I know a selkie, he's kind and he's fair

His merry laugh and jet black hair

We shall sail for a distant shore

To knock on Olysa's door

- as recounted by the sailors in Yichan

One way Madam Zhao made her move was to make you wait for an audience with her. Not alone, mind you, she would set you in a rather lavish parlor with food and drink and some servants. You were free to wait and dine until she wished to talk to you. Jori had heard that the longest time she had ever made someone wait was four whole days. In that time the man had thrown several fits of anger, trashing the room before passing out on the rice wine that was served to him.

When Jori had last sailed to Yichan she had not made him waited long, only three or four hours. In that time Jori had taken a great interest in the plates set in front of him, distracting himself with the stories painted on them. He had known better than to eat before a host, especially one as illustrious as Madam Zhao. At the third hour mark, one of the serving boys had excused himself. Jori would later learn that the boy had reported Jori's curiosity to the Madam, which was why her first conversation with him through her translator was of the pattern and the story of the two lovers. In retrospect he wondered if she wanted to give him a convoluted hint of his familial origins.

It did not take long for the fleet's captain to agree to sail them to the harbor under Madam Zhao's control. The Plucky was not a big ship, but she towered over all the others currently docked there, and there were many curious eyes on them as he disembarked with Aly.

"Can we come off this ship?" Ellis said, looking around in wonder at the sights. "I don't think the Harpy can sail that fast."

"You forgot about the man you saw? He had clearly Olysa-blessed fans, ships aren't supposed to move like that," Ralphye said.

For some reason Ralphye tolerated Ellis's questions more than the other crew members, and it was him that Ellis turned to when he had a pressing query that no one else had the time for.

"No, I didn't but wouldn't they have to fight their way past this fleet? It's a pretty big one," Ellis gestured to the ships that were currently flying Madam Zhao's flag. "They don't look like they have cannons but I think they can overwhelm any ship. They can even take over the—" he stopped himself and look abashed. "Sorry, it is bad luck to say it right?"

"It is not but it is frowned upon," said Jori's second mate. "Madam Zhao's fleet is big but not that big, she's not the Emperor of Yichan," said Ralphye, eyeing the ships with skepticism. "If the Emperor doesn't want her here then the Imperial fleets will have no trouble taking over this port."

Maybe Ralphye had hoped that the change in topic to something clearly out of the boy's depth would dissuade Ellis from asking any more questions but Ellis continued anyway, "Yes, but the Emperor is five. He's not commanding any navy to do anything."

This was all observed by Giersa who looked like the two were a pair of feuding goats and they were contemplating which one to bet on. "You're a budding politician, huh?" Giersa remarked, puffing on their pipe. "Maybe you should swap Aly with Ellis here, Jori."

"Just stay on the boat," Jori groused, and looping his arm around Aly's, proceeded to exit the Plucky and pray that his orders were followed.

"Yichan is not as I expected," Aly remarked, looking around with interest.

From his experience walking with Aly on the ship, in Byhill and in Viribyr, Aly was perfectly capable of keeping up with people taller than him. He matched Jori's long strides with his own and today he would no doubt walk faster than Jori in his haste to see everything there was in Madam Zhao's port. But they were hindered by the people that accompanied them, several of the Madam's guards as well as the man that Aly spoke to earlier. Spies and eavesdroppers Jori thought, and wanted to warn Aly of being cautious around so many listening ears. But Aly continued on, oblivious and happy. If he had been one of the Yichanese ladies Jori had seen years before he would be twirling a sun umbrella. But the fashions must have changed since he was last here, he did not see any giggling women and their accessories. The only women he saw were stern faced and busy, hawking their wares or hurrying from place to place, accompanied by their guards or relatives.

"My father had a map of Yichan on his wall. I'm pretty sure the artist that drew it has never been before."

"Oh?" said Jori, deciding he might as well steer the ship in a direction that the people listening in might find tolerable.

