A Mythical Match Up IV - Futures Market Part IV

           "Nathan? Nathan? ...Nathan!"

            Nathan awoke.

            First came pain - hot, sharp, throbbing pain - centered on his eyes, temples and forehead. The rest of his body merely ached horribly as though he had been beaten with baseball bats. Then came nausea. His stomach lurched. His pharynx contracted. A shiver of biological dread ran through him as an acrid pressure filled his throat. Fortunately he had long since evacuated any and all solid matter from his stomach and only experienced a paroxysm of dry heaves - still thoroughly unpleasant. He slowly opened his bloodshot, grime-encrusted eyes only to flinch and squeeze them shut. It was still dawn and overcast yet it felt as though he had gazed into the heart of the sun.

            "Don't just lie there! Arise!"

            Nathan groaned and covered his ears.

            "Easy..." he hissed "Not so...loud."

            "I will speak at whatever volume I deem!"

            "Fuuuuuck," whimpered Nathan. Everything around him felt greasy and somehow too hard and too soft, too cold and too hot.

            "Gah! Somehow you look even worse now than you did when you crawled back from whatever fetid hole you patronized. HOURS after sunset, I might add! Your demeanor and stench brought me to mind of a river troll! You missed supper with the Vasarians. It was mortifying!"

            "M' srry, m' srry," mumbled Nathan. Coherent speech was growing difficult.

            "We have a meeting, remember? With the noble merchant venturers?"

            "Can't go. N't like this."

            There was a long pause. Nathan cracked his eyes open a millimeter. Through the harsh glare of the morning light he saw Melinanatha dressed in one of her nicer outfits - a white cotton gown with frilled hems and embroidery - looming over him, clawed hands on her massive hips. She had donned her favorite pair of golden earrings and a stunning diamond necklace that could have bought a house back on Earth. Owing to the angle she was standing and despite her dress's high neckline, her literally soccer-ball sized boobs were almost touching her chin. There was someone else in his room near the entrance but he could barely make out their silhouette - let alone their appearance - and didn't dare open his eyes any further or tilt his head even slightly.

            "Does Lord Vasarian keep a sobrietas sarong in the house?" said Melinanatha at last without turning her head, apparently addressing the figure at the doorway.

            "Oh...yes, yes I believe he does, dominatrix," said the figure in a high-pitched voice. Nathan recognized it as one of the otter beastfolk maids. "Several, in fact."

            "Bring one. Master Veles needs it."

            "Oh, er...forgive me, but I must ask the lor-"

            "I will...no, Nathan will compensate Lord Vasarian for the potion. We are aware they are not cheap, nor easily obtained, but we do not have the time to seek a worthy alchemist."

            "I...very good, dominatrix."

            The figure disappeared. Nathan groaned and shut his eyes entirely. He'd never experienced anything like this and prayed he never would again. The mere act of existing seemed painful and he could barely string together a cogent thought.

            A seeming eternity later, a series of footsteps filled the room, soon followed by a soft pop.

            "Open your mouth," commanded Melinantha.

            Nathan grimaced but complied. He felt the neck of a small glass bottle slide between his cracked lips. A cool liquid tricked down his throat.

            "Will potions even work on his kind?" squeaked the maid curiously.

            "They do," said Melinanatha grimly.

            A bizarre, tingly numbness enveloped Nathan's body and mind. He shivered. Then, slowly, the sensation faded, taking with it all the pain, nausea, aches and malaise that had plagued him since he had woken. The mental fog lifted. His senses cleared. The experience was, by virtue of contrast between the before and after, the most pleasurable thing he had felt.

            "That's...sooooo much better!" he exclaimed. He looked up and saw Melinanatha and the otter maid gazing down at him. He looked down and around. He was still wearing his clothes from the day before. They were speckled with dark stains and stank of booze, vomit and body odor. He was lying in his bed in his room in the Vasarian home. The city of Do va Iesk could be seen through the window.

            "Was that some kind of hangover potion?" he asked in awe.

            "Yes," said Melinanatha.

