Tunio hefted the chest onto his shoulder and walked back out of the cave. After he walked through the door, Irrawella closed the door behind them.

The sky was dark and filled with stars.

“Do you think we can make it back to the last clearing tonight or should we camp up here?” Tunio asked.

“That last section was pretty steep, I don’t want to risk falling.”

“Right. We need to find a place to camp then.”

Irrawella looked around. The top of the mountain was hollowed out and the floor of the bowl of the mountain was covered in ash.

“The ground seems warm. If we could find a flat place to set up our camp, I think we would be comfortable tonight,” Tunio said.

Irrawella nodded. “I see something suitable over there.” She took Tunio to a small area where the ground was relatively flat.

Tunio placed the chest down and placed his bag down next to it. He opened the bag and found a blanket which he spread out on the ground. Irrawella placed her bag down next to his and pulled out her blanket, placing the spent torch on the ground. Tunio unbuckled the sword belt, disrobed, and lay on top of the blanket.

Irrawella dropped her skirt, kicked off her shoes, snuggled down next to Tunio, and spread her blanket over them both. She placed her head on his chest and they both looked up at the stars.

“See that? This year is the year of the hunter.” He pointed to the constellation that dominated the sky.

“You haven’t been to school but know about the stars in the sky,” Irrawella chuckled.

“What can I say, I had an unusual childhood.”

“Tell me about it.”

“I spent most of the day working with my family on the farm. When we weren’t working, my mother was trying to teach us and get us to read. We didn’t see any importance in reading because there were always crops to harvest or plant or fields to prepare.”

“Did your father have a large farm?”

“We did. We supplied most of the basic food stuffs for the fort.”

“Is farming as hard as people make it out to be?”

“It has its days, like, I assume, dressmaking.”

“Especially when I have a difficult client.”

“My father always had a field or two of grain growing, which is pretty easy to harvest compared to say tubers or roots. I much preferred the harvesting of grain to the harvesting of tubers. Once night fell, my mother would call us in for dinner and if it wasn’t harvest time, she would give us our lessons.”

Irrawella sat up and kissed him.

Tunio kissed her back, running his hands over her back. He pulled her into his embrace, and he rolled them so that she was under him. He reached for the blanket and pulled it over his shoulders.

***

4th day of the 8th month 610thyear of the 8th era

A rumble underneath woke them.

“The ground is really warm,” Tunio muttered.

“The ground is warm, and the mountain just spoke. I don’t think that is a good sign.”

“Have you heard of the mountain speaking before?”

Irrawella jumped up. “I think we should leave right now. The god of the mountain could be displeased that we are taking the chest of gold.

Tunio got up and began to stuff clothes and blankets into the bag.

Irrawella did the same. She shouldered both bags filled with their clothes. They stepped into their shoes. Tunio hefted the chest onto his shoulders and took off down the path. Irrawella followed him. They came to the lip of the crater just as the sun was creeping over the horizon. To the south, the city spread before them; to their north, sails dotted on the high seas.

Irrawella took the lead and led Tunio down the path, carefully navigating their path amongst the rocks. As they rounded to the north of the mountain, another rumble rocked them.

“That was the mountain rumbling,” Tunio exclaimed. “The ground is getting hotter.”

Irrawella turned and her face revealed horror.

“Tunio. Run!” she screamed.

Tunio looked over his shoulder. The path behind him was glowing orange and red. The sky was darkening as smoke billowed from the top of Mount Wealth.

“What in the name of Mars is happening?” he said as he rushed after Irrawella, who had already begun scrabbling back down the path.

They picked up their speed and dashed past the clearings, sweat pouring off their bodies, as they raced down to the bottom of the mountain.

After two hours they arrived at the beginning of the path, panting heavily. Tunio sat the chest down, and Irrawella dropped the two bags on the ground next to the chest. She opened a bag, pulled out her skirt, and stepped into it. She then opened the other bag and passed Tunio’s trousers to him. He stepped out of his boots, pulled the trousers on, and then stepped back into his boots.

“How much of the treasure do you want?” he asked, bending down and opening the chest.

“I will take it all, thank you,” Anatoli said as he stepped around the building, sword in hand.

Irrawella stuck her hands up. Tunio did the same. “How did you know that we would be here?”

