When we got back to my rooms, aside from the guard of four, we were alone. To my surprise, Margrin pulled a Gem of Pure Sight from his jacket pocket and began scanning the room. I also noticed for the first time his ring. Not as large as my father's and on his left pinky, but there was the ship with HCC stamped beneath it. I guess connections to organized crime will take you many places.
“Yes, Bascombe, you're seeing all my cards on the table. I obviously can't have anyone digging in my head. By Élois, the number of people they could lock up without a fight. It would take down the Syndicate!”
He put the gem back in his pocket, “You're clear here.”
He went over to the sitting room window, the broken pane already replaced, holes in the wall patched, “Over there, there's a Swalesian, but he's not armed with any ranged weapons. He'd be a magnificent specimen if he could throw a dagger that far. Most likely just a spy. Nonetheless, I'll draw the curtain. Maybe he hasn't noted me being here yet.”
He sat in the chair opposite me and looked impossibly relaxed given the situation. I tried to match the attitude, but I'm certain I was unsuccessful. I have a hard enough time looking relaxed when I'm sleeping.
“First, Bascombe, let me assure you that I know all of the things that you know. That will save us some time. I also know much you don't. That's why we're here, to get you up to speed.”
I stopped him. “I don't know if I can trust you with that mental barrier you wear, Margrin. I do understand the reasoning for it. But it could also be used to dupe me here and I'd be none the wiser.”
“I think I can remedy that, Bascombe. Give me a moment.”
He went to the door and asked one of the guards to send for a priest of Élois. Saying it didn't need to be someone of very high rank. “This will solve that, Bascombe. In the meantime, let's have some more tea. Will you have a valet bring some around?”
I ordered the Green Dragon Dung tea for him and the Purcha Berry for myself along with some biscuits and we sat for a moment sussing each other up.
The tea and the priest both came at the same time. I motioned for the priest to wait a moment while the tea was poured and the valet left.
“Okay, Margrin, what's the trick?”
He spoke to the priest, “Sir, you know some spells, I'm sure. Don't you have access to one that would make me tell the truth?”
“Of course, Sir,” the priest responded, “For a donation of 10 royals to the Church of Élois, I'd be happy to cast it on either of you.”
“A bargain at twice the price! I'll give you 20 to cast it on both of us.” Margrin was going for his purse.
“It doesn't work like that, Sir. It covers an area. As long as you both are in the area, you're compelled to tell the truth. But the 20 royals are most welcome!”
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“What say you, Bascombe? No lies from either of us?”
I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. I'd heard of this spell being used in court from time to time, but it was controversial. It could be resisted, but one could supposedly tell if a party was resisting. I didn't see the harm in it. It was certainly worth 20 royals of someone else's money.
The young priest stood in the center of the room, made some motions with his hands, spoke some Elvish and then said it was done.
How to test it? Margrin made that decision quickly, “Did it feel good beating the Prince in that duel today, Bascombe?”
He figured that I'm far too modest to make a big deal out of something like that, but I responded, “Yes, it certainly did! The bastard had that and much more coming!” It was out of my mouth before I even knew it. Impressive.
The priest said, “It lasts for ten minutes, My Good Sirs. If you need more time, simply call me back. I'm Father Vastila.” And he left. So it was just Margrin and me and honesty for ten minutes. Best make the most of it.
“I'm not going to ask any questions yet, Margrin. You obviously have much to tell me before I even know what to ask.”
“You're right, Bascombe. Stop me if you need clarification on any of it though. So many moving parts!”
“First, let's start with your father. You know he still loves the law. That's my connection to him. I've retained that firm for over thirty years now in case I get in trouble in Wikehold, or anywhere else along the Hard Case for that matter.”
He grew grim. “I don't work for him, he works for me. Understood? His capacity with the Hard Coast Company doesn't come into play in our arrangement. That being said, I don't know how much he does or doesn't know about the included amber. I think it's his understanding that it's to be sold at a discounted rate to make varnish and cheap jewelry.”
“Charles Maignard, on the other hand, I do work for, and others on the board of the Hard Coast Company. Maignard plays a very dangerous game. He merely wants to become the sole broker of the Élicks, and he knows the value of the included stuff.”
“The man wishes to be the one Mag'stula and the Swalesians come to pay top gold for it. He's sent you as his negotiator in this because of your naivety as you've suspected. That move on his part has already had an effect on May and Pelisir, thinking the Hard Coast Company is some benevolent player here.”
“What May and Pelisir are just finding out, is that the Gnolls and the Swalesians are planning to take the whole thing by force, ostensibly sharing the included amber and each party staying within a well-demarcated sphere of influence after it's done. The Gnolls controlling the North of the Taliswood and Feersland and the Swalesians in the South of the Taliswood and controlling the High Elven city of Nez Clarë.”
“Charles Maignard feels secure behind his army of mercenaries, but they can be bought out from under him with ease by the Swalesians. Then there's an attack force sitting inside Feersland already. The king there would capitulate. He'd have to.”
I interrupted. “Before you get too far, Sir, tell me, are your people worth more to you than gold and power? I need you to convince me that you're one to trust.”
“Bascombe, first you must understand that the ‘Syndicate,’ of which I'm a member in very high standing to be certain, doesn't deal with slavery, trafficking, dangerous drugs, there is a lot of gambling, there's prostitution for sure, but we aren't out there shaking down shop owners or buying out politicians. We're not so nefarious. And that's the prime driver of my poor reputation. I am no monster, Bascombe.”
“But, to your point, in this thing we're discussing here, the amber concession and all that entails, I am on the side of the Elves. These other players in this gambit have no compunction with wiping out my whole species. There's too much power in these woods for their tastes. Just to be abundantly clear, I would kill the Khan, the Prince, Mag'stula, Charles Maignard, all of them before I harmed a hair on the head of Queen May. These are my people, Sir. That means something to me. Now's the time to get it out of me, there won't be any lies for another five minutes. If then.”
“Hah! Very well, Margrin, tell me, you are completely enamoured with Queen May are you not?”
“Bastard! Unfair Bascombe! Well, there's nothing for it. Yes, I'm quite in love with her. Have been for over 200 years. She needn't know this, Bascombe.”
“No, Margrin. That won't be necessary. Mestil seems to be quite taken with her as well!”
“A pox on that swine! He has a fiancée back in Ilníst! He would break May’s heart!”
I didn't realize the can of worms I would open here. He had it very bad for the Queen.
“Answer me this, Margrin, why are you coming to me before going to them?”
“They trust you, Bascombe. They don't trust me. They despise me. If you back me up, we can get through to them.”
“Okay, Sir,” I said, "you have my trust. Is there any chance the Elves come out victorious in this thing?”
“There's every chance. We haven't made it 9,000 years without the ability to handle these things. This one just happens to be a bit more extreme than the usual existential threat. We have resources no one has taken into consideration, trust me, Sir.”
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