Theft, Murder, and Crystals

by Benjamin Duke

  “Jeeze, take it easy man, no reason to bring family into it,” Samuel said. “But no, he’s single. With that outburst, I’m not surprised he’s alone.” The word alone echoed a little in his mind. “He really loves that place, doesn’t he?”

  “Yes,” Groth answered. “Or perhaps it is the only world he has ever known. Leaving that world could be terrifying.”

  Samuel began to recall another piece of information he picked up when watching Koli. On the fourth day of the week, several large shipments of flowers would come in. Koli did not grow his own, at least enough to keep up with the demand the city brought to his door every day. Of course. If Koli loved his business enough to die for it, what would he give to keep everything running smoothly?

  “Hey, you still got enough energy to make another trip?” Samuel asked.

  “Stonemar do not sleep or rest,” Groth replied. “I am yours to command.”

  “Really? Like, you don’t get tired?”

  “I tire easily, but that is purely intellectual,” Groth said. “Our bodies run eternal, as was our gift upon creation. Where do you wish to go?”

  “To a greenery not too far from here,” Samuel chuckled. “We’ve got an order to cancel.”

  “Wait here,” Samuel said as they approached the large greenhouse. The logo painted on the glass matched the logo of the boxes that Koli accepted twice a week. “I don’t want you scaring the staff yet.”

  “I am not a monster,” Groth replied. “Stonemar exist within this community as well.”

  “Yeah, well, be that as it may, I’d prefer you out here,” Samuel said. “I don’t want them worrying.”

  Groth growled in his deep guttural language, no doubt curses at Samuel. He ignored the Stonemar and made his way into the greenhouse.

  Dozens of men and women were busy working on thousands of plants. Some were pruning the plants, others were carefully removing them from their pots and placing them in crates.

  “Hey, what are you doing in here?” barked a woman wearing thick spectacles. “This isn’t open to the public.”

  “Sorry, I was looking for whoever’s in charge of orders,” Samuel said. “I need to make some changes.”

  “Oh, that would be me,” she replied as she walked up to him. “Name’s Nadeen. Which account are you with?”

  “Koli’s Corner Flowers,” Samuel said. He swallowed a little. The woman wasn’t hostile, but she did seem to be in a bit of a rush.

  “Mr. Koli hired someone?” Nadeen said. “Odd. He normally handles business himself.”

  “Yeah, about that,” Samuel said as he slowly took out a sapphire from his pocket. “I need to make sure that he doesn’t get deliveries from you guys for the next…month, can you make that happen?”

  Nadeen looked at the sapphire and smiled a little. “I’m sorry, what?”

  “Listen, no questions, just tell me if you can sit on any orders he places. Even if he shows up screaming, no flowers go to his shop,” Samuel said. “Can you do that for me?”

  Nadeen shrugged. “I can arrange it.” She reached out her hand, waiting for the sapphire.

  “Not so fast,” Samuel said as he put the gem away. “I don’t need you quitting until this is over with.” He produced a satchel with a few gold coins in them. “That should be enough for now. Not a single flower to his place. And that sapphire is yours.”

  A man walked past them, talking to one of his co-workers. Nadeen stiffened up. “Yes, of course, 12 dozen, no problem,” she said to Samuel. She paused until they passed and then smiled at him. “I can make it happen.”

  “Good,” Samuel said with a wicked grin. He dropped the few gold coins in her hand. “There’s plenty more where that came from.”

  Nadeen smiled at him and slipped away to tend to more pressing affairs. Samuel felt pleased with himself. They just needed to make a few more stops…

  The bell to the store rang as Samuel entered the flower shop. He was wearing a chainmail shirt underneath his robes, in the case that Koli went berserk on him. Thanks to the most recent shipping problems, the entire store was bare. Samuel’s allergies certainly weren’t bothering him.

  “I just sold the last batch,” Koli grumbled as he swept the floors. He didn’t bother to look up at his customer. Instead he just focused on sweeping back and forth. Samuel could see that the man’s apron was still fairly stained from their most recent encounter.

  “I’m actually here about something other than flowers,” Samuel said.

  Koli looked up and shook his head. “You,” he growled. He paused from his sweeping and stood tall for a moment. Then, as Samuel had expected, the man sighed and slumped down. “They’ve completely shut me down. No flower farm in the city will sell to me. I can’t place orders outside either, I don’t have any connections.”

  “That’s unfortunate,” Samuel said. “But that’s to be expected. Businesses can go up and down. Sometimes shortages happen.”

  “This isn’t a shortage, it’s a buyout,” Koli grumbled. “And I suspect you’re the one behind it all. But what am I to do? They won’t sell to me.”

  “I can make that go away,” Samuel said. “I could snap my fingers and have several wagons full of flowers show up here.”

  “Oh, aren’t you the big man,” Koli said. “You come and bully me, threaten me and take away my livelihood. And for what? Money?”

  “Power too,” Samuel said. “Lots of money and power.”

