Suliel was still fuming at Kelsey’s little prank. Of course, she wanted to help Anton, but she was busy. And despite what Kelsey had said, Baronial writ did not extend to the high seas. Out there, might made right, assuming any witnesses on the losing side were left at all.

What little she had learned from her father about administering justice had no application to Anton’s situation. Kelsey had known that, and still put words in her mouth— because she found it amusing. At least Anton hadn’t fallen for it. He’d looked good. He had gotten stronger, gained a few levels… and the salt air had roughened his skin, making him look even more dashing.

Suliel made a mental note to get some clothes made for her husband while she was in Bures. Unfortunately, making a note for later was all that she could spare the attention for. She was in a meeting.

Administrator Rallis bustled in and bowed low. “Lady Suliel!” he said. “I apologize for my tardiness. We don’t often get visited by the nobility, and I had to brush up on my rules of etiquette.”

“Please, don’t concern yourself with such things,” Suliel replied. “We country barons don’t like to stand on ceremony.”

Neither of them had said anything true so far, but that was only to be expected. The Merchant’s Guild was primarily a political organisation. Officially, it existed to resolve disputes between trading companies, but it was only empowered to adjudicate between members. Most merchants avoided paying dues entirely, only joining up when they ran into problems they couldn’t solve with fists or knives.

The merchants who were permanent members used the Guild as a unified voice to lobby the King and the Privvy Council. And since many nobles owned large trading concerns, the Guild found itself dealing more with nobles than it did with the common merchants that were its ostensible reason for being.

Rallis was probably expecting Suliel to attempt to bribe him to get into the court sooner. What she was actually here for was entirely different, and much more in keeping with the Guild’s original charter. She hoped that wouldn’t be counted against her.

“I’m here today to make the merchants of Bures aware of a fresh opportunity,” she said.

“Oh?” Rallis said, his face non-committal. Suliel ran through her pitch in her head, wondering when he’d realise that she wasn’t offering him a bribe.

“Yes,” she said. She gestured for one of her guards to put the sample case on the table between them. They weren’t trained enough to get by at court, but with some coaching beforehand they could manage to carry a case into a meeting with a merchant.

“Kirido has seen some changes,” she said. “You may have heard rumours. Regardless of what you’ve heard, we have new goods for trade, of higher quality and quantity than our regular merchant trade can handle.”

Word was getting out. Every merchant that stopped by would die rather than reveal the source of his goods, but they couldn’t hide their existence if they wanted to sell them. Eventually, they’d sell the information to a larger concern who might send a scout out… but Suliel couldn’t wait that long. She needed money to pay workers so that Kirido could expand faster… and for that she needed buyers.

Suliel indicated that the administrator should open the case. She thought that might have been the moment. His disappointed look told her that he might have thought she was bribing him with product instead of gold, but the case held only a few samples. His face quickly changed, though, as he took in what was on offer.

The first thing he reached for was one of the bottles.

“This glass… of such fine quality!” he exclaimed.

“Our dungeon has started providing a flux that makes higher-purity glass possible,” Suliel stated. This was true, as far as it went. Kelsey had provided the flux, and higher-quality glass was going to be produced, in time. However, Kelsey’s skeletons had made these samples. Suliel’s workers had not yet developed sufficient skill with the electric furnace.

“Such ornate designs! How are they accomplished?” the man asked.

“I’m told that they’re moulded,” Suliel said vaguely. Her workers had been provided with the moulds, they would get there eventually.

“I see, I see,” the administrator said. “And the price?”

“There should be a parchment in a pocket in the lid,” Suliel said. Discussing prices was beneath her. The man retrieved it and pored over what was written on it.

“Very reasonable,” he muttered. Suliel kept her smirk to herself. If those were the glass prices he was looking at, then the tremendous markup they’d added had gone unnoticed. Kelsey had been disgusted at the prices glass commanded, complaining that it was a crime to sell something so cheap for such a price.

Suliel supposed it must seem so when you didn’t have to burn fuel to melt the glass.

“These plates,” Rallis said. “At these prices… are you sure?”

