The Ruby Magician

John shifted uncomfortably on the cushioned bench beside Marcy. The plush seat wasn’t unfamiliar to him, but the situation was. He, Marcy, and Cedric sat in a private room deep in the trading hall. Drawn curtains served as walls, and it was set far enough away from the mass of traders that they surprisingly couldn’t hear the chaos. The space wasn’t large, but it didn’t need to be for private dealings. At least he couldn’t hear the other spaces in the private area, which meant the other people couldn’t hear their private area either.

Marcy placed a hand on John’s bouncing knee and slowly turned her head to him. “Calm down. Why are you so nervous?”

John took a deep breath, forcing himself to relax. “I’m sorry. The last time we were here the person Cedric and I traded with was shady as hell. And then you two requested this to meet Cara? It’s suspicious!” He gestured all around him as his eyes flitted to each of the curtains while he spoke.

“Lower your voice,” Cedric said, his own voice low and deliberately calm. “We can’t discuss this out in public. You know that. If she laughs in my face about the idea that’s one thing, but at least requesting a private meeting will give me some discretion. That’s all I asked for right now.”

Before John could respond, the curtain to their left slid open slowly, revealing Cara slowly stepping inside. She eyed each of the three Climbers intently before carefully taking a seat on the opposite bench. Her fingers intertwined on the table between them and she sat up straight, not speaking.

John looked to the veteran Climbers. He wasn’t the driving force here, Cedric was. But he was grateful to have been invited.

“Thank you for coming,” Cedric said after a brief pause. “I’m sure you have questions so I’ll get right to it.”

“You want me to craft some special item for you that hasn’t existed before,” Cara said, cutting Cedric off. “You saw how well my coat worked for your Ruby Magician and now you want something better. Something different. And want an edge in the upcoming guild trials, I assume?”

John kept his composure out of pure confusion and feelings of inferiority, but Marcy let loose a smirk. Cedric responded with a practiced statement. “Not exactly, though close. Yes, we want an item that hasn’t been crafted before. Your items have been flawless and your skill is obvious. But we’re not wanting an item to help with the guild trials. Specifically, I’m wanting an item to replace my missing arm.”

Cara’s poise slipped as she furrowed her eyebrows at the Wizard. “You want… an arm?”

Cedric nodded. “Yes. I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I believe it could be possible. With your insight and ability, of course.”

Cara’s fingers moved to drumming on the table. It was the only movement present, everyone waiting to see how the conversation went. “No one has ever crafted something like that. Or even found one inside Alistair. Some stumps here and there for legs, but nothing magical. What were you hoping for? An arm that could shoot lightning?”

Cedric shrugged. “I already have a weapon for that. Honestly, something with enough flexibility to let me grasp or hold objects would be more than enough. I don’t need it to fire magic. I just want to have some semblance of an arm again.”

“That simplifies things, at least. Hmm.” She withdrew her hands and put one on her chin, rubbing it in thought.

John looked to Marcy and Cedric for any kind of response but the two Climbers just patiently waited. Taking Marcy’s advice, he took a deep breath and waited, too. This was Cedric’s negotiation. He was there for support, though it felt more like moral support than anything.

After an agonizing minute, Cara finally spoke. “It’s more than an interesting thought. It’s actually intriguing. The components would need to be at least tier 2, likely tier 3, however. The core of the arm would need to be a flexible material that functions for the typical effect of fitting to the wearer. And enchantments for extended mana use since it’ll need to be functional at all times. Something with minimal mana use so it can be used as much as you need, or at least to have the capacity to store mana to be used when needed. Oh, and strength to actually lift objects.”

The three Climbers let Cara ramble about ideas for Cedric’s arm for only a minute before John interrupted. “What kind of material would be the arm’s base? You said it needed to be flexible?”

Cara scoffed. “Of course. If it’s too rigid, it won’t work like an arm should. It needs to bend and rotate and more. Something like the Living Bark from a season last year. Or the Sentient Cloud, or Ethereal Water.”

Marcy suddenly perked up. “There’s a Galladium set from the second tier we just got for Wyn. The metal is flexible and allows his weapon and shield to change shape. Is there a component like that instead of an item?”

