Kaden had heard Tavern Tales about the Xiao empire that made it sound lofty and distant and strange. The tales said they grew rice on lakes layered all up their mountains, and as Kaden and Party followed their soldier escorts out of the harbor, there were a few fields that might have been that. The stories said the people were quiet and reserved and rarely spoke out of fear that they’d commit some sin of disrespect.
Maybe there were people like that, but the ones in the market stood in groups and talked and laughed. The drunkards brawling in the bar looked and sounded familiar, and the blood they shed was no different.
But as they approached the palace, Kaden’s nerves began to sing. The buildings were low, the wall-tops flat, and the guards here were all level fifty or higher, dressed in matte brown armor over tanned leather. Their spears had curved sword blades at the end, and every last one of them carried a short bow with a mana quiver.
At the palace gate, a young woman waited. Her hair was dark black, almost as black as Trella’s after she took shadow condensate, her robe was shiny silk in a woven purple design, but with practical sleeves and a short hem that revealed boots. She gave a short bow and spoke in crisp, perfect Common. “Welcome, guests. The Harbormaster tells us you have brought wonderful treasures to trade, and you come under the letter of the Scylla herself. The Lord, my father, has ordered a spectacle for tonight to accompany dinner with you.”
“Thank you.” Sara paused, uncertain. “I’m sorry, I don’t know if I should bow, or what the appropriate greetings are. We have no wish to offend.”
The woman laughed. “I have forgotten, you depend on [Identify], while we write our records in our Chi. I am Sato Tomoko. Lord Sato is my father, and I see to visitors. We are used to visitors here in Okata. Other islands, perhaps, would not be so understanding. Please, accompany me?”
The interior of the castle was built more like a mercantile store than a place for royalty. Everywhere, workers labored, carving and crafting, scribes recorded spell books and it sure looked like every bit of cargo was unpacked, inspected, and then re-packed.
Tomoko chatted constantly with Eve, in what sounded to Kaden like a carefully prepared conversation she’d had a thousand times [Detect Lies] didn’t activate, but [Read Emotions] said there were none, just a set of responses known by heart. Trella studied people. Kaden studied beasts - the draft horses that pulled wagons were short and the wagons narrow with close together wheels perfect for mountain roads.
*So much for legends,* Trella tapped out on his hand. *They have different customs and languages, but they’re human just like us. See the one sleeping on top of the wagon?*
Kaden had not. *They probably have their own [Shadow Blades]. This is not a time to go running off and scouting. Stay with the party, let Eve do her thing.*
“I’m not running off,” she whispered. “Not right now. It’s my responsibility to make sure we’re safe and not being spied on.”
Ashi slowed down to let Kaden and Trella catch up and leaned over. “The mana here is constrained. It does not flow freely in the air and stone, they guide it. Their mages will rely on mana stones. I will use this should we come to battle.”
Interesting. And worrying that Ashi was already planning for combat. Trella was already planning to go spying. Or counter spying. Sara glanced back and saw the three of them, and waved impatiently for them to catch up.
Tomoko adjusted her pace ever so slightly. “As I was telling Sara, this island is the barrier. All cargo entering Xiao comes here, where we inspect for disease, parasites, pests, and more. Only after it is cleansed does cargo move on to the empire. Father’s name is the bond by which goods are deemed safe for our many sacred villages.”
“Meaning,” Sara added, “They may reject some of our cargo. I consulted with several Mercari about what sold best and accepted bids only from those vendors. A certain amount of loss is factored into our projections.”
Tomoko waived. “A tour of our artisans will wait. For now, please, enjoy the prabetu. Here you can buy personal gifts of many Xiao wares. The market is not a place for conflict, and be aware that stealing can result in you being removed from the empire via portal mage. The territory line is fifty li from our shore. Your ship will leave by normal methods.”
Kaden wasn’t worried. He could swim for miles, and there was always [Resist Suffocation]. The prabetu stood just outside the castle, rows upon rows of vendor stalls with colorful painted signs and row upon row of wares.
“Oooh!” Trella rushed forward to a stall that sold bright yellow dresses and robes, along with tunics. “So pretty!”
“Mom’s advice is to shop the whole market first,” Sara said. “You never know what you’ll find.”
Kaden was happy to wander with Trella.
The wares were different, and sometimes high quality, but Trella had to admit Evercut was a better weapon than even the silver daggers the weaponsmiths sold. The third time she slipped back to admire the yellow silk dress shop, Kaden made a decision—and passed five gold.
“Sara!” Ashi called. “I need negotiation!”
She stood at a shop selling Xiao antiques, and held a lyre with miniature mana stones embedded in the body at each of the strings. As she strummed, her skin changed colors. “I learned my first spells on one of those.”
