Weaves of Ashes

Chapter 114: Chapter 109: The Offer

Location: Oldstrand - Merchants’ Guild Private Tea Room

Time: Day 523 | Telia: Day 13 (evening)

Realm: Telia (Mission World)

President Andillevé leaned forward, his attention fully focused on Jayde. Counsellor Andillevé had produced a ledger and ink, ready to take notes.

”I’m very interested,” the President said. ”Please, continue.”

Jayde took a breath. Federation negotiation protocol: Establish value before discussing terms. Build anticipation. Control information flow.

”The charcoal is valuable,” she said carefully. ”But it’s only the beginning. Tardide has access to resources that could transform not just Oldstrand, but all of Telia.”

”Resources?” Counsellor Andillevé’s pen hovered over his ledger. ”What kind of resources?”

”Let me ask you something first,” Jayde said. ”What do you know about medicinal herbs?”

President Andillevé frowned slightly. ”Common herbs? Or cultivation materials?”

”Cultivation materials. Specifically—Afeaso.”

The President’s teacup paused halfway to his lips. His son’s pen stopped moving.

”Afeaso,” Counsellor Andillevé said slowly, ”is worth approximately five hundred gold per plant. It’s used in mid-tier healing potions and some advancement elixirs. It’s rare because it requires very specific growing conditions and takes two years to mature.”

”Three years,” Jayde corrected gently. ”But yes. Five hundred gold per plant, at current market rates.”

”Why are you asking about Afeaso?” President Andillevé set down his cup carefully.

”Because Tardide has twenty hectares of it. Planted and growing.”

Silence.

Complete, absolute silence.

Counsellor Andillevé’s hand had frozen in mid-air, pen still poised over the ledger. His mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out.

President Andillevé just stared.

”Twenty...” Counsellor Andillevé’s voice cracked. ”Twenty hectares?”

”Yes. We can fit approximately ten thousand plants per hectare in optimal density. That’s two hundred thousand Afeaso plants total.” Jayde kept her voice calm, matter-of-fact. ”First harvest in two to three months, then annually thereafter.”

Two hundred thousand times five hundred equals one hundred million gold.

The numbers hung in the air like a physical weight.

”That’s...” President Andillevé couldn’t seem to form words. ”That’s not possible. Afeaso is notoriously difficult to cultivate. It requires—”

”Specific soil pH, controlled moisture, partial shade, and careful pest management,” Jayde finished. ”We know. We’ve met all the requirements.”

”But the scale...” Counsellor Andillevé was shaking his head. ”Wars have been fought over ten hectares of Afeaso. Twenty hectares would make Tardide the single largest supplier in the known world.”

”Yes,” Jayde said simply.

Elder Ryunzo was watching her with barely concealed amazement. Master Whitestone looked like he might fall out of his chair.

”And you want to offer the Merchants’ Guild exclusive distribution rights?” President Andillevé’s voice had gone very soft. ”For this?”

”For fair terms, yes.”

”Fair terms.” The President laughed—not with humor, but with something like disbelief. ”Lady Jayde, with twenty hectares of Afeaso, Tardide could negotiate with kingdoms. You could demand armies for protection, trade agreements that would bankrupt rivals, territory concessions—”

”We don’t want armies,” Jayde interrupted. ”We want a partnership. With someone we can trust.”

She looked at Elder Ryunzo, who nodded.

”President Andillevé and I traded for years,” the Elder said quietly. ”He never cheated me. Never tried to take advantage. When the wars came, and Tardide fell on hard times, he sent what aid he could, even though he gained nothing from it.” He paused. ”That’s worth more than the highest bidder.”

President Andillevé’s eyes had gone suspiciously bright. He cleared his throat roughly.

”Jothan, I... I don’t know what to say.”

”Say you’ll treat us fairly. That’s all we ask.”

”I will. You have my word.” The President took a moment to compose himself. ”But I need to understand. The Afeaso—that’s extraordinary. But you said ’resources,’ plural. What else?”

Jayde allowed herself a small smile. ”We also have Sapphire Bloom, Golden Mallow, Wolf Seed, Monk’s Bloom, and Cemaley. Approximately five hectares each.”

Counsellor Andillevé actually choked on his tea.

”Sapphire Bloom,” he gasped, ”is worth three thousand gold per plant. It’s used in mana restoration potions for high-level mages. I’ve only seen it twice in my entire life.”

”Golden Mallow,” President Andillevé added, his voice hollow, ”is worth fifteen hundred gold per plant. It’s used in strength enhancement potions and is considered critical for military applications.”

”Wolf Seed,” Counsellor Andillevé continued, reading from memory, ”cultivates spiritual awareness. A thousand gold per plant. Monk’s Bloom calms mental turbulence—two thousand gold per plant. And Cemaley...” He swallowed hard. ”Cemaley neutralizes most common toxins. Five thousand gold per plant. The Mages’ Guild stockpiles it for emergencies.”

Jayde waited while they processed.