“Hmm,” Cara said, bringing her hand back to her chin. “I haven’t seen anything like that in the markets, and I’ve been taking a break from personally climbing for a couple of months. If that item dropped in the second tier, there’s a very small chance a component like that would drop in the same tier. The chance is higher in the third tier, but your group can’t climb that high, can you?”

Cedric shook his head. “Not yet. The seventh floor is problematic, too, making our progress limited. With the upcoming guild trials I doubt we’ll be able to put enough time in to reach the ninth floor, or repeat the mid-tier floors enough to get the drop.”

“I’d need more than one piece, too. I wouldn’t be making a hat. For an entire arm, it would be something like five or six pieces in total.”

Cedric leaned back in his seat and cursed under his breath. Not quite soft enough, though, and everyone heard his frustration. John understood his feelings as he thought that amount was absurd. But, he wasn’t a crafter. Crafters and smiths in the city often used monster drops to enhance non-magical weapons in a process that was lost on him, though the outcomes were usually not as good as items that Climbers could find themselves in the tower.

Cara, though, was an exception. If she said she needed that much material, then she needed that much material. It was as simple as that.

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry,” Cara said. “You could ask around and see if there are any groups that have found the component and who would be willing to farm it for you. I’d wager the price would be steep, but I have a feeling that getting an arm is worth quite a lot to you.”

Marcy leaned forward on the table. “Of course it’s worth a lot. But, yea. If we can’t get it ourselves, we’ll buy what we need. That’s a great idea.”

“We will?” John asked.

Marcy shot him a look of annoyance while Cara just smiled.

“Of course we will,” Marcy said. “What else would you need besides the Galladium?”

“Just the basics,” Cara said. “If you’re already forking over coin for the metal, I could secure the rest for a fee. It won’t be cheap, though.”

Cedric leaned forward beside Marcy. “We seem to have a knack for gaining crowns. How much do you need?”

Cara silently counted on her fingers for a few seconds before answering. “4000 gold for the other materials then another 6000 to craft the arm.”

John choked at the response and felt his eyes widen to the size of saucers. “What? How in the hells is it that expensive?”

Cara sighed. “I know it’s a lot, but consider what you’re asking. You’re wanting a custom-made item equivalent to purple rarity that’s never been created before. Actually, nothing similar to it at all.”

“Your other items weren’t as expensive! Like my sword and Wyn’s coat!”

Cara laughed. “The truth about those two were that I couldn’t get rid of them before your group came along. No one wanted a sword with the only enchantment being changing the element, and the coat wasn’t right for any Climber that looked at my items. I traded them for components for other projects that actually made me money.”

John felt some shame about his sword but didn’t want Cara to notice. He loved the weapon’s ability to change element, and didn’t want to change it out any time soon. He also knew Wyn felt just as proud about his coat.

The three Climbers looked at each other and exchanged silent understandings. How could they turn down that offer? It didn’t matter how much she charged them. If it meant Cedric getting an arm back, then they had to try. They could always earn more coins. Getting the Galladium would likely cost a few more thousand crowns on top of Cara’s 10,000 crown payment. But all three of them knew Tasha and Wyn would agree to help cover the costs. It might delay Wyn’s debt repayment, but if all went well with his current meeting, then he’d be swimming in gold crowns before the night was done.

“We need to get the Galladium first,” Cedric said. “After we’ll get you payment.”

“Does it all have to be upfront?” John asked.

Cara shook her head. “If you get me the Galladium before the season’s out, then I can do installments. I have a feeling you won’t be shorting me on payment for this.”

Marcy pounded the table with her fist, making John and Cara jump. “Good. Then we have a deal?”

Cara extended a hand. “Show me the Galladium. Then we’ll have a deal.”

*****

Wyn took a deep breath before opening the ornate door to a private hall in one of the official buildings that Alestead’s primary guild owned. He was told by Benedict and Daniel that there were two buildings like this in the city, and that they were for conducting business. They mostly held offices for the many guild workers, but also had individual meeting halls as well. He stood at a grand door for one such hall where he was told to meet Benedict’s contact. Apparently sponsors for guilds and Climbers, merchants looking for business, royal officials, and military leaders, all used these rooms when needing to visit Alestead.

He didn’t feel nearly as important, but apparently the man he was meeting was.

