\u201cTomorrow, then. Or sooner if I can get a hold of the Horns of Hammerad by mage spell.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVery well. Please confine your visiting hours between dawn and sunset.\u201d<\/p>\n
That seemed like a fairly easy request, so Ryoka nodded to Hedault as she and Reynold left his house. She supposed that without clocks, appointments were a little harder to keep.<\/p>\n
The [Enchanter] stood in his living room and gestured to make the front door swing open. Ryoka saw Reynold stop to bow and thank him. She was almost out the door, having said her goodbyes. From the look on Hedault\u2019s face as he stared at the [Butler], he preferred succinct conversations.<\/p>\n
Ryoka paused as she stepped towards the door and turned back to Hedault.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne last question. Are any of your other artifacts for sale?\u201d<\/p>\n
She nodded to a mace neatly hung on a wall plaque. Hedault nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are\u2026competent examples of my craft, or artifacts I have purchased for study. I have a small selection of items that I may be willing to sell.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGot it. See you later.\u201d<\/p>\n
The young woman walked out of the door, Reynold following with another polite farewell. Once she was outside, Ryoka took one look at the sun and cursed.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow long was I in there?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAround an hour an a half by my count, Miss Ryoka.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reynold stepped smoothly over to her side as the door silently closed behind them. Ryoka sighed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell shit. Okay, I guess I need to run. Thanks for bringing me here, Reynold.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy pleasure, Miss Ryoka.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have anything in particular to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI see.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026You can go now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ryoka stared at Reynold. The [Butler] did not move. He stood politely at attention by her side, back perfectly straight. He seemed to be attracting approving glances from a lot of the passersby, and not just because he looked good in a suit. These upstanding citizens probably employed or wanted to employ a man like Reynold, or rather, a [Butler] like Reynold. Then again, Ryoka hadn\u2019t ever seen a Gnoll [Butler] or a Drake [Manservant]. Perhaps they didn\u2019t take to it as well?<\/p>\n
She coughed as she began walking down the street. Reynold followed her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t need your help, Reynold. How can I put this politely\u2026? Piss off.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m afraid I cannot do that, Miss Griffin. My orders were to escort you around the city.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I don\u2019t need an escort anymore. Hold on\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
The young woman\u2019s eyes narrowed as she put the pieces together.<\/p>\n
\u201cMagnolia told you to follow me everywhere, didn\u2019t she?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is correct, Miss. I am afraid my orders regarding you were quite specific. I must accompany you everywhere. On that note, shall we return to the plaza? I believe we are late for your meeting.\u201d<\/p>\n
The young woman and butler had been striding quickly down the street towards that very spot, where Ryoka had promised to meet Laken. But Ryoka stopped dead in her tracks and turned around.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou bastard.\u201d<\/p>\n
The man\u2019s expression didn\u2019t change. He calmly met Ryoka\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI did not follow you, Miss Ryoka. But I am not the only person in Lady Reinhart\u2019s employ who was given orders regarding you. Happily, the young man you met appears to be still sitting in the plaza, although he is growing restless. May I suggest we continue walking?\u201d<\/p>\n
Ryoka did, although now she was ready to do violence. Internally she was cursing. She should have realized Magnolia would set watchers on her!<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy are you being obvious about spying on me? If you can set watchers so easily, why bother with an escort at all?\u201d<\/p>\n
Reynold\u2019s eyebrows rose slightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cLady Reinhart expected you to put the pieces together, Miss Ryoka. I believe this is her way of assisting you\u2014again, in her own way. But she did tell me to be open about her orders if you asked.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I don\u2019t spook and run, is that it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI would not dare to make such an assumption, Miss.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll bet.\u201d<\/p>\n
For a second, just a second, Ryoka thought about killing Reynold and dumping his body in a ditch somewhere. But of course, Magnolia would know if Ryoka killed her butler. And where would Ryoka find a handy ditch anyways? What about digging a grave? That would be hell in the snow, and Ryoka would have to lure Reynold far out into the countryside to do that\u2026<\/p>\n
It was just a passing thought. But it was tempting. She was furious, but Ryoka was already worrying about Laken. She\u2019d given him away, hadn\u2019t she? But he might just be another person from her world, hardly important\u2014the key would be making sure Magnolia\u2019s servants saw it that way.<\/p>\n
She turned her head as Reynold kept pace with her down the street.<\/p>\n
\u201cOut of curiosity\u2026if I knock you out, how badly do you think Lady Magnolia would react?\u201d<\/p>\n
Again, the [Butler]\u2019s face didn\u2019t twitch. It must have been a Skill.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you wish to try, I am afraid you may well succeed. I must tell you however that I am<\/em> under orders.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh really?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. Miss Ressa gave me precise instructions as to what I should do if you offered me violence, Miss Ryoka.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRessa?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka looked over at Reynold. He just stared at her. Slowly, Ryoka unclenched the fist she\u2019d made.<\/p>\n \u201cI really hate your boss, Reynold.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI believe the feeling is mutual, Miss Ryoka. I see we have stopped again. Shall we proceed?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure. Remind me to kick your ass when I\u2019m done here, Reynold?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI shall make a note of it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In general, I\u2019d say I\u2019m a pretty patient guy. Well, I do like to keep myself busy, but being blind means that sometimes you\u2019ve just got to wait and think about what you\u2019re going to do next.<\/p>\n For instance, if you\u2019ve lost your walking cane, and you\u2019re in an unfamiliar place, well, you\u2019d better stop and think or you might walk straight into a car. I\u2019ve done that only once before, but believe me, patience is a life saver.<\/p>\n I know better than to hurry things along. There\u2019s a time for action, but if it\u2019s not that time, you might as well take it slow.<\/p>\n Still, I don\u2019t like waiting too<\/em> long. I shift impatiently on the bench as Durene and Gamel sit next to me. Well, I say sit, but Durene is too big to really share the bench with so she\u2019s sitting on the ground and Gamel seems determined to stand at attention like some kind of personal bodyguard.<\/p>\n Lunch is done. We\u2019ve all had a snack\u2014some very fine Gnollish cooking, which came in the form of a marinated mix of beef and vegetables drizzled in spicy sauce. I was tickled to learn that instead of disposable paper plates, vendors in this city use cheap ceramics. We pay more for the dishes of course, but we get it back if we return our bowls undamaged.<\/p>\n Gamel bought the food and returned the dishes once we were done. He insisted\u2014I would have liked him to rest since he\u2019s been on his feet all day, but he wants to be useful.<\/p>\n Now I turn to him and sense him snap to attention. I don\u2019t have to hear it; I just know he\u2019s standing straighter and turning to face me. It\u2019s so odd. Gamel is only a few years younger than I am, but he thinks I have all the answers.<\/p>\n That\u2019s a dangerous belief. I frown, but put that issue aside for far later. Right now I only have one question.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you see Ryoka, Durene? Gamel?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t see anyone, Laken. I mean, there are a lot of people, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t see any Runner with dark skin, sire.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDarn. Where could she be?\u201d<\/p>\n A thousand and one answers come to mind. The first of which is that this Ryoka girl is setting us up for a trap and by waiting, I\u2019ve walked us all into it. I sigh and stand up.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, we\u2019ve waited long enough. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n I grab my walking cane and reach out for Durene, but feel her shift, turn as she touches my hand.