Witt would have known this and actedaccordingly in case something had gone wrong on her end. Now, shejust had to get back to the rendezvous point.
Worry niggled at her at the thought of themtrying to make their way through the Badlands without a guide.Firmly, she pushed it down. Witt was a smart man with experienceout in the wilds. He would know to stick to the edge and work hisway back to the Highlands from there.
Either way, there was nothing she could doabout it. The others were long gone. All she could do now wasfollow them and hope she didn’t run into any trouble along theway.
Chapter Four
Seven Months Later
“We’ve already told you our terms,” Daneargued. “If you’re unwilling to meet them, we have nothing left todiscuss. We’re done here.”
Shea fought a yawn as an old man voiced sharpdisagreement. Propping her head on her hand, she attempted to feignsome interest in the proceedings. It wasn’t easy. Her jaw crackedas the yawn she’d been containing escaped.
Would this meeting never end?
“Let’s not be hasty,” the white-haired man’svoice cut through the chatter.
His face had an agelessness to it, making itimpossible for Shea to guess exactly how old he was. Although thehair suggested age, his skin was smooth and free of wrinkles. Hiseyes hinted at a sharp mind. “I’m sure we can come to an agreement.There’s no need to go home empty handed.”
Zrakovi would have a shit fit if they cameback without securing the trade route with Goodwin of Ria. It hadtaken their group nearly two months to reach the Lowland town.
They’d been here ten days already and hadaccomplished exactly nothing. It was frustrating and made zerosense. Goodwin of Ria was the one to initiate the talks in thefirst place. They’d sent an emissary to Birdon Leaf with the cleargoal of establishing trade between the two villages. Only now, itseemed Goodwin of Ria no longer had any interest in the deal.
The idea of a trade route was a good one. Orit would be if both parties agreed to the terms.
Birdon Leaf would benefit from the wheat thatGoodwin grew, while Goodwin would gain access to the tali root andjixy oil the Highlanders harvested from the cliffs near theirvillage.
Tali root, which could be used as a food ortextile, would help the town expand its weaving capability to offermore luxury items to the southern cities. Because the root onlygrew in the higher altitudes of the Highlands, the town elders wererabid to get their hands on it. The jixy oil would give thetownspeople access to a more reliable fuel for lanterns and otherheating sources.
For the villagers of Birdon Leaf, the wheatand a few other goods would help keep them fed when the tali wasn’tin season.
That was the idea anyway, but since theirarrival the people of Goodwin had been argumentative and unwillingto compromise.
She didn’t understand why she had to bepresent for these tedious meetings. It wasn’t like she had anythingto add. She didn’t set the terms, and more importantly, this wasn’tpart of her duties.
Being outside the village perimeter enjoyingthe slight chill of spring as the land began to ripen with life waspreferable to sitting in this tiny chamber filled with stuffy oldmen.
“We’ve already agreed on these terms,” Danereiterated. “You should know as you were the ones to proposethem.”
“Things have changed since our emissaryvisited your village,” a man said crossly.
Shea thought his name started with an R.Robert? No, she didn’t think that was it. Maybe Richard?
Clad in fine garments with intricateembroidery running along every hem, he had slicked his black hairaway from his clean shaven face, showing his strong bone structureto its best advantage. When he’d shaken Shea’s hand, she’d beenamazed at how smooth his skin was. Softer than a child’s, his handshad probably never seen a day of manual labor.
His two companions were attired similarly,though the man on his left had applied some type of powder to hisface to cover the age spots. Nothing could hide that beak of anose, though.
Life in the Lowlands must be easier.Highlanders just didn’t have that much time to invest in theirappearance. Everyday clothes didn’t have the fine level of detailthat every one of these men’s garments showcased. Shea had attendedthese meetings for the past ten days, and every day each man hadworn something different and equally fine.
She counted herself lucky when she had onenice outfit in her wardrobe. Mostly, her clothes were made ofserviceable leather or tali root. None of it had embroidery orfancy cuts and weaves.
Shea was willing to bet these men had seenvery little hardship in their lives.
Dane pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’vebeen saying that for days now. We’ve offered several alternatives,and you still can’t make up your minds. The terms are fair andbenefit both of us.”
“We disagree.” The hawk nose man slapped hishands on the table.
“I don’t care if you disagree. Perhaps one ofthe other villages will be more appreciative of the trade youscorn.”
