by NAK Baldron
"I agree to a debt." Ragi said.
"What?" Ren's mind wasn't working. All he could think was, what the fuck, on a repetitive loop.
"No." Shaya said. "Ren."
He looked to her forcing himself back into the moment.
"If you want to make this wager, I'll loan you the marks." Shaya offered.
"I don't want to bet that much." Ren protested.
"Then fold, boy." Ragi said.
"The wager is set at fifty marks," the dealer said. "You can call thirty-eight Marks, or fold. The wager has been offered in the form of a debt, so it stands."
Back in the Pearl Nation there was never the option to bet more than your opponents had on the table.
"Trust me." Shaya said. "You'd rather owe me, than him. But you can always fold."
Fuck that, I have quads.
"Agreed." Ren and Shaya shook hands.
Ren pushed the rest of his coins forward, and Shaya used her pile to cover the remainder.
Ragi rolled his hand over without being asked, revealing a spade flush.
Ren flipped over his hand before realizing Ragi held a straight flush, not just a flush. Six through Ten of spades. He'd drawn a straight flush. Ragi had intentionally scrambled up his cards.
"Oh," Ragi faked surprise. "I thought my flush was good. I didn't realize it was a straight flush."
Ren leaned over to his right and puked up everything he had in his stomach on Ragi's black velvet shoes.
* * *
BACK ABOVE GROUND, Ren realized how beautiful the Bloody Square was at night. He'd gladly accept any distraction from the mess he'd made of things. Somehow, he'd lost that hand of poker, but more important all his money. Providence had cursed him.
"Don't worry," Shaya gave Ren a pat on the back. "We'll pick you up in the morning, recover some missing jewels, and pay off your debts by dinner with enough left over to cover your expenses for the examination."
"Thank you."
Ren had no choice, there was no one else he could ask for money. Even if he could bare the shame of asking Brandon, there was no way to get the message to him in time. His fate was sealed. Tomoko had tried to warn him, but he'd been too curious about the island and foreign culture.
"What do I have to do?" Ren asked.
"Not much," Shaya said. "You'll play a minor role in the recovery of the jewels. Akio and I will be close at hand to keep you safe."
"What about the law?"
"What law?" she asked.
"The laws against stealing?" Ren asked. "Why not have the authorities collect the jewels?"
"This is not the Pearl Nation." Shaya said. "Here in Shinzo, theft is legal. Did you think we were a gang of criminals?"
Akio laughed, but kept his eyes focused on the square at large, as they kept walking towards the west gate.
"I'm not sure." Ren admitted. "I guess I thought it was a don't ask, don't tell policy."
Shaya laughed this time. "I like that. No, the clans are more of a balancing force; a tax on the rich. Sueun blesses all commerce, especially that of theft."
"What of the poor?" Ren asked.
"I don't steal from the poor." She stopped walking and her voice grew stern, "Nor would any other clan member. We're a people of honor. Your very question questions my honor and that of my people. Look around you!"
Ren did, and saw a square full of men, woman, and children as they enjoyed a cool evening, talking amongst themselves. The scent of cooked seafood filled the square as families enjoyed fresh hot food after a long day—these people were happy.
"Do they seem worried?" Shaya asked. "Do they watch their purses as we pass?"
"No?"
"Exactly." She pushed on his shoulder and they began to walk again. "Only those with too much wealth in the first place have anything to worry about. Sueun doesn't look kindly on the poor, but he looks even less kindly on the rich. We're the scales that balance the two, keeping the rich humble and the poor employed."
They stopped before the inn Ren was staying at. Inside were the sounds of men drinking and eating. Outside the streets were desolate, leaving the three of them standing alone.
"Get a good night sleep," Akio said. "I'll retrieve you before first light."
"Don't keep him waiting," Shaya added as a final farewell.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
DEBTS WERE DUE, otherwise Ren would never have been following the man—a merchant fresh from the docks. The merchant carried a small suitcase, but the real prize was the discrete side bag he wore over his shoulder, tucked underneath his silk robes. The few pieces of jewelry he wore were common. They were enough to show he was a man of business, but disguised his true wealth, and status.
