Money Lending

"There's another one here to see you."

Demenik glanced up from carving his new quarterstaff and looked past Oak at the boy standing a few feet away. "Send him over."

"This is the fifth one today."

Demenik nodded and resumed his carving. "Keep tally for me in case the number gets much higher and I lose count."

Oak grunted and walked away.

"Morning, Demenik."

"Morning."

"Name's Albert."

Demenik blew the wood chips away from his carving and ran his hand along the spot to check for smoothness as he looked up at Albert and smiled. "I know your name, Albert. You're twenty feet down the alley on the left wall, am I correct?"

Albert smiled. "That's right."

Demenik set the staff aside and motioned for the boy to sit beside him. "How can I make your day better?"

"Word is that you have money to lend."

"If money is what you require."

Albert tilted his head. "I think it is."

"Money is rarely what we need."

"I don't understand what you mean."

Demenik nodded. "How much do you want?"

"Fifteen copper."

"That's a respectable sum and it's certainly not my business but, if you don't mind answering, what would you do with the copper? Go back to your spot and count it? Rest the coins under your head at night to make your sleep more peaceful? Sew them onto your clothes as ornaments to catch the light and make pleasant sounds while you walk?"

Albert laughed. "Of course not. I would use it to buy—" He paused. "I don't know if I should tell you. The more people who know about my plans the more dangerous it likely is."

Demenik raised a hand. "That's fine. I don't need to know exactly what you would do with the money, just that you would do something with it."

"Of course."

"Let's say that you need rope, a knife, and a set of lock picks." Albert cleared his throat and Demenik smiled. "Money would be required to buy such things, but until you could make the transaction, there would be danger that someone would rob you, am I right?"

"Yes."

"That's what I'm talking about. It would save you time and reduce the danger to you by asking me for the items instead of the money."

"I understand what you're saying."

"Good." Demenik leaned back and crossed his legs. "Then how can I make your day better?"

"Well." Albert moved closer and leaned in to whisper. "I would like a small shovel, twenty feet of rope, three candles, and a flint and steel."

"How soon do you need it?"

"Right away?"

"What does that mean?"

"Huh?"

Demenik spread his hands. "To me,'right away'means that I expect you to reach behind you and pull the items out of thin air. If I tell you I need something right away, I can't leave until I have them. Is that what you mean?"

"Oh. No. If I could get them by tomorrow at noon that would be good."

Demenik nodded. "Excellent. Then, by'right away', you mean a day from now?"

"Yeah."

"That's great news, because I couldn't get the items now, but I can have them for you by the time you want."

Albert grinned. "That's perfect."

"We've determined that money isn't what you were looking for, but it is what I'm interested in. I need to buy things and don't have enough coin to do so. If I get you the items, then I will want you to repay me with coin. Will that be possible?"

Albert laughed. "Yeah. If things go as planned, I will easily be able to pay you the fifteen coppers."

Demenik winced. "'If things go as planned'is not a phrase that makes me comfortable."

"Why?"

"Makes it sound like things might not work out in your favour."

"No problem." Albert shrugged. "If it doesn't, I can return the items to you."

"I don't need those items, Albert, you do. If I get them for you, then they are yours, do you understand?"

"Kind of."

Demenik pretended to think about the situation for a moment. "Look, maybe it's just better to give you the coin?"

Albert looked confused. "Yeah, maybe that's best."

"Okay, then." Demenik whistled and Oak came over. "Albert needs a loan of fifteen copper."

"Sounds good," Oak said. "How much will he owe back and when?"

Demenik looked at Albert. "He will need to pay back twenty coppers by day after tomorrow."

"What?" Albert sputtered. "Twenty for fifteen is more than fair, but why do you need it back so soon?"

"Life is happier when you pay your debts off quickly, Albert. You've told me that whatever you're planning will occur tomorrow afternoon or night."

Albert looked as if he wanted to deny the fact, but knew he couldn't. "Yeah."

"I'm asking for you to repay the loan quickly for your benefit. No one tells you this, but the truth of the matter is that the longer you have someone's money, the more you owe when you pay it back. You must have done this before. Others would charge you how much?"

"I have. Last time I borrowed fifteen copper the payback was twenty-three."

"Look how much money I'm saving you."

"If I can pay it back. There's a chance things won't work out and I will have zero money."

Demenik reached over and slapped Albert's foot. "Don't talk like that. I'm sure you will succeed." He looked at Oak. "Give Albert the coin and let me know when he pays us back."

"What if I can't get the money as quick as you want it?"

Demenik shrugged. "Do the best you can, Albert. If you have any problems, speak to Oak."

Albert stood and Oak walked away with him.

"Demenik's nice," Oak growled. "I'm not. Pay that money back on time or I'll break something you need. You understand me?"

Albert nodded.