"You let so stranger wander around the place unchecked?" The head clerk of the purchasing departnt, Vodren, was in a righteous dudgeon.
Well, Vodren was the type to be high-strung about many things, but his tone today was more outraged than usual. The man's voice was loud enough to be heard in the corridor.
Tennar entered the room, with the lady lazily sauntering after him, to see Vodren glaring at two young people. His assistant Caria stood behind him, lips thinned in disapproval.
There were two of the company guards book-ending the seated youngsters.
Vesia, a junior clerk if he rembered correctly, was cringing in her seat. Tennar narrowed his eyes. Why was it her and not Darred who was showing the creator of their newest vinegar products around?
Tennar glanced at the boy. Defi of the Lowpool was sitting calmly, an expression of intent listening on his face, a blue-green sli resting on his head. Too old for a pet, wasn't he? Dark eyes briefly glanced at them upon their entry. Despite Defi's features not changing, Tennar got the impression of a smile from the unperturbed gaze.
Bluzand's lady definitely had an eye for talent and odd people.
The vinegar products alone were set to be at the top of the company's product offerings. This was the first recomndation of the lady in five years. Considering how the last recomndation was still creating so of their top-selling products, Tennar had placed great consideration on the barrels sent for testing from the Lowpool.
He had not expected the creator to be so young. Possibly the lady had given pointers, or it was a family craft. There was no way to make that vinegar in less than two decades. Full-flavored, deep and rich even now the taste lingered in the back of Tennar's mind.
To make such a taste, wouldn't it take a hundred years to slowly coax the flavor into the vinegar? It had to be a family recipe, and the young lad was the lucky successor of the already prepared barrels. He imagined a basent full of barrel upon barrel of top quality vinegar and swallowed.
No, enough with the fantasies. He didn't even know if the imagined basent existed. Even asking the lady only got him an amused smile.
Speaking of the lady, he could see her glance aningfully at him.
It seed the situation was his to manage. The lady did not ddle much in company affairs these days, and by her glance just now she seed to have no inclination to return to active managent. Still, it was indeed more expedient to hide that their newest business partner had such proximity to the owner of Bluzand.
It would distance the young man from their current problems.
Tennar stepped forward.
"What is happening?" he greeted in mild tones, making four faces turn to him. "Vodren, your voice is reaching the lower floor."
Every rchant knew that even if the business was crumbling to dust, the custors must always see a smile on their faces. Any rumor may affect profit. Any deluge of gossip may turn a crack into a dam-breaking catastrophe.
Vodren lowered his voice, but did not relent. "These two were in the rare section of the warehouse! You must agree, manager, it is suspicious!"
If people did not know that it was the lady who recruited Defi, then yes it was suspicious. But the lady herself did not want Defi to be involved with internal matters, which the young man would be if it was known he was her recomndation.
It was true that Defi would not be staying in Ecthys. But he lived in the sa town as the lady, who did not want her whereabouts noised around. Yes, clarifying the connection between the two would be detrintal for both the lady and the boy.
He felt a glare bore into the side of his head, felt a cold sweat on his neck.
Should he laugh or cry?
My lady, if you wanted to protect the child, shouldn't you speak up yourself? Just a word would clear all of this up.
He looked at the two seated young people. The young clerk was looking at them in despair and slight hope. Defi however, was still studiously calm. Tennar was a good judge of people, and the lad did not appear to expect the lady to assist him. Did not expect anyone to assist him, in fact, and was waiting for a suitable ti to speak.
All the lady's recomndations were interesting, weren't they?
"He was given permission," Tennar cleared his throat, face serene. "Young Defi is our newest business partner."
"Manager! My lady! Even if he is a new partner, do we let outsiders walk around our secrets like they owned the place?"
At Vodren's incredulity, the lady smiled. "Your care is comndable."
Tennar despaired inwardly. That's all you say? My lady! Are you condemning the child? What if he leaves? Think of the vinegar, top-notch secret vinegar!
"Defi's craft needs certain ingredients," Tennar continued, voice still mild. "It was my decision to let him have the run of the warehouse. Though, I assigned soone else as his guide."
He lifted a brow at the two. It was Defi who answered the silent query. Vesia was too overwheld to speak. Tennar supposed it was not everyday that a junior clerk ets the company manager, the company owner, and a head clerk of one of the major departnts at the sa ti.
"stre Darred was called away by an ergency." Defi said, his voice clear and unrushed. "Soone lost a contract, if I heard correctly."
Vodren nearly choked in fury at that incompetence. Tennar narrowed his eyes. Beside him, the lady gave a nearly inaudible sigh.