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014wait, I see her, Laken! That\u2019s her alright!\u201d<\/p>\n I stiffen. I can\u2019t see where Ryoka is coming from, but Durene faces me the right way. I hear Gamel draw in his breath.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s not alone, Laken.\u201d<\/p>\n Immediately, the paranoid part of me starts freaking out. But I keep my voice calm. A leader can\u2019t look nervous. That probably goes triple for an [Emperor], shoddy one though I may be.<\/p>\n \u201cWho is with her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA\u2026I don\u2019t know. What kind of man is that, Gamel? He looks odd.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOdd?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Emper\u2014Mister Laken. He has, well, fancy clothes on. They\u2019re all black and white, and he has a bow tie at his neck. He looks like a rich man\u2019s servant, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA rich man\u2019s servant\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n I frown. I almost imagine a man in a prison uniform when Gamel says black and white clothes. But they have stripes, don\u2019t they? I don\u2019t know. I think I read about that in a book somewhere, but I haven\u2019t really read a description of prison uniforms in a long time. I always imagine people in that sort of clothing when I listen to news stories about escaped convicts and trials, though.<\/p>\n A servant, though\u2026why would Ryoka have one of those?<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s with her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, and they\u2019re\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Durene breaks off as I hear someone walk towards me. There\u2019s a moment of hesitation as I feel Durene let go of my hand and move. I can\u2019t tell what\u2019s happened, but then I hear the girl named Ryoka speak.<\/p>\n \u201cLaken? I\u2019m here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, Ryoka Griffin? Is that you?\u201d<\/p>\n I don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on, but I opt for pleasant surprise. I listen very carefully to her as she replies.<\/p>\n \u201cYes. Sorry I\u2019m late. Something came up. I\u2014well, sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n She sounds tense. And worried. Not at all like she did while talking to me before. That was a different sort of tense. This sounds like anxiety in her tone, which means that\u2026<\/p>\n I think quickly and nod, putting a smile on my face.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. Thank you for coming back. Why don\u2019t we chat over by the benches, assuming they\u2019re not all taken?\u201d<\/p>\n I turn and hear Ryoka cough.<\/p>\n \u201cYour\u2014friend is in the way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDurene? Please let Ryoka past.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n Shuffling feet. Then\u2014I hear a man\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, pardon me Miss Durene, is it? I would like to introduce myself, if you would permit it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is Reynold, Laken. He\u2019s my escort. He\u2019s a friend. A\u2014hold on, let me look this up.\u201d<\/p>\n Silence, shuffling. I hear Durene and Gamel murmur in surprise, but have no idea what Ryoka is doing. So I turn to the man named Reynold.<\/p>\n \u201cHello. I\u2019m pleased to make your acquaintance. Are you Ryoka\u2019s friend?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot as of such, sir. I\u2014I am a\u2014pardon me, but please accept my most profuse apologies to greet you so rudely. Allow me to introduce myself as Reynold Ferusdam, a humble servant in the employ of Lady Magnolia Reinhart.\u201d<\/p>\n I hear a gasp from Durene and a sound from Ryoka. It\u2019s short, but it makes me think this Reynold fellow has done something. I hold still, but sense nothing.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease excuse my rudeness, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot\u2026at all.\u201d<\/p>\n I don\u2019t blink, because I keep my eyelids closed all the time, but I am taken aback. Lady who? What\u2019s this Reynold fellow got to do with Ryoka and why is he acting so formal? Wait a minute. I think I know what\u2019s going on.<\/p>\n There are a number of ways I could reply. I opt for more genuine interest. I smile and extend my hand.<\/p>\n \u201cOh? Pleased to meet you. May I assume you are a\u2014a [Manservant] or [Butler] of some sort?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed, milo\u2014Mister Laken, that is correct. I am a [Butler] currently given the task of escorting Miss Ryoka around the city.\u201d<\/p>\n I feel a light hand\u2014gloved\u2014shake mine and then withdraw. I can tell this man Reynold is wearing some kind of cologne. Well now, I think I understand his odd reaction. Is there a way to make use of it? Perhaps not, but I also fear it might be giving me away a bit.<\/p>\n Someone clears her throat next to me. I hear Ryoka draw closer.<\/p>\n \u201cGoddamn stupid\u2026okay, I think I have it. Laken, Reynold is a friend of a friend. I know Lady Magnolia Reinhart\u2014she\u2019s one of the Five Families in the continent as I\u2019m sure you know, a very powerful [Lady]\u2014and she\u2019s sent Reynold to help me out because I know her. Reynold is a friend. He\u2019s uh\u2014damnit. Freund aber Spion. Achtung. Sag nichts. Verstehst du mich?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n This is why having my eyes closed all the time helps. They don\u2019t narrow and I keep perfect control of my voice.<\/p>\n \u201cJa.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n So that\u2019s how it is? I smile at Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s good to meet someone else who speaks a different language.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, it is. Around here everyone speaks English. Everyone. Weird, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s a note of humor in her tone. I shrug lightly and turn towards Durene.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Durene, Gamel. I haven\u2019t introduced you, have I? This is Ryoka\u2014I met her today, but we, ah, come from the same place. I think of her as a friend, and I hope you will as well. I think she and Mister Reynold might be able to help us while we\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n I hear people moving and murmuring greetings.<\/p>\n \u201cHello. My name is Durene. I\u2019m Laken\u2019s friend.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCharmed.\u201d<\/p>\n Is it me, or is there not a lot of friendliness in Durene\u2019s tone? I hear Ryoka mutter something and shift\u2014were they shaking hands or something? But then Reynold walks over and I practically feel Durene flush. Listening to her stammer, it sounds like he bowed or kissed her hand.<\/p>\n Well now. Smiling a bit, I sit with Ryoka on the bench. Everyone else stands.<\/p>\n \u201cSo why are you here?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka\u2019s tone is warning, but I ignore it. Honesty. You can do a lot with honesty, especially when you pair it with omission.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a long story. Durene and Gamel and I are all from Riverfarm, a small village to the\u2026east, I think. We\u2019ve come here because an avalanche hit the village a few days ago. A good number of people died, and the rest are in trouble since the avalanche wiped out a lot of their provisions for the winter. Not to mention, there\u2019s a danger of monsters, bandit attacks\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n I hear an indrawn breath. So, Ryoka really had no idea why I was here? She shifts on the bench next to me and sounds pained.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not good. But how are you going to get all those supplies? Buying all that in the winter would cost a small fortune, and that\u2019s without hiring a [Guard] or two.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed, sir. Would the other villages be able to assist you? A neighboring town or city, perhaps? Some provinces have local [Lords] or [Ladies] who take care of their subjects, but I\u2019m afraid Riverfarm is not a claimed holding.\u201d<\/p>\n I shake my head at the questions.<\/p>\n \u201cMoney isn\u2019t an issue. It\u2019s finding a good supplier of food and a trustworthy adventuring team I\u2019m struggling a bit with. Reynold, you seem to know your way around this city\u2014would you answer a few questions for me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI should be delighted to, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood!\u201d<\/p>\n I smile, and feel Ryoka shift on the bench again. But if she thinks I\u2019ve said too much, she doesn\u2019t do anything. I gather my thoughts. I really only need a few questions answered for the moment.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me, my good man\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n God, I sound like a pretentious idiot.<\/em> It must be because I\u2019m imagining a real [Butler] standing in front of me. I cough and adjust my tone.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014I\u2019m afraid I\u2019m new to the city. To this area, really. I\u2019d love to know more about this city. Is Invrisil an independent city-state? I\u2019ve heard those are common around here, rather than nations. Who rules a place like this? A mayor?