?They?re a strange folk, lad. I think it?s just as well that you?ll be doing most of the bargaining with them. I can?t make head nor tails of the way they think. Their factor seemed agreeable enough to meeting here on alternating quarters, but they want one of us to make a visit to the islands for ?approval? before they make any firm trade agreements.? Rhys turned over a pen in square, solid hands while he looked at Hudson. The older man was showing his age more than ever, recently, and while his mind was still sharp there was no doubt that his body wasn?t up for the somewhat lengthy trip to the Southern Islands.

Hudson nodded his understanding while he looked out the window over the docks. With the Escape in port for another week for minor repairs, it was almost a surety that it would be ship to take him to the Islands. ?What dae ye mean when ye say they be strange folk? What can ye tell me o? them? And dae ye ken what they meant by approval??

In truth, they didn?t know much about the Southern Islands or the people that inhabited the archipelago. It made the trip by Hudson even more of a necessity. Despite the three-legged nature of the trade that would take place, they had to keep in mind what Yransea could accept. The growth of trade over the past year had been carefully regulated with cultural limits in mind. This new trade, if not just as carefully minded, could push those limits to the breaking point.

Rhys smoothed down grey hair while he searched for precise words. ?They admire snakes a great deal, and they seem to think in circles and mazes. The factor, Estha, she takes fifteen minutes to get at greeting you, and when that?s done you?re not sure if she?s pleased to see you or not. I?m too plain-spoken for the dealing with them, and that?s a fact. If I said ?hello? they?d think I meant ?good-bye? or ?I declare war on your country? for all I know.?

Quiet laughter from the window turned Rhys? faded eyes sharply in that direction. Hudson turned to face Rhys with humor lighting his black eyes. ?And what makes ye think I?ll be any better at th? matter than ye? I dinnae ha?e much more subtlety than ye dae, after all.?

?Well, it?s to be one or the other of us, and that means you?d best get the hang of that subtlety rather quickly, doesn?t it?? Rhys was just as amused as Hudson as he pushed back his chair from the desk and stood. ?Now come and have a meal with me and we?ll sort out the details of this little venture.? The clap on the shoulder that Rhys gave Hudson was solid, and they were laughing as they exited the office.