Smart man. One of the Chairs gestures, and Holger returns, followed by two younger men. “May I present Merovech and Dominico, Princess? These are the other two artists who worked on the palace project.”

  I frown at the Chairs again and turn back to Holger, “How much do they charge you?”

  Before the Chairs can answer, Dominico says, “It’s five percent of our commissions.”

  I nod and fish in my sleeve for some coins. I pull them out and walk up to one of the Chairs. I take his hand and slap the coins into it. “There’s the five percent of the initial retainer. I’ll make sure you get your five percent of any additional payments. Now get out.”

  He looks down at his hand, and his eyes get wide. He shoves the other two Chairs out of the room. They shut the door, but I can hear the argument in the hallway about how to split the payment. I cock my head, listening and smirk at the artists. Dominico looks amused. Holger looks like he’s trying not to laugh, and Merovech looks like he wants to dance a jig.

  “I’ll get you access to some Fey objects, so that you can begin to understand Fey style. The Embassy, its grounds, and the bank need to be clearly identifiable as Fey, but it also needs to be identifiable as being the Fey embassy in Centis.”

  “What, aside from decorating, do you need?” Holger asks.

  I start with the basics. “The mansion needs extensive renovation to serve as both on-site housing for the embassy staff as well as functioning as the embassy. That will include living quarters, offices, with some meeting and reception areas. The old mint building also needs renovation. It will be the Centis branch of the Royal Fey Bank. One of the vaults will need to be renovated to allow us to rent out secure storage boxes. It will also need offices, meeting places, and it will need to be posh.”

  “What’s the timeline?” Merovech asks.

  “The first thing will be getting rid of the rats and making the roof watertight,” I reply.

  Dominico cringes at the mention of rats.

  “The overall timeline will be dependent on making the buildings weather-tight so that work can continue on the inside during the winter. Staff will start arriving with the first ships from Imelenora, so I’d like to have the embassy livable by that time, even if all the work isn’t complete.” “And the bank?” Dominico asks.

  “We’d like it to be open as soon as possible, but I’d rather have quality work than a rush job. Take a look at it, draw up your plans, and tell me what's feasible,” I reply. “How are you paying for this?” Holger asks. “I’m Fey and a Princess of the Hloir? Aralli? Court. We don’t hold with these silly notions about women not having money. If you want a man to pay you, you’re welcome to try getting Oskar to pay you. As things stand right now, I’m the Fey Ambassador to Centis and Ellisar’s personal envoy to Centis. I assure you my gold gleams just as bright and spends just as well as anyone else’s.”

  “It’s not that,” Holger asks, “We weren’t sure they’d let you have money.” I give him a look that says he must be daft. “My father is one of Ellisar’s ministers. You just saw me dump a tidy sum to get rid of your Chairs. If you want to bring in other artists for commission pieces, I’m open to that, but I want you three to select them. I won’t have your Chairs shoving their noses or their pets into my projects. I also won’t see the security of the location compromised by disgruntled workers because they stick some horse’s ass that no one else will hire into my projects.”

  Merovech smirks at this just long enough before Dominico elbows him, so I know I was right to give them the boot. They’ve been paid enough to keep them busy squabbling with each other.

  “I’ve been told by Centis standards that Fey style is lavish, opulent, bordering on ostentatious. We adore nature themes. We value craftsmanship and attention to detail.”

  I will show them my wedding dress and Kenric’s wedding outfit from our Fey wedding. I will show them the outfits we wore when we arrived at Oskar’s palace and for our first state dinner here. I might even make miniatures of the carriages for them to study. I look at the three, and they’re eager to get started. Fey are, by Centis standards, lavish and ostentatious on a scale that would leave Oskar awestruck. I intend to use the embassy and the bank to drive the point home to Oskar that I am out of his reach.

  “I’m told that the deed will be ready tomorrow,” I say, “As soon as I have it, I’ll ensure that you have access as well as the rest of your initial retainer. I’m certain that you want to take measurements and get a feel for the place. I’ll send an accountant to monitor the funds. When they get low, he’ll notify me to replenish them until the work is complete. When should we meet again to discuss your plans?”

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  Holger looks at the other two, “I think that Merovech is just starting his next commission. I also just accepted a commission. Dominico?”

  Dominico nods, “I have a few currently. One active, but others are waiting.”

  I frown, tapping my slippered toes as I think, “How much to delay them or set them aside?”

  “I’d have to negotiate with my patrons,” Dominico says, slowly. “I don’t know if I can reach an agreement with all of them.”

  I look at the other two, and they nod, “It would be the same for us as well.”

  “I’ll pay for your work for them, if they’ll wait. How much is it?” I ask.

  Holger looks gut-punched for an instant but recovers quickly: “I’ll get you a total.”

  I nod, “Do that. If they give you any problems over it, let me know. I’ll handle it.”

  “Can you really cover all that expense?” Merovech asks.

  I smirk, “There is a reason my king sent me here to establish a new branch of Royal Fey Bank. That’s because I have both the assets and the liquid capital to do it,” I reply.

  “She means,” Ulrick says, “that she can buy and sell these nobles.”

