Chapter 85: A lot of people to convince
"No," Rael said.
Encrid had expected the possibility of a refusal, but it still stung his pride to be rejected so outright. At the very least, he had expected the man to negotiate.
"May I ask why?"
"No, my lord. You may not."
Encrid was quiet for a moment.
He had prepared quite a few things to negotiate with Rael. He had been ready to offer twice the amount, perhaps even three times if necessary. But there was no point throwing everything at a man who had refused before even touching the contract.
Still, Encrid wasn’t ready to give up just yet.
"Forty silver is only the starting point," he said. "If the work proves more dangerous than I expect, I can raise it. Fifty. Sixty, if necessary. You would have proper treatment for your injuries, a room inside the Wall, and you would no longer need to risk your life every morning for a handful of cores."
Rael listened without interrupting.
When Encrid finished, he simply shook his head.
"No, my lord."
That was when Encrid understood that more money would not change his answer.
He could hae kept pushing. He had more to offer, and he was prepared to offer it.
But something about Rael’s refusal made him stop.
It felt disrespectful to the young man’s conviction, whatever the reason behind it might be.
"Fine, then. I won’t argue with your reason."
Encrid did not raise his voice.
"I have made you an offer better than anything you are likely to get on this stone, and you refused it in under a minute. That tells me it isn’t about money."
"That is correct," Rael said. "It is not about money, my lord."
"Then, all right. May God Vessa protect you."
Rael stood carefully, favouring his injured arm.
"Sorry. I don’t believe in gods."
He picked up his sack.
"But thank you for the bread."
Encrid stood and opened the door himself. It was not something a duke’s son normally did for a mercenary, but he simply stepped aside.
Rael stopped in the doorway and half-turned.
There was something in his expression that Encrid couldn’t quite put into words. His eyes had drifted back toward the remaining bread and meat.
"Take the rest of it," Encrid said. "It’ll only go to the pigs otherwise."
Rael said nothing. He picked up the leftovers, put them into his sack, and left.
✧ ✧ ✧
Encrid returned to the Crooked Lantern that same night.
Odd said nothing about seeing him twice in the same week, which was its own kind of comment.
He was quietly led down to the cellar, which was empty except for Crescent and a single lamp. Even the guards who usually stood at the door were nowhere to be seen.
"That was fast," Crescent said.
"He refused."
"Did he say why?"
"He declined to."
Encrid pulled out the chair and sat without being asked. Crescent watched him settle in as though he were becoming a little too comfortable in one of the Blue Moon’s secret branches.
"I want an investigation."
Crescent picked up her pen.
"On what?"
"On why a man with two Stars at the Apex Realm is selling himself by the core instead of taking any of the work he has been offered."
Encrid placed both hands on the table.
"I don’t want his history, and I don’t want his associates. I want to know why he is staying at the Wall."
Crescent studied him.
"You are certain there is a reason."
"Men that strong do not stay in a place like this by accident. They don’t turn down a watch commander’s offer without a reason either, and he wouldn’t tell me what his was."
Crescent nodded.
"Very well. The price for this commission will be relayed after we complete it."
It was a simple way of telling Encrid that she understood his intention. If he wanted to keep their relationship strictly business, she would do the same.
✧ ✧ ✧
The next day, Encrid received a note from the Lord Commander of the Wall, personally delivered to the third office by his attendant.
The note was only three lines long.
The matter of the sixteenth seat goes to the Council on the first of the month.
That is fourteen days.
Do whatever you need to do. If you have ten votes, the seat will be yours.
– Ulrich
Encrid read it and pressed his fingers against his temple.
He sat staring at the far wall for some time, until Gus came in at the hour bell with an armful of tally sticks.
Gus saw his expression and quietly placed them on the other table.
"Young master?"
"Gus. I was just thinking about you."
He most definitely was not.
"How long have you been able to write?"
"...Two months?"
"Then you’re going to earn your letters tonight. Sit down."
Encrid asked him to write the names first and then place the votes beside them.
Gus did as he was told.
First came the names of all fifteen seat holders.
Then came the nineteen votes.
The Lord Commander held three, and those were already his because of the promise Ulrich had made.
Steward Vess held one. That vote was his as well, at a price the two of them had already settled on.
The Captain of the Far-Watch held two.
The Chief Healer held two.
Then came the eleven remaining single votes.
Gus wrote each name one beneath another.
Vice Commander Coris Danel.
Dane of the First.
Marr of the Second.
Ostrand of the Third.
Bree of the Fourth.
Lund of the Fifth.
Trask of the Sixth.
Vask of the Seventh.
Fold of the Eighth.
Ryn of the Ninth.
Iolan Vire, who had run the Lampwrights for twenty-two years.
Every one of them had spent longer on this Wall than Encrid had been alive in this body.
He currently held four votes.
He needed six more.
And he had fourteen days.
"Young master," Gus said from the other table, "is this everyone who decides things?"
"Yes."
Gus counted the list silently, moving his finger down the names.
"That is a lot of people to convince."
Encrid looked at the paper.
"It is."
He gathered the tally sheet.
"Go to bed. We start in the morning."
✦ ✦ ✦
~Bonus Chapter for Magic Castle - Thank you @Nagii344