Toren walked toward the market district. They used to have their own area in the non-magical sections of the city but that had dried up years ago. Now they were forced to trek across town for basic needs. Naturally the mages didn’t let them into their districts but there was an area set aside that anyone could shop in. It was here that Toren hoped to find the trader. It had been over three months since he last heard from his brother. From the last letter he received the mists were nearing Fortunia. Delays were expected. The traders didn’t go back and forth often, only about once a fortnight. Still he had expected something by now. Perhaps he met a girl? Those thoughts directed his toward Azura…

“Toren! Hey!” He turned toward the voice to see Coralline waving at him.

He smiled and made his way toward her. Azura’s mother hadn’t changed all that much over the last four years. It was hard to tell with cat-kin as their fur hid much.

“What are you doing here?” Coralline asked when he got closer.

“I heard there was a trader from Fortunia. I was checking to see if he had any letters.”

“Oh Zultar? I didn’t think he would be back so soon,” Coralline said thoughtfully.

“You know him?” Toren asked.

“Yeah he’s a good guy for a human.”

Toren raised an eyebrow. That was a strange sentiment from a kin.

Coralline noticed his confusion and gave a mischievous grin. One that he recognized from Azura on plenty of occasions.

“He’s not a mage,” Coralline whispered conspiratorially.

That would explain it. Non-magical humans were treated even worse than kin. It was rare, but when it did happen they were usually killed at birth or sent off to be raised by kin. As he remembered more, he winced. Other than being abandon… certain precautions were done. Such as ensuring that the offending human couldn’t reproduce... ever.

“So, when are you going to tell her?” Coralline asked.

“What?”

“Azura. When are you going to admit that you like her?” The last word was drawn out and sugary sweet.

It felt like a pyromancer just casted heat wave. Toren turned bright red all over, like he laid in the sun for half the day.

“Oh! The look on your face!” Coralline laughed. Toren said nothing.

“Come on! You’ll have to make a move soon. I’ve seen other kin come sniffing around. Azura’s to oblivious and obsessed with training to do anything herself. You’ll have to make the first move. It would be a bit of relief if she did something more normal for her age other than… what is the that word she uses.” Coralline snapped her fingers, which was muted from her fur.

“Cultivate. That’s it. I would grateful if you could distract her with something more mundane.” She gave Toren a lecherous grin. Then frowned. “Not too much though.”

“C, Can we talk about something else?” Toren muttered looking at his feet.

“Okay have it your way.”

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Toren was glad she relented. After all he was thinking the same thing earlier.

They found the trader at the center of the market. A scowl on his face. He had mud colored hair with a neatly trimmed goatee and a paunch that made him look pregnant. Unlike his ample abdomen his stall was sparse with only a few food items on it. All at ridiculous prices.

“Zultar! How’s the family?” Coralline shouted as she approached the man.

He turned an angry glare toward her but soften as he recognized her.

“The kin are doing great! Mother is retired and father is taking up carving. It think as elderly beaver-kin he still has the desire to chew on wood but his teeth can’t handle it anymore. This must be some sort of substitution. It doesn’t matter as long as he’s happy. As for the birth mages I hope the spawn takes them whomever they are.” Zultar said his voice slightly effeminate.

“Right on!” Coralline said as they gave each other a quick embrace.

“Who’s this?”

“Where are my manners? I forgot to introduce my companion” Coralline said in mocking tone.

“In the litter box I imagine,” Zultar guffawed. Toren quickly memorized that retort. That would be useful later.

“Just for that, no hug next time. This here’s Toren a friend of my daughters.”

“Good to meet you lad,” Zultar said. “So how’s your little trouble maker?”

“Not so little any more. The brat actually out grew me.”

“Really? I haven’t seen her in… what is it now, eight years? I really need to stop by and say hello. She probably won’t even remember me.”

“Oh she will. At least her rear will,” Coralline said darkly. “Those paints you gave her last time ended up all over the walls. I ensured that she couldn’t sit properly for a week after that.”

Zultar chuckled. Toren kept a neutral face. He recalled those paints. Azura’s idea to have a ‘paint war’ in her home was not the best she ever had. They both got a good spanking for that one. He suppressed the urge to rub his own rear and broke into the conversation.

“Any news or letters from Fortunia?”

Zultar cheerful demeanor darken. “A lot actually. I only head up that way once a year as my wears aren’t in high demand, but it usually is profitable enough. Besides I can stock up on food and sell it on my way back home, even at these scandalous prices.”

“What do you usually sell?” Toren asked.

“Weapons.”

Toren’s surprised must have shown for Zultar continued.

“Non-mage blades. Pretty useless, unless you’re a kin. I figured with the encroaching mists I could sell some of my stock. Instead the bastards confiscated my entire supply. They only gave me a pittance of food here in exchange.”

Zultar spit to the side. “Bloody mages.”

“What about the kin there?” Toren asked.

Zultar face grew pensive. “That’s one of the main reasons I came here. It’s bad. After the theft, I used this little beauty.” Zultar showed the pair a pendant from his pocket. “This here is the most power artifact I ever seen.”

Toren had visions of grand fireballs or perhaps chain lightening. “What does it do?” He asked excited.

“It…” Zultar lowered his voice and beckoned the pair closer. “Changes all the hair color on your body.”

Toren was vastly disappointed.

“Wow,” Coralline said impressed. Toren turned toward her incredulous. She noticed Toren’s look gave her one of her own. “Come on Toren, it’s not that hard to figure out.”

Confused. He looked at the pair uncertain. That was when he noticed the man’s brown hair. Then it all clicked.

“Oh…” he said.

“That’s right,” Zultar said proudly. “I used this beauty and asked around. The only way I could get a mage to talk to me. What I found out isn’t good.” He looked down as he scuffed the cobblestones below.

“What happened?” Coralline asked. Toren felt his stomach sink. No. Please no. Not that. Anything but that.

“About two weeks ago an offensive was led into the mist. I don’t know if you’re aware but its drawing closer to Fortunia. Anyways the entire kin infantry was lost. Apparently not one survived. Even a good number of the cowardly mages died.”

Coralline gasped and Toren swayed. Martel… His brother was dead. What about all the others? Well over a thousand kin joined from Deepmere alone.

“This can’t be true,” Toren muttered as he shook.

Zultar looked concern as Coralline embraced him in a hug. He didn’t even notice at first. Then the situation became real and tears started. He clutched her back as he silently wept.

“I think you should go home and tell your mother. I’ll tell the others,” Coralline said her voice grim. Toren nodded, then took off at a run.

“Sorry to be the bearer of bad news,” Zultar said.

“No. Thanks for telling us. How long do you plan to stay? I would love to have you over for dinner.”

“Thank you for the offer, but I already have plans with some of my distant kin family that live here. I’ll be in the city for about a week so I will drop by later. I have more paint to hand out anyways.”

Coralline laughed.