When seeking a representative for one’s trade pursuits, few options can be found who do not claim roots to the western mountains.

It may be an old adage, but it holds true. No one outbargains a Metako.

-Houses Throughout History

A faint scent of smoke drifted in from the downcity mines and manufacturies, but apart from that there was little to distinguish Metako from Varon or Sarosa. The buildings themselves were all very heavily stone and metal, hardly any wood to be seen. The details were different, but the overall impression remained similar. The streets were still wide, gardens and courtyards abounded, and if the flora was slightly different it wasn’t significant enough to be noticeable.

The main thing to set Metako apart from the other houses was the statues. On street corners, on door frames, even sections of the road, ornate carvings of everything from depictions of people or animals to abstract ornamentation could be seen, some stone, but most metal. I found myself staring at the intricate banding and patterns of different metals weaving together. It looked almost painted, rather than carved. I couldn’t imagine how hard it would be to interlace so many different types of metal together with such perfect precision, but the intricate shading on the pair of turtle warriors standing guard outside our apartment bore silent testament to Metako’s mastery of their technique. And our turtle warriors were far from the only example of perfect artistry; nor were they even close to the best.

I could have stared at them for hours, just trying to understand how the patterns on their shells and the detailing of their leathery skin was possible. I’d lived alongside illuminators for many years, so I understood the basics of colour and design, but this was something else entirely. Was it possible to paint with metal?

“You coming?” Desten asked warily.

I nodded and followed him indoors. Our lodging here ended up being similar to Leetan's in content, though the layout more closely resembled a Varon interior than Leetan's more unconventional shapes.

Of greatest interest to me at the moment was my bedroom. I had slept for a few hours on the trip over, but that left me only groggier than before. I waited long enough for Desten to hesitantly select one room for himself before laying claim to the other and promptly employing it to its fullest extent.

I didn’t wake again until Desten tapped on my door in the evening for our first day of Metako week.

Not everyone had arrived yet, and I didn’t blame them for spending a day of downtime before jumping right back into the social chaos. I very nearly called it off myself. But I did feel obliged to Desten, after he’d been so worried about me he actually sent for Pelys to come snap me out of it. Even if I wished he hadn’t, it had been the right choice.

The weather wasn't ideal, with a slow drizzle of rain and heavy clouds obscuring the stars. But when we arrived inside the courtyard, I saw that all the rain was collected and routed into channels, turned into sparkling waterfalls by a huge cyan barrier that arced overhead in a fair representation of a clear blue sky. It made for a startling first impression, almost as though I’d stepped into a garden on a clear day, rather than an overcast evening.

Cobbled paths wound around trees and past ponds to countless small seating areas in various well-designed picturesque locations, each with some unique statue or fountain to distinguish it from the others. It was a loosely-organized event, more a casual picnic than anything tightly scheduled, and I actually enjoyed this event significantly more than I had any of those in Leetan, as it allowed me to have plenty of space and enjoy the atmosphere without the constant pressure of interacting with others.

Desten wasn't as aggressive in trying to speak to others about his stupid theories either, seeming content to rest and drink at a quiet corner table.

I’d slept through the trip over, so I hadn’t realized to what extent news of the events in Leetan were spreading.

Unfortunately, no one seemed to care about the actual murder. It was only mentioned in vague details that didn't match with what I'd heard at all. They were all talking about me. Someone dying wasn't a big deal. Someone freaking out, shoving people around while running around screaming, setting the ballroom on fire, and spending hours locked in a barrier in the servants’ hallway? That was much more interesting.

People recognized me. They pointed, and they whispered, and they smiled pityingly.

I hated it.

I should have realized that such a dramatic scene wouldn’t go unnoticed and unremarked upon, but I’d tried to put it out of my mind. Hearing it so excitably bandied about at every turn, people staring and giggling and pointing when they thought I wouldn’t notice? Not fun. I should have stayed home.

I ended up sitting with Desten. He was the only reasonably sane person with whom I was well acquainted, and he had selected a nicely out of the way table.

We sat in silence for a time as he slowly sipped his drink and I fiddled with my own empty glass, entirely unmotivated to refill it.

“You alright?” he asked, carefully, as though ready to backtrack and flee at a moment’s notice.

Wimp.

“Yes, I’m fine. Sorry I worried you.”

“Good.” He fidgeted a moment, then shook his head. “Are you … alright though?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You’ve been louder than usual since Leetan.”

I frowned. “I don’t think we’ve spoken once.”

“No, at night. Your dreams. What happened?”

“Oh. Well, I saw something happen once, a duel that went terribly wrong, and I guess it stuck in my head ever since.”

“Is that why your power is so weak? Is eirn Pelys helping to break your mental block?”

I laughed. Why not? If being traumatized by a deadly duel was a normal reason to have poor power control, then at least no one would suspect me of secretly being a downcity scribe.

Desten edged away, subtly, then froze when he saw I’d noticed.

I sighed. “It’s fine, I’m not going to explode again. I — something about you reminded me of the incident, and I was already on edge after I heard about the accident. I lost my head. That’s all. It shouldn’t happen again. Pel is helping me to take control of my power so it doesn’t get away from me again. I thought I could handle it without him, but … this recent incident convinced me I shouldn’t give up so easily.”

