As Lyra looked at Adorna she continued to smile, giving a slight bow of her head as if in acknowledgment. The melodies were quiet to her right now, but in her years Lyra had learned that expression. Interest thinly-veiled by propriety. This told Lyra two things. The first was that certain knowledge she had thought common was no longer so common, and second, the knowledge itself held more value than the person holding it. Looking around the room at the tapestries Lyra started to piece it together, and she wondered just what bound these 'Houses' together? Were their political ties as frail as their knowledge of scripts? And what of Talon? Where did he fit into all of this?
"We can speak more on it later then." her focus returned to Talon, "What I ask has not changed from what we previously discussed. I am new to Kalzasi, with little in the way of connections, and while I have passable skills those carry one only so far by the very nature of business."
Taking up her pen Lyra began to write, her hand quick and sure as she spoke, "In general terms, I wish for the support of an established business in Kalzasi to aid my own as it begins its growth. Introductions to the correct people, aid in acquiring reliable lines of business, advice on the proper locations to build the shop. Overarching support and advice from one long-standing business owner to one who is just starting in a new city." She looked up from the paper at the two advisors, "This, I believe, would be more of a Memorandum of Understanding between Talon as the owner of Skyforge, and myself to share general knowledge between one another than a true contract, though from this interaction later agreements may be forged to expand upon both businesses."
"As far as a true exchange of goods and services... I would like to have the Skyforge by the sole provider of Spellwrights ink to my shop for the next 3 years. In exchange for the exclusive right to sell through my shop, I would, of course, request a discount of 10% on bulk orders, and negotiable rates for more specialized inks that may be required per project. In addition to ink, I will likely require specialized equipment from time to time depending on the projects that come to me, and I propose an additional negotiable discount on such items with a provision that items or services may be traded between our two businesses that are deemed of equal or greater value to the value of the negotiated discount."
Here Lyra paused, reading over the lines she had written before she continued, "It should be noted that I am not requesting the financial backing of the Skyforge, Talon or House Novalys in any way. This may be considered a contract between business owners for the equal prosperity of their respective ventures."
Lyra made a few more notes on the paper before blowing on it softly, allowing the ink to dry before sliding the page across the table to Talon and his advisors, "To that end I propose, as a show of good faith, my shop will utilize Skyforge exclusively for all functions of business requiring Runforging services for the first 4 seasons of operations, one year from the date of contract signature. This proposal is separate from the exclusive rights of spellwright ink sold as that is a specific good required for the maintenance of the shop. This, instead, would be geared toward potential joint ventures in which customers of mine require a Runeforger, in which case I would come to the Skyforge first as they would have the first right of refusal in such instances for the first year."
Once more Lyra relaxed back into her chair, letting her hands rest on the table in front of her as she inspected the advisors for reactions, "I have no mind for legal matters." she said with a small smile and a shrug, "Thus I shall lean on those of greater capacity than I to determine how we should move from here."
"Lady of Whispers"
