Jayne Castle [Jayne Ann Krentz] Read Online Free PDF Page B

said slowly.
    "What about her? You picked her, I assume you knew what you were doing, even if you are new at the
    matchmaking business," Ridge said casually.
    Quintel waved aside the mocking comment. "She's our best bet as far as dealing with the Healers of
    Variance. True, she's not a professional Healer herself, but her aunt is, and presumably Talent is in the
    family's female line. It usually is. Kalena might not have enough of the Talent to enter training as a Healer,
    but even a touch of it would increase our chances of getting the High Healers in the mountains to deal
    with her."
    "No chance of getting a proven Healer?"
    "Unfortunately, no. Healers are proud. Most would consider themselves far above the level of a trade
    wife. By the Stones, the most talented and dedicated among them become High Healers, move to the
    Heights of Variance and shun the company of men altogether." Quintel's disparaging tone made it clear
    that he, in common with other men, failed to comprehend such stubborn independence. "Regular Healers
    and women with a touch of the Talent are almost always married. They are considered excellent wife
    material. A Healer adds prestige to any House, large or small. No true Healer need settle for the role of
    trade wife. And what man would allow his woman to travel as a trade wife, even for the sake of a share
    of the Sand?"
    Ridge's mouth curved faintly. "By the Dark end of the Spectrum, I certainly wouldn't."
    "No," Quintel agreed with a knowing look, "you least of all. You have as much pride as any Great
    House lord, don't you?"
    "Even though I'm only a bastard?" Ridge concluded bitterly. "Why not say it, Quintel? We both know it's
    true."
    "Your birth status will only be a temporary handicap for you, Ridge. I am as certain of that as I am of
    Symmetra's full status each month," Quintel said evenly. "The time will come when you will found your
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    own House and it will be a Great one. I may have picked you up off the streets of Countervail and taught
    you your manners, but the fires of the man you are today have always burned within you. They will take
    you far."
    "Soon," Ridge said almost to himself. "Very soon."
    "Possibly at the end of this venture," Quintel drawled gently. "If you prove as good at seducing a woman
    as you are at handling a sintar."
    Ridge's head came around with a swift, inquiring movement. "What are you talking about?"
    "I am talking about giving you the full profits of your journey." Quintel took another swallow of ale while
    he waited for his words to sink in. "Less the thirty percent that goes to the woman and her aunt, naturally.
    In addition, I intend to turn a percentage of the route itself over to you. I was thinking of somewhere
    around twenty percent. In exchange, you will operate that route for me in the future."
    Ridge waited tensely. "I don't understand."
    "Yes, you do." Quintel leaned forward, his dark eyes suddenly intent. "It is vital to me that the trade
    route be reopened and that a certain amount of Sand be brought back to prove that I can still manage the
    route. But beyond that, I am not interested in a profit on this venture. Whatever the Sand brings when
    you return to Crosspurposes is yours. As for the future arrangement, I will admit that I'm growing tired of
    devoting so much of my time and attention to managing the trade routes I own. I wish to turn some of the
    burden over to others without losing complete control of the routes. Who else can I trust as much as I
    trust you, Fire Whip? Think of it, Ridge. The more Sand you bring back, the richer you will be. If you
    bring back a sufficient quantity and deal it shrewdly, you might make enough to begin establishing your
    House. Add to that financial basis a slice of all future income from the Sand route and you have what I
    hope will be a very attractive incentive. Money is the root from which power springs. It takes