Rise of a Merchant Prince by Raymond E. Feist Read Free Book Online

coffee house by a wooden railing. There was one opening in the railing blocked by a man attired in a manner similar to the two waiters at the door. The main difference was that his apron was black.
    A tall man, he looked eye to eye at Erik, then down at Roo as he said, “Yes?”
    Erik said, “We’ve come to see Sebastian Lender.”
    The man nodded. “Follow me, please.” He turned and walked onto the main floor of the coffee house.
    Roo and Erik followed and were led through a large area of small tables, several occupied by mendrinking coffee, while waiters hurried from table to table. To the left as they reached the center of the room a broad flight of stairs led up to a balcony rather than a true second floor, leaving the center of the room open to the high vaulted ceiling. Looking up, Roo saw there was no third floor, but rather a double set of high windows above the second-floor balcony. Barret’s was a very open, well-lit building as a result. They reached another waist-high railing, which cut off the rear third of the room, and there the waiter said, “Please wait here.”
    The waiter moved a small section of the rail that was on hinges, and stepped through and toward a table at the far side of the house. Roo motioned upward and Erik’s eyes went to where he pointed.
    Above them, on the second-floor landing, men sat at tables. Roo said, “The brokers.”
    â€œHow do you know?”
    â€œI’ve heard a thing or two,” said Roo.
    Erik laughed and shook his head. Most likely he had heard it from Helmut Grindle, the trader they had traveled with for a while when coming to Krondor. Roo and Grindle had spoken of many things commercial, and while Erik had found some of the conversation diverting, as often as not it put him to sleep.
    A moment later, a dignified-looking man wearing an unadorned but expensive tunic with an overvest and cravat approached. He studied the two young men before him for a moment, then said, “My word! Young von Darkmoor and Mr. Avery, if I’m not mistaken.”
    Roo nodded as Erik said, “Yes, Mr. Lender. We gained our pardon.”
    â€œMost unusual,” said Lender. He motioned for the waiter to open the railing for him to step through. “Only members are permitted behind this second railing.” He indicated with a wave of his hand that Roo and Erik should sit at an empty table a few feet away.
    He motioned for the waiter and said, “Three coffees.” Looking at Roo and Erik, he asked, “Have you broken fast today?” When they answered in the negative, he said to the waiter, “Some rolls, jams and honey, and a platter of cheese and sausage.”
    As the waiter hurried off, Lender said, “As you are pardoned, you obviously do not need my services as a solicitor, so perhaps you need them as a litigator?”
    Erik said, “Not really. I came to pay you your fee.”
    Lender began to object, but Erik said, “I know you refused to take gold before, but despite your having lost the pleading, we are here and alive, so I think you’re entitled to your fee.” He produced his money pouch and put it upon the table. It clinked with the heavy sound of gold coins.
    Lender said, “You’ve prospered, young gentlemen.”
    â€œIt’s a payment for services from the Prince,” said Roo.
    Shrugging, Lender opened the purse, counted out fifteen golden sovereigns, then closed the purse, pushing it back toward Erik. He pocketed the coins.
    â€œIs that enough?” asked Erik.
    â€œHad I won, I would have charged you fifty,” said Lender as the coffee arrived.
    Roo had never cared for coffee, so he sipped at it,expecting to put aside the cup and ignore it. But to his surprise, instead of the bitter brew he had tasted before, this was a rich complex taste. “This is good!” he blurted.
    Erik laughed and tried his, then said, “It is.”
    â€œKeshian,”