Chapter 118. Negotiation part 2

"It does?" I questioned not quite following the logic.

"You would have to be both dumb and blind to not notice the Frost Dragon that has been flying around the last month." Evelyn narrowed her eyes at me. "It is part of the guild's job to maintain safety so of course we investigated."

"And what? You found my farm but decided to ignore it to its fate?" I snapped a little bit too aggressively.

Part of me knew I gave up the lie but I wasn't really fussed about keeping it a secret. Knowing the guild had investigated me but not deemed it worth it to help out with my Kobold problem was a little vexing.

Heath and his daughter shuffled nervously while Evelyn just calmly kept looking my way.

My anger only grew as I thought back to Zeldi and what she had gone through before I arrived. I knew Tilty was keeping everyone away at that point but someone had to have gone looking for her milk when it stopped circulating.

"It was deemed to risky to approach the farm without proper precautions around the Dragon and we were unsure anyone else was living there." Evelyn answered.

Voras scoffed. "Oh that was a mistake."

All eyes turned to Voras as the Arachnid woman wove a simple cloth without looking at anyone in particular. "The Dragon is the least of your problems now. Clovek would you kindly show them Madu's venom?"

I didn't know what she was playing at but I brought the single bottle of venom out and carefully placed it on the table. This was the one item I was afraid I'd break.

"Gorgon venom. F grade." Heath almost whispered.

"Are you sure?" Evelyn snapped at him only to calm down just as quickly. "So a Gorgon, Dragon, and a Centaur. I see."

Voras placed the cloth down beside the bottle.

"Arachne silk. C grade." Heath let out a sigh. "I've never in all my time even even heard about a Livestock farmer having that many at once. Or one that could leave the farm."

"Add a Dryad and a Fawn to it." Voras shrugged apparently done with the facade. "Clovek here has been desperate for some traders to come by but it seems that was a bit to hopeful. This city had no interest in helping him out."

I managed to get ahold of myself before I yelled again.

"That is very impressive mister Clovek. Why is it you have succeeded in that area when so many have failed? Do you come from a prestiges family that has allowed you to buy all those Livestock?" Bella asked seeming to want a different subject.

It didn't really work as it only cemented what I already knew about Deed owners. They were greedy bastards.

"Let's go with no." I said pulling out another of Tarakona's eggs. "What will you offer me for the two eggs and the venom?"

"Ten gold." Evelyn said quickly with even Voras giving a sound of surprise. "For the items and your forgiveness."

"Is that a lot?" I asked Voras not bothering to stay quiet. If I didn't have the girls quests I'd have probably walked out right now but I wanted them done. Trading with them in the future was still up for debate however.

"Tarakona's eggs are easily one gold each with the venom being possibly half, so fifty silver. The healing properties it has is offset by it being poison to begin with. Ten seems a little too generous."

"We made a mistake in not coming forth sooner. I hope this settles it." Evelyn said with a bow. "Tilty had originally had that area as private grounds and while it was an open secret that she had done it to monopolize the Centaurs milk we should have done something. For that I apologize."

I wanted to continue berating her but part of me knew it was pointless. At least if I accepted this the girls quests would all be done and I could continue. That was the main part of this trip, not yelling at the town for abandoning us or more specifically Zeldi.

Instead I could use the money to buy my Centaur something nice. It wouldn't make it right but she was trying to put it all behind her.

"We will accept this." I said slowly. "But know that future deals will not be this easy without more evidence that you actually wish to help. And we will not be dealing with the Baron nor the other Livestock farm in this area."

"Not trading with the Baron could be dangerous Mr Clovek. He is not known for his forgiveness in those that have slighted him." Evelyn tried to warn me.

"Ask him if he's willing to make an exception and if he's not? Could I have the location of wherever he's living. I'm sure Tarakona my Dragon would love to introduce herself."

Heath placed an additional ten coins on the table and I might have been a little quick with picking them up.

I also didn't wait around so with the coins in my hand made my way to the door. They could deal with the items I'd left behind for them, I needed some fresh air.

"One more thing." Bella called out. "You mentioned that you were a Livestock as well miss Voras. What does your silk provide?"

"Elemental resistance." Voras answered bringing her rainbow abdomen covering up to show off. She had also taken the cloth from the table so that they weren't getting anything for free.

From the way all of their eyes widened I presumed that was a good thing, at least to whomever could get their hands on it. For now we were done.

Following the path we had used to get here I found the main room and didn't even give any of the adventures a second look before heading outside. Only then did I allow myself to take a breath to calm myself.

Voras came up besides me but gave me a chance to calm down before saying anything.

"Sorry about that." I apologized wrapping an arm around her just as her more human half turned into a spider. "We have a shopping date right now."

Voras smiled and kissed the top of my head. "You have no need to apologize Clovek. It makes me endlessly happy that you get this angry on Zeldi's behalf."

I let out a sigh. "Yeah I guess so but it's a little frustrating knowing that her fate could have been avoided if someone actually bothered. I know Tilty put up that barrier but I've never known a place that doesn't have a few willing to try."

"And if it had been you would not be here. I know Zeldi didn't have the best of times but it resulted in you coming here, and for that I am grateful." Voras said putting her own arm around my shoulders.

"Excuse me." Evelyn said from behind us having followed the two of us out.

"Yes?" I asked twisting me head around to look at her.

"Can you please deliver a message to your Dragon?" The Elf asked with a slight dip of her head.

What message could she possibly have for Tarakona? I nodded more out of curiosity than anything.

"Tell her thank you." Evelyn said this time offering a full bow. "She has on multiple occasions removed dangerous wildlife close to settlements while ignoring our farm animals. Many adventurer's owe their lives to her to the point the guild has an outstanding reverse bounty on her."

"A reverse bounty?" I questioned.

"Anyone caught trying to hunt her is fined. At least if they're part of the Guild that is." Evelyn explained. "While I and a few of my close friends know where she is nesting because of our investigation, that knowledge has been kept from the public to avoid unwanted attention. We did not know she was part of a Livestock farm and thus didn't think she or even you needed any help."

Ah. That makes more sense. They didn't ignore us because they wanted to they just wanted to keep potential hunters away. Not that it was really much of a problem for us with the lands immortality.

"It also helps that she hasn't created a frost filled area around your farm. That would have been a giveaway as to her location." Evelyn continued.

"You don't need to worry too much about people getting close. The land is impossible to enter without my permission so you don't need to keep it a secret anymore." I let out a sigh. I might have overreacted but I wasn't going to apologize for it. If we had gotten any amount of traders earlier we would be in a much better position now.

"If you are sure then I will let the information leak to a few of my trusted sources. That should allow you to prepare without getting overwhelmed."

"Just make sure some of those trusted sources bring items more than money to trade with. I'll probably find it harder to leave once we get busier." I said starting to like her a bit more. Her reasoning made sense and I couldn't fault her, didn't mean I had to like it.

"That I can do. Now if you'll excuse me." The Elf returned to the guild leaving Voras and I alone.

"Well then. Shall we go enjoy the rest of our date before we have to go back?"

"Yes. I do wish to make the most of this time I have with you. I don't know how long it'll be before I get another chance."