            "Jeez, why doesn't Mythic Matches just sell that on Earth?" he said, shaking his head in amazement. "They'd make enough money to buy the world." He sat up and turned so he was sitting on the bed. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"

            "Had circumstances not precluded it I would have left you to rot in whatever foul libations you abused," snorted Melinanatha, folding her beefy green arms. "Now, clean and dress yourself. We are expected at the salon." She paused. "Oh, and do be sure to beg Lord Vasarian's forgiveness for missing supper when you next see him." She glanced down at the otter maid. The tiny creature barely reached her knees. "And I believe this one has business with you as well."

            With a final harrumph, Melinanatha turned and left the room. Nathan noticed she had to tuck in her stomach, furl her wings and squeeze her massive hips to pass through the doorway. Her carried her tail high in the air as she walked, almost like a cat.

            Nathan sat there on the bed for a while in a sort of serene daze. Then, the maid cleared her throat meaningfully.

            "Oh, oh yeah," said Nathan sheepishly. He reached down for his belt pouch. "How much will it cost to replace the potion?"

            The otter told him. Nathan winced. His belt pouch was considerably lighter after his night on the town and he honestly did not know if he had that much. He emptied all of the coins onto the bed and started counting.

            "...Nine, ten, fifteen, twenty-three...no, twenty-six..." muttered Nathan as he added up the odd denominations. "And...there, that should cover it."

            He passed a handful of thick coins to the maid.

            "Er..." Nathan hesitated. "Um, sorry, but is it...is it customary to tip?" he said, half-joking.

            The otter maid cocked her head.

            "Tip?" she said in a puzzled voice. Suddenly, her expression went from confused to sultry. "Oh, master, I do hope you are not intimating what I think you are," she purred, fluttering her eyebrows.

            Nathan goggled.

            "Wha-...? No! Not at all what I meant..." he sighed "Never mind. Thank you."

            Giggling, the maid curtsied, pocketed the coins and hurried out.

            "What's with these girls?" he muttered.

            Feeling more than a little foolish, Nathan scooped up his remaining coins and put them back in his pouch. He needed to exchange dollars for more Realm currency soon.

            His thoughts turned to his night at the Wemic's Rest. His memory of his time there was hazy. He could recall a general order of events but very few specifics, such as who he had spoken with and about what. In truth, he was more than a little disturbed by what had happened. Though hardly teetotal, Nathan prided himself on being a sane and moderate drinker. He'd certainly never drunk to the point of being hung over, let alone blackout drunk. Maybe the booze here was more potent than the stuff back home. Or maybe he'd been more stressed than he'd realized.

            Nathan shut his door, stripped out of his clothes and washed himself in water basin in the corner of his room. Drying off with a towel he'd brought from Earth, he applied a layer of deodorant and then donned a fresh pair of boxers, khaki dress pants, an undershirt and a nice light-green button-up shirt. After tying his shoes he took a moment to gaze reflectively at the city. Even though the sun had risen no more than a few minutes ago Do va Iesk bustled with activity. Pedestrians crowded the boulevards, streets and alleys. Ships big and small slowly wound their way between the long bridges spanning the river.

            Okay...Melinanatha's representatives were seeking buyers in Bellvale but apparently the copper market was even hotter here in Do va Iesk so Melinanatha had decided they'd come in person. The merchant venturers she'd mentioned were their first stop. They were actually a pair of siblings - a brother and sister - belonging to two closely allied noble houses with connections to the shipwright's guild. According to Melinanatha's trade house the pair could facilitate the sale of their copper futures to just about every shipmaker in Do va Iesk. After that they had a meeting with a smaller noble house - he couldn't quite recall their name but something about it was tugging at his memory. The house had ties with several prominent smiths and actually owned a well-regarded bronzesmith who specialized in musical instruments. Then they were supposed to meet with an elven diplomat who, through various intermediaries, had hinted his people might be interested in acquiring a large quantity of copper. Last, they had been invited to dine with Duke Ambra, who sat on the council of peers that governed Do va Iesk. Though the duke hadn't expressed any explicit interest in purchasing their copper futures, many other prominent figures would be attending so it represented an opportunity to network. Apart from playing the role of Melinanatha's exotic consort, Nathan's job was to evaluate any and all offers. He'd already calculated a target price and a minimum price they would not go under. Of course, a higher initial margin or lower penalty might tempt him to go even lower. Based on what they'd heard from the potential buyers' intermediaries, all the clients at least vaguely understood the terms of a futures contract but might needed to be walked through the specifics.

