The meeting eventually ended, well after noon, with the merchants thanking Tony for his advice. Even the mayor did, albeit a little less enthusiastically, which Tony put down to the fact he, or rather the town, would have to spend money to make money. He had the feeling Haemir was very tightfisted in that respect, and in truth he couldn’t blame him as the town was so poor.
“Things will get better, now,” he told Haemir as they walked back to the mayor’s house.
“Well, they cannot get much worse,” the mayor replied dryly. “I think I am glad I asked for your help.”
Tony nodded. “You weren’t so certain of that when I showed up this morning.”
“True, I was having second thoughts, but not anymore.” He paused before asking, “Do you think the king will order that our streets be paved? It will he
