“So why would the Rownt want the Aizen?” Tsang asked with far less animosity than Haru had expected.
“They are storytellers. He has an interesting story.” Munson thought for a time before he added. “Rownt appreciate craftsmanship. The Aizen would have a place of honor in the temple.”
“Are you certain of that?”
“Yes.”
Tsang triggered the lock and the barrier slid down, forcing Munson to jerk his hand away before he got his fingers cut off. “Now you speak out of turn. I am disappointed.”
Munson turned to face off against Tsang. “You doubt my word?”
“I have heard that the women rule the Rownt, so as a man you would have no authority to make such a statement.”
“And you are a fool who listens to others, particularly those who are unable to understand Rownt culture.”
“Do you deny that women rule?” Tsang hit another button and the clear barrier turned opaque, hiding the treasures. He might as well have announced that Munson wasn’t good enough to look at his pieces.
“Rulers are chosen by age. The eldest hold the most sway, and for reasons of biology, only the Grandmothers can live a thousand years.”
“Which is another way of saying that you have no power to decide the fate of the Aizen once you purchased it.”
Munson didn’t back down or hesitate. “My word is listened to more than most, although my youth makes others hesitate to act on my word alone. However, while I don’t have the power to demand the Rownt act, I do have the understanding to predict what they will do in this circumstance.”
“And what circumstance is that?”
“The gifting of a temple artifact created by one with such talent would be displayed, either in the public temple for everyone to enjoy or in the upper levels of the temple where the Grandmothers can take pleasure in such talent.”
“You’re assuming I’ll sell the Aizen to you.”
“I am.”
The blunt answer shocked Tsang into a moment of silence. The two men stared at each other—Liam’s seven-foot frame towering over Tsang’s five and a half. “That’s an arrogant assumption,” Tsang said softly.
“I’m an arrogant man.” Munson said, and Haru could imagine his father saying the same words in the exact same tone.
“And if I choose to send an arrogant man away?”
“Then I will return with Ondry and his arrogance will outshine mine.”
“I can as easily refuse him.” The words were classic Tsang, but his tone was not nearly as confident as Haru was used to hearing from him.
Munson leaned closer. “Then we shall make, as our gift to the temple, an offer to introduce a Grandmother to you.”
“That is a poor gift for an elder.”
“On the contrary. A Rownt elder would never walk into a shop without a proper introduction. Without me to ease the way, the Grandmother would have no access to this beauty. It would be a magnificent gift, and I would have the great pleasure of watching you attempt to negotiate with a thousand-year-old Rownt.” Again, Munson’s predatory smile returned. The bastard was enjoying this. More shocking, the corner of Tsang’s mouth twitched in amusement.
They deserved each other.
“Do you have so much faith in your alien?” Tsang asked.
“She has no need of compliments from me, so I will limit myself to saying that your skills are adequate for a man who has not yet reached thirty.”
Haru cringed. Tsang was at least fifty or sixty years old.
Instead of taking offense, Tsang smiled. “Do all Rownt trade like you?”
“The good ones do.”