  Merovech swallows hard and bows gracefully, “Begging your pardon, Princess.”

  I pat him on the shoulder, “I bought a couple of your apprentice pieces. They’re stunning in our rooms at the palace. Now, assuming that your patrons agree, when shall we meet again?”

  “We’ll know more about what our other patrons say in a few days. That is perhaps where we should begin,” Holger says smoothly.

  “I’ll be back in four days,” I reply, “If you need anything from before then, send word to Lady Melina at the palace.”

  Holger nods, “As you say, Princess.”

  As we’re leaving, Merovech says, “More money than brains.”

  I stop and spin to face them, “No. I have a timetable to meet. I won’t see our Embassy staff housed in some inn, like common travelers. Our Bank needs to be up and operational so that I have somewhere to deposit my own funds. There’s far more in play here than you realize.”

  Merovech looks chastened. Holger is amused, and Dominico is puzzled, wondering how I heard his whispered comment as we’re nearly out the door. I smirk at Holger, and with that, we’re out the door.

  We climb back into the carriage, the deal for the Old Mint secured. Iwan looks pleased with himself, having facilitated the transaction that will likely shift Dobile's financial center. Ulrick and Tobias are grinning, clearly enjoying the way we steamrolled the broker. I look at Iwan. He has been instrumental. He knew the banker, he knew the broker, and he navigated the city’s underbelly with a grace most lords lack.

  “Iwan,” I say, smoothing my skirts. “You have done the Fey a great service today. My King values loyalty and competence, as do I. I believe a reward is in order.”

  Iwan waves a hand dismissively. “The look on Krelis’s face was reward enough, Princess. And knowing that I helped secure a foothold for… civilized banking”.

  “Nonsense,” I reply. “Fey always pays their debts, preferably before they are owed. You are a man who thrives on information and movement, yes?”

  “It is the lifeblood of the court,” Iwan agrees.

  I reach under the seat of the carriage, the one where I tucked the cloaks I made at the hunting lodge. I pull another cloak out. It is a deep, shimmering charcoal grey, lined with a silk that seems to ripple like smoke.

  “This is for you,” I say, handing it to him.

  Iwan touches the fabric, his eyebrows raising. “It feels… like water.”

  “It is a Fey Cloak,” I explain in a low voice, so the driver doesn’t hear. “It will keep you warm in winter and cool in summer. The material won’t cut, burn, or tear. It will change size to fit you perfectly. Pull the hood up, and no one will notice you unless you want them to. Everyone else will forget you were even there.”.

  Ulrick lets out a low whistle. “Gods, what I wouldn’t give for one of those when my stepmother starts lecturing”.

  Iwan looks at the cloak with genuine reverence. “To walk the court unseen? To listen without being detained by bore-worms like Vellam? Víl?, this is a king’s ransom.”

  “It is a friend’s gift,” I correct him. “Also, once the bank opens, you will hold Account Number One. No fees. And favorable rates on any loans”.

  Iwan grins, draping the cloak over his shoulders. “I think I am going to enjoy the Fey occupation of Dobile.”

  As the carriage rumbles back toward the palace, it jolts violently. I wince as we bounce over a particularly deep pothole. The streets of Dobile are a disgrace, muddy, uneven cobblestones that smell of refuse.

  “Does Oskar spend any money on infrastructure?” I ask, steadying myself against Kenric’s cousin.

  “Only on the roads that lead to his hunting grounds,” Tobias quips.

  I look out the window at the street leading toward our new Embassy. It is a mud pit. If I am to have Fey dignitaries visiting, they cannot be expected to wade through this muck. A wicked idea forms in my mind. It will drive Oskar absolutely mad.

  “Stop the carriage,” I order.

  The driver pulls up. We are only a few streets away from the palace gate. I step out, ignoring Ulrick’s protest. I look at the road that connects the main thoroughfare to the street where the Old Mint sits.

  “This won’t do,” I announce. “If we are to move Fey and Fey goods, the road must be smooth. Vibration damages delicate things. It might even make some of them unstable.”

  It probably won't since most of those aren't allowed to be sold outside the Fey kingdom, but they don’t know that.

  I turn to Ulrick. “Do you still have those masons we spoke to earlier? The ones looking for work?”

  “I can find them,” Ulrick says.

  I flash Ulrick a quick toothy grin. “Good. I want this street paved. Not with cobblestones. With flat, seamless white stone. I want it smooth enough to roll a marble from one end to the other. And I want it done by the end of the week.”

  “That will cost a fortune,” Iwan notes. “And the King might take offense that your road is better than his.”

  I smile, wicked and bright. “That is the point, Iwan. I want every noble who rides down this street to wonder why the Fey road is smooth as glass while the King’s road rattles their teeth out. Let them ask Oskar why he cannot provide basic comforts that a ‘foreign woman’ can.”

  I reach into my purse and hand a heavy bag of coins to Tobias. I mentally touch the coins, ensuring there are plenty of them. I will never tell anyone here, even Kenric, that because I have a few Fey coins, I can make as many as I need to pay whatever is required.

  Have you ever renovated a house or paid to have someone do it? Let me know in the comments...