Burmese Bay Seaport, Country – Ganghe, Kingdom – Dandre, Continent – Grenada

East Gate Entrance - One of Eight Gates - specific entry point for Damaris Clan route into and out of Burmese Seaport

4 p.m.

Colder winds blew, making everyone shiver. Tessa Rei rode with four companions who were on the main path to the Eighth Gate, Eastern Entrance. None of them were in a chatty mood. Earlier, at a way station, a fight broke out as to what order people would arrive in the caravans.

Tessa hadn’t remained to hear the results of the conflict, she’d just gone back to her wagon, and worked on some projects that needed completion before they got underway.

“Tessa!” A loud voice echoed. “Get your riding gear on. We’re heading out now!” The ebullience made Tessa roll her eyes.

“What do you mean, Meridian?” She demanded, poking her head out of a window. Tessa wasn’t budging unless she had to.

“What I said, we’re on our way out now. We’re in the second picket of caravans heading into the East Gate.” Meridian waved a hand at her. “That means we must start moving out, now. The first tier already dispersed.”

Tessa grunted. “Doesn’t that mean we still need to work on order of whom follows first?” She wasn’t impressed.

Meridian shook his head and sighed when she merely scowled at him. “Meh, they’re already in line. If we don’t get gong now, we’ll get booted to the rear and wind up camping outside of the walls.” He frowned at her. “Why’re you so disinclined toward going now?”

Tessa thought about it. “Dunno, I just feel as if something is going terribly awry when we reach the inner wall of the entry gate.” She shrugged. “I could be paranoid from the latest incidents occurring when people mistook me for some ancient royalty that hasn’t been seen in two thousand years.”

Meridian snorted. “Oh that. Yeah, I can see why going in there would be a turn off.” He sighed. “Look Tessa, this may be our only chance to literally go our separate ways.”

Hmm…Tessa finally understood what else he meant. “All right, all right. Let me secure everything inside so that nothing falls out.” Not that she had much to secure, but it never hurt to double check. “I’ll join you all in a few minutes.” She didn’t feel comfortable with him waiting outside for her.

“Okay, promise me you’ll actually join us.” Meridian frowned at her. “Do realize that I’ll sic Laina on you if you don’t.”

Bah, she would drive me nuts. “Fine, fine.” Tessa flapped a hand at him. “Just let me do this will you?” Sheesh what insistence. Something else must’ve happened to make him this anxious.

*

Several days and weeks later to the present…

An eclectic set of towers spiraled around the seaport, eight in all. Eight spirals represented eight gates of entry into Burmese Seaport and exit to various routes that tangled outside of the various portions that divided into three states, Burmese, Dandre, and Ganghe.

 “Tessa what are you reading about in that pamphlet you picked up at the last waystation?” The question startled Tessa Rei as she comfortably balanced in the saddle of the horse she rode.

“Did you really need to scare me like that, Trey? Why are you over here, when you’re supposed to be in front?” She squeaked.

“Oh sorry.” Laughter glinted in Trey’s dark blue eyes indicating he felt no remorse whatsoever.

“Jackass.” After a moment of settling her heartbeat, Tessa sighed. “I’m reading about the entrances to Burmese Seaport.” She shrugged. “I didn’t know that you all wanted to know, so I didn’t mention it before.”

He stole it from her and looked through it. “Oh, I remember this. They make it all mysterious and such.” Trey rolled his eyes and politely handed it back to Tessa. This time it was right where she’d opened it.

“Err, thanks.” His action spooked her. “Did you help write this by any chance?”

“Nope, but Laina might have or even Meridian did. They’ve both been here before.” Trey shrugged. “I opted not to enter the walls before. This time I’m going to simply because the Clan Leader forbade me from refusing.” His mouth tightened, a sure sign of his distaste.

“Ah well, we’ll have to enter it at some point, right?” Tessa, now that they’d arrived at the spiral gate, wasn’t as certain about how she felt after all this time.

