“We can’t afford it,” Buffy said before I could respond.
Gabriella’s face fell. “That’s right. I forgot. You guys buy stuff with money,” she said as if money was a foreign concept she had yet to fully learn about in school.
“I would rather walk the rest of the way,” Annabeth said, standing and patting her sculptor’s satchel. She had all her tools packed there, including more than a few spares since once the competition started, she wouldn’t be able to get new ones. “It will take longer if you drop me off, and I’d like to prepare as long as I can.”
“Go forth and conquer,” I said, waving her away.
Annabeth nodded to me before leaping off the buggy. She landed hard on the ground and began making her way through the massive throng of people.
“I’ll go too,” Gabriella said before waving frantically at Annabeth. “Wait for me!” she hollered and leapt off the buggy, leaving Buffy and I to ourselves.
“Well, that worked out,” Buffy said, swinging her buggy around in a sharp U-turn that elicited a great deal of cursing from those around us. She pressed another button, and we moved forward back toward the guild halls.
“I suppose,” I said, glancing over my shoulder at our companions, but they’d already disappeared into the crowd. “I really hope this works.”
“Me too. We spent all our money on the entrance fee,” the goblin said, giving me a pointed look. “I won’t even be able to buy the other items until I offload some of this stuff.” She gestured at the stockpiled items. “I’m going to start with the dark blood and save the sculptures for later.”
“Why is that?” I asked, looking around. Nearly everyone was hawking sculptures. “Too much competition?”
“Yes and no,” Buffy mused, her eyes sparkling with thought as she looked around. “I’m hoping you’re right.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, not understanding the wicked gleam in her eyes.
“There are two times to sell sculptures during a competition like this, and it sort of depends on how you are doing.” She waved her hand at some of the merchants. “These guys aren’t expecting to win, so they’re trying to sell their stuff to people who want a souvenir. Hell, most of these are probably made by people who aren’t in the competition at all.” She pointed to another booth, but it was shut down. “That is probably owned by someone who expects to get farther in the competition. They will start selling after a big win or later on in the tournament to get the maximum price.”
“Oh, I get it. You’re holding it back because you think Annabeth will do well?” I asked, rubbing my chin. “That makes sense.”
“Only if she doesn’t fail spectacularly. After all, prices are only as good as your last win. The moment she loses, her stuff will be worth less. It’s hard to know.”
“Unless she wins the whole thing,” I said, nodding. “So you’re counting on that.”
“No, Arthur. We’re all counting on that. She has to win, or we’re really screwed. Not only will we be poor, but we won’t be able to make the Armament. Our success is literally sitting on the shoulders of a sculptor who can’t make a grade S emotive sculpture. Every other sculptor who reaches the emotive round will be able to do that.” Buffy met my eyes. “I know you have faith, and I do too because the other alternative? Facing reality? Well, that just makes this meeting we’re about to have more important.”
I mulled over her words as we pulled to the guild house. She had a point. If we didn’t make this work, we were screwed.
Buffy parked her buggy and then offered a coin to the guards to keep it in the covered area, which made sense since she had goods piled high and they’d be easy to rob if they just sat outside. Part of me wished we’d brought more people, but everyone else was working or needed in case of defense.
Part of me hadn’t even wanted to take Gabriella since she was basically capable of defending the town from lizard men by herself, but the others had kindly, if urgently, insisted. It wasn’t even that they didn’t like her so much as they found her boundless optimism and constant curiously annoying. Besides, I didn’t mind sitting with her in the stands. The company would be nice.
“It will work out, and what doesn’t, well, we’ll make it work out,” I said as we entered the hall.
Buffy rolled her eyes at me. “Those words do not make me hopeful, Arthur.” She shook her head. “I’m a simple girl. I like gold and silver, things I can touch. Faith is not something that comes easily to me.”
“That’s why you’re the main negotiator,” I said, nodding to her as the guard let us into Saramana’s office. The Carpenter’s guild leader was standing with her back to us, so all I could see of her was her long golden locks trailing across her broad back.
“Thank you for meeting me. I wasn’t sure you’d come based on how our previous dealings have been,” Saramana said, turning to regard the two of us. She gestured toward two plush chairs. “Please, sit. I’ll have refreshments brought.”
“Thanks,” I said, and when Buffy nodded, I moved to take the far chair. It was lime green and so soft it was like sitting on a cloud.
“I will be brief,” Saramana said, moving to the cupboard beside her desk and opening it to reveal multiple bottles all partially filled with different colored liquid. “I know that you are having money and personnel troubles. What you don’t know is why.”
“I know why,” I said before Buffy could stop me. “You guys are giving it to us good and hard, and you forgot to use lube.” I glared at her as she poured the liquid into three crystal glasses. “Or have you forgotten I’m the one who pushed back the Darkness.”
“If I’d forgotten, you would not be here,” Saramana said, moving toward me and placing the cup on the table in front of me. She placed another beside Buffy before dropping down into her own chair and raising her. “Toward our future.”
“Toward our future,” Buffy repeated raising her glass. I followed suit even if I didn’t feel like it.
