Trade Town was not a town. It was a city, but not just a city. This was a walled fortress city. It was also the seat of March Flatwoods, so there were both a castle and a palace. The castle was for the Defender, while the Palace was for the March. They entered the gates, and Biyu took in the city while May reminisced. It was not a grand city, like some of the cities of the Southern Lords, or the great city of Shadow Gate, but it was Biyu's first mortal city. City in the Sky was grander than this city, but she doubted any mortal city could compare with an impossible phantasm. Her eyes took in the sights with interest. Anya was besides them, having had Biyu escort her through the gate. The guards had directed them to a market square where they could park their wagons while Lady Chelsea went to greet the Defender and March. The space adjacent to theirs was taken up by a circus, featuring a small menagerie of animals, a puppet show, and acrobats.
Along the road were buildings made of stone. Some were decorated with columns in front, the buildings an impressive two squat stories. They were broad with long thin alleys between each building, and Biyu recognized the style. There would be a series of small buildings or rooms lining a central courtyard, but it was not the walled estates nobles preferred. They were referred to as townhouses, and were usually owned by those of means who could not afford an estate. A sign above one depicted a pair of parallel 'S' curves. That would be the Road Builder Guild.
Another building across the street showed a silhouette that if one squinted was a man in repose. This building was three stories tall, with an external staircase and a man standing guard in linen armor with a sword, shield, and a short spear. One of the doors on the first floor was decorated with mosaics, pieces of colored stone set around the frame. The door itself was a simple thing of wooden slats.
Biyu glanced at May, and pointed at the building. Smiling, May said, "That's a traveler's inn. They give you a room, and they'll offer you bread, cheese, and stew twice a day for a separate fee. It's meant for people staying just a couple of days, like us. I asked why it looked like that, and they told me it was an old residential row house that had been repurposed when the town grew too big. Merchants usually stay with friends or associates in their townhouse. There's a noble quarter, but I don't know what they do. I can't even guess about Knights, but I don't remember seeing any in the traveler's inn."
An old man walking along the road paused, looking at the traveler's curiously. Unlike the villagers, he showed no instant distrust of a tiny masked man, a tall armed woman, and a pretty woman in elegant robes. It was probably because of her, and the symbol of a Healer Guild that she wore as a patch on her clothes. "Oh, Knights usually camp outside the walls, or stay in the Order compound a mile up the road," he said cheerfully. "Nobles? Depends. If they have relations, they stay with them. If they're guests, then they stay with the March or Defender. If they're rich, they rent a guest house. If they're poor, well, I have seen a young noble or two sneaking in and out of a traveler inn. Here's a tip, if you're a poor noble, don't wear a cloak to hide in the day. That just makes people notice you more."
The three women thanked the old man, and they continued to merchant's row. The street was wide, three oxcarts in width, and went from the east to the west gate. Townhouses lined the south road, so they could face north, while the north side gave way to large guarded buildings and fenced yards. It was easy to tell that the houses were for wealthy merchants or associations, while the north was their warehouses. That would give them the most sun, especially in the winter when the sun kept to the northern skies.
After the warehouses were more inns. Some of them had women of questionable virtue smiling at passing merchants and other well-to-do men. These were more traveler inns, with a guard leaning lazily on the walls or their spears. May gave Anya a dirty look when she smiled at the women, to which she gave an unrepentant beaming smile.
Before they had reached the city, they made a list of all the things they needed or wanted. That list was then reduced to the things they could afford ordered first by need, and then by how many wanted it. Anya had managed to press for a larger tent for the three of them to be near the top of their list. Biyu had decided to trade her fish scale armor for iron ring mail. Her current armor was distinctive, and inconvenient if she had to wear a gown to cover it up. Fortunately, her unstrung bow remained a walking stick to the casual observer, if oddly shaped. Anya wanted to replace Biyu's mask with veils as a more elegant solution. Biyu objected, and that led to a discussion as Biyu pointed out it was an important gift from a friend. That made Anya irritable, since she had learned more about this friend during their travels.
