Only a few pieces of paper were left from my madman friend.

The map, his journal, and the personal contract between him and myself.

I had given the rest to that elder of the House of Derri, as proof and collateral.

To prove to her, and the rest of the leaders of the other Houses, that I was in the right to do personal business with the House of Derri.

At the very least it had silenced them enough for now to initiate the basics of trade.

Trade, which had already paid off splendidly.

Taking a small drink of the celebratory wine, I wondered why there was still some left.

They had been more than happy to share the bottle with me... yet not a single one had asked for more. Maybe they had thought it tasted bad, or had only drank the first glass out of courtesy.

Not that it mattered, more for me.

“Commander.”

Looking up from my desk, I found Sarley standing there with an annoyed expression.

“What is it now?”

“One of them elders is here. House of Hombil. Wants to see you,” she said.

“They can't just keep intruding like this...” I grumbled, downing the rest of the glass.

“It's your fault for being so kind. Most Lines wouldn't even allow them to step foot onboard, let alone to call upon you whenever they wished,” she said with a huff.

“Course it's my fault...”

Although Sarley guided me to the old man, she didn't stick around. She must have been busy.

“My Lord Noth!” the old man greeted me as if I was indeed his Lord, bowing deeply.

As I approached, I realized that Sarley had said he was of the House of Hombil... which couldn't be right. The Elder of that house had been an old woman...

“Please, I am not a Lord. Just Noth is fine, or call me Commander,” I said as I got near enough.

“Ah yes... Forgive me. I am Bormor, of the House of Hombil,” he said as he bowed again.

“Nervi's house, yes?”

“Yes! It'll please her to learn that you remembered her. I apologize for intruding upon you when you're undoubtedly busy, but I have a concern that I just couldn't smother...”

The eloquent man was indeed gentle spoken and seemed kind... but I could tell it was all just a mask. He was being pleasant, but deep inside was most likely furious.

“May I be of assistance, Commander?”

My cousin appeared, nearly startling the elderly man.

“Possibly. It seems this man has a concern, what is it then? If it is within our power to relieve you of it we shall do so,” I said to the old man as gently as I could, trying to replicate his fake persona of kindness.

The old man noticed, but said nothing as he smiled. “Yes... well... As I said, I am of the House of Hombil, and as I'm sure you know already... We are one of the wealthiest houses in the City...”

“So I've been told,” I said.

“Yes... well, Commander, may I ask why is it you're trading with the House of Derri first? And not us? You would benefit so much greater if you did!” he said, his voice raising and his smile breaking.

“I hear your concern, and I want it to be known that you are not the only House to have it. But, as I've told the other Houses... The trading we are doing now with the House of Derri is in fact, not a trade at all,” I said.

“Not a trade...?” the old man didn't understand, so I gestured to my Line around us.

“I am the owner of this Line. And I have a personal debt with the House of Derri. I am simply repaying that debt, nothing more. It is a payment for something a member of their House did for me long ago... surely you, as fellow people of the City of Sand, can respect such a thing? I am trying to honor an old agreement between myself and your people,” I calmly explained, the same way I had done to the many others who had voice similar concerns.

“Yet... they are transferring goods to you? Is that not a sign of trade?” he asked.

Oh this was a new one. Not even the heads of the other Households had brought such a thing up.

“Indeed they are. But it is not from an exchange of goods or services. What they are providing to me is just simple gifts, as thanks for my fulfillment on my end... A gift to me, who helped their ancestor,” I said.

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

“I... I can understand that. And it is indeed something that any House would do, but still we...”

Raising my hand, trying to stop him from growing anymore irate, I gestured to my train again. “Sir, please don't be concerned. We will do trade with all houses, especially yours if you are as wealthy as you say. I promise you the Front-Line has more than enough, possibly even more than your entire city can exchange for. Your house will get to trade with us, and I promise you it will be wonderful and you'll be very happy with the results.”

“But!”

I kept speaking, ignoring his interruption. “And you need not worry about time. You see, there are repairs and maintenance we must commit resources and time to. So we will most likely be docked here at your city for some time, more than enough time in fact. You need not worry, Mister Bormor,” I said.

Saying his name aloud made him come to his senses, as if he had not expected me to remember it. “I see... you'll be here that long then?” he asked.

“Possibly many moons. The Front-Line is mighty in size, as you can see... it requires much,” I explained.

“Ah... yes... that is true,” he said, as if he truly comprehended.

