As a central hub in a half-dozen major trade routes, New Venyce was a shopper's dream come true. It had not one major market square... but six, each catering to different elements of society... from the poor to the mildly affluent to the near-royalty. The city's hundreds of shops offered every type of good and service imaginable: Clothing and Raw cloth, Weapons and Armor, Hunting supplies, Furniture, Foods and spices, Jewelry, anything that could be bought was for sale in New Venyce. They smallest and most affluent market was tucked away in the northern corner of the city, near one of New Venyce's more famous landmarks: the Ark. Expensive shops had sprung up around the massive sailing ship-turned-restaurant/theater like mushrooms after a long rain. Storekeepers clamored over each other to take advantage of the Ark's wealthy patrons. The shops carried only the highest quality items, and then charged customers two or three times the item's worth. The patrons paid it willingly and happily, and always came back for more. Business in the North Square was good, and, now that the rain had stopped and people were move from shop to shop without getting soaked, there were quite literally fortunes to be made and spent.

"How do you like THIS one, Zade?" Theesa held up a white low-cut formal dress. Other than the plunging neckline, the garment was quite plain.

Zade shrugged and diverted her attention elsewhere. It felt like they'd been shopping for days... trudging from one shop to another, spending at least an hour in each one. Theesa had tried on more dresses than Zade had weapons. Zade had already decided that if Theesa tried on another dress without buying it, she was going to knock the woman over the head and drag her back to the inn by the hair.

"What do you think?" said Theesa. "Maybe I'll try it on."

"Don't bother," said Zade. "You don't have the body for it... that thing'll fall right off of you."

"Hmm... You're probably right."

"You don't have the body for ANYTHING in this store," said Theesa. "You should shop for children's clothes... they'd fit you better."

"One doesn't have to be built like a brick barn to be attractive, Zade."

"So you say," said Zade. "But I say you've still got some growing to do. What'd you do... skip puberty altogether?"

"December likes me just the way I am."

"December is a strange man with even an even stranger taste in women."

"On THAT, I will agree... after all, he did choose YOU as a bodyguard."

"I'm good at what I do. And so are you, from what I've heard.."

"You're trying to embarrass me again," said Theesa. "Well it won't work... so stop it."

"I'm not trying to embarrass you. If I were trying to do that then I'd say something about that little squeaking noise you make when-"

"I'm not listening to you!"

The store's other patrons looked over at them with amusement.

"WHAT!?!" Zade barked. They all looked away. Theesa turned a very lovely shade of red.

"Next time I'm going to shop by myself!"

"Greeeat," said Zade. "Then you'll get your fool self kidnapped and it'll be that thing with Chain all over again."

"That wasn't MY fault."

"Just like it wasn't your fault that an assassin came to Montfort looking for you and ends up trying to kill ME the whole time he was there."

"I had nothing to do with that."

"That assassin sure seemed to think so."

"I'm here to buy dresses... not talk about that."

"Then buy your dress and let's go."

"I'm TRYING! You know, it would have been helpful if you hadn't frightened the saleswoman off."

"She was annoying," said Zade.

"YOU are annoying."

Theesa and Zade stayed out of each other's way for a few minutes. Theesa focused on finding something to wear, and Zade watched the other patrons. The patrons were watching her as well, and a few of them scurried out of the shop like frightened squirrels after catching Zade leering at them.

Zade noticed a man standing by the wall on the opposite side of the store. The fact that he was a man in a woman's clothing shop was odd enough... but his stance and his clothes made him odder still. Zade didn't know who he was, but his dark cloak, pale skin and sour gaze told him WHAT he was even before the familiar chill began to creep down her back.

"Let's go to another store," she said to Theesa.

"What? Why?"

"Too many ghosts in this one. C'mon." The two ladies headed for the door. Zade looked back at the man. He was still there... partially. His ghostly form was now transparent, and was rapidly fading away. Zade flashed him an obscene gesture just before he vanished completely.

"What was THAT about?" said Theesa as they walked down the strip of shops.

"You didn't see him?" said Zade.

"What? The man by the wall?"

"You saw him?"

"Kind of hard to miss," said Theesa. "Why?"

"Did he seem familiar to you?"

"No, I've never seen him before. Are we being followed."

"Yeah... but probably not in the way you think."

Theesa shrugged and turned her attention to other things... like the rows of shops that surrounded them.

