This place had an odd smell. The kind of scent that put me on edge. Not because it was necessarily bad, unnatural or foreboding... but simply because it was a smell I had never encountered before.

Was it strange food I’d never encountered before? Candles? The people themselves? Some kind of animal? A plant? The smell was... layered, beneath everything. Humans always stank. They smelled of old clothes. Sweat. Grime. Bad breath. Old sex. Yet here and now, mixed right under all of that stuff... was something I’d never smelled before.

I had no idea the source. Yet I wanted to know.

Too bad everyone here was speaking in a language I didn’t understand.

Brandy and Lamp sat in front of me. They in turn were in front of an older woman who sat behind a large desk. She had odd marks on her body. I had thought they were moles or birthmarks, but as I had studied her I realized they were some kind of ink markings. She had tattooed odd circles and dots all over her body, it seemed. They didn’t seem to have any real pattern or purpose, but they were definitely eye catching in their own way.

The old woman was speaking in the language of the eastern girls. They had been talking now for a good hour, and so far based off Brandy and Lamp’s smiles and general happy sounding tones and the occasional giggles it seemed to be going well.

Lamp then nodded quickly, looking to Brandy to say something excitedly.

After a small exchange between Brandy and the old woman behind the desk, Brandy then turned to look at me. For the first time since we had entered this office. “They’re willing to accept all thirty of them, Renn. There’s even better news too, one of them has a sister here,” Brandy said.

“A sister?” I stepped closer, putting my hand on the back of Lamp’s chair. Lamp looked up at me and smiled, even though she didn’t understand what was being said she could tell it was something good.

“Young Pram. Her older sister works here. She’s not in today, but she’ll be notified to come visit us after we leave,” Brandy said.

Pram! One of the youngest women, but loud spoken. A good person, from what little I had been able to discern from her.

“That’s... that’s wonderful news,” I said and looked to the old woman. She smiled knowingly; she spoke our language... though her accent was strong.

Brandy and the two eastern women went back to talking, and I squirmed a little. I wish I was able to learn languages quickly. I swore I was starting to pick up on certain words, but honestly whenever I thought I heard something I understood I lost all meaning to it a moment later. Maybe their words had different meanings for different things, when spoken in certain ways.

The language that the witch had taught me had been like that. That old language, where one word could mean ten different things depending on where it was in the sentence.

Wonder if I could even read or write in that language anymore. It’s been decades since I had even thought about it.

“The Animalia Guild has a long history of having a good foundation of support for its people. I’ve never dealt directly with any of you before, but I’m glad to see that your reputation was well deserving,” the old woman spoke to Brandy and myself... or well, maybe more so to me.

“This is the first time we’ve ever directly associated with your embassy as well. I’d apologize, but in all honesty our lack of needing to do so was probably a blessing in its own way,” Brandy smoothly accepted the old woman’s praise and returned it in kind.

“Indeed so. Yet nonetheless, I cannot express how deeply thankful I am that you’d help my sisters and daughters as you have. Would it be acceptable for one of our representatives to accompany Stapi tomorrow while she meets her sister?” The old woman asked.

Stapi. Pram’s sister. I looked forward to meeting her... not just for obvious reasons, but also to see what she looked like. So many of the girls, like Lamp, looked sickly. Worn down. Scrawny. I wanted to see what Pram’s sister looked like to as to compare how healthy they should be.

Brandy nodded, but did so slowly. “It would be fine. We only request you don’t bring many people, nor allow news of this incident to spread just yet. After all the girls have yet to accept your conditions and until they do they’re in our care,” she said.

The old woman’s eyes hardened a little, but not in a bad way. She seemed to become even more relaxed thanks to Brandy’s words. “A fair condition,” she nodded in agreement.

Brandy then said something to Lamp in her language, and for a small moment I was excluded again.

I watched as Lamp asked a question, and then frowned and pondered the answer given. Then the old woman added to that question, which made Lamp shake her head.