Before they shopped, May visited the Treasure Hunters to pay for information for places they could go for the goods they needed. Lady Chelsea would use the Treasure Hunters later to get information about the roads to the east as well as anything she could act on as a Knight-Errant. May took the lead, and Anya took Biyu's arm so they could walk the streets together. Biyu had agreed to it ahead of time, but her skin still crawled.
Their first destination proved to be a townhouse in the north of the city. They could hear the ringing of metal being worked from the inner courtyard behind the gate. A man was sitting in a cutout window set into the front of the building glaring at people. He frowned at them as they approached. "We ain't fixing no Elf armor, so bugger off," he said as they unwrapped Biyu's old armor.
"I want to sell it," Biyu said.
The man's eyes bulged. "I won't fix it, and you think I'll buy the damn thing? You off your rocker?"
Biyu patted the armor. "Its twenty pounds of good bronze. I want something less… obvious."
The man snorted. "You come here lookin' the way you do, and you think the armor is the only problem with ya? Just look at your damn hair! Just go away."
"What's her hair got to do with it?" May asked irritably.
The man pointed at Anya. "That missy there is better dressed than the tramp boy, and her hair ain't even half as nice. Dunno the deal, but I can smell the suspicious on you lot. You even really a Healer, or should I get the guards to question you?"
"I am a Healer, and with the Guild of Salutary Fellowship." Her tone was icy.
The man made a rude noise, and waved his hand. "Right. As if. Off with you lot, or I will get the guards."
"Let's find a better place, milady."
The man's brows raised, and he gave Biyu a look. "Yeah, good luck with lies that absurd."
Biyu was tempted to reveal her broach, but she refrained herself. Thinking about it, she had never shown it to Anya and the Knights. They had not demanded she verify her identity, so it did not matter.
The next place they tried had a rotund woman minding things at the shop window. She gave a pleasant enough smile, though her eyes drifted to Biyu and hovered there. "How can I help you?"
Biyu gestured at the armor. "I am looking to sell this and buy something more conventional."
"Okay. Know what you want?"
"Mail, greaves and vambraces. Iron is fine," May said.
The woman nodded, and held out her hands. She inspected the armor, rolling it over. "Good care. Good condition. We can scrap this lot. Won't get you a whole lot, not enough to buy the things you want, but I can give you three-quarter weight, less the backing. That's scrap, and I don't care what you say."
May put down a single ingot steel. The woman hefted it, checking the weight, and scraped a bit of wax off to check the luster. She gave a nod. "I can do you the mail. We got it for children, and I think we can fit you. The rest will need to be fitted. Take two weeks after our current orders are up. Call it a month. This ain't enough, though. Chain I'll give you twenty ingots iron back. That's with the Elf armor factored in."
May did the numbers. "We can get a tent with that, and some food. Want to do it, Master?"
Biyu stroked her armor fondly, then nodded. She pushed it across the counter. "We should get you a spear."
May grimaced. "Like we can afford that with twenty ingots iron."
The woman said, "I've a spear you can have for ten ingots."
May thought about it, then shook her head. "Sorry, I don't think we can afford it. Besides, I'm more a sword woman."
The woman sucked her teeth. "You lot don't dicker enough. I'll get you it for five. Can't do less, that's cost without the work put in."
"Take it," said Biyu. Sighing, May nodded. They got fifteen back as promised, and Biyu donned her mail.
Anya got Biyu makeup at an apothecary, along with some medicines to supplement her healing techniques. They got the tent Anya wanted and preserved foods that would work as travel rations. Anya frowned at those.
Finally, they got to the part Anya was looking forward to. Buying new clothes for Biyu. When they were done, Anya paid for the bulk of their purchases except for weapons and armor. She seemed quite pleased with how things came out, and Biyu was resigned to the outcome as the woman nigh danced on their way back.