The first touch of the liquid to my tongue nearly made me cry out. It burned like fire and was so sweet it made my heart bounce from the sugar high. I wasn’t sure how it was possible to mix a gallon of sugar into turpentine, but there it was.
“The reason things are as they are is Mammon. She is using her wealth and influence to buy out contracts, goods, and services. She is creating one monopoly after another, making it difficult for anyone to get anything done without paying her prices, which of course, makes her more powerful.”
“So she’s like you guys, and you all don’t like competition,” I said, nodding. “I can understand that. So what do you expect me to do about it?”
“We believe Mammon will leave, at least temporarily, if her home is restored from the Darkness.” Saramana gestured at Buffy. “Your merchant has already told you that, I’m sure.”
“I’ve heard,” I said, glancing at Buffy. “We have terms.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. If you did not, we wouldn’t be able to deal.” Saramana turned her gaze to Buffy. “What are your terms?”
“We want the taxes paid for our township, and we want the contracts of our people from Lustnor.” Buffy pulled a piece of parchment from one of her many pockets and slid it across the desk. “We also need help crafting that.”
Saramana took the paper, and as she looked it over, she shook her head. “I do not know if I can get them to help you make the Stairway to Heaven.” She took a deep breath. “The contracts are easy enough, and I’ll have it done.” She shook the paper. “But I won’t even ask about the Stairway until you are successful.”
“I figured as much,” I said, watching her carefully, hoping she’d give something away, but she remained as stone-faced as ever. That said, she had agreed to our terms thus far. Now it was time to go for the hard sell.
“Now if that’s settled, we can move forward with how we feel you can rid the Darkness from Mammon’s lands.”
“I noticed you didn’t talk about the taxes,” Buffy said, interrupting
me before I could agree.
“That is not within our power to do. We cannot give you the money to pay them nor can we rescind them.” She shrugged. “That is your own problem to solve, Builder.” She shook the recipe for the Stairway. “But if you do not agree, this will never happen. That is a guarantee.”
Buffy looked like she wanted to argue, and I could see the fire in her. Only, I knew Saramana was right. We’d never craft a Stairway without the guilds, and besides, this deal would give us our people now. If we wanted to make the Armament, we’d need Sam sooner rather than later.
“Okay,” I said, “tell me what I need to do to beat the Darkness.”
“I’m glad we have reached an agreement,” Saramana replied, steepling her fingers. “I will have my people send you the details for your quest after the competition.” Her smile fractured a touch then.
“Why the delay?” I asked, and instead of responding, she looked away.
“I want to make sure we can actually build your Stairway,” she said, in a way that made me think I hadn’t asked for enough. I mean, at the end of the day I was taking all the risk, and they just had to craft one damned item for me. The idea that they’d refuse was laughable, and I had to make sure they would lose something if they decided to be petty.
“Look, if you can’t do that, the deal is off.” I got to my feet and crossed my arms over my chest. “And I expect the contracts to our people even if we don’t come to an agreement about the rest of the terms. You know, make sure you have skin in the game for once.” I moved to the door and pulled it open. “Now, I have a competition to watch. Buffy, can you handle the rest.” I met the goblin’s eyes. “Don’t be afraid to walk away. The Darkness is coming no matter what. They’d best remember that.”
17
As I walked through the stands lining the streets on the way to the square where the competition was being held, I wished I had more money. The smells of food coming from the vendors made my stomach ache with a hunger that wasn’t helped by the fact that I’d eaten nothing but grass porridge for the better part of a week.
My stomach rumbled angrily as I passed by a slender purple-skinned girl waving around sticks of greasy meat. I wasn’t sure what kind of meat it was, but I’d be wrong if it didn’t smell like Heaven.
Each step pissed me off. I should have been able to afford food at the stands. Hell, I should have been able to buy Gabriella and the others treats too. Only I couldn’t because I was the savior, and as such, Hell kept shitting on me.
A surge of rage overtook me as I looked around the kiosks with disdain. Everywhere people were eating and throwing half-eaten scraps into trash bins so they could try something else. Didn’t want to get too full, not when there was overpriced popcorn to buy in a variety of colors and flavors.
The sad thing was, I knew that if I walked a few blocks in either direction, I’d find Stained begging for scraps. That made me feel a little better though. At least for today the Stained, those people who were blacklisted from society so badly that they were forced to walk around with literal marks of shame on their faces, would probably eat well.
Part of me wanted to gather them all up and bring them to the Garden, but I knew I couldn’t. For one, we didn’t have the resources for ourselves, let alone for them. For two, that would just make things worse. Still, part of me wondered what Mammon had done with those she’d taken from me in her flash of light. Were they okay? I sort of hoped so.
Shaking the thought off, I finally pushed my way through the crowds, turned past an ice cream place named “When Hell Freezes Over” and found myself standing in the alley leading to the back entrance of the competition tent. It was a huge red structure reminding me of a circus big top, and statues had been arranged all around it. A pair of guards in silvery armor stood beside the entrance, and as I approached, they looked me up and down.
“Greetings, Builder,” the left one, a svelte brunette with red eyes said as she held out one gloved hand toward me. “Your sculptor said you’d be arriving. Do you have your ticket?”
