“Master Delacroix will see you immediately, Mister Anatolis,” a house servant said hurriedly as he came up to the gate, speaking before he’d even come to a halt.
It would seem Master Delacroix knew the Anatolis name after all.
The guards swung the gate open quickly as the servant rushed them on. The man was all gestures, whispered pleas that Rene wasn’t supposed to hear, and a strained, fractured smile.
“My thanks to the household of Delacroix,” Rene said smoothly.
Trying his best to look dignified, the servant began leading Rene towards the front steps. He’d been neutral and polite to Rene when he’d shown up, much to his credit.
Adjusting the satchel at his side, Rene kept his eyes on the servant and front door.
As if by magic and Rene’s expectation, the door swung outward and a man in his early fifties exited with some swiftness.
Sporting black hair styled for his class and light green eyes, and looking rather handsome for a man of his age, he could only be Odelia’s father.
Moving past the servant, Rene took the steps and held out his hand.
“Master Delacroix, thank you for seeing me,” he stated with a smile.
“Of course, Mister Anatolis. I must admit I’m surprised to see the heir of the Anatolis family here at my doorstep,” Geoffrey said. He’d brought the entire matter successfully to the front with a polite statement. Taking Rene’s hand in his own, Rene found the man had a firm handshake.
The Monster gave a huff of approval and then slithered deeper into Rene’s mind. There was always a grudging respect from the Monster for a good handshake.
“I’ve recently made the acquaintance of the Junk family. We talked about business for a while, this, that, and the other thing, mind you, and we ended up coming to an arrangement between he and I.
“Personally, I believe it would best serve both our interests if we could retire to a private room, as I have no doubt we have matters to discuss of relevance to both of us,” Rene charitably offered. For all intents and purposes, Odelia had done right by him. He wasn’t about to show her father disrespect when he’d given Rene no reason to give him any.
Of course, Rene could have just as easily stated up front the entire reason for his visit and sent the entire household into anarchy. No one would react very well to finding out their employer wasn’t just up to their eyeballs in debt, but at the bottom of an ocean.
Geoffrey stiffened, and released Rene’s hand with a curt nod of his head. It was clear the man realized exactly what Rene had been speaking of.
Offering no further pleasantries, Geoffrey turned and re-entered his family home while Rene trailed along behind like a shadow. Putting his hands behind his back, he acted the part of the courteous, if slightly curious, guest.
Geoffrey escorted Rene to the back of the home, then took him into a room and gestured toward a table near the middle. Glancing around, Rene found the room had the appearance of a study and was tastefully decorated. There weren’t even the silly displays of wealth that preoccupied so many noble families.
Taking the indicated seat, Rene arranged himself appropriately and looked to Geoffrey to lead. He didn’t wish to presume in the man’s own home.
Before the conversation could start, or the silence could grow, a door off to one side opened.
Two servants came and offered tea, which Rene accepted, before departing without offering anything further in conversation.
Taking a sip of the tea, Rene found it to his liking and gave Geoffrey a smile.
“Delicious tea,” he said. To which Geoffrey nodded his head.
Checking a mental sigh, Rene realized he’d have to push this along. It seemed Geoffrey didn’t know how to make the conversation happen, or he was loathe to do so.
“I have in my possession a purchase I made from the Junk family. From them to myself directly. A sale of debt to be clear,” Rene said. “This sale of debt entitles me to the line of credit that you were under with Master Junk, without any percentage remaining to him in any fashion.”
Setting his tea down, Rene reached to his side for the documents he’d brought with himself.
He opened his satchel and retrieved one of the copies he’d had the lower court functionaries make.
Three other copies had been made as well. One Rene had left with the court, another had been sent to Master Junk with a letter, and the third was in his inventory where it would remain for safe-keeping.
The original remained in his possession as well, of course. Having a copy to hand over to someone who asked to see it was always a good way to protect yourself.
Originals were never meant to see the light of day unless absolutely necessary.
Holding the copy out to Geoffrey, Rene waited.
The lord and master of the Delacroix family looked pained. His skin had turned a light gray color, his lips pressed into a tight line, and his eyes were a touch watery.
Taking the sheet of paper from Rene with a steady hand, he began reading it over.
At the same time, a side door opened and Odelia came marching in.
“You won’t believe what that pig of a—” started Odelia, belatedly realizing her father wasn’t alone. Her eyes landed on Rene and stayed there.
Rene stood up before she could say something that would give them away.
“Ah, you must be Odelia, Lord Geoffrey’s daughter. My name is Rene, Rene Anatolis,” Rene said, bowing his head appropriately in deference to the lady.
Odelia blinked and a small smile threatened the corners of her mouth.
“A pleasure to meet you, Master Anatolis. May I ask what this business is about?” Odelia asked, coming over and seating herself beside her father.
“Ah…” Rene began and then looked to Geoffrey as he took his seat again.
There was no way for him to answer politely without stepping on the man’s toes.