Lamp quickly said something, and then looked at Brandy. For a long moment there was silence... the kind of uncomfortable silence.

“Lamp?” I asked and leaned down a little. To see what was wrong.

The scarred woman glanced at me, and then glanced away. She then said something, and sighed.

Brandy chuckled, and then said something back.

What had been wrong? The old woman looked calm and collected, as always.

A few exchanges later and Brandy stood from her seat.

“Let’s let Lamp walk around with her, we’re going to go talk to the Lord of the East,” Brandy said.

“Huh?” I stepped back from the chairs as Lamp also stood up.

Lamp and the old woman went into a light conversation as Brandy patted me on the arm and led me out of the room.

“Will she be okay?” I asked as we left. Lamp was focused on her conversation with the old woman, and didn’t even glance at us as we left.

“Of course. She’s just going to be shown around. There’s quite a few of them living here, so she’s going to see those people and talk to them. To judge if this place is as good as the old woman says it is,” Brandy said as we entered the hallway.

“Is it?” I asked worriedly. It seemed... normal. When we had entered, and walked around the offices until now, it had all seemed rather standard. Not as clean or nice as the Animalia buildings, but not bad either. Plus I didn’t smell death or anything nasty. There was that strange smell in the air, but it wasn’t anything I recognized as something bad.

“Seems so. They offered them either jobs or help in returning home. Lamp believes most will choose to stay here,” Brandy said as we walked down the hallway.

“You really think so?” I asked. Vim had said something similar. Was their homeland that bad?

“It’s a long, dangerous journey home. And most of them had been sold, so it’s not like they have anything to go back to,” Brandy said plainly.

My stomach knotted as we rounded a corner. Of course Vim was right. He rarely wasn’t... Rather, so far, he hadn’t been once... yet I had honestly hoped he would have been this time.

Sold? By possibly their own families? Why? For what purpose?

Yet I knew the truth.

My own family would have done such a thing too, if we had been in such a culture.

Maybe that was why I found it so disgusting. So disheartening. It could have happened to me, so I hoped it didn’t happen to anyone. I knew I’d sooner die than sell someone I considered family.

“Don’t grow too upset, Renn. It’s just the way the world is today. To them it’s sad, but normal. A part of life,” Brandy said.

“It shouldn’t be,” I whispered.

Brandy nodded but didn’t voice her agreement.

Heading back down the same hallway we had entered from, I heard the far off sounds of people. Their voices were a mix of the language of their people, the language here, and other languages I didn’t recognize.

“Are we meeting the King?” I asked Brandy.

“King? No. Just the Lord who owns and runs this place. A prominent figure in the east that is charitable. Turns out his daughters had suffered from slavery, and so he runs this place,” Brandy said.

His daughters... “Had he been able to save them?” I asked.

“No.”

Great.

Entering the main front entry, I followed Brandy through the open room to another hallway. The two women at the counter, and the two guards who stood at the nearby front door, all stared at us but didn’t say anything as we passed through.

“Have you been here before?” I asked.

“No, why?” she asked.

She didn’t act it. Maybe it was just...

Vim would have done the same. He walked around like he owned the place, even when he didn’t. Maybe it was just something our kind did... Did I walk like that? I figured I didn’t, but maybe...

After heading down the hallway Brandy and I found an open office. The room didn’t have a door, and within were two men and a woman. The three of them were lightly talking as one of the men was writing something at a desk.

“Ah, the Animalia Representative,” the woman noticed us first, and stood from her seat to greet Brandy.

“One of many. My name is Brandy,” Brandy easily introduced herself. She stepped into the room and took the woman’s hand, shaking it.

Following her into the room, I realized that strange smell was nearly nonexistent in this room. In fact it had grown... diluted since we had headed down this hallway. Maybe the smell was coming from deeper into the building.

“Brandy, yes. I’ve heard great tales of your negotiating tactics. I worry if I should actually shake your hand...” the man who had been writing stood as well, and although spoke with a firm tone had a gentle smile on his face.

