Tanous Va’Harran was sitting in his office when the security impression of his balcony went off. The metal slab, that served as a receiver vibrated furiously in the pocket of his coat.

Shockingly no other of the alarms had gone off.

He scrambled to notify his security detail of that fact though they were no doubt on the way already. He scrambled to his feet and reorientated himself to the window behind him.

There stood a lone woman with the definition of a neutral expression on her face.

She didn’t look threatening or dangerous but that meant nothing. And if she wasn’t here to threaten him, she could have just used the entryway or called for him.

But the woman was obviously waiting for him so he would try to not agitate her. Not like his room had any proper magical defenses besides sensoring. A security detail was just as effective and cheaper to maintain.

He opened the door and tried to convey a calm expression.

“Greetings Miss. Is there anything I can help you with?” he asked. The most polite thing he could think of in that moment. Getting on the balcony without alarming other sensors spoke of an individual stronger than him.

He waited for the woman to answer but nothing came. Until it did.

“My name is Ionis, we have talked before via mail. I’ve made an order some time ago and it should wait here for me to pick it up, yes?” said the intimidating woman. She failed to show a single expression on her face, making all of his skills unable to gauge anything from the woman.

After he had responded to the woman informing her, that he would get the merchandise here as fast as possible she had just stopped moving again, not even having responded.

Not a good sign. His guard rushed into the room but he motioned for them to wait. Instead, he asked for his workers to deliver the materials. Going down into the warehouse with an unknown threat and a noble in addition would just invite more problems. Best you keep them pampered and well supplied with everything they could want.

Things had been going well since then. The personnel had been bringing most that wasn’t already in his room up speedily.

Though the next moment the woman seemed to become cold, angry, and full of something that let the hair on his arms stand up straight.

“I don’t have time for you to parade the sub-par wares in front of my face. We both know why I’m here. Do you have the Vasaneer or not?” each word accompanied by a shock that reverberated all throughout him.

No, just my clothes, he realized.

He tried to appease the woman by informing her about the successful operation of gathering the Vasaneer and how no cost had been spared in the effort of acquiring the precious thread.

Telling her of what generosity he had extended in her name, but at the cost of his company. And the cost really wouldn’t matter if what he had been told about the woman was true. Her immaculate craftsmanship and prowess were not legendary but certainly well known. Being one of the five best craftsmen in the entire kingdom came with some renown.

“Didn’t I pay you enough in the first place?” was her answer.

A rhetorical question, meant to insult him he guessed. The woman's whims and handle of the conversation worrying. Going as far as to confuse his second-ranked conversation skill.

He tried to assure her of how her compensation had been sufficient. For a moment he considered mentioning that their status as being a supplier for her could have vast marketing potential for their outposts throughout the dukedom, maybe even kingdom.

“Out with it. I don’t have all day,” she said. Insinuating that he had a hidden agenda, she was waiting for him to ask of her.

What could it be? What could she expect me to ask of her? Have I missed a clue?

That was precisely the moment the conversation rapidly declined. His tentative idea, that the woman might be looking for another vendor had been the wrong one. She now looked at him with disgust in her eyes.

Clearly the wrong question.

In the end, while not a good ending to the exchange it had ended the conversation quickly. Which also meant that he was no longer in the presence of that scary individual. As a flowbringer, she could no doubt have voiced her opinions on his failing of the negotiations differently and with more violence. He had gotten away alive and that was good enough.

Maybe I’ll not advertise that I’ve supplied her.

He spent the rest of the night indulging in a craving for calmness, praising alchemical creations throughout the night, and falling asleep in his office in the early morning hours.