Ocean's Dagger

by NAK Baldron

  "This way," Dai said.

  They walked through a maze of rooms. Each more elegant than the last, but as they made their way north, each room grew less crowded. Where the early rooms offered table betting games and cards. The later rooms became drug dens, where men and women lay upon cushions the size of Hisoka and Jun combined, smoking the vapors of spirit dust. They entered a room larger than all the rest. Partners lay mid-coitus on plush cushions. Men with women, men with men, women with women, the last couple made Ren's cheeks run hot, and Shaya chuckled with a soft voice like a spring flower.

  While sex wasn't something to be ashamed of in the Pearl Nation, it was a private matter, and not to display for the enjoyment of others. Even the adult clubs provided private rooms for this exact purpose.

  Ren quickened his pace to separate himself from her. None of the couples seemed to notice them.

  They passed through a tunnel of golden silk curtains and met a small army. Ren quit counting after twenty.

  "Ah, Dai!" A fat man yelled out. Not the fat that comes from too much beer, but the kind a man must earn by eating thirds at every meal, and only stopping at signs of indigestion. He leaned upon a specially built lounge chair, large enough for four normal men. Even Jun and Hisoka could share with room to spare. "What have you... brought me?" His breaths were labored and forced mid-sentence.

  "A guest for your tables," Dai pointed to Shaya. "But she interfered. Threatened me even."

  Putting it together, there was no doubt left. The man was Goruden-Tanken Hiroshi, the complete opposite in every way from Shaya. The man's wheezing grew loud enough to hear as every side conversation died, and the men in the room turned to stare at Shaya. Most had their hands upon weapons. Two men closest to them held swords—unsheathed—at their sides.

  "Shaya..." His voice cracked, and he coughed.

  "Kaito-Tanken Shaya." She said.

  "Yes, yes... Honorable Kaito-Tanken... Where is Akio?" Every man in the room flinched at the sounds of his name. Individually, unnoticeable, but twenty plus swords shifting created a tiny thunder.

  "Wise Goruden-Tanken," she bowed fast and straight, as if an invisible hand had snapped her in half. "Why do you ask? Do you mean me or mine harm?"

  Hiroshi laughed, a hearty laugh which made his body wave like an ocean storm. The room echoed a half-hearted laugh. "No, no... Honor protects us for two more years... Then, we shall see if your man... deserves his reputation, come the time of daggers." He laughed again at his own joke, but this time none of his men joined.

  "Wise Goruden-Tanken Hiroshi," Dai bowed slightly again. "What of the insult to me and my men?" The twins straightened their shoulders at mention of them.

  Hiroshi snapped his fingers above his head. The gesture was unbelievably fast for a man of such girth. A tall man, wearing heavy black robes entered from behind the hanging golden walls, of Hiroshi's court. The man towered over everyone else, he hunched over to avoid rubbing his head on the lower slope of the tent roof. His pale skin, and complete lack of hair, gave him the appearance of a walking skeleton.

  After a whispered conversation the giant walked forward until he was far enough from the wall to stand straight, and not bump his head against the ceiling. "Wise Goruden-Tanken Hiroshi, invites honorable Kaito-Tanken Shaya to his court. You're free to use any room, and he declares you'll receive every hospitality. Speak to any servant in blue, and they'll fulfill your every desire. For this is Sueun's Temporal Palace."

  "Sueun's blessing." Everyone said in unison—including Shaya.

  Shaya bowed her head, "I accept, and thank you for your hospitality. But what of Ren?"

  "Alas," the giant spread his hands out as wide they'd stretch, forcing three armed men to scoot back to avoid him. "Ren is a foreigner, and not protected by honor."

  "What of Ren?"

  The black irises of the giant's eyes expanded until his eyes became two black mirrors. His voice echoed itself both high and low. "Not your business, Shaya, last of the damned Kaito. In two years' time, your blood will stain the stones of the square and end your wretched line."

  Shaya gave a curt nod, "What, of, Ren?"

  "Answer Kaito-Tanken, vile worm!" Akio's voice was light as air. Almost like a mother singing a child to sleep.

  The men in the room took a step back. Dai and the twins raised their hands away from their weapons, knowing they were inside Akio's death circle.

