CHAPTER SEVEN

“Here, get in this.”

Koamalu stared blankly at Ryland, who was holding out a set of clothes.

“Put them on.” Ryland ordered, shoving the wad of clothing against Koamalu’s bare chest. “We’re just getting ready to leave.”

“Leave for where?”

Koamalu looked around. He had gone home with the Rose Runners the night before, feeling he didn’t belong with Ryland on such a personal night. That, and the “kind” offer that Liz Sweet had made him was one that no young man could refuse. Now, he’d returned late the next afternoon to the Watchdog offices to find a carriage in front of the office yolked to a fine looking ox. Inside, an annoyed Ryland was dressed in a fancy dark green tunic with silken embroidery, dark pants and fine shoes.

“We’re going to an auction.” Ryland said, then pointed to the water closet at the back. “My uncle is taking us along as his guests and we need to look nice.”

Nodding, Koamalu went and changed. His outfit was similar to Ryland’s, but a lighter shade of yellow instead of green. The clothes had a light, but definite floral smell to them and were a little tight, but then he hadn’t been measured for clothes, so they’d probably had to guess his sizes. He washed his mouth and face as well, since he was supposed to look nice.

When he came out, Ryland tugged at Koamalu’s collar and then nodded in approval. His uncle, who was again dressed in fine blue silk robes, ushered them to the carriage.

Once they were in motion, Ryland explained further.

“Several big merchants, including Sinclaire Eaton, are offering up contracts for routes at auction tonight. Banner companies and escort agencies will be bidding on new trade routes and old ones where the contract has ended.”

Koamalu raised an eyebrow. “Are we trying to get a route, uso?”

Ryland shook his head. “No. We’d need a company first. Uncle’s the one bidding tonight, but we’ll have a chance to meet Sinclaire Eaton at the auction.”

“You still think you can get him to give us money?”

Ryland gave a confident nod. “All I need to do is talk to him.”

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The auction was being held in Northport’s Upper Town at a large vertical mansion which had eight floors, all of them with a gorgeous view of the surroundings. The pre-auction party was on the terraced garden of the fifth floor, which was filled with young servants and old guests who were drinking and chatting leisurely as Ryland and Koamalu followed Dunstand Fiske inside.

“Be on your best behavior, boys.” Fiske said, looking a bit nervous. “Anything you do reflects on me, as you’re my guests.”

“We’ll be good, uncle.” Ryland promised, then glanced at Koamalu. “Let’s go.”

There were tables with delicious looking food and servants offering spiced wine and other drinks to guests, but Ryland led them past the temptations. Those would be for later, when they’d had a chance to talk to the man they’d come to see.

“Why don’t you just get your uncle to introduce us?” Koamalu asked. “Don’t they know each other?”

“They do,” Ryland said. “That’s the problem. Uncle and Eaton had a falling out a while back, and aren’t speaking to each other. Uncle’s company used to do work for Eaton, but there was an issue with a caravan and the escorts were blamed for not meeting a deadline by the merchants. Uncle says it wasn’t their fault, but who knows the truth.”

“So, I guess we’re not going to mention your uncle, then eh?”

“Probably best not to.” Then Ryland stopped and pointed, “there he is.”

Koamalu followed Ryland’s finger to a knot of regal looking men who were chatting casually. Ryland indicated the one they were looking for was the middle-aged man with the shiny bald head and sculpted salt-and-pepper beard. He was wearing fine robes, as were all the older men at the party, and had a thoughtful, reserved look about him. Eaton was mostly listening and nodding while his companions spoke.

“So, we just go up and say hello?”

Ryland bit his thumb. “We’ll need to wait until he’s free to make our move. We don’t want to interrupt him and make a bad impression.” Then he noticed Koamalu eyeing the food table and sighed. “I’m a bit hungry, let’s get something small while we wait. But…” He put emphasis on the last word. “Do not let any get on your clothes!”

With a promise from Koamalu the two moved over to the table and began sampling the finger foods and other light delicacies. Ryland tried explaining what each of them were, but before he finished Koamalu had already sampled half of them, so he just gave up and began to put a few on a wooden plate.

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“Your friend’s got a good appetite.” Said someone next to Ryland. “I think you need to feed him more often.”

To Ryland’s right was a teenaged girl near his own age- she was tall with long silken dark hair that ran down over the tight green dress she wore and almost reached her waist. She had pale skin, striking green eyes that matched her dress, a small cute nose, and unnaturally red lips. He pegged her immediately as a high born daughter, as he’d seen many of them in the imperial capital. Although few of them were striking as she was.

Ryland was impressed, but without missing a beat he replied. “If I did, he’d eat me out of house and home. Just look at him.”

At that, Koamalu seemed to sense they were talking about him, and looked up, his cheeks stuffed like a chipmunk’s full of the snacks he’d been eating. Ryland and the girl both burst into laughter at the sight of him, then Ryland that waved it was nothing to his confused friend and turned to the girl.

“Ryland Hauke.”

“Minerva Soames.”

“You here as part of the auction?” He asked.

