he turned back to Rovigo. Who was now stroking his chin in a fine imitation of a shrewdly avaricious businessman.
"Well," the merchant said in a greedy, wheedling voice, "you appear to have made a most . . . intriguing proposal, gentlemen. I do have to ask one or two preliminary questions. I've known Alessan for some time, but this particular issue has never come up before, you understand." His eyes narrowed with exaggerated cunning. "What, if anything, do you know about business?"
Alessan gave a sudden burst of laughter, then quickly grew serious again. "Have you any money to hand?" he asked.
"I've my ship just in," Rovigo replied. "Cash from two days' transactions and easy credit based on profits over the next few weeks. Why?"
"I would suggest buying a reasonable but not indiscreet amount of grain in the next forty-eight hours. Twenty-four hours, actually, if you can."
Rovigo looked thoughtful. "I could do that," he said. "And my means are sufficiently limited that no purchase I made would be large enough to be indiscreet. I have a contact, too, the steward at the Nievolene farms by the Ferraut border."
"Not from Nievole," Alessan said quickly.
Another silence. Rovigo nodded his head slowly. "I see," he said, startling Devin again with his quickness. "You think we can expect some confiscation after the Festival?"
"You can," Alessan said. "Among all the other even less pleasant things. Have you another source for buying up grain?"
"I might." Rovigo looked from Alessan to Devin and back again. "Four partners, then," he said crisply. "The three of you and Baerd. Is that right?"
Alessan nodded. "Almost right, but make it five partners. There is one other person who should be brought in to divide our share, if that is all right with you?"
"Why should it not be?" Rovigo shrugged. "That doesn't touch my share at all. Will I meet this person?"
"I hope so, sooner or later," said Alessan. "I expect you will be happy with each other."
"Fine," Rovigo said crisply. "The usual terms for a contraina association are two-thirds to the one investing the funds, and one third to the ones who do the traveling and put in the time. Based on what you have just told me I will accept that you are likely to be able to offer information which will be of real value to our venture. I propose a half interest each way on all affairs were jointly conduct. Is that acceptable?"
He was looking at Devin. With as much composure as he could manage, Devin replied, "It is quite acceptable."
"It is more than fair," Alessan agreed. His expression was troubled again; he looked as if he would go on.〓〓網〓
"It is done, then," said Rovigo quickly. "No more to be said, Alessan. We will go into town tomorrow to have the contraina formally drawn up and sealed. Which way do you plan to go after the Festival?"
"Ferraut, I think," said Alessan slowly. "We can discuss what comes after, but I have something to do there, and an idea for some trade with Senzio we might want to consider."
"Ferraut?" said Rovigo, ignoring the latter remarks. A smile slowly widened across his face. "Ferraut! That is splendid. Absolutely splendid! You can save us some money already. I'll give you a cart and all of you can take Ingonida her new bed!"
On the way upstairs Alais couldn't remember when she had last been so happy. Not that she was prone to moodiness like Selvena, but life at home tended to be very quiet, especially when her father was away.
And now so many things seemed to be happening at once.
Rovigo was home after a longer trip than usual down the coast. Alix and Alais were never at ease when he ventured south of the mountains into Quileia, no matter how many times he reassured them of his caution. And on top of that, this trip had come unsettlingly late in the season of autumn winds. But he was home now, and palm to palm with his return had come the Festival of Vines. It was her second one, and Alais had loved every moment of the day and night, absorbing with her wide, al