  Still, Ren staggered, surprised by Akio's silent entrance.

  Hiroshi snapped his fingers again.

  The frail giant clicked his tongue. "Ren is the guest of Dai. He shall choose the boys fate. Harm Dai, in any way, and honor will demand your death, he is formally recognized as Goruden."

  Dai threw himself to the ground in complete bow to Hiroshi, "Thank you, wise Goruden-Tanken. My blood is your blood."

  Another snap of Hiroshi's fingers stopped the groveling. Akio drew his daggers, and every man took another step away. Some bumping into each other or the tent walls.

  "No." Shaya's voice didn't leave their circle.

  Akio didn't sheath his fencing daggers, but he straightened his posture and allow them to hang limp, supported by his index fingers. Twirling the right, then left. Clear as glass the man feared nothing.

  Could he really take on over twenty men? What kind of fucking place is this?

  Ren's bladder raged against the tension. "Excuse me, wise, um..."

  "Goruden-Tanken Hiroshi," Shaya whispered, annunciating each syllable with care.

  "Wise, Goruden-Tanken Hiroshi. Could your hospitality extend far enough to allow me to piss?" The last word sang out high and crisp. The room erupted in laughter, and even the giant tightened his lips in what could have been a grin.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  SHAYA AND HIROSHI WERE ABLE to speak plainly with Ren led out of Hiroshi's main tent by a servant girl to find a bathroom. None of Hiroshi's men would dare speak of what was said inside their Lord's tent.

  "The boy is of special interest to clan Kaito," Shaya said. "I'd consider it an extension of the hospitality of Sueun's Temporal Palace, if you'd agree to mark him as untouchable."

  "Are we to understand that this foreigner is under the protection of clan Kaito?" The giant asked on behalf of his Lord.

  "No," Shaya said, "Only that I would consider it a personal favor if Goruden-Tanken Hiroshi would call off his over-zealous servant."

  Dai puffed up his chest at the insult, but stopped himself from doing anything foolish when he saw Akio point the tip of his dagger at him.

  The giant leaned over to converse in hushed whispers with Hiroshi. "Clan Goruden will gladly extend this personal favor to clan Kaito and request that all present take note of the debt owed to Goruden-Tanken Hiroshi by Kaito-Tanken Shaya."

  Shaya tapped her left index finger on the tip of Akio's dagger and presented the blood to the room, "Consider the debt marked."

  "The debt is acknowledged by all present," the giant said.

  Ren returned, again red in the face. The boy was too shy to know what to do with a woman, and the servant girl hung on his shoulder, clearly trying to press him. He was barely older than a child—Shaya wasn't much older, but she'd been forced to grow up the day she accepted the title of Kaito-Taken. Still, his powers were clear as day, and Shaya wanted to learn more. He'd prove a valuable ally, capable of helping her control her own magic, and save her the wrath of the other thief lords discovering her abilities. Perhaps in return, she could teach him the ways of Shinzo. If he realized how much the girl next to him wanted the same thing he wanted, perhaps he wouldn't look like he was just punched in the stomach.

  "What did I miss?" Ren asked Shaya.

  "Nothing important," she said. "We're going to play cards with Dai now."

  Dai and his men led the way out of the tent.

  "Follow Akio," Shaya pointed Ren in the direction of the men leaving. "You're safe inside these tents."

  Once Ren left with the others, and she couldn't hear their footsteps she bo
wed to Hiroshi. "Clan Kaito agrees to repay our debt owed, at Goruden-Tanken Hiroshi's chosen time and place."

  Hiroshi gave a slight nod of his head, and Shaya left without a second look back. Either she'd gambled correctly, or the whole damn thing would blow up in her face.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  TWO QUEENS, A GREAT START. Ren left his jaw slack and pushed his tongue to the roof of his mouth. He led the hand—not wanting to signal too early—he pushed two Silver Marks towards the growing pot. The dealer declared his bet for all the table: Shaya, Dai, Akio, and Sarah, another traveler from the Emerald Nation who enjoyed the higher stakes of the Thieves' Market. No one raised Ren's bet, they all settled for calling.

