Chapter 38

    Zinjo listened to Aurelia's plan and shook his head, "Madness, your plan is madness. You suggest we go into business with these dubious people and help them exploit primitive cultures?"

    "Watch your mouth. I am suggesting we talk them into taking a tour to see what's out there. If we happen to find items of value for them to trade, they have to make the deal and not us. We will make sure they stay on the up and up," Aurelia turned her back to him. 

    It didn't take long for regret and shame to rule Zinjo's voice, "I didn't think..."

   "I know this side of the world is filled with greed and unnatural things, but some of us are trying to change that. How can we be together if you hold my people's actions against me," Aurelia crossed her arms and walked forward?? 

   "You are right, dark princess, I spoke without thought..."

   "It's becoming a habit."

   "There is a lot of moral flexibility on this side of the world. I am trying to comprehend the complexity it adds to daily interactions," Zinjo admitted. "People never say what they mean, and someone is always waiting to take advantage of the weak."

   A thought appeared in Aurelia's mind. It had the potential to end the pointless argument. She stopped and faced the man she loved, and tossed her raven hair behind her, Has it occurred to you as co-ruler of  Shadowfen, you can help clear out some of the corruption?"

    "I thought I would be your adviser or a similar role to one."

    "You will be my adviser, and I will be yours, and together we can make Shadowfen great again," She hugged him and swayed back and forth in his arms. She felt safe and protected, even though she didn't need it. She smiled and stared into the yellow eyes content with her place in the world. 

    Zinjo held her face in his hands, and smiled, "I believe you, dark princess. Now, let's go find our dubious business partners. We do have a mission to complete."

***

      Red carpet ran down the hall of the Merchants Guild and the Men dressed in fine clothes and hats negotiated deals with ship captains. The rustle of paper the sound of laughter. "Our targets should be easy to find."

   "How so?" Zinjo glared at a young sailor, who nearly fell into a barrel of wine. 

   "We look for a man and woman arguing. I think they're in love."

    "How can people argue all the time and be in love?"

    Aurelia laughed and pointed to Zinjo, "Have we not fought? Are we not still together?"

    "Hmmm, I see your point. If you were them where would you set up shop?"

      The parasol opened and closed as Aurelia worked out her answer, "Tess has ambition, but she also knows stepping on everyone's toes won't help her cause. Lets check downstairs, I heard everyone starts there in the guild."

    Zinjo craned his neck and peered around the room, "You can smell the arrogance in the room," He pointed to a set of stairs leading down. "Why do your people tolerate such pompous behavior?"

   "I have no idea why, to be honest. It's always been this way," Aurelia almost grabbed a lantern as they descended into the cobweb-infested area, "I keep forgetting I have night vision."

   "We lions forget from time to time as well," He started to laugh, "We were tracking a herd of Gazelle, every attempt to sneak up on the skittish beasts failed," he guffawed a little more, "So someone suggested we try to take them at night." He leaned against the wall and clutched his stomach, "Someone said we would never find our prey in the dark..." he trailed off at Aurelia's lost expression, "You had to be there."

   Crates and cages were stacked in a maze-like pattern, despite all their enhanced abilities, the werelions managed to find the stairs twice before the sound of voices steered them in the right direction.

   Tess was a woman in her early thirties and walked and talked with sophistication and wit. She carried herself with confidence. She had down-to-earth good looks and a keen eye for observation. She gave both Zinjo and Aurelia a suspicious look.

   "I don't know what you heard, but this is the last place you come to peddle your illegal goods," She warned. Her hand slid down her thigh and rubbed against something tucked in her garter. 

   Gael bunched his meaty fists, "I may be weaponless, but I've learned a thing or two on the high seas," Aurelia noticed the look of admiration in Tess's eyes. 

   Several Retorts entered Aurelia's mind, she turned to Zinjo, "Follow my lead," She whispered.  His hand slid into the hidden pocket of her armor and produced the royal seal of Shadowfen. "I need our services." 

    "Like we haven't seen counterfeit royal seals before...ouch..." Tess elbowed Gael in the ribs, and he doubled over. 

   Tess pulled the hair from her eyes and examined the seal, "This is the real thing," She bit the end, "Solid Gold. She faced Aurelia and crossed her arms, "What does a disgraced princess want with a d-list Merchant/"

  Zinjo crossed his arms and gave the sailor a look of intimidation. Aurelia shook her head and sighed, "Zinjo we are guests here. We showed up unannounced, it is only natural they would be a little wary of us."

  "He started it," Zinjo pointed at Gael.

   Tess rolled her eyes, "You boys play nice the adults will be talking from here on out." She gestured to a crate across from the desk, "I am sorry, your majesty. I am not taken seriously enough to have proper furniture."

   "Have you heard of Lord Bathory?" Aurelia asked with an impish smile. 

   "Isn't he that bibliophile in the Cherish Empire?" Tess poured some wine in a cup, "Care for a drink, your majesty?"

    "No thanks, I am not fond of the drink. Anyway, I just got back from visiting the man. His chairs had termites eating away at them. I'll take this rickety old crate over that every time."

   Tess relaxed and grinned, "You've spent a lot of time on the road as of late?"

   "We've been to Brismond, and back to Shadowfen, and then into the Cherish Empire by way of Litchford Hills," She relished the impressed expression on Tess's face, "Now we seek to take our adventures further into Lemuria and Kianzangi. Which is where you come in."

   "I'd love to help, but we both the royal treasury is almost empty because these idiot misogynists refuse to back new products. For instance, I brought back a load of toys from the far east. Fantastic stuff, easy to assemble, and inexpensive enough for the average common family to buy."

   Aurelia sensed there was a deal to make, "Do you still have the Cargo?"

   "What do you think is in the crates?"

    Aurelia smiled, "Well, then shall we test the market? Aurelia, Princess of Shadowfen," She held out her hand. 

   "Tess Bernard, Ace Trader, or I'd like to be," She gestured to the crates, "What did you have in mind?"