Chapter 337 - The Moonshadow Trading Company Short Stories: 1 - The Return to Rouke Island (IV) (2/2)
”This is the fifth floor,” Ishta frowned.
”It was wide open, an invitation if ever I saw one,” Rassa smiled.
Ishta stared down at Rassa before he waved his secretary out, ”What do you want, Moonshadow? To kill me?”
”I certainly wouldn't mourn your death, Ishta, from what I hear you made things difficult for the people I care about,” said Rassa, ”But I think you lost enough with Illai”.
Ishta looked the slightest bit pained before he masked the emotion.
”So, if not to kill me, why are you here?”
Rassa leaned forward, ”I was going to offer you a business proposal”.
Ishta raised an eyebrow, ”You were?”
”Well, I have spent the last couple of months on the Southern Continent, and I find myself quite awed by the influence you carry there. Not to mention the amount of Evanine Mines in your possession there,” stated Rassa.
Ishta gave a sarcastic smile, ”Even with your wealth, you don't have enough to buy the mines”.
Rassa chuckled, ”I don't want the mines, just the Evanine”.
Ishta sat down behind his desk, ”You want me to provide Evanine for your Charms?”
Rassa nodded, ”I will be establishing the Moonshadow Company on the Southern Continent in the coming years. The current mine I have access to…it will take too long to transport any completed Charms and orders to the Southern Continent, not to mention the sh.i.p.s that carry completed Charms will be quite the treasure to pirates and other merchants alike. So, instead, I will establish a crafting house on the Southern Continent to supply the stores I establish there. All you need to do is provide the Evanine”.
”And what kind of deal would I get for this?” asked Ishta.
”I will buy the Evanine at 60% of the market price,” Rassa stated, ”In return, Golden Sands may have a 20% discount on any orders from Moonshadow”.
Ishta frowned, clearly considering the offer, ”50% discount”.
Rassa smirked, ”I am feeling generous, not desperate, Ishta”.
Ishta sighed, ”Then, how about 30% discount and… 10,000 large charms of my choice every year?”
Rassa scoffed, ”If you want a 30% discount and an annual tribute, you're dreaming”.
Ishta gritted his teeth.
Rassa stood, ”I'll tell you what, I'll give you a 10% discount on purchases, and 10,000 small charms of your choice at every trader's festival”.
Ishta raised an eyebrow, ”10,000 or the equivalent?”
Rassa thought for a moment, ”So long as I have a right to refuse”.
Ishta sighed, but then stuck out his hand, ”So be it”.
Rassa took Ishta's hand, then pulled the man close. Ishta frowned in surprise before his eyes widened at Rassa's red eyes.
”Cross me, Ishta, and you will regret it,” stated Rassa. His red gaze held Ishta for a moment before he stepped back towards the balcony, ”I'll inform you when I am ready to send resources over to the south and set up shop. It won't be for another six months if not more, plenty of time to prepare”.
Rassa stepped up onto the railing, ”If you'll excuse me, I'm late for a dinner appointment”.
***
”Well, who would have thought that the head of Moonshadow was such a handsome young man?” asked one of the boutique owners.
Rassa chuckled, ”You flatter me, Mrs Harding”.
”Oh no, it would be an honour to tailor for such a well-polished young man,” she insisted.
”Yes, you must look good in anything,” one of the men stated, another tailor, ”Do you have colours you prefer?”
”Red and Black, though I will try anything,” stated Rassa.
”And such a lovely young wife you have,” said another.
Ebony blanched, ”Oh, I'm not…”
”Oh, I thought Miss Iah was your sister, I didn't realise…”
Iah blushed, ”I…”
Rassa laughed, ”No, no. I am quite unattached. Iah and Ebony are both lovely, but I see them as sisters”.
”But…you share the same last name?” asked one of the men.
Rassa gave a warm smile, ”We do”.
”How…peculiar”.
”Family does not have to be related by blood,” Rassa stated, ”Or marriage. Family can be chosen as well. I share my last name with them because I chose to. Frankly, I believe the family one chooses is all the more important than the one someone is born into”.
The twenty odd business owners around the room all listened attentively, taking in Rassa's clear affection for the two young women like it was the word of a god. Ebony smiled and raised a glass of wine.
”To family, both old and new, far and wide,” Ebony stated.
”To Moonshadow!” called one of the men.
”Aye, to Moonshadow!”
The room agreed, raising their glasses and drinking heartily, Ebony sipped from her glass, trying not to cringe as Rassa downed his. She raised an eyebrow at him.
Rassa smiled through his disgust, ”Mingle”.
”I'm hungry,” she grumbled as conversation was struck up again among their guests.
Rassa sighed, ”You'll have to learn to fend for yourself, I'll be leaving for two weeks. No one to hand you a napkin”.
”I'm getting better,” Ebony turned her nose up.
”Prove it,” Rassa challenged her.
Ebony smiled arrogantly, ”What do I get if I succeed?”
”The satisfaction of knowing you won't look like a murderess when you eat,” said Rassa.
Ebony pouted as one of the young boutique owners approached Rassa. She grinned, and he greeted her back warmly and they talked about the writing implements that she sold. Ebony raised an eyebrow at him. He wasn't usually so overly warm towards women. Not openly at least. And the young woman was eating it up. Rassa had no idea how handsome he was.
When they finally left to hunt that night, she couldn't help but hear the whispered promise he gave the young woman, who blushed and wondered off.
”I thought you didn't like women,” said Ebony.
”Whatever gave you that idea?” asked Rassa.
”You've never taken an interest before,” Ebony replied.
”Yes well, before I was still getting over the fact that a high-class whore had violated and r.a.p.ed me in a prison cell,” said Rassa. Ebony's jaw dropped in shock at how casually he said it, then he shrugged, ”Two years stuck in an illusion of what could have been made me realise how ridiculous it is to keep myself stuck in the past. Better to embrace life and live it how I wish to”.
”You were…”
Rassa turned to look at Ebony, ”It's in the past. Now go and show me you can hunt without spilling like a child”.
Ebony frowned, ”You aren't hunting?”
Rassa grinned, ”My prey is currently in a bath tub ensuring she's clean for when I arrive”.
Ebony scrunched her nose in disgust, ”Are you going to hunt like that every night?”
Rassa shrugged, ”Not every night. I don't like whores”.
”Just boutique owners with loose morals?” asked Ebony.
”Technically her father owns the store,” smiled Rassa, ”But he's away visiting his sister”.
”How convenient for you,” Ebony huffed.
Rassa grinned, ”Eternity is a long time, Ebony. No use spending it with your legs closed”.
”Or your candle undipped apparently,” Ebony sighed.
”Candle undipped?” Rassa chuckled.
Ebony blushed, ”Urgh, I'm done with this conversation. Keep your escapades to yourself”.
Rassa continued to laugh as Ebony moved off to hunt.