Madame Purple was eagerly awaiting the answer on whether she should send up the bold merchant, named Gustaf dé Reviche, who wanted to meet Asbj?rn.

  "Go ahead, let us hear why this Sir Gustaf is so eager to meet us." Asbj?rn's voice was charming as ever, with a hint of curiosity sprinkled in.

  Moments after, the man and his entourage stood bowing before them.

  "It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Lord Ravnsund. I have heard many a tale of you."

  Gustaf Dé Reviche spoke with a thick accent, and his thoughts rolled in the tongue of Kingdoms to the East, focused entirely on sounding well spoken in Empirian.

  "I want to say the honor is all mine, but I must frankly admit," Asbj?rn was friendly outwardly, but guarded at this man who apparently knew of him, "I haven't the faintest idea of your feats. I mean no offense, of course, but where have you come across my name?"

  "No offense taken, my lord."

  Gustaf had risen, now standing proud and tall before them, with a wide smile.

  "It just so happens I am an acquaintance of Lord Rahka. And when I heard of the crimson-haired young business venturer who refused to sell a unique individual to the collector over them all, I just knew I had to meet you somehow."

  Leopold couldn't help but notice the odd emphasis on Asbj?rn's appearance, and the mention of a 'unique individual', though it was clear Gustaf had never laid eyes on her, it could only refer to the blond girl, as nondescript golden-haired women flickered in Gustaf's mind.

  Though on guard, Asbj?rn effortlessly steered the conversation to the cards before them. "An acquaintance of Lord Rahkan, you say. I hope that does not mean we are at odds before we even get to play."

  "Hahaha, not in the least!" The merchant chuckled, "No, I might know Lord Rahkan, but at most we know each other in business; you might even call us vengeful competitors."

  Leopold could tell how a similar distaste for Lord Rahkan filled all three of them, and though this Gustaf Dé Reviche had certain tastes Leopold did not agree with, at least they agreed there. The merchant suddenly turned to inspect Leopold from a distance, and it was obvious that he was drawn to Leopold's long, loose hair that flowed elegantly down his back.

  "And who may this fine man next to you be?" The merchant gestured toward Leopold, who was rather surprised not to be recognized, even if most had never seen his face; they would know his identity simply from his hair.

  "You don't know who this man is?" Asbj?rn responded in equal surprise before Leopold could say anything.

  "Can't say I do." Gustaf looked intrigued by their reaction and the expectation that he should know who this blond man, who had also to be a foreigner, was.

  "Well, he is a good friend of mine, and a mean player," Asbj?rn said playfully, keeping the truth at bay by only revealing the minimal to gain trust.

  "I see, well, any friend of Rahkan's foe is a friend of mine too." The merchant laughed.

  "So, gentlemen, shall we play?" His voice turned serious, but still with a playful smile curving his lips.

  The merchant placed a finely engraved wooden box on the table, and he clicked open the golden clasps on the side and unveiled an even more intricate interior that folded out into a perfect square.

  Before them stood a board of the most popular game among nobles in the empire, Overherre, a game of strategy and aura.

  One of Leopold's favorites, and one he had won many Kruna playing.

  In casual play, the game would be played solely with the pieces. But for more serious games, the players could imbue not just the board but each piece with a little bit of aura, and the rules would become vastly more complex.

  Beating your opponent required both outmaneuvering them and outclassing their aura.

  For those with oceans of natural aura, games could be played just with that. If a great disparity between the players' aura was a problem, the use of aura stones could be agreed upon.

  It was obvious that the merchant did not have much aura himself, but rather that any aura coming from him could be attributed to the heavy pouch of Kruna he was carrying.

  Leopold looked from the merchant to Asbj?rn and back. He knew his friend was a good player, but this merchant seemed to be confident in his own abilities.

  Asbj?rn, too, had noticed the confidence of their opponent and looked to Leopold for strategy.

  "I still haven't figured you out, but you always have a knack for winning these types of games, so will you do me this one favor?" Asbj?rn smiled playfully at Leopold, already imagining the winnings they could earn, "I shall call us even for this morning if you do so."

  Leopold chuckled. He could think of countless excuses not to play, but he actually quite wanted to beat this merchant who thought he was merely another foreigner. "Well, if the good sir does not mind playing me instead?"