“It never fails to impress me with the grandeur.” Although she knew full well that it required constant maintenance to resemble that polished sight.

“You’re right, Tessa, it is a wondrous sight. It never grows old.” The other female agreed rather absently. She frowned at a bit of embroidery she held in one hand and folded it away so she could focus on the present.

“Are you almost finished with the latest tribute, Laina?” Tessa inquired of the blue-eyed blond female who’d held the embroidery earlier.

“Uhm, I finished it at the last way station before we encountered those stupid bandits.” Laina shrugged. “What about you, Tessa?”

Tessa shrugged. “Nothing.” She frowned. “They were pretty specific about what was allowed and wasn’t.” A sigh escaped her. “Looks like I’ll have to pull from the generic pool if there’s anything left.”

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Laina frowned. “So, what you’re telling me is that nothing you’ve crafted is suitable this time?”

Tessa nodded. “It happens on occasion.” More frequently this time around than before. She recognized that someone wasn’t laying fair in the merchant clan, but who cared? She had a contact that she could communicate with in order to solve the problem. “I’ve got a few options.” She wasn’t worried about the problem.

There was always a way to work around any situation. She grunted. “Unless of course we have to provide it at the entrance, in which case, I will have an issue.”

She exchanged worried glances with Laina.

One of the two men overhearing their conversion grunted. “No, they aren’t. that is forbidden now.” He made a peculiar sight with pointed ears, dark skin, silver frosted green hair, and piercing intense black eyes. “Too many brawls broke out in the past for it to remain feasible as it grew out of hand.” He had a bow slung over one shoulder but didn’t mind its weight.

“Eh, Ian, you sure those facts are right?” The other male spoke up. His short brown hair floated around his face and ears. He shifted his weight and turned his head to face them. Dark blue eyes glinted at them from beneath furrowed brows.

Tessa regarded Trey with exasperation. What a grump. As if they needed more humbug right now. Currently their travel was peaceful, she would enjoy keeping it that way if possible. His attitude wasn’t helping keep that wish on board.

“Bah, keep up the cynical stance and furrowed brows, you’ll turn into an ogre, Trey Conrad.” Tessa warned.

“You come up with the oddest things to say on sojourns such as these.” Trey waved a hand dismissively though he scowled at her in disbelief.

Tessa smirked because she knew none of them would take her words as truth. Well, Trey might but he wouldn’t acknowledge what she said as anything but balderdash. “I have seen that happen though no one believed me.” She shrugged, smiled at his scowl. “Then again, I don’t know what you truly look like either.” Her unconcerned demeanor took the sting from her comment.

The mediator and bowman of the group made a slashing movement with his hand. “Enough with the snipes.” He shook his head when Tessa rolled her eyes. “As for you, Trey, what do you really think?”

Trey snorted. “I don’t.” He folded his arms over his chest.

Laina laughed at them. “Meh, who cares?”

“Good point.” Ian stretched. “We’ll eventually go inside one way or another.” He yawned. “I want to sleep in a real bed tonight.”

“Hmm…” Laina frowned. “I heard something from the main Elders. We might not secure rooms so easily during our stay here.”

“I heard something as well.” Tessa tapped her lower lip. “It ties in with all these tributes being requested. Something about an anniversary occurring, I believe?” She knew about most historical events but not all that surrounded Burmese Seaport.

“Oh yes, I forgot about that.” Laina nodded in bemusement. “No wonder there is so little variance in tributes allowed.” Large violet eyes sparkled with anticipation. “This means some of the royal family members are in attendance.”

Ah, right, yay. Somehow Tessa felt a tad uneasy about that possibility. She noticed Meridian paled a little upon hearing about that bit of news. Huh, neither of them were pleased even though Trey and Laina appeared cheery about the prospect. All that meant was more trouble ahead of them.

Yippee, not. Tessa grunted. “Oh well. I might have to come up with something individualistic after all.” She shook her head wearily. “Guess I’d better go to the caravan, I’m assigned and come up with something posthaste.” She wasn’t pleased with the notion.