"Oh, let's try this one." Theesa veered to one side and strolled into an up-scale clothier's shop. The shop obviously specialized in custom creations... there were very few finished dresses on display, but there were quite a few seamstresses's dummies and sewing stations tucked away among the reams of expensive cloth As expected, as soon as they walked through the door, the shopkeeper descended on them like a vulture on a fresh corpse.

"Welcome to Vivian's Finery!" the elderly woman said with a broad smile. When she saw Zade, the smile faltered. "Errr.... M-may I help you?"

"No," Zade grumbled.

"We're looking for dresses... both of us... for the Brinks ball."

"Ahhh, the ball!" Vivian squealed. She gave Zade a doubtful look.

"Yes, I'm invited," said Zade. "And YOU probably aren't. Deal with it."

"You'll have to excuse the hired help," said Theesa.

"The WHAT!?"

"Oh, of course," said Vivian. The storekeeper paid Zade no further attention... the dark-skinned, leather-clad mercenary had suddenly ceased to exist as far as she was concerned. "So how may I help YOU? I'm afraid we don't have much that you can browse-"

"Good," injected Zade. "Let's go."

"But you're welcome to look at what we DO have." Vivian lead Theesa and Zade a small area where a collection of wooden mannequins modeled some of Vivian's designs.. "MOST of our dresses are custom creations... designed by me, and sewn by my apprentices. If you're wanting something for the ball then I'm afraid there just isn't enough time for me to design something unique... but we do have some models that might suit you."

"Thank you very much," said Theesa.

"I'm sure you'll find something you like. And don't worry about sizes... we can make whatever alterations you desire. I'll fetch a seamstress for you." Vivian clapped her hands loudly, and a young dark-haired woman dropped what she was doing and rushed over to attend them. She paused just long enough to grab her supplies and a portable changing curtain.

"Take care of this woman," said Vivian. "I have other matters to attend to..."

The seamstress nodded and began setting up the curtain. Vivian departed for parts unknown.

"Oh, now THIS is a wonderful fabric," said Theesa. She fingered the fabric of an off-white evening gown.

"Virgin silk," said the seamstress. "Imported. Very nice."

"Too bad you wasted it on such an ugly dress," said Zade.

Theesa cleared her throat loudly.

"It's hideous," Zade continued. "There ain't enough alterations in the world to make you look good in that."

"Zaaaade," Theesa sighed. "Aren't YOU supposed to be buying a dress, too?"

"Only because I've been ordered to."

"Then if you don't start looking, you'll never find anything to suit you."

"It doesn't take ME all day to find one stupid dress. Only YOU would waste this much time looking for something you'll only wear once."

"Well you can't just grab the first dress you see-"

"The hell I can't. Here... I'll take this one."

Zade pointed to a mannequin wearing a very plain, floor-length black evening gown.

"That would look horrible on you," said Theesa. "You obviously need some help. I'll find myself a dress and then I'll help you find-"

"HA! Help ME!? Don't bother."

Zade grabbed the mannequin, picked it up and carried it back to the changing curtain. She pointed to the seamstress-

"YOU! C'mere..."

The seamstress walked over to Zade. Zade thrust the mannequin at her, nearly hitting the young woman in the face with the dummy's arm.

"Take the dress off that thing and hand it to me. And be quick about it."

While the seamstress undressed the mannequin, Zade slipped out of her form-fitting leather armor and tossed it to one side. The shop resonated with the sound of weapons, boots, weapons, heavy armor, and more weapons hitting the carpeted floor. In a surprisingly short time, Zade stood naked behind the curtain.

"Gimme that dress!" she growled. She thrust her arm over the top of the curtain. The seamstress gave her the dress. Zade slipped into it... and there was a long pause. Then: "MIRROR!"

"Oh!" the seamstress squeaked. She scurried away and returned a few seconds later. She was dragging a floor-length mirror behind her. Both she AND the mirror disappeared behind the curtain. Theesa tried to see what was going on, but the curtain was too thick, and she was too short to look over it. She couldn't see what Zade and the seamstress were going... or even see how bad the dress looked. There was another pause, followed by Zade's deep growl of disapproval.

"See," said Theesa. "I TOLD you-"

"This split is too short!" said Zade. "Gimme your scissors!"

"But-" the seamstress began.

"Never mind-"

Zade reached out from behind the curtain and grabbed a dagger from the pile of armor she'd left on the floor.

"Wait!" said the seamstress. "You can't just cut-"

rrrRRRIIIP!