“But that’s what makes it so fun!” Brandy stepped away from the woman and went to the desk, to shake the hand of the man who stood behind it.

The woman and other man both stepped aside, and with nods at me actually left the room. As if dismissed.

“A pleasure to meet you Brandy. I’m Jurto. I’m dubbed the Lord of this Office, but the reality is I’m just the one who funds it the most,” Jurto greeted Brandy.

“Money is king at the end of the day, so accept your crown Lord Jurto, even if begrudgingly!” Brandy chuckled as she went to sit in one of the chairs in front of his desk.

Jurto chuckled and then gestured to another chair. For me.

I obliged and sat. As I did, I noticed the chair was kind of... uncomfortable. It was wooden, and had a cushion, but the cushion was flat from use.

Glancing at the rest of the room, and the furniture... I realized most of it was old. Worn down. It wouldn’t have been too strange to notice such a thing, except so far ever part of this place had seemed... worn down. Not so much cheap, just... frugal. There were no rugs. Only a few small paintings. Even fewer decorations.

A part of me worried over the girls because of it. What if this place didn’t have the wherewithal to support them? Yet at the same time... it was better than them having fancy stuff. It meant they didn’t waste their money frivolously.

“And please, no need for the Lord. I said it in mostly jest, I still have lands in the east but my son has taken full ownership of them. I’m now just an old man spending the wealth his ancestors have accumulated in the best way I possibly can,” Jurto said.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“The lords of this town could learn from you then, I swear most of them have forgotten their names!” Brandy smiled as she spoke.

Jurto chuckled as he nodded and sat back down. “That’s the truth. I still don’t know the full names of most of those we work with here... I’ve lived here most my adult life, yet I still can’t get used to it!”

The man then glanced at me, and seemed about to say something but Brandy spoke up. “I’m sure you’ve heard, but we have recently came into possession of some of your people,” she said.

“Yes. I have,” Jurto quickly looked away from me and nodded at her. “A surprise, but... honestly a happy one. I’m told you have over thirty women? How exactly did they come to rest under your roof?” he asked.

Oh? Did he actually care? His tone told me that he wasn’t just making small talk, but actually accusing us.

“A recent venture in the sea. We purchased a ship, and well... they were in it,” Brandy said.

Jurto blinked and sat forward. He crossed his arms upon his desk, and glanced at both of us. “Truly?” he asked.

I nodded as Brandy did. “Truly,” Brandy said.

The man took a small breath and shook his head. “Is there.... anyway I could know what flag that had been flown on the ship you found them upon?” he asked softly.

“I’m afraid those details are beyond us. The branch that purchased the ship had done so in the north, and escorted the girls as quickly as possible to us here in Lumen. The ship itself is still docked out at sea near the Isles,” Brandy said.

“Oh... wow... I sometimes forget how massive your guild actually is. Your branches must be that large, huh?” Jurto sat back a little, as if in awe. He seemed genuinely impressed, even though I had expected him to be bothered by Brandy’s lack of providing him the information.

“Every perk has its downside,” Brandy nodded.

“Isn’t that the truth...” Jurto sighed.

“I’m sure the girls can give you the full story. We’ve had them under our care for about a week now, thanks to circumstances, and honestly if you’ll forgive our crass perspective it is something that must come to an end. If it was only a few it would not be a problem, but there are thirty of them. Financially we could attribute it to a possible loss of investment, but being responsible for thirty individuals whom we can barely communicate with is not the greatest situation for us to be in,” Brandy spoke smoothly, and something told me it was very similar to what she had been telling the old woman earlier.

Jurto nodded slowly. “I could hardly think less of you for saying such a thing. The mere fact you didn’t simply sell them or toss them overboard is beyond praiseworthy all on its own. Do you need us to take them in immediately? I’m sure we could make arrangements but...” Jurto seemed to relax a little more once again. Maybe Brandy being so matter of fact was actually working in our favor.

