Chapter 337 - The Moonshadow Trading Company Short Stories: 1 - The Return to Rouke Island (IV) (1/2)

Falla rubbed the non-existent spot on the teacup in front of her, her nerves getting the better of her as she sat in the Fire Falls Restaurant. She'd needed the relaxation of the waterfalls the restaurant was so famous for, but had only become more stressed when she'd arrived and heard the whispers about the ship with red sails that had docked in Port Leis. The Ship with the Moonshadow Symbol.

A quick check of her Tracking Charm had told her all she needed to know. Rassa and Ebony were back. She'd been preparing for it for the past couple of months, but hadn't put any thought towards how she was going to talk with him again. She was grateful that Jane had left. She didn't know how she would have handled that. She was loath to admit that Iah had been right, it was stupid to keep Rassa's arrival from Jane.

”You know, I would have been happy to meet you in your office”. It had been years since she'd heard it, but his voice was still so familiar to her. Falla turned quickly to take in Rassa's hooded self in the doorway. He continued as a hand swept from side to side to indicate the space they were in, ”You didn't have to book out a whole room”.

Falla opened her mouth to reply, then closed it again. She hadn't booked it for him.

”How did you…?”

Rassa took out his Tracking Charm and Falla rolled her eyes.

”Of course,” Falla sighed. She'd known he was on Rouke Island the same way.

Rassa walked across the room and sat down across from Falla.

”You okay?” he asked when her silence continued.

”Shouldn't I be asking that of you?” asked Falla, ”You're the one that appeared dead for over two years”.

A quirk of amus.e.m.e.nt to his lips, ”Yes, sorry about that. I had a few things to sort out”.

”You made us think you were dead on purpose?” asked Falla, her gaze accusatory.

”No,” Rassa replied, ”Well…it's a long story that will frankly sound more complicated that it is. It involves a Kitsune, a long-standing wish of mine and a whole lot of childish stupidity. In short, you'll be angry with me regardless of how I tell it so just be angry”.

Falla raised an eyebrow, ”I can't be angry if I don't…What's a Kitsune?”

Rassa waved a hand dismissively, ”Never mind that. Important thing is that I'm back”.

Falla sighed, ”I suppose. Even if I am supposed to be angry at you, I'm glad to see you again. And alive”.

”You too,” Rassa smiled.

”You seem…different,” said Falla, ”Like, more different than you were the last time I saw you”.

”You should see Ebony and Aegin,” Rassa sighed.

”Aegin?” asked Falla.

”Well, you can't see him now, he went off on his own, but-”

”Aegin's alive?” asked Falla, sitting up straighter. She hadn't known the ex-assassin well, but he'd clearly been close with Rassa and Ebony.

Rassa nodded, ”Yes, long story short, I saved him from dying by turning him into a Vampire, he wasn't all that appreciative of it and went off on his own. Ebony asked me to turn her as well, now, here we are two months later, back with a ship full of new allies and ready to make our mark on the world”.

Falla didn't quite know what to say to that.

”You…turned Ebony and Aegin so that they're like you?” asked Falla, ”The whole, feeding on blood, hunting in the night thing?”

”Yep,” replied Rassa.

”Can you turn anyone?” asked Falla.

”Are you asking?” asked Rassa, his tone much more serious, ”Because eternity like this is not exactly a light decision”.

Falla sighed, ”No, I can't think of anything I'd want less”.

Rassa raised an eyebrow, ”To each their own”.

Falla dragged a hand across her face, ”It is good to see you again Rassa, can I expect a business meeting soon?”

”Probably,” Rassa replied, ”I came to inform you that I will only be staying on Rouke for only a short while before I go to see Kit and Olly”.

”So, you'll need a map there then?” asked Falla.

Rassa shook his head, ”Charm was enough to find you. I'll find them the same way”.

Falla frowned. She wasn't overly happy that her Mine would be exposed so easily, even if it was to Rassa.

”Then I suppose I should warn my people of your impending arrival,” said Falla.

