<strong>Kochaku Ryuken</strong><br/><br/>“Oh, many things,” Old Man Gold said. “There is trouble upon the road from Gem – desert bandits, plundering in the name of some six-armed god – and so the price of jewelry rises. In the Lap, the harvest was kind, and in the Middle Lands as well; the price of rice and meat has fallen. One would expect a greater level of trade, but the new taxes have ensured the price remains the same as it was the year before. Naval commerce is slow, though, because-”<br/><br/>“The Legion has murdered a hundred innocents in the last month, and will murder a hundred more in the month to come,” the woman interrupted, her dark eyes fierce with passion. “Men, women, children – the tribute we pay – the tribute our families paid, for centuries – does nothing to sate the greed of this general.”<br/><br/>“Merchant Pearl!” the elder exclaimed, using that amalgamation of title and name that Tengese used solely for scolding lessers. “Hold your tongue! The Prince of the Earth does not care to hear his equals slandered!”<br/><br/>“I would hope he cares to hear the truth,” Pearl retorted. “Who would bring her ship into harbor, when a dozen like it rot beneath the docks, their crews food for sharks and worse things, because a Legion officer did not like the look of their captains? Our trade goes to Port Rawar, and points north, except for those who think they can profit by selling to the Legion's soldiers alone. Commerce is a fool's game now; our honored guest would be better off taking his jade to Paragon.”<br/><br/>“I beg pardon for her insolence, Your Radiance,” Old Man Gold mutters, his unruly white eyebrows drawn low over his eyes. “If it pleases you, I will have her leave immediately. An-Teng knows it owes all to the Princes of the Earth.”<br/><br/><br/><strong>Nellens Daga</strong><br/><br/>“One Empire,” Tepin Arisu agreed amicably. “And one Empress – but not the same as before. When Mnemon takes the throne, Magistrate, will it be her law you enforce then? The General will rise alongside her, you can be sure of that, and House Sesus too. All that we do will gain the incontrovertible seal of Imperial approval.” Her wine glass clinked on the table, and then her hand shot across the distance between them, her jade-clad fingers trapping his chin.<br/><br/>Her eyes gleamed like coals, commanding attention; the room seemed to heat suddenly, as though a fire had been lit around them. Smoke filled the air, then tightened, like an invisible, omnipresent net – confining, restraining, choking – the cigar had been a ruse, the scent of burning leaves disguising the subtle signs of a Fire Aspect calling on her powers until now, until Tepin Arisu brought her supernal charisma swinging down like a hammer.<br/><br/>“You're a handsome one, Nellens, even<em>if</em>your blood is thinner than water. If I were Empress, you'd be sharing a stage with that Cynis harlot that dances here,” she purred. “But good looks won't save you the way good behavior could. Don't make trouble.”