            The otter maid poked her head through the doorway.

            "Master Veles, the dominatrix requests your presence downstairs," she said. "She is ready to depart."

           "I'm coming, I'm coming," sighed Nathan.

  ***

            Less than an hour later, Nathan found himself standing beside Melinanatha in a small yet richly appointed antechamber. Like the Vassarian estate, the decor and architecture here vaguely reminded Nathan of renaissance era Italy. Ahead, a pair of tall anthropomorphic deer footman in finely tailored white tunics stood at attention in front of a set of intricately carved wooden double doors. It was eerily quiet; the thick walls stifled the din of the surrounding city.

            Nathan glanced up at Melinantha. She wore an expression of strained patience. She noticed him looking at her.

            "Be on your best behavior, Nathan," she muttered out of the corner of her mouth.

            "I will," said Nathan, slightly irritated.

            "Speak simply, politely and to the point when addressed."

            "I will."

            "Do I detect a degree of peevishness in your voice?"

            "No, it's fine."

            "Hmm. I ask because your behavior the last few days has given me pause."

            "The last few-...look, I already said I'm sorry about the bender. Repeatedly."

            "Yes, yes you have," said Melinanatha oddly.

            Nathan sighed and rubbed his temples. Although the potion had completely removed his hangover he swore his headache was returning.

            A soft knock issued from the other side of the double doors. The footmen turned and opened them, revealing a spacious room illuminated by a set of enormous windows shrouded by thin white curtains on the opposite wall. Several sea green sofas and chaise lounges were arranged in the center of the chamber around a small hazel table decorated with painted ivory tiles. Above hung a truly magnificent burnished gold chandelier with crystal prisms and an emerald-lined column. Paintings with elaborate copper and mahogany frames lined the walls. Most of the paintings depicted vast landscapes or majestic ships. A brass serving cart with several wine bottles, goblets, and a plate of small yellow pastries stood to the side near the entrance. A faint aroma of citrus flowers wafted in the air.

            Two figures occupied the room. One was lounging on one of the sofas and the other was standing by the former's side, paws behind their back. The recumbent figure was a feline beastfolk - a lithe, elegant female Abyssinian wearing an off-white tight-fitting dress that complimented her orange fur (and emphasized her considerable curves). She had a triangular face with sharp ears and deep, alluring yellow eyes. The other figure was slightly shorter than the first yet well-built, almost stocky. He was a rodent beastfolk with charcoal fur and large brownish-pink ears and a similarly colored tail. He wore crimson fez-like cap and a sort of sleeveless, fur-trimmed red robe over a dull green shirt. He had a handsome, albeit somewhat roguish face.

            The rodent beastfolk beamed at Nathan and Melinanatha.

            "Welcome, welcome!" he exclaimed in a nasally voice. "I do apologize for the delay."

            "No apologies necessary," said Melinanatha, greeting him with what appeared to be a smile of sincere pleasure.

            "So...formalities first," said the rodent beastfolk. "I, Sutwar of House Besatheri greet you, Dominatrix Melinanatha and..." he turned to Nathan "...Ah yes, Nathan of House Veles."

            "Cassa of the House Sear also welcomes you," purred the cat woman, nodding languidly from her sofa.

            "Come now, Cas, you could at least rise for the occasion," laughed Sutwar, glancing back at his companion.

            Cassa chuckled but did not move.

            Sutwar turned back to Nathan and Melinanatha and beckoned. "Please, be seated."

