by NAK Baldron
"Salt and Gold," a voice cried out from the ocean below the deck rails.
"Fish and Rain," Capt. Kaito called back from atop the quarterdeck.
Ren rushed forward to the rails to see who greeted them. A small boat with four men, cloaked in royal blue robes, floated near the port side of the ship.
Tomoko stepped beside Ren and called, "Heads up."
A rope ladder dropped from its curled-up, stored position alongside the hull and two of the men climbed aboard the ship with an air of owning it.
"Imperial Customs," Tomoko whispered. "Watch your tongue."
Ren gave him a curt nod. He had zero intention of speaking.
One man made his way to the hold while the other climbed the stairs on the starboard side to the quarterdeck to meet with Capt. Kaito. Tomoko gestured for Ren to follow. Ren kept back a few paces.
"Where are you sailing from?" The customs officer asked.
"Pearl Nation," Capt. Kaito said. "Short trip there and back."
"Papers?"
The captain pulled a set of papers from a pocket inside his linen vest and offered them up for inspection.
"Says here you took on a passenger?"
"Aye," Capt. Kaito pointed to Ren. "There he is."
Ren felt like a fool standing behind Tomoko with his trunk in tow.
"What brings you to the Sapphire Nation?" The Customs Officer asked.
"I'm here for the examination."
The man's eyes widened at Ren's response. He walked to Ren and looked him over closely. Unlike Capt. Kaito this man was foot taller than Ren and paper thin. If not for the robes, Ren thought a strong breeze might blow him away.
"Peral Nation hasn't attended an examination in several years. You must be a national hero."
"No, sir," Ren said before he could think better of it.
"Oh?" The man's eyes narrowed as if he knew of Ren's troubles. "Why not?"
Seeing no way out of it, Ren continued. "Everyone back home has turned away from magic. They're all concerned with science and technology. My mentor saw to it that I come for the test because no one else cares. If I pass, I'll be the first in over 300 years."
"If . . ." The man agreed and turned back to Capt. Kaito. "Your papers are in order. You're cleared to dock at East Dock 15."
"Thank you, sir." The captain bowed his head as he reclaimed his ship's papers.
"Sueun guide your course."
"And yours," Capt. Kaito said and both he and Tomoko bowed to the customs officer as he left.
The second customs officer waited on deck as the first climbed back down the stairs. "All clear."
"Excellent, they're clear to dock."
With the paperwork covered, both men climbed back down the rope ladder and four sailors used the attached rope lines to pull it back up against the bow. While the other men hurried about to get the ship prepared to dock. Down in the hold, a team of men rowed through the gun ports, where cannons could be rolled out if they encountered pirates. They moved at a gruelingly slow pace as they made their way to the east side of the island for docking.
* * *
ONCE DOCKED, REN RUSHED TO DISEMBARK, but Tomoko pulled him aside before he could.
"I wish you all the luck and hope you pass the examination," Tomoko said.
"Thank you," Ren said. "I hope you get your ship soon."
Tomoko smiled, "When the time is right. Captain Kaito would be lost without me."
"Would I now?" The captain leaned over the rail on the quarterdeck to look down on them.
Tomoko straightened his stance and drew his shoulders back, "Aye, sir."
Capt. Kaito unleashed one of his deep laughs, and the tension melted away. "Perhaps. Is the boy ready?"
"Yes, sir," Ren called up to him.
"Did you warn him?"
"Not yet," Tomoko said. "You've never been to the Sapphire Nation?"
It took Ren a moment to realize it was a question. "No. I've never left home."
"Our people are not like your people," Tomoko spoke in a voice used to explain obvious things to children. "We're a nation of caste and honor. As I understand it, the Pearl Nation ignores birth rank. But everyone here is subordinate to someone else from the day they're born. Keep this in mind when dealing with the merchants and traders."
"What's the difference?" Ren thought the terms meant the same thing.
"Merchants own shops and rank higher than traders, much like us. We trade between islands and merchants. But, the most important thing to know is our cities are full of thieves and beggars. They make up the fourth and fifth castes. Don't trade with them and avoid the areas of the city they own."