“They aren’t yet refined enough to sell to nobles,” Suliel said. “But at these prices…”

“I see… an entirely new market,” Rallis said. “And this…”

He picked up a small square of flat glass. Unreasonably flat and clear in Suliel’s opinion. It seemed unnatural. From the way Rallis was staring at it, he seemed to agree.

“This is glass?” he asked. “The clarity and… flatness are extraordinary.”

“Those are samples, of course,” Suliel said, trying to sound bored. “I’m told that we can produce sheets like that in any size up to four feet by five.”

“Four by five?” Rallis exclaimed.

Suliel shrugged. “Of course, there might be problems transporting sheets of that size,” she allowed.

“There might,” Rallis agreed. Turning his attention to the cloth, he seemed almost disappointed. “It’s quite fine, but not extravagantly so,” he said.

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“It’s made from the same wool we’ve always used,” Suliel said. “We’re buying more of it now, and we have more efficient looms. If you look at the parchment, it should have the increased production levels we expect to maintain.”

“I see,” he glanced over the parchment again and nodded. “My lady, what was it you wanted from me?”

“As I said, I’m making an opportunity available,” Suliel stated. “I want you to pass this on to whomever you think is best able to profit from this opportunity.”

“Whomever I think?” Rallis said slowly. Suliel thought he might now be seeing his chance for profit.

“Of course,” Suliel said. “Who knows the merchants of Bures better than the Guild?”

“No one, of course,” Rallis said, calculations flitting across his face.

“Of course, this opportunity is closing quickly,” Suliel said. “Word is already spreading about Kirido’s new circumstances.”

“Of course.” Rallis sprung to his feet and bowed again. “Rest assured, my lady, I won’t waste any time finding your merchants. I assume they should go straight to Kirido and not seek your blessing?”

“That’s right,” Suliel said. “They’d have to negotiate with the craftsmen in Kirido anyway.”

She rose to her feet. “You can keep the samples, of course,” she said.

“You are most generous, my lady. If there is anything the Merchant’s Guild can do for you, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“I’m sure we’ll have many fruitful discussions in the future,” Suliel said enigmatically. She wasn’t sure what they’d be about, but Father had always said to leave doors open.

Suliel’s next stop was to her dressmaker. Her’s in the sense that she’d written ahead and commissioned a dress to wear at court. It was about time for a fitting. After that, she toured the other dressmakers and clothiers in town, looking to see if there was anything she liked. Anything she commissioned now, wouldn’t be ready by the time she was called to court, but she did find a nice shawl, and she managed to find someone who could make a pair of simple tabards in Kirido colours as a rush job.

She also got Anton’s measurements out of Kelsey and commissioned some suitable clothes for her husband. And some that just looked… nice.

It was late afternoon by the time she got back to her townhouse, to see if there had been any replies to her letters. There was nothing yet from the King or the Master of Ceremonies, which was no surprise. She should have received something back from Lord Brankin, but the situation there was delicate. He might be having trouble deciding what to write.

There was a reply back from Lady Seraphina, inviting Suliel to take tea with her tomorrow afternoon. Suliel quickly penned a quick note accepting the invitation. Clearly, Lady Seraphina, or her backers, wanted access to the guns as soon as possible.

There was another letter, which came as a surprise. From Princess Elara.

Suliel stared at the letter for a long time. No one should be sending her letters yet. Lord Brankin was the exception, he was her—or Anton’s, rather— liege. She was supposed to be an unknown quantity until she was introduced. Replying to her mail was one thing, but for someone in the Court to contact her before her acknowledgement by the King, or her introduction to court, was stepping rather dangerously on the King’s privilege.

Of course, a princess might be expected to get away with more than a baroness could. Suliel hesitated for a little longer and then broke the seal.

Dearest Suliel

I hope this letter finds you in good health and that you have not been unduly wearied by your journey. I am looking forward to your introduction to court with great anticipation and delight. I am sure you will be a breath of fresh air to this stolid and oppressive institution.