            Nathan and Melinanatha entered the chamber. Melinanatha lowered herself onto one of the sofas, turning to her side as she sat so as not to get her tail wedged between the cushions. The sofa strained under her bulk. Nathan hesitated, and then took a seat at a sofa adjoining Melinanatha's. The green-scaled Draco gave Nathan a look but did not seem irritated or offended by his decision to sit elsewhere. In fairness, there was very little space left on her sofa.

            Sutwar strode over to Cassa, who reluctantly sat up to make room for him. He sat down and clapped his paws.

            "Petra? Refreshments."

            A pretty chipmunk beastfolk servant in a French maid outfit seemingly materialized behind the group. She wheeled the serving cart over and began distributing cakes and drinks.

            "It's, uh..." began Nathan as he was handed a goblet. He felt his stomach lurch at the sight and smell of the wine.

            "Yes?" said Sutwar.

            Nathan wanted to say it was a bit early - and that he would possibly never drink again - but just smiled."Thank you, Lord Besatheri," he said instead.

            "Just Sutwar, please," said Sutwar, raising a paw.

            Nathan nodded.

            "I understand you are staying with Lord Vasarian," said Sutwar conversationally as the maid scurried off.

            "Indeed," said Melinanatha, smiling. "He and his house have been most hospitable."

            "I've never cared much for him," remarked Cassa. "A strange one. Those servants of his...why are they nearly all otterfolk? And female?"

            Melinanatha's smiled turned waxen.

             "Er...indeed," she said. She took a sip from her goblet, which she, owing to its small size relative to claws, clutched between her index digit and thumb.

            "Now Cas, all should be afforded some eccentricities," chided Sutwar in a light-hearted fashion. "Progenitors know we have our share of peccadilloes." He nibbled on a corner of the cake, whiskers twitching, and then turned to Melinanatha. "Imagine our surprise when we learned you've taken a human as a consort. I would not have suspected a Draco noble be interested in such quarry."

            Nathan raised an eyebrow. The tension in the room rose a smidgen.

            "Do you mean to imply that Draco are...narrow-minded?" said Melinanatha, eying her drink. There was little accusation in her voice but her smile had faded.

            "Not at all," said Sutwar soothingly. "It is simply my observation that your noble race rarely seeks companions among other folk. After all, there are already so many worthy mates within the lands of the Eastern Regent."

            "Nathan is..." Melinanatha hesitated "...Worthy, in his own way," she said carefully and somewhat halfheartedly. She eyed Nathan briefly.

            "Of course he is!" laughed Sutwar. "A human is considered quite a catch among the nobles in Do va Iesk and beyond, what with their great wealth, mastery of the natural sciences and ability to cross the veil. And to be the companion of a Draco noble, well...I congratulate you both."

            "Uh, thanks," said Nathan diffidently.

            Sutwar nodded.  

            "Well, as much as I enjoy these pleasantries, there is business to discuss," he said, placing his half-eaten cake on the table.

            "Yes," said Melinanatha eagerly. "Have you perused the contract? I realize the arrangement may be...unconventional yet it will benefit all. Wagonloads of fine copper ingots delivered at a set price regardless of what the market might demand. Even in the unlikely event the worth of copper falls lower, you are guaranteed the full shipment on the day specified once the contract is signed and the..." Melinanatha paused "...Initial margin is paid in full."

            Nathan smiled. She was really getting a hang of this. When they'd first met, Melinanatha barely understood the difference between debt capital and equity capital.  

            "Yes yes, we read through it personally after our clerks appraised its merits," said Sutwar. He reached into his rob and produced a thin stack of parchment paper. "We are willing to accept your proposal provided you consent to some...alterations to the original terms." He proffered the papers to Melinanatha."

            "Ah," said Melinanatha, accepting them. She stared at them blankly for a few seconds and then held them out for Nathan. "Darling, would you mind looking these over? My eyes are still a bit sore from reading last night."

            Nathan's lips tightened as his held in a chuckle. He reached over, took the documents and began reading through them. Fortunately, the script was quite legible.

