"Annabelle, I have to ask…” Alex starts, as she and the four other women take to the streets in search of a healer.

Annabelle turns to look at Alex with a passive interest.

“If you had all that money, would you really get a castle with Elisayra?”

Annabelle smirks, and shrugs her shoulders. “What do you think?”

“I think, perhaps you were just saying it to be nice to her.” Alex tries.

“Partially correct. I do enjoy Elisayra’s company, and I wouldn’t be opposed to getting a castle and protecting her as the captain of the guard while she can be a princess. Truly its a pleasant fantasy, but more realistically I would like to do something different.” Annabelle explains.

“Well, don’t think you can get out of answering the question. I'm curious, what would you do with the money then, if not play noble with Elisayra?”

“Live a simple life.” Annabelle responds casually.

“A simple life? How do you mean?”

“A small house somewhere far away, maybe a garden to grow my own food so I don’t have to go into town often. Someplace where people won't bother me.”

“Awe, you wouldn’t want me coming by to say hello?” Alex teases.

“I wouldn’t mind you, or Nephinae or Elisayra or Casper, I’d have to pass on Laihal and Engee though.” She admits.

Engee nods her head in agreement, while Laihal feigns being hurt slightly.

“After all that bonding we did in prison too.” Laihal places the back of her hand against her forehead and lets out a dramatic sigh.

Annabelle rolls her eyes.

Alex chuckles, and turns her attention from the group of women, to the city around her.

She was tasked with locating a healer, which shouldn’t have been too terribly hard in a big city, though it was turning out to be quite the headache.

In most if not every city within the kingdom, one could expect to find at least 3 healers. Given the fact that a cities layout was so, that the lower castes were separated from the mid and upper, you would typically find healers who catered to each market.

In the city of Highspire however, that didn’t appear to be the case. Not any more at least.

As the group approaches yet another larger building built into the massive central spire, they collectively grumbled.

“This has to be the 3rd healer on this tier of the spire…” Annabelle crosses her massive arms and scowls hard at the boarded windows and locked doors.

“Perhaps the upper levels will yield better results.” Nephinae says softly, though her own tone of voice doesn’t seem too convinced of the notion.

“Well, we can’t just give up.” Alex joins Annabelle in crossing her arms.

I'm sure we could, though I'm not sure Casper would be pleased to hear it.” Engee chuckles slightly.

As much as Alex didn’t particularly trust Engee, she had to admit the words were a good rallying cry. They might not all be attempting to court the man, but he was certainly someone worth respecting. Upsetting Casper would be crippling to anyone's sense of self worth.

“Onward and upward then.” Annabelle is the first to make the push, turning and beginning to ascent further up the spire.

Alex understood a lot of the reasoning behind why nobles did what they did, but that didn’t always mean she agreed.

However, as the group continued to climb higher, and higher, and higher, she realized why the high nobles stayed in their section of the spire. Even for someone with as much walking experience as she had, it was a nightmare.

Eventually their precession managed to reach the high noble quarter, the smallest of the cities districts, though easily the most visually distinct. So far above the rest of the city, the air here is fresh, though a little cold.

Half walls lined with flowering ivy and hedges frame the district as if it were a painting stuck in the middle of a garden. Spiring buildings that look more like pieces of art and sculpture than homes or businesses rest firmly within the structure of the spire, as well as extending out beyond it with intricately tiered balconies complete with overhanging gardens.

Despite their noble disguises, Alex had to admit they looked wildly out of place this far up. She could pass, barely, but Annabelle in her fighter's attire, Nephinae outside of a servants uniform, which was a strange look in general, and Laihal looking ready to make some coin on the corner tonight, their group was hard to ignore.

Still, Alex pressed on at a faster pace as she noticed a large church-like structure just around the bend of the spire.

As the tall arches and vibrant gardens came into view, Alex gave an audible sigh of relief at the sight.

Mostly devoid of any patrons, the doors to the church were open, and the sounds of whispered conversation echoed from deep within.

Entering the structure, Alex sucks in a breath at the sheer beauty of the place.

It was small as far as churches went, but every inch was crafted with incredible details. Relief sculptures flow like water along either side of the walls, depicting the creation myth, the great wars, the flow into peace time at their end.

An incredible statue of the Gods of creation stand like titans against the far wall. A man forging the world on an anvil, guided by the hands of a woman from behind.

“Welcome.” A ragged voice greets them all as they enter the building.

Turning to see who the voices belong to, Alex saw a shockingly old Celestial man.