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Chelsea had announced herself as a Knight-Errant at the gate to Trade Town. Alan went with a gate runner to announce them to the Defender and the March. She had met them when she passed through heading west, and they were both decent families. The March had an extended family whose members served in the council that ruled the city along with representatives from the merchants and tradesmen. The Defender was devoted to his duties of protecting the city and spent most of his time recruiting and training soldiers used across the march, reading reports from the city patrols and nearby road, and collating defense reports from the other Fortress Lords for the March.
She had requested to present herself after a day of rest, long a tradition of road weary visitors. Likely there would be a reception for her, along with the presentation of some minor requests for the esteemed Knight-Errant. The last time they had her fight some brigands that were extorting merchants, which had been exciting, and to patrol their city, which was a fun little tour. The latter task was a thinly veiled boast about their city, and the Defender himself had conducted the tour. He had treated them to lunch at a fine restaurant.
For now, she made her way to the Treasure Hunters. She had stayed with the retinue until arrangements were made by the Defender, then gave completely unnecessary orders to do what they were already doing. The carts got moving, lead by the city guard, and her Knights were released to their own recognizance for some time off.
The Treasure Hunters was a large building, almost a warehouse, made of granite. The reception room was paneled in lacquered woods of warm colors. Sun came in the windows, and a series of lighting formations ensure the room was bright and cheery. A fat man sat behind the counter, his smile jolly as he looked up from a book.
"Greeting," he began, giving her a quick look over, and a bow. "My Lady. How may I help you today?"
It was odd for the Treasure Hunters to have no clients, but she took it as good fortune and moved to the counter. "I require confidentiality."
The man's smile slipped a little, but he nodded gravely. "Very well. Please go to that room there," he indicated a door. "The one with the image of a deer. I will attend you after I get someone to mind the counter."
The room was similar to the reception hall, except that it had a table, chairs, a few sweets on a platter, and it was lit only with lighting formations. The lighting lacked some of the cheer of sunlight, but it was still a comfortable space except the lack of windows.
Chelsea took a seat, and waited until the man came in from a side door. It would lead into the archives, letting him look up the information she requested. "Is My Lady satisfied with the formations for privacy?" he asked. He indicated sheets of stone with gleaming gems set around the room's walls, floor, and ceiling.
"I will accept your assurances," she replied. As he asked her again what business brought her, she replied, "I need the registry of all members of the Kimmel Lostlakes Elderwoods family, starting with Gerald, and including any deceased. Also, any records of a person named Biyu from that family."
The man paused, his brows raised. "The price is only a few irons for information about the family. Bronze if you wish to keep the request confidential from him. If you want a complete dossier on Biyu Kimmel Lostlakes Elderwoods it will take a few days, but I can get a draft in a few minutes. I'll check, but I don't believe any Kimmel has an open request to be informed if they are asked after. Privacy could get expensive if they do."
"I can afford it. I'll want a copy, too."
"It will take a day to make a copy. I'll be right back with the information. We'll confirm you want a copy after you look it over."
"Very well."
It didn't take long, and the man returned with a few sheets of paper. They held a portrait, name, year of birth, and a summary about notable facts about the person, along with another sheet of facts.
Going through them, she began with Gerald and his wife Lihua. There was nothing interesting in them. As a young man Gerald envied his older brother his election as the next family head, and caused trouble in his youth. He was judged unworthy, and was denied Awakening in his family's Path. In a bid to improve his standing in the family, he went to the north war. Gerald performed very well as an officer, earning commendations and eventually retired from the Imperial Army with a hold in Lost Lakes as a Defender.
His family lauded him in court publicly, but his elder brother had already taken control of the march by this time, and they were kept at arms length. They were denied a family estate in the limited land of the city, but were members of the court. They would be granted a guest estate on their visits, which, as far as Chelsea could tell from the papers, they were expected to provide a gift for. While there was some expectation for Defenders to provide their own estates in their Lord's seat of power if they could afford it, requiring one's Defender to pay for a guest estate would be read as a sign of disfavor and an intentional insult.