”Five hectares of each,” President Andillevé whispered. ”That’s... by the forge, I can’t even calculate the total value.”

Five hectares times ten thousand plants equals fifty thousand plants per herb. Five herbs. Total: two hundred fifty thousand plants. Conservative value estimate: five hundred billion gold minimum.

”This is insane,” Counsellor Andillevé said flatly. ”This is absolutely insane. Tardide would control the entire cultivation medicine market. You could dictate terms to anyone. The Mages’ Guild would go to war to secure access.”

”Which is why we need protection,” Jayde said. ”And why we’re offering exclusive distribution to the Merchants’ Guild—if you agree to our terms.”

President Andillevé leaned back in his chair. ”Name them. Whatever they are, I’ll find a way to make them work.”

”First,” Jayde said, ticking off on her fingers, ”the Merchants’ Guild cannot reveal that Tardide is your source. Anonymity is critical for our safety.”

”Agreed. We’ll claim multiple suppliers across different regions.”

”Second, we want a protection agreement. Oldstrand guarantees the safety of Tardide—military support if needed, legal protection, trade route security.”

Counsellor Andillevé spoke up immediately. ”As Oldstrand’s leader, I can authorize that. Tardide will have the full protection of the city and its resources.”

”Third,” Jayde continued, ”profit sharing. We propose seventy-five percent to the Merchants’ Guild, twenty-five percent to Tardide for the herbs.”

President Andillevé blinked. ”That’s... extremely generous. You could demand fifty-fifty, and we’d agree.”

”We want a long-term partnership, not a short-term windfall. If the Guild profits substantially, they’ll be invested in our success and protection.”

Federation economic theory: aligned incentives create stable partnerships. Make your allies rich, and they’ll fight to keep you safe.

”Wise,” the President said. ”Very wise. Agreed.”

”Fourth,” Jayde said, ”we need help with something else. Tardide wants to take in war orphans from Oldstrand—specifically, children with magical potential who would otherwise be left to starve. We’ll provide housing, education, and training. But we need help identifying them and arranging safe transport.”

Counsellor Andillevé’s expression softened. ”That’s... commendable. Yes, we can help with that. There are hundreds of orphans in the slums. Many with magical talent that’s never been developed.”

”Thank you.”

President Andillevé was shaking his head in amazement. ”Is that everything?”

Jayde paused. ”Actually... there’s one more thing.”

(Here we go. The biggest reveal.)

Revolutionary technology transfer. This will change their entire civilization.

”We have,” Jayde said carefully, ”developed a mechanical device. Agricultural equipment. It’s called a plow.”

Both men leaned forward.

”A plow?” Counsellor Andillevé frowned. ”Like... a farming plow?”

”Yes. But not like any plow you’ve seen.” Jayde pulled a piece of parchment from her pouch—she’d drawn the schematic earlier, anticipating this moment. ”This device can plow eighty hectares of land in one week. It requires only two to three operators and a pair of Bildeson to pull it.”

She spread the parchment on the table. The drawing showed the curved blade, the frame, and the adjustment mechanism—all labeled clearly.

President Andillevé studied it, his brow furrowed. ”Eighty hectares... in a week?”

”Yes. What takes your farmers months of backbreaking labor, this machine does in days.”

”But...” Counsellor Andillevé’s finger traced the blade design. ”This is just metal and wood. There’s no magic in it?”

”No magic. Pure mechanical advantage—using animal strength efficiently and leverage to multiply force.”

Master Whitestone finally spoke up, his voice rough. ”I’ve already built one. Tested it in Tardide’s fields. Works exactly as she says.”

The President sat back slowly. ”If this works... if this actually works...”

”It would revolutionize agriculture,” Counsellor Andillevé finished. ”Farmers could cultivate ten times as much land with the same workforce. Food production would explode. Prices would drop. Hunger would—” His voice caught. ”Hunger would decrease significantly.”

”And we’re developing a harvester too,” Jayde added. ”Similar efficiency for cutting and gathering grain. We should have a working prototype within a month.”

President Andillevé put his face in his hands. ”You’re going to transform Telia,” he said, his voice muffled. ”All of it. Everything.”

”That’s the plan.”

He looked up, and there were tears in his eyes. ”What do you want for this technology?”

”A licensing fee,” Jayde said. ”Ten thousand gold upfront. Then royalties—five percent of the sale price for each plow sold.”

”Done.”

”And—critically—the plows can only be sold to farmers who sign exclusive crop-selling agreements with the Merchants’ Guild. We want the Guild to control the entire food supply chain from production to distribution. That level of economic control will give Oldstrand more power than any army.”

Counsellor Andillevé stared at her. ”You’re not just offering us wealth. You’re offering us political independence from the warlords.”

”Yes.”

Economic power supersedes military power. Control food, control population. Control population, control territory. Federation colonial strategy, adapted.