“The lady’s taste is good, but that one is over a thousand years old,” The vendor said. “Once, Xiao was rich with mana stones. As they ran dry, we learned to draw in mana ourselves, changing its nature the way Beasts do.”
Ashi plucked a simple tune. “In Vichor, when I was young, I would play spells. Some would turn night to day, others cause it to rain. Mother claimed if I had enough power, I could even travel through time.”
Kaden had heard legends of chronomages. “Could you?”
“In a way. For instance, if I played for hours, lunch would become dinner time, and then again, dinner would become night.” She cradled the instrument and plucked it.
Sara spoke at length. “I’m sorry, it’s a thousand gold.”
“Oh.” Ashi set it down. “I did not expect so much.”
Kaden didn’t either. Something seemed wrong with those numbers. He looked to Trella. *Something’s off.*
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Trella nodded and turned right, heading down aisles, away from the stall. A few moments late, she returned with Eve—and Tomoko, who were deep in discussion. Tomoko strolled right up and pointed. “How much?”
“For this fine piece, mined from the ruins of Kanto?” He looked to Ashi. Then to Tomoko and back to Ashi. “Seven—four hundred gold, my lady. It has genuine mana stones.”
Ashi bowed. “I would like to buy it. I—”
“Ji.” Tomoko tone had turned cold. “What price did you tell her?”
The vendor wouldn’t look up. “A thousand, my lady. A fair price for someone from so far away.”
Tomoko kept her hands behind her back, but a weight exploded out, hitting everyone in the market. A presence, almost an aura. It reminded Kaden of Authority, and he didn’t flinch, though two stalls away a plate crashed and more than one person cried out in alarm. “Pack your goods, Ji. Leave the market. Return spring after next. This is my father’s decree through me. If I cannot trust you to deal fairly when I am not present, I cannot trust you. My apologies, Asha.”
“It is forgotten,” Ashi dipped her head. “I know of being judged for the actions of others. Tell me, where may I buy [Sun Scorpion] candy? It was a favorite of mine when I was a child.”
Tomoko’s pretty smile faltered. “I—I’m sorry. [Sun Scorpions] went extinct in the time of the second dynasty. Where did you taste them?”
“My eldest brother, Uri, would bring them to me when he went out to explore. No matter where he went, he always stopped at Nanto to get a pacakge.” Ashi sighed. “Uri is dead. The [Sun Scorpions] are extinct. Nanto?”
“The ruins of Nanto are sacred,” Tomoko said. “No foreigners have set foot on the island for five centuries. The penalty is death.”
Ashi shrugged. “Uri was like mother, a [Sea Mage]. He went where he pleased. He searched for monsters worth his magic and died at the nest of Gigantorrod.”
“Sadness.” Tomoko bowed slightly. “I will light a lantern for his soul. The Sea Dragon passes and only the storm remains. Gigantorrod lays waste.”
Ashi leaned close. “I will tell you a secret that you may take hope. Mother has decreed, I shall kill Gigantorrod. His end has been decided, and waits only until I am strong enough to use the spell. So do not worry, Sato Tomoko. He will not trouble your people forever.”
Tomoko kept her mouth closed, watching Ashi. Then nodded and spoke cheerfully. “I am certain we would be grateful if this happened. Please, do not let this end your enjoyment.”
Trella took Ashi by the arm. “I need your advice on my…something down here. You’re the best at advicing. Do you mind?”
“Thank you,” Sara said. “I trust my [Negotiation] too much, it appears.”
Tomoko didn’t even look to the man packing his goods. “Sailors and soldiers, merchants and captains, all should be dealt with fairly. Evelyn, I cannot carry your ask to my father, but I have listened to many such requests. I would be willing to listen to yours and tell you what he will say.”
“Please,” Eve said.
“There are seats this way, and food for the hungry. Let us practice.” Tomoko said. “Oh, Little Friend! Please watch the prabetu for me.”
A statue the size of Skully lumbered forward. Made of brass, its limbs were polished, and it wore decorative robes. The face was not a face, a blank sphere of brass that still radiated presence and awareness. Each foot ended in three-claws that splayed to keep it balanced.
It kneeled down and nodded as Tomoko spoke.
Multispeak kicked in without him trying.
“Watch Ji. He was setting different prices to steal from commoners. Again. The barbarians are getting drunk, keep an cohort of cousins ready, and the Subteraneans are digging smuggling tunnels like always.”
The Statue shifted and looked toward Sara and Eve.
Tomoko shook her head. “The [Polymage] is delusional but harmless, the [Transfusionist] is the real threat in that party. The pretty woman with pet snakes is pure merchant. Their [Night Knife] will probably try to steal. Break her arm if she does, but don’t pull it off.”