  “If you want it, take it,” Koli said. He dug into his apron pocket and produced a key. “Give me what you said you’d pay, and this building is yours.”

  “I don’t want the building, Mr. Koli,” Samuel replied. “I want the flower business operational.”

  Koli scowled. “So, you can sell stolen goods in the back, right?”

  “They’re not stolen goods,” Samuel said. “I can assure you, we own everything we’re going to be selling in here.”

  “Then what?”

  “Magical trinkets and such, trinkets that work,” Samuel replied. He produced the healing gem from his pocket and held it up. “Why do you think your wounds healed up so quickly?”

  “I thought some trickster god was delighted with my antics,” Koli said. He took a few steps forward and looked at the crystal. “So, you can sell magic? Bah, it’s still a crime. A worse crime than selling stolen silver.”

  “You have a choice then,” Samuel said. “You can either spend the rest of your life working in a business other than flowers, or you can keep your regular job. Your routine will have some slight modifications to them, but it will be business as usual, I promise.”

  “Hah, your promises aren’t worth shit,” Koli grumbled. “But what can I do? You’ve taken all I’ve had from me. It’s yours. I’ll do as you ask. But please, just let me have my flowers back.”

  There was a trembling in his voice as he spoke those last words. Samuel felt a pang of guilt, a flash of sadness over what he was doing. Then again, another voice spoke to him, a much more pragmatic voice. How could Koli be so sad when he was about to make a large profit over doing the exact same work? The man would eventually come to his senses, once he realized all the things money could buy.

  “I’m glad you could see reason,” Samuel said. He extended the promised pay, a bag full of rubies, to Mr. Koli. “This should be more than twice what I offered earlier.”

  Koli bit the lower part of his lip. He hesitated, but the man’s pride wavered. He swiftly took the bag and looked within. Samuel could see the tiniest bit of excitement at the sight of the money. Maybe all Koli really needed was to believe he had no other choice. Perhaps that was what would sooth his conscience. Either way, Samuel now had exactly what he had been assigned to obtain. The most popular storefront in the Ivory District.

  Chapter 24:

  Elias inspected the flower shop. Everything was according to specifications. He was impressed by Samuel’s tenacity. Even after the man had decided to take a less prominent role in decision making, his contributions w
ere still top notch. This new front would be the perfect place to move Cimirite to individuals who didn’t have regular orders.

  The question now was how to spread the word about Koli’s. A password in order to obtain access to the back room would be necessary. This would help control the size of the customer base as well as ensure that curious individuals or Kalimites wouldn’t be able to luck into the magical stock.

  “It’s looking good,” Cimir said as he walked around, looking at the dozens of crystals hanging against the walls. Labels were written to explain promptly and succinctly what each crystal did. This would be the first shop of many to be spread throughout the city. At least, provided this endeavor succeeded.

  “I agree,” Elias said. “Samuel outdid himself on this location. Koli’s is one hell of a front. We’ll need to hire someone to manage the back though.”

  Cimir shrugged at that. “I don’t know anyone.”

  “I’ll find someone,” Elias replied. He leaned over to adjust one of the crystals that was hanging off of a rack slightly ajar. “But for now, we have more pressing matters.”

  “Oh?” Cimir asked, his voice tinged with disappointment. The man had little patience for Elias’ constant planning and preferred to stay out of it. Truthfully, Elias was beginning to hold more and more information back from the sorcerer. Today was one of the few times that he actually needed the man’s input.

  “With the increase of production and the plan to sell to individuals, I have noticed our tally of crystals have diminished considerably,” Elias said. He turned to face the ashen haired man. Cimir was scowling.

  “I didn’t think we’d run out this quickly. Truthfully, we never planned for more than just a few hundred sales.”

  “We’re approaching the 500 order mark,” Elias replied. “That’s twice as many crystals as we currently have. How do we get more? You mentioned mines before, mines that belong to snake people? Am I correct in that matter?”

  Cimir nodded. “Yes, the Serpentines have a strong control of mines for these types of crystals. They are used for a lot of different functions in their society. Decoration, lighting, etc.”

  “Fascinating,” Elias said. It was fortunate that Cimir didn’t quite pick up on sarcasm, or else the sorcerer might be more hostile towards the bureaucrat. “So, can I send you out to pick up more?”

  Cimir shook his head. “Afraid not. I’m an exile. I can never return home. You’d need to either go out yourself or send someone you trust.”

  Elias grimaced at that. The idea of playing ambassador to giant snake-people with large fangs and deadly venom did not appeal to him. Nor did the idea of sending out some for-hire diplomat to negotiate on his behalf. Samuel was the first choice.

  “What about Samuel?”

  “No,” Cimir said. “Too dangerous. Serpentines do not have patience for wisecracks and cleverness. Find someone direct, well-spoken and considerably strong enough to survive.”

  “I will go,” came a bellowing voice from outside of the storage room.

  “Groth, stay out of this,” Elias said. “We’re brainstorming.”

  “I speak the tongue of the serpent folk,” Groth replied. “I cannot be harmed by their vile fangs.”

