Part 46 (1/2)
”You are unanimous, then,” HeeshNuri interrupted, so gently that his courtliness seemed uncompromised. ”Such perfect accord is rare and precious as the tears of a G.o.d. It is, however, my unhappy task at this time to acknowledge a minor obstacle. I see before me three travelers. I have at my disposal but two palanquins, and four Quiet-fellows to bear them. You perceive the difficulty.”
She perceived it perfectly, and she also perceived the remedy. ”HeeshNuri-in-Wings, I will pay you well for the use of a palanquin and bearers. What price do you ask?”
”Price? Ah.” The astromage sighed. ”I hardly know how to reply; such matters sadden me. I will rely upon Miss Devaire's good sense and good conscience. What does she offer?”
”Oh. Well.” She thought about it. She had no idea what const.i.tuted a fair price, but amid such surroundings did not wish to appear stingy. ”One hundred New-rekkoes?” she suggested. That was certainly more than generous.
”A handsome sum,” HeeshNuri murmured.
”I will match it,” Karsler Stornzof offered promptly. ”I will pay seventy-five grewzauslins, which is the equivalent of Miss Devaire's hundred New-rekkoes.”
Two palanquins taken, none left for Girays, Luzelle reflected. Bad luck for M. the Marquis. Now he would have to seek alternate transportation, else hang around AfaHaal until the rains ended. A pity. He really should have spoken up faster.
”One hundred fifty New-rekkoes for a palanquin and bearers,” Girays offered.
He wasn't playing fair. Luzelle frowned at him. He was too late, the palanquins were both spoken for. He ought to accept defeat gracefully. No doubt their host would reject the inappropriate offer out of hand.
”One hundred fifty. It is considerable,” mused HeeshNuri-in-Wings.
She wasn't about to let Girays get away with it. ”One hundred seventy-five,” she snapped.
To her unpleasant surprise Karsler instantly countered, ”One hundred fifty grewzauslins.”
She would never have expected it of him. Where had all his chivalry gone? And what would it take to beat his offer? She had never liked mathematics, she could not easily do numbers in her head, she just needed to bid enough to knock one of these men out of the compet.i.tion.
”Three hundred New-rekkoes!” she exclaimed recklessly. That should certainly do it. Extravagant, but worth the price.
”Four hundred,” said Girays.
Outrageous. M. the Marquis used that money of his like a club, he thought it would win him anything. But not this time. She would show him.
”Four-fifty,” said Luzelle.
”Three hundred seventy-five grewzauslins,” Karsler offered.
Did that beat her last bid? She supposed it must, else he would not have bothered, but how could he be so ruthless? She darted a reproachful glance at him, and his face told her nothing, but she saw Girays smiling with that insufferable amus.e.m.e.nt of his, and the sight was so infuriating that she heard herself exclaim, ”Six hundred New-rekkoes! HeeshNuri-in-Wings, I'll pay you six hundred!”
”Six hundred,” echoed the astromage. ”Truly, I am bewildered.”
”Eight hundred,” Girays offered with alarming nonchalance.
He was trying to intimidate her. It wasn't going to work.
”Six hundred grewzauslins,” said Karsler.
Her head for numbers was not so poor that she failed to note that he had simply matched the highest bid without exceeding it. That, of course, was all he needed to do, but Karsler's sudden access of caution suggested dwindling means. He probably wanted to conserve his resources, at least until he was back in the Imperium. It occurred to her then for the first time that her own funds were not unlimited, although they had seemed so at the start of the race. Her h.o.a.rd of cash, diminis.h.i.+ng over the course of weeks, was now seriously depleted, not that it really mattered. The letter of credit furnished by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would open vaults all over the world. She need only present it at the Vonahrish Residency in ZuLaysa. But she had to get to ZuLaysa first.
”Eight hundred twenty-five New-rekkoes.” Luzelle could hear the first quaver of uncertainty in her own voice.
Girays v'Alisante instantly offered a thousand, and she shot him a look of appalled wonder. No use trying to outbid M. the Marquis with his bottomless pockets; she hadn't a chance. But she might defeat Karsler Stornzof. She did not know how much cash he carried with him, but surely she held the heavier wallet.
