Mastery Is Earned

“This ore is of excellent quality, dear Ray.” After listening to her subordinate’s report, Tessa thought for a moment, then gave him her familiar smile. “Did you wipe out another group of goblins?”

“Oh, Miss Mercer, haven’t you heard? A huge number of goblins appeared near Blackstone. They even attacked one of the nearby villages. As a member of the town, I took part in the campaign against them. This ore was among the spoils I claimed.” Raymond wore a slightly ingratiating smile.

“A huge number of goblins?” Tessa’s smile did not falter. “Goodness, you weren’t hurt, were you? I would be heartbroken if anything happened to you, dear Ray.”

“Thank you for your concern, but I was never in any danger. As you can see, I’m standing here in one piece. In fact, I played a major role in wiping out the goblin tribe,” Raymond said proudly.

“Goodness! You’re simply marvelous, Ray.” Tessa laughed and applauded. “Now, shall we discuss the price of this ore?”

Raymond glanced at Henk, Derek, and the others gathered around them. Only then did he notice that Teddy had arrived at some point and was staring eagerly at Tessa. After a moment’s hesitation, Raymond said, “Why don’t we speak over there?”

“Of course. Whatever you say, dear Ray.” Tessa winked at him.

They turned to leave, but for some reason Teddy pushed through the crowd to follow. Raymond looked back and glared at him. Teddy apparently failed to understand and kept coming. Henk caught hold of him instead. When Teddy looked at him in confusion, Henk merely shook his head.

Tessa saw the entire exchange. She regarded Teddy’s heated stare with mild interest, gave him a faint smile, then followed Raymond away.

They walked side by side, and the light, fresh scent of her perfume drifted over. Raymond found himself drawn to her for a moment, but quickly collected himself and returned his attention to the deal.

Once they were some distance from the others, Tessa leaned close to his ear and whispered, “I’m very pleased with this shipment. I’ll offer three gold and twenty silver. If you find more ore like this, bring it to me. I wouldn’t mind paying a little extra. And if you want, that offer extends to anything else as well.”

Tessa pressed suggestively against him. Raymond smiled and eased back a step. “You’re a very alluring woman. I won’t deny that. Unfortunately, I’m a practical man. I’d prefer something more tangible. Money matters most to me. Three gold and fifty silver.”

“I see...” Disappointment crossed Tessa’s face, as though she truly had wanted something to happen between them. She considered his price for a moment. “Three gold and thirty silver.”

They haggled back and forth for quite some time before finally settling on three gold and thirty-five silver. Since they were completing the transaction on the spot, Tessa paid him in full then and there.

Raymond counted through the coins in his hands several times. There were exactly three gold and thirty-five silver—not one coin more or less. Suspicion crept onto his face.

Tessa noticed his expression. “What’s wrong, dear Ray? Is the amount incorrect?”

“I thought you might give me a little extra, like last time.” Raymond chuckled.

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Tessa reached out and tapped a finger against his chest. “You tricked me before you left last time and even made me pay the storage fee. It wasn’t much money, but I don’t care for doing business that way. And you still have the nerve to ask me for more?”

“As far as I’m concerned, this ore is worth far more than three-odd gold coins.” Raymond smiled. “Miss Mercer, what exactly is it? Can you tell me?”

Tessa shook her head and sighed softly. “I don’t know its exact origin either. All I know is that one of my clients wants it badly. As a businesswoman, I never ask about things I have no business knowing. I suggest you do the same, or you may invite trouble.”

“Is that so? Thank you for the warning.” Raymond smiled. “**I don’t like trouble, but trouble always seems to come looking for me.**”

Tessa gave him a meaningful look, then shook her head with a sigh. “You know nothing, Ray.”

After putting away all the money, Raymond returned to the others with Tessa. She stood before the wagons, looked at her people, then at Raymond’s group. “I won’t be paying the storage fee again this time, will I?”

“Of course not.” Raymond smiled and gestured toward the cargo. “But you’ll arrange and pay for the unloading and transport, won’t you?”

Tessa chuckled and waved a hand. The warehouse workers began unloading the ore from Raymond’s wagons.

Raymond and the others watched from nearby to ensure that nothing besides the ore was taken with it.

Tessa stood with them. She looked at Raymond, then swept her gaze across the people behind him. “Blackstone certainly has a great many goblins. What a dangerous place. You must be careful, dear Ray. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you. If you find more of this ore in a goblin lair, remember to bring it to me. I’ll pay you an even better price.”

“Don’t worry. I will,” Raymond promised.

Teddy had been watching Tessa intently the entire time. Her words left him confused, and he glanced curiously at Raymond. “What goblins? Didn’t this cargo come from the gnolls—”

Before he could finish, Henk grabbed him. Raymond whipped around as well and fixed him with an unmistakably furious, warning glare. When Raymond turned back, however, the same ingratiating smile as before was still on his face. “If I find any more ore, I’ll be sure to bring it to you. After all, opportunities to see Miss Mercer are few and far between.”

Tessa burst into delighted laughter. “Listen to you, dear Ray. You can come and see me anytime you like. But what was that young man saying about gnolls? Are there gnolls near Blackstone too?”

“Ah, gnolls. Yes, gnolls.” Raymond clapped his hands. “That’s right, gnolls. One of them wandered into Blackstone recently and caused quite a bit of trouble. But don’t worry. I dealt with it easily. Very easily.”

“Goodness, Ray, you truly are amazing!” Tessa applauded. “Blackstone is far too dangerous. You should consider leaving and coming to Brightwater. There are many more opportunities to make money here.” She looked past him at the others. “That goes for all of you. If you want to earn more, you can come to me anytime.”

Her offer plainly stirred something in the others. The mercenaries exchanged looks, each with his own thoughts. Even Teddy raised a hand as though he wanted to say something, only to lower it again without speaking.

Tessa took note of every reaction while keeping her smile firmly in place. After saying a few words to the people beside her, she turned to Raymond. “I’ll be going now, Ray. I hope we meet again.”

“Of course, dear Tessa. I hope our next meeting will be a good beginning.” Sensing that her words might carry another meaning, Raymond responded in kind.

Tessa chuckled, turned, and left the warehouse with several of her people. She had no intention of lingering. The warehouse laborers naturally continued working after she was gone, neither slacking off nor pocketing any of the goods.

Raymond swept a complicated look around them and forced down his anger. “Teddy, come with me.”

He led Teddy to a corner of the warehouse. Only after making sure no one else was nearby did he lower his voice. “Teddy, I don’t understand why you can never keep your mouth shut.”

The question came out of nowhere, leaving Teddy bewildered. “What did I do? What did I say wrong? That ore did come from the gnolls—”

“Shut up!” Raymond barked.

The sudden shout left Teddy stunned. He had never seen Raymond like this before. Humiliated and flustered, Teddy did not even understand what he had done wrong or why Raymond had suddenly turned on him.

“You could endanger every one of us, all because you can’t keep your mouth shut,” Raymond said in a low voice, struggling to contain his anger.