Tasha helped keep him calm and relaxed and talked him through the basics of what he wanted to accomplish just before he came to the hall. The goal of the meeting was simple - they’d have dinner and discuss a business partnership where Wyn would bring items of value to sell with Benedict’s contact, a middleman to wealthy clients. Wyn would need to sell himself regarding his ability to gather items and be reliable, but also not come across too eager. Essentially, he needed to utilize his history of dealing with people of higher status in order to make them feel comfortable and trusting him.

He and his family’s safety depended on this dinner. Securing a partnership would be vital on paying off their debt, and Wyn mentally reminded himself of that fact multiple times.

Taking one more breath to gather confidence, Wyn pulled open the door to the hall.

Inside was a view Wyn didn’t fully expect. The room itself was ornate and grand, with some pieces of fancy artwork hanging on the walls and a large hearth on the opposite wall. A grand, impossibly long dining table filled the entirety of the room, with matching chairs set all around it. Dinnerware was only set for two chairs, one at the seat directly in front of the roaring hearth, and the other at the chair beside it. Sitting in front of the hearth was a man. A man who was intently staring at Wyn the moment he opened the door.

It wouldn’t have been too odd except for the fact that he was completely alone in the large hall. As Wyn stepped inside, the man abruptly stood up and waved him over.

“Come, come!” The man said, beckoning Wyn across the room. His voice was loud and boisterous, easily carrying across the empty distance. He wore fine dress clothes more suited to a lavish party than a dinner meeting, and his appearance was completely neat and groomed.

During Wyn’s time in the military he met many nobles who ranged from genuinely good people to downright abysmal. Tasha helped his perception as she was one of the better ones. Hopefully this man would be similar.

As Wyn neared the man he shook his hand, and was met with an eager shake. “I’m Ardwyn Thatcher.”

“Pleasure, Ardwyn! I’m Melvin. Please, sit and dine with me.” Melvin led Wyn over to the two lone seats and politely gestured to the seat at the side. Setting his backpack down beside the seat, Wyn pulled out the chair and sat in the way Tasha instructed him as nobles do in order to be polite and respectful. While he met more than his fair share of nobility, he never personally dined with any of them. She had been a valuable resource in quickly learning how to handle himself.

The place settings were already filled, as plates, cups, and trays welcomed them to start the evening. The goblet in front of Wyn was filled with a dark red liquid while the simple cup beside it was empty. A glass pitcher of water sat on the table beside a tray of cheeses, nuts, and fruits.

Wyn instantly knew this man was trying to make a good impression. That made him feel more at ease. He quickly ran through his prepared lines in his head.

“It was kind of you to agree to meet me,” Wyn started as both men began plucking at the trays to fill their plates. “When Benedict said he knew a buyer for items from the tower, I was grateful. The merchants don’t quite have the means to buy all of my findings.”

Melvin popped a grape in his mouth and smiled as he swallowed. “Yes, Benedict has been a wonderful contact here at Alestead. When I need wares, he provides. But sometimes there are items that the average tradesman can’t provide that I need. I hope you are different.”

Wyn nodded in agreement but didn’t miss the slight. Melvin saw Benedict as just a contact, and viewed him as only average. Wyn thought higher of the man, but such was the mindset of nobles.

“I am,” Wyn said, pausing to take a sip of his wine. It was dry and rich, far more exquisite than the wine Alestead provided. He had to be careful not to drink too much. “For starters, I’m not a tradesman. I’m a Climber.”

Melvin smiled at the response and took it in stride. “Too true. How long have you been climbing, Ardwyn? The last few Climbers that conducted business with me were guild leaders or Climbers wishing to retire. You seem like neither.”

Right to business, then.

“You are correct on both accounts. I’m in my second full season of climbing, with no plans of stopping anytime soon.”

Melvin’s smile softened as he stopped himself from grabbing a small hunk of cheese. “A rookie? Gods. Benedict said you’d be able to bring a horde of items for purchase. What game is this?” He sat up abruptly in his chair as though he was ready to storm out.

Wyn quickly tried to sell himself. “No game at all, I assure you. I’m just a man who climbs frequently and is rewarded accordingly. During the final week of last month I was able to secure nearly two dozen items to sell in the second tier. Benedict couldn’t buy them all, and I had to bleed every merchant dry to get the coin I wanted. And that was in one week.”

