10-26-2017, 01:13 PM
Jai had to give it to the Andorans, the Inner City was rather grand. It was Ogier built, but he didn't need history lessons to know that. The enormous white wall protecting the upper class safely above the rabble of the New City was like a shining city on a hill. More importantly, it reminded him rather thoroughly of the White Walls of Tar Valon; another Ogier structure. While nothing compared directly to the city of his birth, he was actually rather impressed by the enormous archway piercing the wall, the one that heralded his entrance into this more auspicious division. He passed plenty of fountains and crossed plenty of clean streets so far. The underground cisterns were aquifer fed, so the city would never be cut off from fresh water when besieged. Again, much like Tar Valon. He had to admit, he was rather curious to see those underground tunnels some time. If only to study the pylons that held them up. "Some other trip, maybe."
A Guard on duty at the Origan Gate looked sharply his way. He wore a clean, red undercoat, gleaming mail and plate armor and a brilliant red cloak. Long white collars hung over the armor and white cuffs gleamed on his wrists. Two more men flanking the arch on either side held lances with thin red streamers fluttering from their tips. Watchman, Jai guessed, given the pair of them flanking the arch into the city of nobles he was about to enter stood still at their posts. Their faces were obscured by rows of face bars from conical helmets, but when eyes flicked to Jai, they obviously saw nothing more in the common dressed, dust worn refugee, or worse, a tourist. Jai's grin broadened like a country bumpkin impressed by the might of Andor's soldiery as he passed by. Which was mostly true. The Queen's Guards had it put together, at least superficially. Where they lacked in explosive force they made up in numbers. A notable fact to not be overlooked. But the uniforms were too gaudy for his taste.
It would be a different party if he were in uniform himself. Asha'man were supposedly welcome in the capital. Not that the kingdom had much of a choice in the matter. The Black Tower was within a day's journey of this city, after all. He'd never come himself, though. Soldiers were not allowed beyond the onyx rim of their training prison. Dedicated were either too busy with their own training or otherwise already engaged with the Legion elsewhere. Asha'man were given the pin and shipped out for duty within the hour. Those that survived the first few weeks, or had friends in high places, might be directed by the M'Hael to remind these seats of power they were sworn to the Dragon Reborn and so be stationed in a city like this. Not that the Lord Dragon's wife, the Queen of Andor, needed much reminding. Nor any of his wives for that matter.
Jai felt out of place though. Which was not a bad thing. Just odd. He was more out of place in common clothes drowning in a river of luxury than as that morbid figure in black he usually was. Any discomfort in donning something other than the beloved uniform had been chased away by the need to be here, but he pleasantly accepted being ignored by the high caliber of people he passed. The anonymity was nice, for once. Carriages of the lavish sort, like the ones his family took around Tar Valon occupied the main thoroughfares. Even their footmen were decked out in the House colors or Merchant's crest for whom they worked. House Guards or hired merchant's arms were more visible than the Queen's forces, although he did not intend on wandering by the palace to find out the truth of that today. His destination was the banking district this afternoon. To change coin from the plethora of mints Jaslene procured out of the tavern's strong box. It didn't matter which nation's currency ended up in his pocket so long as it wasn’t the Flame of Tar Valon. Although he'd be keeping an eye on the money changers just in case: Andor had a clean reputation, but Jai wasn't blind to certain kinds of corruption. As he explored the buildings, he studied the plaques out front along the way, seeking a very certain plaque decorating exterior walls. The kinds listing each bank's corporate powers.
Of the banks located the Inner City he recognized most names. They all appointed their own liaison to the various Mercantile Trade Guilds for every other city. It was part of system that kept international business running as smoothly as possible. Of course the bank charged a fee for meeting these needs. Insured services the merchant and noble world could not live without: services that inserted power into the bank's corporate top. Everyone assumed it was military might that won a nation power over their neighbors. Absurdly not true. Arms kept a nation from toppling into the history books. Economies were built into regimes in the first place by the fluidity of their money, a philosophy a bank perfected. Deposits, validation of coinage, currency exchange, loans. All of it centered around Banking Houses. All of it kept in check by the Board Officers that oversaw the business. A circle of powerful men that in turn answered to investors; and investors, to the owners. Politicians of real power did not command a sword, they commanded the cash.