"Okay." Ren agreed but didn't understand what Tomoko meant. Obviously, he'd avoid thieves, but beggars? Either way, he intended to mind his own business, pass the examination, and join the Amethyst Nation.
"Perhaps our paths will cross again."
"I hope so." Ren offered his hand and Tomoko clasped his forearm and gave it a strong squeeze.
"Sueun guide your course."
Ren didn't know how to respond so he tilted his head in acknowledgment, which seemed to be correct because Tomoko smiled to him one last time before letting go of his arm and returning to his work unloading the ship.
Ren was halfway down the ramp when Capt. Kaito grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. "Where do you think you're going?"
"To find out where the examination is happening?"
"Without saying goodbye?" Capt. Kaito chuckled his usual laugh, obviously finding his own jokes funny. "I like you, boy. You've got focus and salt. If half my men had your daring, I'd own the ocean."
Ren smiled and offered his hand. "Thank you, Captain Kaito, for getting me to the Sapphire Nation in one piece."
The captain shook Ren's arm in the same manner Tomoko had. "If you need passage back home, ask for me at any dock and they'll be able to tell you when I'm expected back. I make the run down to Pearl Nation every other trip. I'd be glad to have you aboard. I hope it's not needed though. You'll pass that examination."
"Me too," Ren said more to himself than to the captain.
"Take care," Capt. Kaito said. "And if you need a room for the night, don't stay in a dockside inn. Try for the center of the city, near the nobles' quarter."
"Thank you," Ren said. Then thinking of it added, "And may the winds be true."
Capt. Kaito let out a loud laugh and waved him off as he walked back on deck to watch over his men hoisting crates out of his hold.
Ren found a city watchman at the end of the docks and asked, "Where is the Amethyst Nation examination being held?"
"At the Royal Palace of course." The watchman looked Ren over like he was a simpleton and added, "But it's not for nine days."
Ren tried to ask where the palace was, but the man shooed him off.
Heeding Capt. Kaito's advice, Ren passed up the dockside inns in search of a place to wait out nine long days.
CHAPTER SIX
AS REN MADE HIS WAY north away from the docks and into the heart of Shinzo, the streets sloped up towards the single hilltop which lay at the center of the island. The further he got from the shoreline the shorter the buildings became, and soon they were all single or two-story buildings. In the distance—as far as the eye could see—stood a wall that towered over the other buildings and stretched from the northwest of the island down to the center and back up to northeast, casting a long shadow.
Ren tried to ask for directions to the Noble's Quarter, but none of the men passing him would stop to answer. A few of the girls his own age kept their eyes glued to him as they passed and giggled to each other. Ren would have cared any other time, but his anxiety over finding a room kept his mind distracted.
Desperate, he broke Tomoko's advice and approached a merchant, confident he'd know and help. His stall was setup on a corner outside the entryway of a private home. The man wore a light-weight green tunic and stared at Ren before he crossed the street.
The colorful stones
laid out in woven baskets momentarily distracted Ren. The merchant had arranged his wares in accordance to the light spectrum, giving an impression of a splintered rainbow upon his stall.
"Excuse me," Ren stammered before finding his courage. "Sorry to bother you, but can you tell me the way to the Noble's Quarter?"
The merchant gave Ren a slanted smile which bared bright white teeth. They shone like new-snow at dawn as the source-light crests the horizon to shine a new day's light.
"You're nearly there." The merchant pointed west. "Go about a quarter mile that way and turn north. When you pass through a wooden wall, you'll know you've arrived in the Noble's Quarter."
"Thank you." Ren gave a curt nod of his head and went to leave, but the merchant stopped him.
"Ne!" The merchant called out, and the crowd turned their gaze upon Ren.
Ren turned back to the merchant, "Sorry?"
"You owe me a silver quarter for my time assisting you."
Ren chuckled, realizing why Tomoko had tried to warn him off dealing with their merchants. He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out the wallet Brandon had provided him. Not trusting that a merchant demanding payment for common knowledge would be honest about the conversion rate, Ren handed over a five-credit note and said, "This should more than cover it. I'm sorry, but I've not had time to convert my money yet."
