Jose watched watched as first the Brotherhood delegates, and then Ben Laowai left the chamber. It had been a very long day, and he did not entirely understand exactly what the issue had been to cause people to storm out of the Council chamber.
As far as he understood, the Brotherhood had offered a trading group their protection and free use of all Corsair bases. This apparently extended even so far that any Corsairs pirating or demanding a tax of some sort from this trading group would run the risk of being attacked by the Brotherhood.... regardless of whether the goods had been destined for Crete or anywhere else.
The Council has always offered a limited level of protection to any traders bringing useful trade goods to Crete. It was evidenced by the fact that Corsairs who pirated or taxed any trade vessel carrying useful goods to Crete, or transporting Artifacts away, found themselves in trouble with the Council and knew they were likely to be taken to task.
Trading with the Corsair nation has always had some risks associated with it. A trader bringing goods that the Corsair people have need of should not be in danger from Corsairs, but is liable to be attacked by the many enemies of the Corsairs.
Regardless of whether the Trader has some sympathy with the plight of the Corsair people, or is simply too greedy to miss an opportunity to make money, their actions will cause the likes of the Hessians and their ilk to attack them.
Watching the doors swing closed as Ben left, Jose rose and walked across to the bar. Pouring himself a drink, he wondered how long it would be before things returned to some sort of normality.