President Andillevé stood abruptly and began pacing. ”Let me make sure I understand all of this.” He ticked off on his fingers. ”Charcoal worth millions annually. Herbs worth billions over time. Revolutionary agricultural equipment that will destabilize feudal power structures. And you’re offering it all to us—to Oldstrand—in exchange for protection, fair profit sharing, and help with orphan rescue.”

”That’s correct.”

He stopped pacing and looked at his son. ”Thoughts?”

”I think,” Counsellor Andillevé said slowly, ”that we just witnessed the beginning of a new era. And if we’re smart, Oldstrand will be at the center of it.”

President Andillevé turned to Elder Ryunzo. ”Jothan, old friend. I accept. All of it. Every term.”

He extended his hand. Elder Ryunzo clasped it firmly.

”We’ll need contracts,” the President said, already moving to the door. ”Scribe! Get me three scribes, immediately!” He looked back at Jayde. ”This is going to take hours to document properly. Are you willing to stay?”

”Yes.”

”Good. Because I want everything in writing, signed, sealed, and witnessed. By tomorrow morning, the alliance between Tardide and Oldstrand will be formalized.” He grinned suddenly. ”And my son and I are definitely visiting Tardide within the week. I want to see this mechanical plow in action.”

”You’re welcome anytime,” Elder Ryunzo said.

Over the next three hours, scribes worked furiously, drafting contracts under President Andillevé’s sharp supervision. Every term was documented, every profit share calculated, every protection guarantee spelled out in legal language.

The charcoal agreement: one hundred fifty sacks per week, sixty gold per sack, forty to Tardide, twenty to the Guild. Exclusive distribution rights.

The herb agreements: detailed harvesting schedules, quality standards, and pricing tiers based on grade. Seventy-five/twenty-five split after Guild expenses. Source anonymity guaranteed.

The plow licensing: ten thousand gold upfront, five percent royalty per unit, exclusive sale to Guild-contracted farmers. Technology transfer to Guild-approved blacksmiths only. Harvester prototype rights included.

The protection agreement: Oldstrand commits military support, legal protection, and trade route security to Tardide. Any threat to Tardide is treated as a threat to Oldstrand.

The orphan assistance agreement: Guild will identify magically gifted orphans, arrange safe transport to Tardide, and provide initial funding for housing and education.

When all three copies were finally ready, Elder Ryunzo, President Andillevé, and Counsellor Andillevé signed them carefully. Jayde and Master Whitestone signed as witnesses.

President Andillevé handed one copy to Elder Ryunzo, kept one for the Guild, and gave the third to Counsellor Andillevé for the city’s records.

”There,” he said, satisfaction clear in his voice. ”It’s official.”

He walked to a side cabinet and withdrew a leather folder. Inside was a promissory note—a bank draft for two thousand gold pieces.

”For the fifty sacks of charcoal in your wagons below,” he explained, handing it to Elder Ryunzo. ”Payable immediately at any Oldstrand bank.”

Elder Ryunzo accepted it with trembling hands. Two thousand gold. More than the entire village earned in a year.

”Now then,” President Andillevé said, ”I know it’s late, but would you honor me by joining us for dinner? We have much to discuss, and I’d like to hear about Tardide’s situation in more detail.”

Elder Ryunzo glanced at Jayde again. She was exhausted—the day had been long, violent, and emotionally draining. But this relationship was too important to cut short.

”We’d be honored,” Elder Ryunzo said.

Dinner was served in a private dining room—roasted meat, fresh bread, vegetables prepared with care, and wine that probably cost more per bottle than a month’s wages for most people. The conversation ranged from Tardide’s recent history to Oldstrand’s political situation to the likely market impact of the charcoal.

Through it all, Jayde observed President Andillevé and his son. Watching their body language, listening to their tone, and analyzing their reactions.

Assessment: genuine. Trustworthy. Intelligent. Strategically valuable allies.

(They’re good people. Really good people.)

Not all wealthy individuals are corrupt. Some built their success honestly. Remember that.

When the meal finally ended, President Andillevé stood. ”It’s late. You should rest before your journey home tomorrow. I’ll have rooms prepared for you—the Guild keeps guest quarters for important visitors.”

”That’s very generous,” Elder Ryunzo said.

”Nonsense. You’re partners now. Family, even.” The President smiled. ”And besides, I want you well-rested when we visit Tardide next week. I have a feeling that’s going to be a very interesting trip.”

As servants led them to the guest quarters, Jayde felt the weight of the day finally settling on her shoulders.

(We killed seven people today. Made an alliance worth billions. Changed the course of an entire civilization.)

Federation officers make decisions like this regularly. You’re handling it well.

(Am I?)

Better than most would. Get some rest. Tomorrow, we return to Tardide and begin implementing everything we’ve promised.

The guest room was luxurious—soft bed, clean linens, a private bath. Jayde collapsed onto the mattress fully clothed, too exhausted to even remove her boots.

Sleep came quickly, pulling her down into darkness.

But her last conscious thought was clear:

Everything changes now. Everything.