Chapter 430: Independence

“Your mercenary headquarters has a far more professional look to it than I had suspected. I am glad to see that you are taking your budding business venture seriously and are not treating it as a mere excuse for some childish notion of independence.”

“…Thanks.”

Jadis wasn’t sure how exactly she had ended up in her current situation, but she was tempted to blame Elodie Brunholt.

“I think the company hall has quite a modern, chic appearance. The furnishings are stylishly simple; elegant, even. Are the trees and flowers Tegwyn’s doing?”

“Yes, they are,” Jay answered Elodie’s far more polite comment. “He and Sorcha are both very invested in our plants, but Teg takes special pride in these trees.”

“Better off gardening than robbing the empire of its resources,” Prince Hraustrekr said as he raised his cup of tea to his lips. “I am pleased to hear that your resident convict is taking her penance and reparations seriously as well.”

“And I’d appreciate it if you never used that word to describe Sorcha again,” Jay told the golden-skinned elf with deadly earnestness.

The razor-sharp silence hung between the two for a long space of time before it was broken by the clink of porcelain on porcelain.

“Well, what a lovely way to start a conversation,” Elodie said in a surprisingly daring tone. “I’m so glad we are all getting along.”

“Quite right, Lady Brunholt,” Hraustrekr smiled thinly, his green eyes never breaking from their lock on Jay. “I did not intrude upon your little get together simply to engage in… banter. My apologies, Lady Ahlstrom, for offending your sensibilities.”

Jadis was half tempted to hurl some “banter” back at the prince, but she used her inner Aila as a guide and managed to restrain the impulse.

“Thank you. Apology accepted.”

Hraustrekr’s words were, if not an olive branch, at least a minimal attempt at not being a raging jackass. Jadis could, though great commitment to being the bigger woman, let the insults slide. For the moment. She had made no promise to emperor Somerulf, but he had asked her to try and get his two sons to work together for the greater good of the empire’s people. The old elf’s motivations seemed sincere, and he had been kind to her. That leaned her in the direction of trying to help him and his cause. She supposed she couldn’t do that if she refused to even talk with the older of the two princes.

“Speaking of your companions,” Hraustrekr motioned with one hand towards the largely empty hall. “Where are they? Did none of them intend to join you and Lady Brunholt for tea?”

“A few were going to, but that changed when you showed up,” Jay stated bluntly. “I didn’t want to inflict you upon any of them.”

Well. She was talking, at least.

Jay was alone with Elodie and Hraustrekr. It was midafternoon on an overcast day and almost all the preparations for Fortune’s Favored to fly to Thea’s home village were done. They would be leaving the next morning, so everyone was out and about making sure that they didn’t have any outstanding pressing business to attend to before setting off on their trip. Not that they expected to be gone for long, but there was always the possibility that something could come up that could delay their return.

Elodie’s visit was just one of many minor chores that Jadis was handling before the day was through. At least, it was supposed to have been just a minor visit. Jadis had assumed there was nothing big going on since Elodie’s letter had shown no signs of urgency. When Eir had arranged a short, afternoon visit three days after the initial invitation from the lady, Elodie had made no argument. Yet, somehow, the minor little chat over tea had turned into an unexpected visit from First Prince Hraustrekr.

From the way Elodie had looked when she and the prince had arrived on Jadis’ doorstep, she suspected that the lady had been just as surprised by the prince’s intrusion as Jadis was.

“I wonder who is being inflicted upon whom, truly,” Hraustrekr replied to Jay’s barbed words with a glint in his green eyes. “Shall we discuss your many intrusions into the empire’s business? I have seen volcanos that were less disruptive.”

“Is that what you came here for?” Jay tilted her head to one side. “To complain about me?”

“No, no, it is not,” the prince admitted after a short pause. Jadis could see the man mentally restrain himself. While he was practiced, Hraustrekr didn’t have anywhere near the poker face that Vraekae or Kestil did. “I came here to propose an arrangement between you and I.”

 “What kind of arrangement?” Jay asked, her curiosity slightly piqued. “It better not be some kind of arranged marriage bullshit, because I’m already in several committed relationships. Also, I’m not interested in men. And I don’t like you.”

Hraustrekr closed his eyes as he breathed in sharply through his nose.

“Is that all that occupies your mind, or does it contain any space for thoughts beyond your libido?”

Jay noticed that Elodie had gone as still as a deer caught in headlights, her expression frozen as she did her best to fade into the background without moving a muscle.

“I have a few braincells dedicated to other pursuits,” Jay smiled without humor. “What arrangement are you proposing exactly?”

