The taller Dahlgeshi man quirked an eyebrow as he looked from me to his brother.

Two guards trailed a few steps behind him, wearing patchwork leather armour and curved swords on their hips. He raised a pacifying hand as the guards reached for those weapons, stepping closer to examine me like a prized animal.

I stared back; it only made sense.

He was handsome, with a neatly trimmed beard and closely cropped dark brown hair. The tall man pointed to his brother, his well-defined arms flexing in his beige, sleeveless tunic.

"I apologize for Finnick. We only know of elves from stories. Seeing one walking around in the flesh is… jarring. What’s your name?"

In his eyes, there was no apology, only a casual calculus. He was sizing me up, determining if I was predator or prey. I smiled. This was my favourite game.

"It's understandable. You’re the first Dahlgeshi I've ever met. I'm Jacob. Jacob Sin. What do your stories say?"

The taller brother slowly nodded as I said my name.

"I am Van Lagos. Our stories say that you can kill with a word and split mountains with a whisper. Of course… those are only stories.”

I smiled wider as I shook my head.

"Not stories. It's possible with High Elvish. Although, I don’t know how."

Van Lagos quirked an eyebrow. I knew what he was thinking. Why admit your weakness? Well, to hide your strength. That was my gamble.

"They also say that you can seduce with a stare and control minds with a wiggle of your eyebrows."

"Now that sounds like a story."

"Speak for yourself."

Van Lagos smiled, his sharp canines raising the hair on the back of my neck.

"You know our names, and we know yours. Who is that beside you?"

Dugan loomed a few steps behind me, his hand resting on the axe looped into his belt. Beside him, Thor matched the man’s sombre expression.

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"That’s Dugan, my bodyguard."

"Bodyguard! And what makes your body so valuable?"

"It’s not; my cargo is. I'm a merchant."

Van Lagos’ eyes glimmered.

Was that curiosity?

"A merchant of what?"

I paused. We hadn't thought that far ahead. What kind of merchant was I? I needed to say something. The longer I hesitated, the more likely my cover would get blown. I reached into my jacket pockets, looking for something, anything that would impress Van Lagos and maintain my cover. I inhaled as I felt something cool, round, and metallic.

With my left hand, I lifted the second of three hand bombs I bought from Elmer. Van Lagos' eyes widened, and Finnick paled, becoming a few shades lighter.

"And I have more where that came from."

I tossed the unlit bomb at Van Lagos, who caught it without missing a step. He hefted it in his hand, a mischievous grin on his face.

"Military grade explosives… Imagine the applications to mining, brother."

"It is as you say, brother. That and so much more," Finnick said while taking a few steps back.

"You only have one guard for merchandise this valuable?"

"Speak for yourself. You're walking around with only two guards."

Van Lagos looked at me and laughed.

"We have ways of protecting ourselves."

My eyes widened as Van Lagos ignited the tip of his index finger, creating a candle-sized flame that danced next to the bomb’s fuse.

"And, besides, in Steeltown, we live dangerously."

He lit the fuse. Finnick Lagos yelped; their bodyguards backed away, and even Dugan tensed up at my side. I didn't move; my eyes were fixed on the flame. He was like me, a Landbound mage that could create fire. From my lessons with Isla, I learned the rareness of this ability. No one would voluntarily put their land to the torch.

But Isla's perspective was Luskainian. Dahlgesh was further south, where the temperature was warmer, and deserts scarred the land. Could fire creation be more common in that type of climate? Another question entered my mind as my eyes followed the flickering flame.

"Does it hurt?"

"What?"

Van Lagos cocked his head, surprised at my nonreaction.

"Does it hurt?" I asked again.

"Why would it? I have quelled the fire."

Quelled the fire?

He raised his lit finger to his mouth, blowing out the flame. A moment later, the bomb’s fuse extinguished. Van Lagos tilted his head to the other side, his eyes narrowing as he examined me.

"Tomorrow night, there will be a party at our compound. All the major players in Steeltown will be there. You should come. You and your bodyguard. Keep the boar at home; it may end up on the menu."

"Brother?!" Finnick hissed.

"My mind is made up! He will do well in Steeltown."

As he prepared to toss back the hand bomb, I raised my hand.

"Keep it. It’s a sample."

Van Lagos smirked.

"A sample. Very nice."

He and his entourage walked past us, Finnick looking over his shoulder until they were out of view.

I exhaled and let the tension leave my body.

"Not bad for our first day in Steeltown."

“Hmm,” Dugan said.

That was an understatement. There were a million ways that I could have gone wrong.

So, Van Lagos was a mage—most likely, both brothers were.

More importantly, Dugan and I had just been invited to a party.

I couldn't wait to tell Isla and Castille.