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The wife, Lihua Liu Waderpool was the daughter of a Northern Lord Defender with land along a shallow coast of the Inland Sea. The family was influential, and their engagement had been built upon the promise of ties to Lost Lakes. It looked like Defender Waderpool was disappointed with the results and had pursued breaking up the marriage, but relented due to the disgrace his daughter would suffer. Instead, he had made entreaties directly to Lost Lakes for reparations for the failed marriage. The results were concluded in private, and without the presence of Defender Elderwoods.
The eldest daughter was married into a branch of March Flatwoods's family. There was nothing of note about her, other than that she seemed to be doing well.
Next was what she was looking for. A woman the right name, age, and size listed as deceased. She lingered on the portrait, frowning. It looked like one of the idealized portraits she had seen in the palaces of Shadow Gate rather than a true to life portrait. This page had as many notes in the summary as her father had. Numerous tutors, most fired who spoke ill of the girl. Attempts to entice a marriage, and a recalcitrance to actually introduce to prospective partners without a soft engagement. Much of it fit well. Her death was three years ago, around the time she was taken in by the Sacred Beast according to her story. She had died of an unspecified disease. There was no note about a Healer being called to save her.
"Lady Biyu?" the man asked. At her nod, he shook his head. "They tried to get us to certify the accuracy of her portrait without letting us see her. Strange business that. We wouldn't do it without having someone actually see her, but they were desperate no one actually look at her."
Chelsea gave the man an absent nod. She put it aside, and then checked the youngest daughter. This girl was alive, at home, and taller than her older sister.
"I need to validate the identity of Biyu Kimmel Lostlakes Elderwoods."
The man raised his eyebrows. "You did see that she was dead?"
"I have a woman with me claiming her identity. She told us she's an exile, and a disciple of the Great Ruby Eyed Serpent."
The man's brow wrinkled. "Oh? You would have to bring her in. Might be a bit difficult to authenticate her though. Like, we might need to call in her family, too. It will take time."
Chelsea nodded, assuming that would be the case. Turning to the information on Biyu, most of it was a repeat of what was on her sheet. A number of attempts by Elderwoods to marry his daughter to high ranking families, including the Imperial family, with promises of her great beauty. Reports of various minor nobles being punished, and one killed for impropriety. Anger from other noble families for the punishments, and even a blood price paid for the man killed that Elderwoods likely couldn't afford.
There was a problem with the report. Diseases rarely killed just one person unless it was congenital, and those usually killed much younger than sixteen. They also tended to plague a person throughout their life, even if they survived, and there was no notice of it prior to her death.
"Were there any other deaths that spring?"
"I'll check. Anything else you care to know before I go into the back, My Lady?"
"Check both that year and annually. From now to ten years ago." She had a suspicion, and by the look on the man's face he had followed her reasoning.
There had been. Around the same time every year, someone would die. The causes varied, but the date was within a month. Usually the cause of death was related to inclement weather, or a late winter, and a poor soul who failed to weather it. Frowning, Chelsea considered.
"Do you keep records on Spirit Beast pacts?"
"We do, but most don't report them. It isn't legally required, and the terms can be contentious with neighbors, so the holders rarely share them."
Chelsea thought about it, while tapping her fingers. "I would like to file a report with the Ministry of Gods," Chelsea decided. She would inform them of her suspicions of sacrifices to the Sacred Beast being reported as mundane deaths. It might not amount to anything, but the deaths, the nearby Sacred Beast, and the possibility Defender Elderwood's daughter was sacrificed should be reason enough to spur an investigation. For now, that would have to be enough. No, she could also talk to Anya and see what it stirred up.
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Lady Biyu refused to watch the puppet show, and both Anya and May were confused at her reticence. After a bit of cajoling from Lady Biyu, the two women went watch the show, leaving Lady Biyu to amuse herself waiting for them. Puppet shows tended to be short, usually under half an hour. When the women returned, they stood watching her practicing her fingering with an imaginary flute.