The man was a jewelry merchant, returned from his travels to the Ruby and Emerald Nations. At least, according to Shaya.
"Fresh eels," a stall keeper called out as Ren walked past, following the merchant.
"He'll notice you," Shaya had warned Ren back at her house. "Just pretend to be lost when he looks at you, and he'll not think twice. When you get the signal charge him."
The merchant turned around, and Ren began looking up and around at the buildings. He was looking for the signal but hoped to the merchant it would look like he was lost in a foreign city. Just as Shaya had promised, the man ignored Ren—viewing him as not a threat—and continued on his route.
The merchant turned off the main road, onto a smaller side street. The buildings drew close together, leaving enough room for one man to walk comfortably between the stone walls. Ren waited at the corner to see if the merchant would stop at a door.
A flash a light blinded Ren for a second. He blinked away the sting and looked at the roof to his left. Akio was signaling with his knives.
Ren turned the corner and took double-strides to close the distance. His foot caught on a rock, and the merchant turned around. They were the only men passing through. Young children sat on their door steps, avoiding the heat of mid-day.
The merchant dropped his suitcase and ran.
Damn!
Leaning forward to put his weight on the balls of his feet, Ren ran after the man. It had been days since he'd last run, and he was stiff from the lack of stretching. But the merchant was a middle-aged man—Ren was young and fast.
Before they reached the next turn of the street Ren caught hold of the merchant's robes. The man spun on one foot slashing out with a concealed dagger, drawn in mid-turn.
The blade grazed the top of Ren's eyebrow and a thin trail of blood dripped into his right eye.
Left-handed bastard!
Ren had never learned to fight well, and lefties always got the better of him. A lunge of the dagger made Ren jump back with a yelp.
"Die, land scum." The merchant's voice had a feminine high-pitched tone.
He kept thrusting the dagger, aiming to kill. Ren did his best to slide back, keeping the dagger inches away from his—stab—heart—stab—kidney—stab—throat.
Fuck. I'm going to die in a gutter.
Ren began to laugh involuntarily as he backed away from the merchant stalking him down the alley.
A large object tripped Ren up, and he fell on his back.
Damn suitcase.
The merchant stood over Ren's helpless form, with the dark steel dagger pointed down at him. "Die, you son of a whore."
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
THE BOY WAS FOOLISH.
"Don't charge unless you're close enough to reach him in five steps," she said back in her public room. But no. The idiot had to run off and get himself knocked out.
The merchant laid on the ground unconscious along with Ren, from the fumes of the bombs. Smoke hung in the alley. Shaya approached them with weapons drawn, while Akio followed behind. Putting the bodies between her and Akio, Shaya focused on them, while Akio kept his eyes up—looking for men on the roofs or coming down the alley.
They'd been betrayed.
A fake mustache had fallen off the merchant in the explosion. A good thing she'd packe
d them, planning for failure is what kept her in power these long years. Puffs of smoke lingered above the cobblestone street.
"He's a she?" Shaya said to Akio.
"I saw."
"How?"
"When she attacked." Akio kept his eyes up, looking everywhere else but the ground. "The binding of her breasts shown through the top slit of her robes."
This was why Shaya was feared. Akio was the best fighter on Shinzo, and likely the whole of Fencura.
"Ahh." The woman beside Ren let out of moan of pain but didn't move.
"She's waking." Akio warned. "I've got the bag. Leave the boy, and let's get out of here."
Shaya was trying to lift Ren. "I owe him a debt. He wouldn't be here if I hadn't sought him out in the market in first place." Akio didn't move. "He's under our protection. Let's get him back to his room at the inn."
Akio didn't say a word. Keeping his eyes peeled, he flung Ren over his shoulder as if he were a sack of rice. Children stuck their heads out of their front doors. The smoke had cleared for the most part, and they all wanted a good look at Akio.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
THE IRON BARS WERE ENCHANTED to sting flesh when touched—Ren sat in jail waiting, while his hands burned. He pressed them against the stone floor to alleviate the pain. The cold stone only took the edge off, but it was enough pain relief to allow him to focus his thoughts. If he were back home, Brandon would fix him right up, but stuck in the Sapphire Nation alone, hope was dead.
