Why is she giggling? Orn asked himself, as he struggled to understand when he said that she found funny. Orn took a half step back. And WHY does she keep getting closer?

Kalay, as she had introduced herself managed a near nonstop flow of one sided conversation from the moment she introduced herself. The only times she stopped was when she asked a question that he had to answer or appear rude. That alone would not have bothered him, but she giggled as if everything he said was hilarious. It was creepy.

Nothing though was as bad as her need to slowly invade his personal space. Orn was doing his best to keep her at arm’s length, but she kept slowly encroaching into the little space he was trying to preserve.

She did it again! Orn thought and took a half step back only to feel the branches of the bushes, brush against his back. He swore internally as he saw her eyes light up, and she covered her face with her fan.

The sound of someone clearing their throat caused Kalay’s expression to immediately darken.

Orn risked a glance over Kalay’s shoulder to see Clay’s friend Lissa in a bright yellow dress. He suddenly felt a sense of relief wash over him. He stared at her, his eyes pleading.

“Ms. Redstone,” Lissa said pleasantly. “I see you have met my acquaintance Mr. Blackthorn.”

“Yes,” Kalay replied in her usual high pitched, cheerful tone, but over her fan she shot Lissa a quick glare. “We were having such a wonderful conversation.”

“I have no doubt,” Lissa said with a smile that never reached her eyes, before gesturing in Orn’s direction with her own closed fan. “However, I must have a word with Mr. Blackthorn.” She paused for a moment before adding, “in private, if you would be so kind. It is a private business mater.”

“Turide Trading has no right,” Kalay began her voice dropping a couple octaves to a more normal pitch in her irritation. No longer feeling the need to be polite, or hide her feelings she let her fan fall from her face and poked Lissa in the chest with the now closed fan.

“That is true,” Lissa said beaming. Then gently tapped Kalay on the tip of the nose with her own closed fan. “But this business matter is not from my father. It is from my grandfather.”

Kalay took a deep breath apparently prepared to lay into Lissa, only for the words to die on her lips before she began. Instead her eyes grew large and she harrumphed and stormed off.

Orn looked at the retreating form of Kalay, before turning his attention to Lissa. “Thank you,” he whispered.

“I am sorry I did not catch that,” she quickly covered her face with her fan. “I am sure that you would not be so rude as to imply that you found Ms. Redstone’s company to be unpleasant.”

Orn flinched and tried to think of a response.

“Clay was right. You really are…,” she trailed off.

“I am what?” Orn asked but his question was waived off.

Instead she cleared her throat, moving to stand beside him. “Never mind. The import thing is I am not required to be polite, by my instructors. So I can freely say anything. For example, I could say Kalay is obnoxious and far to old to attend such events. Or that despite her pathetic attempts to appear younger she is an old hag under all that makeup.”

Orn let out the breath he was holding, and heard Lissa chuckle. “So you know about that?”

“Everyone knows about it,” Lissa replied laughing. “Apparently the Queen imported the tradition from Elega, where nobles and merchant paths are not viewed as being so far apart. I heard the idea was to allow the paths to interact. Nobles could get the monetary support of merchant houses, and merchant houses could get a connection that would protect them when passing through the lands of other nobles. But the academy only sends the nobles from houses with the weakest influence. They have the fewest resources so there is little benefit for relations based on trade. Instead it is usually just an attempt of the merchant houses to marry into a noble family. Since the academy students have to be polite, it is the best chance many will have to make the connection. Not all of them are as bad at it as Kalay is though.”

Orn nodded along, noticing a few of the academy students seeming to have a relaxed conversation with the merchant girls. The vast majority thought where in the position Orn was in only a few moments ago.

“Why though,” Orn asked glancing at Lissa. “You just said they have the least influence.”

“True,” Lissa nodded slowly. “But a connection to noble house, even a weak or failing one, can give a merchant certain benefits. Having a connection to a noble house, can help speed passing through customs and gates, as you have been vouched for. Little things like that matter.”

“Is that why you are here?” Orn asked noticing the boy who had sat beside him having a pleasant conversation with a young woman in a green dress. The upset boy in contrast was backed into a corner by a group of girls, while his friend was surrounded up by another group.

“No,” Lissa said shaking her head. “Our business is doing fine, and we do not need to make connections that way. I am not here by choice either to be honest. But enough about the depressing meat market. What work do you have lined up for the summer?”

“What do you mean?” he asked turning his attention fully to her.

“All knight students have to have a job over the break, unless they need to catch up on their classwork,” she shook her head. “I assume that means you did not know. I should not be suprised. I heard from Clay that he got in a lot of trouble for helping you get work over the holiday. I imagine Tack wants to work you to the bone, during the break to make up for it.”

“So I need to find work for the break? That should not be to hard,” Orn said considering how easily his roommates found offers for the break.

“Oh,” Lissa’s eyebrow rose. “You do not have a job already?”

“Not yet, but…” Orn started, but the pitting look Lissa gave him, killed his hopes. “I will not be able to do that will I?”

“No,” she replied flatly. “All the tradesmen make their offers during the holiday. That said, I doubt any would want to have the son of a count in their shop. So it is probably for the best that you did not try. Your only hope would be a job with the merchant guild, but I heard that is not an option for you.”

He groaned internally, as he realized he had lost his only way out of working for Tack all break. The deal was to not take any more of their jobs until next year.

“Do not look so depressed,” Lissa said bringing him back to the present. “I was not lying when I said I wanted to talk about business. I actually have a job that you may be interested in...”