"It's an endearing sight, when she isn't dressed like a peasant from one of those reclusive villages that worship a god no one else has ever heard of," Anya said.
May glanced at her. "It's a better look I admit, but it's not really her, is it?"
"It's just a coat of paint. She's still under it." She paused. "I… yes, the better she looks, the better it is for me. I want us to make a little house, somewhere, but…"
She shook her head and walked up to smile at Lady Biyu. "Having fun?"
The diminutive Awakened turned to her. She was wearing a veil, and Anya felt her heart flutter at the eyes looking at her beneath straight cut bangs. They were like intense little gray storm clouds piercing through her.
"I was just thinking I should buy a real instrument. A flute or zither." She looked between them. "How was the show?"
"Not bad," Anya said. She took a seat next to Lady Biyu, while May took up a position to 'chaperone' them. "Just a silly comedy about a fool who thought someone was an Elf, but it turns out they're actually the Baron's son."
Lady Biyu gave a nod, her hands moving to her lap as she shifted to face Anya.
"Do you like playing the flute?"
Lady Biyu thought about her, her eyes drifting away. "I think it is more like a habit than a like. I feel a little anxious if I do not play for a while, and I do enjoy some of the songs. I am not sure if I like it though."
"Is that so?" Anya asked. Her hands moved distractedly, smoothing her skirts. "Want to talk about why you don't like puppet shows?"
The Lady sighed. "The first one I saw was… it was unsettling, seeing something so clearly not alive playing at life. The vengeful spirit felt more alive than those things." She gave a shudder, remembering the flailing of false limbs and the imitation of speech.
May and Anya shared a look, which Lady Biyu looked on with creased brows.
"How long ago was that?" May asked.
"Last fall."
"What, really?" Anya asked.
Lady Biyu gave a nod. "I was raised in seclusion. Servants and tutors were the only people I met. I met my family just about a month ago."
Anya shook her head slowly, and looked into the eyes. As they gave her a shiver, she could understand why. "My parents were farmers. I grew up learning how to work with goats and pull weeds. It's a bit hard for me to imagine growing up like that."
"I have trouble imagining you with straw in your hair wearing a roughspun tunic and hose," May said.
Lady Biyu agreed with her own nod. "What do you enjoy doing?" she asked.
"Well, there is one thing, but you don't care for it." She thought about it. "I enjoy doing my work. I'll run a clinic for the poor the next few days."
"Want us to come with?" May asked.
"I'll have some people assigned to me to keep an eye on things, courtesy of the March."
"I would like to see you work," Lady Biyu said.
Anya beamed. "It would be my pleasure to have you then, Lady Biyu."
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Chelsea had collected information for their trip east from the Treasure Hunters. There were issues, with villages disappearing in the night. Fortress Lords and March Westpass had both increased security, but they found no clues as to how the villages were disappearing. None of their patrols met resistance. There were inhospitable places along the east road, where patrols could not penetrate due poor terrain and lack of roads. There were speculations that brigands had taken up residence there, and were raiding from a secret stronghold along unknown trails. Rumors of a strange cloaked man when Chelsea had first passed through that made the villagers nervous enough to report him. He had disappeared one day, but with the disappearances rumors were spreading that he had been a necromancer.
The reception was a small affair, since she had been here during the spring, but on behalf of her family she was due a certain minimum of consideration. She dressed in a long tunic and hose, as opposed to her preference of a midthigh tunic and trousers, all fine make with a thin robe over the top and a stylish hat tied on that her maid assured her was fetching even with her build. The men wore short tunics and hose, all of them with fine brocade. They all had emblems of the Order on her chest, while Chelsea and her cousin Leon both had the emblem of their family as well.
Anya was dressed in formal robes of her Guild, something she rarely did, with a finer than usual example of her patch on her breast. Her belt was pulled tight to shape her waist and hips.