I have heard much of your esteemed qualities and your extraordinary Class. The possibilities your discovery suggests are intriguing and I am eager to make your acquaintance. In times such as these, it is vital that we, who share similar values and perspectives, find the opportunity to connect and support one another.

Do let me know when you are free for me to pay you a visit. I am certain we have much to discuss and would greatly value the chance to converse with you in a more private and relaxed setting.

With warm regards,

Princess Elara

Suliel read the letter twice but still didn’t know what to make of it. It was friendly, at least. That didn’t mean much— hiding your true intentions was a staple of court interactions—but it was better than hostile.

Suliel thought about the implications as she rang for Arelon.

“How soon would it take for us to get ready to host a princess?” she asked him. She didn’t know what the additional requirements for hosting royalty were, but she was sure there were some.

Her Head of Household’s eyes flicked to the letter on the desk.

“Princess Elara, my Lady?”

Suliel smiled wryly. “Bold of you to suggest your lady is in contact with two princesses.”

“You have proved very surprising thus far, my lady. If I might make a suggestion, inviting the princess would not be wise. Especially before you’ve been recognised by the court.”

“Advise all you like,” Suliel sighed. She picked up the letter again and read out the offending line: “Do let me know when you are free for me to pay you a visit… it doesn’t leave me much wiggle room, does it?”

Arelon’s face twitched into a smile that didn’t look very natural. “I see,” he said. “In the face of a royal command, one can only bow. Though, she did leave you room to delay.”

“Mhm,” Suliel said doubtfully. “Is there some reason that I might not want to associate with Princess Elara?”

Arelon’s smile grew more strained. “It’s not for me to say, my lady. For a mere servant to speak ill of my betters…”

Suliel rolled her eyes. “I’m not going to report you, Arelon. If there’s some rumour, I need to know what people are saying. I won’t take it as you endorsing them.”

“Well… it’s not so much rumours. After the business with her marriage, she’s been speaking out about all sorts of things. Making unwelcome comments.”

“She was married, wasn’t she? To a princeling from the Tiatian Empire, wasn’t it?”

Grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the Empress were still counted as princes in the Tiatian system, which meant that there were a lot of Tiatian princes.

“Aye, but he was assassinated before they could go back to Tiatia,” the butler muttered.

“Oh,” Suliel said. She wasn’t surprised that she hadn’t heard about the assassination. The marriage was something her mother had told her about, the murder would not have been considered suitable news to tell a child. “I’m surprised there wasn’t a war.”

“There were reparations, apologies. They found someone responsible, some envious suitor that got shipped back to the Empire.”

“I see.” Suliel reflected briefly on the poor man’s fate. She wondered if he’d actually been responsible. “But after this business, you say…”

“Well, you see, there’s some confusion as to whether she’s a Zamarran princess, or Tiatian one.”

“Both, I should think,” Suliel said thoughtfully. “Does it matter?”

“Not in the grander scheme of things, perhaps,” Arelon admitted. “But the crown has been reluctant to bring her into line, on account of her being Tiatian nobility… and the church doesn’t want to denounce a member of the royal family.”

“Does the church have reason to denounce her then?” Suliel asked.

“She’s made some criticisms of the way they operate,” Arelon said guardedly.

Suliel referred back to the letter.

“…this stolid and oppressive institution. I thought she was talking about the court, but she’s actually talking about the churches?”

“Probably both,” Arelon said morosely. He was picking up on Suliel’s excitement.

“Don’t be like that, Arelon. It’s not like I’m in a position to refuse overtures. Do you think we can be ready to host her for dinner tomorrow night?”

Arelon nodded. “If it’s just an intimate one. She’s not known for having an entourage.”

Suliel pursed her lips in thought. “Make it for two guests, just in case,” she said. “And inform Syon and Delir they’ll be dining in the kitchen that night.”

Arelon bowed. “As you say, my lady.”

“And get someone ready to deliver letters,” Suliel added. “I’ve got replies for Lady Seraphina and the Princess.”

Arelon bowed again and left her to her correspondence. Suliel could hardly contain her excitement as she set pen to paper.

Dear Princess Elara…