Back | Next
Contents

Colemenoport

Offices of the

Tree-and-Dragon Trade Mission


The master trader was at the desk when Padi returned to the offices, his attention on the screen and his face austere in concentration.

Padi came forward, put her case on the edge of the desk, took off her jacket and draped it over the back of the visitors chair.

The master trader raised his eyes from the screen.

“Good evening, Trader Padi. You look quite worn out, if you will allow me the liberty of saying so.”

“I am quite worn out,” Padi told him, with feeling. “And surely it’s no liberty for one’s master to comment on one’s condition.”

“Former master. You are your own trader now.”

“Yet the ties persist,” she said.

There was, she noted, no glass by his hand.

“I’m for a cup of cold tea,” she said. “May I bring you refreshment?”

“Cold tea sounds delightful,” he said, and raised an eyebrow. “You will forgive me if I am out of bounds, but is this perhaps an occasion where cake might be in order?”

“It may be at that.” Padi sighed. “Shall I serve at the desk, or the table?”

“The desk, of your kindness. We can sort out these invitations while we refresh ourselves.”

* * *

The cake was, Padi admitted, finishing a slice and brushing off her fingers, remarkably restorative. She sipped tea. Across the desk, the master trader nodded once, tapped the screen, and leaned back in his chair, glass in hand.

“So, there’s your schedule set for tomorrow,” he said. “There are a large number of visits.”

“There are,” Padi agreed. “On the other hand, if Colemeno is to be one of my frequent ports, I should make contacts early and cement them going forward.”

“Very true,” the master trader said gravely, and lifted his glass, as if in a toast.

“You missed a very interesting interaction at nuncheon, between Councilor ziaGorn and our own Master pai’Fortana, who displayed both forthrightness and grace. We will speak of it more over the meal, so that you may have the benefit of multiple viewpoints of that exchange.

“In the meantime, I am bound to tell you that we have been inept. On Colemeno, biographies, and other business materials, carry, in addition to the principal’s name, their Talent.”

Padi frowned.

“Why?”

“Why, so that the Civilized will know precisely what it is they are dealing with, when they deal.”

“It seems a misuse of melant’i,” Padi said. “We are here as traders, not as Healers, or, or Witches, or Lucks.”

“Very true. And yet—local custom.”

“Did Mar Tyn object to having his Talent listed?” Padi asked.

“Very shrewd, Trader Padi. He did, indeed, and waxed eloquent in his reasons. Councilor ziaGorn has promised to send relevant sections of the Council’s charter to Master pai’Fortana, so we may hear more of that over the meal, also.”

He finished his cake, and set the plate aside.

“I am constrained to put the question in Councilor ziaGorn’s stead. Trader yos’Galan, have you any objection to having your Talent listed as part of your biography included in the trade mission’s info-packet?”

Padi frowned.

“Let me think on it, please. I note that no one precisely knows what my Talent is, which may be a challenge in terms of full disclosure. But, also—it makes me uneasy. I would like to understand why.”

“Excellent. There is, as I understand it, no rush.”

He lifted his cup.

“How fares Trader Isfelm?”

“Well enough. We agreed on delivery of a dozen conversion kits, to Transition Point Three. I will this evening send delivery instructions to Cargo Master ira’Barti. Trader Isfelm is fixed in her determination to go Out. We are in negotiations for Liaden language modules, the most recent edition of The Code, and A Child’s Guide to Melant’i. There has been an on-faith exchange of information—on my side, the information that language tapes are not quite enough to preserve one’s life at Solcintraport; on hers a list of untrustworthy operators to be found along the Iverson Loop.”

“There’s a good day’s trading. Ge’shada, Trader Padi.”

“Thank you.” Padi sighed and sat back.

“You should know that Trader Isfelm approached me in regard to shipping Out on the Passage when she leaves Colemeno. I referred her to the master trader and the captain.”

“Very good. I have an appointment upcoming with Trader Isfelm. I expect we’ll chat about that then. Regarding the language modules.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Do we know the state of Trader Isfelm’s learning equipment? Or if the files we have on offer are compatible?”

Padi sighed.

“Neither of us thought of that,” she said ruefully. “I blame a lack of cake.”

“Could very well be it,” the master trader acknowledged gravely.

“I am promised to send the trader some files this evening. I will mention the matter of compatibility to her in the covering note.”

“Neatly solved!”

He put his glass on the desk, turned to the screen, and shut it down.

“I believe that your father would like to go home, my child, and partake of an hour’s rest, a glass of wine, and a meal before the master trader engages on this evening’s work. Are you with me?”

“I am,” Padi said, rising and gathering the cups and plates.

“I will just put these in the washer.”


Back | Next
Framed