I pulled out the ticket Buffy had given me after she’d registered Annabeth. I offered it to the girl, and she gave it a cursory glance before handing me a badge holder.
“Put it in there,” she said, and as I went to comply, she beckoned me through the door.
“Thanks,” I said, smiling at her. She nodded, but as I moved to pass her, she put one hand on my shoulder, stopping me.
“I heard you could teach people things, is that true?” she asked, bending close so no one else would hear while her partner went on “lookout” mode.
“If you were to join me, I could, yeah,” I said, noncommittally. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t buy your contracts out.”
“What if our contracts were already out?” she asked, eyeing me carefully. “Then you could?”
“Yes,” I said, looking at her once more. Her interest was definitely piqued and seeing the possibilities of what she might become in my service blossom in her eyes gave me an idea. “Tell anyone who cares. Anyone who joins me, I’ll help. Pay sucks though, and we have no food.” I made a stepping motion. “The guilds keep trying to keep me down, but I won’t let the bastards get me down.”
“Sometimes, that’s harder than you’d think,” she said, releasing my shoulder and letting me pass. “But I’ll have a solid think on your words.”
“We both will,” the other guard added, and I gave them both a quick nod.
“Much obliged,” I replied and stepped inside.
The first thing I noticed was how loud it was once the flaps closed behind me. People were bustling about inside, and I could see the stands on the far end already two-thirds full of patrons swilling beer and eating various concessions. Again, my stomach rumbled, but I did my best to ignore it as I looked around, trying to find Annabeth’s stall.
Taking a few quick steps forward, I nearly ran into a diminutive lady with close-cropped blue hair. She had a huge nose ring and two more in her left eyebrow. She looked me up and down and snorted.
“You won’t win,” she said, shaking her head. “No matter if you can cheat.”
“It’s not cheating,” I said, shrugging. “It’s just about being better.”
“Keep telling yourself that,” she said, pushing past me and heading to the left. I wanted to yell at her, but I knew it wouldn’t do any good. Instead, as I watched her go, which was a better sight than I’d have expected at first glance, I realized there were stalls all along the left wall. As I moved after her, I saw them filled with sculptors and their trainers. The whole thing made me feel like I was watching corner men in a boxing arena, and part of me smiled. Annabeth had to be somewhere around here.
I found her a few moments later, in a stall near the end. Her section of stalls was painted blue, and as I stepped in, she looked up at me and smiled. Only it looked like she’d been crying.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, glancing from her to Gabriella and back again.
“She’s upset because some other sculptor is here.” Gabriella frowned. “I keep telling her she’s the best, but it doesn’t seem to do much good. She’s determined to be sad.”
“Would a treat help?” I asked, glancing at Gabriella. “I think it might.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out my emergency stash. It wasn’t much, but it’d buy some ice cream. I offered the coins to the archangel. “Why don’t you get us some?”
“Really?” Gabriella asked, smiling brightly as she snatched the coins.
“Sometimes we need to pretend we aren’t poor,” I said, nodding to her. “Go on. We can’t have our sculptor sad.”
“You’re right. She has to be happy so she can sculpt happy things!” Gabriella nodded sagely. “You’re so smart, Arthur.” With those words, she was gone, disappearing into the throng of people.
“I don’t want ice cream,” Annabeth said when she was gone.
“I know,” I said, sitting beside her and putting an arm around her shoulder. “Just figured you’d want so
me peace and quiet for a minute.”
“Oh, thank you. That would be nice.” She looked at the floor for a long time, one hand smacking her sculpting knife against her thigh. “I don’t think I can win, Arthur.”
“Why?” I asked as I watched people pass by us outside. No one bothered to look inside.
“I’m not good enough,” she said, and before I could assure her otherwise, she waved a hand at me. “I mean, I think I could have won, but Damore is competing this year.”
“I’m not sure I know who that is,” I said, shaking my head. “Is she good?”
“She’s the only rank one sculptor in the entire guild. She’s second to Freya in skill, and even that is debatable.” Annabeth looked at me. “I’m not good enough to beat her.”
“Yes, you are,” I said, pulling up her skill sheet to see how much experience she had left.
Name: Annabeth
Experience: 14,324
Health: 105/105
Mana: 192/192
Primary Power: Sculpting
Secondary Power: None selected
Strength: 10/100
Agility: 95/100
Charisma: 28/100
Intelligence: 95/100
Special: 97/100
Perk: Rank 2 Sculptor
My eyes opened in surprise as I stared at her skill sheet. This morning she’d barely had ten thousand experience remaining after I’d bought the penultimate skill in the emotive tree, The Cost of Love. The fact that she’d gained so much experience since then was astounding, but as I looked around the small booth, I realized it was stacked with sculptures of various things. She’d been practicing hard, and a quick glance at her Emotive skill tree told me it had been worthwhile practice since she’d raised a few skills to level seven. It should have been enough, and I knew she knew that.
Now, I was worried. If her skills had increased this much and she was concerned, that meant there was a problem I hadn’t foreseen. Only, what could it be?
The Builder's Greed (The Legendary Builder Book 2) Page 11
