The Sect was busier than I’d ever seen. Granted, I’d only spent a few days at most actually staying in the Sect since I’d arrived, but the energy and excitement of the people I passed was palpable. I didn’t need to extend my Qi perception to hear whispers and conversations to find out why. Every discussion seemed to be about the newly discovered Rift.

That word had gotten out so quickly should have come as no surprise, the only thing that spread faster than gossip was secrets. Still, I was surprised that the Rift seemed to be common knowledge.

As far as I knew, only Patriarch Umbra and Elder Shadow should have had any knowledge of my discovery. They were the only two I’d informed, and Elder Shadow had to have left the Sect soon after receiving my message in order to meet with me. I hadn’t informed Yvonne about the Rift, only suggested I might have discovered a location where Qilin might be found and a beacon for her to follow.

Patriarch Umbra had to have been responsible for this level of information being disseminated throughout the Sect. I doubt she was so lost to reason to have made an announcement before even an initial scouting force could be sent, but she didn’t work alone. So, either someone on her staff had leaked the information, or she had informed the council of Elders and one of them or one of their staff had spread the knowledge.

I would have asked Cai, Yvonne’s friend, how word had gotten out. She was always happy to gossip and if anyone would know it would be her. But I didn’t know her, Helen, or Fiat well enough to know where they might be or what she might be doing.

Instead of worrying about it, I decided to focus on finding Negotiator Clement.

Shade had said he could be found in Contribution Hall, and despite the news being bandied between members, Contribution Hall was as calm and orderly as ever. The members of the Sect, as serious and respectful as ever, the Hall an island of order against the backdrop of the Sect Member’s excitement.

Perhaps it was because of Elder Satida’s influence. She, like most that assumed the role of Head of Contribution Hall, did so by creating an environment that required her people to refuse to allow their time to be wasted.

This take no attitude method seemed to be an earmark of every Contribution Hall. The people that worked there refused to deal with rumors or allow their time to be wasted by supposition. And because they controlled missions and payouts for resources gathered, no one was brave enough to make life difficult for them or waste their time.

One of the staff directed me to Clement’s office with little interest. He was easy to locate, his office in the same suite of space as the bureaucratic officials. Not surprising, since he didn’t really fill a Sect role. But as a mediator, his services were in demand, and that entitled him to his own office and staff.

He was often forced to arbitrate even minor disputes between Sect members. Cultivators, for all their strength and power, were still often ruled by greed, envy, and jealousy, and we could be as childish and selfish as non-cultivators.

“Excuse me,” I said, gaining the attention of a slightly frenzied Elf. He had been mumbling to himself, loud enough that I could have deciphered what he was saying with my perception if I had tried, and it took me three attempts at gaining his attention before he stopped pawing through a stack of papers to glance at the door where I was standing patiently.

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“What are you standing in the door for,” he huffed at me impatiently, “come in, come in. But I am warning you before you start, if Brandon sent you here to hurry me up, he and you are both wasting your time.

“Mediation and arbitration mean I hear both sides of the argument, and I make a ruling that is fair and equitable for both sides. Until Evie sits for her deposition, and I am able to question her, then I don’t care how much Brandon blusters or complains. I will not be rushed into making a decision on how to resolve this dispute.”

“My apologies,” I said, bowing before entering his office and after listening to his gruff comments. I felt rather embarrassed that I hadn’t stopped his spiel by letting him know I had no connection with this Brandon, but his lecture had been enlightening, and I was now certain that Shade had steered me in the right direction.

He may have suggested Clement as a way to get one over on Patriarch Umbra, but from this simple conversation, I was more confident that if he agreed to act as my proxy, he would act with integrity.

“Shade suggested I contact you. To retain your services. The Patriarch has expressed interest in negotiating an agreement that gives her and Four Element Sect members access to my Fief and the Rift that I recently discovered on my lands.”

I could have hemmed and hawed. Skirted around the issue and tried to get an agreement from him before he knew exactly what he would be working on. But I got the impression that frankness and truthfulness were vital to forming a working relationship with him. Hiding what I needed his services for would only be a waste of both of our time, especially if he had already been contracted by the Patriarch in this matter.

“Shade?

“What was he hoping I could do for you?” Clement asked.

“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “I barely established my Fief and gained my title as Baroness a few weeks ago. If I hadn’t encountered an issue with smuggling and been forced to defend my city from some of the people involved in that operation, I would have never have come across this Rift.

“The Rift is stable, and Elder Shadow believes that another Rift, an integration type rift, has also opened. Patriarch Umbra assigned Shade to help me, at least to help me with the smuggling operation and ferreting out who might be involved. I think he might have decided to expand on what help he is willing to offer. Especially since his help with disrupting and finding the origin of the those involved with that smuggling operation wasn’t needed.

“He knows how badly neglected my territory is. How poor the living conditions of the people of my new citizens are. I can only think he pointed me in your direction, hoping you could get me the best deal possible so that I could funnel whatever funds or contribution points you managed to gain during negotiations into rebuilding and building my Fief.”

“More likely, he was hoping to use your circumstance to put one over on the Patriarch,” Clement said, proving he had enough interactions with the Elf to see through his schemes.

“This time he might get what he hopes for. Shade knows I have a weakness for the underdog. That I feel honor-bound to help the less fortunate.

“I am not saying you are one of the less fortunate,” he said raising his hand to stop me from spouting a denial at that accusation, “but you have to admit in a confrontation between you and the Patriarch, she holds all the cards and would seem to have the winning hand.

“In the past, Shade and the Patriarch have both used my services to gain an advantage over each other. This is the first time either has asked for my help by using an intermediary. I think this might be instructive for both of them. Perhaps not the results that Shade was hoping for. But I won’t be working for him. Now, will I?” Clement asked.

The look of satisfaction, the almost gloating continence that crossed his face as he rubbed his hands together in glee, might have been frightening, if whatever scheme he envisioned was targeted at me. I found myself smiling widely with him as we shook hands and struck our bargain.

Whatever deviltry Clement had planned, I was sure it would mean more resources for me, resources that I would use to better my territory and my people. The Patriarch and the Sect were going to be paying for the use of my Rift, and unless I misunderstand the gloating nature of Clement's glee, Shade would be paying as well.