As expected, the markets in the center of Kusi Vilca bustled with activity. The center of the market comprised permanent stands, which were constructed of wood. We’d make our way there, eventually. For now, we browsed on the outskirts, where traveling merchants would set up tents and tables.

  Kiri stopped at nearly every stand, browsing the goods and asking questions. For the first time since we found each other, she seemed like the Kiri I once knew. She glanced at me and wrinkled her brow.

  Realizing I had been staring at her, I quickly glanced away. After doing so, I considered it to be more suspicious of an action than continuing to stare. I kept near her but wandered to a nearby stand, browsing through goods I had no intention of buying.

  “Are you looking for anything in particular?” A tall man behind the table asked.

  “Just looking for now.” I patted my pockets. “I need to sell some items before I can buy.”

  Another patron glanced up at me. Her pale face was nearly covered by a black hood. Something about her didn’t look right.

  “We aren’t buying right now.” The merchant leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. He looked too big for the action, like an adult trying to sit in a chair made for a child. “But I will consider a trade if reasonable.”

  I slipped a few of the gems from the pouch, trying not to show the large amount I carried. While most people in the market feared the patrolling guards, thefts were common enough to be wary.

  He stood up and stepped back when I presented them to him. After glancing back and forth, he whispered, “Put those away.”

  The pale stranger circled the stand, then disappeared into he crowd.

  I closed my fingers around the gems, concealing them in my fist. “Sorry if I gave the wrong impression. I don’t intend to use them as tender for trade, but want to sell them for ornamental use.”

  “It matters not.” He shook his head. “Not anymore.” His eyes narrowed. “The royals have moved beyond their position of not using them to purchase and have declared them contraband.”

  A lump formed in my throat. “I didn’t know.” I slipped them into my pockets, not wanting to draw any additional attention to the two pouches tied to my waist.

  “What else do you have for trade?” he asked.

  “Tye,” Kiri said as she moved next to me. “I didn’t see you walk off.”

  I glared at her, wondering why she would use my name.

  She shot back a confused expression. “I see something I want. Let me have a couple of those gems.”

  The tall merchant’s eyebrows rose.

  I grasped Kiri’s arm and led her away. “Smile like we’re having a pleasant conversation.”

  “I thought we were.” She peered at my hand.

  Letting go of her, I whispered, “We can’t talk about the gems where anyone can hear us, I’ll explain later.” I paused. “And let’s not use each other’s names.”

  “What should I call you then?”

  This time I took a moment to consider the question. I didn’t want to continue using Timak. The same name kept popping into my head. My father often told stories of a fellow soldier he respected as both a Yaksha and a warrior. “Necro.”

  “Strong name.” Kiri’s eyes widened. “Can I be Siri?”

  I shook my head. “Too close to your name. Someone might overhear it incorrectly.”

  She bit her lip while thinking. “Allure.” She offered a sly smile. “Yes, Allure.” After wiggling her eyebrows, she said, “Allure and Necro.”

  “What about mine?” Sani asked.

  His sudden appearance made us both flinch.

  “Make some noise when you walk,” I said.

  “Should I have a secret name?”

  “Keep your voice down a bit.” I thought for a moment. “Did you tell anyone other than me your name?”

  He shook his head.

  I glanced at Kiri. “Did you?”

  “No.”

  “The riders are telling people to look for Tye Axius, not Kiri Munu or Sani.”

  “But I want to be Allure,” Kiri protested.

  “It’s a good name.” I shrugged. “But does a seductress want to have lure in her name?”

  “I guess not.” She crossed her arms. “I’ll just be Kiri.”

  “We have a bigger problem than names anyhow,” I said. “I have enough coin to get a room for a night and for us to have a meal. But we need more if we’re going to purchase horses and supplies.”

  As I turned, I came face to face with the pale woman.

  The corners of her mouth turned up. “Perhaps I can be of assistance.”

  “Who are you?” Kiri asked.

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  “Layla,” she hissed. Her slender forked tongue flicked from between her lips as she leaned closer to Kiri, sniffing the air around her.