None of the guards or city watch had been able or willing to tell him why he was being detained. In the Pearl Nation there would have been legal proceedings. A titan of industry would have been called upon to act as judge, while Ren and his council—likely Brandon, but any educated man would be permitted—made their case as to Ren's innocence. Or, failing innocence, pleaded for leniency. Debts must be paid after all.
Instead, Ren was dragged out of the tavern room of the inn he stayed at. The innkeeper promised to keep his trunk safe. At least one person in the Sapphire Nation showed him some courtesy.
Ren cried softly into his elbow. There was no one else in the cell with him, and the three other visible cells were empty, but he didn't want to risk someone seeing him cry.
He was four floors down under the guard tower. He counted as they led him down shackled. The cells were large enough to house twenty men, but some reason they'd placed Ren alone. The floors above had held men, women, and children. Perhaps it was because he was an outsider. The loneliness was nearly as painful as the iron bars.
Ren was still crying dry tears, when a guard banged on the bars with a wooden club. "Visitor."
It was Shaya, dressed in an ornate silk dress, the soft green of spring grass. She looked like a real woman, and beautiful one at that. If he weren't trapped behind bars, and woefully incompetent with women, he would try to gain her affections.
"Five minutes," the guard said. "Maybe ten, but don't let my captain catch you here."
"Clan Kaito owes you a debt of honor." Shaya bowed to the guard, and he bore a massive grin—clearly pleased with himself.
Once the guard turned the corner of the hallway leaving them alone, Shaya spoke, "I'm sorry. You were never supposed to be caught up in this."
"How could you betrayed me to the city watch? You bitch!"
"Never." Shaya made a knife gesture with her right hand across her own throat. "Nori, formally Gin-Tanken, betrayed us all. Akio is dealing with him presently. Once we have proof that the Gin clan betrayed us to the Emperor's men, Nori's life is forfeit. We'll get you out of here. If asked for a defense, claim protection under clan Kaito."
Shaya stepped close enough to Ren that her warm breath bounced off his cheek. "The next time you insult me, will be the last time you have a tongue."
"Sorry," he whispered, and his eyes went out of focus.
After a long minute, Ren wiped away the last of his tears and cleared his throat. "What's going to happen to me?"
"Honestly, I'm not sure yet. If pressed, you must claim protection under my clan. My honor will protect you for a time. Once I can prove Nori's betrayal of our customs, the other thief-lords will demand your release."
"What about a trial? If I'm guilty—"
"This is not your Pearl Nation. You're not here for committing a crime." Shaya spoke as if Ren were a child. "Guilt is not part of this. Our courts serve at the pleasure of the emperor." She spat on the ground and whispered, "Sueun's blight."
From the small of her back, Shaya produced a small box wrapped in silk. "This will help pass the time and keep you healthy."
Ren accepted the box as she slipped it through the bars, careful not to touch the iron.
"Stay strong. Sueun's Blessing."
"Wait—"
"I have to leave." Shaya left the way she'd entered, but at the end of the hall called back. "I promise."
Ren collapsed on the stone floor, and his ass regretted it. He felt twenty pounds lighter. Shaya and Akio weren't going to leave him to rot in this cold dungeon. They'd been betrayed.
The present was lighter than it appeared, and when he shook it no sound came from inside. Careful not to damage the silk, he unwrapped his gift. The box was made from a kind of sea shell, each polished down into flawless flat surfaces, giving the appearance of a solid piece with no lid. Even in the dimly lit cell, the box glimmered like oil floating on water. Ren pushed against each face until one slid back.
Inside was a tiny vial of green liquid, and two decks of cards—one with blue backs, the other red. Ren laughed despite himself, damn cards had gotten him in this mess in the first place. He kept laughing until the guards came to shut him up.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
"GIN-TANKEN WILL SEE YOU NOW." The servant bowed, allowing Shaya to enter.