“We could house them for a short while longer if needed. I was told by Miss Tropil that a few of your members will come to our guild tomorrow to check on the girls. Hopefully at that time they’ll be able to find out exactly what they need and will need going forward,” Brandy said.

Jurto sat forward again, and I noticed the way his eyes focused on Brandy. “You’re okay with us meeting them at your guild?” he asked.

“The Animalia Guild has nothing to hide, Sir Jurto,” Brandy said smoothly.

I nodded. Maybe most guilds were the opposite. Maybe they were all much more secretive.

Of course... we did have a lot to hide. Things much more important than the mere living quarters of a few dozen young women. Which was likely why Brandy and the rest didn’t hide such things from anyone. If we were so open doing business, then they’d never suspect us hiding such a serious secret in truth.

“I must say I am impressed. And also a little troubled,” Jurto said as he sat back into his chair again.

“Troubled?” I asked.

He glanced at me, as if remembering I was here. “I wish we had been able to associate with your guild earlier than today. It would have been... much more pleasant than those we do associate with currently,” he said.

“There’s always today,” Brandy said simply.

Jurto frowned, and then nodded.

Oh? Had Brandy just gotten something out of this? Or rather, the Society.

“That is the truth indeed... I’d like to abuse that open invitation, to be honest, but I shall hold myself back until we can verify those in your care... I hope you will not be offended by that,” Jurto said.

“Hardly. I’d think less of you if you hadn’t,” Brandy said.

Jurto smiled knowingly and nodded. “Right? So many here in Lumen put their carts before the horse. A strange society... but I suppose in a place where most succeed that is to be expected.”

Brandy nodded with a huff, agreeing with him. “Isn’t that the truth. As a fellow merchant, I applaud initiative and drive but sometimes one must be more surefooted before running onto the ice!” Brandy said.

“Thin ice indeed!” Jurto laughed, and I realized by Brandy’s sudden giggle and smirk that she had made some kind of joke. One that he had not only recognized, but found hilarious. Jurto begun to chuckle and smile in a way that was very obviously comfortably.

Maybe it had been a joke from his region. I understood the phrase, but it didn’t seem that funny to me.

“Well... If you’ll forgive a little abuse of your good-will then, may I also accompany them tomorrow? To check on my people?” Jurto asked after the two calmed down.

“Sure. I’ll just charge an entry fee,” Brandy said.

Jurto paused a moment, and I glanced at the woman who had sounded as serious as Vim did when he spoke of his duty. Then Brandy brandished a huge smirk and laughed.

Jurto joined in the laughing again, but this time I could tell he wasn’t as genuine in the emotion. Although still real, it was tempered and more even. His laughing also died down quickly.

Brandy then stood from her seat, so I quickly hurried to join her.

We were done already?

“Tomorrow, after verifying the girls you and I can sit and talk in depth,” Brandy said.

Jurto quickly stood, and I noticed the man’s quick hurry to take Brandy’s hand again. He even thumped against the edge of his desk, as if in a sudden panic. “Yes. We shall,” he spoke evenly though, his voice not betraying him.

Brandy nodded happily and then after another shake of the hand she turned around. Before she turned around completely, she then said something to him in their language.

The Lord of the Eastern Embassy froze in place, his eyes going wide. A long weird moment passed, and then he broke out into a huge grin and said something back to her. Suddenly his voice was thick of their accent, which was odd. I had not even noticed an accent from him earlier.

Brandy nodded at whatever he said, and then glanced at me. To let me know it was time to go.

Leaving the room with her, I turned and nodded to him as I left. The man smiled at me kindly and nodded back.

Heading back down the hallway, towards the entrance, I kept my tongue in check as long as I could... until I couldn’t wait any longer.

“Did that go well?” I asked her.

“Very. I had heard he was... well... a simple man. But I hadn’t realized he was genuine in his charity,” Brandy said as we entered the front lobby.