Glancing up from the documentation he’d been given, Geoffrey looked to Rene and then his daughter, then back to the paperwork
“It would seem our debt has been purchased by the Anatolis family. Master Anatolis here is acting as the representative. All of the debt,” Geoffrey said slowly. “Though we have yet to discuss what this means. According to this, that includes a final accounting of what’s owed, and it’s due in several weeks. I must c—”
Rene laughed, interrupting the master of the house deliberately.
“Please, Rene, or Mister Anatolis, if you must address me more formally,” Rene said, doing his best to keep his tone light and confident. “Now, I’ll be honest with you, Master Delacroix. The Anatolis family is considering branching into the city. This is our first contract, and I was hoping to use you as a reference at the same time.”
Rene took another sip of the rather lovely tea and promised himself to ask Odelia what type it was later.
“To that end, we propose the debt be amended. Traditionally, we offer set rates depending on the amount of money borrowed and the history of the individual,” Rene said, lifting a hand toward Geoffrey. “In your case, being a prominent family, with a dedicated history of not only being frugal but making wise investments, a contributor to the city and its welfare, we feel that your interest rates were incorrect.”
Rene opened his satchel again and withdrew a new contract. He’d prepared it himself and had gone over it several times to make sure it wasn’t just fair, but leaned in Geoffrey’s favor.
Or more specifically in Rene’s mind, Odelia’s favor.
“A standard rate of two percent in this situation would be correct. Which when calculated in contrast with the payments you made against the debt at that time, would put you at an existing balance of seven hundred and thirty-two gold.” Rene looked to the bottom line of the paper as if to emphasize it was already written out. Standing up, he pointed to the location on the sheet he was discussing, then turned the paper and held it out toward Geoffrey. Rene’s finger still pointed at the section which included what was owed.
Geoffrey stared
at the paper, reading it in Rene’s hand. Then he moved forward and took it without saying a word. Completely engrossed and absorbed in this new paper, the man’s eyes were moving from line to line rather quickly.
“I’ve taken the liberty of signing ahead of time on the behalf of my family and myself,” Rene said. “Please feel free to review the document at your leisure. I would even go so far as to suggest that you may wish to have your legal counsel review it. I can assure you, however, that our intention is only to retain you as a potential future client and reference point. Which would mean an appropriate working relationship predicated on joint trust between us.”
Rene settled into the chair again and returned to the teacup. Lifting it to his mouth, he took a deep breath of the aroma that wafted up from the cup.
Best tea I’ve ever had, I think.
I would agree. Let’s ask what it is and where they got it as soon as we can.
Looking up over the teacup, he found Geoffrey reading over the new contract he’d been given. At his side sat Odelia, watching Rene.
Openly staring at him with a smile from ear to ear would be more correct, actually. Her cheeks had a faint redness to them, and her hands were laid calmly in her lap, one over the other.
“Far be it from me to decline a gift, Mister Anatolis, but this… this is a fraction of what we owed. I don’t even…” Geoffrey said and looked up at Rene. The man was at a complete loss for words.
“As I said, Master Delacroix, we’d love to have you as a reference and a future client. It would do us no good to practice lending in such a predatory way as to harm clients. We’re not in the business of ruining you. We’re in the business of earning interest on money you borrowed. Can’t earn interest if no one is willing to borrow,” Rene said it simply, trying hard to convey the fact that it really was a best business practice and little else. “And clients who can make payments they feel are justified, are happy clients. My family has done so well not because of the interest we charge, but the number of loans we take on.”
Taking a final sip of his tea, Rene regarded the empty cup with a moment of regret.
“I thank you for the tea. Though I do have several other appointments today that I must keep, I’m afraid. If you have any questions about the contract, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll call on you in the next several days to discuss the matter, if that’s acceptable,” Rene offered, standing up.
“Ah, yes. Yes, of course, Mister Anatolis,” Geoffrey said with a grin, getting to his feet hurriedly. He held out his hand to Rene, looking much healthier than he had but minutes ago. As if he’d gone from ninety years old to forty in a flash.
Taking the proffered hand in his own, Rene gave him a firm handshake and released it.
Then Odelia’s hand was there, demanding her own turn at shaking his. Taking it, he applied gentle pressure to match her grip.
“I insist you visit us more regularly, Rene. If nothing else, I’d love to hire you as a tutor. I’m sure you could teach me quite a bit in the ways of lending and finances,” Odelia murmured, her eyes penetrating straight to the back of his and into his brain. “I somehow instantly have a fascination with it and would very much like to know considerably more of your world.”
“I… ah, yes. I think we could manage something like that. If you’ll excuse me,” Rene apologized, trying to extricate his hand from Odelia’s tightening grasp.
She didn’t let go.
“I’ll hold you to that, Rene. Day after the morrow? Say, breakfast?” Odelia asked. “In my own personal study, preferably.”
“We could plan for that time and day,” Rene said, still unable to retrieve his hand from Odelia’s grip. “I’m certain my calendar is relatively empty around that point without even checking it.”
“Wonderful. My father should have the contract signed and copied by that point,” Odelia said, finally releasing his hand. “I do look forward to seeing you again, Rene.”
