Page 335 - The Grotesque Children's Book

“Time I can't give you. I need the Dragon now.”
“The third step alone requires incubation of at least --” Zaccario looked up at the ceiling,
as though trying to recall the information -- “forty days.”
“You have an answer for everything!”
“There's always the membranous vetch.”
“I spit on the vetch when I can have the Dragon!? So you need forty days and some
glassware.”
“Specially ordered glassware, and I'm afraid that it, too, because of its highly highly
secret nature, will be very expensive, as we'll be buying people's silences as well.”
“How exciting!”
“Some people's silences...are...how do I say -- permanent.” A shadow passed over
Bianca's face. Oh. A stumble, thought Zaccario. I've pushed it too far. I've made her afraid
rather than intrigued.
Bianca said, quietly, “Will eight hundred florins suffice?”
“I might need a thousand.”
“I'll bring it to you.”
There. “Thank you, my Lady. You have my word I'll be discreet.”
“Yes.”
“And which...” asked Zaccario, tentatively, “is the highest priority? The antidotes to
guard against assassination? Or the Dragon to guard against aging?”
There was a long pause, but then Bianca at last swallowed shallowly and said, “The
antidotes.”
And she left Zaccario without saying another word.

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