At the Breaking Point

Moss was miserable. He could not accept that Rowan had actually bought dozens of tons of iron plate from the Goblin Trade Company without spending a single gold coin. And that was not all. What he found even harder to accept was that Rowan had sold the unwanted Blackstone Mine from North Mountain for seventy gold coins a ton.

Two mental blows in a single day had left Moss dizzy. When he got home that evening and saw his mother and father arguing over some trivial matters, something suddenly occurred to him.

As the eldest daughter of the Proudmoore family and the Daughter of the Sea, Jaina always maintained a noblewoman's elegance and graciousness in public. Yet in front of Rowan, she got angry and acted utterly unconcerned about appearances. What did that mean?

Moss did not dare think any further. He lowered his head, tuned out his parents' argument, and headed straight for his bedroom.

"I've reminded you time and again not to interfere with the Third Fleet or the munitions works. Your job is to manage the family's trading company." Lord Ashvane shot Lady Priscilla a glare, her tone grave.

As commander of the Third Fleet and the head of Ashvane Munitions, Lord Ashvane ranked second only to Admiral Daelin in the Kul Tiras Navy. She was somewhat lean, lacking the powerful muscles of a typical Kul Tiran man. Still, Lord Ashvane was a stern, unsmiling noble, her keen gaze giving her an imposing air that made her seem unapproachable.

Priscilla Ashvane was a noblewoman who had grown stout in middle age. Her chest heaved at her husband's accusations, but anger did not rob her of her reason. Instead, she kept trying to reason with Lord Ashvane. "Our munitions works handed over five Iron Smelting Blast Furnaces in exchange for a simple contract, and you didn't even discuss it with me. How is that not our trading company's business?"

"I already told you. The Proudmoore family authorized it."

"Even the Proudmoore family must obey the laws of Kul Tiras. Without the trading company's approval or an aid agreement, what gives you the right to do someone a favor like this? Ashvane, don't forget that these are Iron Smelting Blast Furnaces—the very foundation of our family's business!" Ashvane argued her case, her voice rising several pitches until it became shrill and grating.

Listening to his parents argue gave Moss something else to consider.

Why had Jaina bought five Iron Smelting Blast Furnaces from Ashvane Munitions?

Moss was particularly sensitive that day. Remembering the ten tons of iron ingots Rowan had bought from the Goblin Trade Company, he began to have a bad feeling.

Lord Ashvane knew she had handled the matter poorly, so she yielded a little. "I'll investigate this myself. But I'm warning you: don't overstep your bounds and interfere with the munitions works or the fleet again. Also, that fool from the Norwington Family has regained his senses. Given Daelin's relationship with Aldrius, don't you think that once Jaina becomes an admiral, the Norwington Family will eventually take back the resources and markets we currently control? Everything we do now must take the Ashvane Family's future into account. Do you understand?"

With that, Lord Ashvane turned to leave.

At the door, Lord Ashvane spotted Moss. She was about to say something, but stopped herself, shaking her head helplessly, her eyes full of disappointment.

Moss's heart sank, and frustration welled up inside him. He knew his father had never been satisfied with him.

"Fa..." He swallowed the word before it left his lips. His father was furious today. He had better not invite trouble.

"Mother, I visited the Goblin Trade Company in Ratchet City today. I saw Rowan and Jaina." Moss decided to tell his mother about Rowan buying ten tons of iron ingots. For some reason, he had a feeling that Jaina's order for Iron Smelting Blast Furnaces from the munitions works was definitely connected to Rowan.

Prashiri Ashvane frowned slightly. She had been seething with nowhere to vent her anger, and when she saw her son approach, she promptly made him her punching bag. "Rowan spent eight years as an idiot, and now he's actually spending time with Jaina. And you? You were an outstanding graduate of the Military Academy, and now you're captain of the Windwhisper. Yet you let that idiot beat you to it! How did I give birth to such a stupid son? You can't even win a girl over."

"Mother..."

"Keep your mouth shut! Am I wrong about you? Every day, you come home and do nothing but eat, play, and sleep. Are you a pig? Can't you do something useful? Sooner or later, you'll ruin this entire family." The more Plashiri spoke, the angrier she became.

"Just look at that fool from the Norwington Family. Even after spending eight years as an idiot, he's still better than you are now."

What did I do wrong? Why are you saying all this about me? I'm eighteen. I'm an adult, and I have my dignity too, you know!

"Mother, please stop. I have something to tell you." Her tirade had pushed Moss close to his breaking point, but he kept his composure and told Plashiri what he had witnessed at the Goblin Trade Company that day.

After their conversation, Plashiri thought Moss had a point.

If this really was an aid agreement with Dalaran, why had they only purchased five Iron Smelting Blast Furnaces? Shouldn't the raw materials, technical expertise, and workers all have been bundled together and sent to Dalaran?

Could Jaina have bought the Iron Smelting Blast Furnaces in Dalaran's name to help Rowan?

"All right, I understand. Pay more attention to the family's affairs and learn properly from your father. Stop giving me so much to worry about every day."

"Yes, Mother." Moss suddenly felt utterly drained. With his head lowered, he went to his bedroom.

Plashiri took her cloak from the coat rack, left the manor, and headed for the harbor under cover of darkness.

Rowan and Byron watched the cargo ship at Tradewinds Market finish loading the iron ingots and grain. After signing the remaining contracts, Rowan boarded the ship, ready to return to Morris Town.

The Iron Smelting Blast Furnaces would not leave Tradewinds Harbor until the next day, so there was no point in Rowan wasting time waiting there. He needed to return to Morris Town as soon as possible and increase production at the North Mountain coal mine. By the end of the week, he had to deliver ninety tons of coal to Gazlowe's trading company.

"Leah, I'm sorry, but I have to go." Standing at the harbor, Byron gently patted the hands of a rather pretty young woman and spoke with regret.

The girl nodded softly. "Mm. I'll wait for you to come back."

How can someone who can barely string a sentence together be so damn good at picking up girls? Rowan wondered. It's only been a day, and he's already won over the pretty girl at the trading company's counter?

Goddamn, what a total player. I really don't want to be seen with someone like him.

"Hey, Byron, can you teach me how to win a girl over?"

"Young Master Rowan, what would I know about that?"