A quick look around told me that Lamp wasn’t here yet. She must still be with that old woman, Tripol, as Brandy had called her.

“You could tell that from that short meeting?” I asked her.

“Yes. The men here in Lumen, those with wealth... they all fall into one of only a few groups. He’s one of the ones who spends his wealth without hesitation, for what he deems as something good. He may be shrewd in business, but when it comes to this place and everyone who he supports... I bet he’s an open banknote with them,” Brandy said softly.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” I noted. She had sounded... upset over it, even if relieved.

She said nothing for a moment, and then nodded to the front door. They were closed now, and the guards were off in a corner talking quietly to one another. The sun was still bright beyond the windows, so it was obviously not time to close up... maybe they just closed the doors every so often on purpose.

Following Brandy outside, I flinched at the gust of wind. Ah. That was why.

“We’ll stick around here until Lamp is ready,” Brandy said as she looked around.

The Eastern Embassy wasn’t on a main road. There was a road in front of its doors, but the road was one for feet. Not hooves or carts. To the right of the large building, and this road, was another. A main road, similar to the ones the Animalia building loomed over. I watched a carriage pass by on that road in the distance, but it seemed a little... empty. But I knew that was because I was comparing it to the roads in our neck of the city.

This place was far from the port, and the merchant sections. In fact it was nestled between two large churches, another embassy, and some kind of housing complex. Brandy had called them apartments.

“And the reason I might have sounded upset, Renn, is because I hate it when humans act so honest. It’s unsettling,” Brandy whispered finally.

“Hm? I thought you didn’t mind humans,” I said.

“I don’t. But... in my experience, humans end up never being as good as they pretend to be. It might take years, decades, but eventually they’ll break. Eventually their true desires corrupt their compassion. He seemed... genuine. He wore old clothes. Those weren’t last season’s but ones from many years ago,” Brandy noted.

“The furniture in the building was old too,” I said.

She nodded. “Yes. Most other places here in Lumen... even those that aren’t meant to be profitable, like the churches or other support branches, are littered with wealth. For this embassy to be as... poor as it looks is actually surprising. A good surprise, yes, but still one that worries me. He’s a wealthy man. He owns a fleet of trade ships, and three warships that protect them. He’s not poor. Not even close,” Brandy said.

I wasn’t entirely sure what a fleet of ships, or warships, meant in terms of wealth and power... but from the way Brandy was talking about them, it was something remarkable. “So... should I be worried? You and Lamp had seemed... happy, earlier,” I said.

“No... It’s probably a useless worry. They had offered Lamp all that I had hoped they would have. A home. An offer to be taken home. Jobs if they stay here. Safe housing and the teaching of the language and culture here. They even have a relationship with the church here, to proselytize,” Brandy said with a gesture to the building to our left. It was several stories taller than the one we had just left, and was decorated in crosses and statues of angels.

After examining it for a moment, I looked down and noticed someone.

Smiling at Vim, who was leaning up against a wall across the street, I wondered how long he had been there. He had not been at the Animalia building this morning to come with us, but I should have known he would have turned up eventually.

“Will they force the girls to... convert?” I asked Brandy.

“If they know what’s good for them, yes. Pagans won’t survive here, not happily,” Brandy said coldly.

Hm... Was that her religious side speaking, or her merchant one? Or maybe her non-human side?

After a moment Brandy glanced at me, as if she had noticed my silence. For a small, weird and uncomfortable second... she and I stared at each other in silence.

“You disagree with me, don’t you?” Brandy asked.

“Hm...” I wasn’t sure what to say.

“It’s okay. You can, I’ll not be offended,” Brandy said.

“Well, to be honest I’m not sure. I do agree with you... in this land, believing in the same religion would make it easier for them to be accepted. To make this place a home. Yet... forcing something like that on someone is unsettling. But, is that not what we do anyway? If one is born here, it’s inevitable they become a member of the faith. Hard not to when it’s seen as normal and expected,” I said.