“I’ll be blunt,” Hraustrekr responded as he leaned forward, “since that is a trait you obviously value. I wish to hire your enchanter smith, Sabina Sarto. I will not refuse to give credit where it is due. The flight enchantments she has crafted are a marvel. The feat young Sabina has accomplished is the advancement of the millennia. Her name will be recorded in history as one of the great master enchanters next to Sestolino the Gold Hand and Farrus Rune Walker. One would have to be blind to not see the potential benefits of her designs. Naturally, I wish to use them for the benefit of the empire.

“I wish to hire her and, more broadly, your mercenary company, to begin construction of airships to the price of five thousand eagles per ship. I have no doubt that others in your employ contributed to the designs, just as you no doubt did as well. Naturally, I would not try to separate your team. Nor would my patronage be strictly monetary in nature. With Duke Brunholt’s assistance, I can offer you an estate in the heartlands that will be equipped with all the finest tools and facilities available. Sabina Sarto’s forge would rival even Svaroga’s High Temple. I would even allow you to choose your assistants, though I already have dozens of highly skilled enchanters available to begin work with Sabina Sarto immediately.”

Prince Hraustrekr settled back in his chair, a pleased, almost magnanimous expression on his face.

“Now, what say you to that offer?”

“No.”

Hraustrekr stiffened, his expression not one of shock or offense, but instead mild resignation. He had the look of a man who had fully expected the outcome he had gotten but still couldn’t quite come to grips with the reality.

“I would ask you to explain yourself, but I doubt you have any reasoning beyond your personal dislike of me.”

That was partially true. Jadis did dislike Hraustrekr. Intensely. But that personal enmity wasn’t the only reason behind her instant, unwavering response. Jadis had known from the start that the First Prince would want her airship technology for himself, just as she had known Kestil would want it. The military applications alone were outrageous. Jadis had no doubts at all that a man like Hraustrekr would use the new transportation method for his conquest ambitions as quickly as he possibly could.

Knowing that Hraustrekr would use the tech for his armies hadn’t stopped her from helping Sabina create airships, though. Jadis needed airship transportation. If she wanted to use it for herself, she had to be willing to open Pandora’s Box and accept the changes to the world that would come with it. She was prepared to do so, even if Oros wasn’t necessarily as ready as she was.

After all, D had sent her to shake things up.

All of that aside, Jadis still said no to Hraustrekr’s deal not because she hated the asshole, but because it was a bad deal. She wasn’t a crafter. Sabina was, but spending the rest of her life crafting airships for the empire’s military while living in a gilded prison wasn’t good for her, either. The deal was just another means for Hraustrekr to gain control over her. Jadis wasn’t ever going to let the prince get leverage over her ever again. If he wanted to make deals with her now, he was going to have to learn how to talk with her not as a sovereign, but as an equal.

“I have better reasons than just my vivid and illustrative opinions of you,” Jay told the elf. “But you’re right. There isn’t too much point in going over those reasons. You wouldn’t really be listening, anyway.”

Elodie was good at keeping her composure, but Jay could still see the way the young noblewoman was slightly leaning away, as though she were readying herself to jump into cover. That was probably a prudent preparation, since Jay could also see just how pissed Hraustrekr was starting to get. The guy really did have less temper control than his brother. That, or Jadis was just particularly good at pushing his buttons.

“I do have a counteroffer, though.”

That statement drew a raised eyebrow from the lordly man.

“And what would that be?”

“I will sell you airship flight enchantments for one thousand silver eagles a piece. It’s the exact same offer that I gave your brother, though I bet you already knew that.”

“You will?” Hraustrekr asked, his second eyebrow raising towards his hairline. “You will sell me the enchantments… for less than what I am offering?”

“Yes,” Jay nodded. “I will. However, I’m not focusing on flight enchantment production, nor am I putting your request ahead of anyone else’s order. You’ll get them at the same rate and the same timeframe that Kestil will.”

“No doubt you think this to be some clever attempt at putting my brother and I on even footing?” Hraustrekr asked with a tired smile. “How utterly patronizing. Don’t you have any—”

“And before I’ll sell you anything, I want to punch you in the nose.”

That stopped the prince in his tracks.

“What did you say?”

The steely sharpness in Hraustrekr’s tone managed to send a shiver up even Jay’s spine, though she relished the feeling in a way that Elodie clearly didn’t.

“I want to punch you in the nose,” Jay carefully enunciated. “I promised myself I would a long while ago after the bullshit you pulled by dragging me to the capital the way you did. Until I do, all deals are off the table.”

