Angel-Seeker Read Online Free PDF Page B

his head. “Not me personally. The welfare of the realm. He is offering to withhold the caravans from all commerce, to prove to me—and, I suppose, everyone—how necessary the Jansai are to our survival. Worse than that, he is threatening to turn the Jansai into vandals, sending the caravans out, but with malicious intent, to small country farms and isolated holdings.”
    Obadiah pursed his lips in a soundless whistle. “Vicious, but ultimately unproductive,” he decided. “How will that solve the Jansai woes? It will just make people hate them more.”
    Gabriel gave him a wintry smile. “He feels no tactic is too desperate to gain attention for the Jansai plight,” he said. “Though I agree with you that this particular ploy would seem to be counterproductive.”
    â€œWell, he must want a concession from you that would prompt him to stay his hand,” Obadiah said.
    Gabriel nodded. “Oh yes. Freighting privileges and exclusive rights to ferry certain products. Tax incentives. The basic negotiating tools of business.”
    Obadiah grinned. “He must have found himself a Manadavvi advisor.” The Manadavvi, wealthiest of all the Samarian people, lived on fertile land in northern Gaza and were constantly badgering the sitting Archangel for economic privileges.
    â€œI wouldn’t be surprised,” Gabriel said. “The problem is, most of their demands are impossible.”
    â€œCan you give in on one or two of them?” Obadiah asked. “Just to avert calamity?”
    â€œI hope so,” Gabriel said. “That’s what I need you for.”
    â€œMe? I’ll help in any way I can, angelo, you know that, but I don’t particularly have a head for business negotiations.”
    â€œNo, but I’m not sure that’s what’s required,” Gabriel said. “I think what is required more than anything is a knack for appearing interested in what the other man is saying. Even when you are not, in fact, interested. It is a skill I do not possess in the slightest.”
    Obadiah grinned again. “I would not contradict the Archangel,” he said. “But Nathan—he’s always been something of a diplomat—”
    â€œNathan has all he can do to oversee the building of Cedar Hills and the general well-being of Jordana,” Gabriel said. “We are stretched too thin—all the angel holds—there are not enough of us to sing the basic prayers for rain and sun. I need Nathan to do the job he has been doing so well for the past year and a half. I need him to be leading the host at Cedar Hills. I do not need him mired in fruitless negotiations with the Jansai and leaving the rest of the province to languish.”
    â€œI’ll be happy to go, Gabriel, but I don’t know that I can promise exceptional results. If Uriah won’t listen to reason—”
    â€œI don’t think he wants to listen to you at all,” Gabriel interrupted. “He wants us to listen to him. I’m sure you’ll have any number of conferences with him and his slimy friends, and they’ll want you to drink some evil-tasting, badly made wine, and sympathize with their troubles, and tell them I am the most hard-hearted, intractable person you’ve ever met, man or angel, and make them feel as if they are not being overlooked in the great scheme of Samarian life. I think that may be all that is called for. At any rate, if any real negotiating is to be done, you know I will want to approve the terms. I will authorize you to make certain deals, but if anything develops outside those parameters, you will have to consult with me before agreeing to anything. So your negotiating skills do not need to be particularly developed. Only your charm. And everyone knows you have an abundance of that.”
    â€œMy poor talents are yours to command,” Obadiah murmured.
    Gabriel raised his hands with an abrupt, decisive