Lady Goldmine is silent for a long, uncomfortable moment. Her eyes sweep over me, lingering in various places. I feel weighed – and found wanting. Doing my best to push that impression away, I keep my shoulders square, arms at my side, and try not to fidget like a child. Sarran’s warning, and more importantly, his tone, are uppermost in my mind. I can’t afford to misstep with this Great Lady; my House can’t afford for me to misstep with her. Especially not after what just happened with Fell.

  Lady Goldmine has the kind of smile that makes me question whether I’ve just agreed to something I’ll regret – or will realise that after the conversation. Even I can tell that she’s dressed with practiced elegance, in bronze silk that shimmers like sunlight over old coins in a wishing well. The embroidery is subtle, almost the same colour as the robes and only visible at certain angles. Her hair, black and streaked with metallic gold, is pinned up in a style that says effortless and more likely means expensive.

  “Markus of House Titanbend,” she says, her voice smooth and rich. Her accent is worlds different from Loran’s – I bet that their upbringing is even more of a contrast. “What a coincidence that you are here. After the council meeting this morning, I was so hoping to make your acquaintance. You do have such an…interesting background, after all.”

  It’s hard to know whether she’s being polite or threatening – her tone is impeccably polite, but my instincts are telling me that a predator stands before me. It’s in her eyes, I decide. They’re as cold as a crocodile’s – and her smile is just as toothy.

  I feel Bastet shift and sidle closer to me, unease bleeding across the Bond. Sirocco is watching the noble lady like a hawk too. If my companions are this wary, I should take note.

  “Lady Goldmine,” I reply, bowing again in what I hope is the proper angle for a respectful acceptance of a compliment from someone of a higher rank – one of those Lord Nicholas drilled into me last night. “It is an honor to meet you.”

  “Charming,” she says, smiling again. The smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “Heir Titanbend, you seem a little lost here. Perhaps I could be of some assistance? Where might you be going?”

  “I thank you for your offer – you honour me. However, I wouldn’t want to put you to any trouble. Sarran is an excellent guide.”

  “I can see that,” Goldmine says with an ironic note, her eyes drifting back to the corridor from which we emerged. “Though I think you’ll find that you will meet fewer undesirables when you walk by my side.”

  “Again, my lady, it is too kind of you to offer, but-”

  “I insist,” she interrupts me, her voice sweet.

  I eye her cautiously, but can’t see any way out of accepting her help which wouldn’t cause offence. I don’t need Sarran’s whisper-soft clearing of his throat to understand the danger. And I did promise to follow his lead.

  “Then I will accept gladly, my lady. I am sure I will be the envy of all around, to be walking beside someone as beautiful as you are.” I hold back a wince at my own obvious flattery. I’m sure it comes across as terribly fake.

  Goldmine is clearly a consummate politician – not a flicker of distaste or disapproval can be seen in her expression. Then again, perhaps she expects such courtly – read, false – behaviour. Anyway, it’s not as if I’m lying: she is as beautiful as a flower – probably a poisonous one.

  “Excellent. It will allow us to come to know each other a little better. Won’t that be lovely?” She laughs a little, the sound throaty and warm without a hint of the insincerity I’m sure must be there.

  She looks at me expectantly and it takes me a beat to realise what I’m supposed to do. Even then, I’m not sure – Nicholas only briefly touched upon escorting a lady. He probably wasn’t expecting me to need the knowledge so soon.

  Doing my best not to seem too hesitant, I hold out my arm. My heart slows briefly when she slips her arm around it. Then it speeds up a little again. After all, I’m only human, and it’s been a long time since I’ve been this close to a woman – especially one so stunning. Even if she isn’t a woman from Earth, and is possibly a rival to Nicholas.

  “Ah, to be escorted by a handsome young gentleman,” she smiles up at me – like almost all the other women I’ve seen here, she’s smaller than I’m used to, almost a head shorter than I am. “Now, where are we going? Or would you prefer to simply take a stroll around the market? I imagine this is your first time seeing its beauties. I will confess to you that it is my favourite part of the palace.”

  For once, I get the impression that she’s being utterly sincere here. But then, what do I know – her eyes remain cold no matter what she says.

  “I have been instructed to visit Goldman’s bank, my lady, and to return as quickly as possible afterwards," I tell her, doing my best to seem regretful at the time limitation. Lady Goldmine makes a moue of put-on discontent.