They were very upfront about whispering, and their eyes were on Aly as well, whether because they had never seen someone like him or were contemplating his worth Jori did not know. He hoped it was the former and not the latter.

"I think it's the exaggerated features," said Aly, stopping to admire a selection of teas on display. "No one really looks like that unless they're on a wanted poster, and I think they deliberately draw those to be bad on purpose so you remember the faces more." He turned to man that had spoken to them earlier and said

«Liu Ze, have you seen any portrait so atrocious that you had to laugh?»

Liu Ze must be a name, Jori thought, because Aly spoke it with a bright cheeriness as he did when he addressed Llynne.

«I beg your pardon?» said Liu Ze, and his eyebrows nearly disappeared up the scarf he tied around his head.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

«Please tell your friends I do not appreciate being looked at and speculated over. Unless of course, your Madam Zhao tolerates such a thing.»

«Please excuse their curiosity, it has been awhile since someone such as yourself has set foot on these shores. They are wondering if they would be lucky enough to have a night with you.» He made a series of gestures in the air and the guards walking behind them made to shoo the gossiping bystanders away.

«Thank you kindly,» said Aly cheerfully and continued on to Jori. "Anyway, I sabotaged the first portrait my sister ever tried to commission of me. She hired some artist to follow me around and paint my likeliness and I did everything within my power to make him think me a witless idiot. It showed in the painting, there was no fixing it—"

Liu Ze made a sort of huffing noise from behind them. Jori decided it must be the spices in the air. For Yichan was where all the best spices came from, they had the climate and the knowledge to use them in so many mouthwatering dishes. It took all of his self-control to not steer Aly into one of the food booths that they passed by. While the streets had been properly paved since he last visited the booths remained the same, little collapsible huts that could be pushed on a wheel or carried, with chairs for people to sit nearby to eat the vendor's hot or cold wares. It was not one of Yichan's rainy days, so there were many customers gathered around these little huts.

Jori dearly wished to be one of them, and surprised himself by wanting to share this with Aly. "And I suppose Marget was furious."

"She always is," Aly mused. "Back then I was apologetic, but looking back on it, I wished I'd kept the painting. It would have saved her so much money. "

«Was your captain captivated by your portrait?»

Aly addressed the man with a half-smile that made Jori's stomach do a flip that wasn't because of the live squid he could see being prepared, their bodies still writhing as they were served on plates. «My Captain did not need a portrait.»

Liu Ze gave Aly a wry sort of grin, «I can see why.»

The man kept a polite distance after that, and Aly switched the topic to what foods Jori liked eating in Yichan, which was a topic he was more than happy to talk about. Maybe once they had finished talking to Madam Zhao he could take Aly for a stroll around the markets and pick up some spices himself. Though he wasn't sure if the coins would be accepted, they had changed emperors since he was last here after all, and every new man wanted his own portrait minted on the coins.

Unlike Olkvardr who had his house built on the highest vantage point, Madam Zhao had hers in the center of the port city, a center that she herself defined and moved whenever it suited her. The house looked like any other house on the outside, except for when Liu Ze beckoned them to go in. There was definitely more guards in this house than necessary, Jori thought, eyeing the men in formation. Perhaps they were there for show, to tell Jori that the Madam did not like any funny business on his part. Which was fine by him, he was not there for entertainment neither for him or for her.

The man gestured for Jori and Aly to enter a room. Its walls were painted with cranes and birds in flight on silk canvas. There was a wooden table in the middle of the room, and cushioned all around it. A teapot and cups were placed in its center, and around it were little circular cakes no doubt filled with bean paste. He salivated at the thought, but gestured for Aly to sit down first.

"What kind of tea is it?" Aly said curiously.

There was no one in the room except him and Aly this time, which was curious of Madam Zhao, but who was he to question her intentions?