”They won't get the message in time,” Rassa replied, ”By the way, I'm also informing you that within the next couple of months I hope to move production to another location that is owned by my company and have the work done by Moonshadow employees”.

Falla's eyes widened, ”But-”

”I'm quite capable of protecting it, if that is what you're worried about. Your employees will of course be offered the work first, but their contracts will not be through Apple Star. Moonshadow will instead provide compensation to you for the loss of labour,” stated Rassa.

”You can't do that!” Falla snapped.

Rassa raised an eyebrow, ”You know I can. What? Did you think that my company would be reliant on you forever?”

Falla opened her mouth to protest, the closed it again. He was right, of course.

Rassa sighed, ”It is no reflection on you, or your business, Falla. You have helped Moonshadow excellently over the past couple of years, but the simple fact is that we are no longer the same useless, defenceless start-up company we once were”.

”No thanks to you,” Falla grumbled.

Rassa chuckled, ”Yes, I probably deserve that. But it is my company. The contract we signed will remain the same until it runs out. But after that…I do believe that we will need to renegotiate”.

Falla sighed, ”You're an asshole, springing this on me as soon as you've returned”.

”No time like the present,” Rassa smiled, ”I'm not lying though, it is nice to see you again. I hear Jane was here”.

Falla's eyes widened as she turned to Rassa.

”I…she left, back to the Imperial Guild to receive new orders,” said Falla.

Rassa nodded, ”She must be doing well then”.

”Well enough…though she still believes you are dead,” Falla stated.

Rassa sighed, ”Probably for the best. She's got her own life now. If we happen to encounter each other then so be it, but until then, we'll live our own lives”.

”You don't miss her?” asked Falla.

Rassa frowned, ”I…she'll always be my childhood best friend, Falla. But I think you should know best that neither of us are the same anymore. I hope, that if we do meet again, we can be amicable. But I accepted long ago that it will never be the same as it was”.

”I'm not sure she would feel the same,” said Falla.

”Well as cruel as it sounds, that isn't my problem,” Rassa replied, ”I truly wish her all the best, as I do you and Diggory and everyone else from Cordon…but I'm also absolutely positive that after I slaughtered a whole contingent of knights then got dragged off in a cage, they'll never look at me the same way again. I've accepted that. It's their problem if they haven't”.

Falla sighed, ”Fine, Rassa. I suppose I will prepare to alert my staff to the change in things”.

”Iah and Ebony are compiling a list of required staff, I suggest you present a list of the staff currently being used to craft charms. The Miners are all yours,” said Rassa.

Falla nodded, ”I don't much appreciate you springing this on me”.

Rassa shrugged, ”Wouldn't you have done the same if you had your own plans?”

Falla sighed, picking up her tea and flinching when she realised it had turned cold, ”If you're this troublesome for the rest of our business deals, I shall have to seek alternative deals”.

”This deal is the best thing that has happened to your business,” Rassa said confidently, ”I very much doubt you will discard it easily”.

”Maybe I should, just to spite you,” Falla glared at him.

***

Rassa flipped through a book he'd taken off the nearby shelf. Something about southern dress codes. He was positive the only reason it was on the shelf was to make the office's owner appear above everyone else that entered his office. Rassa, frankly, found it a boring read.

He glanced up at the setting sun. He hoped the owner of the office would be back soon, he had promised he would be at dinner.

Right on cue, the door behind him opened.

”…and make sure that order from Danfore is here before noon tomorrow, I don't want another complaint about late goods from-who are you?”

Rassa turned to look over his shoulder at Ishta.

”How did you get in here?”

Rassa smiled, ”What, don't recognise an old friend, Ishta? I suppose I will have to excuse you, we only met face to face once before your Inktress tried to drown me”.

”Inktress…” Ishta's eyes narrowed, ”Rassa Moonshadow, I take it?”

Rassa turned and walked over to Ishta before dropping down in the chair beside him, ”Nice to make your acquaintance, Ishta”.

”What are you doing in my office?” asked Ishta, turning to glare at his secretary who stood shocked in the doorway.

”Don't blame her, I came through the window,” said Rassa.