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cInvrisil, sir Laken? This city does have an elected leader\u2014Regisand Curle is the appointed [Mayor] for the moment. However, if I may say so, he is more of an administrator than one to set policy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFascinating. So if I were to ask who the real power behind the throne is\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat would be Lady Reinhart, my employer, sir. Well, I should say Lady Magnolia Reinhart has the power to persuade the city to adopt new policies or to ah, see her point of view, but she rarely uses such authority. Day-to-day it\u2019s usually just the Guilds and various nobles infighting, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally? The Guilds? No, wait\u2014I see. I\u2019ve heard of the Runner\u2019s Guild, Adventurer\u2019s Guild, the Merchant\u2019s Guilds, and so on. How much power do they wield, politically and economically, I mean? Actually, do they have any standing forces of their own? And how would you compare that to the power of, oh, say, the average landed gentry, an average [Lord]?\u201d<\/p>\n I hear Reynold gulp, but he replies quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Guilds are a powerful force in any city, sir, although I would wager most [Lords] have just as much authority in their own way. Well, the average [Lord] doesn\u2019t have the coin to match a large Guild, but he does have his own standing forces, and the Guilds usually don\u2019t actively pick their battles. If it comes to blows they hire mercenaries or fight themselves if it\u2019s the Adventurer or Runner\u2019s Guild, but it\u2019s rare for things to get that bad. Mostly, the worse that happens is someone gets assassinated, or finds themselves out of work or disgraced.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see. Hm. So, correct me if I\u2019m wrong, but a [Merchant] would have a bit of influence on their own, but only the most wealthy ones would be put on the same footing as one of the nobility. Is that right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo an extent, sir. There\u2019s an old saying in the north\u2014\u2018even a [Shopkeeper] can sell a [Lord]\u2019. The poorest [Trader] has friends, and they can boycott a [Lord] who\u2019s wronged him, or lend money to a [Baroness] who needs it for a gala.\u201d<\/p>\n Politics. I shake my head.<\/p>\n \u201cSounds like a mess. I had no idea it was this complicated around here.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka comments sourly next to me. I\u2019m in agreement with her.<\/p>\n \u201cIs it like this everywhere, Reynold?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI do believe so. In Invrisil, First Landing\u2014all the major cities have a hand in the politics of the continent, sir. [Lords] and [Ladies] of the Five Families maneuver with each other while [Shopkeepers] and [Merchants] play the same game on a smaller level. I\u2019ve heard the Drakes in the south do much the same thing, although I\u2019ve heard their version of things is far more direct and\u2026material. But politics is the lifeblood of every continent.\u201d<\/p>\n As in our world, so too in this. I incline my head in his direction.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, thank you. That\u2019s all I needed to know.\u201d<\/p>\n So, if you\u2019re a high-level person with a lot of coin\u2014or you\u2019re nobility, or you\u2019re part of a big Guild you\u2019re a mover and a shaker, but everyone else is subject to the power plays of the continent. I wonder what effect my actions might have, if any?<\/p>\n I stand up.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the Guilds have power, they\u2019re the ones I need to go to. I was thinking of going to the Runner\u2019s Guild\u2014Ryoka, Durene tells me you look like a Runner. Do you know if they\u2019d be able to get supplies out to Riverfarm? It\u2019s a ways away, and I\u2019d need a lot of supplies. I don\u2019t think a few people can carry all that\u2014how much would it cost to hire, say, fifty people? Or do the Runner\u2019s Guild have wagons?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve got bags of holding.\u201d<\/p>\n I smile, delighted.<\/p>\n \u201cNo way. In that case, how fast could they travel, oh, thirty miles?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka pauses.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you had the coin, you could have someone in Riverfarm within the hour I\u2019ll bet. But\u2026don\u2019t go to the Runner\u2019s Guild.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n Gamel sounds astounded. It takes Ryoka another minute to reply.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve got bags of holding and they\u2019re a lot faster, yeah. But if you need to buy supplies as well as have them delivered, the Merchant Guild might be able to cut you a better deal. They\u2019re rivals with the Runners\u2014they\u2019re slow, but if you\u2019re hiring protection as well, it\u2019ll be cheaper.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh.\u201d<\/p>\n Not something I\u2019d expect to hear from a Runner, but I\u2019m grateful for the advice. I smile around at everyone.<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose that\u2019s our destination, then. Durene, Gamel, we\u2019re going to the Merchant\u2019s Guild. I don\u2019t suppose you\u2019d like to join us, Ryoka, Reynold?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am bound to escort Miss Ryoka wherever she travels. It would be my pleasure to accompany you if she so chooses.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Yeah, I\u2019ll go. I know where the Guild is\u2014it\u2019s a few blocks away from here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll help take Laken, Miss Ryoka.\u201d<\/p>\n Durene\u2019s voice comes from next to me. She sounds\u2026a bit possessive. But Ryoka doesn\u2019t budge.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve led blind people before.\u201d<\/p>\n So saying, she takes my hand. I\u2019m surprised, but I think quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s okay, Durene. I\u2019ll walk with Ryoka for a bit. You can see the sights while we chat.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut\u2014okay, Laken.\u201d<\/p>\n I hear the hurt tone in Durene\u2019s voice, but Ryoka pulls at my hand and then we\u2019re off. It must be an odd sight as she leads me out of the plaza. I know Gamel, Reynold and Durene are keeping pace with us because I hear Reynold speaking to them, but then Ryoka begins talking.<\/p>\n \u201cIs she your girlfriend or something?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe\u2014Durene. She acts like you two are a couple.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are a couple.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n I speak sharply.<\/p>\n \u201cIs there something wrong with that?\u201d<\/p>\n Hesitation. Ryoka sounds guilty.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. I\u2014damn it, sorry. I\u2019m just surprised.\u201d<\/p>\n I say nothing in response. After a moment, Ryoka sighs.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry. She seems protective. She nearly broke my fingers when I shook her hand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe thinks I\u2019m a threat.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou did come out of nowhere. And even if you are from my world, that doesn\u2019t mean much to Durene.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka pauses, and I nearly run into her. I sense her turn.<\/p>\n \u201cYou told<\/em> her you\u2019re from another world?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. I trust her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014Okay. Fine. Sure. You told her. Does anyone else know you\u2019re from another world? That Gamel guy, for instance?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Have you<\/em> told anyone? Why is that Reynold fellow following you about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a servant of Lady Magnolia. And she <\/em>knows. In fact, she knows everything. Her servants followed me\u2014they were probably listening to us when we spoke the first time, and they\u2019re probably listening now. Keep that in mind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will. But if they\u2019re, ah, \u2018friends but spies\u2019, should I trust them or not?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026I don\u2019t know. Magnolia\u2019s not evil, but she\u2019s not nice either. She might not care you\u2019re from another world\u2014she\u2019s found other people like us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally? How many? Where were they?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka gives my hand a squeeze.<\/p>\n \u201cJust a few. Looks like a few other people got pulled to this continent. Maybe we all got hit by a rogue spell or something. There are five or six kids around our age\u2014maybe a few years younger. But that\u2019s all I know.\u201d<\/p>\n Another squeeze. I gently tighten my fingers to let her know I understand. So Magnolia knows a lot, but not everything? How many of us are<\/em> there? Why are we here?<\/p>\n I guess that\u2019s a bad topic, so I go back to Magnolia.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s she like? If she hires [Butlers], can I assume she\u2019s rich?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh yeah. She\u2019s one of the Five Families\u2014they\u2019re the richest nobles on the continent. She\u2019s a [Lady] with an army of servants, tons of magical artifacts, a magical horseless carriage\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you serious? First bags of holding, now magical automobiles\u2014are you going to tell me adventurers run around with flaming swords and shields of wonder?