Kalie Rana

The hall was as audacious as the rest of Lord Marcrofts accommodations, so of course the grand hall was barren of any sort of art except for, again, a large fresco that once again, depicted some combination of naval and military strength. The only interesting addition was the notable inclusion of at the very least one nature majin amongst the soldiers. Or else, the trees of the Lacan Protectorate itself had decided to come alive for the scene.

“Admiral! I’m surprised to see you again so soon,” I said, approaching his seat quickly.

Seeing me, the admiral rose from his chair, meeting me a step away from the table.

“I heard that there was some sort of trouble with your carriage, so I decided to pay an old friend a visit,” he said, as his cold dark eyes looked around the room, before leaning close. “Has everything been alright?”

“It has, yes.”

“Good. Good.” Hark turned away from me to survey the room, finally finding Lux who had placed himself in the back of the hall, with Maria. Seeing his ex-secretary, the Admiral nodded.

Waiting for the rest of the guests to flow into the room, the two of us stood and made small talk.

“For an impromptu feast, there sure are a lot of guests, aren’t there?” I asked.

“You would be correct. It seems that Lord Marcroft sent out invitations to every one of his friends upon hearing your schedule. I really must apologize, because I cannot help but feel as if this is my fault in a way. If word hadn’t made it to Marcroft’s ears who was arriving on the Tamer then you probably would’ve been able to make it back to Corvus unassaulted.”

“Hark,” I said, side-eyeing the man, “there’s no way that anyone could have been fooled by the show that your king and you put on when it came to gathering me. Did you think that anyone with a half a mind would be fooled had you told them that the southern armada was coming to little back-water Cerith just for a visit? Of course Marcroft would assume that there was someone important coming back with you, regardless of what lies were told. I’m sure he had the feast planned the moment your fleet left.”

“That… that’s probably true.”

“Would it really not have been enough just to send yourself and the Tamer? I doubt any pirates or privateers would stand a chance versus your leadership.”

“It was no vessel that we were worried about, my lady. The leviathan was our cause for concern. Had—” But before Hark could finish his thought, a pair of horns blasted through the hall, heralding the arrival of Lord Marcroft.

In a whirlwind of events, Marcroft ushered me over to the head table, and in a fit of unusual quick thinking, I managed to grab hold of Hark, bringing him with me. Sadly, by the time that our chairs were decided, I ended up alone regardless. To my right, sat Lord Marcroft stinking sweetly of rotten fruit. To my left, between Hark and I, was an elderly man weighed down by at least ten pounds of golden jewelry and finery who smelt like death.

Following the normal introductions and thanks giving to Leona, Marcroft commanded dinner to be served. I was thankful that the meal actually managed to smell quite appetizing, but that may have been just because it was better than the gold plated geezer next to me. As everyone began to dig into the mystery meat and vegetables, the man next to me decided to break the uncomfortable silence that I had pointedly set up.

“Your highness! How have you found Lacan?” His words slurred out of his mouth accompanied by some sort of mashed red vegetable I couldn’t place and slivers of mystery meat.

“Well, I didn’t need to look very hard, the boat brought me right to shore.” To my surprise—as it was one of the first times a joke of mine landed—the geezer burst forth with laughter. I was just thankful that he was facing forward when he did so, missing me entirely.

“Oh you are so quick! Of course, I mean the land my dear, how do you like it so far? I do hope you don’t judge our beautiful country by the first impression that old harbor gives off. I’ve been telling good Lord Marcroft there that it was time to replace the old rickety shacks, especially after the storms came to an end last season.” The decision on what I said next occurred between careful bites. On one hand, I wanted to rail against the man and by extension the entire situation I was beginning to understand, while on the other, I wanted to at the very least heed Lux’s warning. In the end I decided to go a different way entirely. Rather than just play defense, I decided to go on the attack.

“Well, sir—actually! I’ve just realized that while you seem to know me, I don’t think I’ve gotten your name.” Marcroft shifted uncomfortably beside me. It was obvious that while he was choosing to focus on his wife beside him and the food in front of him, he was very interested in the conversation that was about to happen in ear shot. I had a feeling that whoever the man that managed to push Hark out of the way, was not some random noble. This was all orchestrated, just as Lux predicted.

“Oh of course my lady! This one is called Theodore Gek, I am nothing more than a humble trader. Truly, I’m just an old man who may talk your ear off if you allow me to.”

“Well, Sir Gek, I do think that it was Leona that saw to our meeting today!” I could practically feel Marcroft getting giddy beside me, but, playing the hapless princess, I leaned even further away from him.

“Truly? I agree with you, my lady, but what do you mean?”

“While I’m sure you know my business here on the mainland, with the Lord White Raven, I admit that I did have an ulterior motive as well.”

“Oh goodness! I hope it isn’t anything so sinister! But I doubt that one such as yourself could ever do anything uncouth. But please, share with me your motive.”

“Sir Gek, could I ask you a great favor. One that would benefit both you and my wonderful kingdom of Cerith? If you would, I… I think I would be forever indebted to you!” Hearing this, both Gek and Marcroft turned completely in their seats. Marcroft of course, quickly pretending to do something else as Gek took my bait completely.

“Of course your highness! I would be more than happy to help you and your kingdom in any way you see fit. But I ask what can I, do for you?”

