“Who is wealthy?” One who is content with his lot.

“Who is wise?” One who learns from every experience.

“Who is strong?” One who overcomes his desires.

- Andanian Chronicles

“High Prince, will you be travelling by carriage or on horseback for today?” the guards smiled and bowed respectfully as Aryan approached the palace gates.

“A carriage please, Captain Fafnir. I plan to escort Princess Laura to the central market.” Aryan replied politely.

“We will prepare the best carriage, High Prince!” the veteran soldier saluted smartly. Then he winked knowingly even as he hurried off towards the stables. Apparently, the rumors of the morning’s rowdy royal tryst had already spread like wildfire, from among the palace’s servants to even the guards stationed at the outer walls. And the significant damage to his room along with the bandages Laura requested had only served as additional fuel for the spreading gossip.

Laura snickered as she whispered in his ear, “The maids are still arguing about who’s the big spoon in our relationship. Meanwhile the cooks just placed an extra-large order of fresh bay oysters and red chili peppers. And the palace guards are jostling for the night and morning shifts near our room.”

“Laura! Eavesdropping is rude, and how are you even accomplishing that?” the prince protested feebly as a faint blush crept up beneath his tanned cheeks.

“Just a bunch of talismans? I stuck them all over the palace grounds before you woke up this morning. You have to hear this! Someone is trying to figure out your favorite position.” Laura tittered as she pressed a talisman next to his ear.

“That’s Captain Fafnir!” the prince flushed a deeper shade of red. “But how did he get it right?” he groaned with disbelief. Fortunately, the requested carriage arrived promptly and saved Aryan from further embarrassment.

…

“What’s this? I have to try that too!” Laura dashed nimbly through the crowd from stall to stall as Aryan struggled at her tail. The detachment of guards tasked with escorting them was already hopelessly lost in the previous street.

“How are you eating all that? And didn’t you just have double portions for lunch?” Aryan muttered incredulously as he paid for the twelfth sweet pastry.

“I’m a growing girl, and I have an extra mouth to feed now.” Laura countered playfully as she wolfed down yet another snack. Then she gaped in amazement as she paused before a grand three story complex, “You have an entire building just for zithers? I have to see this!” She blathered excitedly and dashed through the colorfully decorated entrance. “I’m must be heaven,” the princess sighed as she gestured eagerly for the owner.

The richly dressed merchant gasped in surprise as he spotted Aryan, and he bowed deeply before the royal pair. “Greetings High Prince, Your Ladyship. How may I be of service?”

“I need a Zither with a firmiana simplex soundboard from the northern plains. And at least sixteen strings of magically reinforced steel, but twenty-one would be perfect. The design isn’t important.” Laura demanded.

The merchant smiled as he led them to the second floor of the complex, “All these Zithers here will fit your requirements.” He quickly noticed Laura’s overwhelmed expression and returned with an elegantly decorated twenty-one stringed Zither, “May I suggest this one? This was the favorite instrument of a Talented enchantress, magically inlaid with the very finest ivory and mithril linings.”

“I’ll take it!” Laura brightened as she cradled the finely decorated treasure in her hands and cooed happily as she ran her fingers gently over the humming strings.

The merchant smiled and bowed deeply, “Shall I have it wrapped and delivered to the palace? That will be two hundred thousand denarii, High Prince.”

“TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND!?” Aryan’s mouth gaped open in shock, “You could buy a mansion near the city’s center with that kind of money!”

Laura shrugged, “Put it on my tab. I’m sure I’ll be able to raise enough if I sell my services or something. Besides, I could always use the ring to magic up some valuable stuff. Calcutta is a large wealthy city, if it’s anything like Andania, earning some gold will be a cinch. I even saw a sign just now, ‘Young beautiful girls and boys wanted. Easy work. Instant payment!’, do you think we would qualify?” She wondered aloud before the shocked merchant.