“You know they’re all going to judge me by association,” he said, trying to conceal the accusation in his voice.

“You want me to leave? I can go back to bed and pretend none of this happened.”

“Not now, that would make a scene in and of itself. But perhaps you could sit out a few of the other events this week. Help me prepare my arguments ahead of time, instead?”

“Yeah, sounds good. I never really wanted to be in these social events anyway.”

“You don’t? But you’re so confident.”

“Me? Confident? Hah.”

“You’re daring. Most people wouldn’t dream of putting aside convention so thoroughly, but you don’t even seem to care. It’s inspiring.”

Oh. This was about my utter ignorance of social custom. Well, better to be seen as a confident rebel than an ignorant commoner I suppose.

“Except the part where you ran around throwing power in every direction and screaming. That was less inspiring than terrifying. You’re sure it won’t happen again?”

“I’m doing my best to ensure it won’t,” I said, which was as good a promise as I could give. It shouldn’t happen again, but if we happened to cross paths with killer Desten again, I couldn’t be sure how I’d react. This kind of perilous, imminently-deadly stuff, it just wasn’t part of my nature. I doubted I’d ever be able to treat dangerous situations with as much composure as Pelys wanted of me.

Desten fell silent, and I made no attempt to restart the conversation. We sat awkwardly for a long time, until the second part of the night’s festivities began and everyone started filing out to the main attraction: a majestic orchestral arrangement of some very famous play that I’d never heard of. Despite myself, I actually enjoyed it quite a bit, but not nearly as much as everyone else. It was met with massive approbation, and the event organizers looked quite smug about themselves.

And paying attention to the show meant I didn’t have to think about Desten, or Pelys, or anything but the music and poetry playing itself out on stage.

Maybe I didn’t give fiction enough credit.

By the end of the night, I was even more exhausted than the day before. I hadn’t recovered sufficiently from our adventure in Leetan and Pel’s subsequent training session had only exacerbated the problem. Today’s events were fine, enjoyable even, and I ordinarily wouldn’t mind, but by the end of the play I felt ready to collapse right then and there. It was long past midnight by the time we returned home to sleep, and I knew I’d be utterly useless in the morning. Even if I tried to help Desten with his ill-informed crusade, I doubted we’d make any progress.

So I gave myself permission to sleep in, told Desten not to bother me, and disappeared into my bedroom. I woke a few times, but ignored them and rolled over instead of giving them the courtesy of noticing. By the time I emerged, Desten had already departed for the second city’s event.

Good. I wouldn’t have to deal with the awkwardness that had appeared between us, and I could focus on what was important.

Desten Metako may have disappeared, but if I didn’t at least try to look for him while I was here than I’d be the most useless investigator ever.

I pilfered the coldbox for a late breakfast, then set out to find the local library and government offices. It was evening, but I hoped not so late that everything would be closed. I marveled at how liberating it was to fly with my aura up, no more wind biting at my skin or roaring in my ears, no more embarrassing collisions with insects and birds. No wonder everyone flew everywhere. With the proper tools, it was effortless and convenient. Who needed horses? For that matter, who needed roads? The sky was open to me.

After spending perhaps a half hour playing around in the upper lanes of the sky, I remembered my purpose and descended. The libraries were still open, so I set right to work, sending one librarian in search of any available documents.

Alas, our best efforts turned up no information about Desten Metako. Well, I learned that his wife's name was Rinett Lesari, an obvious commoner name if ever I heard one. I learned that he'd purchased a house in downcity Shaleridge eight years ago, then sold it four years later. But that was it. No further record of his existence. No clues as to his present whereabouts.

I looked up the location of the house, which was close enough that I could fly out and check it myself in case he was lurking about, but it seemed highly unlikely. That would be a trip for another time, though. Showing up on a stranger's door at midnight seemed unwise.

Desten wasn’t home by the time I returned, so I put him out of my mind.

As I showered, I couldn’t help but think over that last day in Leetan again. Something nagged at me, unfulfilled. Pel had been far too quick to dismiss my notice of someone’s interference in our training. He took everything else I’d learned and said so seriously, but then when I tell him someone tried to kill us he brushed it off without a care? That wasn’t like him.

The sort of person who’d fly an hour away with no notice to check on someone he’d only met a handful of times? He wouldn’t disregard something like that.

So it had to be something he knew about.

I sighed and closed my eyes. It would be just like Pel to rope a random stranger into pretending to attack him, just to motivate me. It had all been part of his exercise, hadn’t it? He was pretending to be in danger so I would push harder, since he knew I knew he wouldn’t hurt me - or rather he’d hurt me no matter what, but I would survive. But it wouldn’t be hard to make me believe someone else was trying to hurt us both.

That sneak. I think I hate him.

And that reminded me he’d be coming around tomorrow for another lesson. Ugh. I was not ready. Maybe I could ask him to cancel?

I briefly considered fleeing the city, but that would only make him angrier when he finally caught up to me. Besides, I had questions.

It took a long time to fall asleep, and I dreamed of fire and water closing in on me.