Contracts were the lifeblood of the rchant world. The comrce ministry only moved to protect and uphold transactions that had an official contract. A contract that needed a senior clerk to manage, not just a senior clerk but one from the company manager's own offices, would not be an insignificant contract.
Defi's words changed their focus neatly away from the two young people in the room.
And compounded the dread Tennar had been feeling since he saw the anomalies in the company accounts.
*
Defi and Vesia and Turq were unceremoniously kicked out of the discussion that occurred next.
Defi sighed. That was more peaceful a resolution than he expected. Still, it was likely not over yet.
Vesia doubtfully looked at the pouch of coin that had been tossed to her by the manager, as if she and Defi were children to be placated.
Defi let himself laugh. "It appears I've co to Bluzand at an interesting ti."
"Are you really a new business partner?"
"I suppose." Not quite. He had signed nothing yet.
Vesia glanced at him, sceptical. But she had been with the company long enough to know not to talk too much about contracts. She lifted the pouch of coin. "Since we have been shooed off while the adults talk, are you hungry?"
The door opened, and Sarel ca out to hear the question. "How is the food in the company refectory these days?"
"My..my lady?" Vesia's eyes widened. "The saas always?"
Sarel clicked her tongue. "That Tennar is as stingy as ever."
She waved over a clerk that was younger than Defi. "Send five als from the regular kitchens to this eting room. See how they like it."
"Yes, madam!" The boy scurried away.
Sarel glanced at the two of them, narrowed her eyes at Defi. "I left you alone for less than an hour."
Defi looked wounded. "I didn't do anything."
"Well. At least Tennar's not nagging at anymore. Co. I'll treat you two to a al at Watersiders."
"How good is it?" Defi followed in Sarel's wake.
"Good?" burst out Vesia, looking surprised at having been invited. "It's excellent! One of the best foodhalls in the city!"
"Oh?" On the scale of one to hidden master chef, what does 'best' an?
"The tables and private rooms are always packed," Vesia murmured. "Not even nobles can easily eat there. The lady is truly incredible, to be able to get a table."
"I know the owner." Sarel glanced back at them. "The food there is acceptable."
Vesia blushed at having been overheard. Defi nodded in anticipation if Sarel said the food was acceptable, then wouldn't it be better than average?
He said instead. "Aren't you supposed to be working?"
"It's not so serious." Sarel led them down the stairs. "Tennar can handle it without ."
On the first level of the Bluzand company was a spacious shop whose shelves were laden with various labelled bottles, boxes, jars, and pots. Sowhat like the warehouse, but in smaller quantities. The containers were also of better quality than the ones in the warehouse.
Unlike the warehouse, the scent of spices lingered in the air.
Perhaps like an advertisent?
Defi looked around in interest. "These are all mixed condints?"
"This is Bluzand's primary shop and headquarters. All the products that are made under our banner are showcased here. We mostly deal in condints yes." Sarel exited the shop, trailed by the two. A youth wearing a vest with the Bluzand mark quickly led them to a light carriage. "You actually made Tennar seriously look into expansion into a market other than food."
Defi took that to an that the sli lotion had few uses in the food industry. Had Tennar co up with a viable selling point, he wondered.
He hadn't pitched the savras extract yet, but he thought it could be used to make a solid entry into the beauty market, made into a skin-rejuvenating cream or sothing similar.
He was well aware that to many who flitted under the banner of 'society', the concept of dignity was almost synonymous to vanity, after all. The concept of beauty being alike to virtue was well-developed in Ontrea.
It was not so prevalent in Ascharon, but the idea also existed. Otherwise the apothecary's guild would not be so well-advertised.
"Bluzand is expanding out of the condint business?" Vesia looked shocked. "Imy lady, that is why you returned?"
Sarel smiled at her. "At the mont, it's just speculation."
Vesia nodded. "Of course. I won't talk about it."
"How long have you been with the company, might I ask?"
"Three years as an apprentice and five as a junior clerk, my lady."
"Just three as an apprentice?"
"II started at sixteen. My ntor said it was too old, but took anyway."
"After graduating from a scholarium."
Vesia lifted her gaze to et Sarel's calculating eyes, surprised. "Yes?"
"Hm."
The junior clerk looked slightly intimidated by the shortly humd syllable.
Defi glanced at Sarel. A junior clerk who knew just a little too much for her own good. There were several ways to deal with the matter.
He returned to watching the bustling streets of the city, so noisy and redolent with various slls. So different from the slower pace of the Lowpool. The carriage stopped by a four-storey high building. The large decorated banner fluttering on one side proclaid that it was the Watersiders' Foodhall.
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