            Minutes passed. Nathan ran a finger along yellowing surface of the parchment as he read. His expression slowly turned to puzzlement.

            "Uh...hang on," he said, looking up. "This...can't be right."

            By this time, Sutwar had finished his cake and Cassa was on her second goblet of wine.

            "Oh? Perhaps our clerks made a mistake," said Sutwar, leaning forward in interest. "It is, as Lady Melinanatha observed, a novel mode of commerce."

            "Yeah, for one, the price per ingot is far too low," said Nathan. "Like, by almost 50%. That's even lower than it was way back when the market was saturated. And the timetable...we never agreed to regular shipments starting in two months! It was for a single large shipment in six months. And the penalties...they're triple what we proposed."

            Sutwar pursed his lips in thought.

            "Mmm...no, our clerks did not err," he said eventually. "Those are the new terms."

            "That's ridiculous!" hissed Melinanatha, briefly losing her composure. She paused. "Apologies," she continued in a calmer voice. "Those terms are not acceptable. However, we are receptive to more...sensible alterations."

            "I'm afraid we cannot budge," said Sutwar, shaking his head.

            "Ignore my brother," said Cassa suddenly. "We could keep the penalties you proposed if you were to...accept a lower initial margin?" she purred, grinning mischievously.

            "How lower?" said Nathan, already dreading the answer.

            "To a quarter...no, one-sixth."

            "Are you mad?" snapped Melinanatha.

            "My sister is many things, but please, do not question her reason," said Sutwar coolly. "And yes, I would be amenable to a lower penalty if you asked for less."

            "Yeah, we can't do that," said Nathan, growing a little angry himself. He placed the new contract on the table. "This isn't how a futures trade works. It's not a loan. The deal we originally proposed is very reasonable. We could have asked for a lot more for a lot less but we were generous because it's a new kind of deal and anything new always seems risky. But Melinanatha's domain and the Trading House of the Green Claw have never reneged on a contract. And we've been doing this for decades...no, centuries on Earth. Why would we agree to these new terms? You would get a massive amount of high quality copper for next to nothing. We'd be better off just selling the copper on the open market as it's produced. There is no way the prices would fall so low that'd we'd benefit in any way under the terms you've proposed." Nathan took a deep breath and exhaled. "Let's talk this over and hammer out an arrangement we can both agree to."

            Sutwar sighed, somewhat melodramatically.

            "Our houses cannot accept anything less than the contract as it is, notwithstanding the changes to the initial margin and penalties we proposed," he said, shaking his head.

            Nathan stared at them. He looked over at Melinanatha. The green-scaled Draco was actually snarling. She looked as though she were about to flip the table.

            Nathan rose.

            "Come on, Melinanatha, we're leaving," he said, extending a hand.

            "What?" growled Melinanatha, glaring at him.

            "This isn't going to work out. When you can't make a reasonable deal you walk away. We'll find another buyer."

            Melinathan's expression softened then slowly changed to one of haughty smugness.

            "Indeed," she sniffed regally, holding her beak-like nose high. She gently took Nathan's hand in her massive claws and sat up. She addressed Sutwar and Cassa. "Thank you for your...time, but we have other meetings to attend," she said, barely hiding her contempt.

            Sutwar shrugged.

            "Very well. But you should know you will not find a better offer in Do va Iesk, possibly beyond," he said.

            "I think we'll take our chances," said Nathan.

             He turned to walk away, but stopped. There was something about Sutwar's tone - a confidence that didn't sound unfounded or even arrogant. His gut told him there was something going on. He slowly looked back. Sutwar smiled at him. 

            "Why won't we find a better offer?" said Nathan slowly.

            Sutwar chuckled. He suddenly looked more rat-like than ever.

            "Because you need this deal far more than we do," he said.

            "Huh?"

            "Come now, dear human," continued Sutwar, leaning forward, paws steepled. "Did you really think we wouldn't learn of the situation at Snail's Rest? The mines are all but shuttered and would require a substantial outlay of coin and labor to revive. And, lacking coin, you embarked upon this campaign to acquire a loan without paying the usual interest. If you insist upon this odd arrangement we will alter it so it more closely resembles a loan agreement our houses might issue."