“Not funny Laura,” Aryan frowned. “Stop joking around…”

“I’m super serious!” Laura pouted as she pulled out a talisman and activated it, “Here, I’ll show you!” The world seemed blur and bend at the edges as they hurtled from the shop’s second floor balcony and through the air. Then they landed before a large gaudily decorated complex with a loud bang that startled the surrounding pedestrians, “See? It says right there on the sign… ‘Easy work. Instant payment!’” Laura declared loudly before the gawking onlookers. “I wonder how much they will pay for the Crown Princess of Andania?”

The bouncers stationed outside ogled with disbelief before falling to their knees, “High Prince Aryan! How may we serve you and your… distinguished guest?” They requested uncertainly.

“Aryan! They like us. Does this mean that we’re hired?” Laura giggled girlishly.

Aryan growled as he glanced furiously at the amused princess, “This is a brothel!” he yelled.

The princess frowned in bafflement, “What’s a brothel? We don’t have that in Andania. Isn’t this just some entertainment complex for your citizens? I might not look like it, but I’m pretty good at strumming the zither and playing the flute.” The princess winked slyly at Aryan, “Or do you really want to monopolize all my talents for yourself?”

“This is where they… do the stuff we were doing this morning!” Aryan hissed in her ear as the gawking crowd began growing in size around them.

“What, you even have a national baby making facility!? Why would anyone pay to do that when it’s free? Do they have nicer beds or fancier rooms or something?” Laura mused curiously.

“…” Aryan muttered darkly. To the relief of the bouncers, he clamped his hand on the thoughtful princess and began dragging her away from the seedy complex.

“Hey Aryan! Why don’t we try out one of their special rooms? Maybe they can give us some pointers!” Laura shouted excitedly.

“No!” Aryan growled, “I’m not ever going into one of those places!” Then the prince tightened his grip on the inquisitive girl and redoubled his pace.

…

“Boo… boring. I guess it’s back to filling crystals after all.” Laura sighed as they finally arrived at a large nondescript warehouse at the far edge of the square.

‘Ali’s Andanian Supplies.’ The unassuming words were painted on an aged signboard which creaked softly in the evening breeze.

“Laura…” the prince warned, “this had better not be another of your harebrained get rich quick schemes…”

The princess sighed, “I’m sure that even you will be satisfied with this,” she replied as she strode into the deserted building. “Where is everyone? Why is nobody minding the store? Hello!” She shouted.

A single merchant finally scurried to reception, and his eyes widened with surprise as he recognized the prince. “High Prince,” he bowed deeply, “I am honored by your presence, but I must offer you my humble apologies as we are unable to resupply you. Magical supplies from Andania have been scarcer than the usual…”

Laura sighed as she slapped a single glowing gem on the table before the bowing man, “How much for this?” she demanded impatiently.

The merchant’s eyes widened, “An unused mana gem!” he exclaimed as he hurried to weigh the glowing crystal. “It’s full! Two hundred… no three hundred denarii,” he stammered.

“Good. Now show me your biggest empty crystals and I will fill them all.” Laura directed impatiently.

“You are the Princess of Andania!” the merchant gasped with belated recognition.

“Yes. And he’s the Prince of Vaishya.” Laura’s voice was laced with sarcasm, “Now do you want your crystals filled?”

The merchant trembled suddenly as he stared fearfully at the lone princess standing before him, “Are you the older or the younger princess?” he inquired suspiciously.

Laura smirked haughtily, “You’re in luck. I’m the safer one that won’t accidently blow up your warehouse along with half the city, if you actually show me those crystals this instant!”

The merchant let out a discreet sigh of relief, then he escorted them hurriedly to a spacious underground shelter. The two-storied basement was reinforced with hardened steel and designed to withstand an explosion from within. Laura nodded with approval as she glanced at the four large empty crystals located at each corner. “Better. How much?” she inquired coolly as she sized up the gems that were each five times her height.

