The thick, uneasy mood could be felt in the cold night air of the city called “the trade capital of Neira”. Aleister Rosewood threw a huge party for the greatest dignities from the whole country, but not only! Because of that, most of the city guards were patrolling district of nobles – in the end, you don’t want some shady scums scaring off potential investors! That meant, that the rest of the city was left mostly unprotected. If someone wanted to make something really, really bad – that would be the best opportunity. But who would dare to do something like that? That would be an affront to the city guards which would later throw every resource they had to deal with the stain on their honor… Yes, there was not a single fool who would dare to commit such an act in this city!

… unless…

The drunk merchant left the inn. He was barely walking straight for he boozed much more than he could handle. Why was he in such state? Answer was simple. He was celebrating a really good deal. His exotic merchandise has been appreciated by three extremely rich nobles, which would force the cost of the prize of the auction to skyrocket beyond belief. He earned twenty times more than he intended! TWENTY! He already forgot about robbery-like-fee he had to pay for setting an auction platform in the corner of the market, and then additional bribe, so the guards wouldn’t patrol this particular spot in the main plaza… in the end, slavery was officially illegal IN Neira… “officially” is the keyword. Those who had money and connections could afford to bend the rules… or create a new one.

He was just heading toward his house when he bumped into some really big man.

“Watch it, you maggot! Do you know who I am?” he was just a petty peddler that very recently started trading people, he wasn’t anyone of importance, but his recent sale put him in an excessively good mood. “I do, I perfectly do. I will tell you more, I was looking for you in particular…” Man’s face was hidden behind the hood, so you couldn’t tell a single detail of his appearance. “… I heard that just today you sold a really… valuable goods.”

He put such an accent on his last words that it sounded as if he was about to spit

“Aaa! A customer! I am sorry, good sir! I am sorry! Indeed indeed! I have sold two beautiful beast-girl! So fierce and untamed, top-notch! I have to admit, that these two were the most valuable slaves I had, but the other ones I still have in possession are almost just as good!” “I will gladly check them out… as for the one you already sold, can you please tell, me who bought them?” “I am sorry , you know, that’s a trading secret.” “Come on! The auction was public! Everyone who was around would know who put the most money on the table, I just don’t want to look for every passerby! Don’t get me wrong, I don’t care about the woman that someone already bought, I am merely interested if someone of high status bought from you, that would be a perfect reference! I am rather a loyal customer and prefer not buying from people I don’t know… especially these kinds of goods… But maybe, if you are a friend of a friend…” “I see. I see. Indeed, it was quite a big auction and no one really hide his identity. The man’s name was Anuil Abn Seka.. Sera… Setha…” “Anuil Abn Sekath. Owner of Oasis City from behind south border of Neira.” “Ah, you do know him!” “Everyone does… he has quite a taste for beastmen slaves. Stories of what he is doing in his harem are as well known, as frightening.” “Yeeeah. That would be him. He was bragging about it all the time…” “Do you know where he is right now?” “I heard that tonight he will be partying at Rosewood’s mansion, then he intended to go back to his land through the city of…. Waaait! If you were a friend with him, you should know that…”

Strangers hand bolted onward grabbing the man by his throat and lifting him up almost with no effort till their eyes met. Now, the petty seller could see the face of his “costumer”. He was a beastman of the lion tribe. On his right cheek, he had a tattooed symbol of spear placed in the sun – he was a hunter from one of the nomadic tribes from the South – the same tribe that one of his recent slave was.

“One of the girls, Lialara, was my sister. You kidnapped her and sold like a cargo… like fucking furniture…” “Releaaseee meee” he said choking, he couldn’t scream, he was just wheezing fighting for air “…If you won’t, they will kill you…” “Kill me? You silly thing, if you would learn a thing or two about our tribes, you would know why there are so few slaves of our kin on your… . It is, because, you see, our woman has a really high position in our hierarchy. We never, ever, let some human just hunt us. First, we send a lone tracker, then, we send a squad, then a family, then a tribe. If even that would not be enough, we call other tribes to aid us. Even though we are fighting for land, for hunting grounds or for favor of totems… When one of us is being attacked by humans, we unite till we get our kin back… and till the sin is paid in blood. I understand why you did that, you ignorant fool… but that Anuil was so shortsighted? Maybe he thought that if he was buying a slave in the other country we wouldn’t track him down? How do you think?”

