"What is the difference between a thinker and a doer? One moment."

-- Stochastís

The pounding sun was dimmed behind large clouds that meandered above. The tapestries strung about the bazar offered much desired shade, as well as an aesthetic reprieve from the sand which found its way into every facet of life in Ashara. Children ran around the market unsupervised, while adults clutched to their wallets. Every now and again a clear shout could be heard amongst the conflicting conversations that filled the air around the traveling group.

"Stochastís is a good friend and brilliant man." Hofu led the group through the maze of stalls. "If anyone will be able to help, it will be him." Hofu marched confidently through the streets, though his face was obscured and he would peak around corners before committing to them.

Amethyst followed closely behind Agápi. She was doing her best to translate to Tenya, though chose to leave out any comments that may have suggested that the plan was nearly thirty minutes old after weeks of time to plan. Amethyst knew Tenya appreciated the choice even if she didn't know. She still felt tightness in her chest at the thought of lying to her. Being lost in her own mind, Amethyst missed most of what Hofu said.

As the afternoon dimmed into evening, Hofu pointed towards a small amphitheater where several men sat, enamored with one man who stood in front of them waving his arms about in great enthusiastic gestures. Hofu stared for a while before the group of men turned towards them.

The man standing turned lastly, then quickly dismissed those gathered. He turned, rushing over to the group. "Hofu!" He whispered.

"Stochastís!" Hofu returned. The two men embraced briefly before Stochastís began fussing over Hofu. "My friend, now is not the time." Hofu laughed.

"Of course." Stochastís looked around a moment before pulling Hofu along. "To the house then!" Stochastís was a well groomed man, he had shoulder length wavy hair and a clean shaven face. His clothes were fine, but not gaudy. He also had a strange accent unlike any Amethyst had heard.

Stochastís didn't go far as he turned into a small courtyard. There were white marble statues of naked and partially clothed men and women in odd poses and in even stranger clothes. Passing all of that by, Stochastís opened the front door wide, gesturing with one hand to go forward, while his other made a wide motion like a windmill. Once everyone was inside, he closed the door and latched it tight.

With a clap of his hand, three men appeared. "These are our guests, fetch them all they would want, and prepare rooms." Stochastís had a wide smile, and followed up saying "Let the cooks know we celebrate the return of a good friend." His next clap was nearly inaudible, still the three servants shot off without so much as a sound.

The house bustled briefly while Hofu explained the situation. Servants brought food and wine in quantities that Amethyst had only seen set out for previous masters. She wondered if it was really okay to eat such a bountiful meal. As one glass became empty, it would be filled, and each plate filled again with more food than Amethyst or anyone else would be able to eat.

The evening grew late as Hofu recounted the journey. "I just can't understand what brought Uncle to put out such a thing." Hofu said solemnly.

Stochastís sat a moment while swirling his goblet around. He seemed entranced with the drink, as though within its murky contents lay all the answers to life's questions. He would open his mouth to speak before returning to the cup's swirling drink.

"Your father," Stochastís said calmly, "has passed. And Uongo has declared you his killer."

Hofu sank back as Agápi hugged him tightly. "I can't believe this. Are you sure that's right."

"I can tell you only what I know" The drink in Stochastís hand had settled. He looked up to Hofu with a heartfelt look. "I understand the difficulty here. And though I hate to say it, this is not unforeseeable."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Your uncle has always been ambitious, not a wild leap to see this as his next step."

"Uncle has been my friend, and was the one who encouraged me to go to Stone Town."

"Stone Town!" Stochastís raised his voice before taking a deep breath. Softly he continued, "Oh my friend, Stonetown is no place for a good heart like yours. I wish you would have come to me before leaving."

"I couldn't... Uncle made it feel as though I had no time left." Hofu's head hung in his hands. He quietly started to cry.

Stochastís sighed as he turned to the rest of the travelers. "My manners have come late to the party," He said, standing up and giving a short bow. "I am Stochastís, son of Íroas, of Melydæsos." Stochastís looked to Hofu several times as introductions were made. Though it seemed his mind was elsewhere, Stochastís masterfully navigated the conversation with no need for anyone to repeat their information.

