"Just a moment," the Toad objected. "Either you want us to help you sell the stuff, or you don't. Which is it? I wish you would get to the point because our time is very valuable."
"Very well," Mariat replied, staying calm and showing much more common sense than the fat merchant was displaying.
"The prime vintage was not the only treasure I have brought to this city." Mariat paused. She had them completely in her grasp. They were all wondering what else could possibly match the revelation of wealth she had already made. All of them were on the edge of their chairs, except for the Torch, who already knew of her plan.
"In another wagon, I brought with me five hundred saplings of my hardiest vines from Aquinta. They have been stripped and prepared for travel, but within six months of their planting they will yield fruit from which we can begin pressing wine. Within three years, we will have the first fine vintage ready. In the meantime, we will slowly auction off the wine I have brought from Aquinta for capital."
She paused to let her proposal sink in. The Torch, she knew, was already willing to back her. The other five merchants were looking at each other thoughtfully. But the Toad was shaking with beet-faced rage. He looked like he might literally croak. He could not accept the fact that he was being outmaneuvered by a woman.
"You're insane," he said, rising and knocking the chair off his huge butt. "And the rest of you are insane if you're going to seriously consider this cockeyed plan. She wants you to pour your money into this ridiculous scheme of hers, and for what?" He turned to Mariat again. "What do we get in return for our investment? Three years of waiting and then nothing when it falls apart'"
"Please, To-1 mean, Master Bakarat, calm yourself. My plan is as wise an investment as most. I am putting my entire life's savings into this venture, and I am opening up this proposal to let some of you in on it from the beginning. All I need is the capital to buy the land, the proper equipment, and hire the laborers. I supply the vines and the supervision of the vineyard. I offer the investors a forty percent share of the first five years' profits, after the wine becomes sellable. In the meantime, I offer the same percentage for all the existing wine we sell over the next three years. Gentlemen, you cannot lose."
"What makes you think you're qualified to run a vineyard?" Bakarat exclaimed.
"The fact that, with my husband, I operated the most successful vineyard in the Rankan Empire-the Aquinta!" Mariat countered the fat merchant. "Who do you think helped my husband all through the years with the operation of the winery? I even ran it alone when he was gone for long periods on business."
It was obvious that the other merchants were rapidly becoming convinced.
"This is madness, I tell you," Bakarat continued, oblivious of all reason himself. "There is no place to plant a vineyard in Sanctuary!"
"No, not in the city proper," Mariat agreed. "But outside the walls there lies tillable land that has lain fallow for years. I have examined the land and the soil, and found plots in the hills and the upper swamps which will be suitable for grapes, given the proper drainage and irrigation."
She pointed to the maps that Keldrick had drawn, and showed the men where she planned to set up the winery.
"That's government land," the Toad shouted. "You won't be able to buy that for the price of your entire stock of vintage!"
"As a matter of fact," Molin Torchholder interceded, "she will be able to purchase it for the price of its back taxes. As the minister in charge of land development, I see no reason why this land should be unused. I have heard Madame Mariat's proposal, and I am ready to enter into an agreement with her on behalf of the prince. Who is with me?"
The merchants all stood and shouted their willingness to participate.
Bakarat was absolutely livid.
"I warn you," he threatened his associates, "if you enter into a pact with this woman, you will regret it."
"Master Toad," Mariat said in disdain. The merchant whirled on her, not believing that she would dare to address him so.
"This brings me to a bit of unpleasant business which I had hoped to delay until after the meeting. However, your arrogance and threats leave me no choice."
She opened the door and called into the hallway.
"Commander Walegrin, would you be so kind as to step in here, please?"
Mariat played her final card as the officer in charge of the city garrison strode into the room. Walegrin was followed by two of his men, one of whom was supporting the weak-looking figure of Sinn the minstrel.
"Commander, please perform your office." Mariat stepped back as Walegrin approached the completely dumbfounded Bakarat.
"I hereby place you, Bakarat the merchant, under arrest for conspiracy to commit kidnapping and extortion."
Fear struck the Toad for the first time.
"You can't do this to me," the fat man whined and objected. "You've got no evidence, no proof."
"Master Sinn," Walegrin asked, "would you be so kind as to affirm that you witnessed a conversation between Bakarat and three ruffians we now have in custody, in which the said Bakarat contracted their services to kidnap Mariat's grandchildren?"
"I do confirm it." Sinn managed to grate out the words between painclenched teeth. Though his broken ribs had been set and taken care of, he was not supposed to be up and about for another few weeks. He had insisted on coming, however, to play his part in the Toad's arrest.
Bakarat finally realized he was beaten, for the moment. He bowed his head in silence as Walegrin's guards bound his wrists. But as he left the room, the Toad lifted his ugly head to give Mariat one final, withering look of hatred and malice.
His glare said better than any words that he would not rest until he had paid her back for this indignity.
"Don't worry about this dung heap, madame," Walegrin said as he shoved Bakarat out of the room. "He's going to be keeping the rats in the dungeon company for a very long time. I hope they won't be offended by his moving in on them."
Walegrin and his men left the room with their prisoner, and Dansea, the innkeeper's wife, came in and helped Sinn back to his room.
Mariat turned to the merchants.
"Well, friends, are we ready to drink a toast to the Aquinta Cartel?"
They all agreed heartily. Darseeya and Timock came in on cue, bringing a bottle of fine Aquinta vintage, and the pact was sealed with a drink.
Later, Lord Torchholder witnessed the more formal written agreement as the merchants signed their names to support Mariat's proposal. And so the Aquinta Cartel was formed and officialized.
It was a beautiful day in the spring of Sanctuary as Mariat and her three grandchildren overlooked the land recently purchased by the Aquinta Cartel.
"There is so much work to be done," Mariat said to Keldrick, Darseeya, and Timock. "And we must never shirk from hard work. For on this land, we will build the new Aquinta."
"Keldrick," she said, bringing the boy around to face her. "You are the man of this family now. You must learn to lead as you have learned to be a man. I know you can, for you are the true son of your father and grandfather."
She paused and looked down at the run-down farmhouse which would soon be refurbished to be their home on the winery, in addition to the uptown mansion Lord Torchholder had arranged for them.
"Children, this is home, where we will spend our vintage years. This is where we build anew, from the ground up."
It was an entirely new kind of day dawning in Sanctuary. A day of hope.