“Are you so unobservant? I have had someone tailing you for several days now. Devin, come lift the chest.”

Devin stepped around the side of the building and walked towards the chest. Tunio stepped in front of him. “I don’t think so. I worked hard for that. It’s mine.”

Devin turned around and looked back at his boss. Tunio hit him in the back of the head with his fist and Devin crumpled.

As Anatoli moved forward, Tunio reached for his sword which was still in his bag. He pulled it from its sheath as Anatoli lunged at him. Tunio ducked to the side.

Irrawella screamed, the sound cutting through the air. Anatoli swung his head around and dashed towards her. Tunio leapt to her defence, striking Anatoli in the back with the flat of his blade. Anatoli crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Panting heavily, Tunio approached Irrawella. She stopped screaming.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

She nodded. “I thought you were going to die.”

“I am not and thank you,” he said. “Check them for valuables.”

“You’re going to steal from them?”

“They were going to steal from me,” he pointed out. “He has also stolen from me a few times.” He kicked Anatoli just to be sure.

She nodded and searched their pockets. She found two silver leaves on Devin, and forty gold folia on Anatoli.

“Where did he get all that money?” Tunio asked.

“He does run a brothel,” Irrawella said.

“True. Are you sure you don’t want anything?”

“If you give me any, then I will have to give everything to my owner.”

“I can’t take all of the money,” he protested. “You should have some.”

“If you gave me some, it wouldn’t be mine.” She placed a hand on his shoulder.

“I have to thank you for helping me find it.” He closed the chest and hefted it onto his back.

“I am sure you can find some way to show your appreciation to me.” She reached around him and buckled his sword and belt around his waist.

“Thank you.”

“Should we be worried about the mountain? Or the god of the mountain?”

Irrawella looked up at the mountain and shook her head. “The priests will take care of the Gods. If the mountain does get angrier, we will know about it. The mountain has spewed smoke a couple of times while I have been here; nothing happened before.”

She lifted the two bags and walked through alleyway between the tailor and the incense merchant, reentering the city, as the city was beginning to stir. Irrawella disappeared into the crowd of people going to work, occasionally glancing at Mount Wealth, looking up at the smoke and the red light coming from the top of the mountain.

Tunio followed her between the buildings and then stepped to his right, travelling along the path until he to came the Whole Hog. He walked alongside people in various dress, many men also carrying burdens just like him.

He climbed the steps and pushed open the door, turned right and ascended the stairs.

The clerk watched with an open mouth and followed him up the stairs.

Tunio came to his door. The clerk rushed past him and opened the door for him.

“What is in the chest?” the clerk asked.

Tunio set it down and turned to him. “Just some family stuff, boring really.”

The clerk nodded. Tunio stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him.

“Now that I have you here, can you do something for me?”

“Sure,” the clerk nodded.

“I want to purchase a slave. How is much is a slave worth?”

“That is a well-known fact; a slave at the market normally goes for about twelve silver pieces.”

Tunio whistled “What if the slave is owned by someone already? Say I wanted a particular slave.”

The clerk nodded. “A slave caught your fancy,” he winked.

Tunio didn’t respond just waited.

“Well it depends on whether the current owner wants to sell. Is the slave pretty?”

Tunio nodded.

“What does the slave do for the master? Is she a bed slave?”

Tunio shook his head. “The slave I want is a dressmaker.”

“Well, most masters want to get a return on their purchases. Is she educated?”

“Yes.”

“Then I would offer twelve silver pieces plus the cost of her education, plus a little extra to sweeten the deal. One folia and maybe about an extra ten leaves would do the trick.”

“Thank you. It has been insightful.” Tunio turned and entered his room and closed the door behind him. He opened the drawer and added the money pouches from Anatoli and Devin. He pulled out his money pouch and counted out into his hand three folia and ten silver leaves. He put them into a pocket in his trousers, then left the room, closing the door behind him. The clerk had gone. He walked to the end of the corridor and descended the stairs. He waved to the clerk as he left the Whole Hog.

Descending the stairs to the street, he ducked through the men and women moving through the early morning streets. He turned off the plaza and walked past the merchants selling vegetables and fruit. He rounded a corner and passed merchants selling trinkets and strode down the long road until he came to Irrawella’s shop. He watched her working in the shop. She was wearing her grey slave’s skirt, her hair slightly disorganised. He smiled and his heart started to beat a little faster.

