“She is also sister to the twins, our most powerful fire mages. If she is successful in finding the remainder of her family, or frees additional fire mages, there is every chance she will bring them here and we can bolster the ranks of our mages that way. The twins are quite content.”
Again, Jin found he couldn’t argue with that. He didn’t want the twins to leave.
“The crystal woman’s task is secondary to what I would have you do while in Nalbin.” That got Jin’s attention. If he was to be given a real task, not simply overseeing the woman, he could feel much better about leaving the emperor. “You know the recent reports we received. Nalbin is worrying. While you are there, I would have you investigate what they are planning.”
Jin frowned, remembering the reports of troop movements towards their borders, that Nalbin was boosting their army and importing more sulfur and metal. It was worrying indeed. With the possibility of Nalbin collecting fire mages, there was only one conclusion that could be drawn. He grimaced.
Emperor Bao nodded. “You understand the seriousness of the task. I cannot trust something of this magnitude to any of the lesser mages, or anyone whose loyalty I am not certain of. I would not send you out, unwilling. Will you accept this task for me?”
Not having become the chief magus by accident, Jin bowed. “I humbly accept it, Your Celestial Majesty. Thank you.” Even if he hated the entire idea, there was no other answer he could give. Not and keep his position. While the emperor would never question his loyalty, there were plenty of others who would do so for him.
“Excellent. I will have the appropriate documents created for you, as well as arrange for funds for you and the crystal woman. Officially, I will have sent you to visit various cities in the Empire. I believe you both should be merchants of sorts. Traders are always moving about, and no one will comment on it. The crystal woman appears to be familiar with such a deception.”
Jin swallowed a frown. His celestial majesty was correct, but Jin was not as confident in playing a merchant. He had very little to do with people outside of the Palace City and doubly so for those who rarely made it to audiences. He was a magus, his focus was on magic in all its forms, protecting his celestial majesty from it and looking into new magics that could be useful. As much as he hated to admit it, he would do well to speak to the woman and get her help in their preparations. “May I ask for two days to prepare, so that I may gather any necessary supplies for our journey and disguise?”
Emperor Bao smiled indulgently. “You may have three. It will take two for us to manufacture the correct documentation for both of you. You may also wish to consider what type of merchant you wish to be, as well as consider a false name. Too many know that my chief magus is Jin.”
He bowed, recognizing the truth of it. There was no help for it. He needed to discuss this with the woman, find out what she knew, and see if she had recommendations. She had more experience in this type of thing. She’d made it all the way into an audience with his celestial majesty, and that was no mean feat. “I will consult with my new travelling partner in the morning and relay our decisions to Your Celestial Majesty. Or I can bring them directly to...?”
“I will ask Lien to handle your documents. She is the most adept at...creativity.”
Jin almost snorted in agreement. A former forger who had been sold into slavery and bought by the emperor, Lien was more than creative, she was an artist at her chosen craft. She’d worked off her slave price and was free, but found security and interest in the Imperial service. “I will bring the information to her. Thank you.”
The emperor nodded once. “I wish you every success.”
Knowing a dismissal when he heard it, Jin bowed, walked to the door, bowing one last time before he left the room. With the hour and how much work he would have in the next three days, Jin headed straight to his rooms. He would need to get up early and speak to the woman about their next steps. He hoped she was as good as he thought she was, or this assignment might prove impossible.
* * *
Azara squeezed the water out of her hair, glad the bathing facilities here were excellent. Seated on her bed, which was set into a carved little alcove within the elegantly appointed room she’d been given, Azara thought that this place wasn’t half bad. The little bathing beans had thrown her for a moment, but she’d figured them out, and they’d done very well at getting the sweat off. Her usual dawn run had been more strenuous with the addition of the stairs at the front plaza of the Palace City. While not particularly happy about it, the guards had left her alone after she’d explained to them what she was doing.
With her leaving soon, Azara didn’t want to run the risk of being too slow to easily escape or dodge any trouble they might encounter. She made a face as she again remembered she wouldn’t be alone in this. The emperor had proposed Jin’s help to her in a way she couldn’t refuse. As long as her siblings were at his court, she needed to stay on the emperor’s good side. Which left her stuck.
She sighed and vigorously towelled her hair. Jin was going to be a problem. He had the look of someone who had never stepped a foot outside of the palace, had probably never seen the darker sides of the world. She doubted he was prepared for what they might find. Slaves were not often well-treated, and fire mages were often used as living weapons until they broke.
And that was just one issue. She wasn’t sure if he would be up to hiding his identity, of acting like another person. He was liable to be useless which would only add to her work. Though his truth spell could be very helpful, and something she would ensure he brought along.
Azara was brushing her still-damp hair out when a knock came at the door. She frowned, but stood. “Come in.”
For a moment, there was no sound. Then the door opened on Jin. He didn’t step into the room, instead watching her, face in its usual mask. Azara stared at him, waiting for him to speak. When he didn’t, she propped a hand onto one hip. “Can I help you?”
