It was Alexander's turn to tense up and wonder. Before that, he was just having a relaxed conversation and offering a bet and a wager he didn't want to trap the girl. Having won the bet, he intended to ask the magess to write a letter of recommendation to the capital's academy and was going to voice it even before the bet would be concluded. And here was such a huge money bet by local standards.
In this world, in a dispute between two people, any betting terms were acceptable as long as they didn't involve money. With a monopoly in banking, the Church strictly monitored all possible ways of transferring money from one person to another.
High monetary stakes in bets were not welcomed and became a subject of excessive attention of churchmen to the bettors, which of course they tried to avoid. Among the nobility, the rule of thumb in money disputes among themselves was to bet one silver piece.
- Are you so sure of your victory? - Alexander decided to stall for time and see what was behind the unusually high bet of his interlocutor.
- No need to worry, Your Grace. - The girl had completely figured out the vampire and was openly mocking him, -You have played at being a knight. Mages can do many things. And there are no blondes here! Who will ask us?
Alexander smiled at the magess, but inside he was ready to tear the shrewd witch to pieces. It was impossible to let such behavior go!
- Then I propose a bet of one hundred gold pieces! - he said and fully enjoyed the surprised look on the girl's face.
- I don't have that much, - but Martha couldn't stop herself, - Ten gold pieces!
"Lies and doesn't blush."
- Come on, you're sure you're right. One hundred gold pieces. If anything, you can take it from your father. I don't insist on immediate payment.
- All right! One hundred gold pieces that the fort does not surrender! - the girl's voice trembled with excitement.
When in half an hour the fort surrendered to the mercy of the royal troops without a fight and special conditions, it was impossible to look at the magess without pity. Of course, winning the argument was easier than taking candy from a baby, and the vampire was blatantly cheating, but the stuck-up hustler had to cut her teeth.
In the next few years, according to her contract, she would serve in Savoyardi, and she'd better be wary of the forest dwellers, because she'd already tried to make money from them. It didn't end well, but what guarantee is there that it will continue?
- When we get back to town, I'll give you everything," Martha said glumly, "Let's go to the fort. You still have to interrogate its inhabitants.
Alexander was really going to do a quick interrogation. Not that he expected to find the concealed products, but mithril ore was not a commodity that could be easily hidden, and if the mine was stolen, it was only on a large scale and with the knowledge of the owners of Zalon. That's why the vampire didn't expect to find something hidden from everyone, but he had to eat. And the interrogation of the workers with the convicts was perfect for that.
The last few months had given him a lot to think about. Back in the spring, the vampire had been stressed by human society. The smell of blood from inevitable small wounds and abrasions sometimes made his head sick. Human blood saved the situation. A couple of sips put your thoughts in order. Even in the campaign to the pass, it created certain domestic problems, which were solved only at the moment when there was a surplus of goblin blood and it was no longer saved.
But already in this campaign such problems were not observed. Of course Alexander received human blood in more than sufficient quantities and the lack of desire to kill his companions was natural. But now, for example. It had been three days since he had not drunk human blood and everything was normal.
The humans in the squad were still seen as food and the vampire would gladly consume them. But the stupefaction and rage in his head is gone. Controlling his desires is easy! I wonder if this is caused by the long and constant consumption of human blood or their constant company.
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