Bowing his head slightly to Geoffrey, Rene left the room far more quickly than he had arrived.
Truth be told, he didn’t have any other meetings today. He’d just wanted to escape the situation after Odelia had arrived.
The only thing that remained to be done today was to turn over Caleb and Bill’s pay, and then the rest of the evening was his to do with as he wished.
Sitting in the library square and playing music or reading a book sounded extremely enticing to him. Either activity would be a rather pleasant way to keep his day moving.
We could play with Lori. Our tea party was interrupted.
Smiling, Rene found that wasn’t a terrible idea either.
In fact, it immediately went straight to the top of his list of things to do.
Chapter 11
In the end, Rene had decided to sit in the library courtyard. He’d chosen a spot lit by the late afternoon sun with his back to a wall and settled in to read.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to interact with Lori. More accurately, it was that he didn’t want to run the risk of Odelia showing up.
Turning from one page to another, he studied the diagrams closely.
Progress had slowed in the last hour, unfortunately. His skill-ups weren’t coming as frequently as they had previously.
He’d managed to get The Elemental Way to twenty, and then everything had stopped as if he could no longer progress for the moment.
Having never encountered something of this nature previously, he really didn’t have any experience to draw on. The only thing he could figure was perhaps it required actually putting in time to practice The Elemental Way with his body.
Rather than simply reading about it.
Flipping the manual closed with a tiny sigh, he flicked it into his inventory screen.
No sooner had the book vanished, than Alana stepped out from beside the wall, her eyes locked on him.
Was she watching?
Rene met her eyes directly and waited. She rarely did anything that she hadn’t already thought about in advance.
Taking the initiative, Rene nodded his head at her.
“Evening, Alana,” he said.
“Fair evening, Rene,” Alana offered.
The Elf watched him for a second more before sitting down beside him.
“In the last couple of days, a number of bounties have been claimed. The most recent one was done so by a man in black, wearing a hood,” Alana stated.
“So I’ve heard,” Rene replied. He was going to take it cautiously, but he wasn’t going to lie to her either.
“Do you keep the hood in whatever place you keep the books and guitar?” she asked.
Rene felt the hair on the back of his neck prickle. Those large dark eyes of hers bore into him, waiting for an answer.
“Yes.” There was no point in lying to her. It would only serve to alienate her.
Alana nodded and looked away from him.
“Are you human?” the Elf asked. He vaguely remembered her asking the same question of him previously.
“Very much so,” Rene said, echoing his first answer.
Alana’s head swiveled to him again, her eyes stuck to him. It was obvious she doubted him on a nearly physical level.
“I’m human. I merely have different…” Rene paused as he fumbled for a word, “abilities, available to me.”
Alana took that in without a word or gesture.
Eventually her lips parted, revealing her double set of canines.
“You’ve also been associating with a human noble woman,” said the Elf.
Rene had to wonder if she’d been following him, or if she had merely caught them because they’d come to the library.
“I have,” Rene said, nodding his head.
“She’s from one of the more premier families. There had been a rumor going around that she had been kidnapped. Then she simply reappeared, as if nothing was the matter,” Alana said. “In checking the dates, I find that you happened to break into the library on the same night as I assume she broke fre
e.”
Rene said nothing, not breaking eye contact with Alana.
“One would assume you were kidnapped as well. The state and attire you broke in with would proclaim you as a prisoner,” Alana’s head tilted fractionally to one side. “The fact that you’re now hunting bounties leads me to believe you broke yourself out.”
“Logical assumption,” Rene said.
“Further, for you to have been kidnapped means you’re of some importance,” Alana said. To Rene, it felt like she was slowly tightening a noose around his neck. “There are no Felicie noblemen by the name of Rene.”
Rene grunted, knowing where this would eventually lead.
“From Laetus. Rene Anatolis,” he supplied.
Alana blinked rapidly, her head dipping down and to one side now. As well-versed in many things as she was, it would seem her knowledge of Laetus wasn’t completely fleshed out.
“My father is Clement Anatolis, owner of Laetus Lending,” Rene offered.
That got her attention. Her head snapped up and her eyes fastened on him.
“You’re the heir of Laetus Lending,” Alana said, her eyes drifting to the side. Now she knew who he was. He could only assume she was taking all of her previous knowledge and comparing it to this new piece of information.
Then fate decided he needed more problems.
Or to just be thrown to an army of wolves that were in a famine.
Odelia had just come into view.
She’d entered from the far side and was now looking much like a lady walking at an idle pace, her eyes sweeping from one side of the square to the other.
Drawn by imaginary magnets that must be in her skull put there specifically for Rene, Odelia’s head turned and her eyes found him.
A bright and wide smile graced her countenance and she turned her whole body to face him. Without hesitation, her pace picked up immediately and she set off towards him.
“Odelia’s coming. She knows nothing of you from me,” Rene whispered, trying not to move his mouth.
Alana’s head tilted upwards to catch sight of Odelia.
“Ah—” Alana stopped, coughed, and then reached up to touch her mouth. “Ahem.”
Monster's Mercy Page 11