Double steel doors were pushed opened just wide enough for Shaya to walk into the room unobstructed. An ocean blue carpet spanned the ground beneath her feet, it changed in intensities of blues as it caught the light, giving the impression she walked on water. At the far end of the room sat a husband and wife on an elevated platform, placing them at eye level with Shaya as she stopped before them. She could see their walnut eyes, but the rest of their faces were obscured by plain silver masks, generally reserved for ceremonies in honor of Sueun. Identical long, black hair cupped their silver masks.
"Greetings, Kaito-Tanken," one of them said with an androgynous voice. "Please sit."
A servant rushed from behind the plump colored curtains which lined the walls of the hall and placed a chair behind Shaya's knees. She lowered herself with all the grace her mother taught her, then shifted her face to stone. These two possessed weak faces, otherwise they'd never hide behind masks generally reserved for children. It was dishonorable, but clan Gin had never been revered for the honor.
"Why do you grace us with your presence?" This voice was slightly higher than the first, making her Nori's wife, Eriko. The first had been Gin-Tanken Nori himself. Their appearances were too similar to tell apart via sight alone.
"Our business did not go as planned."
"Explain!" Nori's voice betrayed his emotions. Only children and the weak-willed raised their voices in formal settings.
He's no better than a street urchin.
"The merchant knew we were coming."
"We warned he'd be on guard and paranoid." Eriko said.
Were they playing at subterfuge, or were they as naive as they appeared? Either way, they were no longer to be trusted. Akio was off preparing their backup plans as Shaya sat there.
"He was in fact a she." Shaya switched eye contact between Nori and his wife, lingering long beyond what was considered polite. Looking for betrayal in their eyes. Any sign of proof to drop the charade.
"Excuse me?" Eriko asked.
"The merchant was a woman."
"Absurd." Nori spat.
His voice bounced off the stone pillars supporting the roof and curtains. From Shaya's position it sounded as if he were speaking to her from al
l around her.
"Unexpected." Shaya spoke with a deliberately calm voice. "But true. You gave me the information to act upon."
"Are you making a threat?" Eriko asked. "I don't see Akio here to back up your bark."
Pleasantries were finished. Time for brute force, and coercion.
"We have the jewelry she carried. But I suspect you were only interested in the necklace she had tucked away in a secret compartment." Shaya balanced her hands like that of a scale. "Hidden jewels inside a hidden bag. Must be very important."
"Guards." Nori cried out.
Six men rushed the room halberds pointed at Shaya. Tradition kept them from advancing on her completely. That or fear of Akio. Even these lowly guards knew who she was, and the penalties for touching her. Better to slice their own throats than face the wrath of Akio. Nori was enraged, but there was no way he'd be crazy enough violate her person.
"Take h—"
His wife cut him off mid-sentence with a whisper, pulling the mask away to allow her better access to his ear. A flash of her face was visible from where Shaya sat. The woman was a soul-walker. The black tattoos around her chin betrayed her true nature.
That's the real reason for the masks. Is Nori a soul-walker too?
Even if he weren't, it would explain so much. Clan Gin were always first to take advantage of a disaster and were notorious for retrieving lost heirlooms. Able to transmute in their sleep into a spirit form, soul-walkers could visit anywhere on Fencura, making them ideal spies and interlopers. Some claim they could even cross over to Sueun's palace and speak with the dead. Who knew what information such a journey could net.
Rumor had it, Nori's father served the Emperor's father in a delicate matter. Obviously, it had never been proven, otherwise Clan Gin would have become salt of the sea. Had they been involved with soul-walkers this whole time?
"No." Nori's voice bounced off the far walls behind Shaya, and his face flushed.
Eriko continued whispering in his ear, ignoring the fact he'd just yelled. She reminded Shaya of the way she'd be scolded quietly in public by her own mother.
One of the guards dropped his halberd but managed to recover it before the steel of its spear-tip clinked against the stone floor. The guard next to him elbowed him in the gut. The first guard crumpled into a ball, placing one knee on the floor for balance—tears visible in his eyes as he heaved for breath.