They were entities of heavenly beauty, and it was said that they would return to the heavens to avoid aging entirely. This man had not done that.

Hunched over, the man looked like a bedsheet of skin was draped over a pile of twigs. He was all wrinkles and pure white hair. The Halo over his head glowed strong still, but the white wings on his back looked gray and tired as they dragged partially on the stone floor.

“Thank you.” Alex smiles, turning to face the man. “Is your church open for healing services?”

“We….are….” The man's inflection rises, as if it was uncertain.

“Wonderful! We are in desperate need, I would like to arrange for 3 healers if possible, though only two of us in need of healing are here now.”

“I.. regret to say the cost is rather higher.”

“Money is no object.” Alex smiles wider and begins to search through the bank notes to produce them.

“The cost of one healing session then will be 500,000 golden marks.”

Alex’s fingers stop their search.

Sure they had money, but 500,000 gold marks per person would eat through a good portion of their funds, and was outrageously expensive..

“That is rather high.” Alex coughs and lets her hands fall away from the bag. “By several magnitudes beyond the standard, what's the meaning of this?”

“The merchant who controls Highspire's diamond supply has it out for the little folk I suppose.” a familiar voice responds.

Alex turns around, to see the smiling face of Janus and Dorain as they approach.

“Good to see you again.” Alex offers pleasantly.

“Good to see you all as well, though it would be better to see you all healthy and healed more.” Janus directs a frown out of the church doors.

“You mentioned a merchant?” Alex asks, turning to face the two friendly faces.

“Right, the merchant in charge of supplying the church and other healers with their supply of diamonds required to cast higher tiered healing magic, has decided to inflate the price quite substantially.” Dorain explains.

“Only one merchant controls the supply for this city? That's highly irregular.” Alex notes.

“It is, but it's been that way for the better part of 20 years now, and there isn’t much to be done about it.”

“Casper said money is no object, let's just pay the cost and leave.” Annabelle suggests.

“No, I'd much prefer not to be scammed. A healing shouldn’t cost any more than 10,000 gold marks for the kind we need.” Alex protests.

“Alex…” Nephinae starts, but Alex doesn’t listen.

“Tell me more about this merchant.”

As the group exits the church, Alex turns to Nephinae, Engee, and Laihal.

“Can I request you three return to the middle city and try and follow through with learning more about this place? I have a plan but unfortunately I can only really use Annabelle for it.” Alex asks with a sincerely sorry expression.

“I don’t think I like the idea of being used” Annabelle begins to frown.

“No no, I mean no offense, it's just that I will likely need some protection and I trust you the most to keep me safe.”

Annabelle gets less upset at that, while the others look to one another.

“How long will you be?” Nephinae asks.

“It might be a full day, or two. I will need to stay in the upper districts at the very least.”

Nephinae bows. “I understand.”

“Thank you.” Alex smiles, and watches as the three women return to the middle city, leaving her with Annabelle, Janus or Dorain.

“So, about this merchant.” Alex returns her attention to the two cousins.

The four individuals walk along the outskirts of the district, hanging close to the walls, careful to be out of earshot from the other noblemen who travel around them.

“The merchant in charge of Highspire’s diamond supply is a man by the name of Lord Josson. Around 20 or so years ago he began to heavily undercut the other suppliers in the area until they could no longer compete. He then bought out their businesses entirely until he controlled every last corner of the market. His rates for diamonds have always been rather high, it’s why we try and avoid Highspire for healing purposes if we can, but given that it’s the closest port to allow for sailing to Duke Regalt's holdings it’s become necessary to make the stop.” Janus explains with waving hand gestures and an annoyed drawl.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“Why doesn’t the Count of Highspire do something? Surely these rates are too high even for other nobles.” Alex asks as they take a seat under a hanging garden.

“We… have it on good authority that Lord Josson is using the thieves guild’s operations as blackmail over the count.”

“Blackmail, how?” Annabelle chimes in.

“The count of Highspire allows the guild to operate within the city. Not with impunity mind you, they need to stay out of sight and out of mind, but regardless the Count doesn’t actively seek to root out the guild, this is because the guild pays the count a portion of what they make.” Dorain responds.

“I take it then that the count is using the loss in assets as a way to avoid paying more in taxes to the crown, and the money begin given to the count from the guild is of course tax free and unrecorded.” Alex says.

“Correct.”

“Why not just have the merchant assassinated?” Annabelle tries.

