Book 4. Chapter 5
"First, you should change," Hogg said as they re-entered the black carriage.
“Do we have time for that?”
“I already sent a runner to tell the Wogans that we’ll be late. And we made up some time with Riposto. It went a lot quicker than I expected.”
“Seriously?” Brin didn’t feel like it had been quick at all; it had been two hours of grueling negotiation, and they weren’t even done. The contract had been signed, but there were still going to be dozens of meetings over the next few weeks to make sure it all went smoothly.
“I figured I’d have to make a big show of walking away once or twice but the second I mentioned the royal auditors he folded and it was fairly straightforward after that. Which is good, it gives you time to get changed. I don't think both of us wearing all black is going to send the right message."
"Why not? What's going on with the Wogans that's got you so worried?"
Jeeves clicked his tongue at the horses from the driver's seat, and the black carriage began to move down the road.
"Prinnashian [Merchants] have a reputation for being absolutely cutthroat. But if that's all it was, I would deal with them the same way I dealt with Fernand. No, the problem here is that Sion is your friend, and his uncle is probably going to want to extend that to me and him as well. This is supposed to be a friendly negotiation. I'm going to have to be... nice."
Brin laughed, but at the same time he understood that this was going to be an actual problem. "We're screwed."