  The merchant let out a gurgling laugh, "It seems to me the two of you have a debt to settle, and I do not mind being the mediator, as long as you bring an interesting game."

  Being called 'you' was jarring to Leopold's ears, but it was intriguing to be treated as any other. "Alright, you got me there, I shall be our champion for this game."

  "I may be an aura novice, but even I can tell that both of you are fine gentlemen who have me beat by miles." The merchant was getting more serious; his anticipation for the game was filling every corner of his being. "And as you both look to be wealthy men, I propose a compromise."

  With a round hand, he scooped five Kruna from his pouch and let the colorful stones roll onto the board.

  Wealth like that could change the lives of countless people, but more important was the aura stored in the stones.

  "I suggest we play with five stones each, and wager the stones themselves; the winner takes all ten." He flashed his pearly whites at Leopold in a welcoming smile clearly meant to convince. Leopold could read him as plain as day; this man thought he could make a quick fortune off of them.

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  Leopold was not about to back down, and not about to lose either.

  "That sounds like a fair wager to me." And from his own pouch, he pulled another five Kruna that he let roll onto his half of the board,

  The board hummed as they moved the aura from the Kruna to the board, leaving the stones black and worthless until the game had concluded. As aura seeped through everything, the pieces came to life, moving into position.

  The first exchanges were clean and formal. Leopold let the merchant show his openings and taste for risk. Gustaf liked early pressure on the flanks, building up an aura to surround the enemy, then a pincer attack at the center. It was a style that won fast against the frightened. Leopold was not frightened; he saw every move before Gustaf had even decided to make it.

  He moved a weak piece right where Gustaf wanted him to, and waited. Gustaf smiled as if he had lured Leopold into a trap. He had not. By move seventeen, the merchant had walked right into his countertrap and lost three pieces in the process, practically sealing his fate for the game.

  "Lucky game there, young lad." Gustaf was still confident, blindly believing Leoplod had stumbled into victory. "I can't let you win like this. What do you say, what do you say we play another game and double the stakes, winner takes all?"

  It was clear that the merchant was hoping to up the stakes, playing a mental game beyond the board, as gambling a full ten Kruna would make most nervous.

  Asbj?rn looked expectantly at Leopold. Leopold nodded. "Why not? I accept."

  A fresh ten Kruna rolled from each of their coin pouches.

  More aura in play meant the game was about to change in Leopold's favor, but he was not about to make quick work of the merchant. Instead, the real play was to draw out the game, making Gustaf believe he had almost won, and that Leopold was merely lucky.

  The next game began similarly, Gustaf trying to coax a reaction out of Leopold by playing aggressively and laying every trap imaginable.

  Leopold was careful in his game, leading the merchant down a carefully thought-out path that at any time led him to believe victory was in sight.

  Finally, when both men had only a few pieces left, and most of the aura had either been used or returned to the Kruna, Leopold went for the kill.

  Now, the only part of the game that was left was that which took place off the board, where the rules were undefined beyond what you could trick a person into doing.

  "I win again, Sir Gustaf." Leopold smiled in his victory, making sure to sound pleasantly surprised as though it had not all been a ploy.

  "You sure have..." Gustaf was no longer smiling; if anything, he seemed utterly confused at his own loss. In his mind, all the moves kept playing; he was sure he hadn't made a mistake, so how had he lost? Somewhere in the back of his mind, he began to theorize that this was really just luck on Leopold's side; was he a master who was downplaying his abilities, or was there something foul at play?

  The tables had turned, where Gustaf Dé Reviche had wanted to play mind games with Leopold, it was he who now sat bewildered.

  "Well then, Sir Gustaf, I take that to mean the thirty Kruna are mine?" Leopold did not actually want to end their wager now, but he was sure that if he pretended to back off, leaving with the vast sum of thirty Kruna, fifteen of which had been Gustaf's, the merchant would be compelled to try and win it back one last time.

  "Raise one more time?" Gustaf said again. The words were less confident.

  "Thirty-five Kruna, that's a steep price, Sir Gustaf. Are you sure?" Leopold tainted his voice with fake sincerity.

  "There is no need to worry about my funds, lad." The merchant met him with an equally fake smile. "But I assume Lord Ravnsund will have to approve of such a bet?"