“Because without the merchant there wouldn’t be anyone else to supply the diamonds. The Count is likely paying the fully inflated prices. High nobles, those with land holdings, and especially those in charge of cities have plenty of coin to go around. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear the count has a vault of hundreds of millions.” Alex continues.

Janus nods his head at this. “Very correct. Besides, Lord Josson has no business partners to prop up. He is the sole proprietor of the trade and thus killing him would leave the city without any diamonds for quite some time.”

“But then other diamond tradesman would come eventually, surely a short period of inactivity would be worth it?” Annabelle continues.

Alex shakes her head. “I’ve seen something similar happen before, and unfortunately it isn’t that simple. Tell me, Does the count have any sons or daughters?”

“The count of Highspire has one eldest daughter, and a younger son.” Janus responds.

“Would I be correct in assuming that the son is sickly? Perhaps some ailment?” Alex tests.

“Correct as well, how did you manage to deduce that?” Janus asks with a low whistle.

Alex smiles. “Twenty years ago the merchant, Lord Josson, bought up the entire supply of diamonds to drive everyone else out of business and gain leverage over the Count. I would venture to guess then that lord Josson had a daughter, followed by no other children. Perhaps he lost his own ability or the wife couldn’t keep a child, who’s to say really…”

Alex leans back in the chair slightly, thinking.

“After realizing he would have no heir to his business, he began to do the next best thing to ensure his name lives on. Women cannot inherit businesses so the next logical move would be to make her appealing to someone with money. He monopolized the diamond trade to get close to the Count, who needs diamonds to help his son. This is something that the merchant would have known well in advance due to the consistent and frequent purchasing of them from the count.”

Janus and Dorain look to one another and lean in to listen closely.

“If the son is truly that sickly, then it would be worth it to exploit the count for as much money as possible in order to increase the dowry on the merchant's daughter before eventually marrying her off to someone of more means. Blackmail on the Count ensures his cooperation, as he needs the diamonds regardless and can’t risk a lapse in their availability because of his son.”

“That still doesn’t answer how you were able to come to such conclusions on so little information.” Dorian tests.

“I have seen once before, a healer leveraged their supply of goods against a very wealthy individual who needed them, though in this instance it was a nobleman with a rather painful rash. He would pay anything for the balm to cure it. The merchant selling the balm had only one daughter, whom he wanted to have marry someone wealthy so exploited the noble to increase her dowry. Though not exactly the same, the situation itself was incredibly similar. It felt familiar at least, so I decided to ask and see if the pattern stuck.”

“So what exactly do we plan on doing about this?” Annabelle asks, raising an eyebrow.

Alex smiles and stands up. “We will give Lord Josson a small taste of his own medicine.”

She turns to look over at Janus or Dorain, who smiles slightly. “We will do what we can to help you, especially if it means not having to pay insane prices on healing. The people of this city are suffering because of this game they are playing.” Janus extends a hand.

Alex shakes it. “I need you to tell me where the most expensive place to get a drink is.”

Perhaps it was because it had been so long since she needed to really play the part of a noble, or maybe it was because when she was truly a noble, she was only ever a middle noble. Regardless of the reason, she felt incredibly out of place surrounded by high nobility.

Alex and Annabelle sit at a central table surrounded on all sides by profound, intoxicating wealth. The open air balcony was covered in a vibrant collage of flowers that framed marble statues draped in gold. Fine silken cloth spans overhead, a single threat in the grand weave costing more than most farmers would see in a single year.

Men and women in dashing finery mingle and talk as they sip vintages Alex hadn’t even heard of. The cost to simply enter the establishment was more than she had spent on her entire wardrobe since arriving in the city.

“So how do we know who it is?” Annabelle asks. Despite looking the most out of place, she was far more comfortable than Alex was. Dressed in her fighter's armor, playing the part of Alex’s body guard, she rests without a care as she pushes her own wine glass closer towards Alex, who takes it quickly.

“She will have one of two things, either the largest collection of people around her, or none at all. Wealth of that scale, along with a father who is willing to blackmail a Count makes you very few friends, or very many. She will likely be wearing diamonds as a sign of status, and be a regular here. The servers would know her well, and she likely won't have to order at all, they will simply bring her what they know she wants.” Alex explains casually, pushing the empty glass away and picking up a new one.

“Are you sure it’s a good idea to drink this much?” Annabelle asks, watching as Alex downs another mouthful.

“I am positive, it will be needed if I'm to have the courage to do what needs doing.”

Annabelle cocks her head.

“You will see, I don’t want to say too much in case others are listening. The only thing nobles love more than money, power, and sex, is gossip.”