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHah. Close. Try flaming daggers. But seriously\u2014watch out for Magnolia. She might appear friendly and nice, but she\u2019s devious. Imagine her as a\u2014a\u2014do you, I mean, did you watch Game of Thrones back home?\u201d<\/p>\n I twitch a bit, but keep walking.<\/p>\n \u201cI did. Watch is a bit strong, but I did a lot of listening to audiobooks and I listened to some episodes with visual description turned on.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen imagine her as a Daenerys except older.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSort of like Cersei Lannister?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSort of. But\u2026smarter. Less arrogant. Daenerys is a better analogy, especially given that she has one big thing in common with her. I mean, not as a mother, but a friend. And she\u2019s twice as cunning as both Daenerys and Cersei put together\u2014and she\u2019s bold like Catelyn Stark, got it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI get it. And she knows about you, or rather, us?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout everyone. She\u2019s met people\u2026like us, before. And she knows about one of my friends. Her name is Erin Solstice. She lives far south of here, in Liscor. She\u2019s an [Innkeeper]\u2026I\u2019d like you to meet her sometime.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d be delighted. But I do have to help Riverfarm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe village? Why? Because Durene lives there?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. And because they\u2019re good people. Well, fairly good. They\u2019ll starve or die without help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you can do it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think so. I wasn\u2019t expecting to meet someone from another world, though.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNeither was I. I just heard you speaking German and\u2014look, I\u2019m sorry I got you mixed up in this.\u201d<\/p>\n I shrug fractionally.<\/p>\n \u201cPolitics. I\u2019d get involved sooner or later, especially considering\u2026well, let\u2019s just say that having your friend here and learning a bit about the city might be helpful. If this Lady Magnolia really is a friend to the people, I think she\u2019d approve of what we\u2019re doing here.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka\u2019s quick pace falters. I hear her take a breath as people shout at a rude wagon driver ahead of us.<\/p>\n \u201cAbout buying supplies. Do you need help with getting supplies for this village of yours? If you need coin I\u2026damnit, I\u2019ve got some, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be fine. Trust me.\u201d<\/p>\n Silence. Then Ryoka stops.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll try.\u201d<\/p>\n I tap the ground experimentally with my walking stick, but feel no difference in the paving stone around me. Not that I really expected it.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re in front of the Merchant\u2019s Guild? How does it look?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBig. Fancy. They went all out on the architecture around here. Lots of gold paint.\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s a sneer in Ryoka\u2019s voice. I hear the others catch up, and then Durene speaks.<\/p>\n \u201cLaken! We\u2019re in front of the Merchant\u2019s Guild!\u201d<\/p>\n Is it just me, or is she right between me and Ryoka? I smile up at her.<\/p>\n \u201cI know. Ryoka, can you give us a second? I want to talk with Durene before we\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGot it. Hey Reynold, come over here.\u201d<\/p>\n They retreat. I\u2019m left alone with Durene and Gamel, although he\u2019s standing further away. I whisper up to Durene.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you not like Ryoka?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014I don\u2019t trust her, Laken. Are you sure she\u2019s someone you know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think I can trust her. But tell me, is there anything I missed back in the plaza? When that man Reynold introduced himself, you and Gamel made a noise.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah! When he was speaking he\u2014he bowed <\/em>to you, Laken! He bowed really low!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs one would to a\u2026someone like me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone like\u2014oh, yeah!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cInteresting. Don\u2019t say anything about it for now, okay? It\u2019s a secret. Tell Gamel that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay Laken. But\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n I can practically see Durene\u2019s face, upset with confusion and nerves.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going on? This is all so sudden! What are we going to do in the Merchant\u2019s Guild, hire a bunch of wagons?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cClose. I actually think we can get done most of what we need to while we\u2019re in there. It\u2019s going to be complex, Durene. But we can handle it. All you need to do is look impressive. I think you can do that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut what should I do? I don\u2019t know anything about\u2014money or stuff like that. Are you sure I should come in with you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat, and leave me alone? I need you, Durene. Will you come with me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s a response without a second of hesitation behind it. Just one word, but it blows away my self-doubt and my own fears. I smile as Durene squeezes my hand with the utmost care. She\u2019s with me, and she\u2019s all the help I\u2019ll need. How could I ask for more?<\/p>\n And yet, I have more. Gamel is right beside us, faithfully going along with all of this although he clearly doesn\u2019t understand what I\u2019m thinking. He trusts me. He\u2019s loyal.<\/p>\n What an odd thought. But he is my subject and I\u2019ll do right by him.<\/p>\n So it\u2019s not Laken the confused guy who stops in front of the Merchant\u2019s Guild, it\u2019s Laken the [Emperor]. He\u2019s listened and heard all of what\u2019s going on and he has a good idea of the situation he\u2019s in. And he has a plan.<\/p>\n I gesture for Gamel to come over, and we huddle together in front of the Merchant\u2019s Guild as I explain what I want to do. Politics. [Lords] and [Ladies] and Guilds and [Merchants]. Well, I\u2019m an [Emperor] so I trump all of them. I smile as I speak to my two followers, my two subjects, my two friends.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay you two, here\u2019s what we\u2019re going to do. Durene, I want you to open the doors like this when we go in\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n As the blind young man known as Laken stood with his two friends, Ryoka waited a few feet down the street with Reynold. She pulled something out of her pocket\u2014an iPhone\u2014and tapped on the screen.<\/p>\n Ryoka glanced down at her iPhone and closed the encyclopedia app she had been using. It had been a long, long time since she\u2019d last used it but she was glad to know that it could still work offline.<\/p>\n \u201cGuess it\u2019s not a waste of gigabytes after all.\u201d<\/p>\n She tucked it away in her pocket and sighed. What a mess. She had no idea what Laken was about to do, but from the way the villager and half-Troll girl were reacting, it was going to be surprising.<\/p>\n \u201cI have no idea what the hell is going on.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cYe never do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Ivolethe poked her head out of Ryoka\u2019s belt pouch, chewing on a walnut. She was actually eating the shell as well as the nut itself. Ryoka eyed the small blue faerie. She wondered if Laken could hear Ivolethe like Erin could. If so, that might be a better way of letting him know important details.<\/p>\n But what did he really need to know? Everything Ryoka knew about the other people scattered across the world, about Erin and the dangers of the Antinium and so on\u2014that was for a much longer conversation, later. Right now she could only trust he wouldn\u2019t blurt out anything important.<\/p>\n She didn\u2019t think he would, honestly. She was surprised by how fast he\u2019d caught on to everything.<\/p>\n \u201cAt least I got the message to him. Thank god for monoglottism in this world.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka saw Ivolethe\u2019s small head turn towards her and laugh.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHah! I heard thy terrible attempt at language.<\/span> Deine Aussprache ist schrecklich.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Ryoka scowled down at her belt.<\/p>\n \u201cHow the hell do you know what I\u2014no, don\u2019t tell me. I guess you lot were all over Europe back in the day, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI travelled to many lands, and learned many tongues! You sound as if you were speaking with mud and worms in your mouth!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, yeah.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka scowled and closed the belt pouch over Ivolethe, ignoring the tiny faerie\u2019s shout. She turned her head slightly, and regarded Reynold.