“Seventy-five thousand denarii each… Three hundred thousand for all four.” The merchant’s eyes brightened greedily as he answered her.

The princess nodded slowly, “I’ll fill three of these. That will be enough denarii for me. Give me two hours.” The merchant beamed and nodded in agreement before scurrying out of the basement to gather the required payment. Laura turned to Aryan, “You might want to wait outside, I’m going to have to go all out, so it might get rather uncomfortable,” she warned.

Aryan shrugged, “I’ll have to experience your full strength sooner or later if we are going to fight Xerxes together. This is a good time as any.”

Laura smiled faintly as she led Aryan to the room’s center, “This is the first time I’m doing this with anyone else besides my sister,” she sighed nostalgically, “will you please hold me till it’s all over?” She requested as she rested her cheek gently against his chest.

The prince nodded silently in agreement as he braced the slight girl in his arms. Laura took a deep breath and her eyes filled with silent determination, “Here goes,” she warned. Suddenly, the very air in the chamber seemed to still and heat up around them, then the atmosphere densified and the soft glow of liquifying mana materialized from the princess and poured into the waiting crystals. The princess trembled from the sudden increase in pressure, but Aryan immediately held her up before she stumbled.

“Are you okay?” Aryan’s eyes were filled with concern.

“I’m fine. I’m just not used to actually filling up the crystals myself, my sister usually does that while I…” Laura gasped suddenly as she gazed at the prince. “You are unaffected!?” she exclaimed with some surprise.

Aryan frowned, “Affected by what? I see the mana and feel a slight increase in temperature…”

Laura straightened and clenched her fists. Immediately, the glow of mana increased noticeably and the air trembled from the incredible pressure that built up within the enclosed space. “How about now?” she questioned as she panted softly from the strain.

“It’s gotten a little warmer and brighter. You look so radiant Laura, just like a little moon fairy.” Aryan smiled gently as he brushed his hand admiringly through her glowing rose tinted hair.

“The ring, that must be it,” Laura murmured to herself as the light dimmed. “You don’t know how lucky you are Aryan,” she muttered gloomily, “only the seven most powerful mages in Andania have ever seen me in that state and lived to tell about it. To remain utterly unaffected…”

“And you held them all like this?” Aryan teased as he caressed her warm glowing body.

“What? No!” The room was rocked suddenly as Laura blushed, “This is a really delicate procedure. Please let me focus.” She stammered with embarrassment.

“Mmm…” Aryan beamed contentedly as he held her securely in his arms and pressed his nose against her glowing rose scented hair, “I could do this forever.”

…

The merchant was waiting anxiously some distance from the warehouse when they finally emerged at dusk, “Honored princess. The promised payment.” He bowed deeply as he gestured at the two laden wagons behind him.

“In silver coins?” Laura groaned as she eyed the stacks of chests apprehensively, “Deliver two hundred thousand to the Zither store. You can deposit the rest in Prince Aryan’s account.” She instructed absently before walking away from the genuflecting man.

“You are just going to give me more than twenty thousand denarii!?” Aryan whispered with surprise as they returned to the street.

Laura shrugged, “It’s just some metal, silly. Why would I ever want to lug a bunch of those heavy dirty coins around with me?” Her stomach growled loudly, “But I do expect that you’ll get me some more of those amazing pastries though!” she drooled eagerly as she led him back towards the central square.

Aryan shook his head in disbelief, “Are you sure you really don’t want anything else?”

Laura bit her lip thoughtfully, “I already have everything I need and the things I really want can’t be bought with all the silver in the world…” she sighed. “But…” she smiled slyly and fluttered her luscious eyelashes, “Maybe… just maybe, we could try out that secret special, special room in that mysterious brothel place tonight? I’m so super curious!”

And the third prince of Vaishya groaned.

…

In the dimly lit basement of the Andanian warehouse, a pair of solitary eyes widened with fear as they examined the filled crystals. Then they slinked away unnoticed into the shadows.