Finally, Jai found the name he sought. Aharon Ellis was a name inscribed in bronze as the liaison to Tar Valon Merchant Guilds. He was also a Board member and Senior Committee Chairman according to his official titles. A quick conversation with the teller as a few Arafelli silvers changed over to Andoran marks discovered where the corporate upper echelon frequented their silver platter lunch service - aka, the most likely place to find Aharon at that moment. It would have been a whole different party if an Asha'man were inquiring after Chairman Ellis of course. Light, it would have been a whole different party if Jai gave his family name, even dressed as he was. In this tight-niche world of economics, Kojima was a household identity. Displaced from it for the last ten years and Jai still would have walked a velvet carpet straight to the Chief Officer, and at this very moment be sipping on good brandy rather than walk out alone. Nor stand under the wary inspection of the Bank Armsmen at the door that'd checked his sword when he entered.
He found Aharon with a few other corporate officers lounging in post-luncheon conversation in the opulent garden at a cafe across the square. The terrace was situated a floor above ground level to buffer any potential city scent while listeria vines and potted roses framed a glorious view of the palace some blocks over. A bubble of respect protected Aharon's sipping a light luncheon wine and dining on flakey fish in peace while others filled the mid day air with conversation around him. Jai grinned at his family's former apprentice seated so alone. The last time they saw each other, Aharon was a teenager and Jai was a bloody ignorant fool. Course, that latter was probably still true. Everyone always liked Aharon. It was said Aharon could sweet talk a Ship Captain out of his berth. He likely relished the few minutes of peace he found for himself each day. Though Jai couldn't recall seeing his adopted brother wearing silk overcoats before. Or dabbing so daintily his lips with kerchiefs. Seemed the guy was thick as thieves with the noble class these days. Of whom no shortage of faces glared at the poor commoner, Jai, strolling unhindered through their midst. Wait staff included. Eh, he was used to stares. Although they were usually for entirely different reasons.
Jai slung the pack on the ground and clapped Aharon on the shoulder as he circled around. It won him some alarm, but the guy's face shifted soon enough into recognition.
"Jai Kojima, while I live and breathe! What a surprise."
He stood and the two clapped one another a brotherly hug, parting just enough to check out the other. "How the blazes are you? And the family?"
"I’m alive and still glued together. Can't ask for much more than that,"
Jai replied, not mentioning his family’s well-being. That was rather debatable at the moment, what with one brother a paranoid dick and the other brother loose a screw. Their mother - well. Nevermind. Aharon had no idea the truth of that statement. Last Aharon knew Jai was hell bent on ditching the accounting world altogether. "The years have gone in your favor, Aharon."
Gesturing at the luxury around them as he sat. The faces that turned his way already resumed their conversations. Servers were distributing their orders. Nobody seemed to be paying them any mind.
Aharon gestured, noting the travel bag and sword, "I insist you join me. What business brings you to Caemlyn? Where are you staying? Anything short of the palace and I will insist you stay with us."
He waved a server over, "My man, you have the pleasure of serving my good friend here and the greatest living mind for numbers of our time. Bring Master Kojima anything he wants."
The server bowed as Jai laughed.
"Anything I want, you say?"
He waved away the server's building worry with no requests asides a bit of tea and directed attention back to the conversation at hand. "You can save the Master bit for my father and I've got a place. Thanks though."
Thoughts of a lumpy mattress and thin wine from the night before tempted him to take up Aharon's offer. Aharon shrugged it off. Rather easily, come to think of it. "Congratulations on your appointment, Chairman."
Jai added, semi-sincerely impressed. It only earned some self-assuring laughter and follow up questions.
