Essine managed to pull two kobolds, both male, aside after some time spent communicating with the crowd. They had been smoking in the lot just outside their chosen factory, given what could only loosely be considered a break. They approached Coin nervously, umbral eyes watching him with immense caution.

  He doubted they knew who he was, few kobolds had the time to keep track of Sentinel politics, but wealth radiated off of the young man. Which meant he could likely kill them and face zero consequences for doing so.

  “This one is Harmish,” the first kobold said. He was larger than his two kinsmen, with jet black fur and a few pale scars lining the right side of his face. His ears poked out from beneath his wool cap, and Coin could see that Harmish’s left ear had a chunk missing.

  The shorter kobold, distinguished by his silvery fur and long snout, stepped forward and pulled his grubby jacket close. “This one is Dymunn.”

  Coin nodded to each of them in turn. “It’s nice to meet you both. You can call me Coin.”

  The kobolds exchanged an uncertain glance. They were not used to a human letting them be on a first name basis. Certainly not one that looked rich enough to buy and sell the factory owner they toiled for.

  “Are you too literate?” he asked.

  “This one can read, yes,” Dymunn said. Harmish nodded.

  “And you’re good with numbers?” They nodded again. Coin reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded sheet, lined on one side with mathematical equations that gradually grew more complex. “I want you two to solve these. You’ll get four ducats each.”

  That was more than enough to motivate the two kobolds, who spent the next few minutes chittering back and forth in their own language as they went down the sheet. They only occasionally seemed to disagree in their rumination. Coin handed the two a pen from his pocket and handed it to the two, letting them write their answers.

  Once finished, Coin gave the sheet to Essine. She carefully scrutinized their work, her brow occasionally knitting in concentration. “They are good,” she said, finally.

  “This one teaches the younger koboldkin at night,” Harmish said. “Just as father did.”

  Coin nodded approvingly, pinching his chin with his left hand. “Well, if Essine vouches for your work, that’s good enough for me.” He reached into his pocket, only hesitating briefly as he pulled some ducats from his flesh and spilled them into his palm. He was getting better at parting with money, he had to admit.

  Not too long ago he shuddered at the thought of spending any money. But the maxim of ‘you have to spend money to make money’ had engraved itself upon his mind, and Coin understood the necessity now more than ever.

  The kobolds accepted the coins, marvelling at them.

  “I’m starting a new business soon,” he said, nodding at both kobolds in turn and then gesturing to his newly purchased property up the road. “To that end, I need some employees. Guys who can handle crunching numbers and filing away paperwork. Seems like the kind of thing you’re ideal for.”

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  “A... job? That is... would it be allowed?”

  “There exists no law barring koboldkin from working indoors. In the Spokes, at least,” Essine said. She had been doing her own research, after all.

  “The current rate for such clerks in Sentinel is ten ducats per week. That’s for each of you, yes. Far better than surviving off whatever scraps the factory was paying you.”

  Harmish gaped at him, looking as if he might faint. “Ten... per week.”

  “Per week,” Essine confirmed.

  “Why... would you be so generous?” Dymunn warily asked. “Do not misunderstand. This one is not ungrateful, but an offer like this is... uncommon among your kin.”

  Coin nodded. “That’s unfortunately true.” Kobolds had gotten a raw deal throughout history. Nowadays they could only scrape out an existence in the gutter of civilization, or take their chances in the wilderness. “I don’t expect you to believe me outright, but the offer is on the table.” He pointed again to his office.

  “It may be a few weeks before things are all set up and ready to go. But, when the time comes, you two would be very welcome to work for the company.”

  Again, the kobolds exchanged a look. “This one is interested,” said Harmish.

  “This one shall consider it,” Dymunn said, glancing away.

  Nodding, Coin turned and led Essine away. “I can’t fault them for being worried, but... I do hope Dymunn is willing to join up,” he said, once they were far enough away to avoid being overheard.

  Essine nodded beneath the hood of her cloak. “That one shall come around. Options are limited for koboldkin, and an offer like this... Who among them could genuinely say no?”

  The grimy, smoke-stained scenery of the Spokes gradually gave way to the slightly cleaner streets of the Merchant’s Quarter. Coin and Essine made small talk as they wound through cramped side streets and alleys.

  The more passionate Coin had gotten about creating his own trading company, the more on board Essine had gotten. And, ultimately, she longed to make Coin’s dream a reality. Granted she was no businesswoman, but she had a good head on her shoulders and a lot of passion to motivate her.

  They came to a stop at a small store that had an assortment of paintings and sculpted signs hanging in the window. They made their way inside, just in time to see Pearl chatting with the owner: A bald, bespectacled old man old enough to be her father who hung upon her every word.

  She made a sly joke, earned a hearty chortle from the old man, and graciously took a wrapped package from him. It was an awkward and weighty thing, vaguely board-shaped, and Coin quickly made his way over to help her support the weight.

  “Ah,” she smiled and flicked her lustrous black hair back. “My handsome hero.”

  “Hello Pearl,” he greeted.

  She spared another glance to the owner. “My thanks again, Aumand. You do wonderful work, as always.”

  They ventured out into the street, making an effort to avoid the folks bustling about their business. “This one did not think the sign would be ready this early,” Essine said. “It was not so long ago that you put the order in.”

  “Amaund is a good worker. He did a myriad of paintings and signs back when I was a member of the Golden Badge Players. All I had to do was bat my eyelashes at him and he picked up the pace, and even knocked a few ducats off the price.” She snickered, beaming with pride.

  “Well done Pearl. I’m glad for your help.”

  “Oh, well...” Pearl tittered and gave Coin a half-lidded gaze. “I may not be a businesswoman, but I have my talents.” She had no idea of Coin’s true nature, beyond an underlying awareness that he was stronger and tougher than the average man.

  Coin reached for the brown wrapping paper that Aumand had placed around the sign and carefully opened it. A sign, shield-shaped and made from thick varnished wood greeted them. The words were neatly carved into the surface, and had been filled with silver lettering bound to catch the eye.

  A broad grin broke out across Coin’s face, an expression mirrored by his two cohorts, as they surveyed the sign.

  “Goodness,” Essine said, cocking her head. “You were correct, Pearl. This Aumand is a master of his craft.”

  Pearl snickered, clearly pleased. “Well of course, Essine. I’m a woman who’s gathered a nice collection of artistically inclined friends. It comes in handy to remember their names.”

  “Yes,” Coin said, “very handy.”

  The sign read ‘Coin’s Commerce.’ And an odd sense of pride was rapidly filling Coin’s heart. They were doing it... they were really going to do it.