Now, this is going to be a little tricky. Too much, and they’ll think we’re pushovers, too little and they’ll rack up the charges five-fold.

“Well… if I’m being honest… Cerith has been suffering from a lack of the very thing that you can provide. Trade.”

“Are you asking for aid my dear? Because, well, I think Lord Marcroft would be much better suited to help you with that sort of thing.” Again, hearing this, Marcroft perked up, but before he could intrude, I chimed in again.

“No sir, nothing of that sort. We’re a strong nation, and my father would never allow for something like that.”

“I see, I see. Well, your highness, I would be happy to send a vessel or two off into the sea of thorns at your request, but as I’m sure you’re aware, the trip is a perilous one. Trade with your kingdom is not one that has ever been overly lucrative, on account of the ships that never return, so I’m sure you can see where the hesitation of other merchants comes from.”

“I do see that Sir. Rather, I was hoping that you and I could come to a deal. I think that I have a wonderful new business venture that will see to make you rich beyond your wildest imaginings! Leona herself has blessed the Shattered Isles with a material so rare that I’m certain that if you send vessels out to gather it, that whatever you bring back will be transformed as if by majin into gold upon your arrival back on the mainland.”

“Truly?” This claim, loud enough to be heard by any listening, was enough to draw in not only both Gek, and Marcroft, but also Hark’s attention as well. “What is this wonderful material?”

“I can only tell you if you promise to send vessels as soon as you can. This is all that I can do for my people, will you help me?”

“Of course my lady! Of course! A vessel full of my finest wares will leave before you even arrive in Corvus. Now please, tell me, what is this material?”

“There are many names for it in the ancient texts of Cerith. In fact, up until recently, it has been something of a royal secret known only to the Great Petrel and the King himself. But, I feel that after our conversation, I can share it with you.”

“Yes! Yes my lady! Of course you can!”

“Well, since you are an honorable man Lord Gek, I will tell you.”

***

“What in the world is polished basalt? And why is it that I have a feeling you’re pulling some sort of trick on that old fool? I saw your smirk, when you told him your great secret.” With a few goblets of wine in him Hark was hardly the hardened man that he presented himself to be. At least around me. After the feast, Hark had done me the favor of walking with me back to the guest apartments. Lux, who had watched me like a dog on a chain throughout the dinner, was nowhere to be found as Hark and I had taken our exit. I half expected, half hoped, that he would be there to walk me back. Although, Maria’s disappearance told me that there may have been a slightly more pressing issue that she would’ve needed him for. It had taken until we were past the men guarding the front entrance to the guest halls, that Hark asked me about my “wonderous secret”.

“Well, since you already know the name,” I said, before leaning close, “and since I know I can trust you. I’ll tell you my secret.” What followed was an explanation for my grand plan as it played out. It was easy to see that Gek and Marcroft had aimed to take advantage of the young foregin princess of a far off island nation, it made it quite easy for me to take advantage of them.

Over my second childhood on Cerith, I had a great deal of learning to make sure that I was aware of all the major and minor differences between this world and my own as I could. Thankfully, Father was easy to convince when it came to giving me a tutor, however, that mainly got me an education of the history of politics and the most rudimentary understanding of sciences. It did not however go deep into geology which told me that my surface level understanding of rocks was a bit better than the average layman’s of this world. When I found out that the basalt that Cerith was made out of was actually relatively rare—according to Maria—my plan today came together easily.

“You’re serious? If you grind and polish a stone, it’ll turn into a jewel?” Hark asked, his expression and tone less harsh than normal on account of the many goblets of wine he drank over the course of the feast.

“Well, almost. It’ll look very nice and be shiny. I’m sure it’ll be a hit if they market it right.”

“But what’s the process of it? I’ve seen the palace of Cerith, you’re telling me that it’ll look like that if done right?”

“Something like that. The palace was majin made, so maybe not that nice. But nice enough.”

“Leona above. Shiny rocks, sold as jewelry. I knew you were smart, but that’s quite genius,” Hark said, as he walked me to my door, “but what happens when your wondrous secret turns out to be nothing but rocks? I know these men, they’re not the type to avoid levying a complaint if you’ve cheated them.”

“What of it? I don’t think that I’m planning on being presented to Lord Marcroft, and I doubt that the White Raven would have any issue with me playing the old man Gek or Marcroft for fools. Anyway, the two of them were trying to take advantage of a poor, helpless, naive princess. If they complain, I’ll just claim ignorance, and Cerith will have at least a few ship loads of goods between now and then. By then, I’ll be in Corvus and hopefully that’ll give me a chance to actually set up some proper trade relations. You’re not interested in coming to work for me as a security director are you? It’s quite dangerous to travel the Sea of thorns, didn’t you know.”

“I doubt that I’ll need to work for you directly. Once you’re the queen, all you need to do is ask, and I’m sure the Alliance’s navy will be at your beck and call.”

God, I hope you’re wrong.

“Well, we shall see. If not, just know that I’m in the market for a man of tremendous leadership, and you’re my first choice.”

“Thank you, Kalie, you have my word, that I will be there, on the chance that you need me.”

I waved him off as he returned to the room given to him by Marcroft. Had I known Hark would’ve been here I would’ve made sure that he was nearby.

And when I was awoken that night by the sound of someone quietly singing I desperately wanted him to be there. But he wasn’t.