"You are here on business then?"
Aharon braced for the answer he anticipated. The guy was jumpier than he used to be. A little thinner too. Was he always this pale? Maybe Jai was just too used to Domani coastline tans. Must be the silk. That much lace and floral print could wimp up a Shienaran battle lord.
"Not exactly. Call it more of a personal matter."
Unsettled, Jai glanced around in reaction Aharon's obvious relief. Competition, then? Worry over the family he'd apprenticed with had come to Caemlyn to shove him out? Maybe. "What have you heard about the affairs of the Vanditera's?"
Aharon looked shocked, but didn't hesitate to answer. Didn't even lower his voice. Apparently the Vanditeras were not a name to fear these days.
"Sordid family. House fell apart some time back. Absolute wreck of their finances. Clients of ours lost a fair purse in the whole affair. Against our better judgement, too. But that's the game, high risk high reward. Our forecast analysts warned-"
Jai interrupted. And stifled the desire to defend Nythadri's family,
"Yeah. That's kind of why I'm here."
The dawn of understanding crossed Aharon's face. He picked up his light wine and tipped it toward Jai.
"Well then. How may I be of service?"
Jai relaxed. Fifteen years since he'd shared a toast with this man, but that expression was undeniable. He was in. "These high risk clients. Probably the sort to underwrite a loan on questionable collateral?"
Aharon knew where Jai was going with this. "Probably broker the deals as legitimate fronts?"
Another nod. "Probably have a few hands around to collect when the interest isn't paid?"
Aharon shrugged, agreeing to as much without actually admitting to such knowledge.
"Of course. Who doesn't?"
Jai smirked, all too agreeing. Banks protected their own as fiercely as royals with their crown jewels.
"And if I wanted to break into that line of work, who would my competition be?"
Aharon's tongue loosened once hearing Jai's assurances he was not interested in the Guilds. They finished their conversation over fish. Swapping news from up river not that Jai had much to tell given his decade long absence: Aharon departed Tar Valon before the infamous wager that saw Jai move south. And they finished up with an invitation to an upcoming Investor's Gala. Probably not the wisest given his quest for anonymity on this trip, but the event struck the same chord that sent him counting cards in common rooms. And a chance to ferret out his family's mole from the perspective of their Andoran partners. And he was really looking forward to dressing up for the occasion.
A Guard on duty at the Origan Gate looked sharply his way. He wore a clean, red undercoat, gleaming mail and plate armor and a brilliant red cloak. Long white collars hung over the armor and white cuffs gleamed on his wrists. Two more men flanking the arch on either side held lances with thin red streamers fluttering from their tips. Watchman, Jai guessed, given the pair of them flanking the arch into the city of nobles he was about to enter stood still at their posts. Their faces were obscured by rows of face bars from conical helmets, but when eyes flicked to Jai, they obviously saw nothing more in the common dressed, dust worn refugee, or worse, a tourist. Jai's grin broadened like a country bumpkin impressed by the might of Andor's soldiery as he passed by. Which was mostly true. The Queen's Guards had it put together, at least superficially. Where they lacked in explosive force they made up in numbers. A notable fact to not be overlooked. But the uniforms were too gaudy for his taste.
It would be a different party if he were in uniform himself. Asha'man were supposedly welcome in the capital. Not that the kingdom had much of a choice in the matter. The Black Tower was within a day's journey of this city, after all. He'd never come himself, though. Soldiers were not allowed beyond the onyx rim of their training prison. Dedicated were either too busy with their own training or otherwise already engaged with the Legion elsewhere. Asha'man were given the pin and shipped out for duty within the hour. Those that survived the first few weeks, or had friends in high places, might be directed by the M'Hael to remind these seats of power they were sworn to the Dragon Reborn and so be stationed in a city like this. Not that the Lord Dragon's wife, the Queen of Andor, needed much reminding. Nor any of his wives for that matter.
