To Pine for Pink Opals

Chapter 3: The Negotiator

Heldon didn't have any time to apologize even if he had the courage to. He had been so fixated on Tival that he hadn't noticed they weren't alone in the grand entryway.

His magic mark burned against his neck, a threat!

Approaching from the left was a female vampire Heldon knew but wished he hadn't – Lady Sloane. From the click of her red boots to the lavish jewelry that dripped off her, she was every inch the pompous vampire royalty he was used to negotiating with.

Her guard, who stood even taller than Tival, sported the Steelpoint colors of gray and red.

Tival said they had visitors from another coven, but he didn't expect her.

“I smell mongrel," Lady Sloane wrinkled her long nose. “I guess the rumors are true, the late Lord Oran Revimi's half-breed illegitimate son has crawled back to Opalgate." Lady Sloane's cold eyes were daggers and her grin a scythe.

All the people in the entryway paused and watched.

Heldon had no idea who she was talking about, but he did know about Lord Revimi. Until his recent death, Lord Revimi was one of the three royals of the Opalgate Trinity. His father even played cards with him, and it was a large reason why Opalgate and Kalent were allies.

“And you must be Sloane. Fortunately, the rumors about you are true, you are about as physically appealing as a mule, but not nearly as industrious." Tival glowered upon Lady Sloane as if he wanted to scorch the earth she stood on.

Heldon's eyes went wide.

Tival Acera, his envoy, was the son of vampire royalty?!

“Careless mutt, even just insulting me gives me cause to slay you. Stakes and holy water may not work on you, but we all know metal does." Lady Sloane sneered, tossing her long black hair.

In a blink, Sloane's guard had his sword under Tival's adam's apple.

“I'm busy right now, but I can embarrass you later." Tival taunted but didn't move an inch. The guard pushed and twisted the sword in. A rivulet of dark blood ran down Tival's neck, staining his white silk collar.

How dare they?!

Heldon's mark glowed like a white heart against his neck.

“I suggest you drop your sword and kneel." Heldon's magic flowed with his voice, warping it to a low baritone.

“My liege!" The guard immediately dropped his sword and kneeled to Tival.

“Negotiator, don't get involved," Tival warned anxiously. Heldon was shocked. He'd never been able to compel someone like this on purpose.

He thought only his brother could.

“So, the mouse has some magic." Lady Sloane now fixed her predatory gaze on Heldon. “Wait, I recognize you, you're Heldon Flay. You filed a false claim that a vampire from my coven murdered your father. Maybe I can make it true for you."

In a flash of white and gold, Tival planted himself in front of Heldon.

“Your fight is with me." Tival boomed across the hall, dripping in malice. “He's a negotiator here on official business. If you interfere, we will block you from the chamber."

“Don't worry, I won't interfere. Though, we both know you don't have the clout or strength to stop me." Lady Sloane clapped, and her guard awoke from his trance, humiliated. They left the entryway.

“See something you like?!" Tival addressed the onlookers and they murmured and peeled off.

Heldon's nerves jittered with magic. He hadn't anticipated using any before the negotiation.

But more importantly, anger thrummed hot through his veins. Mutt, abomination, mongrel? She called him horrible slurs, and Tival didn't even deny it. Even worse, no one in his own coven even tried to help him!

Heldon remembered his own words to Tival: 'I don't need any more help from someone like you,' and his blood froze in horror.

Tival turned around, his tan neck looked inflamed, and the bleeding still hadn't slowed. Heldon pursed his lips, concerned.

“Lady Sloane is a vain wretch, and her guard is despicable for using a blade doused in holy water," Heldon said, barely containing his fury. He reached for his handkerchief to blot the wound.

“Negotiator, it's not his sword it's –" Tival was cut off when Heldon pressed the handkerchief to the cut. An electric current buzzed through his fingertips up to his heart.

It was the first time they touched, albeit through fabric.

Heldon locked eyes with Tival. Up close he saw his dim eyes and closed-off expression.

Tival hid it well, but Heldon recognized shame when he saw it.

“You don't have to explain, and you don't deserve to be talked to like that. I may not know you well, but I know you're none of those things. And what I said earlier, 'someone like you', I didn't mean it. I…didn't know." Heldon rambled. Why was it that he became so tongue-tied around Tival?

“Isn't it obvious?! Didn't you read my note?" Tival asked, eyes brighter but eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“No, it was destroyed; I couldn't read it." Heldon refrained from saying his brother burned it.

Tival's face lit up like a sunrise.

“That…explains a lot!" Tival grinned, his posture straightening, and Heldon could smell his mind burning with thoughts.

Just what had Tival written in the note?

“Envoy Acera, you may bring negotiator Flay to the Trinity Chamber. Leave your weapons with the attendant." A clear voice rang through the opposite end of the entryway.

Panic spidered out from the base of Heldon's skull. He almost completely forgot about his negotiation! He could only use his magic three times in a day, and he already used it once. Simple math concluded that he'd only sway two out of the three royals.

He botched it before it even started.

On top of that, Tival will probably undermine his whole negotiation. His gut twisted.

“We're on our way," Tival replied, and he placed his fingers over Heldon's which still held the handkerchief in place. Tival's skin wasn't cool like a vampire's, but warm. His calloused touch steadied him, softened his panic.