She raised an eyebrow. “You mean am I for sale?” She sounded offended.

Ryland, caught off guard, tried to stutter an apology. “Ah. No...I...ah...I meant…”

Then her scowl broke into a smile and she started to laugh. “I know. I know. It’s okay. I’m just teasing you. I’m sorry, I really shouldn’t.”

“Ah...No, it’s okay. I guess…”

“My father always says my tongue will get me in trouble one of these days. Sorry, you just looked so serious I couldn’t help it.”

Ryland, getting control of himself again, shook his head and spoke in a serious tone. “No, you’ve spilt your milk, now you have to clean it up.”

A look of curiosity flitted in her eyes. “Oh?”

“Yes. If you want to make it up to me, you’ve got to keep me company and show me around the party. I’m new here and don’t know anyone.”

Her eyes smiled at that. “I think I can do that. As long as you’re not boring.”

“If I’m boring, I’ll set you free. But if I’m fun, please stay with me.”

She laughed. “A poet, really?”

“Just doing what comes naturally.” Said Ryland, surprised by his own words a moment before. He normally hated poetry, but something about her just brought it out of him.

“Then dear poet, come with me. I’ll try not to disappoint thee.” She winked. “It comes naturally to me too.”

After that, the two of them wandered off from the food table and began to stroll the garden. Minerva revealed that her father was connected with one of the merchant families offering routes, and so she too was a guest at the auction. She’d been at several before, however, and so she knew most of the people who were in attendance.

She didn’t seem to know who Ryland was, but that suited him just fine. He was here as his own man, not representing his family, and he didn’t want her sympathies for recent events. He’d cried enough the night before, and the time for emotion was long past.

Thus the pair wandered around, and she told him about the statues and other features of the garden. She also answered his questions about the people, and he learned that representatives of two of the thirteen Banner Companies were in attendance - The Oaken League and The Jade Ravens.

The Oaken League’s five representatives were all smartly dressed in light grey tunics rimmed with white, which were more like a uniform than formal attire. They stood apart from the rest, watching and whispering to each other lunch a bunch of priests, and one of them was even taking notes. Their leader was a stiff-backed older man named Karlis Holton, who was dressed like the rest of his party, but his grey tunic was trimmed in golden yellow. He had large round glasses, and as he looked about the party he reminded Ryland of an owl deciding which of the mice in the barn it was going to eat.

In stark contrast, the three Jade Ravens looked anything but formal. Each of them was wearing the latest fashions from the imperial capital with heavily made up faces and hair arranged in high crests. In fact, they were so ostentatious that Ryland couldn’t tell if he was looking at men or women, especially with their leader Haylee Ashbury, who was as tall as a man but strutted and laughed like a drama’s idea of a noblewoman. He or she was attractive, but not in a way that was handsome or beautiful, but out of their sheer presence. This was evidenced by the following of people who had gathered around to talk with them, unlike the Oaken Shield members who were left alone.

When Ryland shared his thoughts about the Ravens with Minerva, she looked at him in surprise. “You’ve been to the capital?”

Ryland nodded. “Yes. I was studying at the Imperial Academy. I just returned. You’ve never been there?”

“Oh. Please tell me about it. What’s it like? I have a million questions.”

“Just give them one at a time, I…”

Someone had just walked past them - Sinclaire Eaton.

Alone.

Immediately, Ryland caught the eye of Koamalu, who was chatting with some women from the Rose Runners who had come to the party. He gestured at Eaton, and Koamalu nodded, making his excuses.

Ryland did the same, “I’m sorry Minerva, but I need to talk to Master Eaton. Can you excuse me a moment?”

A little surprised, she nodded, and then he turned and quickly walked in pursuit of the rich merchant.

“Excuse me, Master Eaton?” Ryland called out.

The older man heard him, and turned to look at the approaching younger man with a mildly curious expression. “Yes son, can I help you?” He said politely, but there was a coldness to his voice that made it clear his words were mere formality.

“Sir, I’m Ryland Hauke, of the former Crimson Hawk Banner Company.” Ryland knew he had one shot at this, so he used the words he’d carefully planned. “Have you heard about what happened to my family?”

This took Eaton by surprise, and the merchant paused for a moment before his face frowned with recognition. “Why. Yes. I did hear about that. My condolences to you. I wasn’t aware there were any of your immediate family left.”

“I’m afraid I’m the only one, sir.” Ryland pressed. He could see out of the corner of his eye that people were approaching them from the sides. Likely Eaton’s people or their hosts trying to make sure the great man wasn’t disturbed by young troublemakers. “But, I do have something I think you’d be interested in seeing.”

“Well son, make an appointment with my assistant, and if he thinks it’s worthwhile, he’ll let me know.” Eaton said, stepping back. “I’m afraid I have other business.”

“Wait,” Ryland tried to stop him, but suddenly there was a wall of fabric between him and the merchant.

“Mister Eaton doesn’t wish to be disturbed.” Said one of merchant’s big bodyguards.

And, as Ryland tried to come up with something to say, his best hope turned and walked away.