<\/p>\n She hadn\u2019t had time to ask, but she was intensely curious to know why he\u2019d bowed like he had when meeting Laken. The man was still pale and shaking a bit even after their short walk.<\/p>\n \u201cHey Reynold. What was that, back there?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Butler] jumped as if Ryoka had shouted in his ear. He jerked his eyes away from Laken, and stared at Ryoka. Then he stepped over and hissed at her, completely forgetting about politeness or decorum.<\/p>\n \u201cWho is<\/em> that man?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLaken? I have no idea.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t give me that! He is\u2014I\u2019ve never felt\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Reynold\u2019s cheeks were flushed. He kept staring at Laken.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you feel?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka eyed him closely. Reynold opened his mouth and shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was like\u2014I suppose it was like standing before Lady Reinhart, or Lord Veltras. One of the high nobility, Ryoka. Only more intense. It\u2019s a sense most [Servants] have\u2014I felt as though I should have been prostrating myself at his feet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n The young woman\u2019s eyes narrowed. She stared at Laken and saw him step back from the huddle with Durene and Gamel. Durene carefully took his hand and they began moving towards the Merchant\u2019s Guild.<\/p>\n \u201cHold on, here we go. Let\u2019s see what he\u2019s about to do.\u201d<\/p>\n This was what Ryoka saw. She saw Durene march up to the doors and then let go of Laken. He grabbed hold of Gamel\u2019s shirt instead, and waited as Durene stood in front of the two ornate double doors.<\/p>\n She attracted attention. For all the half-Troll girl was wearing rough clothing, Ryoka had to admit that she was impressive. Durene was the tallest person around, and when she stood tall and didn\u2019t slouch she was a true giant. She grabbed hold of the door handles and flung the doors wide open.<\/p>\n \u201cNow that\u2019s<\/em> an entrance.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka commented as she followed Laken and the others inside. The dramatic opening had made the entire Merchant\u2019s Guild go silent, or maybe it was seeing Durene come striding through the doorway. Either way, suddenly all eyes were on Laken and Durene and Gamel.<\/p>\n No, they were all on Laken. For all of Durene\u2019s height, there was something about the blind man that drew the eye. Ryoka blinked and rubbed at her own eyes as she stared at his back. Was he\u2026taller? No, but he seemed like it.<\/p>\n What was going on? She frowned hard as Laken walked forwards.<\/p>\n The Merchant\u2019s Guild was as gaudy and plush on the inside as it was on the outside. It had [Receptionists] but other counters as well, places to exchange coin, sell goods, take out loans, and so on. Impressive brass scales were a fixture of the room, as well as other handy measuring tools and things like abacuses\u2014all aids to calculating the worth of an item down to the last copper coin.<\/p>\n Ryoka expected Laken to march up right to one of the receptionist\u2019s desks, but he didn\u2019t do that. He took ten steps into the room and then stopped there. With all eyes on him and his companions Laken stopped and waited as Durene bent down to whisper in his ear.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. He can\u2019t see.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka murmured the words. It was necessary for Laken, but the effect it caused was impressive. There he was, standing in the center of a whirlpool of attention, waiting. The effect was also immediate.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t a lowly [Receptionist] that came hurrying towards Laken across the floor, but a balding, portly man that Ryoka pegged as a [Merchant] or some higher Guild official. She saw him stop as Durene turned to block him, and then hurry forwards and seize Laken\u2019s hand. After a few moments of discussion, they walked over to some chairs and a table set to one side of the room.<\/p>\n That was ordinary. But Laken was not. He sat politely across from the [Merchant], eyes closed, smiling as he talked. And Durene stood protectively next to him, a half-Troll bodyguard while Gamel stood on the other side, looking fiercely proud despite his simple clothing.<\/p>\n What was going on? Who was that man? Why did he catch the eye so? Ryoka heard the murmuring, and saw the people waiting in line or doing business sneaking glances over at Laken as the guild slowly began to get back to business. Some people took seats at tables next to Laken\u2019s, others simply wandered over as they chatted quietly.<\/p>\n It was a Skill, or something about Laken. Ryoka watched, arms folded by the doors as Reynold scribbled in his notebook furiously. Laken sat and smiled as he talked to the [Merchant], radiating confidence like a beacon.<\/p>\n He did nothing dramatic, and his words were inaudible except to the people closest to him. And yet, he had a presence that weighed down on his surroundings and dragged every eye to where he sat. Slowly, the room began to revolve around him.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I sit with the [Merchant] named Merec in the center of his guild and thank god that they have padded seats in here. The bench in the park wasn\u2019t bad, but after more than an hour of sitting on its hard surface, I could use some support for my backside.<\/p>\n Especially because I have the feeling I\u2019ll be here for a while. I sit with my back straight in the chair, hearing quiet voices around me, people haggling, or buying goods in bulk, negotiating deliveries to other cities.<\/p>\n Doing business, in short. It\u2019s not distracting to me, and I can tune it out, but it\u2019s a reminder that we\u2019re sitting in the open, in the center of the guild.<\/p>\n \u201cAgain, Mister Laken, I would be quite happy to seat you in a private room to discuss any business. I\u2019m sure a man such as yourself might prefer the privacy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI feel quite comfortable conducting my affairs out in the open, Mister Merec. I have nothing to hide, after all.\u201d<\/p>\n The Merchant\u2019s Guild has private rooms of course, although they might not be that private. I\u2019d bet some of them have listening spells or peepholes\u2026I smile in the general direction of the merchant. I hear him swallow, and then speak.<\/p>\n \u201cWell then, I\u2019m happy to get down to business. What ah, did you say the nature of your visit was about? Did I hear your\u2014your helper correctly when she said you wanted to place a big order?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed, Mister Merec. A large order. I would like to purchase food, supplies, livestock, tools, and so on for a village of around a hundred people. Of course, not just for one meal or two\u2014I\u2019d like to make a purchase that will last them the rest of the winter. To that end, I\u2019d like to hire at least\u2026twelve wagons, I suppose, and the appropriate guards to protect such a delivery. I was thinking at least two teams of adventurers might do.\u201d<\/p>\n I don\u2019t quite hear Merec inhale his tongue, but he comes close.<\/p>\n \u201cS-supplies? For a village? May I ask what this is about, sir?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRiverfarm, my good man, Riverfarm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2026? I\u2019m sorry, Mister Laken, but I\u2019ve never heard of such a village.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally? You haven\u2019t? But their cabbage exports are a local keystone of the markets!\u201d<\/p>\n I try to sound upset, but the truth is I\u2019m laughing inside. I steeple my fingers and lean forwards over the table.<\/p>\n \u201cI happen to be a great friend of the villagers there, Mister Merec. You may not have heard, but an avalanche hit the village and surrounding region not three days past. It was a tragedy, and many lives were lost.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014I had heard something of the kind, sir. So these goods are for the village?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes indeed. I\u2019m in rather a hurry, so if you could have the wagons loaded and sent out in, oh, an hour\u2019s time that would be best.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014well, hold on now.\u201d<\/p>\n Merec tries to take back command of the situation. I hear saliva moving as he pauses, and then his tone becomes genial, professionally good-humored.<\/p>\n \u201cWe would love to fulfill your request, Mister Laken. But before we talk details, may I ask how you intend to pay for all of this? I hesitate to ask, but with such a huge transaction in mind\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course! Let\u2019s not beat around the bushes, Merec!\u201d<\/p>\n I raise my voice and feel the man wince. People around me go silent as I sit taller in my chair.<\/p>\n \u201cRiverfarm needs aid, Mister Merec. Posthaste! Today, if it can be managed! I came to the Merchant\u2019s Guild because I was told you could help me better than the Runner\u2019s Guild.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, that\u2019s certainly true, sir. We have the goods\u2014those Runners would have to come to us<\/em> for supplies. But about payment\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n I wave an impatient hand at him.<\/p>\n \u201cMoney is no object. Durene, would you please put the bag on the table so Mister Merec can see it?