Jai felt out of place though. Which was not a bad thing. Just odd. He was more out of place in common clothes drowning in a river of luxury than as that morbid figure in black he usually was. Any discomfort in donning something other than the beloved uniform had been chased away by the need to be here, but he pleasantly accepted being ignored by the high caliber of people he passed. The anonymity was nice, for once. Carriages of the lavish sort, like the ones his family took around Tar Valon occupied the main thoroughfares. Even their footmen were decked out in the House colors or Merchant's crest for whom they worked. House Guards or hired merchant's arms were more visible than the Queen's forces, although he did not intend on wandering by the palace to find out the truth of that today. His destination was the banking district this afternoon. To change coin from the plethora of mints Jaslene procured out of the tavern's strong box. It didn't matter which nation's currency ended up in his pocket so long as it wasn’t the Flame of Tar Valon. Although he'd be keeping an eye on the money changers just in case: Andor had a clean reputation, but Jai wasn't blind to certain kinds of corruption. As he explored the buildings, he studied the plaques out front along the way, seeking a very certain plaque decorating exterior walls. The kinds listing each bank's corporate powers.
Of the banks located the Inner City he recognized most names. They all appointed their own liaison to the various Mercantile Trade Guilds for every other city. It was part of system that kept international business running as smoothly as possible. Of course the bank charged a fee for meeting these needs. Insured services the merchant and noble world could not live without: services that inserted power into the bank's corporate top. Everyone assumed it was military might that won a nation power over their neighbors. Absurdly not true. Arms kept a nation from toppling into the history books. Economies were built into regimes in the first place by the fluidity of their money, a philosophy a bank perfected. Deposits, validation of coinage, currency exchange, loans. All of it centered around Banking Houses. All of it kept in check by the Board Officers that oversaw the business. A circle of powerful men that in turn answered to investors; and investors, to the owners. Politicians of real power did not command a sword, they commanded the cash.
Finally, Jai found the name he sought. Aharon Ellis was a name inscribed in bronze as the liaison to Tar Valon Merchant Guilds. He was also a Board member and Senior Committee Chairman according to his official titles. A quick conversation with the teller as a few Arafelli silvers changed over to Andoran marks discovered where the corporate upper echelon frequented their silver platter lunch service - aka, the most likely place to find Aharon at that moment. It would have been a whole different party if an Asha'man were inquiring after Chairman Ellis of course. Light, it would have been a whole different party if Jai gave his family name, even dressed as he was. In this tight-niche world of economics, Kojima was a household identity. Displaced from it for the last ten years and Jai still would have walked a velvet carpet straight to the Chief Officer, and at this very moment be sipping on good brandy rather than walk out alone. Nor stand under the wary inspection of the Bank Armsmen at the door that'd checked his sword when he entered.
He found Aharon with a few other corporate officers lounging in post-luncheon conversation in the opulent garden at a cafe across the square. The terrace was situated a floor above ground level to buffer any potential city scent while listeria vines and potted roses framed a glorious view of the palace some blocks over. A bubble of respect protected Aharon's sipping a light luncheon wine and dining on flakey fish in peace while others filled the mid day air with conversation around him. Jai grinned at his family's former apprentice seated so alone. The last time they saw each other, Aharon was a teenager and Jai was a bloody ignorant fool. Course, that latter was probably still true. Everyone always liked Aharon. It was said Aharon could sweet talk a Ship Captain out of his berth. He likely relished the few minutes of peace he found for himself each day. Though Jai couldn't recall seeing his adopted brother wearing silk overcoats before. Or dabbing so daintily his lips with kerchiefs. Seemed the guy was thick as thieves with the noble class these days. Of whom no shortage of faces glared at the poor commoner, Jai, strolling unhindered through their midst. Wait staff included. Eh, he was used to stares. Although they were usually for entirely different reasons.
Jai slung the pack on the ground and clapped Aharon on the shoulder as he circled around. It won him some alarm, but the guy's face shifted soon enough into recognition.