  I froze for a moment, not expecting to ever see a Fidi in the three kingdoms, let alone inside the walls of Mallma. Her hood helped to hide her features, but she didn’t appear worried that those around her would discover what she was. “You’re not a Yaksha.

  What are you doing here?”

  She scanned Kiri from head to toe. “Neither is she.” Then she whispered to Kiri, “Do you know what my blood would give you?”

  I pulled Kiri back and stepped between her and the Fidi. I wasn’t sure what her strange threat meant, but I didn’t want to find out. “I did not intend to report your being here, but simply asked out of curiosity.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Tell who you’d like. I don’t think they’ll move against a Rasmun.”

  My mouth was dry, but my palms felt damp. Words didn’t find their way to my mouth.

  “Are we going to spend the afternoon staring at me, or would you be interested in a barter?” Layla asked.

  “I don’t know what I could possibly offer-”

  She patted one of the sacks hanging from my waist. “By the way they are hanging, I’d say both sacks are filled with earth gems.” She raised the ridges where eyebrows should be. “I’m sure we can come to an agreement.”

  I nodded. “There is much we need. I’ll give them to you in exchange for-”

  She pressed her fingers against my lips. “Shhhh.” Removing her hand, she continued. “After I assess the stones, I’ll locate a buyer and come up with the terms of the deal.” She smiled. “We can meet near the tannery to discuss the details.” She paused. “Don’t bring the elf or the human.”

  I nodded.

  “Well, let’s see what you’ve got in those two big sacks of yours.”

  “Here?”

  She nodded.

  I handed her the first one. She put her hand out for the other. After I handed it to her, she sat on the ground, with people weaving around us. Then she dumped both sacks out and began moving them around with her fingers.

  A few people slowed as they watched her work. Others pointed at her and whispered to those around them.

  “We’re drawing a lot of attention,” I said.

  She pushed aside a gem of each color, then scooped the rest into the pouches. After handing me the pouches, she picked up the gems she had set aside. “I’m going to take these with me.” She handed me two coins. “Get a room at the Traveler’s Inn.” She pointed down the road. “For an extra coin, they will lock these away for you.” She locked eyes with me. “Tell them Layla directed you to do so.”

  “How will I know when you are ready to meet?” I asked.

  “Selena will tell you.”

  Once we arrived at the inn, the short brunette behind the counter flashed a toothy smile. “Welcome to the Traveler’s Inn. I’m Selena. It’s nice to meet you.” Her gaze moved from me to Kiri, and then to Sani. “Two rooms or three?”

  “Just one,” I said, walking up to the counter and placing down both coins.

  “Each room has only one bed.” She placed a finger on one coin.

  I planned on sleeping on the floor and assumed Sani would be fine doing the same. “One bed is fine.”

  “Oh.” She tried to hold back a smirk. “I’m not the judgmental type, but I must follow the establishment’s rules. Two in a room is the maximum.” She winked. “I can’t control who goes into whose rooms.” Her smile grew bigger, but went away when she noticed none of us were smiling.

  “Why does everyone assume I’m an immoral woman?” Kiri muttered.

  “The two coins are enough for both rooms.”

  “The other coin is for securing our goods.” I placed the two sacks on the table. “Layla said you provided such a service.”

  Her eyes widened. “Layla sent you?” Her posture stiffened. “We’ll make an exception.” She blushed. “One room and storage. Two coins. Perfect.” She picked up the sacks and went into the back. After a few moments, she came back out. “Go up the stairs, the third door on the right is your room.”

  I nodded without saying a word, then turned and headed up the stairs. Sani and Kiri followed as I pushed open the door to our room.

  A plank of wood sat next to the doorway inside the room. I picked it up and slid it into the holders. “Did you see the change in her demeanor when she discovered Layla sent us?”

  Sani nodded. “But I don’t know what a Rasmun or a Fidi is. Are they dangerous?”

