A Promise of Iron by Brandon McCoy (the reading list .txt) 📕

“A whole copper actually,” I corrected. “Ada liked to say you should hide the truth within the truth,” I shrugged, “whatever that means.”

He nodded as he reached for his drink. “Cole was a man of honor, one of discretion. You, however, are—”

“Running out of time,” I interrupted. “And I require a favor. I seem to recall you owing me one.”

Goren let out a long, drawn-out sigh and placed his glass back down on the table. He shuffled the pages he had into two piles, one that had writing on it, the other, a stack of blank pages.

“Let’s get this over with then,” he said as he took the reed from the inkwell and held it poised over his blank sheets of paper.

I leaned in to whisper. “I need a pound of copper, one half pound tin and a quarter pound of iron, billets if you can come by it, and two pounds brass or nickel alloy. Whatever you can get in a hurry.”

Goren nodded as he scribbled notes down on the blank sheet of paper. I leaned in further and read along:

One dozen long stem roses, half dozen white carnations, purple orchid—one quarter foot length, mixed arrangement blue and purple—two-year anniversary.

I watched as he scrolled through his other pages that had similar descriptions of varying species of flowers and the quantity he had on hand. His code wasn’t particularly innovative, but being that he was, in fact, a florist, who owned the only flower shop in Forhd, doubling as an illegal metals purveyor was not a common assumption, should he ever be stopped and his ledgers confiscated, he wouldn’t spend more than an afternoon in inquisition.

“You mentioned some urgency in the task?” he asked, not looking up from his ledgers.

I motioned for Melly to bring me another drink. “Yes, tomorrow would be great!”

He did not laugh. “Tomorrow is not possible for the complete order. Roses and carnations I have in stock; I can have them delivered to your shop by midday tomorrow, with the anniversary arrangement. The orchid, however, is in high demand in the south. It will take me at least three days to procure, and you will need to pick it up when it gets in.”

I didn’t have a choice in the matter; it was not like I could put an ad up at the drop stalls asking if anyone had any weapons-grade iron lying around.

I extended my right arm. “Agreed.”

Goren remained still. “There is the matter of payment to discuss.”

“I figured about seven stars should cover it?” I whispered.

“The price is a fair one.” He took another drink from his glass. “But it is not enough,” he added softly.

I wasn’t surprised. I purposefully devalued the cost of materials trying to make up some ground. Goren wasn’t cheap, and I did not have time on my side.

“I have a little more I can throw on there,” I said hesitantly. “I can go as high as eight and five; the materials themselves couldn’t cost you more than six or seven.”

“The price is fair,” he said in agreement. “But, I am taking on additional risk in supplying the Circle.”

I leaned back in my chair but didn’t bother to look surprised. Goren was one of only two men I knew in Forhd that had access to the materials needed for Dallon’s order. It wouldn’t surprise me if Dallon approached him with this request already. If he refused him as I suspect he did, I can only imagine the cost I would need to pay.

Melly arrived with my drink. She leaned in as she set the glass down. Goren shuffled his papers together and glared. I held my palm up to him.

“Mel, have you met Goren? He runs the flower shop at the House.”

“Nice to meet you, sir,” she said primly. “Flowers, huh?”

“Yeah, a surprise for Lira.”

She frowned.

“Hey, maybe you can help,” I said. “I could use a woman’s perspective here. What type of flowers should I get her?”

She rolled her eyes. “Dandelions.”

“Aren’t those weeds?”

She nodded slowly.

Goren chuckled.

“Okay, let me rephrase the question. If I were to get you flowers, what flowers would you like?”

She collected my empty glass. “Seeing as you aren’t bringing me flowers, any flower will do so long as it comes in an iron vase.”

I laughed. “Come on, Mel. Help me out here.”

She looked back at me and sighed.

“Alright, but only because you’re my best customer.” She took an uninvited seat. “My ma used to say you can tell a lot about a man by the flowers he gives ya. If a man gives you daisies, he’s looking for some fancy but not willing to spend for it, if you catch my meaning. If he brings you roses, then he might be looking to buy something from ya that ain’t for sale. Now, if a man brings you lilies, well, there’s a man that knows when to take his time.”

I nodded. “So somewhere between lilies and roses then?”

She looked at me, confused. “No… that’s not. Where you even listening?” She shook her head. “Good luck with the flowers, boys. You’re gonna need it.”

As soon as she was behind the bar, I turned back to Goren.

He glared. “This establishment is hardly the place to conduct business. I suggest we move to a more private—”

“Turns is fine; she can’t read. If you weren’t so jumpy, I wouldn’t have had to say anything at all.” I took a drink. “I did mention you owed me a favor, right?”

He raised his palm. “Which is the only reason I am still sitting here.”

“Good,” I said as I pulled out my purse and began stacking coins in front of him.

“I am not interested in coin,” he explained as he placed his hand on my arm to stop me. “I’m interested in something else.”

He then looked down at my waist. I was keenly aware that his hand was still on my arm. I pulled my arm back on reflex, and he took his hand away.

“Goren, the letter