  "Do not worry, I have my own funds, I can play another game before the good Lord Ravnsund will have to bail me out." Leopold snickered, enjoying the game of conversation, not quite insults. And he could rest easy on the fact that of the three of them, he could play the longest before no Kruna could be found at the bottom of his coffers.

  Sparks seemed to fly between them; they were both fired up, drawn by the thrill of high-stakes games.

  The third game ran long. Gustaf fought for every square and bled aura to keep pieces alive. He was too invested now to fold. When Leopold finally sprung the snare he had been threading since the opening, the merchant’s mouth flattened to a thin line.

  Gustaf stared at the board as if it had never been his will to move the pieces in such a way. Then, with an unconvincing chuckle, he said, "Ah, well played, young lad. Perhaps we were too eager with our stakes. Thirty-five Kruna is a bit-"

  "We made a wager," Leopold interrupted softly, never raising his voice. "Surely a fine merchant as yourself keeps his word."

  Gustaf stared at what remained, then at the pouch in his servant's hand, then at his entourage. The smile returned, practiced and bright.

  "Let's not sour the good mood. I have another proposition for you," he said. "I don't see any point in throwing about Kruna; clearly, you are men of endless funds." He let the words hang in the air for a moment, letting his own pretend humility sink in. He could not accept losing thirty-five Kruna, so he had found a way to weasel his way out, a proper merchant.

  "Instead, why don't you take a look at this servant of mine. She is a rare beauty, cut from the finest stock. Though I'm sure lord Ravnsund could polish her even further."

  The merchant waved forward one of the women in his entourage. Leopold had not paid much attention to the servants who lingered behind their Master, but as she stepped forward, her striking looks caught his eye.

  "This is Sabuh, a rare highborn servant." A sense of pride filled the merchant as he presented this possession.

  She was, without a doubt, from the south, judging from her olive skin and high nose bridge. An exceptional beauty. But what truly made her stand out were the peculiar body modifications that had been made to her; her ears were cut at the top and reshaped into points.

  Leopold was both fascinated and a little repulsed by the type of people this man sought to collect. In many ways, it was similar to Lord Rahkan's collection, and yet not quite. Those individuals who were modified at Lord Rahkan's domus were all so according to their own cultural heritage, but this woman had been born into servitude and had no heritage.

  Asbj?rn's jaw tightened; no girl could be worth thirty-five Kruna, but it sure made for an interesting proposition.

  "And I will buy anything we shall enjoy for the rest of the evening." Gustaf sweetened the pot even further, promising an experience and a slave, in monetary value nowhere near thirty-five Kruna, but in the relationship, Asbj?rn could establish with this merchant, likely a good deal.

  Leopold rested two fingers on the board and looked to his friend.

  "What do you say, my friend?"

  Even without any prior scheming, Asbj?rn had already surmised the same math, and he nodded politely, as though to say, 'Take the deal, it's not like thirty-five Kruna will make a difference in our coffers.'

  The night was raw and lively when they finally left Madame Purple's, both of them warmed by the endless stream of drink Gustaf had provided, Sabuh walking a half-step behind. The city had grown dark, and where snow had melted in the day, it now froze, making for a precarious walk to the palace.

  "You should take her," Leopold said quietly. "The palace is full of servants. Your manor can make something far better of her."

  Asbj?rn laughed under his breath. "No. You won her. She is your prize."

  "Prize?" Leopold was not amused by his winnings. "Are you serious? Bring her to your manor and sell her to someone who will appreciate her."

  "I refuse," Asbj?rn was filled with jest as mockery. "If she is to be trained and sold under my roof, you will come and oversee her progress as I do each month."

  Leopold eyed him. "You are well aware, business is not my forte; I much prefer buying over selling."

  “Who knows, maybe the Empire's coming Emperor could stand to learn a thing or two about business,” Asbj?rn said, amused. "Say the word, and I shall make the arrangements."

  Leopold looked back once. Sabuh kept her gaze low, her aura quiet and neat, as if she had learned long ago that attention was dangerous, so far from interesting. She was nothing like the blond girl.

  "Fine," he said. "I will become entangled in your business. But only until I can convince you to take her."

  "We will see who convinces whom," Asbj?rn said, satisfied.

  They walked on, their boots crunching through the thin ice at the gutter's edge, the city's laughter fading behind them.

  In the mean time though it seems a number of new people have stumbled upon this corner of RR, so welcome if you are new here :D