“Very well then.” Annabelle concedes, and takes to scanning the room with Alex.

After nearly an hour of looking and making idle chatter, interrupted intermittently by individuals approaching to make small talk or network, the most important person of the evening arrives.

Alex had made sure to get to the establishment early to increase the probability of seeing the merchant's daughter walk in. A strategy that cost a fair amount of money and time but clearly a worthwhile one. Of course it was possible she didn’t arrive today, or tomorrow even, but given the fact the Rathiel's party was here in the city, the merchant would have very likely told her to stay away from the house, in case the famously righteous group of heroes decided to take matters into their own hands.

Alex watches as the conversations around the establishment dropped lower. The servers approach the new arrival with reverence, tending to her every need. The gathered people standing and talking part for her as she walks.

She wasn’t much to look at unfortunately, which would make what Alex was about to do all that more difficult. The merchant's daughter was tall and angular, with hollow cheeks and deep set eyes. She had a cruel look on her face, the look of someone who loved the power her family name gave her, loved the way it made people turn away.

She wore a conservative dress, covered in diamond jewelry to better separate herself from the lesser nobles around her. Her long black hair came down in harsh, straight lines, to her middle back, with her bangs cut straight like a window for her sneering expression to escape from.

“Well then, wish me luck Annabelle.” Alex smiles and raises another glass of wine, downing its contents.

Alex makes her way over to the table where the merchant's daughter sits. Set in the far corner, it was the perfect position to watch everyone in the room, as well as the door. She could have picked the opposite corner closer to the bar, but it had a blind spot that obscured one of the other entrances.

This was a woman who liked to be aware of everything then, Alex thought. Someone who took pride in being cautious, clever even, given how carefully she watches the movements of everyone else in the room.

As Alex gets closer, she watches as the woman's cruel gaze locks onto her, watching the approach with feline curiosity.

The woman's mouth parts to speak, but Alex doesn’t give her the chance.

“I believe you are in my seat.” Alex opens with cool disinterest.

Whatever word was about to come from the woman's mouth dies on her lips, as she is quickly taken back by the obviously incorrect statement.

Using the opening she gave herself, Alex presses the attack.

“Though I suppose I'm open to sharing if I must.” She then moves to take the seat opposite of the woman and raises her hand to order a drink.

“Ah…” the woman cocks her head and leans forward slightly, resting her elbows on the table. She looks as though she is going to try and talk again, but instead she only laughs.

“Is something funny?” Alex asks seriously, after ordering another glass of wine.

“Funny? Yes, you. Who might you be to come and claim my seat is your own and then invite yourself to sit at my table?”

“I am Alexander, and you are?” Alex asks.

The woman blinks a few times, equal parts impressed at the sheer audacity and equal parts wondering if Alex truly didn’t know who she was.

“You don’t know me?”

“If I did, I wouldn’t have asked.” Alex offers, taking the newly arrived wine glass and drinking some of the contents.

The woman laughs again, clearly a sound not often heard in this establishment, given how many people turn to look at the display.

“I am Lady Katelyn, a pleasure to meet you, Alex” she says the name to emphasize the lack of title attached.

“I'm sure it is a pleasure.” Alex responds, and for the first time allows a smile to break through.

Katelyn returns the smile then, her interest piqued, and her attention fully on Alex now.

“Aren’t you a little young to be at a place like this?” Katelyn tests.

So she thought that Alex was a man then…

Perfect.

“Aren’t you a little too old to be looking at me like that?” Alex shot back with no small amount of snarky flirtation.

As more wine is brought to the table, Alex and Katelyn continue to talk. For every response Alex believed Katelyn was used to getting, she would instead offer something totally unexpected instead. Any time Katelyn would expect to see interest, Alex offered only contempt.

This was countered by the fact that just as the strange and unheard responses would get predictable, she would offer something small in earnest. When Katelyn began to expect disinterest, Alex showed genuine affection.

The truth was, Alex had met people like her before. Entitled, arrogant, living life on a golden platter. Alex was a noble but people like Katelyn were in a different world altogether. The strategy she employed in this moment was meant to break the monotony, break up the expectations, create intrigue, a puzzle, a mystery to be solved, and one that promised it could be solved. Katelyn was used to getting everything she ever wanted, so when presented with something she couldn’t get, that being Alex’s attention, affection, reference, etcetera, it was only natural that Katelyn would want to prove she could in fact have everything.

