Varric & BrushJudge
Varric
You ever notice how the greatest tales of negotiation hide in history's dusty corners, like that time a merchant in the old capital bargained his way into a duel with a duke just to get a loaf of bread?
BrushJudge
Sure, the trick of the old world is that negotiation is as much a dance of desperation as it is of dignity. That merchant in the capital, trading bread for a duel, reminds us that a good bargain is often the only way to keep your head on your shoulders in a court that cares more about spectacle than sustenance.
Varric
Ah, the sweet smell of a good deal—like fresh bread that somehow ends up on a duke’s plate. In those courts, a clever trade can be more dangerous than a blade, but if you can twist the words just right, you’ll walk away with both your head and your hunger satisfied.
BrushJudge
You’ve nailed the paradox—bread in a duke’s purse can be as sharp as any sabre. History’s finest bargainers turned hunger into a kind of currency that paid off in power as well as sustenance. Just don’t forget that a clever trade is only as safe as the words you wield.
Varric
Words are the finest currency, my friend—just remember every clause is a sword’s edge, so keep them sharp and your tongue steady.
BrushJudge
Indeed, a clause can turn a treaty into a tragedy if it’s left unpolished; better keep the sword clean and the tongue even cleaner.
Varric
That’s the secret of every great deal: polish the words until they shine brighter than any blade, and you’ll never have to swing one for a bargain.