"So we are here searching for Ebba, and to help Hofu if we can." Amethyst finished telling Tenya's story as Tenya herself was finishing another cup of wine. Tenya was being quiet over at the corner of the table, so Amethyst refocused on Stochastís.

"Seems difficulties follow all sorts." Stochastís drank deeply from his cup. "You can stay tonight, then we will find new accommodations for you all."

"My friend?" Hofu looked inquisitively at Stochastís.

"I have been searched for you on a few occasions. Moreover, my immunity is nearly out. Soon I will be required to return to Neopolis." Stochastís looked down. "My personal reasons to leave can wait for now while we work on your trouble." He raised his head confidently. "I won't leave you behind."

Agápi stood at that, giving a deep bow. "I'll go speak with my father about Uongo and what he knows about the accusations." Hofu held tightly to her hand, not allowing her to leave. The couple whispered to each other before Hofu let Agápi leave.

§

Tenya sat in a corner in the main room of the house. She had the ornate knife in her hands once more. She looked at it as though it were a puzzle with a complex riddle just on the tip of her tongue.

"You do a lot of looking at that knife." Amethyst said, sitting beside Tenya.

"I guess I do."

Amethyst adjusted her tail, resting her knee on it as she sat her head back against the wall. She looked at Tenya's flushed face. Amethyst thought about saying something, but couldn't get any words out.

"This was my brother's."

Amethyst looked at Tenya, who was still focused on the knife.

"It's passed to the first born of the Brónach family." She closed her eyes tightly. "He passed before he had a kid, and my father passed a couple years ago, leaving me to take it on." Tears had filled Amethyst's vision, obscuring Tenya. "Sven was meant to get it when he turns... became a man at fifteen."

Amethyst looked on silently, not wanting to interrupt.

"My sister was married off across the sea before I was married and I have not heard from her since." Tenya wiped drops from the river soon flowing from her. "Mother died of illness too, leaving me alone. Then..." She coughed as she clenched her chest. "Sven--" Tenya burst into shuttering sobs.

Amethyst leaned Tenya over and let her cry it out. She heard movement and looked to its source. Stochastís stood in the doorway, his face was twisted with worry. He flashed a reassuring smile of acknowledgement before disappearing. Amethyst held Tenya until she fell asleep. She brushed the hair from her sleeping face and started to hum a lullaby her mother had sung.

Agápi returned soon after-- her entrance startled Amethyst awake. Tenya had been laying on Amethyst's leg causing it to lose feeling, but was now stretching and yawning. As they both stood, Amethyst rubbed her sleepy leg as the static began washing the leg awake.

Stochastís had nearly fallen asleep on a pillow near the food table. Hofu and Busara were wrapped up in a corner, and Wa Chini was looking out the window. Nuru had retired to bed actively a while before.

"Sorry to wake you all." Agápi bowed low before continuing "Father has taken on the role of adviser for Uongo, and has no information to give to me."

"That's okay." Hofu said sleepily. "We will figure something out."

"I might have some ideas." Amethyst said.

"Oh?" Stochastís cocked his head.

Amethyst thought about what she was going to say. She had been ordered by some former master to make a trip into the Entertainment district. The girls there had heard a lot about many topics, including things about her masters-- which were accurate. She knew that the people who congregated in those types of areas were the kind who heard a lot they weren't supposed to.

"I have some ways of gathering information. Plus I look foreign, people might just talk in front of me." She felt like the room was staring at her and grew red. She wondered if they saw right through her plan. Her insecurities deepened, she didn't want anyone here to know how she intended to receive the information.

"Make sure you are not out alone." Tenya said after Amethyst translated. "Wa Chini would be great to take."

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

"I'll let him know you volunteered his service." Amethyst said with a giggle as she started to relax.

Stochastís was staring at her, his head slightly crooked and his hand on his chin. He was looking contemplative. She turned away from him hoping to avoid his piercing gaze.