\u201d<\/p>\n I hear Durene fiddle with her belt, and then a heavy thump<\/em>. Merec\u2019s chair screeches back, and then I hear him and voices around him gasp and exclaim.<\/p>\n \u201cDead gods!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs that\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre these gems, sir? And this\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid I didn\u2019t have time to convert it all into gold\u2014but I believe exchanging gemstones is one of the functions of your guild, isn\u2019t it? Well, I\u2019ll leave sorting out the exact worth till later, but I assume this will be adequate?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh\u2014ah\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n I think I broke the poor man. I tap a foot on the ground until Merec manages to speak again.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. Of course\u2014you there! Bring over some chairs for Mister Laken\u2019s escorts, now! And have drinks sent for\u2014may I offer you some refreshments, Mister Laken?\u201d\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t say no, but I am<\/em> in a hurry, Mister Merec.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir. I completely\u2014thank you. There\u2019s just one matter I must attend to. I\u2019m terribly sorry, but in cases like this\u2014would you mind taking an oath on a truth spell? It\u2019s just that in cases like this where we cannot be sure where this money has come from\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you accusing me of having stolen that money?\u201d<\/p>\n I interject a note of frank incredulity into my tone. Durene makes an ominous noise.<\/p>\n \u201cLaken didn\u2019t<\/em> steal that. All of this is his!\u201d<\/p>\n Merec makes a very small sound, and I imagine him shrinking back as Durene towers over him.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, of course\u2026it\u2019s just a matter of protocol, see? I\u2019d never question\u2014please, Mister Laken\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s okay, Durene.\u201d<\/p>\n I wave a hand at her and hear her step back. I smile brightly at Merec.<\/p>\n \u201cI understand completely. Can I assume you have a stone of some sort I\u2019d put my hand on?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes sir. It\u2019s right here\u2026if you just keep it close to your person, it will shine and uh, tell the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVery well. In that case, allow me to go a step further so I may clarify matters.\u201d<\/p>\n I reach out and find the stone on the table after a few seconds of searching. I pull it closer and speak carefully.<\/p>\n \u201cThis money is mine.\u201d<\/p>\n I hear a murmur as the stone presumably lights up. I trust that I\u2019m not being made out to be a liar and go on.<\/p>\n \u201cI am a relative newcomer to this land, but I am deeply concerned with the wellbeing of the people of Riverfarm, who took me in and offered me hospitality during my time of need. My wealth comes from my, ah, class. It was not stolen from anyone to the best of my knowledge, and it is mine by right.\u201d<\/p>\n More murmuring. I lift my hand away from the stone.<\/p>\n \u201cI trust that satisfies your questions, Mister Merec?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt does indeed, sir. I apologize most sincerely for the inconvenience, but\u2014ah\u2014may I ask what your class is?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou may ask, but I may not answer.\u201d<\/p>\n I smile at Merec. I hear him hesitate.<\/p>\n \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t happen to be of the aristocracy, sir? Forgive my curiosity, but it\u2019s very rare to have someone of your status in our guild. Most nobles send servants you see\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n I just smile. No reply. But I hear the small intake of breath, and know the crystal has probably changed color again. Tricky, that. But all to the better. An [Emperor] is the highest form of nobility, after all. I gently push the stone back across the table just to be sure I don\u2019t trigger it again.<\/p>\n \u201cWell then, now that the truth has been established, let us go back to business. Food, Mister Merec.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course! We can have a shipment prepared\u2014at a very reasonable price, as well. Ah\u2014however, I hate to mention this, but at this point in the year grain and meat and so on is<\/em> very dear. I\u2019m afraid you\u2019ll be paying quite the steep rate for all of this\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n I raise a hand and the man falls silent.<\/p>\n \u201cAs I\u2019ve said, money is no object. I know you would not cheat me or drive up the price unfairly, Mister Merec.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI would never\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know. I don\u2019t need a Skill, spell, or even eyes to see that. An honest price\u2014and coin in your pockets for work well done\u2014is all I need. I don\u2019t fear being lied to, you see.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2026don\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course not. You see, liars and cheats have a way of revealing themselves to me, Merec. Which is why I trust you. After all, being blind means that when people try to pull the wool over my eyes, it doesn\u2019t do a thing.\u201d<\/p>\n I laugh a bit at that. After a second, I hear a polite, rather forced chuckle from Merec. I smile as if I\u2019ve told a good joke. It\u2019s all in the face. I keep it as open and as normal as possible, acting as if I\u2019m talking with a good friend. It helps that I don\u2019t have to do anything with my eyes.<\/p>\n Telling lies? I\u2019m not telling lies. And I\u2019m not dancing about with the truth either. I really don\u2019t <\/em>have a way of telling if someone\u2019s lying to me. But I can make him think I do.<\/p>\n I\u2019m just letting Merec and all the others do all the thinking and plotting and analysis of every word and move I make. The key is to make them think I\u2019ve got depths, when in fact I\u2019m about as deep as a puddle.<\/p>\n Mind games. From what Reynold and Ryoka said, the important people in this world like to play games with each other and read into every move anyone of power makes. My hope is that in a world of backstabbing, duplicitous schemers, they\u2019ll never expect an honest man.<\/p>\n Well, semi-honest. Sort of. At least I make an effort.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Ryoka rubbed at her eyes as the discussion went on. Laken sounded exactly<\/em> like some kind of antagonist explaining his modus operandi on a television show to her. She\u2019d felt like cringing when he made that joke. It was an over-the-top performance, but, and she had to admit this reluctantly, it was working.<\/p>\n It was the way he said it that sold the acting, and that incredible presence he had. You could believe that Laken was some reclusive, eccentric nobleman helping out a village he had taken a liking to. Every eye was on him and some people were openly listening to his discussion, not bothering to hide their interest.<\/p>\n They were all probably wondering which royal house Laken came from, which noble family. Ryoka was wondering much the same thing, although her main question was how<\/em>. She knew he\u2026but the stone had\u2026Ryoka\u2019s head was hurting already from all the suspicions bottled up in her chest.<\/p>\n And yet, it was all working in Laken\u2019s favor. His entire presence was a tantalizing mystery. Who was the strange man with the bag of gold and a Troll bodyguard? Ryoka could see the gears whirring in people\u2019s heads and decided to give Laken a hand.<\/p>\n She looked over and saw Reynold still writing furiously in the notebook, dipping his quill quickly into the small inkpot he held. She had to admire that\u2014pens were so much easier than having to balance ink and quill and notepad with just two hands. She moved over and elbowed him, making the [Butler] jump.<\/p>\n \u201cHey. Get in there.\u201d<\/p>\n He stared blankly at her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded toward Laken and Merec as they began to discuss prices and what exactly Laken wanted.<\/p>\n \u201cDo something. Anything. Just enter the conversation, alright? It doesn\u2019t matter what you say, only that you\u2019re there, saying it.\u201d<\/p>\n Reynold hesitated, and then shook his head slightly.<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Ryoka, my job is to escort you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd take notes.\u201d<\/p>\n He flushed a bit and lowered his quill.<\/p>\n \u201cWell I\u2014I can\u2019t just interfere in business like this. It\u2019s not my place.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. Okay.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka shrugged and walked away. After a few moments Reynold went back to writing down what was being said. He glanced over towards Ryoka and realized she was gone.<\/p>\n Reynold\u2019s head turned frantically, but she wasn\u2019t anywhere in front of him. Then he felt two hands on his back. He half turned\u2014<\/p>\n And Ryoka shoved him.<\/p>\n She pushed Reynold forwards, sending the [Butler] stumbling closer to Laken and Merec. Reynold regained his footing and posture immediately and looked graceful while doing it, but now all eyes were on him. Ryoka looked the other way and twiddled her thumbs behind her back.<\/p>\n \u201cOops.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I break off when I hear the scuffle of feet on the floorboards.