  “That is indeed a shame. Well. We must just take advantage of what time we have, must we not? I shall lead you there – but I will not promise to take you by the most direct route,” she warns me, a sparkle in her eyes which even Animal Empathy can’t identify as true or false.

  We begin walking through the crowds, Sarran and my companions following behind. I quickly see that at least something Lady Goldmine said is true – people definitely clear out of the way when they see who I’m walking with. Just like while travelling through the corridors with Nicholas, people bow and make way, though I notice rather fewer of them whispering. In fact, many pale and quickly turn to disappear into the crowds after they meet Lady Goldmine’s eyes.

  I finally get a chance to actually take in the space around us. At first glance, it appears to be open to the air, but when I look up, I see a shimmer high above our heads. My Inspect doesn’t reach that high, but I would bet all the gold in my Inventory that it’s some sort of magical barrier. Whether it just stops danger, or actually acts as a roof in the case of bad weather, I don’t know – right now, it’s sunny.

  Careful not to fly too high, I warn Sirocco.

  I know, she tells me plaintively. We are outside without being outside. She has clear mixed feelings about that and I can understand. For a bird who values freedom, the last day has been a trial for her. Being outside while still having a cage wall above her head has to be tortuous. I send her a sense of reassurance even as I tap briefly into her sight. I don’t dip into it deeply enough to lose awareness of my body, and thus my eyebrows actually react to my surprise and twitch upwards.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  From the air, it’s very clear that this is a fantasy equivalent of a mall, or a market as Lady Goldmine mentioned. A very posh, fancy market with a surprising amount of greenery – strictly controlled flowers and trees, of course. There are no stalls – the shops are interior affairs, though many have exterior displays as well. Several streets wind between the various blocks of establishments, their shape seeming to form some sort of obscure design. The symbol, if it is one and not just some random shape, is cut through by four main thoroughfares set in a cross shape, their intersection forming a large square dominated by a fountain that sits at the very centre of the whole market.

  All of the streets are wide and offer plenty of space for the various groups of people present. Though the streets aren’t crowded in most places, there are people dressed in all sorts of colours walking, sitting on the edges of fountains, or moving in and out of the shops. Some are clearly nobles with an entourage; others look more like people who might have been sent by a noble – the type of walk is telling and matches with the amount of embroidery on their clothing.

  But despite us being ‘outside’ and the rays of sun that fall on my skin, there is less heat than I would have expected, and the air movement isn’t any different from that of the palace corridors. Sirocco is right – this is all the outward appearance of being exterior without any of the reality of it.

  I’ll find a way to get outside properly as soon as I can, I promise her. And we shouldn’t be here for all that long anyway.

  She just makes a slightly mournful cry that draws the attention of several of the people around us. I look over to see Goldmine gazing up at her speculatively, before she returns to her tour-guide act.

  I make sure to show her that I’m paying full attention to her words about the shops we’re passing. Some of it’s actually interesting – she has an analytical bent about how successful a shop is that either speaks of a great deal of insider knowledge or the ability to observe small signs and put them together to make a detailed picture. I find myself hoping for the former – because if it’s the latter and she’s that observant, I hate to think about what I’m giving away.

  As I look around with my own eyes, I see a variety of establishments present – shops, yes, selling perfume, jewellery, weapons, and more, but also restaurants, and even something that looks like an entertainment room if the people I see sitting together and chatting are anything to go by. The thought does cross my mind that it might be an upscale brothel, but I quickly divert my attention elsewhere. Fresh off my confrontation with Heir Fell and accompanying a clearly dangerous Lady Goldmine, I’d rather not think about that possibility – and the implications of it.

  “I see you appreciate the palace market,” Lady Goldmine purrs, and I glance over to see a flash of hunger on her face which is veiled so quickly I might wonder if I truly saw it.

  “It’s beautiful,” I tell her honestly.

  “Indeed.” She studies me for a moment. “Your Lord speaks highly of you – and he is not known for over-exaggerating. Tell me, are you enjoying your foray into noble society?”

  “It’s... enlightening,” I say carefully. “There’s much to learn, but I’m doing my best to adapt.”