“Vim’s tainting you. But I’ll let that be and yell at him when I see him later,” Brandy said with a sigh.

“You can yell at him now?” I offered. Had she not noticed?

Brandy tilted her head at me, and the obvious look of confusion told me she hadn’t noticed at all. So I went ahead and pointed behind her.

She turned, right as Vim crossed the street and reached us.

“What the heck?” Brandy stood up a little straighter... in a way that I noticed made her breasts stick out a little more than usual.

What the heck indeed...!

“What?” Vim asked as he got closer.

“When’d you show up?” Brandy asked, sounding upset.

“I’ve been here. How’d it go? Did you sell Lamp already?” Vim asked as he glanced at me.

I blinked as our eyes met, and I noticed that although he didn’t smile... his eyes did. They softened a little as they stared at me.

“She’s being given a tour. So far Vim, it looks great. They’re legitimate, maybe even too legit. This Lord Jurto also seems the genuine article. He looks like a common merchant, not a Lord,” Brandy said with a shrug.

Vim frowned and then looked at me again. I nodded, to confirm it. “It does seem good. Lamp had seemed absolutely joyous,” I said.

Brandy nodded, agreeing.

“Then shall we go get the rest of them?” Vim asked.

“Ah... no. One of the girls, Pram, has a sister here. They’re going to bring the sister and the Lord and a few of his people are going to come to the company. To check and see, to verify our story basically,” Brandy said.

Vim’s eyes narrowed a little as he glanced to the nearby doors. We weren’t directly in front of them, but they were close by. An open window or two would probably let anyone listen into our conversation.

“A sister... really?” Vim asked, finding that as amazing as I had.

“Isn’t it?” I asked him.

He glanced at me, and I noticed Brandy smirk as she watched the way we glanced at each other.

“I’m actually glad. It will let us find out the truth of their embassy easily. We can just ask the sister. Plus them wanting to actually visit our own company is a good sign too. It means they want to actually see what we’re doing. Not sure what they’d plan to do if they found out we were compliant in the slave trade, but maybe they have their own methods,” Brandy said with a shrug.

“You did say warships,” I said.

“Mine’s nicer,” Vim said.

Looking at him, I frowned as he smiled at me... as if he had a reason to be proud all of a sudden.

He had a warship?

“Speaking of ships, I hear you made Lawrence give that ship to some pirate? What was that about?” Brandy asked.

Blinking at the mention of pirates, I focused on Vim’s face as he frowned. “That was part of my deal, yes. Ronalldo is a good kid, he’ll be fine,” Vim said.

“Giving a warship to a boy... A literal one. Not even a man yet,” Brandy grumbled.

Vim shrugged. “What’s a few years?”

“If that ship sinks or gets taken from us I’ll be expecting a replacement,” Brandy said stiffly. She even stuck her head up, as if to dare him to challenge her on the promise.

He frowned at her, and then glanced at me. “See Renn? That’s what greed does to a simple creature. You give them a mighty gift, and all they do is complain,” he said to me.

I hid my smile with a forced frown as Brandy shook her head at him. “Gift? More like headache! Who’s going to hire that ship knowing the captains a mere boy! I swear Vim you’re...” she started go off on him, but the door to the embassy opened.

Turning, we all watched Lamp hurry out. The way she ran out worried me, until I saw the giant smile on her face. Not even her scarred face could hinder it.

Accepting a hurried hug from her, I laughed as she went on a quick ramble in her language. I wasn’t sure what she was saying, but I heard my name... and I definitely heard the pure joy in her voice.

Something great must have happened.

Standing there, I got a heartfelt squeeze from Lamp... and as she spoke quickly, I noticed Vim’s expression. Through Lamp’s hair, out of the corner of my eye... I saw the protector of the Society actually breathe a sigh of relief as he stared at us.

Smiling at him, as he smiled back, I nodded.

This was the real gift.