Lady Biyu wore a headdress, violet trimmed black, with only her eyes showing. Her robes were designed to be worn open, a belt tied tightly to emphasize her hips. She wore trousers and a short tunic, but she had no emblem designating her affiliation like the others. She also wore a knife belted at her hip, feathered and primitive looking. A concession she had forced, stating that it was to her like their swords were to the Knights. There was also a small box, which she kept in a sack on her hip. She looked distinctly feminine and exotic dressed this way. Chelsea approved of it.
She watched as Anya leaned into Lady Biyu as she was led into the Hall, the woman making a point of being escorted, although it looked awkward with Lady Biyu being so small. Her knife had been peace bonded at the door, a knot fashioned and sealed with wax. She was not the only one to bring a weapon, as all the Knights brought arming swords that their squires carried for them.
During the reception men approached Anya, as usual, with the assumption Lady Biyu was a companion of some kind. There was a stir when Lady Biyu rebuffed them, her hand resting on her knife while the son's of minor nobles looked on incredulously.
One of the swaggering nobles said, "And why have you that veil, little girl? Afraid the men will accost you if they see your face?"
Lady Biyu looked at the man flatly for a moment before turning to address Defender Tradetown. "Defender Tradetown, will you witness a wager between this man and myself?"
Amused, he asked, "What wager?"
"I shall reveal my face to this worthy here. If he touches me in fifteen minutes, I shall take his hand."
"And if you lose?"
She hmmed, and turned to hear the swagger's suggestion. "Then she shall accompany me to bed tonight," he said. Anya protested, but Lady Biyu quieted her with a touch on the arm. Chelsea considered intervening, but ultimately she was too curious to see how it would play out. Besides, Lady Biyu insisted on taking poor risks like this. She couldn't imagine a less harmless consequence for her to learn a lesson on picking her battles.
The man stood as Lady Biyu directed by a wall, sneering at her. Lady Biyu, with her back to the assemblage, removed her veil. The sneer disappeared. His eyes widened in shock, and the people started whispering in surprise as his face turned red. Lady Biyu moved closer to the man, coming close enough he could easily touch her. He was physically sweating, and tried to turn his face away.
"Face the enemy straight on," Defender Tradetown commanded, a malicious smile as he saw how this would play out. Swallowing, the man turned his eyes back to Lady Biyu, and his breathing sped up. There was a kiss sound, and the man reached out and touched Lady Biyu.
She struck, gripping his wrist firmly. "Mine," she declared, and she easily freed her knife and removed the hand in bare seconds to the shock of those watching. The man stared at his missing hand for a long moment before the pain reached him, and he shrieked in pain. Falling to his knees, Anya staunched his bleeding dutifully. Chelsea was amused to see Anya keep her eyes away from Lady Biyu's face as the woman veiled herself once more.
After that, there was not a noble who could meet Lady Biyu's eyes. After all, the man had not lasted seven minutes before his hand was taken. Anya was all smiles as she gripped Lady Biyu's arm. While they were still approached, few could manage to hold more than a strained smile.
Defender Tradetown was jovial, calling it fine entertainment. A few nobles grumbled about an upstart Transcendent, none believing the claim that Lady Biyu was nobility herself with no introduction linked to her family. That was quieted after Lady Biyu took out her box and produced a broach for the family of Elderwoods. Chelsea lined up for a look with other nobles, and had to admit it looked authentic. Why Lady Biyu had never produced it before was a question for another time, but for now she congratulated Lady Biyu on her victory.
It was admittedly strange, trading the expressive mask she had grown used to for just the eyes. They were pretty eyes, and she could feel the smallest pang of jealousy looking into them. If her eyes did so much, how much did the whole of it do?
They would only spend another day in Trade Town. It would be a little relaxation after a month of travel to get here before they proceeded onto the dangerous stretch of road heading east with a guarded caravan. Entertainment was arranged for them, a puppet show that Lady Biyu requested to be excused from, followed by music and stories by a few of the city's minstrels.