The merchant eyed the plastic then held it to the source-light. The light changed to a deep blue as it passed through the credit. With a whistle the merchant pocketed the credit and said, "Sueun's blessing."
"Thank you." Ren bowed deeper this time before leaving. The crowd watched him leave, but no one's gaze lingered on him for too long.
* * *
PULLING HIS TRUNK BEHIND HIM, Ren made his way to the wooden gate the merchant spoke of. As he strolled closer, the buildings grew taller again. Towering over the cobblestone walkway, they provided shade from the source-light as it sunk lower in the sky. A cool breeze whirled down the street, drying the sweat on Ren's brow. The wooden gate was nearly large enough to fit Capt. Kaito's ship through, and Ren wondered if that was its purpose. He'd seen craftsmen throughout the city, but he'd yet to see a new ship being built.
Two city watchmen stood on either side of the gates but did nothing to interfere with the movement of people. They seemed to be mere decoration. As Ren crossed the barrier into the Noble's Quarter, the colorful houses astounded him. Unlike the simple stone and wood buildings he'd seen throughout the island, these used multi colored bricks—arranged during their construction to create murals of oceanic views. Pink dolphins leaping from deep ocean waters covered the walls of the first building he stopped to admire. The sight filled him with disappointment for not glimpsing a dolphin on his voyage. The building next door matched the deep ocean landscape—as they shared a wall—with islands of white sand topping the blue waters with palm trees sprinkled across.
All the buildings showed the same level of care and dedication in their murals. The detail was so fine that from a distance the images look lifelike, reminding Ren of being back at sea.
The men and women inside the Noble's Quarter wore vibrantly colored fine garments, loosely hung against their bodies, allowing the breeze of the day to flutter the silks, creating a flurry of colors dancing in the street.
To avoid paying for information again, Ren kept to himself and didn't speak to strangers. They eyed him suspiciously, and gave his trunk a second look, but no one stopped him while he searched for an inn.
After nearly an hour, he located an inn—a tall corner building with four floors, and a discrete sign above its entryway. The sounds of drums, flutes, and men rowdy from drinks drifted through the open door.
Inside the establishment, Ren found two men standing behind a bar which stretched the length of the left wall. At the end of the bar sat a stairwell. To Ren's right was an open floor large enough to dance on, with dining tables against the walls. Elevated above the floor, against the far-right wall, stood a stage for musicians.
A small band of three men switched from a lively tune to a quiet song, more background noise than an actual performance. The sounds of drunken men was just a small group near the foot of the stage, harassing their waitress. Ren approached the bar and slid his trunk under his feet as he hopped on a barstool.
After settling up with one of the waitresses, the taller of the two men came over to Ren, "Sueun's blessing."
"Sueun's blessing." Ren replied.
The bartender's grimaced, but only for a flash of a moment. "How may help you?"
Don't repeat the blessing!
"I could use a dinner, and I'm looking for a room until the examination."
"I have a fresh fish stew, and rolls in the oven now." The man paused for several moments while he took in Ren's appearance. Being at sea for four days, Ren hadn't had a proper bath aside from a saltwater scrub. With only three shirts, one coat, two pairs of jeans, and three pairs of socks, Ren had found it hard to stay pristine. In short, Ren looked scruffy.
"As for the rooms, they're reserved for men and women of stature. With the examination upon us, many will come to watch their children, or to see the spectacle. You would be an insult to my honored guests. However, you're welcome to eat for five silver quarters."
Ren didn't know if the man was making a joke, or if it was a form of negotiation, but either way he wouldn't pass on a chance to eat. He could always negotiate a price of the room later. Still unsure of where to exchange his money, or the proper conversion rate, he pulled out a five credit note and handed it over. The bartender examined it and a blue shimmer fell upon the man's face.
"I've seen your currency before, you're from the Pearl Nation?"
"Yes, sir."
