A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

Chapter 32: A Meeting With The Devil - Part 8

"Mm," Beam nodded, still not giving away that he had no idea what the latest one was.

"Anyway, I've dealt with a couple just 'cos I had to, but the fucker keeps sending more. Now I've got a list up to my eyeballs, a list of shit he wants me to spend money on, with no profit in it for me. Getting rid of low-tier monsters, getting firewood for the winter, deal with complaints from old people, loads of fucking shite.."

"Goblins?" Beam murmured.

"That's right, Goblins," Greeves said. "What, you're not scared, are you? This is the sort of thing a party of men from the village could easily deal with, it's just the coin. There'd be no profit in it for me, paying them. Be nearly a silver all told for the risk and I wouldn't be seeing any of the loot either, a complete waste of money.

"So what exactly are you proposing? You want me to work through this list for you?" Beam asked. "Just how much is on there?"

"Enough, more than enough. I haven't been keeping an exact count, since that bastard noble has been torturing me so much, I've just been tossing the letters, but damn, is it enough. Enough to keep you busy for a few weeks. If you sort that out, then the meagre compensation he gives me should cover these little requests of yours – but only if you get it all done," Greeves told him.

"So delivering firewood, taking care of low-tier monsters… mm. I should be able to handle it if it's all like that. But in return, you'll write off this debt that you've made for me and you'll give me five silvers for my troubles?" Beam asked.

"That's what I said, didn't I?" Greeves replied irritably. "Now, are you going to let go of my hand so we can conclude this business?

Beam looked between his own hand and the fingers he had embroiled within it back to Greeves' face. He sighed. He was well and truly exhausted now. He wanted nothing more than to agree with the merchant's suggestion and then head straight back home again. But he knew that would be premature. "I don't trust you," Beam said pointedly. "I have no assurance that you won't immediately set your dogs on me the second I let you go."

"Tsch," Greeves tutted. "You don't trust me?" He repeated with a nod. "Good. Good. But you're under the illusion of control there – you think you're in charge here? You think I'm a stranger to a little pain?"

Greeves pulled on his hand suddenly, running far more force through it than he had before, in a serious attempt at escape. "Wait, but if you do that, you'll break your—" Beam started to shout in panic. But the hand was already free.

"See?" Greeves said with a superior smile, holding his hand. "That shit hurts – but even a merchant like me can handle a little pain, mm? That's what you call an educated bet, boy. I knew you wouldn't break my fingers. The repercussions are something you just can't deal with… not only that, you don't like hurting people, do you?"

Beam bit his lip in a panic, glancing rapidly between Greeves and his three bodyguards. Judas took a step forward, a smug smile on his face, tapping his baton against his hand.

"So you see," Greeves continued, "the only reason this discussion lasted as long as it did, is because I wanted it to, you see, mm? I could have set my dogs on you at any moment."

"Then why didn't you?" Beam asked cautiously, tensing his legs, ready to spring at the slightest sign of sudden danger. He wasn't allowed to get into a proper fight, as per his master Dominus' orders. That meant, if things went awry, his only choice was to run.

Greeves shrugged. "Because I had an interest in this, boy. Who dares stand against me? In this village, I am an almighty God. Everything of importance goes through me – even the noble Ferdinand begs ME for assistance."

"Then, what? You were serious about what we discussed?" Beam checked, seeing that Judas and his cronies had come to a halt by the side of their master, only a few strides away from where Beam stood.

"I was," Greeves nodded, taking a handkerchief out of his inner pocket and wiping the sweat on his forehead away with it. "You have a few attributes that I like. A little bit of initiative. A little bit of athleticism. Mm… And you can read too. Yes… I'd have uses for you outside this Ferdinand problem, I would. But you wouldn't like that, would you, hmm? Somehow you're still clinging to honour, in this dark world that we live in? Well, I don't mind that either…"

Beam frowned. He didn't know exactly why, but Greeves was talking as though he was still interested in the deal. "I don't know what you're getting at, but if you prove yourself to be trustworthy in this Ferdinand business, then I will at least consider any future propositions.

Greeves' grin broadened, and he flashed a smile full of white teeth. "Well, you're right to be on guard, given that little stunt I pulled with your house. But I wouldn't have made it as a merchant if my word was not golden, would I? Besides, it's the nature of the weak to be devoured by the strong. By foiling my little plot, you've proved yourself to be at least stronger than I thought you were, so for now, until you screw it up, you have at least a smidgeon of respect.

Beam nodded. The merchant was talking too much for his liking. With each passing moment, he grew more and more uncomfortable in that square. He wanted to secure some progress and leave as soon as he could.