He felt chastened and sobered, and afraid now...
He felt chastened and sobered, and afraid now though not for himself
There will be people put at risk by everything we do, the Prince had said in the forest, speaking of MenicoAnd now Devin was beginning to understand, painfully, the reality of that
He didn't want these people hurtHis excitement quite gone, Devin had driven home for him, for the first time, this one among the many ancillary sorrows that lay on the road he seemed to have foundHe was brought face-to-face with the distance that road imposed between them and, it now seemed, almost everyone they might meetEven people who might share a part or all of their dreamHe thought of Catriana in the palace again, and he understood her even more now than he had an hour ago
Watching, letting the growth of wisdom guide him into silence, Devin focused on Alessan's momentarily unguarded face and he saw him come hard to his decisionHe watched as the Prince took a deep, slow breath and so shouldered another burden that was the price of his blood
Alessan smiled, an odd, rueful smile"Actually, there is," he said to Rovigo"There is something you can do new gucci wallet now that will help He hesitated, then, unexpectedly, the smile deepened and it reached his eyes"Had you ever given any thought," he said in an elaborately casual voice, "to taking on some business partners?"
For just a moment Rovigo seemed nonplussed, then a quick, answering smile of understanding broadened across his face"You need access to some places"That, and there are more of us now, as wellDevin is with us, and there may be others before springThings will be different from the years when it was only Baerd and II have been giving thought to this since Catriana joined us,"
His voice quickened, grew crisperDevin remembered this tone from the cabinThis was the man he'd first seen thereAlessan said, "In business together you and I will have a more legitimate means of exchanging information and I'm going to need information regularly this winterAs partners we have reason to be writing each other about any affairs that touch on tradeAnd of course all affairs touch on trade
"Indeed they do," said Rovigo, his eyes intent on Alessan's face
"We can communicate directly if you have resources for orange prada bag that, or through Taccio in Ferraut He glanced over at Devin"I know Taccio, by the way, that wasn't a coincidence eitherI assume you'd figured that out?" Devin hadn't even thought about it actually, but before he could speak Alessan had turned back to Rovigo"I assume you have a courier service you can trust?" Rovigo nodded
Alessan said, "You see, the newest problem is that although we could still travel as musicians, after this morning's performance we'd be notorious wherever we wentHad I thought about it in time I'd have botched the music a little, or told Devin to be a little less impressive
"No you wouldn't have," Devin said quietly"Whatever other things you would have done, ruining the music isn't one of them
Alessan's mouth quirked as he acknowledged the hit
"Perhaps so," the Prince murmured"It was special, wasn't it?"
There was a brief silenceRovigo got up and put one more log on the fire
Alessan said, "It all makes senseThere are certain places and certain activities that would be awkward for us as performersEspecially well-known performersAs merchants, we would have a new access to such chanel mens watches places
"Certain islands, perhaps?" Rovigo asked quietly, from by the fire
"Perhaps," Alessan agreedThough there it may be a matter of five of one hand, five of the other: artists are welcome at Brandin's court on ChiaraThis gives us another option, though, and I like having options to work withIt has been necessary once or twice for a character I've assumed to disappear, or die His voice was quiet, matter-of-factHe took a sip of his wine
After a moment he turned back to RovigoWho was now stroking his chin in a fine imitation of a shrewdly avaricious businessman
"Well," the merchant said in a greedy, wheedling voice, "you appear to have made a most intriguing proposal, gentlemenI do have to ask one or two preliminary questionsI've known Alessan for some time, but this particular issue has never come up before, you understand His eyes narrowed with exaggerated cunning"What, if anything, do you know about business?"
Alessan gave a sudden burst of laughter, then quickly grew serious again"Have you any money to hand?" he asked
"I've my ship just in," Rovigo replied"Cash from two days' transactions and chanel cambon ligne bag easy credit based on profits over the next few weeksWhy?"
"I would suggest buying a reasonable but not indiscreet amount of grain in the next forty-eight hoursTwenty-four hours, actually, if you can
Rovigo looked thoughtful"I could do that," he said"And my means are sufficiently limited that no purchase I made would be large enough to be indiscreetI have a contact, too, the steward at the Nievolene farms by the Ferraut border
"Not from Nievole," Alessan said quicklyRovigo nodded his head slowly"I see," he said, startling Devin again with his quickness"You think we can expect some confiscation after the Festival?"
"You can," Alessan said"Among all the other even less pleasant thingsHave you another source for buying up grain?"
"I might Rovigo looked from Alessan to Devin and back again"Four partners, then," he said crisply"The three of you and BaerdIs that right?"
Alessan nodded"Almost right, but make it five partnersThere is one other person who should be brought in to divide our share, if that is all right with you?"
"Why should it not be?" Rovigo shrugged"That doesn't touch my share at balenciaga bag replica a