You Haggle your heart out

Amelia knits her fingers together and leans back in her seat. "Yes of course." She takes a deep breath and presents her first offer. "I think we can both agree that while the heartstring is quite valuable, the price you suggested is a bit much. I'd certainly feel much more comfortable spending say, 75 aurum?

While that's still quite a large amount of money it's a mere half of what you had suggested was your desired price in your letters and you don't hesitate to reject the artificer's offer. "Come now, we both know Nidhogg's heart string is unique, irreplaceable. The Dragonfall was perhaps the most notable event to happen on Attis in the last century. Surely for the historical value alone you could part with 135?"

As you expected Amelia rejects this price point as well, "Miss De Gauss, the heartstring is significant yes, but it is hardly the only artifact the elder dragon left behind- and sadly my research budget isn't quite unending." Amelia gestures around her workshop at nothing in particular. "It takes an incredible amount of funding just to keep all of this stocked, even without adding in the uncertainty of whether the heartstring is usable for anything notable. Would you be willing to part with it for say, 90? I'm afraid that's really the best I can do, and I think you'll find it difficult to locate another buyer in any kind of civilized place at that price."

You struggle to keep a wicked smile from your face, you've got her now, it's time for the hard press. "I was very thorough in my research before reaching out to you Mistress Black, I know for a fact that you managed to obtain one of Nidhogg's eyes in an auction some time ago, and I know what you paid for it." Amelia opens her mouth to object but you silence her instantly when you pull a book from the pouch at your hip. "And according to this tome-" You place the blue-leather bound book on the table and spin it to face the artificer, displaying the title clearly as 'A Catalogue of Monster Artifacts and Their Uses' by Amelia Black "- by far the most useful part of any dragon is the heartstring, which can serve as an incredibly efficient mana focus as well having numerous alchemical uses."

Amelia's eyebrows fly upwards, you've caught her completely off guard with your preparation this time. She tries to cover her surprise by taking a long sip of tea, but you can tell she's rattled. The artificer is clearly used to being the most well informed person in the room, but you don't take half measures when it comes to making your best sale possible. Pressing your advantage, you go for your last resort, the killing blow. "And as for buyers in civilized places, I've heard that Lord Elias Svain of Stonesthrow will be arriving in Grand Hyrgin tomorrow morning and-"

The artificer cuts you off, disdain showing plainly on her now reddening face. "Elias Svain is a meandering nincompoop who happened to luck into inheriting the most silver rich region in the kingdom through no merit of his own. If that young fool gets ahold of the heartstring he'll appreciate it for all of ten seconds and then ferret it away to some vault to never be seen again! Please tell me you wouldn't actually sell something so important to such a ... a..." Amelia shakes her head, and as if she's suddenly realized how inappropriate the outburst was, sits up straight and waits for you to answer. Behind her Arnulf looks back and forth between the two of you as if unsure if he's still supposed to be in the room.

You keep your face neutral while you sip your tea. Of course you'd rather not sell to Lord Elias, you're not so greedy you'd let the heartstring go completely to waste, but there's no reason for the artificer to know that. When you finally respond, its with the same practiced smile and calm confidence as always. "I'm afraid I have to put my caravan first, and that's the long and short of it."

For a moment nobody says anything, the only noise coming from a conversation elsewhere in the building. You can practically see the numbers being ran through Amelia's head, and after a minute the artificer sighs and relaxes. "Very well Miss De Gauss, I suppose I can part with 115 aurum, and that's truly stretching my budget to the limit."

"Agreed." You reach across the desk and shake hands to close the deal. Amelia sends Arnulf to fetch the coin from elsewhere in the mansion, leaving the two of you alone. "Honestly, taking advantage of a poor old woman..." Amelia shakes her head in mock indignation. "Hopefully this has at least bought me a future discount." You chuckle and promise to give her first pick of any similar finds, without acknowledging the discount comment.

Arnulf returns and presents you with a large jingling pouch of gold coins which you pour out onto the table and quickly count out before dropping into your hip bag and offering Amelia the heartstring again. "With my thanks, I hope you have great success at integrating it into your research." The old artificer gingerly takes the chord from you and places it into a box in a drawer of her desk, as she shuts it you hear the telltale clicks of many locks closing. You stand and give her a short bow, "It has been a great pleasure Mistress Amelia, I look forward to dealing with you again in the future."

Amelia nods cordially, and places her hands in her lap. "May you walk in the Goddess's grace, Miss De Gauss." She instructs Arnulf to escort you out, and thus ends your meeting with perhaps the most powerful woman in the kingdom.

Arnulf quickly leads you through the corridors, out the door, and past the fountains to the archway entrance of the grounds. He gives you a short, awkward bow and waits for you to take your leave before turning on his heel and returning to his teacher.

You release a breath you didn't realize you were holding and sit on a bench overlooking the river and the southern wall of the palace. It's still mid-morning, and you have plenty of time before your sister will be expecting you to return to the caravan. The idea of wandering the city for long with such a large sum on your person makes your tail itch, but you'd feel safe enough taking a quick stroll through the bazaar or stopping at a shop or two. The thought hits you that perhaps you could head back now and prepare a celebration for the members of the caravan, this sale is certainly more than enough to justify one.