Chapter 199 The Proposal (1/2)
Kit hadn't thought anything of it when he walked into the kitchen and sat down beside Olly. Iah, Sharli, Falla and Layn all stood around the table, but Olly had situated himself at the far end of the room, drawing his runes in the corner. Now that Kit had found himself beside his fellow Charm Craftsman however, he realised that Olly had likely not felt very comfortable at the table.
Between Falla and Sharli's blatant disregard of each other, and Layn's resolve to stand behind his boss and Iah's attempts to soften the atmosphere, Kit much preferred sitting next to Olly, no matter his quirks.
”Kit,” Falla spoke as she spotted him beside Olly, ”I heard what happened, I trust you're okay?”
Kit nodded, ”Fine, a good meal and sleeping for nearly a whole day and I feel somewhat normal again. Still a little tired but I'll be fine by tonight”.
Falla nodded, ”I'm sorry that there wasn't anyone protecting you”.
Kit shook his head, ”It's not something that we should expect from you, Miss Falla. We know you're busy trying to secure the Evanine”.
Olly's drawing paused slightly at the word to do with his Charms, but he quickly went back to drawing as soon as Sharli opened her mouth.
”Kit, do not make excuses for her. when she signed that agreement she agreed to protect us in Rassa's absence, she's not held up her end of the deal,” Sharli declared.
”Sharli, I really don't think-”
Iah's attempt to placate Sharli was hurriedly silenced by Sharli's warning glare.
Falla sighed, ”As I mentioned to you before, Sharli, the contract dictated that I had six months to live up to my end of the bargain. That contract was also made when Ishta Alamone wasn't looming over us like a death god ready to slit our throats and steal our profits. It has only been a little more than a month since we all witnessed and signed that Contract, seeing as we were all present, I believe it is prudent that we all have a say in how we proceed-”
”The Ruin is under threat, I would think the next course of action is obvious,” said Sharli.
”I don't have the resources to hire mercenaries that can be bought off anyway, or train a private army which will take more time that you don't seem so intent on giving me,” Falla replied.
”Well, you're the businesswoman, we're all supposed to be in training still, so-”
”This is not a problem of business,” Kit cut in, ”And Rassa would have wanted us to work together, as a family, not against one another. If we keep fighting like this then nothing will be done, and the family we have made together will fall apart. Isn't that right, Sharli?”
Sharli hesitated, then sat back, silent. Falla sighed.
”Thank you, Kit. You make a good point, the problem we are facing now is not one of business, it is one of security. We don't have the resources to protect the Ruin, at least not as it is. Even is we sell the charms in the vault we won't have the money to continue on as we are and gain the security we need,” Falla stated, ”So, the only solution that I could see was to move”.
”To where?” asked Iah.
”My headquarters in Port Cresh is a little small, but I think we can fit everyone,” stated Falla, ”Ishta wouldn't dare attack another business openly, and with all of us together we'll be better able to defend ourselves”.
”And is this plan long-term?” asked Sharli, ”What about the vault? Is anyone staying behind to protect that or are we risking somebody seeing us move it?”