Editing Last Breath of Winter:Characters:Mask:History (section)

===A Day at Work===

"I'm terribly sorry, sir." Ionus offered a sympathetic smile. "But the matter is simply out of my hands. However, you could still manage to regain your caravan..."

Bat whipped around, grabbing Ionus by the shoulders,"What? How? Tell me!" He paused and regained himself. "This solution involves a tidy sum of money, I imagine, hmm?" 

A grin crept across Ionus' face. "Yes, it most definitely does."

Bat gave a coy grin and stepped reached for his ledger. "Very well, my sagacious young judge, how much are we talking? A thousand? Five thousand? Five thousand could remove quite a few troubles, I wager..."

Ionus looked up from straightening his robes with a look of apologetic confusion,"I'm sure it could, sir, but I am unsure what the cost will be. You see, I've never been good at estimating auctions."

Bats face swelled with red fury,"What do you mean 'auctions?'"

"Well, illegal goods of course must be destroyed or contained, but the other items, such as transportation equipment, are typically sold at auction. The price rate varies sale to sale, but Sapphire Shrike- He is a competitor of yours, yes?- seemed particularly interested in the sale, so it really is anyone's guess. However," Ionus casually glanced out the window, "I hope you will forgive me, but I really must see to some additional affairs. I hope you have a lovely day, Master Cord Tearing Bat." 

The young judge turned a deaf ear to the sounds of rage behind him as he left. As he stepped out onto the street, a young boy tripped across his feet, landing a sprawl before him, his bundle of goods going everywhere. "Geez, you oaf, why don't you learn how to walk! Do you know how much that... " The boy's face lost all color as he turned around. "J-J-Judge Paktricht-t-ter, I-I'm sorry! I didn't know! Honest!" He scrambled to his feet.

"Nothing to worry about, young man. My fault entirely." Ionus surveyed the now trampled goods. He gathered a few coins from his purse. "Here, this should cover it, I would think."

The boy began backing away,"No, i-it's fine! I'll find more! Really!"

"Nonsense, here..." The motion of Ionus toward the boy was all it took to send him scampering down a side alley. Ionus gave a heavy sigh. ''You can't do it for the glory. That's for sure.''
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