  "Option, sir?" The dealer asked Ren. A man built like a bull, with a visible hatchet on either side of his waist. He acted as both host to the game and enforcer.

  "One, please." Ren tapped the table, indicating he'd keep his cards and take a new one.

  Draw Poker is a game of skill and guts. Each round began with a bet, the first set the ante. Followed by a round of drawing. Every player received one new card per round, but they could choose to discard one unfavorable card, thus drawing two cards on rounds two through five. With every round of betting progressively growing more aggressive it was rare a hand made it to the showdown. Most final rounds were settled with a large bet and fold.

  Shaya and the rest of the table took two cards. A great sign.

  "Wager, sir?" The dealer asked Ren, after every other player looked at their new cards.

  Two Queens, and an Eight. Best to thin the field. "Half-Quarter." The smallest of the gold coins joined the pile of growing coins. A Half-Quarter represented more than half the pot available. As expected, Dai and Akio folded, leaving Shaya and Sarah.

  "Option, Sir?"

  Ren took two cards, an Ace and another Queen.

  Thank the gods!

  The only difference between cards in the Sapphire Nation and back in the Pearl Nation, was that they played the Ace as both high and low instead of always low. Back home, Ren may have been considered an idiot when it came to his math lessons, but here his inferior skills were more than sufficient to trounce these players. Ren was up nearly a full Mark. If he kept it up he'd walk away with enough gold to repay Brandon and pay for his whole stay.

  The two ladies drew two cards each.

  "Wager, sir?"

  Make them pay now, or allow them to see a final card and think I drew poorly?

  Ren picked up two Half-Marks and played with them in his right hand, while he puzzled over the cards in his left. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched the two ladies, as they watched him like sharks. He tapped the gold against the stone table.

  "One Mark, is the wager." The dealer announced.

  Two strangers peered at the table from behind the roped off line. Each player sat in specially made high-backed chairs, which blocked their hands from outside observers. Provided the players didn't go flashing their cards about.

  Shaya cursed under her breath and slammed her cards down. Sarah on the other hand raised.

  "Raise, one Mark."

  Ren pushed the coins forward to make up a full Mark. He was down to less than a Half-Mark left.

  "Option, Sir?"

  Ren spanned his index and middle finger into a V formation while pushing one card face down toward the dealer. The dealer tossed back two new cards. Two Kings, though most locals would say two Emperors out of respect. Ren waited as Sarah drew one card.

  "Wager, sir?"

  Ren pushed all his coinage left. Not enough to cover Sarah, but plenty enough to draw in a small crowd of observers.

  The dealer tallied the pile with the proficiency of a man who spent his life counting coins. "Half-Mark and two Silver Quarters."

  More than I thought.

  In the distance men spoke over their own games, but no one in eyesight moved, much less spoke. The air was electric as Sarah counted her coins, a small sum compared to the pot. Either she or Ren would look foolish at a showdown. She dropped a full Mark to cover Ren's wager, a way to signal to the crowd she expected to win.

  "Show, sir?"

  Ren rolled over his left wrist, willing his hand not to twitch with excitement.

  "Boat. Ladies, over Lords." The dealer gestured to Ren's hand with his right and then to Sarah with his left. "Show or fold, miss?"

  "I think that's enough for one night. Thank you for a wonderful evening." Sarah tossed her cards into the pile of coins.

  The dealer quickly broke her Mark into smaller coinage and offered her the difference. She swiped up her remaining coins into a side purse and left the table. He stacked Ren's winnings into neat piles and pushed them over to him. Ren took a Silver Mark from the top and tossed it back to him.

  "Thank you, sir." The dealer bowed his head. "Antes please."

  After the tip Ren had: 5 Marks, 3 Quarters, and 9 Silver Quarters. He crunched the figures in his head.

  7,164 credits. Shitsickle! That's enough to repay Brandon and live here for months.

  "I need a few hands to settle myself." Ren announced to the table. It was rude to leave after winning a large hand, but since Sarah had been the loser, it saved Ren from impropriety.

  "You'll post an ante every hand, sir."

  "I understand. Thank you." Ren knocked the stone table with his knuckles.

  I'll be as rich as Johnathan.

