I negotiated a slightly lower price with the merchants selling the alcohol. Their price was fair enough already, but I reminded them that they should still be attempting to build positive relationships. The true value of the forbidden forest trade is in the reselling of these rare products and materials. Marginal profits from selling things like alcohol are meaningless compared to the good will of the elves and amazons.
I suspect that these merchants know that as well as I do. Perhaps too readily, they accepted my suggestion with gracious smiles. I handed over the payment and the amazons started carrying the casks of alcohol away. I felt a quiet pride in my success in keeping business at the trading post fair and free of conflict.
