After Breda composed herself, the man spoke once more.
"Like what you see? I was told I was meeting with one of my stakeholders so I dressed in my ceremonial garb." There was something resembling a shit-eating grin plastered on his face, but other than that (and his hideously showy clothing) he retained all the mannerisms of a proper businessman. "Its a shame it was only a little lass doing some courier work. Still, a token is a token, so I will show you only the utmost hospitality. I may have all the time in the world, but I don't have enough money to buy more of it, so I would prefer if we could get to negotiations sooner than later."
Breda had almost forgotten about the gel! Scrambling for the bag, which had conveniently been placed by the foot of the bed, Breda took out the jars one by one. There wasn't really a table within reach, so she placed them on the floor. Finished with evacuating the bag's contents, she gave a curt bow to the man as a quick apology. "Merri told me to bring these to you and receive the payment."
"I mean I kind of guessed it was Merri after seeing her signature product, but I never suspected she would send someone else in her place. What's your name lassie?"
Normally, Breda disdained being treated like a little girl, but this gentleman she had come to the conclusion was the owner of the Gillian House seemed old enough to be her dad. It honestly felt right that he was calling her things like lass or girly. "Breda, wife of Nofafi."
"Which one?"
"Pardon?"
"Which Nofafi?"
"There's another one?"
"Not that I know of, but I'd feel horrible if the one I knew was not your husband and just assumed as such."
"Ah, um, he is a courier?"
"Anything else?"
"Uuuuuuuuh, he is my Husband?"
"This isn't going anywhere.... Thinner man? Kinda slim on the arms and legs? Bit of a, how shall I say, 'unique' nose?"
This sounded eerily like him. "I would assume so."
"In that case how wonderful. I always wondered what sort of woman would be able to deal with his blabbering. Always going on about this scenery or that. That or his kids. Don't get him going on that if you plan on falling asleep in the next month. Though I suppose you would know more than him about his kids... In that case how is Ering doing?"
"Wait, you know my husband?" Breda was incredulous. How small of a world was it that the owner of such a prestigious establishment would know Nofafi on what she assumed was a personal level.
"What are you, silly? He is a courier! Of course I know him! He runs contracts and correspondence to my other branches all the time. His most recent trip is taking him to one of my shops down the coast. There's a big order of seasonal fish I needed to make on the double. No single person I trust more to deliver the mail than Nofafi." He seemed to be admonishing her over this. "Its like I say, 'No faster feet than Nofafi.' Though I will admit that it hasn't really caught on."
There was a little bit of an awkward pause as Breda struggled to think of a response to that and the man sat there thinking about a better slogan.
"Why are you running errands for Merri?" The man, seeming to have realized the oddity of the situation, tore his head from the clouds and returned to earth. "She would normally do this herself... There ain't something wrong is there?"
"No. She just told me to bring them here and you would take care of it."
He picked up one of the jars and read the label. "Normally I would haggle when someone brings something like this in, but I tend to give Merri asking price..." He looked over a few more. "The overall quality is a bit lower than I would have expected. I suppose even she has her bad days."
This man talks a lot.
"She took a few jars for herself. Something about restocking the guards' emergency supply?" Best keep Arc a secret.
"Well aren't you just a bundle of information. Oh yeah, how's Jamie's brat doing? I know he's back on the mainland by decree of lady Godiva, but I'm sure he's champing at the bit to return home. Is that kid being fed well? If you need a hand getting anything for him don't be afraid to ask. I owe James more than I care to say."
"You know about Arc?!?!"
"Yeah that's his name. Why wouldn't I? Despite how often I shake my lower lip I can keep a secret? If James ever decides to send a present back home to, Arc was it, he said he was gonna send it through me. Can't risk any undesirables learning about his wife's only legacy."
"Why do you know about Arc?!"
"Do you ever listen? I just told ya. Despite how my clothes may portray me I can do my job seriously."
Breda just sat still, disbelieving that something she viewed as the ultimate secret was something this man she didn't even know the name of also knew. What kind of cruel joke was Jamie playing on her. She had stressed when talking to people to make sure that Arc was kept hidden! And this dude just blabbed on about him as if there wasn't an issue.
"Haaaa, I guess you aren't the talkative type. I'll get the payment for the gel. I'm adding a twenty percent increase to her asking price. She told me all about your anniversary situation in her note and I honestly have too much money to spend. If you need any help with finding stuff now is the time to ask. No better place on the peninsula to find something." With his last comment, his face turned smug.
He is cocky, no doubt, but he has the wares to back it up.