  * * *

  TIME LOST ALL MEANING INSIDE the Thieves' Market. With no source-light or lack there off to tell the passing of the day, time quickly became an illusion beyond what was at hand. A man in the crowd told Ren it was night fall, but had that been two hours ago, or three? Ren's winnings continued to climb as new players came and went. Only Ren, Shaya, and Dai remained from the original five. Akio left to deal with their affairs, and Dai sent the twins to deal with his responsibilities. Dai was doing everything he could to rattle Shaya and take her gold, but after a long day he was still down.

  Ren, on the other hand, kept growing his horde of coins. House rules prevented any player from removing coinage from the table until they left the game. Leaving the game meant a three-day ban from the tables. In practice this meant as Ren's stacks grew, Shaya, Dai, and new players kept buying in for larger and larger amounts. In effect the stakes kept rising, despite the ante staying the same.

  For the past forty or fifty hands, Ren turned cautious, folding earlier than he'd like. The cards had turned on him, and there was no telling when he'd be able to win another hand. Best to protect his winnings and wait.

  If he didn't pass the examination to become a sorcerer, he'd found a career. Poker was the easiest way to make money.

  "Option, sir?"

  Ren took two cards and found his hand improved. Two Aces. The best he could hold at the moment.

  Shaya, and Dai each took two. The newest player, a man whose name Ren couldn't recall—he was an easily forgettable person—took one card.

  "When are you going to give me your money?" Ragi asked Ren.

  During Ren's last bathroom break, A man in the crowd who'd watched him play for hours, let him know Ragi was a professional poker player.

  "When you beat me at showdown."

  "Wager, sir?" The dealer asked Ragi, who led this hand.

  "Half-Mark." Ragi slammed the coin down on the table.

  An absurd amount compared to the pot, but Ren knew he was ahead. Not wanting to draw attention to his strength and acted flustered he called. Everyone else folded, and Shaya shook her head at Ren, but he didn't pay attention.

  The tent was silent. Many of the tables were empty as their players gathered around Ren's game. The evening's entertainment promised blood.

  Ragi took one card again, and Ren followed suit.

  "Wager, sir?"

  "Two and a Half-Marks" Ragi pushed the gold away from his massive pile. He had enough to cover Ren twice.

  The fuck is he doing?

  Ren looked at his hand. Two aces and a three. Still extremely stro
ng.

  "Call."

  Again, Ragi took one card. Ren pushed away his three and claimed two cards.

  Before the dealer finished tossing Ren his cards, Ragi called out, "Six Marks."

  The crowd sucked in between their teeth. Shaya had explained table etiquette beforehand. For Ragi to call out without being asked, was a sign of disrespect. To call out a massive over bet three hands in a row signaled he was either insane or held a perfect hand.

  Ren peaked at the new cards. Ace, queen.

  Fuck you Ragi!

  "Raise, six Marks."

  Ragi's face betrayed him, and Ren saw it had all been a bluff. The man didn't have quads, and Ren doubted he even had a set.

  "Well?" A man from the crowd called out. Taunting Ragi for making himself look like an ass.

  Ren fought down a laugh, hoping Ragi would read his raise as a bluff and call.

  His wish was granted, and Ragi push forward the coins, silent for the first time all night.

  Ragi drew one card, and Ren matched him.

  "Wager, sir?"

  Ragi tapped the table three times, signaling to Ren and the whole room, he wasn't strong enough to bet.

  "Wager, sir?" The dealer asked Ren.

  He looked to his hand. Quads. Four glorious aces, and a queen.

  How to get paid?

  "Twelve Marks." Ren settled on repeating the bet, signaling to the crowd Ragi had made an ass of himself. If he called Ren made money—if Ragi folded he would be disgraced for making an ass of himself, and Ren would earn a permanent reputation.

  "Wager, twelve marks." The dealer told Ragi since he'd not moved in over a minute.

  He's shitting himself.

  "Raise to fifty Marks!" Ragi pushed gold toward the dealer to allow him to count it out.

  "What?" Ren asked.

  "Wager, fifty Marks." The dealer answered.

  Ren looked to his piles. At best he had thirty marks left.

  "I don't have that much." Ran said.