirmed it by receiving me on such short notice. Anyway, Xereks Lees always spoke well of you.”

N’nareth continued to smile, but new lines sprouted around her eyes. “Ah, so Lees mentioned me?”

Rina shrugged and looked at her manicured fingernails. “Only in passing. Until now, our interests have lain in different directions. Now…well, with everything…”

N’nareth’s smile faded a fraction, and a vertical crease formed on her brow between her eyes. “Ah, yes. Quite unfortunate, isn’t it? I hear his assistant is under a veil of suspicion.”

Rina’s eyes widened. “You don’t say? That’s unfortunate. I met Orvaan a few times. He seemed quite competent. Have they prosecuted yet?”

N’nareth shrugged. “I was going to ask you. News from Eheene is old by the time it gets to Fom. No matter. Shall we get down to business?”

“Of course.” Rina smiled. “As I’m sure Ka’id told you, I have some parts salvaged from a Ristro wreck that I want to unload here in Fom. Frankly, the Syndicate taxes the s**t out of that sort of thing. They feel it’s their right on such finds. By their logic, it was never mine to begin with.”

N’nareth nodded. “Yes, I’m familiar with Skalkaad tax law, but is it not a crime in Skalkaad to circumvent the High Merchant’s Syndicate?”

“As you may note, we are not in Skalkaad.”

N’nareth smiled. “Very well. Please continue.”

“Ehrina Ka’id gave me your name as someone I might be able to work with. I would, of course, give you thirty percent of the net after her cut if you can find me a buyer. She said Lees’s former client sometimes has use for things more exotic than he could easily provide, and since I wish to sell as fast as possible, it seemed a good match.”

N’nareth’s widened her eyes. “Thirty percent?”

“It’s small compared to the ninety-five percent tax imposed by the Syndicate, even after I pay Ka’id her considerable fee. I think you’d find me a generous business partner if we were to move forward together.”

N’nareth studied the woman across from her a moment and nodded. “Forgive me if I’m suspicious about working with someone whose reputation rises from rumor.”

Rina chuckled. “Nothing to apologize for. It’s one reason I insisted on meeting you. You may have also heard that I prefer to do business seldom and in person.”

N’nareth raised her eyebrows. “Seldom? You have a prolific reputation.”

“Business done well has no need to be done often. There’s more to life than work.”

“I see. That’s not without wisdom.”

“You have a reputation, too.” Rina smiled and leaned forward, green eyes glittering. “One for caution and prudence. Two things I prefer in a business partner. Especially under circumstances such as these. How could I take offense, when you display such qualities with me?”

“Well, I’m glad my reputation precedes me as well.” N’nareth paused and looked thoughtful. “I would need to examine your merchandise before I could say whether I can help you. And of course, the final decision won’t be up to me. I must warn you that the buyer Ka’id mentioned has already found a normal supplier for the more exotic items, and had entered into a contract with him even before Lees’s troubles. The price he quotes may not be worth your time if he makes an offer at all.” Her smile was apologetic.

“That brings me to another reason I’ve made the journey here.”

“Go on.”

“I would be much more comfortable meeting this buyer before any sales were final. After all, our nations aren’t always on friendly terms, and as I said, I prefer to do business in person.”

N’nareth frowned. “As much as I may respect that, I very much doubt that he would be willing to meet with you. He’s a private person and considers his work to be important.”

“Don’t we all?”

“Mm. Nevertheless, I can say with near certainty that he will outright decline any meeting with you. You must understand, the Tidal Works—if you’ll forgive me for saying so—is what keeps Fom independent from the Merchant’s Syndicate and their monopoly on naphtha. I’m afraid he’ll be wary of anyone from Eheene sniffing around his research. No offense to you.”

“Of course.” Rina’s smile was gaunt.

“I can give you my own personal assurances that he uses such equipment only in his research. None of it will be used for Fom’s modest military or anything of that sort. I try not to trade in such matters. Arms dealing can degenerate into an ugly, unpredictable business.”

“Perhaps, you could inform him that I have an apolitical reputation and harbor neither any love nor respect for the High Merchants of Skalkaad. If I did, I wouldn’t be here in an attempt to circumvent them.”

N’nareth made an apologetic wave of her arms. “I understand your situation. I just fear it would be unlikely to help if I were to explain it to him. Especially since he’s already procured another source for similar items. Again, I would still be happy to approach him to buy with me as the intermediary, in the same capacity I worked for Mr. Lees.”

“Ah, well, that’s all well and good.” Rina began to stand. “However, if I don’t know him and cannot hope to know him, then—”

“I didn’t say it was impossible,” N’nareth said, a little too fast, as her commission stood to take her leave. “Just very unlikely. Perhaps you could at least leave me with your hotel. I’ll approach him with a list of your merchandise and your terms. There is a chance, however slim, that he may accept your offer, under the condition that you two would only meet if he agreed to buy beforehand. With the understanding that either of you could back out of the agreement without penalty if either party were for some reason displeased with the meeting after it had taken place.”

Rina looked reluctant. “I suppose if such an arrangement is clear between all, I could make an exception. Without mutual understanding and compromise, we’re only animals after all.”

N’nareth smiled, sincerely this time. “Excellent. Since there’s a good chance he won’t need your wares anyway, I’m sure I can find another buyer within a few weeks. A month at the most.”

“I hope that won’t be necessary.” Rina frowned. “I may not have that much time before work calls me back to Eheene.”

“We shall see. I’ll contact you after I speak with him. Early next week.” N’nareth stood with Rina to shake her hand.

Rina flashed her a smile as she bowed, then left.

* * *

Lees’s buyer, whoever he was, would have records of what he was getting from Eheene. With a little luck, they might even say who was paying for it. N’nareth probably had some version as well, but Syrina was willing to bet they’d just be lists of serial numbers, useless by themselves, and she’d rather meet the buyer, in any case.

If Lees was just pocketing the extra tin without recording it to avoid the taxes, that would be the end of it. But if this buyer was getting free equipment, it still begged the question, why?

Before anything, though, she needed to make sure the buyer had a reason to deal with her at all. If he thought his work was as important as N’nareth implied, Syrina was sure he’d be desperate enough to deal with anyone if he had to, and she had a good idea where to start.

anyone