Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 126030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Given it was on display in a prominent place in this gorgeous house, he’d been correct.
“You outdid me.” Gerard paused at the sculpture, narrowing his eyes at me. “This is classy and expensive. I can never seem to get the two together.”
“I beg to differ,” Tristan said, following us with the other guardians. “The Porsche you gave Jessie was expensive and very classy. I love that car.”
Gerard shrugged. “I’ll take it, though it definitely isn’t classy like this.”
Evan paused to admire the sculpture. “It’s stunning. Every time I pass it, I’m riveted. The gold could be fake and the stone cheap, and I’d still stop and stare at it. The design, a flame in a breeze swirling with gold, is entrancing. The artistry is excellent.” He shook himself out of his daze, his eyes shining as he looked at me. “It’s perfect. You’ve pinpointed my love of art.”
I opened my mouth to say that Tristan picked it out when I noticed the very subtle shake of his head, an action the gargoyles would surely miss. Training to read body language had its perks.
Instead, I said, “I have the bowl sculpture you sent on display, as well. Naomi, Austin’s grandmother, is remodeling our home, and she had hoped it came from a new production cairn we’d acquired.”
His smile was appreciative. He inclined his head in thanks. “That production cairn has yielded some great artistry. It is something of a risk, of course.”
“Why is that?” Austin asked, following him as he moved on.
Light flickered from sconces on the walls, decorative bulbs made to look like small flames that resembled torches. He stopped in front of two wood paneled doors and his gargoyles stepped forward to push them open.
“Our kind typically look for practical items over those that are decorative.” He led the way into the drawing room. “If they spend money, it’s often on nice fabric for clothes or jewelry, or on furniture made to last. The glass coming out of that production cairn is mostly decorative. We can make wine and drinking glasses, bowls and plates, vases—but all of it will be higher priced than the usual fare. It’s made to impress, not to exist. Then, of course, we make the sculptures, chandeliers, things like that. I’m not sure the gargoyle culture is going to buy on a large enough scale to earn real income. I’m coming up with ways to pivot if we need to.”
I marveled at the study. It had the same gothic feel as the rest of the house, with a high ceiling and tall, mullioned windows. Heavy velvet curtains in a deep mustard color swept to either side, allowing in muted lighting. A large stone hearth on one wall with paintings caught Tristan’s eye, and he went to investigate. Plush, burnt-red velvet sofas sat atop a patterned rug that somehow brought the room together. Lights made to look like candles glowed on the walls. It was absolutely gorgeous. Mimi couldn’t have designed this room better.
“And why do you plan to only sell to your kind?” Austin asked, taking a seat on one of the sofas. After I sat next to him, he laid his arm across the back behind me. “Why do gargoyles keep all their products in-house?”
Evan sat facing us, and Gerard took the other couch. A tray housed snacks on the coffee table between us similar to those that had been offered on the plane, and a stand of drinks were kept on a rolling cart off to the side. The moment we were comfortable, a woman in a white coat and black slacks came in to fill our plates and offer us drinks.
“Because…” Evan blinked at him for a silent moment. “That’s our market.”
Gerard accepted a plate of cheeses and grapes before asking for a vodka soda with two limes. “Austin brought this up to me, too.” He leaned against a pillow and threw an ankle over his knee, getting comfortable. “After I stuttered for a bit, I realized the answer was that we don’t know how to sell to anyone else. We’ve cut ourselves off from Dicks and Janes, we don’t do much with shifters, and mages are too dangerous. Who else are we going to sell to?”
Austin passed on the snacks, having eaten his fill on the plane, but accepted a glass of sparkling water. He didn’t immediately comment.
Gerard went on, cheese stuffed in his cheek. “Even if we could sell to Dicks…” He pushed up a little more, swallowed and went on. “My cairn isn’t setup to get large shipments of product to them, and we certainly aren’t set up to ship direct to customer. We’re not as removed as this cairn, but we’re also high up in a mountain. Most of our production cairns are, as well. It isn’t feasible.”
Evan hadn’t looked away from Austin. “What Gerard says is true of most cairns,” he said. “We have the airstrip right there, though. Withor had his faults, but he did have a logistical mind. Regular shipments in private jets would be pricy, however. I doubt parcel carriers would come all the way out here. It wouldn’t be worth their while. And then there is how to sell in the Dick world. I wouldn’t have the first clue. Shifters, either.”