“I would ask you to accompany me for a short while. I’d like to discuss your plans as well as potential disguises. His celestial majesty will have appropriate documents made for us. However, there are decisions to be made first.”
Azara’s estimation of Jin rose a bit. So, he was aware they would need more than their words to pass as whoever they decided to be. Good. Documents would be useful as well, and something she’d planned on investigating in the evening. Depending on the quality of what they received from the palace, she could pick up something from the forgers in the city. “Lead the way.”
He waited until she’d joined him in the hallway before he set off. Jin’s pace was quick, and Azara reflected that it was a good thing he was of a height with her or she’d have had to run to keep up. Down the hall and out the far door he took her, not slowing until they’d reached one of the stone-and-plant gardens that seemed to be everywhere.
Through a round archway he led her, stopping when they entered a small pavilion of sorts. Water the colour of jade spread out from the edge of the pavilion, craggy rocks and lush bushes and trees standing out across the pond. When Azara looked down, she could see the white, orange and black bodies of koi drifting by. Jin gestured towards the bench carved into the pavilion on three sides.
Azara sat and Jin took a seat on the adjacent side, keeping the corner well between them. “It’s been suggested that we should disguise ourselves as merchants. Is there a type you would feel more comfortable portraying?”
Leaning back against the wall, Azara studied Jin. He got points for asking her opinion. “I’ve disguised myself as all kinds of traders since I was old enough for it to be believable, and in the half decade since, I’ve learned a few things. What we need to consider is what would get us information on fire mages, and what type of trader would be welcomed in Nalbin. You’re more familiar with their culture. Is there anything in particular that they always import or buy?”
; Jin frowned. “They do purchase a fair amount of our silks, teas and porcelain.”
Azara nodded slowly, ticking through possibilities. A sudden thought had her turning her attention to Jin. “The tea, what types do you export to them?”
“Most every kind we produce.”
“Do you have any speciality teas, the kinds that give you extra stamina, wakefulness, that kind of thing?”
Jin drummed his fingers against his knee. “We do. We have some enhanced by magic as well. They’re more expensive and we don’t export them as often.”
“All the better.” Azara smiled. “Tea is light, and something we can manage without needing to cart wagonloads of it. We become high-end tea merchants, and with speciality teas, we’ll be welcomed into the higher households and markets, the kind frequented by those in power. That’s where we’ll gather information. Or at least, identify those who would have the most knowledge of fire mages. You can downplay your own magic, say you have enough to make sure the teas have the right spells, but nothing else.”
“That makes a great deal of sense.” Jin relaxed enough to offer her a half smile. “I’ll make the arrangements to gather merchandise for us and appropriate export papers.”
“You should also arrange a back trail for us. Have papers that show us doing business for a few years, smaller batches of exports to other countries, some trade within the Empire, that sort of thing. If someone investigates us, we’ll need something for them to find. We’ll need merchants’ clothing as well, preferably clothing that fits in more with Nalbin’s fashion. Your robes are a dead giveaway. I can pick some things up in the city.”
Jin glanced down at the dark blue silk embroidered with a square showing a phoenix. “You’re correct in that. His celestial majesty has promised to provide us what we need, and I can have the proper clothing prepared. I fear I’ll also be in need of another name to use, as anyone who sees that I have magic and hears my name is Jin may well put the pieces together.”
Azara was a little irritated she couldn’t oversee their clothing but surprised by his forethought. Jin might not be so useless after all. “I think it would be best to choose a name that is from outside the empire. You don’t have the full look of someone from Shi Guo, which makes things easier. We’ll say you’re from a merchant family that intermarried here, which will explain your accent.” Realizing what they would have to do to explain the two of them working together, Azara swallowed her annoyance. “I’ll be from another merchant family, one from Pocale, who married into yours to strengthen trading between us.”
His eyes widened. “That is the best option, I suppose. My sire was from Rancia, so your story isn’t so far from the truth.”
A little surprised that she’d been that close to the mark, Azara continued. “Then we’ll use that. The closer a story is to the truth, the easier it is to remember. You speak the Rancian language?”
Jin nodded, eyes flat and mask up. Azara noticed but didn’t pry. It was neither her business nor anything she needed to know for their job. “We’ll choose a Rancian name, that will help separate you a bit from the Empire. How about... Verryl?” She named a fruit merchant she’d met once in Gaulois.
“Verryl it is.” Jin met her gaze steadily. “And you’ll keep your own name?”
“Azara’s uncommon in Pocale, but not so rare as to draw comment. If asked, we both live here in the capital and are looking to expand our trade routes. We’ve been married four years and spend most of our time travelling and trading. Except in winter.”
“I will have the appropriate documents created. Is there anything else we’ll need?”
She frowned as she considered things. “The usual travelling supplies. If we’re going over land, we’ll need horses, a cart, and camping gear. If we’re going by sea, we’ll need more hard coin and a larger supply of tea. I’ll review everything before we leave, to make sure it’s all in order. I would also like you to bring along your truth spell. It could be very useful. Can you use any weapons?”
“I have passable skill with a saber. But I’m primarily a magus.”