            Nathan's jaw dropped.

            "You...how did you..." breathed Melinanatha in shock.

            "Oh, we have our ways," said Sutwar slyly.

            "By the progenitors, Sutty," said Cassa wearily, rolling her eyes. "Don't be like that." She turned to Nathan and Melinanatha. "We heard about the mines from an acquaintance, who heard about it from an acquaintance of theirs. I'm afraid the truth behind your little enterprise is spreading like a pox."

            Nathan's mind raced.

            "Okay, yes, we do need the initial margins to get the place running again," he said quickly. "But...think about. What difference does it make if the mine is operating or not right now? Our engineers are confident we can still mine, smelt and ship the copper you want by the specified date once we have the funds."

            "Yes, but you were not honest about your situation," observed Sutwar.

            "It doesn't...it's not relevant!" said Nathan, trying to stay calm. "A contract is a contract. You pay us the initial margin, you get the copper at the agreed upon rate on the agreed upon day or we pay a penalty. That should be it."

            "Perhaps in your realm," said Sutwar. "But here in Do va Iesk, mmm, agreements among merchant nobles are...matters of honor. And trust. You twisted the intent and meaning the agreement. Had you approached us with forthright request for a loan, perhaps all this ugliness could have been avoided."

            "Matters of honor and trust..." growled Melinanatha in disgust, shaking her head.

            "No," said Nathan firmly and angrily. "That's not what's happening. You're taking advantage of us. You know the deal is a fair but you'd rather just rip us off because you think you can get away with it. There's no honor in that."

            An uncomfortable silence settled over the salon. Nathan swallowed nervously. His temper rapidly cooled. He'd made a mistake. No matter how hot negotiations got you never snapped off like that. It didn't do you any good.  

            Sutwar stared at him for a few seconds. Then, he snorted, laughed, and shrugged.

            "What can I say, sirrah? What you say is not untrue." He cleared his throat. "However, our counterproposal stands. If you decide to accept, inform our clerks." He leaned back and smirked. "I believe this concludes the meeting."

  ***

            "If this were my domain, I would have had that loathsome wretch stripped, whipped, flayed, hamstrung and then tossed into a vat of molten brimstone!" raged Melinanatha from the inside of the palanquin.

            "Yeah, but we're not," said Nathan quietly from the opposite seat.

            "Fortunate for him," snarled Melinanatha, nostrils flaring.

            Nathan swore he saw a red glow briefly envelop her lips and nose. He'd never actually seen Melinanatha breathe fire and she'd never given any indication she - or any other Draco - could. Now was not the right time to ask.

            "How? How did that filthy rat learn everything?" exclaimed Melinanatha, stomping her foot for emphasis. The entire palanquin shuddered.

            "It's a good question," said Nathan, steadying himself. "I mean, the former miners must have known, right? That the mine is in a sorry state."

            "Yes! But none save us and the inner circle of my trading house knew of our...depleted coffers. And for once I do not believe the trading house had a claw in this."

            "Could be another spy," hazarded Nathan. "Another Kelscrim."

            "I'd thank you never to mention that creature's name again," snapped Melinanatha. "And no, it is not possible. We have only taken a clawful of new footmen and they have all of them been thoroughly vetted by Zeszintha."

            "Then...shit, I don't know," sighed Nathan morosely. "At this point, the best thing we can do is make the rounds and hope word hasn't actually spread that far. Or if it has, that they're still willing to make a fair deal."

             "Obviously," said Melinanatha, folding her arms.

            Several minutes passed in silence.

            "Y'know," began Nathan suddenly. "I wanted to ask this at the salon but it didn't seem appropriate. Those two are brother and sister, right."

            "Yes, they are," replied Melinanatha.

            "Like, biologically? They have the same mother?"

            "Yes, neither was adopted if that's what you mean to ask," said Melinanatha wearily.

            "But he was a rat beastfolk she was a cat beastfolk," pointed out Nathan. "Can they...breed? Different species of beasfolk?"