As the hours tick by, the wine glass is filled and emptied and filled and emptied again. The conversation takes twists and turns as Alex so brazenly begins to discuss the lovers “he's” had, and how good they were. How “he” doubts anyone could ever compare. Piece by piece Alex chips away at this woman until she has her practically eating from the palm of her hand.

“Is that right?” Katelyn purrs, her hands tracing over Alex’s as he looks down at them.

“It is, I’d go so far as to put my fortune on it. As flattered as I am at your attempt to prove otherwise, I’m afraid I’m just not interested.” Alex shrugs, finishing the glass of wine.

“Haha! You’re joking?” Katelyn pulls her hand away.

“Hmm? No, I am not. Safe to say you make for decent enough conversation but I doubt you’re good for much else. I’ll take my guard to my bedchamber tonight to sate my appetite.” Alex turns her attention over to Annabelle.

“Not good for much else hmm?” Katelyn narrows her eyes, as Alex feels the woman's foot begin to rise up her leg.

“No. you don’t take me as someone with experience.” Alex offers coolly.

“Allow me to disprove that.” Katelyn purrs some more, bringing her foot to rest against Alex’s inner thigh.

Alex stops it there, and looks the woman in the eyes. “I'm open to being proven wrong, but if I'm disappointed, safe to say you won't be seeing much of me any more.”

Katelyn's eyes narrow and the wicked smile on her face widens. “Come with me.”

Alex follows her as she stalks from the building, out into the night air. As Annabelle moves to follow, Alex waves a hand to dismiss her for a time.

She walks with Katelyn as they navigate the streets, towards the large estates built into the ocean facing side of the spire.

Alex is brought up several sets of stairs, weaving through a grand courtyard, up to a massive balcony garden that opens into the estate of the Lord Josson.

She is whisked past long halls of expensive artworks and sculptures, around through champers adorned in fine rugs and brilliant chandeliers, all the way towards a large door that opens into a room larger than her uncles was back in the Ostlen Castle.

Alex sucks in some air, and steals her nerves, as she is brought to the bed and laid down on its plush surface, watching as Katelyn begins to loosen the belt around Alex’s waist.

She stops her then, and using the strength she acquired from their weeks of travel and fighting, spins Katelyn around, and slams her into the bed. Katelyn gasps for a moment, but the gasp is cut off as Alex works her hands up the woman's dress with one hand, and rests the other against her mouth.

“You can have me as a reward, once I'm done having my own fun.” Alex offers. Her eyes narrowed.

Alex didn’t particularly find this woman attractive, and had no interest in receiving anything from her, though it was also very possible that should Katelyn learn that Alex was in fact a woman it would create some issues. Alex was passable as a younger man, more boyish, but it was still a risk.

Katelyn most certainly thought Alex was a younger man, which was a little uncomfortable all things considered.

In fact, it made Alex feel just a little better about the plans she had for this woman, knowing she was interested in bringing what she likely thought was a younger boy home.

As they entered their tangle, Alex made quite the effort. Showing off her own ability, she made sure that after several minutes of working through the motions, Katelyn was utterly lost in ecstasy.

Alex worked at the woman's body, finding all the places that made her scream and squeal and moan and pant. She applied every technique she could think of to ensure Katelyn made the most possible noise.

She brought the woman to orgasm once, twice, three times, until her entire body shivered and shuddered.

“You… you broke me…” Katelyn protests. “I didn’t even get to have all of you.” She complains with shaky breath.

“Perhaps in the morning I can take you.” Alex offers in a teasing voice, coming to rest next to the messy, sweating heap of woman.

Alex looked up at the ceiling, listening to Katelyn's breaths die down from its panting into a heavy, exhausted sleep.

Taking a deep breath, Alex looked over at the woman and frowned slightly.

It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy it, it was more that the whole event was more like a chore than anything sexual. Something necessary. At the very least, it offered itself to be some good practice for when… well, she didn’t quite know what for, but it was good practice nonetheless.

It was quite a while later that Alex was able to fully rest, only to find herself waking a couple of hours later to the sound of banging on the door.

A loud, rapid, furious banging.

“Katelyn! Katelyn!” a man's voice rising with anger makes its way through the wood.

“Katelyn is asleep right now.” Alex offers instead, letting a smile influence the snarky tone in her voice.

“You! Who the hells are you!” the voice rises to a screaming rage as the pounding increases.

Alex stretches, and walks over to the door, cracking it open just enough to see the beat red face of an incredibly fat man on the other side.

“Me? I’m here to make a business proposition.” Alex answers with a smile.