The look of outraged disbelief on Hraustrekr’s face was so intense that Jadis thought that the prince would either pull his sword out right then and there, or he would storm out of building in a rage. Instead, he surprised her.

“Fine.”

“Fine?”

“Fine,” Hraustrekr growled while baring his teeth in a vicious grin. “If a petulant child needs to vent her spleen before I can get what is needed for the betterment of my people, then yes. Fine. You may strike me.”

As he spoke, Hraustrekr rose to his feet. He was wearing the same armor Jadis had seen him wear on the night of the Demon attack, dark plate mail covered in runes. With a deft move, he unbuckled his leather belt and set his sword down on the table with a heavy thump that echoed loudly in the hall. With another flick of a finger, Jay saw a thus far invisible barrier flash then fade out of existence around the prince.

“There. I will not retaliate, nor will I levy any charge against you,” Hraustrekr spoke firmly with no fear in his green eyes. “Lady Brunholt will stand witness to my promise. Go ahead and take your petty vengeance.”

Jay was motionless for a long breath before rising to her full height. She loomed over the elf, her easy demeanor a thin veil for the anger coursing through her veins.

“Feel free to use your full strength,” Hraustrekr challenged her. “I’ve no doubt you held back when you struck my simpering brother. I have no need for such considerations.”

A sound like a boulder launched from a trebuchet rang throughout the hall as Jay’s fist collided with Hraustrekr’s face. An instant later the sound of his body crashing against the stone wall and utterly obliterating a wooden chair that had been unfortunate enough to be in the way added to the violent din. As the echoes settled, a small squeak of breath drew Jay’s attention.

“What?” Jay grinned at Elodie’s stunned countenance. “He said I could use my full strength.”

A clatter of metal and wood drew Jay’s attention back to the first prince. The elf was struggling to his feet, his legs as unsteady as a newborn deer. Hand against the wall, he lifted himself up with a determined look in his rapidly blinking eyes. His hair was a mess, the tie holding it back lost somewhere along the way. To Hraustrekr’s credit, his nose wasn’t a flattened pancake, but it was quite obviously broken and was bleeding profusely.

Wiping at the blood, the prince staggered back to the table. With a soldier’s efficiency, he used his fingers to reset his nose with an audible crack that turned Elodie’s pale complexion green. With less-than-princely grace, Hraustrekr expelled a glob of already coagulating blood out of his nose with a forceful snort.

“Satisfied?” he said, meeting Jay’s gaze directly.

Jay took a deep breath before letting it out slowly.

“For now, yeah.”

With that, she held out her hand. With only a brief hesitation, Hraustrekr took her hand in a firm grip, shaking it once.

“You will receive your first payment upon delivery of the first set of enchantments,” Hraustrekr growled out around his bared teeth. “And your punching form is terrible.”

“It’s a deal,” Jay grinned back. “And your face makes for a good punching bag.”

With an unexpectedly casual smile, Hraustrekr belted his sword back around his waist before calmly heading for the exit.

“Lady Brunholt,” he said to Elodie in passing. He stopped at the door, turning his face to look at Jay. “Lady Ahlstrom. Good day to you both.”

Without another word, the first prince left Fortune’s Favored headquarters, slamming the door loudly behind him.

With shaky hands, Elodie picked up her cup of cooling tea and took a long sip.

“You certainly have a way with negotiations,” she said around a quivering exhalation.

“I know, right?” Jay asked as she sat back down in her chair. “Just wait until he realizes he never made a deal with me for the actual airship designs, just the enchantments. Anyway. Did you have an actual reason to come here today? Or was your visit just some weird excuse to get that asshole through my doors?”

“I assure you, I had no idea that First Prince Hraustrekr would be joining me today,” Elodie said after setting down her cup. “But you are not the only one whose actions are watched.”

That was a fair enough statement. Elodie was the daughter of a general, the granddaughter of a duke, and the fiancé of one of the Hero’s companions. She could very well have more eyes on her than Jadis, if for no other reason than she had been a major fixture on the scene for longer.

“So? What’s up?” Jay prompted.

“I came to pay you back for what you did for me during the attack,” Elodie replied with her chin held high. “I’ve brought you information that I thought you would find important. Though, considering Prince Hraustrekr’s presence here today, I think it is safe to assume that he and those who support him are already aware that I am passing this knowledge on to you. So much for subtlety.”

“Yeah, subtlety never really works out when I’m involved,” Jay shrugged. “Better just come out and say it.”

“Indeed. The family of your harem mate, Bridget of Clan Warsong, is being targeted by Countess Voclain. She is trying to force them into immense debt so that she can control them in order to gain leverage against you.”

“…Motherfucker.”

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