  Elias looked at Cimir. He could never quite get a pulse for who Groth was. The large, menacing figure mostly just stood around, keeping guard. Sure, the beast could fight like no other, if Markov’s report was to be believed, but diplomacy? He just didn’t see it.

  “No, sorry, I appreciate the offer,” Elias replied.

  “Do not patronize me. Step out of that office and face me,” Groth bellowed.

  Cimir chuckled at that. “Don’t treat him like he’s an idiot,” he warned. “Groth is quite brilliant.”

  Elias ignored Cimir and walked past him. He entered the main part of the flower shop, where Groth’s head sticking out of the entrance door. The rest of his body couldn’t fit past the door frame. “You look ridiculous, you know that?” Elias said.

  Groth pulled his head back and stepped away, allowing both Elias and Cimir to leave the shop. They stood, the three of them, alone in the middle of the night. Only two men from the watch, personal friends of Markov, were around, keeping an eye on their newly assigned storefront to protect.

  “I have endured terrible ridicule long enough,” Groth growled. “I am no idiot. I am a scholar of the highest regards, I have studied for eons in the underground. But I struggle with human language, human customs. Do you know why? Because the pettiness and stupidity of your people elude me.”

  “Those are harsh claims,” Elias said, crossing his arms. He was trying to hide his surprise at the eloquence of the creature, but he wasn’t doing that great a job of it.

  “I have walked faithfully by your side, I have guarded you all and seen to it that those who threaten you are snuffed out,” Groth continued. “But when I volunteer to do a job other than standing still and looking menacingly, you scoff at me.” He raised one stone fist and smashed it against the ground, causing the earth to shake a little. Splinters of concrete erupted everywhere.

  Elias shielded his eyes with his hand, feeling the debris pelt against him.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend,” Elias said.

  “Of course, you didn’t mean to offend, but that doesn’t protect you,” Groth replied. “I will go to East Mion, I will negotiate on your behalf. And if you don’t like it, I will crush you to death where you stand. Because after all, you believe that’s all I’m good for, don’t you?”

  Elias glanced over at the smirking Cimir. “Are you just going to let him threaten me?’

  Cimir shrugged. “How is this my problem? Groth’s been on the team longer than you. Besides, I have more in common with him than I do with most humans.”

  “Fine!” Elias grumbled. “Since you have made such a reasonable and well-presented case, I’m going to give you the task of getting us more crystals. But I will say this much, either you come back with a deal to keep a steady flow of crystals coming towards us, enough to meet ten times our current demand, or you don’t come back at all.”

  “Those are acceptable terms,” Groth said. “On my honor as a Stonemar, I will not return unless I have what you ask.”

  Elias’ threat was empty, of course. He had no way of punishing Groth should he return empty handed. He was just trying to find some way to take control of the situation again. To feel as if he had some level of power over the people surrounding him. The feeble attempt wasn’t helpful. Both entities next to him could snap their fingers and end Elias’ miserable life. He glanced down at the shattered concrete. Someone would have to clean that up.

  “Bring me the woman of fire,” Groth said to Cimir. “I should have her company as we ride. Magic is not forbidden where we go.”

  “Good thinking! She’ll get to see what it’s like to use magic without a dampening field,” Cimir said. “I’ll draw up a map for you.”

  “Excellent,” Groth said. “We ride at dawn.” He turned to face Elias. “You will be thankful when I return. And to thank me, you will expand the size of the doors to your offices.”

  Elias forced a smile. “It’s a deal!”

  The horses did not strain, thanks to the strength spell that were cast upon them. Carrying the iron wagon with a Stonemar passenger was no easy task, but Cimirite solved the problem quite easily. Cimirite seemed to solve just about any problem Groth and his friends had encountered over the last few months. Of course, the spell containers also were the reason such problems arose. Such was the cyclical nature of conflict, Groth mused.

  His companion, Erice the Stonefriend, leaned against him, gently sleeping as they rode to the east, where the Ssskraa Mines were located. Groth enjoyed her company. She knew the ancient words of his language, the secret speech that only those who had earned the trust and devotion of the Stonelord’s followers could speak. As by law and custom, a Stonefriend was to be regarded as family, to be cherished and aided as such. And of course, the acceptance of such a
title meant the reverse. Stonefriends were bound to aid just as well.

  Fortunately, Erice had been excited at the prospect of travel. Crossing past the thin film of anti-magic energy 40 miles away from the city was refreshing to her. She celebrated by shooting fire at birds as they rode. It was good to have a mage at his side. Serpentines only respected power. He had the martial prowess and she the mystic. Together, they would broker this deal to gain more crystals. Then perhaps he would finally have a voice at the table.

  It would have been easy to just walk away after receiving his voice, but something compelled him to stay. Samuel and Cimir, as naive as they were, had good hearts. They were not cruel nor vicious men. Perhaps he stayed out of a genuine desire to ensure that they were safe. Maybe it was the fact that Cimir spoke his own language and treated him with dignity. He didn’t know.