After a moment, he beckoned Arcannen forward. Arcannen nodded and approached.

“Were you going to stand out here all day waiting for an invitation?” Corussin growled. “How long would you have lasted if I hadn’t seen you?”

The deepness of his voice always surprised the sorcerer. “I don’t like to arrive unannounced and give the impression I simply assume you have time for me,” he answered.

“Oh, I always have time for you, Arcannen. Though of late, you’ve been mostly absent. About five years now?”

“My fortunes took a downturn, as you’ve undoubtedly heard. But I have reason to think they might be on the upswing. Can we talk?”

Corussin took him through the front door of Rare Flowers and down a hallway to a quiet reception room at the back of the house. On the way, they passed several of the girls who lived there in the process of preparing for the day. Some were doing their assigned chores; some were dressing for suitors. Their purpose in coming to Rare Flowers and Corussin was simple. Each of them was looking to improve her situation through a display of beauty, intelligence, and marketable skills. Each gave herself over to the proprietor for the time it took to refine all three attributes, and then an employer/mate/sponsor was found who would take her to live with him under whatever arrangements the two of them had arrived at. The man lucky enough to win over one of these girls—and win her over he must, just as surely as she must work hard to present herself favorably—paid Corussin richly for the privilege of meeting the right girl. The money was paid up front, and it was non-refundable. If things didn’t work out, that was just too bad. This was a business transaction, first and foremost. Let the buyer beware.

But the buyer was given ample opportunity to decide if this was the right match, and the girl was given an equal amount of time to determine the same. It worked out more often than not.

Arcannen always thought it odd that all this couldn’t be achieved in a less complex and formalized fashion. But it was clear that, for many men, an arrangement of this sort was more attractive and reliable than simple courting. And for most of these girls, who came from dubious circumstances and less fortunate backgrounds, it offered a better-than-decent chance for living in a safe and sheltering environment.

The sorcerer and the proprietor sat in facing chairs by floor-to-ceiling windows that opened onto an extensive garden. Several of the girls were walking the pathways with the groundskeeper, who was imparting his knowledge of his craft. Beyond, the high walls surrounding the garden kept curious sightseers at bay.

Anonymity was a large part of the advantage of placement and resettling at Rare Flowers. No one besides Corussin knew the identities of all the girls or the men. There were no open houses or visiting hours. No one who didn’t live here or come on business was allowed in. It was a tightly run operation, and it was this reputation that largely contributed to its success.

A stunning young woman with olive skin and ink-black hair hanging straight and long below her shoulders entered the room and bowed to Corussin.

“Evelin Emiko,” he greeted her, bowing back. “Something cold for my guest and myself. You remember Arcannen?”

Emiko bowed to him, and he returned the gesture of respect. Emiko had come to Rare Flowers almost ten years ago, and had decided she should stay on as the proprietor’s business partner and consort. Efficient and capable, she was the perfect companion for a man whose reputation and livelihood relied on discretion and satisfaction for all clients.

It didn’t hurt that the proprietor and Emiko were in love. And they were, desperately.

She left the room, her footfalls silent. “What is it you’re looking for, Arcannen?” Corussin asked, watching his life partner go.

The sorcerer smiled. He liked it that the other man never wasted time when business was involved. He always got right to the heart of the matter and didn’t pretend he didn’t know what the client had come for.

“I am looking for a girl,” he answered. “Not a young woman, but a girl. I need her to be no more than twenty years of age. She must be …” He paused, thinking. “Different looking. Unusual. She must be strong-minded and intelligent. More so than average. It would help if she had an innate sense of the appropriate and reasonable. She will be dealing with a very strong, very determined young man.”

Corussin smiled. “I don’t see this young man sitting next to you. You are not referring to yourself, are you?”

Arcannen laughed. “No. The young man in question doesn’t know anything about this.”

“Well, then. You know the policy, Arcannen. Your young man must undergo an interview to allow the girl to determine his suitability.”

“Perhaps that won’t be necessary here. Their relationship will be short-term, and it will not involve any sort of permanent commitment. The temporary appearance of the possibility will be sufficient. I will pay you double your usual price, and I will pay her the same amount for her trouble.”

The proprietor sighed. “What you are you up to? Because you have a plan in mind, clearly. Tell me something that will make me want to consider your offer more seriously.”

“The young man in question has the use of a very powerful form of magic. I want him to put himself in my hands. In order to make that happen, I need to give him a reason to do so. I intend to offer him something he wants. A girl. He may not know it, but he wants someone to love him. He wants someone to care about, to ground him, to give him a purpose in life. Any girl might suffice, but why settle for anything but the very best? So I have come to you.”

Emiko reappeared carrying a tray containing a pair of silver tankards. She offered the first to Arcannen and then moved over to Corussin with the second. As soon as the tray was empty, she left the room, closing the door behind her.

“So you intend to manipulate this nameless young man.” The proprietor steepled his fingers in front of him. “Which means you intend for the young girl you select to act on your behalf. Because she must, mustn’t she? So she must be clever and intuitive. As well as possessing the other attributes you listed. I imagine she needs to have a high opinion of herself, as well. She must be the sort of girl who will always put herself first so that her manipulation of this young man won’t trouble her.”

“But she must not put herself before me,” Arcannen added quickly. “Her interests must not come before mine. She must be prepared to do whatever I ask of her.”

“Well, she will have to determine if your interests conflict with her own, don’t you think? You can’t have her strong-willed and at the same time subservient, no matter how badly you might wish it.”

Arcannen nodded. “I can let her know up front what I expect. I can give her assurances of what I will not do that would cause her discomfort. That might help ease her concerns. But once I have set her the task I am employing her for, she cannot deviate from what is required to achieve it.”

Now it was Corussin’s turn to laugh. “You don’t ask for much, do you, Arcannen? Where do you think I am to find such a girl? Excuse me—young woman. Girls usually don’t have that sort of experience and maturity. Girls are manipulative, and it usually shows.”

Arcannen shrugged. “You are the purveyor of quality partners of the fair sex in business and life. You must have someone you can show me.”

“Yes. But I am already partnered with her, and she is too old for what you seek. A woman and not a girl. Let me think. Why don’t you take a walk in the garden while I consider?”

Arcannen rose and walked out through the garden doors as his host held them open for him. He sensed that Corussin had someone in mind already, but for one reason or another was not ready to reveal his choice. He would make Arcannen wait a bit first, perhaps allow him to think that finding what he wanted was much more difficult than expected and therefore deserving of a greater payment.