            "No, don't be ridiculous," snorted Melinanatha. "Frankly, I am surprised you did not discern the truth on your own. One of them married into another family to secure an alliance betwixt the two. In order to sire heirs, they imbibed a metamorphosis madras to transform into their new family's kin. The practice is well-established. Sometimes they remain in their new form, other times they revert soon after siring."

            "Oh, uh, yeah," said Nathan, scratching his head. Melinanatha's parents had in fact proposed he do the same thing before marrying Melinanatha.

            "Our next meeting is with Lord Fredritch and his consort at their salon on the other side of the river," said Melinanatha, changing the subject. "Perhaps he will prove more agreeable...Nathan?"

            "...Lord Fredritch?"

            "Yes. Lord Fredritch."

            Nathan was sitting up, eyes wide as saucers. An alarm had gone off in his mind the second Melinanatha uttered 'Lord Fredritch'. At first he didn't quite understand why the name instantly stirred feelings of dread in him. Then, memories of a well-dressed lupine beastfolk and his lady at the Wemic's Rest surfaced. The bartender had called him.

            "Lord Fredritch," whispered Nathan hoarsely.

            "Yes, that is his name," said Melinanatha impatiently. Then, she noticed the distressed look on his face. "What? What is wrong?"

            Nathan swallowed as he put two and two together. He gripped the dusty velvet surface of his seat.

            "I...I think..." he murmured, averting his gaze.

            "What? Out with it!" said Melinanatha, equal parts concerned and irritated.

            Nathan hesitated. This was bad. Really bad. And there was no telling how Melinanatha would react, particularly since she was already angry over how the meeting had gone. Then again...it really was his fault. What's more, the truth would eventually come out and it would be far better if it came from him.

            Nathan took a deep breath, braced himself, and then spoke.

            "I...think I figured out how those two learned about the mines," he said quietly.

            Melinanatha stared at him.

            "Yes...?" she said, narrowing her eyes.

            "Lord Fredritch...he was at the bar I went to last night," he continued. "I...I don't really remember what I said after I started drinking but...I think there's a good chance I talked about what was going on at Snail's Rest...and the mines..." he trailed off.

            Melinanatha said nothing. Her reptilian countenance betrayed nothing. The din of the surrounding city filled the silence.

            "I'm...sorry, Melinanatha. I had...I had no idea-"

            "Halt," commanded Melinanatha suddenly.

            Her voice, while not particularly loud, cut through the air like a steel scythe. The palanquin came to a stop.

            "Milady?" inquired one of the bearers from outside.

            Ignoring this, Melinanatha leveled a clawed digit at the curtain.

            "Out," she said, addressing Nathan.

            Nathan finally marshaled the courage to look her in the eyes, and what he saw shocked him. Melinanatha didn't look enraged, angry or even annoyed. Tears were streaming down her scaly green face.

            "I cannot bear to be near you now," she said in a trembling voice. "Your...imbecilic incaution has humiliated my domain and family and possibly condemned us to destitution." She paused. "Perhaps it because you have never taken your role as consort, companion and counselor seriously beyond what our pact demanded. It has always been a game to you...or a mere business transaction."

            Nathan lowered his head. To say he felt ashamed would be an understatement. He wanted to die.

            "Get out," said Melinanatha.

            Nathan reached out, parted the curtains and slowly slid out of the palanquin. He reflexively shielded his eyes from the glare of the afternoon sun and then looked around in a daze. They'd stopped in the middle of one of the enormous stone bridges spanning the river. Wagons, carts, riding beasts and pedestrians flowed around them maintaining a respectful distance.

            "Err..." said Nathan, turning back to the palanquin "How do I...find my way back?"

            "Find your own way!" bellowed Melinanatha from within. "Bearers, forward."

            With that, the muscular Draco bearers lifted the palanquin and marched off, leaving Nathan standing in the middle of the street. He stood there for a while. For the first time since he arrived in Do va Iesk, no one seemed to be paying much attention to him.