The man didn’t respond for he was already dead, during a too-long monologue regarding his traditions, lion-man suffocated the merchant .

He released his grip making the lifeless body hit the pavement. As soon as he did, another hooded person emerged from darkness of the night.

“…Aaaand?” the new figure asked “Your information indeed appeared to be true. You brought me closer to my family and helped me to execute part of my vengeance. I am in your debt.” “You know exactly what we want from you.” The new man lifted his hood showing his face – he was a wolfman, one of many that pledged his loyalty to Kim in basement of slums. “I don’t like it, but I am bound by the vow of my promise.” He nodded his head in sad agreement. “As expected. You bring pride to your family and ancestors honoring agreement you made. You have my respect… and sorrow, for forcing you into our case.” “No… “ the lion man said after a short moment of silence “… Your cause is right and just. Our kin suffered too long because of humans. It is time to remind them, that not even their cities of stones can protect them from our rage. Tonight, the mighty of this city will remember why there were afraid of the dark.”

He said that with cold, emotionless voice, as if he was more sad than angry.

“… and then that idiot actually doubled his stock!”

The whole alcove burst with laughter, even Giselle, that previously had no idea about concept of logistic. Bayley was a great talker.

“And then he had to double the transport services offered by… you?” one of the merchants, thin, tall man with perfectly trimmed mustache quickly picked up. “But of course. Ah. That deal gave me position of branch leader… in the middle of nowhere, but still better than being just a side peddler.” “That was long time ago, Bayley, look at you now. Head of transport department? Of whole cluster? My-my. And knowing that you got that without any marriage deals, just with your pure skill… I tip my hat to you.” “No-no. I was more lucky than skilled. For example, my last promotion found me by itself…” he raised his chalice in my direction “The deal was beneficial for both of us…” I noticed with a smile “And not-no-beneficial for somebody else.” He smiled widely looking in direction of Head Alchemist that was having a cheerful conversation with one of direction of Rosewood company “… Seriously, fuck this bitch. She used to just walk into each and every party as if she owned it, and made a list of people she would allow to approach her in her private alcove. Look at her now, she had to wait before entering the main gate, as every bread-eater.” “Well, I didn’t wait…” I noticed “... I believe you didn’t make a show out of this just to remind her that her position dropped?” “But of course old Alister did! Oh, she was a pain in the assess of all gathered. Sometimes, she didn’t even find time for old man himself. Oh, I believe you would be officially asked to the offices, and she would be told to get fucked… with all honorifics and protocols.” “That means that my position in negotiations improves, doesn’t it?” I smiled widely “Zariel, my friend!...” Bayley put the glass aside with a very serious tone, almost completely sobering up “…. Don’t cross the line! Indeed, you can ask for a little bit more than you wanted, but pay attention not to overdo it. Your company is still small, you have a factory in one city. The old man could swallow you whole. Do you want my advice? Stay proud, yet humble. I know you good enough to know that you won’t do that, but I will warn you anyway – don’t pretend to be somebody else. If you would act the same way as you did while making negotiations with me, that would be a huge impression on him. You know, old man Ali has daughter and son – don’t get me wrong, they are really smart kids… but bit too overconfident... Ok, definitely much moooore overconfident than they should be. He started believing that nowadays youth just lost its fangs. Show yours, Zari, but by any means, don’t bite, don’t even bark.”

He said that looking me deep in the eyes. Everyone else in the alcove only nodded slightly their heads in agreement.

“Bayley. You are a great partner, but even better friend. Fear not, I will not shame you in front of your boss.” “It’s not about me, kid… not about me this time.” He patted my shoulder in gesture full of protectiveness, that made my insides curl in annoyment. I hated it when someone patronized me.

Yet this time, taking into consideration that he really wanted me to succeed, I cast aside desire to shake his hand off me…

… or so I hoped that he meant only good things. Because, you see, by this small gesture he could show everyone around that he treats me as his apprentice, therefore boosting his own social position.

You can never be 100% sure what merchant thinks about, even those you consider your friends. While hoping for best I was preparing for the worst. In the meantime, the subject of our conversation switched to more pleasant topics. I was slightly afraid that the gathering we attended wouldn’t fit into Giselle’s taste, but much to my happy surprise, everyone was very… cheerful and talkative, even negotiations were discussed in the form of half-jokes. Ladies that were accompanying merchants (fiancés, wives, and very close “friends and business partners” were talking about subjects not directly connected with economy or politics. Quite the opposite, once they heard that Giselle was THAT Giselle Redwing, they insisted to talk about the dangers of this specific “industry” that women would face.

