Chrysalis

As it turned out, it did not ‘sound good’, to the brathians.

[Twenty percent! That’s usury,] she declared flatly.

[Isn’t that the percentage you were offering us?] Anthony pointed out.

[This was a number we arrived at after a lengthy discussion of the costs and risks of conducting business. I would be happy to go over them with you….]

Anthony scratched at his head as Enid did all she could to contain her smile, regardless of how hard it threatened to creep over her face.

[We are the ones making the stuff,] he insisted. [Without us, there’s no trade for you to profit from at all, you’ll have no goods. All you have to do is receive the stuff and take it somewhere you can sell it, which is something you already do. As I understand it, you have a network of caravans, merchants, markets and stores already, so you don’t have to establish anything new, this is just another source of goods for you to plug into your pipeline.]

Eran tried a different tack.

[It’s true we have an exceptionally successful business spread over multiple strata, and a strong presence in some of the biggest markets in the fourth stratum, including the Silver City. We deal with many, many suppliers as well as create our own artisanal products for sale. This isn’t a trade that we need,] she spoke with just the right amount of deprecation, insinuating that she was doing them a favour. [Access to our conglomerate is worth paying a heavy price.]

Surprisingly, Anthony nodded.

persuasive, you’ve done a lot of work and we would benefit from that. We

Clearly, she thought she was finally

twenty-five percent,] the Ant announced with

later. Enid was impressed. This woman was tough. Dealing with Anthony was enough to

recognition of our input?] she sought to clarify, a

replied reasonably. [Before, I was giving you twenty percent, but fifteen of that was just because I'm nice. Now I think you actually deserve twenty

face of the brathian negotiator now. Her Skills weren’t working as they should, and the direction of the conversation had

from the deal

demanded they begin negotiating prices at fifty percent, no lower. Anthony

of the produce and thus diminish its price. Anthony didn’t believe her, stating anything his siblings

She hinted they could ban the Colony from ever trading in the fourth if they so chose. Again, Anthony didn’t care. The ants were perfectly content making things just to decorate their nests and insisted they would find other ways to procure the cores they needed. He made it clear

She protested. He shrugged.

needled. He

went into battle, eloquently and viciously.

ant growing more and more irritated and the brathian delegation growing more and