She turned and another woman came into view. She was plump and wore an ill-fitting pink dress with frills and long blue gloves. The woman spoke. Irrawella nodded, put down her tools, and left the window.

Tunio smiled to himself. He braced himself, adjusted the sword on his belt, squared his shoulders and strode across the street. He pushed open the door and stepped into the store.

“We are not open,” a shrill voice called out.

Tunio looked around the room and saw the woman with her head inside of her dress ; Irrawella was trying to help her out of the dress.

“It could be a customer,” Irrawella said. She turned and smiled as she saw Tunio before her eyes widened.

“My lady, are you the owner of this shop?” Tunio called out.

“What are you doing?” Irrawella mouthed.

Tunio flashed Irrawella a smile. “It’s alright,” he mouthed back.

“I am the owner,” the shrill voice called out. “I am a little indisposed now. If you have business, can you come back another time?”

“I am sorry, my business is very important. You can continue what you were doing while I make my offer.”

“Slave, help me out of this dress,” the woman called again.

Irrawella rushed back to the woman and stepped behind her.

“What is your business?” the woman asked.

“I want to buy your slave,” Tunio said.

Irrawella looked around the woman, her mouth open.

The woman tugged on the dress. A tearing was heard, and the dress fell from her. She stood in a plain white shift, her plump body sagging under the thin fabric.

“Did you know of this?”

Irrawella snapped her mouth shut and shook her head.

“Name your price.”

“She is very valuable to me.” The woman looked over Tunio, taking in his dusty trousers, his elegant sword and belt. “I doubt you will be able to afford her. Two folia.”

“She can’t be that valuable to you? A slave at the market is only worth fifteen leaves. I will give you a folia for her.”

The woman walked towards Tunio. She stopped in front of him. “Why do you want her?”

Tunio returned the woman’s glare, smiled and then glanced at Irrawella, blushed and then dropped his eyes to his feet.

The woman smiled and then turned to Irrawella. “Well, well, well, it seems that you have gotten yourself an admirer … one and a half folia.”

Tunio’s head snapped up. “One.”

The woman turned her head to Tunio. “One and five. My final offer.”

“Done,” said Tunio, sticking out his hand.

“Where do you stay? I will have the papers sent to you.” The woman grasped his hand and pumped it.

“I am at the Whole Hog; my name is Tunio Rosethorn.” Tunio reached into his pocket and pulled out his coins. He counted out one folia and five leaves and placed them in the woman’s hand.

“You wouldn’t want to buy this business?” she asked. “The girl is an amazing dress maker.”

“I hadn’t thought about it,” admitted Tunio. “How much would you sell it for?”

“The business owns the building and everything in it. I would be happy to sell it to you for five hundred folia.”

Tunio folded his arms and looked around. He caught Irrawella’s eyes and she nodded at him. “I would need some time to gather that sort of funds.”

“It will take a day to get an attorney to you to sign the paperwork for the business. Would that be enough time?”

“I think it would be. Would I be allowed to take possession of the slave today?” Tunio blushed.

The woman smiled. “Let her dress me then she is all yours.”

Irrawella ran to the back room, brought out a new green gown, and helped the woman into it. The dress was knee-length and cut straight and had long sleeves; it hid the woman’s round features, giving her a gentler look.

“She is all yours,” the woman said and walked out the door. The door banged closed.

“I can’t believe that you just bought me,” Irrawella exclaimed, wrapping Tunio in a big hug. “Well, now I am yours. What do you want to do with me?”

“When the attorney comes around, I will sign the paperwork to take possession and then I will free you.”

Irrawella gasped and her hands flew to her mouth.

“I think if I gave this shop to you it will be a just payment for your help.”

“It will indeed. Thank you.” She hugged him. She went behind the counter and dropped her slave’s skirt and pulled out a bright blue sleeveless dress. Pulling it on over her head, she picked up her slave’s skirt. She escorted Tunio out the door and closed the door behind her.

“How shall I gather the money needed? I doubt that your old master will accept gems or gold bars.”

“We need some place we can trade the gems and bars into currency.”

“Also, we have to make sure that we get a good price.” Tunio extended his arm to Irrawella and she looped her arm through his.

“Do you have any more currency? We should get you some more clothes, so that if we do find the right merchant, people don’t suspect you stole it.”