“Dangers that women would face? Absolutely no different from those that males deal with. You will be either eaten, burned, stabbed, slashed, crushed… just pick a one. Of course, there are certain monsters and savage sapient races that would use women for something else… but that’s a risk we accepted. Someone has to risk, so somebody else could be safe. You can trust only your own skills… and your party members. And I am lucky to have both… especially the later one.” she would turn in my direction with a gentle smile, thinking I didn’t hear her as I was busy with a conversation on the other side of the table “It must be so wonderful to travel the world, to live through so many adventures…” one of the ladies smiled to her own imagination of being an adventurer “To travel days or weeks without a proper bath, to sleep covered in blood, sweat, and mud. To be bitten, scratched, poisoned and left open-wounded. And once you would deal with the problem, there would be a people denying you your salary, like

“I am sorry! I didn’t mean to offend you!” “You didn’t. “I was just… wondering if I could become an adventurer like you one day…” “Don’t. You will die.” This time she said that with a harsh tone “… sorry to say that, but I can see your hands. They are very delicate and soft, but your fingers appears to be skilled and trained. You are writing for a living?” “Y-yes. I am an accountant…” “Give up. You have a good job. Worthy. Needed.” “I just… wanted to feel like a heroine once too, you know?” she smiled shyly “You can still be a hero. A hero is a person that makes a difference. The one that gives food to the starving child on the street. The one that helps those in need. A hero is a person, that can do the right thing in the right moment. There will be plenty of such opportunities. You just have to look around… I used to be a village girl, you know? Working in the field and waving a stick above my head was all I could do… I never received a proper education. I was learned to read and do the simplest math, but you are responsible for calculation for a store, right?” “A-actually, a few of them…” “SEE?! Each time I see longer calculation longer than a line, my head hurts!... I envy you. Every peasant can wave stick above his head. But there are way fewer people that could replace you.” “I… feel a little bit better. Thank you…”

That’s my girl – I smiled to myself while bottoming out another glass of fancy red wine, trying not to spit it out.

I hate wine. When someone would put some normal alcohol on the table? For goddess sake! The party is going on for over an hour already! Put the appetizers away and bring vodka!... or whiskey, at very least.

The music stopped for a moment, people dancing in the middle of the room stopped, bowed to each other and started slowly leaving, making place for new couples that quickly emerged from the alcoves.

“Excuse me, friends…” I said getting up from the table. Slowly, I approached dragoness still talking with her new friends, and once her gaze happily looked in my direction I bowed slightly offering her my hand for support. “… My lady, would you do me this honor and dance with me?”

She beamed with joy, that’s what she was waiting for and the very reason she “forced me” into looking for a banquet.

With elegant grace, she accepted my hand and got up from her seat.

“The pleasure would be all mine.”

We were about to head to the dancing floor, but in very next moment a servant approached us.

“Mister Whiteraven? The lord of this house wishes to know if you would do him the honor of meeting you in person?”

The music was about to start, I saw the sadness of Giselle’s face as she knew that it was an invitation I couldn’t refuse…

… but actually…

“Tell mister Rosewood, that it will be my greatest pleasure… and I will find him as the song would end.”

It was almost an affront. Noone makes him wait as he calls for a meeting. The fact that he “asked” me to come to him, and didn’t bother to come personally, also stated his position. The servant opened his mouth in shock, yet quickly closed it retraining his serious appearance.

“I… I see, is there something you want me to tell him as he would be waiting for you?” “Yes, please, tell him that I am really sorry for my lack of politeness and I don’t mean to dishonor him in anyway, but that I have already offered this short moment to this lady, and no matter how important is the subject that Lord Rosewood wish to talk about, it will never be more important than the woman whose hand I am holding right now.”

I bowed my head in apology.

A servant only nodded before disappearing.

“Are you… sure you should do that?” Gis asked with mixed feelings “No. But I don’t care. I would rather be spending the next twenty or so minutes with you than anybody else. “ “Zari?” “Yes?” “You are an idiot.” She chuckled “I know.” “But it’s a good thing because you are my idiot.”

We headed toward the place from which the music already started playing.