  “Mmm. That’s all any of us can do — adapt.” Her long fingers trace her lips lightly. If the redness of her lips is caused by makeup, there is no indication that her touch smudges it in the slightest. “Some succeed. Some burn brightly, then fade. You’ll forgive me if I take an interest – it isn’t every day a…foreigner rises to such prominence overnight.”

  I offer a polite smile. “I suppose I’ve had... help.”

  “Ah yes. Nicholas would be foolish to let one such as you flail helplessly.” There’s the hint of an edge to her words and I wonder what it’s aimed at. Is it because of the way I reacted to Heir Fell? Is that me ‘flailing helplessly’? Or is she trying to imply that Nicholas let someone else fail due to lack of help? Or is it that she’s just trying to introduce doubt into our relationship? It could be any of them or none.

  “Lord Nicholas has been incredibly welcoming,” I tell her firmly, wanting to nip those ideas in the bud. If only because the hint that I might be willing to betray the lord of my House would be far more damaging to me than being part of the conversation would be to Lady Goldmine.

  “I’m sure,” Lady Goldmine assures me. “And well he should be.” She turns her head, her swan-like neck elegant as the line of her throat is exposed. It takes me a moment to see the direction of her gaze – Bastet, padding at my side. I tense slightly. “Remarkable things, your Bound. Especially for such a short time by your side. Loyal. Fierce. Uncivilised in all the ways one expects.” She turns her attention back to me, leaning slightly closer and lifting her free hand to her lips again. “Do you love them, I wonder? Or do you simply enjoy knowing they are yours?”

  The question catches me off guard. I blink, too slow to hide it. “They’re...family,” I say, then abruptly regret revealing even that much.

  Her brow lifts — not quite surprise, but something sharper. “How noble. Love is such a fascinating weakness, don’t you think?”

  “It can be,” I allow, unwilling to be baited into showing more of myself than I already have.

  Lady Goldmine seems to be satisfied with what she’s got out of me so far – which gives me a sinking feeling in my stomach every time I think about it – as the conversation turns to less personal topics. I actually start to relax a little into the conversation once it stops feeling like I’m walking next on a cliff-edge and that a moment of inattention could have me stepping over it.

  Eventually, we reach the intersection of the two main streets and Lady Goldmine stops at the steps of a building that is one of those on the corners of the central square. It’s larger than any of the other shops I’ve seen, and either side of it is a lush lawn shaded by trees that almost begs to be the location of a picnic.

  Now I’m seeing it from the ground, the fountain is even more ornate, the statues forming it unknown to me. I can still make a guess, though, given that there’s a man and woman at the centre surrounded by five other people, all who look very noble. The man facing us bears the crest of Titanbend, which would make sense if this is Goldman’s bank.

  “Well, it is here I leave you,” Lady Goldmine sighs, a little theatrically. “I doubt that I can tempt you to bank at my establishment – you’re far too loyal to Nicholas to do that, even if my bank can offer you far better rates.” I beat back the urge to refute her supposition, reminding her that there are good reasons for Titanbends to bank with Goldman’s.

  Instead, I bow deeply to her, perhaps a little deeper than is strictly appropriate. But if the faint gleam that I see in her eyes when I stand again is anything to go by, she appreciates it.

  “It has been an honour and a pleasure, Lady Goldmine,” I tell her, surprising myself when it’s not entirely a lie. Though I have had to be on my guard, even when the conversation moved away from being nothing more than a subtle interrogation, it wasn’t all tortuous. Lady Goldmine is a good tour guide and is certainly easy on the eyes. “I thank you for your kind consideration in showing me the way – as you say, I am new here.”

  She studies me for a moment, and then dips her head slightly. I don’t think I’m wrong in thinking that she also adds a slight extra depth to the nod.

  “I must say, it’s rare to find such pretty flattery in one so newly arrived at Court.” She taps her lips with an elegant finger and gives me a smile full of mystery. “You must be careful – a noblewoman could be quite taken in by your charm.” She gives another of those throaty laughs, leaving me feeling a little unsettled. “Until next time, Heir Titanbend.”

  With that, she turns and sweeps away, her metallic robes reflecting the ever-present light like liquid bronze. I watch her go for a long moment, mourning the fact that robes tantalise more than reveal a woman’s form. Then I tear my eyes away – reminding myself that the deadliest poison is often clothed in splendour – and turn my attention to where she has brought me.

  Time to see what another world’s bank looks like.

  here!

  here!

  here!

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