§

Wa Chini and Amethyst walked side by side through streets which were still quite active, even past the midpoint of evening. She thought maybe there were even more people out than before. They turned a corner to see men and women calling out like merchants, selling just themselves. The dim light could hide much about someone, and keeping her hood up, Amethyst kept to the dimmer parts of the streets.

"This place looks... risqué" Wa Chini said quietly, holding his arms closely to himself as his eyes darted all around.

"Harmless, I've been in places like this several times."

"Unfortunate."

"Indeed" Amethyst giggled.

They wandered down the road as she listened into conversations and watched the activities of the night. Overwhelmed by the amount of people gathered in one place, the itch on the bottom of her tongue was nearly burning with all she was listening to. Her head had started to hurt too, and the barest rays of the sun appeared to be stretching over the horizon.

A man bumped into Amethyst and Wa Chini hissed at him. The man reeked of alcohol, his face was clean and his clothes seemed well tailored. He had a somewhat handsome face, with his hair parted in an odd place on the side of his head. He also only had one eyebrow and a fresh tattoo on his neck.

"Woah kitty, no--" The man let out a rancid belch that burned Amethyst's nose. The man reeked of alcohol. "--worries. Oh, hey baby, didn't realize you was an elf." Amethyst remained silent. "Y'know I'm a bit rare myself." He didn't wait for a response. "Yep, only human in the Serpent Guard!" His laugh was loud and obnoxious.

As the drunk man laughed, he started to put his arm around Amethyst. She felt herself tense at his clammy grip. Wa Chini's fur stood as he pulled up his lips, revealing massive teeth. She forced a familiar smile, raising her hand at Wa Chini who crossed his arms at the display. She had put that same smile on more times than she could count. When keeping guests entertained at her master's parties she was expected to remain upbeat-- at least until she wasn't.

While those pesky memories rose in her imagination, the approach of a group went unnoticed, until Wa Chini pushed the man off of Amethyst and pulled her back. Half a dozen Serpent Guard slithered up while the man was lost in his revelry. They had him surrounded and on the ground before he had stopped laughing. They wailed down on him for a few long seconds before ripping the Serpent Guard necklace off of the drunk man.

He laid on the ground moaning in agony, his face was bloody and already swelling. He coughed for a bit while Amethyst helped him sit up.

"Only human in the Serpent Guard?" Amethyst snickered.

"Well, about that... might have been-- ARG!" The man held his chest tightly. "Okay, totally a lie."

"Yeah, well, what are you doing with a necklace like that?"

"Picking up the ladies, duh."

"How silly of me not to think that first. Well, anyway." Amethyst stood and started making her way off as the man grumbled under his breath.

"Uongo is gonna be pissed."

"Hey, by the way..." Amethyst asked, turning back to the man. He looked up with eyes still lost in the delusion of hope he may actually still be able to 'pick up the ladies'. "Where'd you pick up that necklace?"

§

The complex set of directions took Amethyst around nearly in circles. The dark glow was brightening as she made her way through the streets. She could see standard markets starting to set up for the morning crowds.

"Left and then..." Amethyst looked up to see the small carving over the door of a dilapidated house. The walls were falling apart, and chunks of stones had been pulled out entirely. She pushed the curtain away to find what looked like one of the Serpent Guard, but with legs.

"Welcome, brows the wears" The raspy voice was phlegmy and nasally. "Interest in anything specific? I have nectar and genuine magic items, guaranteed!"

The tone put Amethyst on edge. "You sold a Serpent Guard necklace to a drunk man."

"Wasn't drunk while here. What are you, a cop?"

"No. Anyw--"

"You gotta tell me if you are a cop."

The moment hung in the air as they both looked into each other's eyes. Amethyst watched as his left eye blinked twice, followed by the right once.

"Why'd you sell it to him? He isn't a serpent, so why?"

"Cause that man is an asshole, friend." The lizard's eyes continued blinking out of sync. Amethyst took a step back from him. "He works for that usurper."

"Uongo?"

The lizard man squinted at her. "The same."