"Jai Kojima, while I live and breathe! What a surprise."
He stood and the two clapped one another a brotherly hug, parting just enough to check out the other. "How the blazes are you? And the family?"
"I’m alive and still glued together. Can't ask for much more than that,"
Jai replied, not mentioning his family’s well-being. That was rather debatable at the moment, what with one brother a paranoid dick and the other brother loose a screw. Their mother - well. Nevermind. Aharon had no idea the truth of that statement. Last Aharon knew Jai was hell bent on ditching the accounting world altogether. "The years have gone in your favor, Aharon."
Gesturing at the luxury around them as he sat. The faces that turned his way already resumed their conversations. Servers were distributing their orders. Nobody seemed to be paying them any mind.
Aharon gestured, noting the travel bag and sword, "I insist you join me. What business brings you to Caemlyn? Where are you staying? Anything short of the palace and I will insist you stay with us."
He waved a server over, "My man, you have the pleasure of serving my good friend here and the greatest living mind for numbers of our time. Bring Master Kojima anything he wants."
The server bowed as Jai laughed.
"Anything I want, you say?"
He waved away the server's building worry with no requests asides a bit of tea and directed attention back to the conversation at hand. "You can save the Master bit for my father and I've got a place. Thanks though."
Thoughts of a lumpy mattress and thin wine from the night before tempted him to take up Aharon's offer. Aharon shrugged it off. Rather easily, come to think of it. "Congratulations on your appointment, Chairman."
Jai added, semi-sincerely impressed. It only earned some self-assuring laughter and follow up questions.
"You are here on business then?"
Aharon braced for the answer he anticipated. The guy was jumpier than he used to be. A little thinner too. Was he always this pale? Maybe Jai was just too used to Domani coastline tans. Must be the silk. That much lace and floral print could wimp up a Shienaran battle lord.
"Not exactly. Call it more of a personal matter."
Unsettled, Jai glanced around in reaction Aharon's obvious relief. Competition, then? Worry over the family he'd apprenticed with had come to Caemlyn to shove him out? Maybe. "What have you heard about the affairs of the Vanditera's?"
Aharon looked shocked, but didn't hesitate to answer. Didn't even lower his voice. Apparently the Vanditeras were not a name to fear these days.
"Sordid family. House fell apart some time back. Absolute wreck of their finances. Clients of ours lost a fair purse in the whole affair. Against our better judgement, too. But that's the game, high risk high reward. Our forecast analysts warned-"
Jai interrupted. And stifled the desire to defend Nythadri's family,
"Yeah. That's kind of why I'm here."
The dawn of understanding crossed Aharon's face. He picked up his light wine and tipped it toward Jai.
"Well then. How may I be of service?"
Jai relaxed. Fifteen years since he'd shared a toast with this man, but that expression was undeniable. He was in. "These high risk clients. Probably the sort to underwrite a loan on questionable collateral?"
Aharon knew where Jai was going with this. "Probably broker the deals as legitimate fronts?"
Another nod. "Probably have a few hands around to collect when the interest isn't paid?"
Aharon shrugged, agreeing to as much without actually admitting to such knowledge.
"Of course. Who doesn't?"
Jai smirked, all too agreeing. Banks protected their own as fiercely as royals with their crown jewels.
"And if I wanted to break into that line of work, who would my competition be?"
Aharon's tongue loosened once hearing Jai's assurances he was not interested in the Guilds. They finished their conversation over fish. Swapping news from up river not that Jai had much to tell given his decade long absence: Aharon departed Tar Valon before the infamous wager that saw Jai move south. And they finished up with an invitation to an upcoming Investor's Gala. Probably not the wisest given his quest for anonymity on this trip, but the event struck the same chord that sent him counting cards in common rooms. And a chance to ferret out his family's mole from the perspective of their Andoran partners. And he was really looking forward to dressing up for the occasion.
Only darkness shows you the light.