After a while, Nua slowed down. No one was chasing her, and she was far enough from the Numitor Druzus Plaza. She chose one of the back alleys, where mounds of trash piled up and rats reigned. She was walking along the covered sewer with caution, not so much worried about the pests as about people. Her prize was tempting enough for the others.

For now, however, no one was around, so she could relax.

“Now you can explain to me what kind of a trick you pulled. I’m curious.”

The spirit emanated smugness.

“Oh, that was simple enough. You’ve probably noticed that Vedans are deeply spiritual. They rarely travel outside their lands, and the ones who do are frowned upon and considered too entangled in earthly matters. This is what allowed them to survive the Calamity, I suppose. That, and that they’re hardy and long-lived.”

She frowned.

“I thought the Vedans were always merchants.”

“The ones here, yes. Usually, a Vedan merchant is an exception, and something of a sinner”, said Anki. “who pursues his own financial gain while the community suffers. They’re heavily taxed back in their homeland, and they don’t like it. This lord Dhurandhara is one of the many that decided to venture out and try his luck in the outside lands. He is proud of his accomplishments, but at the same time, he harbors a deeply ingrained conviction that he needs to make up for them. I’ve caused a flare-up of his sense of guilt. Oh, I made it all about himself, delivering a message directly from Lady Providence, their Earth goddess, responsible for nourishment and good fortune, that he sinned by straying too far from the spiritual, and then he made a final error of punishing a poor child who only needs to fill her belly in this unforgiving city.”

“That’s the biggest load of bull I’ve ever heard. How come he believed that?”

“If you’ve been brought up on personal visions, revelations, meditations, and the like, you’d believe it too. Some might be even genuine. After all, you can find ether everywhere, and I suspect that despite my kind’s untimely demise, there are other beings who use it.”

Nua considered that for a while. The world was turning out bigger than she expected, and that was only the beginning.

“Okay. If some are genuine, won’t this Lady Providence get pissed?”

“I would not concern myself with it.”, the spirit said.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Should I remind him, Nua thought, that he’s not a god-king anymore?

“Anki, you know, pissing the gods off is a bad idea. Risky business, just sayin’. Am I rubbing off on you or what?”

“Oh, do not flatter yourself.”, he puffed. “I haven’t had such fun in a thousand years. It’s so good to finally be outside, even in the spirit form.”

A thousand years of boredom. He had the right to some antics, truly so. It’s a miracle he didn’t get mad, Nua wondered, then reminded herself what he was like when his mental shields were down. Deep inside he was, indeed, mad. She shuddered.

“We’re lucky that what you know about Vedans is still true.”

“We are. I need to get more information about this world. Now then, what was it about the job at the warehouse? A very fortunate outcome. This is a good opportunity to spy and learn.”

Nua sighed.

“I don’t know, Anki. Having a job means that you have to work.”

“If you’re worried about the lessons in sorcery, it’s possible to channel the ether while performing menial, mind-numbing tasks. It might be even more efficient than going out and about, getting distracted. And you’ll have your own money.”

Nua shook her head. Kings, it turned out, did not have any idea about the basic truths of life.

“Anki. This is a warehouse job. It doesn’t pay… actually, you know what? Guess how much it pays.”

“Judging from the food prices, I’d say about two silver denarii a week.”

“Six coppers. A copper a day, Anki. Paid at the end of the week.”

The spirit was appalled.

“That does not seem like a livable wage.”

“Well, it can get you some barley. Also beer. Beer is cheap, like a quarter of copper per quart. It’s because it is made of barley.”

“These people must sleep somewhere.

Nua cast him a sideways look. That palace-dwelling bastard. Basic truths, really. “Maybe they get a room for five and everyone pays their share. Or they live with their family. Or just sleep wherever. Anki, I told you I know my numbers. Point is, I can’t afford to work. This is losing money.”

“You can’t exactly go back to the junkyard right now. Too much of a risk. I’d not recommend thievery as well. You don’t seem to be good at it.”

Nua glared at him.

“I’d suggest you go there and start working. You’ll be closer to the fish.”

“You tell me to steal there? That’ll sure cost me my hand.”

“I have a plan in mind. As you might have noticed, I am not good at small-scale thievery either, but as a former monarch, I just happen to be an expert in diplomacy.”

“That’s conning people into doing what you want, right? Like with the lord merchant?”

“That is a peculiar way to put it, but basically, yes.

“All right. I can at least try. Now then, I would really like to eat that fish. It was hard-earned. Or hard-stolen, whatever. Better make it go away while I still can.” Nua looked around. Nobody was following her. Yet. The smell of the package was unmistakable. Briefly, she wondered if she could eat half and bring the rest to Hala’s place. But as much good, as it would do to kids, it would also put her in danger on the way home, not to even mention further questioning from Auntie.

“If you don’t mind, let’s get closer to the junkyard. I’d like to see what that mage-engineer and his lackeys have been up to with the Blue Leopard. It is one of my best ushumgars and I am concerned. You hole up outside and feast, and I will look around.”

“Sounds like a right idea.”