Chelsea marveled when Lady Biyu danced. Anya was a poor companion, and she begged off dances giving others the opportunity to pair with her. Unfortunately, those who could dance were often too tall for her, and it was not until she paired with another woman that her abilities were displayed to their full. Anya was looking on with disappointment as another woman danced with her partner, and the men started to creep up on her once more until Chelsea interposed herself between them.
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Chelsea came across Alan bathing Anton on their day off. The latter was enjoying the attention, while the former used water and soap from a large stone basin to do the work.
"How are you doing, Alan?" Chelsea asked.
The young man looked up at her, and gave a tight-lipped smile. "I'm just fine, Lady Chelsea. Not looking forward to wandering into brigand country, but I'll make do. I got my sword and armor and all that."
She hmmed. "What do you think of our guests?"
"Miss May and Lady Biyu?" he asked. He thought about it. "I guess they're alright. Miss May is a friendly gal, and Lady Biyu reminds me of my sister."
"The bounty hunter?"
"That's right. Like, she's on the Empire's side, but you don't know it looking at her day to day. I mean, to catch a brigand sometimes you gotta be a brigand my sister says, and she should know."
"She does, huh?"
"Yeah, that's right. She's good at what she does," he paused in his work. "Lady Biyu, she looks like a cross between a vagrant and a plague waiting to happen when Miss Anya don't dress her up. You look at her, and yer like, that ain't a real woman? And she does stuff that looks stupid."
"I think calling it stupid is a poor way of putting it," Chelsea chastised.
"Right. Well, she's not a fool or anything. She got a reason to do stuff."
"You think well of her, then?"
"Yeah. Like, she's put a lot of effort in the stuff she's done. And, I saw her take that noble gi—ahem! That lord's hand. Most of them probably never cut a man before, so they don't know how hard that is. Yet, she's got the manners, and she knows what to do with nobles."
Chelsea could not hide her surprise. "What do you mean?"
"Right. So… well, what do you think would happen if she lost?"
Chelsea waved for him to go on, not saying anything.
"Well, I'll tell you what I think would'd've happened. He'd look at her, and say to everyone that she's too much a child for him. See, he wanted to embarrass her by turning her down. So, if he held out, she would just lose a bit of face."
"Most Knights and nobles would balk at such a disgrace."
"Yeah, maybe, but we're while calling her a lady she complains about the honorific. And she wears a mask. An artifact of some kind, never seen the like, but other than performers can you think of a good reason to wear a mask? I can't see her caring much if she's being made a fool of."
"Right. Your sister do that kind of thing too?"
"All the time! She buys goods as a merchant, gets drunk at an inn and talks all about this big profit she's gonna make, gets robbed… and then a week later she's breaking down their door with a copy of the manifest the false version of her had. They don't even know it's her."
"That why you think she's playing the role?"
"I heard you chatting with Anya," he admitted slowly. "Sounds like things weren't great for her. Now she's got power and a bit of prestige. Yeah, she's poison affinity, but that don't matter that much. So, if she's the only Transcendent in her family," with a nod of confirmation he continued, "with that, either her siblings try to assassinate her to take control of the family, or she's in control of a family that tried to kill her. Like, how are things going to work out when it's like that? Then there's the fact she's gonna marry a girl."
"She can't, not yet."
"Yeah. Gotta have a house to give her first. You know there are merchant families that don't do that? Anyways, if she isn't likely to make an heir, then making her a tool of the family is what you expect to become of her. A forced marriage to some schmuck for a face that's… well, I've seen the portrait you got, but who'd believe it?"
"No one could, not without seeing her for themselves. I think she was… disposed of, when they couldn't arrange a marriage. They kept talking about her looks, but refused to let anyone actually see her."
"Well, no surprise there, Lady Chelsea. So, what do you think of her?"
Pressing her lips together, she said, "I think she's running from responsibility, and taking stupid risks."
He considered. "Yeah, I can see that."
"Think I'm wrong?"
"Not at all. But I don't think you're right, either."
"Oh?"
"You know you're lucky, Lady Chelsea. I don't think I need to say much more."
She ruffled the younger man's hair, at which he squawked adorably.