Day 33
Standard Year 1118
Ynsolt’i Port
Textile Hall
In which Jethri passes his first day of unsupervised trade.
Jethri makes three bargains this chapter, some to better effect than others.
I have read enough about the art of the con that I think the conversation with Sirge Milton would be setting off alarm bells even if I didn’t already know how it turns out. (Also, I reckon the flattering bartender is either a carefully selected prop or a confederate; she has a knack for saying just the right thing to keep the wheel turning.)
I do wonder a bit that an apprentice trader hasn’t been taught more about how to tell when somebody’s trying to fleece you, but perhaps that’s one of the things that’s slipped through the cracks with him being the youngest that people don’t always bother telling things to.
I think Jethri has been somewhat trained to recognize a fleece — just enough to fall for the con artist’s protestations of how he doesn’t expect anyone to believe any of this —, but Jethri’s still quite young and naive. He’s also impressed by Liadens thanks to his studying, and his curiosity bump impels him to view the Liaden’s card. He has some inkling of the weight Liadens put on their honour and, thus, the use of their cards, and his trusting nature sets the hook. But he’s never been without some kin watching over his shoulder before, so he thinks “writing paper” will make it all right.
Besides what H in W says in 2013, I think Jethri is propelled by the unusual circumstance of “having money in his pocket.” Those who’ve always been poor can feel richer than they really are once they have a little extra, and Jethri just made—not nearly as much as he could have, he learned that lesson—but still, more than Paitor had told him to sell for.