Veil Of Lies

When Veli awakens all he can feel is a splitting headache. He curses the pain but manages to scramble out of the bunk that he doesn’t remember ever flopping into, but apparently had. It isn’t an easy struggle for him to right himself but he feels a sense of achievement when he finally does. That embarrasses him and so he quickly climbs up to the deck of the Good Grace. He had no need to redress as he was still fully clothed.

Now on the deck of the ship he braces himself against the brilliant blaze of the sun as it hangs in the sky threatening to blind him. The light only makes the pounding in his head worse, but at least they are docked now. Upon realising that a surge of relief spreads through his body. He would have been lying to say that he had not feared that he would never awaken and instead sink to the bottom of some watery grave.

But as he scans around the deck he finds no Polita. A pang of sadness hits him, but at least Captain Ceres is still around. It’s not a surprise but it is a relief and so he strides over to her.

“Finally awake then?” Ceres remarks with a chuckle. She knows how long they’ve been docked but she seriously doubts Veli does.

“Yes Captain. And thanks to you still alive as well I might add.” Veli replies with genuine thanks. He doubts Ceres will understand why he is so thankful but she doesn’t need too.

“Wouldn’t provide much of a service if I didn’t get people to their destination in one piece, now would I?”

“That maybe so but I offer my heartfelt thanks all the same.” Veli says before querying, “Where is Polita?”

Ceres can’t resist this time and rolls her eyes. She really hopes that Veli hasn’t fallen for a woman he was never going to see again after this voyage, no matter what. Unless he’s slept with her that is. She really hopes he hasn’t made that blunder, but if he has it is his own issue that she will not get involved in. So she says in response, “She departed a couple hours ago.” And now he’ll know how long we’ve been here, her subconscious tacks on almost as though it needed to be kept as some secret. Ceres ignores the thought and passes no comment internal or external.

“Oh.” Veli exclaims with disappointment that is mirrored by the dropping of his shoulders. He quickly picks himself back up however, seeming to remember himself as he smiles and says, “Thank you for passage Captain Ceres.” Then he offers her a brown animal skin pouch that clinks as he holds it out for her.

Captain Ceres extends her hand and Veli drops the coin pouch into her waiting palm before she wraps her fingers around the soft skin that she guesses is beaver and then smiles. Finally Ceres after hefting the weight tilts her head to one side.

“I’ve added a little extra as thanks.” Veli offers in response to her silent query.

“Great thanks to you Veli for this gesture.” Ceres utters with a bow of her head while thinking; if only Polita had been as gracious as you.

The dress wearing elf had paid Ceres but only after having attempted to haggle for a lower price. Ceres had nearly thrown her overboard when she’d tried that. But it wouldn’t have been effective seeing as they were already docked. Plus it could have caused more problems than the Captain of the Good Grace wanted coming her way. So instead, Ceres had simply accepted the payment begrudgingly and then watched as Polita had flitted away like she was some sort of royalty.

As Veli turns to leave an idea strikes him and so he asks, “Would you be interested in entering into an accord to ferry grain for me?”

Ceres respects the offer but replies, “At this time I have to politely decline.” She gives no other details as to why. Veli respects her privacy as well as her sincere smile and so simply adds, “If your circumstances change, do let me know.”

Ceres nods to convey her understanding and thanks. Then Veli turns and strides across the deck. It doesn’t take long for him to reach the edge of the ship and once he does he steps off it and onto the dark wood of the dock.

Beyond the dark wood is a wide flat expanse of pale sandstone that has become pockmarked by rain. Veli ignores the blemishes as he breaks into a brisk walk. He’s late to meet with the harbourmaster Bonin. He can’t miss the meeting seeing as there is a possibility that he will be able, on his first day back in Baron, to secure premises for his grain store. Such a thing would be a real boon.

Thankfully, Veli suffers no other delays, beyond his own self-inflicted one that is, and reaches the premises to find the harbourmaster waiting for him.

Harbourmaster Bonin is exactly as Veli pictured him, a grizzled old elf with a shaved head, a number of scars likely from his decades of manual work and hazel eyes. Well, to be more precise a single hazel eye, his left. The right is sightless and cloudy. Veli wonders how the harbourmaster lost the sight in it but makes sure not to stare at it. He also intends in no way to query how it was lost. After all, he doesn’t want to antagonise the man whose only response to Veli’s introduction and apology for being late is a grunt.

Veli isn’t sure how he should take the grunt so is pleased when Bonin unlocks the battered and barely functioning wooden door and allows him entry into the space inside a short time later.