<\/p>\n \u201cIs someone there?\u201d<\/p>\n I hear a man clear his throat, and then hear a familiar voice.<\/p>\n \u201cReynold, sir Laken. May I offer you my services in this matter?\u201d<\/p>\n I hesitate, but only for a second. Why is he helping? No, don\u2019t question it\u2014just roll with the cards that are being dealt.<\/p>\n \u201cI would be most grateful, thank you. Do you by any chance know how much I should be paying for forty bags of barley?\u201d<\/p>\n I hear Reynold sniff delicately.<\/p>\n \u201cGiven the way the Merchant\u2019s Guild does business, I would question whether the goods being sold are of acceptable quality. Master Merec, I trust these prices all reflect the condition of the wares for sale? I have heard of weevils and Harvest Devils being found in warehouses in the city as of late.\u201d<\/p>\n Merec splutters.<\/p>\n \u201cOur goods are beyond repute, sir. I can have a sample brought over\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA sample might do, but a personal inspection of random bags at the site would not be objectionable, I trust?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo\u2014no\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVery well then. But I also trust you are not wasting Mister Laken\u2019s time with trivialities such as individual item counts? The Merchant\u2019s Guild surely has a list of the cheapest and most plentiful products on hand, does it not?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014will have some sent for right away.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Ryoka grinned as she watched Merec stand and hurry off to speak urgently with some harried employees.<\/p>\n \u201cNot bad, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n Ivolethe, munching down on another walnut, just shrugged in reply. Ryoka shook her head.<\/p>\n She didn\u2019t know what Laken\u2019s game was, not exactly, but she knew he needed to have the [Merchants] here thinking he was a big shot. And who better to help with that bit of fiction than Reynold the [Butler]? They might not know who he was on first sight, but Ryoka would bet every gold piece she owned that the people staring at him and talking behind their hands were trying to figure out which [Lord] or [Lady] he served. Once they found out he was Magnolia\u2019s aide\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cOoh, looks like they\u2019ve put it together.\u201d<\/p>\n She\u2019d never seen a ruddy face go that pale that quickly. Merec made his way back to Laken with profuse apologies and offered him a frothy fruit drink. Ryoka could have used one herself, but only Laken, Durene, and Gamel were getting the deluxe treatment. The negotiations went on, and Ryoka shifted from leg to leg until she heard adventurers being brought up.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have several good teams, Mister Laken. There are Gold-rank teams I could hire if you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI want those two teams, Mister Merec. The Celestial Trackers and the Windfrozen Riders.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs you say sir, but may I ask why those two\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka saw Laken lean back and smile mysteriously. She wondered if he\u2019d practiced that smile or if he was just that good at acting. Or maybe that was just how he smiled?<\/p>\n \u201cHere\u2019s the thing, Merec. May I call you that? I need adventurers to protect Riverfarm, but I don\u2019t want to hire people who just want coin or who will look down on the villagers. Why those two teams? Well, early today, I sent my\u2026man out to all of the adventuring groups he could find earlier this day, begging for help. Of the ones he talked to, those two were the only ones who didn\u2019t immediately send him off or laugh at him.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka turned to stare at Gamel. Wait a second\u2014she remembered<\/em> seeing him doing that! He\u2019d been approaching the teams in the plaza, begging for help!<\/p>\n \u201cClever.\u201d<\/p>\n Laken went on, explaining his reasoning to an enthralled Merec and the audience around him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I was young, I heard a story about a [King] who did very much the same thing. Well, the story has many forms, but it\u2019s always the same. The [King] would go out, disguising himself as a peasant or ordinary man and talk with people, ask for aid, or challenge them to ascertain their worth. Only after he had gotten the measure of them would he reveal himself. For you see, people aren\u2019t genuine when they know you\u2019re rich or powerful. I want those teams, Merec. They might not be famous, but they do care.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, sir. I will have someone go over to the Adventurer\u2019s Guild this instant\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The young man held up a hand and Merec fell silent.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to hire them not only to escort the wagons, but to guard the village for at least a month. If they won\u2019t agree, then I will find another team. You may post more guards and adventurers if you want, but I need at least two groups to protect the village. Now, if you will tell me the price I\u2019d be paying for that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka turned and moved out of the crowd of onlookers, shaking her head as she left the Merchant\u2019s Guild.<\/p>\n \u201cAmazing. How the hell did he get all that money, Ivolethe?\u201d<\/p>\n The faerie just stared up at Ryoka, cheeks bulging. She swallowed and didn\u2019t answer. Ryoka scowled.<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever. But at least I\u2019ve got Reynold off my back. Well, there are probably other spies around, but I hope they like running.\u201d<\/p>\n She left the building and began to jog and then run down the street. Back inside the Merchant\u2019s Guild, Reynold stood to attention next to Laken. He knew Ryoka had gone, had seen her leave, but he couldn\u2019t make himself abandon the conversation. Laken kept asking him questions and Reynold found himself pressing Merec hard on the young man\u2019s behalf. He was stuck, and Reynold realized this might have been Ryoka\u2019s plan all along.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Ryoka had intended to go to the Mage\u2019s Guild to send the Horns of Hammerad a message, but she found herself in the Runner\u2019s Guild first. It was just a thought. She wondered if the [Receptionist] had heard about Valceif yet.<\/p>\n But when she approached the counter, the young man on duty immediately asked her to wait. Confused, Ryoka found herself ushered to the side while one of the staff on duty went to go get the [Receptionist] she\u2019d talked to.<\/p>\n When the woman came walking down the stairs, Ryoka realized something was wrong. It was written all over the woman\u2019s face. The young woman felt a lurch in her stomach, though she didn\u2019t know what the problem was.<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Ryoka? You were asking about the whereabouts of Valceif Godfrey?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Receptionist] led Ryoka to an unused counter to talk. Ryoka nodded, keeping her voice deliberately casual.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I was wondering. Do you know where he is?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI do, Miss. I\u2019m sorry to say that Valceif is dead. He was killed two weeks ago on a delivery.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka blinked. She rubbed at one ear and stared into the other woman\u2019s grave eyes. She opened her mouth and slowly closed it.<\/p>\n \u201cHow? I mean\u2014I mean\u2014how? How did it happen?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe was killed on a delivery, Miss Ryoka. A group of [Bandits] waylaid him. It wasn\u2019t an assassination or someone trying to intercept his delivery. It was simply\u2014bad luck.\u201d<\/p>\n A hole had opened up in Ryoka\u2019s chest. She felt herself lurching, felt all the positive emotions drain out through a pit in her stomach and the void rush in.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re sure?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Miss Ryoka.\u201d<\/p>\n There was too much sympathy in the [Receptionist]\u2019s eyes. She\u2019d seen this before, told other Runners the same thing, Ryoka knew. She hated that. She hated\u2026it couldn\u2019t be true.<\/p>\n \u201cBandits did it. [Bandits]? How could they get him? Valceif was\u2014he was a Courier.<\/em> He could outrun a horse!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey used magic. When they were captured, the surviving bandits said that they\u2019d used a [Sleep] spell on the road. Apparently they took him unawares, before he knew they were there. It\u2019s rare that a Courier doesn\u2019t have magical items to ward against such spells, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka\u2019s hand had gone over her mouth when the woman mentioned the [Sleep] spell. When the [Receptionist] got to the part about magical items Ryoka threw up.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Someone got Ryoka a towel and some water to wash her mouth out with. Ryoka stared at her hands as she sat at a table.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was my fault. I got him killed.\u201d<\/p>\n There was a gasp. The [Receptionist]\u2019s eyes flicked to the young man and other woman hovering around Ryoka. She glared at them.