Kaladin snorted. "Alright, then. I know which three I think would be good."

He paused for a moment, watching the three animals. "Do you swim, by any chance?"

Hazel blinked at the sudden question, and then shook her head.

"Swimming isn't an appropriate activity for a lady," she replied. She had never been taught how to swim.

"Huh." Kaladin blinked. He hadn't thought of it that way. Then he nodded. "Alright. Well, these guys like to sunbathe too, so I'm sure you'll have time to play with them while they're on land."

Hazel smiled a bit, but she wasn't sure about playing with the selkies. Again, playing with animals had never really been appropriate for a lady to do. She was lucky she had Lyra as a pet, really.

Kaladin didn't notice her bit of hesitation, because even he wasn't that good, but he seemed pleased. And more than happy to point out the three selkies to the other ranch hands.

Now it came to talking price, which Hazel knew how to do. She wasn't going to negotiate too hard, though, since she wanted the selkies regardless and had no grounds on which to negotiate for much, but she was still going to work for a slightly lower price.

Kaladin let her figure that out, since the owner was trying to overprice them. But it wasn't his place to interfere, so he watched her. Hopefully she'd be smart enough to realize.

Hazel looked over the figures she was handed, mentally comparing them to figures she remembered seeing at the Expo, and frowned. Something wasn't right here. She looked over at the overseer of the ranch.

"If you're going to try to scalp me, I can look elsewhere," she said. "There are other breeders out there with selkies who will give me more than a fair price." Although she would hate to leave the three Kaladin had chosen. She was fond of them already.

The overseer shrugged, looking faintly embarrassed. "Those were the prices I was told to set, Lady," he said. "But I'm sure we can work something out." Since he'd rather lower the prices without consulting his employer than lose a sale like this.

"If it would make you feel better, I would speak to Lord fer Toren," Hazel said. It was more so he could save face than anything; she would still insist on fairer prices no matter who she talked to.

The overseer nodded after a moment. "Come inside and make yourself comfortable," he invited. "I'll be back momentarily with the Lord."

Hazel nodded and did so, gesturing for Kaladin to do what he wanted. He didn't have to be there for the negotiations, but she would have liked it if he was. She left the choice up to him, however, and went to wait for the ranch owner.

Kaladin followed her inside, standing behind the chair she'd seated herself in. He was more comfortable standing anyway.

It didn't take Lord fer Toren to arrive, and then he looked at Hazel. "My overseer said something about a price negotiation?" He sat across from here, appearing completely at ease.

"He did," Hazel replied, nodding. "I have my eye on three of the selkies in your net out there, but I've seen much fairer prices elsewhere. I understand your selkie breedings are the best, but I see no reason to pay such outrageous prices when there other breeders out there."

"You understand, of course, that I pride my selkies on being the best. Best temperament, easily trained, gentle with humans... I am, of course, willing to negotiate. But only to a certain point." Of course, he knew that having her buy three would be profitable for him no matter what, and having her as a buyer would increase his reputation. So he was willing to lower his prices more than normal.

"As I understand it, this is a fair price for a single creature," Hazel said, writing down a figure and showing it to him. "So three would be as many times that price. Your overseer showed me a number considerably higher."

"That would be the price of an inferior creature, though," the Lord said, looking at the numbers for a moment before presenting her with a new one. It was lower, but still not as low as the price she'd named.

Hazel studied the new price before naming a new one, higher than her original but still lower than what Lord fer Toren was asking for.

"I recall your ranch having a place in the last expo, Lord fer Toren," she said, "and your prices were lower then. Am I to think you would try to exploit the inexperience of a new buyer?"

"Of course not. And I can assure you, this price is lower than what I would have named." He tapped her lower price for emphasis. "However..." He lowered his price a little more and slid it back to her.

Hazel looked at the new price, raised her previous offer slightly, and handed it back to them. There wasn't all that much now separating their two numbers. "That is my final offer, sir, unless you can offer a better one," she said.

The Lord looked at the price for a few moments before deciding the difference was negligible and nodding. He multiplied it by three, since they had been talking prices for each animal, and handed her back the paper.

"This looks correct to you then?"

Hazel did the math for herself, and nodded when she came to the same figure.

"I see no errors with it," she replied, handing it back. "I'm glad we could come to an agreement."

He nodded. "Tell my overseer which three you've decided on and we'll arrange shipping of the animals to your ranch." He stood again.

Hazel nodded and glanced at Kaladin to make sure he knew what to do. Then she stood herself and straightened her skirts.

"I'll make sure to come back if I find myself in need of anything else your ranch specializes in," she said to Lord fer Toren.

Kaladin slipped off to go talk to the overseer and have the transport arranged and figure out all those details.

"My thanks for your consideration, Lady," he said, inclining his head to her. "Please contact me if you have any further questions or concerns."