“Sir, your city is not the first one without a permanent Line we have encountered. We know full well the struggles you've endured. Many of those on this very Line come from homes just like your own. We will trade, and if possible maybe even help create a new Line-Route, but it has to be done properly and over time. It cannot happen overnight.”

I gave the old man a pat on the back as I guided him to the exit. “Can you at least promise that once you are to trade... you will trade with us first?” he asked.

Although I did not like giving such promises, and normally firmly refused them, I went ahead and nodded. “Yes. I can promise that the first we will trade with will be the House of Hombil,” I said.

The man instantly became happy. True happiness. His smile no longer looked faked, and his new brisk pace was undoubtedly excitement. “Good! Very good news! I shall return with it to my House. Good day, Commander Noth, may the Sands fall lightly upon you!”

Waving the old man off as he left the Line, I stood in silence as I tried to understand his parting words.

“Does he mean he wishes a gentle death upon us?” my cousin asked.

“Possibly... why else would you be buried by sand?” I asked.

“Might also just mean the wind. Heavy wind and sand hurts, after all,” Jamthi said.

“Ah. That is more likely,” I agreed.

“Still, wonderfully handled cousin. We were worried his fake laughs would become furious roars when you told him off,” he said.

“Is that why you weren't helping? Do your blasted job, Jamthi,” I said.

“I am! By allowing my superior to actually work for once, and not just bark orders,” he retorted.

Shaking my head at him, I waved to a nearby guard and had the Front-Line's door closed. Usually I left it open, for emergencies, but it was growing late and I wanted no more interruptions. They could be dealt with tomorrow.

“No more mysterious packages, cousin?” Jamthi asked.

“Not tonight. More will come tomorrow,” I said as we headed back to my office.

“Kana is rather furious with you, as is Sarley,” he said.

“Why so?”

“For not allowing them to see what's inside the packages, of course. Though, both for different reasons,” he said.

“I'll let them see once we depart, not until then. They're to remain sealed,” I ordered.

“Ah... seems I'll be adding my name to that hat of fury then,” my cousin said as we entered my office.

“What do you have to be angry over?” I asked.

“Well if I don't know what they are, I can't win the bet now can I?” he said.

“One of these days I'm going to outlaw gambling, just so I can piss you off,” I grumbled.

“I'd mutiny on the spot.”

“Don't do me any favors,” I said as I returned to my seat, and procured myself another glass of the celebratory wine.

“None for me?” he asked, sitting across the desk.

“Aren't you going to mutiny?” I asked, but handed him the bottle anyway.

My cousin took a long drink of it, from the bottle, and flinched. “Whew... that's better than I was expecting...” his voice trailed off as he went into thought.

“What?” I asked.

“Are you really not going to tell me yet? You usually tell me by now,” he said.

“Tell you what?”

“Why you're putting up with them the way you are. Why we're even here. Why there's strange packages being loaded onto our Line, and why you broke out one of the most expensive bottles of wine. That's definitely the oddest by the way... just how much is this bottle worth? I can't believe I just chugged it,” he asked, staring at the bottle.

“A lot. And no. I won't. Wouldn't want to take away your chance to bet on things for awhile, after all,” I said.

He grumbled as he got up and went to find another glass.

“Top shelf. Really, you don't know where I keep the glasses? No wonder you suck at your job,” I said.

Jamthi ignored me as he prepared a glass, putting the bottle down. “All right, if you won't tell me what's going on at least tell me why you're acting so weird concerning those... what are they? Elders? House Lords?”

“Lords is a good way of looking at it. They're like families, just... not really blood related,” I said.

“So?”

“So... I'm dealing with them appropriately. We'll get what we want; they'll get what they want. Just like always,” I said.

“Appropriately,” he scoffed.

“You'd have me use force?” I asked.

“No. Nor do I expect you to. You're not gentle, but you are quite a pacifist when it comes to such things. You're not like father after all,” he said.

I laughed at that. “Neither are you. I can't believe you keep making me deal with them. That last one wasn't even an actual Lord? Just a member? Why didn't you deal with him?” I asked.

“He wouldn't even listen to any of us. He only wanted to speak with you,” my cousin said as he took a long drink.

“Well maybe I can't blame him... after all, look at you,” I teased.

“It's typical of such places, they only accept it when it comes from you,” Jamthi said.

“Our people are no different, cousin. Do you think your father would wish to speak to a messenger or the queen?” I asked.

“Depends if it was good news or bad news that he was carrying,” he laughs.

“True.”