<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t hear that. Either of you. If I hear a word out of your mouths\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n They fled. Ryoka raised her head to stare at the [Receptionist].<\/p>\n \u201cWhy bother hiding it? It\u2019s true. Valceif\u2014he had\u2014he had an amulet. A dreamcatcher that could shield him from spells. He gave it to me and I broke it. If I hadn\u2019t\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI understand. But you must not say that openly.\u201d<\/p>\n The woman stared at Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause Valceif had friends. And family. And they might come here seeking vengeance if they hear the wrong things. Rumor would spin you as his murderer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI might as well be. I killed him. I did it. I let him run off without protection\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cListen to me.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Receptionist] tapped Ryoka\u2019s arm, making the younger woman look up at her. There was kindness in the other woman\u2019s gaze, but something made of steel as well.<\/p>\n \u201cValceif Godfrey was a Runner. He was a Courier\u2014one of the best of us. He knew the risks of running without an artifact and he took it. His death was not your fault. He helped you because that is what we Runners do. The people who killed him are at fault, not you. Runners carry deliveries, but we do not bear grudges. We run and die and help each other. Valceif was a true Runner to the end.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka stared at the [Receptionist].<\/p>\n \u201cYou were a Runner?\u201d<\/p>\n The woman\u2019s mouth turned up slightly.<\/p>\n \u201cCity Runner. Like you. I grew too old and slow for it. It\u2019s too dangerous and I have a child. But I know what it\u2019s like. I\u2019ve lost friends too. Valceif probably thought he could outrun any mage before he bought another charm, but he made a mistake. That\u2019s always how it happens. A small mistake or bad luck.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka shuddered.<\/p>\n \u201cBut if\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n She paused and shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cI know. I know I couldn\u2019t have known. But if\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you could have, you would. But it was just bad luck.\u201d<\/p>\n The two sat in silence for longer than Ryoka knew. Time lost its meaning for a while, but no one came over to bother the [Receptionist] and she ignored the queue at the desks.<\/p>\n After a while, the [Receptionist] thought she heard a voice. She looked at Ryoka, but saw nothing. It was a faint sound, almost indistinct. Then the woman saw a blue creature, a being of frost and ice standing by her ear. She stared at the Frost Faerie, but Ivolethe just whispered into Ryoka\u2019s ear, quietly.<\/p>\n Time passed. All three sat in silence, then, Ivolethe sitting on Ryoka\u2019s shoulder stared dreamily upwards. She did not weep, but there was something deep in the faerie\u2019s eyes. A hint of forever. At last, Ryoka stood up.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got to go. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n The faerie darted towards her pouch and the [Receptionist] stood. She didn\u2019t comment about Ivolethe, just walked with Ryoka to the doors.<\/p>\n \u201cCome back if you need to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will.\u201d<\/p>\n Slowly, Ryoka left the Runner\u2019s Guild. All the energy she\u2019d had before, all the excitement, was gone. She felt numb and hollow, and she remembered the feeling. She\u2019d known it before.<\/p>\n Too many times. But this time Ryoka didn\u2019t give into the feeling or allow it to overtake her. That was a luxury for later. Right now she walked and then jogged down the street, feeling as though she were shot or stabbed while she moved.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The man at the desk in the Mage\u2019s Guild was only too happy to show Ryoka the many messages left for her. In truth, they were all short slips of paper, [Message] spells being far too expensive for long missives, but there were a lot of them.<\/p>\n Ryoka stood at the counter, aware of the man\u2019s eyes on her as she flipped through message after message. Quite a few were from Krshia, asking when she would come back.<\/p>\n There is unrest. You must return soon. Do you have what is needed?<\/em><\/p>\n Ryoka remembered the book full of spells in her bag of holding. Another promise, long delayed. She shook her head and read the next piece of parchment.<\/p>\n This one was from Ceria.<\/p>\n \u2026hope you can reply soon. Let us know. We hope all is well.<\/em><\/p>\n They must have been worried without a response for days. Ryoka felt something else stab into her heart, but it was already bleeding so it hurt only a bit.<\/p>\n The next message was from Pisces and more direct.<\/p>\n What\u2019s taking so long?<\/em><\/p>\n Just that. Ryoka sighed and took the next bit of parchment out. She read it and froze. It was from Lyonette.<\/p>\n Come back. Mrsha misses you.<\/em><\/p>\n The void in Ryoka\u2019s heart didn\u2019t shrink, but now she could feel it hurting. She thought of Mrsha. How long had it been since she\u2019d seen her? She\u2019d just run off, looking for Erin\u2014but Erin had come back and Ryoka hadn\u2019t.<\/p>\n \u201cI have to go back.\u201d<\/p>\n The bored man at the desk looked up, but Ryoka\u2019s eyes were on the pieces of paper. She pulled a lengthy one out from Erin and almost smiled at it.<\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Miss? How can I help you?\u201d<\/p>\n The man covered a sigh as Ryoka pulled out a bag of coins.<\/p>\n \u201cI need to send a message to all these people in Liscor. Can you post an open response or something?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCertainly. What would you like to send?\u201d<\/p>\n The man had a silver-tipped quill ready. He paused over a piece of parchment as Ryoka closed her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cTell them I\u2019m sorry. And I\u2019ll be home soon.\u201d<\/p>\n The man paused, and coughed.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you mean for me to write \u2018tell them I\u2019m sorry\u2019 or\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka glared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Write \u2018I\u2019m sorry. I will return home soon\u2019. That\u2019s the general response. Now\u2014I have specific messages I want sent to Erin Solstice, Krshia Silverfang, Ceria Springwalker, and\u2026one for Mrsha, to be delivered to any of the people I just mentioned.\u201d<\/p>\n The Mage\u2019s Guild hired only those who could write as fast as other people talked. The man neatly wrote down each of the recipients as Ryoka mentioned them. Ryoka stared at his quill blurring over the parchment.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, and I want the messages sent right now. Yes, I\u2019ll pay extra.\u201d<\/p>\n The man coughed as Ryoka slapped down coins on the counter.<\/p>\n \u201cVery well. May I have the first message, please?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight. This one\u2019s for Ceria.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka closed her eyes and thought. Then she began speaking.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is Ryoka. I have had the items analyzed. Contents are as follows: magical sword, strong enchantment. Second sword: damaged beyond repair. Useless. Dagger\u2014flame enchantment. Useful. Buckler: damaged but can be repaired. May have to sell one item to repair the rest\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Her voice was low, but clear and precise. Ryoka dictated her message for Ceria, and then Krshia, and then left a message for Mrsha before pondering how to reply to Erin\u2019s question. She thought about what she needed to get done in the city before she left, what she could say to Laken, and what to do about the magical items that Hedault was keeping for her.<\/p>\n It was hard, very hard. Every two seconds Ryoka remembered a grinning face, and a man who ran past her. She remembered his back, and the burning air in her lungs as she tried to keep up.<\/p>\n Just for a moment. It had just been a few days, but she had liked him. Ryoka closed her eyes as her breath caught in her chest, and the man at the desk looked up expectantly. But Valceif was dead. She\u2019d mourn him later. Right now, she had a job to do. She had people counting on her, and Ryoka couldn\u2019t let them down as well.<\/p>\n Slowly, painfully, Ryoka got back to work.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cTomorrow, then. Or sooner if I can get a hold of the Horns of Hammerad by mage spell.\u201d \u201cVery well. Please confine your visiting hours between dawn and sunset.\u201d That seemed like a fairly easy request, so Ryoka nodded to Hedault as she and Reynold left his house. She supposed that without clocks, appointments were […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52856846,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"patreon-level":0,"patreon_level":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11693083,349],"tags":[7224,250708,4330244,4472517,11693079],"twi_volume":[11693132],"twi_collection":[],"class_list":["post-3790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-volume-3","category-writing","tag-fantasy","tag-inn","tag-web-novel","tag-web-serial","tag-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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