Melvin slowly relaxed in the chair, though kept his guard up. “He did mention you were able get items quickly. Climbing in the second tier your first month is… impressive. What have you accomplished this month?”

Wyn slowly stood and put his backpack on the table. He started to reach inside but stopped. “I brought eleven items today, all inside this pack. For this new season me and my group have been storing items of value for this exact reason - to sell. I could pull them out for you to inspect, but I made a brief summary of them for you to review at once.” Wyn reached inside and pulled out a single sheet of paper, neatly folded in half. Handing it to Melvin, the noble grabbed it and quickly scanned the sheet.

His face softened and Wyn knew he was satisfied at something. Even if he only liked a few of the items Wyn brought, or none of them, Wyn noticed the man was at least going to keep negotiating. There were four blue rarity items and seven green rarity items, all with good value. At least according to Cedric and Marcy. The bonuses on the items seemed beneficial to Wyn, but he still didn’t quite the know the intricacies about what effects were more valuable than others.

Before Wyn could think further, Melvin refolded the paper and handed it back to Wyn. “That’s not a bad list for a rookie. But certainly not two dozen in a week like you claim.”

“Thank you. But that was just what we found while climbing that seemed worth your time. We’ve found twice that amount this month and we haven’t been climbing just for the items. For that, I’m confident I could repeat that week’s success and obtain a fair amount of items per time invested.”

Melvin narrowed his eyes and stayed quiet, not responding. His mental processing and lack of immediate response was excruciating.

“You found these items yourself? They weren’t items you traded for in the district?”

Wyn shook his head. “No trades. I have traded for items, but those are only ones me or my group found.”

Melvin nodded and thought for another few seconds. “I’ll pay you 7500 crowns for the entire list,” Melvin finally said.

Wyn froze. Internally he was screaming, nearly overwhelmingly ecstatic at the offer. But he needed to maintain his composure and not seem too eager. He didn’t want to negotiate for a better price so he wouldn’t lose the offer, but if Melvin was open to a long term partnership, Wyn needed to look professional.

“7500 crowns?” Wyn said, doing his best to phrase his words and tone so his response could be interpreted several different ways.

Melvin smiled a devious smile. “I have some… impressive clients, to say the least. That offer is mostly for the blue rarity items as they are more prized than the green rarity ones. The green rarity items are a consolation.”

Wyn stuck a hand out to shake and felt relief flood him as Melvin excitedly shook in agreement. “It’s a deal, then. For you and your impressive clients.”

Melvin laughed. “Quite right. We can make the trade after we eat. This was only the appetizer, of course.”

Wyn sat back down alongside Melvin and took a long drink of his wine in a brief celebration. In his happiness, a moment of inspiration struck him. “You know, you could consider this meeting as an appetizer.”

Melvin paused in the middle of a bite of food and tilted his head to one side. “How so?”

“Well, my items were a showing of good faith. But there are far more items I could find inside Alistair, especially if you had a list of items you and your clients desired.”

Melvin tilted his head side to side. “That’s a good point. But they must be items you find yourself, no trades. That’s a specific selling point of mine.”

Wyn nodded in agreement.

“Good,” Melvin continued. “I’ll be sure to send you a letter of desired items within the next week. I plan to return for the festival at the end of the month, so hopefully a couple of weeks would be enough time for you to procure some targeted items for me. I’ll pay double for those items, including purple rarity ones.”

Wyn could barely contain his excitement, only letting a smile cross his face. He could pay off the debt quicker than he thought if there was even more coin to be earned. “I’ll sleep in the tower if I have to.”

Melvin laughed again. “I like the commitment! More information will come in time. For now, over the course of our dinner, I only have one request. One that will help you earn those coins.”

Wyn speared a hunk of cheese with a fork. “Of course. What is it?”

“Tell me how you got those items. The monsters slain, the traps disabled, the peril and hardships faced. Details are a requirement alongside the items, Ardwyn. Details that will follow these items to their eventual resting place, and that will circle conversations of some of the most wealthiest people in the country.”

Wyn sat back in his chair while Melvin refilled his wine glass. It was going to be a long, fruitful night.