“Wear a saber. People will expect it, and I’m hoping we aren’t forced into fighting while we pretend to be merchants. My abilities are...flashy.”
“That’s an understatement.”
Azara made a face. “I’m aware. Do you have any more questions for me?”
“Not at the moment. I’ll have the documents drafted and begin preparations to gather supplies. I’ll most likely have additional questions for you and more decisions we will need to make.”
“If I’m not in my room, I’ll probably be with my siblings. Should I leave word with anyone so you can find me?”
“If you’re going elsewhere, let a guard know, and they’ll see the message passed on. You have my thanks for your help in this.”
She had to offer him a smile. “I’ve been doing this for years. You can leave this to me, though I appreciate you being able to get the preparations sorted. We’ll have time while travelling for me to run through any finer points with you, but if you follow my lead, everything should go well.”
He eyed her for a moment before he bowed her head. “I’ll have preparations started. I’ll speak with you later.”
Azara nodded as Jin stood. She didn’t have a chance to say anything else before he was off again at that same rapid pace of his. Azara watched him disappear, before standing herself. Looking up at the sky, she thought it was late enough she could go see her siblings, and strolled off in that direction.
Chapter Eight: Sails
Jin stood before his celestial majesty, his hands clasped behind his back and his ears attentive. The emperor had dismissed everyone except two of his bodyguards which added another jolt to the sum of Jin’s prickling stomach. But he held himself still, none of what he was feeling showing outwardly.
“In the past two days, we have received additional reports on Nalbin from our sources there. They are keeping our chosen diplomats and wealthier merchants at a distance. Nothing overt, but enough that it has been commented on by our people. You realize what that means.”
He nodded. The woman would be fine, but he might find there were problems due to having the look of the Empire. Yet another reason the emperor had chosen to send him with her when the opportunity had presented itself.
His celestial majesty steepled his fingers, so his index fingers just touched his nose. “If you can ensure that neither the report nor yourself will be discovered, send what information you can through the usual means. If you have any doubts, hold your information until you return. I would not have our neighbour know of this escapade.”
Jin swallowed a snort. Nalbin wasn’t known for being reasonable, and he could imagine what kind of response they would have. “If it is necessary, I’m sure I can have someone...disappear. Only as a last resort, and done in a way that it won’t track to me, but it will be an option I will keep in mind should we risk discovery.”
“I would expect nothing less. From what you have said, it appears the crystal woman will be of use in maintaining your disguises. However, if she becomes a danger...”
“I will see that it doesn’t happen. And if it does, it will be dealt with the same as the other dangers to the Empire that have appeared.”
“Excellent. I would ask that you endeavour not to have that happen. I want her power for the court, and she will help ensure the loyalty of the twins. They have shown no signs of restlessness, but one cannot know what the future will hold.”
Jin bowed his head. “I have assigned Xiu and Qiang to serve Your Celestial Majesty in my absence. They are both well versed in truth and defensive magics.” He didn’t add that they were least likely to try to usurp Jin’s position, for a while. No magi at court made it far without ambition.
The emperor’s indulgent smile left no doubt of his awareness of both
magi and their personalities. “I am certain they will serve me well. As you will in Nalbin. I expect great things.”
Nodding, Jin couldn’t help the sudden dampness of his palms. He knew what happened when you didn’t measure up to the emperor’s expectations. “I hope to prove worthy of such honour.”
“I am confident you will. Your arrangements are complete?”
“Yes.” Jin didn’t say anything about the way the woman had insisted on rifling through everything, rejecting clothing and supplies for no discernible reason, and in general, being a nuisance. He had real concerns about their ability to successfully pass as a married couple. “We will leave the palace before dawn and enter the chosen inn from there. Tomorrow I will become Verryl, the tea merchant.”
“You have my blessing and my wish for your success.”
Jin bowed nearly in half. “Your kindness will never be forgotten, Your Celestial Majesty.” The words rang in his ears, echoing up from the past, the sentence almost the same one he’d used when he’d first met Emperor Bao.
The emperor waved a hand in Jin’s direction. “Then I release you for the time required to complete your task.”
With another bow, Jin took his leave of his celestial majesty. Shutting the door behind him, Jin had to wonder how long it would be before he saw the emperor again. Depending on what they found, this could take months, even a year. He shivered. He’d never been out of the Palace City for that long, not since first arriving, and the prickling feeling in his stomach didn’t bode well for the future.
* * *
Azara settled into the low-backed chair of a reddish, dark wood she was unfamiliar with. The hardness of it made her glad for the cushion that had been added, the cloth black with a soft wave pattern in blue and green. Her gaze was on her siblings, where they both sat on one of the beds.
Anali faced the small and high window to the right of Azara, her eyes half-closed, hands resting in her lap. Behind her, Aviur combed her hair out, his movements without hesitation. A ritual they said they’d been doing for years, that helped calm both of them. The longer she spent with them, the more Azara herself forgot the two weren’t actually twins. Some of it was to reinforce that image, she imagined, but the rest...
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