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.

lot of work and we would benefit from that. We can’t have hard

eased ever so slightly in her chair. Clearly, she thought she was finally

percent,] the Ant announced with an air

was impressed.

added five percent in recognition of our input?] she sought to clarify, a little

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

as they should, and the direction of the conversation had gone far from what she had intended. Enid almost

away from the deal if the percentage wasn’t better.

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

the produce and thus diminish its price. Anthony didn’t believe her,

the power of the conglomerate and the influence they had. 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 got

went into battle, eloquently and viciously.

more irritated and the brathian delegation growing more and more desperate. Finally, one of them