"Go from here." He pointed to the door. "Two blocks down, take a right, at the end of that corner is Mr. Sato's shop. He'll exchange your currency for our local coinage. When you're done, come back and have a meal, but like I said, the room is unavailable."
The bartender handed back Ren's credit, and he slipped it into his wallet. Ren grabbed his trunk and rolled himself out of the bar with what dignity he could muster. A business owner had never treated him so rudely. Even though he was an orphan, businesses of the Pearl Nation gave him the same basic respect as any other guest.
* * *
MR. SATO'S SHOP WAS EASY to find, with a window twice as tall as Ren displaying elegant jewelry made from precious gems mined throughout Fencura. The wooden front door was reinforced with iron. The extra weight made it difficult for Ren to push it open.
Mr. Sato looked up from his desk behind a counter which displayed more finely crafted jewelry. "Currency exchange?"
"Yes, sir."
He gestured for Ren to come closer and they met at the far end of the shop where a solid metal table stood upon the bedrock foundation of the building. A series of three scales sat on the desk from one large enough for Ren to sit in, to one so small his wallet wouldn't fit on top.
"How much would you like to exchange?"
Mr. Sato gestured for Ren to place his currency on the metal table, but all the precious gems spread throughout the shop distracted him.
This must be the safest part of the city. A thief could retire with one heist.
Mr. Sato snapped his fingers and recalled Ren's attention to the conversation at hand. From his wallet Ren laid out every credit Brandon gave him, 1,820.
"Pearl Credits. And will you be wanting that in Sapphire Coinage?"
"Yes, sir."
With two quick turns Mr. Sato produced a small trunk upon the desk. Inside the box, metal walls stretched from the lip to the bottom, dividing the trunk into a checkerboard pattern. Four sections held various sized gold coins, two held silver coins, and the other six contained weights Ren recognized as true-steel—they reflected the light as a white sheen. Mr. Sato gave Ren's stack of credits a quick swipe to fan them out and, with his right hand, stacked weights on the middle scale. Using an array of gold and silver coins he balanced the excha
nge rate.
Mr. Sato took two of the larger silver coins from the pile and displayed it in his palm, "My fee," before placing them back in the trunk. He pulled a sheet of hemp from the lid of the trunk and with a charcoal pencil tallied up a receipt for Ren.
BILL OF EXCHANGE
1,820 Peal Nation Credits
Transmuted into
1 Half Mark
1 Quarter
4 Half-Quarters
5 Silver Marks
20 Silver Quarters
Total
11oz hard coinage
X_________________________
"Sign on the 'X' and I'll bag these up for you."
Ren read the receipt. "I'm sorry sir. I don't understand your currency."
Mr. Sato gave a small bow, "Apologies." He held up the larger of the two square silver coins. "This is a Silver Mark, and it is worth one eightieth of a Mark." He pulled a large square gold coin from the trunk as an example, before placing it back.
"Now, I've given you one Half Mark," he held up a rectangular gold coin, "Which would be worth forty Silver Marks. Your Quarter," he held up a smaller square gold coin, "not to be confused with a Silver Quarter, is worth twenty Silver Marks." He laid the Quarter next to a Silver Quarter.
"I've given you four Half-Quarters, each worth ten Silver Marks." He pointed to the smallest rectangular gold coin. "Silver Marks I've explained, and finally you have your Silver Quarter. I've given you twenty, since they're the most common coinage used amongst the local merchants."
Ren could tell Mr. Sato thought him simple. After hearing the explanation, it was clear why, the coinage was easy to understand. "But wait. What is one of my credits worth compared to your coinage?"
"Last I checked the true rate was about fifteen and a half credits to one Silver Mark, and I charged an extra credit per Silver Mark."
It seemed reasonable, but Ren was blind to the ways of money and the market. One downside to growing up an orphan, no one taught him the intricacies of commerce like so many other young men of the Pearl Nation. He signed his name without complaint, and Mr. Sato placed the bill onto another blank sheet face down. Using a large roller—the kind bakers prefer for rolling sweets—Mr. Sato pressed the two sheets together six times. When he finished, the they were mirror reflections of each other.
