" Bueno, please amigo. Let us continue to the smaller trickets storage sí? I bet we can find something interesting."
The three moved further into the complex, exiting the workshop and moving onwards to a larger building. A large hall with around twenty artisans brightly lit was the home to the smaller trickets departement.
A similar show as to what happend at the sculpture took place. Mister Brisbane was allowed to pick some smaller pieces to bring home. The tour continued briefly through several other workshops and the lower quality storage.
Rougly an hour later, Ronaldo and Mr Brisbane were back in the limo and headed back to Myrthos villa
" I hope this has been an educational visit amigo?"
There used to be pictures here
once known as Richard Farbridge, OBE and Ronaldo Benitez
"Very much so, I must thank you again for the tour. It was a rare pleasure to see how your products are made, not to mention the lessons on the Daam K'vosh. To say it was unforgettable would be an understatement."
Brisbane examined a set of cuff links and a tie clip he had selected, the cigar case remained tucked inside his jacket pocket.
"These will make quite the statement on my regular visits to Newark, don't be surpised if you recieve an order for several hundred in the following months."
Soon the limo had reached the gates of Myrthos Villa, Pepe's racous laughter raised the eyebrows of the awaiting guards. As they opened the door for Ronaldo and Edward they caught the last snippets of Brisbane's story.
"...You can imagine the look on the Outcast's face when he put the new vial of cardamine in his breather and got a lung full of paprika! He wasn't so cocky after that I can tell you."
They both clambered out roaring with laughter, even the guards cracked a smile. Pepe could be heard thumping his fist on the dashboard in a fit of hysterics behind them.
"Ah, good times. Noone's ever too old to play a practical joke, especially on a stuck up Outcast..." He gave a couple of supressed chuckles. "If it's ok with you amigo I'd like a small rest before we start negotiating, half an hour or so?."
" I've taken the liberty to have a light dinner set up at the veranda. Trueno might possibly join us. If his time table allows it. If not it will be just us. "
Ronaldo Nodded to the guards and they moved into the main building.
There used to be pictures here
once known as Richard Farbridge, OBE and Ronaldo Benitez
"That sounds marvellous, I was beginning to feel a tad hungry."
The duo passed through the hall, heading towards the veranda.
"Some day I must repay your hospitality, two weeks on Curacao perhaps? Towards the end of the year? You could invite the whole familia and I'm certain my pilots wouldn't say no to a free vacation."
" My whole familia? Amigo, that would mean hardly anyone would be guarding our borders. I'll leave most of em home. They get rotated back to home duties every now and then. For most, that is a vacation. And don't forget amigo, Curacao is a risky place for a corsair ever since the Bretonians and Libertonians created a joint police force for their borders.... "
The commandante opened the door to the veranda and waited for Mr Brisbane to pass. One of the servants that served the party yesterday was already waiting for the duo.
" Food first, business later, after we both had a rest."
Ronaldo said as he sat down.
There used to be pictures here
once known as Richard Farbridge, OBE and Ronaldo Benitez
Brisbane took a seat opposite Ronaldo and requested a cup of coffee and a few sanwiches from the servant.
"Of course, I would never ask you to leave your boarders undefended, perhaps I should of said those of your familia who could visit. Surely the hardiest people in Sirius need a vacation some times, let their hair down and relax. A true vacation away from home.
You need not worry about the authorities, it is true that Bretonia and Liberty have agreed to police Cortez jointly, their forces seldom do, even before the respective wars. Those who visit Curacao prefer privacy and if the rumours are true, they pay exceedingly well to enjoy it."
He grinned mischievously.
"Would you instead accept an open invitation to Barrier Gate with whomever wishes to visit and being welcome to one of my cigars."
Brisbane took a cigar out of his case and offered it to Ronaldo grinning.
"The offer is open to Trueno too, where ever that sly devil has got to."
Ronaldo looked across the terrace as if he was looking for something or someone " I was expecting my Hermano to be here actually. He wasn't on the flight roster last I checked. Anyway, perhaps my Hermana Valeria wishes to visit Barriers gate. It would arrouse suspicion if a large group of corsairs visits those bases amigo. We can freely go to Hawaii though, wich is more welcoming for us si. "
There used to be pictures here
once known as Richard Farbridge, OBE and Ronaldo Benitez
"Valeria would be most welcome though the accommodation is far from exqusite, to say it is spartan would be an understatement.
I'm certain my people would enjoy the luxury of the Hawaii, though there'll be plenty of time for discussion of our leisure time over the coming months."
Brisbane followed Ronaldo's stare across the terrace, he replaced the cigar he had taken and placed the case back into his jacket.
"Shall we wait a few minutes? Trueno may simply lost track of time."
After a minute or two sharp and fast steps are audible from the hallway, Trueno steps out to the open dressed in full uniform an looking slightly unnerved with a reddened face and pulsing veins. He quickly regains his composure and bows shortly in Ronaldos and Brisbanes direction:
" Mi perdon, i let you wait -i had other...guests to tend to, please don't take the order of business commencing as order of my personal preference si?"
He steps up to the two men fumbling something out of his uniform- the palm sized object.
"Now look, i wasn't idle either....i was up early in the morning and went to the artifacts marked....and i guess my nose was right - just found a new upstart artist who specializes in these - artifacts carved layer by layer to show the different compositions off their insides....what do you think? This is a newish approach...and this piece right here is a shoulder piece for a formal suit....might sell bueno si?"
Trueno gets a broad salesman smile waiting for a reaction.
"You look like you've ran a marathon Trueno, why don't you join us and I'll have a look at your new discovery?"
BHe rolled his eyes as Trueno fixed him with a salesman smile. He handed the artefact over to Edward and pulled up a chair.
Brisbane began turning the piece over in his hands, checking each corner and surface. Satisfied with the texture he held it up to his eye, he nodded in approval before placing the item on his shoulder for effect and nodding again. Carefully he placed it on the table.
"It's an interesting piece, the carving really sets it apart from everything I've seen so far. Nice and light, reasonably strong though it may need metal or a bit of fabric underneath to keep it from catching on a jacket, other than that it's excellent. Oddly enough I think this will be a massive hit in Gallia, if I may I'd like to take a quick photograph to send to one of my people."
![[Image: artifact.jpg]](http://archive.archaeology.org/1003/etc/images/artifact.jpg)
![[Image: n4v9g3.jpg]](http://i28.tinypic.com/n4v9g3.jpg)