Crystallis Verdantglass's Arc

Chapter 7 of 18

Crystallis stood in the center of the empty hall, watching dust settle in the afternoon light. He'd secured the lease, but that solved nothing. The space was his for the duration of the competition, which meant he had less than two weeks to make it matter. He pulled the ornate onyx sign from his satchel and carried it to the entrance, where workers had cleared the doorway that morning. The carved patterns caught the light as he positioned it against the frame—too elegant for an empty room full of cobwebs, but that was the point. Anyone walking past would see it and wonder what kind of business could afford something that expensive. He stepped back and studied the effect. The sign looked permanent, like it had been there for years instead of minutes. Good. People needed to believe this hall was already claimed before they thought to ask questions. He turned back to the ruby-inlaid platform and pulled out his journal, flipping to the list of druids who'd refused to sell their work. Most of them kept workshops within walking distance of the competition venue. If he visited each one today with a simple offer—a free stall for the week, no rent, just bring whatever glass they wanted to display—some would say yes out of curiosity alone. He didn't need all of them. Three or four filled stalls would make the hall look active when the crowds arrived. The rest would follow once they saw people buying. Crystallis folded the journal and headed for the door, leaving the sign where anyone entering would see it first.