“No.” Trey shook his head. “It is better to stay in line and state ‘No tribute I could make is worthy enough to be presented,’ to the one requesting a tribute. In this instance, honesty is the better part of dealing with officials here in the Burmese Seaport.”

“Funny you should say that. I didn’t know you’d come here in the past.” Laina regarded him with surprise.

Tessa was a tad shocked as well. The caravan only made it to Burmese Seaport every fourth year. Since she joined the caravan, Tessa only heard about it, she’d never witnessed it. Each time the caravan convened in its huge number of members. Clan leaders would draw lots. Only by a stroke of luck, with the former leader falling ill, were they given the opportunity to come.

Now Tessa wondered if there was something less simple about it this time. She glanced at the others, Trey shook his head slightly, and she let it pass. There were times when speculating only brought trouble down upon one’s head. She would live without that possibility right now.

"Oh look, we're at the main entrance now." Laina forcibly ended the brooding thoughts Tessa indulged.

They would have to wait another time when she had a moment’s peace.

“Soon we’ll be asked a few questions.” Trey commented. “Remember what I said, Tessa.”

Oh, she would remember all right. The last thing Tessa wanted was a discrepancy noted about her appearance and words. That also meant she might need to pay a penalty of some kind. Not pleasant, but not too worrisome either.

Loud noise and bustle engulfed them as soon as they passed two guards posted on either side of the gate.

Tessa answered specific questions and was directed to the route that would take her immediately to Silver Fire Dragon Tavern. She was pleased to note that Trey, Laina and Meridian also went that direction as well. Just the thought of roaming the streets alone was terrifying to her.

“Now the adventure truly begins.” She murmured.

“Aye!” The others cheered with the sense of accomplishment of having made it through the gates without delay. Now it was time to head to the tavern and learn about their latest assignments and work.

Even while in the tavern, there was always something to be done to enhance the clan merchant’s visibility and wares, no matter where they settled. The thought crossed Tessa’s mind that something might happen before they arrived.

“What the hell are more trashy merchant traders doing here?” A snotty voice rang out.

Right on cue. Tessa sighed as she and the others shifted their mounts to one side. Of course, their arrival wasn’t complete without some snotty attitudinal royal brat interrupting what was mainly a peaceful entry into the Seaport.

 “We’re not just a ‘trashy’ merchant trader.” Laina matched the snotty attitude and made the person gawk at her in shock.

“Show some respect, bitch.” A guard barked. “That is Coriander Josiah Dandre.”

“Blah, blah, blah…boring.” Laina snapped. “Who cares? There is Royalty wherever we go.” She sneered. “I have no interest. Let’s go.” She led the way with Meridian, Tessa and Trey following in haste. There was no telling what the guard or royal might do with that attitude.

“Guardsmen Tavis, Caleb, follow them. I want to know more about the green haired individual and the one with the dual colored eyes.” Royal Coriander bellowed loudly enough for them to hear.

“Damnation.” Laina sighed. “Sorry for letting my tongue get the better of me.”

Tessa had expected something like this to happen as soon as the snotty brat spoke. “No worries. I knew it would occur once we entered.” She shrugged. “Now what to do about the tails is something else entirely.”

“Let them follow. I’m sure that Merchant Clan Leader has a plan.” Trey commented. “Besides, I’m loathe to roam around here without a guide.”

“Neither Laina and I are proficient in the roads around here either.” Meridian added.

“Fine, fine, let’s stop wasting time then.” Tessa yawned. “I don’t know about either of you, but I didn’t get enough sleep last night.” Besides, she was a tad curious to see how the Merchant Clan Leaders would handle this latest twist on their entrance to the seaport.

Without another word, the four of them set off at a fast canter. It went without saying they wouldn’t leave the Royal’s loyal dogs in their dust, but they wouldn’t give them an easy path to follow either. Their route led through some of the roughest dirt roads possible. Fortunately, there weren’t any pot holes or worse to break a leg of a fast-moving critter.

To Be Continued