Robin Hobb - The Complete Liveship Traders Trilogy - Ship of Magic, The Mad Ship, Ship of Destiny

So it was not until the food was finished and the women were sharing the last cup of cooled tea in the pot, not until the social conversation had died to a natural silence that the time came to discuss the final purpose of Caolwn’s visit. Caolwn took a deep breath and began the formality of the discussion. Long ago the Bingtown Traders had discovered that this was one way to separate business from pleasure. The change in language did not negate the friendship the women shared, but it recognized that in manners of business, different rules applied and must be observed by all. It was a safeguard for a small society in which friends and relatives were also one’s business contacts. ‘The liveship Vivacia has quickened. Is she all that was promised?’

Despite her recent grief, Ronica felt a genuine smile rise onto her face. ‘She is all that was promised, and freely do we acknowledge that.’

‘Then we are pleased to accept that which was promised for her.’

‘As we are pleased to tender it.’ Ronica took a breath and abruptly wished she had brought up the short measure earlier. But it would not have been correct nor fair to make that a part of their friendship. Hard as it was for her to speak it, this was the correct time. She groped for words for this unusual situation. ‘We acknowledge also that we owe you more at this time than we have been able to gather.’ Ronica forced herself to sit straight and meet the surprise in Caolwn’s lavender eyes. ‘We are a full two measures short. We would ask that this additional amount be carried until our next meeting, at which time I assure you we shall pay all that we owe then, and the two additional measures, plus one-quarter measure of additional interest.’

A long silence followed as Caolwn pondered. They both knew the full weight of Bingtown law gave her much leeway in what she could demand as interest for Ronica’s failed payment. Ronica was prepared to hear her demand as much as a full additional two measures. She hoped they would settle between a half and one measure. Even to come up with that much was going to tax her ingenuity to its limits. But when Caolwn did speak, the soft words chilled Ronica’s blood. ‘Blood or gold, the debt is owed,’ Caolwn invoked.

Ronica’s heart skipped in her chest. Who could she mean? None of the answers that came to her pleased her. She tried to keep the quaver out of her voice, she sternly reminded herself that a bargain was a bargain, but one could always try to better the terms. She took the least likely stance. ‘I am but newly widowed,’ she pointed out. ‘And even if I had had the time to complete my mourning, I am scarcely suitable to the pledge. I am too old to bear healthy children to anyone, Caolwn. It has been years since I even hoped I would bear another son to Ephron.’

‘You have daughters,’ Caolwn pointed out carefully.

‘One wed, one missing,’ Ronica quickly agreed. ‘How can I promise you that which I do not have the possession of?’

‘Althea is missing?’

Ronica nodded, feeling again that stab of pain. Not knowing. The greatest dread that any sea-going family had for its members. That some day one would simply disappear, and those at home would never know what became of them…

‘I must ask this,’ Caolwn almost apologized. ‘It is required of me, in duty to my family. Althea would not… hide herself, or flee, to avoid the terms of our bargain?’

‘You have to ask that, and so I take no offence.’ Nonetheless, Ronica was hard put to keep the chill from her voice. ‘Althea is Bingtown to the bone. She would die rather than betray her family’s word on this. Wherever she is, if she still lives, she is bound, and knows she is bound. If you choose to call in our debt, and she knows of it, she will come to answer for it.’

‘I thought as much,’ Caolwn acknowledged warmly. But she still went on implacably, ‘But you have a grand-daughter and grandsons as well, and they are as firmly bound as she. I have two grandsons and a grand-daughter. All approach marriageable age.’

Ronica shook her head, managed a snort of forced laughter. ‘My grandchildren are children still, not ready for marriage for years yet. The only one who is close to that age has sailed off with his father. And he is pledged to Sa’s priesthood,’ she added. ‘It is as I have told you. I cannot pledge you that which I do not possess.’

‘A moment ago, you were willing to pledge gold you did not yet possess,’ Caolwn countered. ‘Gold or blood, it is all a matter of time for the debt to be paid, Ronica. And if we are willing to wait and let you set the time to pay it, perhaps you should be more willing to let us determine the coin of payment.’

Ronica picked up her teacup and found it empty. She stood hastily. ‘Shall I put on the kettle for more tea?’ she inquired politely.

‘Only if it will boil swiftly,’ Caolwn replied. ‘Night will not linger for us to barter, Ronica. The bargain must be set soon. I am reluctant to be found walking about Bingtown by day. There are far too many ignorant folk, unmindful of the ancient bargains that bind us all.’

‘Of course.’ Ronica sat down hastily. She was rattled. She abruptly and vindictively wished that Keffria were here. By all rights, Keffria should be here; the family fortunes were hers to control now, not Ronica’s. Let her face something like this and see how well she would deal with it. A new chill went up Ronica’s spine; she feared she knew how Keffria would deal with it. She’d turn it over to Kyle, who had no inkling of all that was at stake here. He had no concept of what the old covenants were; she doubted that even if he were told, he’d adhere to them. No. He’d see this as a cold business deal. He’d be like those ones who had come to despise the Rain Wild folk, who dealt with them only for the profit involved, with no idea of all Bingtown owed to them. Keffria would surrender the fate of her whole family to Kyle, and he would treat it as if he were buying merchandise.

In the moment of realizing that, Ronica crossed a line. It was not easily done, for it involved sacrificing her honour. But what was honour compared to protecting one’s family and one’s word? If deceptions must be made and lies must be told, then so be it. She could not recall that she had ever in her life decided so coldly to do what she had always perceived as wrong. But then again, she could not recall that she had ever faced so desperate a set of choices before. For one black moment, her soul wailed out to Ephron, to the man who had always stood behind her and supported her in her decisions, and by his trust in her decisions given her faith in herself. She sorely missed that backing just now.

She lifted her eyes and met Caolwn’s hooded gaze. ‘Will you give me some leeway?’ she asked simply. She hesitated a moment, then set the stakes high in order to tempt the other woman. ‘The next payment is due in mid-winter, correct?’

Caolwn nodded.

‘I will owe you twelve measures of gold, for the regular payment.’

Again the woman nodded. This was one of Ephron’s tricks in striking a bargain. Get them agreeing with you, set up a pattern of agreement, and sometimes the competitor could be led into agreeing to a term before he had given it thought.

‘And I will also owe you the two measures of gold I am short this time, plus an additional two measures of gold to make up for the lateness of the payment.’ Ronica tried to keep her voice steady and casual as she named the princely sum. She smiled at Caolwn.

Caolwn smiled in return. ‘And if you do not have it, we shall adhere to our family’s original pledge. In blood or gold, the debt is owed. You shall forfeit a daughter or a grandchild to my family.’

There was no negotiating that. It had been pledged years ago, by Ephron’s grandmother. No Trader family would dream of going back on the given pledge of an ancestor. The nod she gave was a very stiff one, and the words she spoke she said carefully, binding the other woman with them. ‘But if I have for you a full sixteen measures of gold, then you will accept it as payment.’