"We are looking for his enemie--"

"Shh, Shuddup!" He shouted. "The hell is wrong with you? Don't say that out loud."

Amethyst recoiled at the outburst as the lizard man looked around in fear. He started to wrap up the blankets with merchandise in a hurry, as though the mention of the intention would draw Uongo here.

"You don't seem friendly with him, we are not either." Amethyst whispered. "He framed his nephew and we are trying to prove it."

"Dangerous words to be uttering, What were you just born yesterday?"

"You have to give a little trust if you want a little trust back."

"Well it doesn't matter, the boy Hofu is gone so there's no point." The lizard man had gathered all his blankets together and started towards the door.

Amethyst panicked. "I know where he is."

The lizard man stopped and looked back at her. "Who?"

Amethyst bit her lip. "Hofu, I know where he is."

The lizard man looked to Wa Chini for a moment, then towards the door. "Where shall we meet?"

"There is an amphitheater, Just beyond the bazaar on its northern edge."

"Good, I know it. Tomorrow night, alone with the boy, midnight!"

"As in, this upcoming midnight, or the one after tonight."

"This upcoming one."

Amethyst nodded awkwardly, then backed away.

On the way back to the home of Stochastís, Amethyst and Wa Chini walked in silence. Amethyst was busy contemplating the interaction with the lizard man. 'Lucky break.' She thought as she aimlessly strode further. She was stopped by Wa Chini, his arm stretched out to catch her. Amethyst looked around to see two people in front of them and one behind.

The sun had only just risen minutes before, and yet Amethyst could feel the oven around her heating. The men who stood between them and freedom were brandishing large knives. They played with the knives as they slowly walked over to them. Amethyst saw two others turn the corner, but they hurried back the way they came.

"Hey, boys, look what we got here: an elf." One man said.

"I've always wanted an elf!" Responded the other.

"Now don't scare her off," The first said, "We gotta play nice now. Right, girly?"

"What about the kitty?" The third man called.

"Kill 'im." The second responded again.

"Oh yeah, let's scare this one." The first said with a grin.

"I think they want to rob us." Wa Chini said with a little chuckle.

Amethyst looked at Wa Chini. He looked like always, cool and confident. He had the hints of his signature smile, though his ears started to flatten out a little.

"Don't move." The first man laughed.

Amethyst watched Wa Chini in awe. His fur prickled slightly, his whiskers twitched and his eyes dilated. She looked forward again realizing the men had gotten right up to her. Adrenaline poured into her veins, her vision focused into a single point seeing only the two men in front of her. Her body froze. It was stuck as if in stone, or as though she were bound to a tree. She felt her stomach drop as the knife the man held fell from his hands.

The first man was clutching his neck while rocking on the ground. He made terrible squelching noises as blood like a waterfall, recklessly throwing all its power, cascaded towards the ground, never to return. Her head creaked left following the carnage path to see Wa Chini's right paw slice through the second man's throat as though tearing through a leaf. The blood delayed before blood, like with the first man, burst from the crevasse that was torn. By the time Amethyst's attention reached the final man behind, she heard the crack. A snap that rang out like a crashing tree during a thunderstorm. His neck was in Wa Chini's mouth, and he had an odd look on his face. So too did Wa Chini, Amethyst watched as the smile faded away from Wa Chini and he dropped the body.

"Are you okay?" Wa Chini chirped. He inspected her closely, looking for any signs of injury. He was careful to keep his blood soaked paws from imprinting onto her clothes.

"Better than I would have been if you weren't here." Amethyst looked at the bodies around her.

The people who had turned away earlier were back with several armored men. They didn't take much time to determine Wa Chini acted in self defense. The men seemed almost disappointed as they carted the bodies off. The men hadn't even asked if they were okay. With no further direction, Wa Chini and Amethyst left.

Amethyst watched the scene play out in her mind over and over again, trying to capture any details she could. She was lost in her memories and the wandering scenarios of her imagination when she noticed Wa Chini.