Or perhaps not.
The bidding continued, and the fare to ZuLaysa shot up to eighteen hundred New-rekkoes. It was impossible, unreal. Her blood ran cold when Girays serenely offered two thousand, and Karsler at once followed with a bid of fourteen hundred fifty grewzauslins. Fourteen fifty. That would be-she figured feverishly-something over nineteen hundred New-rekkoes. Nineteen hundred and-and-thirty-whatever. She needed to beat that in order to stay in the race, and she was not certain that she could.
”One moment,” she requested, and produced her wallet. She counted the contents quickly. Nineteen hundred twelve New-rekkoes. In addition, a small a.s.sortment of international notes and coins, acquired en route and amounting to little. Not enough. Not enough. Not enough.
”HeeshNuri-in-Wings.” She spoke very calmly. ”I am prepared to exceed the highest bid, whatever it may be, by the sum of one hundred New-rekkoes, provided you are willing to accept my promissory note.”
”I fear that is out of the question,” the astromage returned gently.
”But I am entirely good for the debt. I carry a letter of credit from the Vonahrish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Look, I will show you-” She worked hard to keep the desperation out of her voice.
”That is quite unnecessary, Miss Devaire. I am certain your credit is excellent.”
”It is, and the moment I reach ZuLaysa, I can-”
”I am truly sorry,” he cut her off mellifluously. ”But I cannot accept a note. The oldest and simplest ways are the best, I have found, and therefore my dealings include neither borrowing nor lending.”
”I suggest neither. I only ask a little time to secure the cash. I would, of course, leave a deposit of eighteen hundred Newrekkoes with you, and post the balance just as soon as I-”
”I must decline. Let us speak of it no more.”
”But-” She cast agonized eyes around her. Karsler looked a little perturbed, but Girays was observing the exchange with that odious amus.e.m.e.nt of his. He was enjoying enjoying her misery, and she hated him thoroughly; she would find a way of wiping that unbearable superior little smirk right off his face. her misery, and she hated him thoroughly; she would find a way of wiping that unbearable superior little smirk right off his face.
”HeeshNuri-in-Wings, I appeal to your chivalry. You belong to a high and n.o.ble Order. Surely you will pity the plight of a woman in distress-alone, unprotected, helpless, stranded in a strange land,” she wheedled shamelessly. A few tears might have helped, but she could not produce them at will. She was able, however, to achieve an effectively piteous vocal tremor. ”Help me, HeeshNuri-in-Wings, else I am surely lost.”
She saw Girays roll his eyes, but would not let him distract her. She concentrated her imploring attention upon her host, who seemed to display some signs of compunction.
”You move me, Miss Devaire. Truly, you have touched my heart.” HeeshNuri bowed his head and sighed. ”You will understand that I cannot alter the principles of a lifetime to satisfy your need. And yet I am greatly disposed to a.s.sist you, and I believe that there may be a way. Yes-it is perhaps irregular-but I feel I can offer a solution.”
”I am certain you can, if only you will, HeeshNuri-in-Wings.”
”Here is my decision, then,” the astromage proclaimed with an air of generosity. ”My two palanquins and four Quiet-fellows shall be hired out as a team. The rental price of this team is thirty-eight hundred New-rekkoes plus fourteen hundred fifty grewzauslins.”
This bandit is skinning us alive, thought Luzelle. But the bandit was doing her as well as himself a large favor. Smiling in pretty grat.i.tude, she replied, ”You have resolved all difficulties, HeeshNuri-in-Wings.”
”I think not,” Girays objected instantly. ”Two palanquins cannot accommodate three travelers.”
The smirk was gone, Luzelle observed with satisfaction.
”The litters are commodious, Master v'Alisante,” soothed HeeshNuri. ”No doubt you will make do through so short a span as forty-eight hours.”
”The arrangement you propose is unacceptable. I have offered two thousand New-rekkoes-rather a substantial sum-for the private use of a palanquin and bearers.”
”That is a matter to be decided among you and your companions.”
”I am traveling alone,” Girays informed him.
”In that case, perhaps M. v'Alisante alone would prefer to a.s.sume the entire cost of the team's hire?” the astromage suggested.