  Kiri crossed her arms. “A Rasmun is someone who arranges trades and the hiring of mercenaries.”

  “Doesn’t sound intimidating.”

  “They aren’t, as long as you don’t attempt to cross them on a deal or harm them in any way.” I rubbed my chin. “But a Fidi in Mallma.”

  “When I saw her tongue, I thought she was a Tysaura.”

  “She sniffed you out as an Elf. The Fidi have a strong sense of smell. A Tysaura wouldn’t step foot in Mallma without assuming the form of a Yaksha.” I shuttered.

  “Why haven’t I heard of the Fidi?” Sani asked.

  “They have been nearly wiped out.” I shook my head. “I haven’t heard talk of one since I was a lad.”

  Someone knocked on the door.

  I put my finger to my lips, signaling for everyone to be quiet. Then, I slid the wooden plank from the door and opened it a crack.

  Selena peeked through on the other side. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” She paused. “We’ll be serving dinner shortly. It is on the house for any guest of Layla.”

  I wanted to tell her no thanks, but my stomach betrayed me, growling as soon as she finished speaking. “We’ll be down shortly.”

  Selena smiled as she leaned against the door slightly, as if she were trying to get a better look inside.

  I pushed the door shut.

  “I am hungry,” Sani said. “What do the Yaksha eat?” His expression displayed curiosity.

  “As long as you’ve been in Vanaheim, you haven’t sampled our cuisine?” I asked.

  He shook his head as he sat on the bed. “Until he joined the spirit world, my grandfather prepared all the food.”

  “What have you eaten since then?” Kiri asked.

  “I haven’t.” He rubbed his stomach. “It has been three days since I’ve had food.”

  Kiri’s eyes widened. “Your grandfather just died.”

  I sat next to him. “Sorry, Sani. I didn’t know. What was his name?”

  He leaned back and put up his hands. “I dare not speak the name of the dead, lest the Chindi be called back.”

  Kiri scrunched her forehead.

  “What about the rest of you people?”

  “They died on the same day.”

  My back stiffened. “What happened?”

  “We were hunting for game in the forest. Something attacked. I escaped, but it followed me to Palla Cahua.”

  I couldn’t find any words. When I met him at the gate, he said something was following him. I had no idea it just killed his friends and family. No wonder he felt the need to scale our walls.

  “You didn’t tell me what Yaksha eat,” Sani said.

  “Oh. The regular.” I shrugged. “Bugs and animal droppings.”

  His eyes widened. “Perhaps I can eat the bugs. Grubs are good in a pinch.”

  “Yuck.” Kiri pushed me, then turned her attention to Sani. “He’s messing with you. They eat meat and vegetables, just like humans do.” She glared at me. “After he poured his heart out, you joked.”

  Sani glanced down at his chest, then looked back up with a quizzical expression plastered across his face.

  “I just wanted to cut the tension.” I stood and stretched. “Let’s get down there and eat before Sani starts searching the floor for his poured-out heart.

  They followed me downstairs and sat on each side of me. Across the table, two other guests ate their food.

  Sani picked up the meat and smelled it. I wondered if he was curious about the flavor, or still worried that it was constructed from animal droppings. He finally took a bite, smiling as he chewed.

  The guests across from us finished their food and headed back upstairs.

  As I ate my last bite, Selena approached the table, holding her hands behind her back. “I have a message from Layla.”

  “Time for me to meet her?”

  She nodded. “But she asked that I tell you to bring the Elf but leave the human behind.”

  I clenched my jaw as thoughts sped through my mind. Could this be some sort of trick to separate us? The Rasmun could be trusted within the terms of a deal, and would honor a verbal agreement, such as having the gems assessed, without allowing malfeasance. But her deal was with me, not with Sani. “Thank you for the message.”

  Selena nodded before walking away.

  I turned to Sani. “Wait for us in the room. Bar the door and don’t open it for anyone except us.”

  He nodded. “I shall nap.”

  “Why does the Fidi want me to come?”

  I shook my head. “I have a bad feeling about this.”