He was licking the blood from his paws. Amethyst's face turned to disgust. Wa Chini noticed and looked at Amethyst with confusion. "Is not acceptable?" Wa Chini's soft squeaky voice felt out of place with the bits of blood that shone clearly in the sun's morning light.

"Well... it's off-putting for sure."

"Oh" He looked at his paws covered in blood. "I didn't know that. There were poachers that hunted our lands and so we hunted them. I guess I got a bit caught up in the moment. "

"Well, maybe refrain from licking?"

Wa Chini looked even more confused than before. "I shouldn't be grooming?"

"No, you can, it's just odd that... " Amethyst was twisting the tip of her tail as she considered her words. "You should do whatever is best for you."

"Okay." Wa Chini went back to licking the blood from his fur.

§

"Glad to see you're alive." Tenya remarked.

Wa Chini hung up the vest he had been wearing and walked right up the stairs, no words spoken.

"You are still up?" Amethyst inquired.

"I was waiting to see if you had found anything." Hints of red had crept into Tenya's face.

Wa Chini returned with his fur wet and all traces of blood were gone. "It's time to eat, then a nap maybe."

"Sounds good, I'll be right there." Amethyst said, turning back to Tenya. She had already walked away from the conversation. Amethyst's tail dropped to the floor with a thump as she lifted her arms in confusion. The longer Tenya had her attitude, the less Amethyst could tolerate it. Even as she reminded herself consistently that Tenya was a scared mother trying to get home, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was still more to Tenya than this spiny cactus-like exterior. After composing herself she went to breakfast.

Wa Chini had already started telling the story to Hofu and Stochastís as the others trickled in.

"Maybe going out was a dumb idea." Tenya said as Amethyst translated.

"Wa Chini was with me, it was no big deal." Amethyst said with a small smile. Tenya made a short whine before looking away to let Amethyst continue. Amethyst was mindlessly translating when she heard herself say "He prepositioned Amethyst, likely thinking she was a whore like the others."

Wa Chini could tell something was wrong as everyone turned to look at Amethyst, who turned to Tenya. Tenya had a scowl. Amethyst turned to see everyone else.

A clatter stirred everyone towards Tenya. There was rage radiating off her like fire. "You are worth more than selling yourself, you idiot!" She stormed away.

Amethyst called after her, then looked back to the room. Nuru and Busara had sad looks on their faces. Stochastís sat back in contemplation, one hand on his chin and the other tucked behind his head as he rested against a wall.

Wa Chini had gone off too, so Amethyst went after Tenya, finding her on the roof looking out at the amphitheater. Wa Chini was next to her, he seemed to be reciting a lullaby of sorts. He noticed Amethyst and quieted down before walking over to Amethyst. "Ah, sorry, it seems I said too much." His ears were down and his tail dangled behind as we started to walk past.

Amethyst wrapped her arms tightly around him. She held him for a moment before hearing a subtle purr. "Thanks for keeping me safe." Wa Chini smiled as his ears perked up. He strode off with confidence.

Amethyst stood next to Tenya looking where she would in silence. After a while Amethyst spoke up. "Wa Chini likes you a lot you know."

"Hmm."

"He was reciting a nursery rhyme."

"Mhmm."

"He was also saying that he plans to return your daughter to you."

Tenya's head snapped around, "He said that?" The alarm in her voice startled Amethyst.

"Yeah, he has a good heart."

"Well, we should get out there then and look." Tenya said confidently. That passion Amethyst saw in Stone Town had returned.

Amethyst could tell Tenya was aching to move forward. She swallowed and put her hand on Tenya's shoulder. Tenya looked first at the hand then into Amethyst's eyes.

"We will find Ebba."

"Yeah... Well, anyway don't be an idiot going out to the entertainment district with any intentions." Tenya stuck her finger in Amethyst's face.

"Yes ma'am," Amethyst smiled. "I won't do that again."

"Good. So no more stupid ideas or dangerous choices like that."

"Well about that..." Amethyst put her hands behind her back as she nudged her foot into the ground. "I may have already set up a meeting."