Reluctantly, Heldon slipped his hand out from under Tival's.

“I'm ready." Heldon straightened his blue uniform jacket.

“Yeah, you are." Tival winked and Heldon wished the floor would open up and swallow this rugged blonde whole. He couldn't enter blushing like a damsel.

“If this was some sort of plan to unnerve me, it's working," Heldon said. Oddly though, he felt that Tival didn't have an agenda.

Tival just chuckled and led Heldon to the opalescent and gold door. He removed his saber and gave it to an attendant. It was forbidden to bring any crucifixes, holy water, stakes, or any other paraphernalia that targeted vampires into Opalgate.

He took a deep breath and followed Tival into the chamber. From the vaulted ceiling hung a giant crystal chandelier that lit the square-shaped room. On the opposite side were three thrones behind an enormous teak table.

The room itself wasn't nearly as interesting as the trio of vampire royals. Heldon was familiar with two of them.

On the far left was Lady Urah, who was renowned for her intellect, but also her indifference to anything outside of Opalgate.

In the center was Lord Pan, a savvy businessman. He'd be hard to convince, but with what he had to offer, he had a shot.

However, he did not know the vampire on the right, Lady Revimi, well at all.

Iulya Revimi recently replaced her father as a royal. Her lightning yellow glare targeted Tival across the room, where he stood next to Heldon.

Heldon wasn't slow; he knew that this meant that Tival and Lady Revimi were siblings. So, why did she look like she wanted to rip Tival apart?

“Great Trinity royals, I, envoy Acera, introduce to you the distinguished Heldon Flay of Kalent. He has traveled far and has borne witness to much discord to bring us this generous proposal." Tival introduced him with admiration and respect which floored Heldon.

Despite him holding his handkerchief to his neck the entire time, he commanded the attention of everyone in the room.

If Tival really had selected him for his inferior skills, then why would he introduce him so thoughtfully?

“Tival, if you address me as Iulya and not Lady Revimi again, I will demote you. Also, stop bleeding, it's distracting." Iulya clacked her talons on the teak table. “You may proceed, Negotiator Flay. Impress us."

Heldon trickled his magic out, letting it powder the room. He couldn't suggest one of the royals as he did with the guard. One, they were too wise for that, and secondly, it would be seen as outright coercion.

“Esteemed royalty. I've prepared a mutually beneficial deal that will not only strengthen our alliance but will allow us all to prosper." Heldon gestured to the heavy offering chest placed next to him.

He couldn't spin this negotiation as a plea for help. Vampires didn't care if humans died, even if they did hate werewolves more than even vampire hunters. Yet, If the werewolves were to topple Kalent, they'd surround and starve out Opalgate.

“I present to you for your admiration, the finest jewelry in the entire continent." Heldon had the attendant arrange a menagerie of gemstone encrusted accessories as he concentrated on his jawforcer magic on the three royals.

“While we know Kalent has the finest jewelers, this is hardly a proposal." Lady Urah stated and Iulya nodded.

“Oh, these are just whetting the appetite. This is the real proposal." Heldon reached into the chest, pulled out an oversized scroll, and unrolled it with a flourish.

“This is a map of the river that divides Opalgate and your swamp to the south." Lord Pan scrutinized the map, which meant his magic was working.

“We can't access this land because of the river. Humans can be so dense; vampires can't cross fast-moving water." Iulya snapped and Lady Urah coughed, signaling her silence.

Heldon then lifted another, smaller scroll and unfurled it over the map.

“Kalent will build an aqueduct to divert the river, creating a lake here, and Opalgate can have all of our land there." Heldon motioned to a huge swath of land.

“Hmm. Interesting proposition." Lord Pan's dark blue eyes narrowed in thought. Heldon chanced a quick glance to Tival to see if he would undermine him as his sister tried.

Instead, he gave him a hidden thumbs up. Was he a child?

“Alright, negotiator, you have my attention, what are you asking for in return?" Lady Urah's eyes glowed in satisfaction. Heldon swelled with pride – his magic had turned Lady Urah and Lord Pan.

Now for the final act.

“We request three hundred pounds of silver bullion, and five hundred sets of silver chainmail armor." Heldon stood up straight, eyes set on all three royals.

“This proposal sou—" Lady Urah was cut off by an intent pounding at the door.

Heldon's concentration dropped, and the magic evaporated.

“Who dares interrupt these negotiations?" Tival barked, and Heldon was surprised that he would say anything at all.

“Sirs, Lord Dastris has finally arrived, and he is.... well…rather insistent for an immediate audience." The poor attendant's voice trembled and her hand shook.

If there was a vampire fiercer than Lord Dastris, Heldon had not heard of him.

“We will have to postpone these negotiations for later today. Negotiator Flay, you may leave the chamber." Iulya dismissed Heldon as if he were nothing but an afterthought.

“But–" Heldon protested, but another attendant had already begun rolling up the scrolls and stowing the jewelry.

“Negotiator, it wouldn't be wise to be the reason Lord Dastris must wait. We will convene later." Lord Pan insisted, though his eyes lingered on the scrolls.

Just like water through a clenched fist, his dreams of saving Kalent slipped through his fingers.

He just proved his younger brother right – he was a failure.