The statue nodded.
Kaden focused on a decorative set of what looked like entrail pullers. At least, that’s what he would use them for. Anything to keep him from staring.
“I don’t know what his class does, but it has Beasts in the name and he has no Beasts. Oh, all right, one Beast, it’s a [Match Lizard]. No, it doesn’t matter if it’s the ‘king.’ Just—keep an eye on them.” Tomoko stood and dusted herself off, then looked to Eve and spoke in common. “Thank you for your patience.”
Now that he was alone, Kaden spoke. “I’d like to buy that instrument for my friend.”
The merchant looked up at him with pure disdain. “Your friend cost me my place in the prabetu. I’m not selling you anything. I’ll have you know, this is all a show. An illusion meant to make you think this isn’t the poorest province in Xiao. You think Lord Sato was given this as a reward? No, he was sentenced to this port. And to deal with…you. And I’ll tell you something….”
Ji’s voice trailed off as he looked up.
Kaden hadn’t heard the statue move, but it loomed over him now, arms crossed, staring at the merchant, who packed in silence.
So much for childhood memories. Kaden looked to the statue. “Do you have beasts? Or do you sell animals? Or summons?”
The statue shifted, tall enough that it could look over the displays, then motioned in crude, jerky movements for Kaden to follow.
In the far corner, rows upon rows of bird cages sat. Not just birds—elemental birds the size of small parrots with every attunement.
“Sir, you look like a discerning man,” one vendor called. “A Four Seasons Flightling is just the Beast ever Beast Master needs to truly compliment their class. And I have talking crickets, if one wishes to have a truly intelligent companion.”
Kaden loved the birds, each radiating mana of a different type. “Where do they come from? What do they do?”
“A master cultivator imbues each with Chi of the appropriate alignment, then balances it, then adds until they overflow. What do you mean, ‘do?’”
With a thought, the Falcrow landed on Kaden’s shoulder. “Like this guy, he tears out eyes and also I can direct spells through him, and he’s incorpreal, and basically indestructable. And he’s a messenger bird.”
The vendor swallowed and stepped back. “Then consider a [Wisdom Cricket].” He opened a cage and took out a purple cricket, whispering to it, then held it out. It was, in fact, a cricket with an odd sapphire glow.
*Well, hello there!* The cricket sent. *We could be friends.*
Kaden was impressed. “How much?”
“Five gold. Five gold and he’ll be your constant source of wisdom and companionship.” The merchant spoke as though it were a foregone conclusion.
[Beast Speech] had let Kaden listen to all kinds of beasts, but here was one who didn’t need a translator. “Do you have a name? Share some wisdom.”
The next second was a blur. One moment he was holding the cricket. The next, Burny the [Match Lizard] leaped to his hand and caught fire, mouth open, tongue out. Kaden cupped his hands over Burny. “I don’t think this is going to work out. This little guy sees that little guy as lunch.”
*You’re going to die alone and sad,* the [Wisdom Cricket] sent. *Also, you’re putting on weight. Your wife is seeing the man who charges your Fairy Lights. Your son doesn’t look like you. There was no second plane! Birds aren’t real! The Earth is flat and vaccines—“
“Would your lizard like a snack?” The merchant asked as he shoved the cricket into a glass tube. “Most of these are wise, but some are less wise and they have a way of infecting the others with their nonsense.”
Kaden paid him a silver and accepted the tube. “We feast later, Burny.”
The [Match Lizard] returned to Kaden’s collar, radiating smug. Kaden loved the miniature flying squid, and the foot-tall monkeys who the vendor assured him would be a personal servant.
None of these beasts would help in a battle, and Kaden already had a decorative Beast (sorry, Burny). He took a seat in the pavillion near Eve and summoned Vip just to hold. Tomoko’s statue lumbered through the prabetu in widening circles, watching everything.
“Hey.” The shadows welled up beside him, but it wasn’t Trella. It was her Deception.
Kaden had heard of shadow blades speaking through them, and Trella had the [Shadow Speech] skill. “Hello, beautiful.”
“We like the tunic, not the dress.” The Deception melted away.
We. Not ‘I.’ Kaden needed to talk to Trella and understand what, exactly, was happening. The deception was a semi-permanent illusion, not an entity of is own.
*Slow?* Vip asked.
“It’s probably ok. I just haven’t heard of this happening,” Kaden said. He went to find Trella. She’d taken Ashi to a row that sold pills and potions, and which of the two was more interested, Kaden couldn’t tell.
Trella spotted him and [Shadow Stepped] to stand beside him. “It’s [Alchemy] but different. Their reagents are all different. They don’t use mana stones for anything. You have to help me. I want to learn from one of them. I want to learn the best of both kinds.”