"Probably jasmine," said Jori, leaning in and taking a whiff. He preferred the black teas, he could experiment with them by adding various dried fruits, spices or herbs himself. Jasmine was both expensive and strong for his taste. In a much lower tone, Aly asked him, "Are we to be married when we meet Madam Zhao?"

"I thought we already were," Jori joked. Then at Aly's shocked face, said, "Did you not see and hear how the crew treated us? They were all ready to get out the wedding bells." His amusement died as the look on Aly's face. Wait, this was not a reverse of what Aly asked of him when they visited Marget? "Do you want one? I had thought you played along. But if you don't then—" he didn't know what to say.

"My first marriage went so well," Aly said, echoing what he told Jori earlier. The grin that he next gave Jori did not look genuine. "I suppose I am rather put off by the whole thing."

"You're lying," Jori dared accuse. "I think you do want one. You told me some old woman made a prophecy and—"

His words were interrupted by the door opening and Madam Zhao walking in. She pretended to have a crutch sometimes, or to lean onto the arm of one of her sailors. But in her house she stood ramrod straight, and the years had not dampened that look on her face that said she knew everything about you and was contemplating whether or not you were a thing she ate, toyed with, or traded with. Today though, he did not see that look on her face. Her gaze first came to Jori, then Aly and settled on a smile that did not quite reach her painted lips.

«Good afternoon gentlemen,» she gestured for her translator, a Yichanese man ten years younger than Jori to translate.

Aly glanced at Jori then said, «The very same to you, Madam Zhao.»

She sat down opposite them, drawing in her silk robes close to her. They were blood red, and the poppies and flowers that blossomed on the sleeves look distinctly threatening. «I did not know Jori found himself in the company of such an interesting mathematician. Have you any interest in better pay and company?» She glanced at Aly's hands. «I thought it was custom back in your lands to exchange rings. Yet I do not see any. Does the captain here not appreciate you?»

"My lady asks how you are doing," the man translated helpfully, which was probably leaving so many things out Jori decided he might as well nod and smile.

«Jori shows his appreciation in other ways,» said Aly.

«Not enough. If you leave him I'll pay you double of whatever he's paying you. Whatever you want as well. Your numbers are interesting, little doiphao. We do things differently in Yichan. You needn't a man to watch over your shoulder while you do your number counting. Here you have the freedom to run your business as you please. So long as you can pay for guards, but that is everywhere now isn't it?»

«You are very generous,» said Aly, casting a glance at Jori before looking at Madam Zhao again. «But I must insist on Jori having his say. We have been to Viribyr and there they spoke of a world ending—»

«There are world ending events everyday, depending on whatever seer you ask and how much they want to fleece you,» said Madam Zhao, waving a painted hand. They were a crimson color, matching her robes. «What do they say now, that you must tithe your church so and so in order to keep such and such Goddess or fields watered?»

«Perhaps Jori can explain it better,» said Aly and to Jori he said, "Can you tell her about what they said in Viribyr? That it is important, that you're the one to give the messages and you're a selkie—"

All Jori wanted was her to pour the tea so he could actually sit back and enjoy the cakes he hadn't tasted in a good ten years. So he said, "Will you tell Madam Zhao that I'm a selkie and if she kept this information from me for her personal amusement? Because I don't appreciate it."

This was relayed extremely fast to Madam Zhao by her translator. She smiled, and said, in heavily accented voice, "But where is the fun in hiding life's surprises, dear Jori?"

If he had been ten years younger he would have been intimidated by the look she gave him. But he was older now and her remarks could not sway him. She had always been like this when they'd talked years ago. Madam Zhao knew enough to speak her mind but liked to confuse and befuddle her guests as to how much she understood.

"Life is full of surprises," Jori agreed and he gestured towards the tea set. "How long should we wait Madam Zhao?"

"As long as you've kept a ring away from this one," said Madam Zhao and glanced at Aly and then Jori's ring-less hands.

Aly made a choking noise in the back of his throat that he quickly covered with several hacking coughs. At that Madam Zhao relented and poured the tea.