“I have a little.” Tunio reached into the pocket of his trousers and pressed the remaining coins into her hand.

Irrawella squealed. “We shall make you look so handsome.” She led him through the market, winding through the sellers. She ignored them all. She stopped outside a small shop with a dark heavy door. She reached up and knocked on the door, fiddling with her skirt.

The door opened. A balding man in a neat suit and a monocle stood in the doorway.

“Can I help you?” he arched his eyebrows at Tunio.

“I would like to arrange for the creation of some clothes for my new master,” Irrawella preened.

“Just come into his wealth, did he?”

“The last heir to a very distant, rich old lady who just passed away.”

Irrawella extended her hand and showed the man the gold folia. The man took the coin and turned it in his hands, inspecting it, then returned it to Irrawella. “You had better come in.”

Irrawella smiled and led Tunio into the dark shop. The shop was filled with racks of clothes, shirts, and jackets on the left, and trousers and vests on the right. The man led them to the back where a small platform stood with two lanterns propped on either side.

“Stand there,” he instructed.

Tunio stood on the platform and Irrawella took a seat on a small chair. The man went to a desk. On the other side of the platform he pulled out a sheet of paper and placed it next to a quill and ink pot. He picked up a small coil of knotted rope.

“Please take off the sword belt,” he instructed.

Tunio took it off and handed it to Irrawella. “What is your name sir?”

“I am Gregory.” He stepped up to the platform and began to measure Tunio, counting the knots on the rope, then returning to the sheet of paper, and recording.

“Gregory, when I came into my new-found fortune”—he glanced at Irrawella who nodded and placed her hands in her lap, holding his sword, and smiled up at him—“it was not just coins,” Tunio completed.

“Hmmm,” Gregory muttered.

“I was wondering if you could recommend a good merchant that could convert it into coins.”

“Just how big is this fortune?”

“I am uncertain. It consists mostly of gems and gold bars.”

Irrawella’s eyes widened. She caught Tunio’s eyes and shook her head.

“What you need is a banker,” Gregory said, returning to his sheet of paper.

“A banker,” repeated Tunio.

“They can be found around the corner. Make sure you watch them like a hawk.”

“Thank you, Gregory.”

“I have a suit I can give you now. I can’t let you go back out of my shop wearing what you came in.” Gregory walked to the racks of clothes and collected a suit. “How many did you want?”

“How many would you recommend?”

“I think three sets would work for now, one from the collection, one really nice for special occasions, and a relaxing set.” He handed the black suit and white shirt to Tunio. Tunio kicked off his boots and dropped his trousers. He stepped into the suit trousers, pulled on the shirt, and then slipped on the jacket. Tunio stepped back into his boots, and Irrawella handed back the sword and belt which he buckled on.

“I will also recommend seeing a good cobbler and getting some better shoes.”

“How much do I owe you?”

“Five silver leaves, when I deliver the third suit to you.”

Tunio’s eyes widened.

“A fine price. Thank you,” Irrawella said. She took Tunio’s arm and led him out of the store.

“Where shall I deliver the suits?”

“Tunio, at the Whole Hog,” Irrawella said quickly.

Gregory nodded and then closed the door.

Irrawella led Tunio away from the door. “I know it’s expensive, but, I know of the bankers, and if they think you don’t belong, they will rob you blind.”

“Tunio?” A woman stopped in front of them. She wore a long red dress with a deep décolletage. Her blonde hair was tied in a small bun behind her head showing off her green eyes. “I didn’t recognise you.”

“Doris, it’s good to see you. May I present my good friend, Irrawella.”

Doris stuck out her pale hand and Irrawella shook it. “I thought you would be still carrying around that sword, considering how important it is?”

“It is here,” Tunio assured her, patting the handle of his transformed father’s sword.

“How is that possible?”

Tunio drew the sword and showed Doris the words etched into the blade. Doris exclaimed over the craftmanship.

“I found the belt and it transformed the sword.”

“Great.” She handed the sword back to Tunio. “I will check with my sources and see if my theory is true or not. Don’t find any more items.”

“Sure, I hope it’s not true.” Tunio sheathed the sword.

“I agree, I had better get going.” Doris hurried off.

“Was that the friend?” Irrawella asked.

“It was.”