It isn’t an impressive space but it is sizable and currently unoccupied. Plus Veli had learned that it has been on the harbourmasters hands for a good while without a single interested party to speak of. That had both intrigued and worried Veli when he’d learned it. Since then however he had learned that it was simply considered too large for anyone to want to take it. But for Veli this warehouse store would be the perfect size. In fact, he may even manage to outgrow it. But that would take years; he is sure. Still, he sizes up what he will place where. It won’t be cheap but Veli is sure he can turn this empty open space into a proper warehouse and store for the grain guild.

They spend a good twenty minutes in this empty premises, during which Bonin seems to grow increasingly bored of the company of Veli who is enthralled with what visions he has for this prospect. Then finally Veli announces, “This is the space for me.”

The words are music to Bonin’s ears and the harbourmaster perks up as his eyes flare. Then his tongue flicks across his cracked lips. Veli has to suppress a humoured snort at the sight of the clearly coin hungry grizzled elf before him. But Veli knows that Bonin is desperate to be rid of this space so starts very low with his first bid.

“What would you say to fifty coins a month?”

“I’d say it’s an insult.” Bonin replies as blunt as you would imagine from a character like him that cares only for money. He rubs at the stubble on his flat chin continuously, though it is clear the harbourmaster isn’t thinking. He doesn’t need to. He knows what price he is and isn’t willing to accept. But by all that exists does he want this place earning coin.

Bonin’s response was roughly the reaction Veli had been expecting, but he felt it necessary to try.

“Sixty five?” Veli offers after a short period of pretending to ponder. He too knows what price he will and will not go to.

“Too low. But closer.” Bonin offers with a wave of his index finger, the nail of which is edged with a thick black line of grime.

Veli has to admit that he didn’t expect Bonin to be so honest about his bid being closer. That surprises him and makes him wonder if the harbourmaster has done some checking up on him. Ultimately he concludes that such a thing is doubtful, so decides on continuing the negotiation.

“Seventy five…and that’s my final offer.” Veli says lying. That isn’t as high as he is willing to go but from the look in Bonin’s eyes he is fairly sure the harbourmaster will accept it. He doubts the harbourmaster realises he has a tell and Veli isn’t about to tell him either as he waits for a reply patiently.

“Done.” Bonin announces finally. The harbourmaster offers his grubby calloused hand to shake as a smile that clearly isn’t a natural gesture for the grizzled elf spreads across his weathered features.

Veli takes Bonin’s hand and they shake twice. Then Veli fishes the coin pouch out of a trouser pocket and drops it into the harbourmasters hand. Bonin licks his lips greedily again as he weighs the pouch in his hand and Veli assures, “That’s four months worth.”

Bonin knew that the mass was well above a single months pay, but four! He had never expected the clearly merchant elf to be carrying such a volume of coin about his person. Had Bonin known he would have battered for more. But the deal is done now and the harbourmaster refuses to go back on a deal. So he simply licks furiously at his cracked lips and then says, “Pleasure doing business. Here’s the key.”

Bonin tosses the rusted single metal key without a key ring to Veli who catches it following a short juggle that nearly saw him fail. Not that Bonin cares as he has already turned away from Veli and is headed for the door. The harbourmaster was sure that he was going to be stuck with this empty warehouse for the rest of his days. But it seems grace has fallen upon him and he will finally be earning coin from the space. He thinks that means he is owed a drink, or three, so that is where he is headed.

“The pleasure is all mine Bonin.” Veli calls after the grizzled elf, but he is already out of earshot and completely fixated on the coin in his hand anyway. Veli isn’t surprised by that at all, but pleasantries shouldn’t be foregone just because you’re the only one wishing to abide by them.

Now that Veli is alone he smiles and then opening his eyes casts his glance over the space envisioning how it will look when it opens. He knows his work is far from over, as there is much to do before he will be able to open. But the first real step has been taken and Veli is sure success will follow. For today however, that will be enough as the elf merchant feels tired and longs to see Qos and his family again. Before he leaves the warehouse however, Veli takes one more look at the place and then locks it up tight. He will have to get a new door before the grand opening but that was to be expected and he’s factored such things into his budget. He just hopes the roof is watertight. Though, he’ll only know that for sure when the rains come, and he’s pretty sure he’ll be open by then.

Now back on the dock, Veli heads for the stables, whistling as he goes. His head held high as he takes in the sights and sounds of Baron. Much of the harbour is like he remembers it but the rest of the port town is far larger and more developed and that makes him smile.