Elena and I sit side-by-side on the plush velvet couch. Behind us, Kael stands like an immovable, terrifying statue, his hand resting casually on the hilt of his broadsword.
Sitting directly across from us is Trade Lord Cassian Morvain.
He holds the heavy parchment invoice with trembling hands. His panicked eyes dart across the list of materials, then down to the original astronomical price, then to the massive 70% discount, and finally... to the pitifully small sum I am actually going to pay him.
A fresh, heavy wave of sweat breaks out across his forehead.
"Your Highness," Morvain stammers, his face draining of all color. "These... these are some of the finest quality and rarest crystals you are asking for. And that black thermal rock—it is incredibly heavy to transport! Factoring in the labor and the wagons, all of these things will cost me significantly more than what you are going to pay me!"