"But you-"

RRIIP!

"Pins and chalk!" Zade demanded.

"You just-"

"NOW!"

The seamstress stepped from behind the curtain to grab her supplies, then vanished again. For the next several minutes, all that could be heard in the store was Zade barking out orders.

"... take it in one inch here... two inches there...and let it out here. The stitching along here is too weak, reinforce it. This needs to be tighter-"

"But you're changing the entire design of the dress!"

"-pull the waist in some more. And loosen these sleeves... they're too tight."

"Madam Vivian won't be pleased!"

"Madam Vivian ain't wearing this dress. Re-stitch this piece here, make a curved stitch... like this... not straight..."

"But-"

"This part needs to hang lower. And take these damned PADS out! Do I LOOK like I need a padded bodice?"

"No, but-"

"...the stitching along here is all wrong-"

rrrRRRRIIIP!

"Now sew it back with a thinner thread. Use a lattice-stitch, like this... Are you watching?"

"Yes, but I-"

"And let this piece here? It's got to go-"

RRIP!

"Take the cloth and use it to let the dress out along here... like this... hmmm.... okay, that ought to do it."

"You RUINED the dress!"

"No I didn't... I just turned it into something I wouldn't mind actually being SEEN in."

Still hidden behind the curtain, Zade removed the dress and donned her armor. Theesa heard the jingle of straps, buckles and weapons.

"Hey," she said. "Don't take it off yet; I didn't get to see it!"

Zade leaned out from behind the curtain.

"Now it's YOUR turn. C'mere..."

"But-"

Only half dressed, Zade grabbed Theesa's bony arm and pulled her back behind the curtain.

"Stand here. Don't move."

Zade went out into the display area, then returned with two white dresses.

"Put this one on," she said as she thrust one of the dresses at Theesa. It had a tight bodice that opened out into a huge, frilly lower half that reached almost to the floor.

"I'm not wearing this," said Theesa.

"You had all morning to pick out something you wanted... You didn't. Now you're going to do what I say so we can get out of here."

"But," Theesa lowered her voice to a whisper. "But it's ugly!"

"Well that's just too damn bad now, isn't it? PUT IT ON!"

Theesa looked around nervously, then slipped out of her clothes. She put on the dress and started fastening the dozens of tiny buttons.

"Okay, FIRST thing..." Zade took her dagger and advanced on Theesa.

"Zade what are you-"

"THIS has to go." Zade sliced and tore at the lower half of the dress until it came free of the top half-

rrrrRIP!

"ZADE!"

She tossed the loose cloth to the floor. Then proceeded to remove the long, flowing train from the other dress. She wrapped it around Theesa and held it in place. The two garments were made of the same cloth, and the colors matched perfectly.

"Pins!"

The seamstress... who had decided it was safer just to stay out of Zade's way... grabbed a box of pins and gently handed them to Zade. Zade started pinning the dress together-

"Zade, you can't just tear this woman's dresses to pieces!"

"I already did."

"We're going to have to pay for these, you know! Do you even know what you're doing! I'm not going to stand here and-"

"I outweigh you by about a hundred pounds. I hurt people for a living. And I'm standing here holding a box filled with long, sharp needles. It'd be in your best interest to shut up and stand very, very still."

Zade resumed pinning the dresses together with no further complaints. Finally she stepped back and admired the end result. The top half of one ugly dress... combined with the bottom half of another ugly dress... actually ended up looking quite good. However, the hybrid dress was still much too big for Theesa's small frame.

"Time to fix the size." Zade moved behind Theesa and grabbed the back of the dress in one fist. "Take a deep breath and hold it."

"What? What are you going to dooooooCan't Breathe!"

Zade had pulled the dress tight around Theesa's chest and abdomen. Apparently too tight, judging from the way Theesa's face was changing colors. Zade loosened her grip slightly and pinned the cloth in place. Then she got down on one knee and examined the stitching on the lower half.

"Seamstress! This dress should fall straight... get rid of these pleats. You're going to have to re-sew these hips... because the person wearing the dress doesn't have any."

"I beg your pardon!" said Theesa. "Ouch! You stuck me with that pin on purpose!"

"No, I didn't."

"OUCH!"

"THAT'S what it feels like when I stick you on purpose. Hold still."

Zade made numerous changes to the dress, and even went so far as to cannibalized several more garments. She took a the frilly neckline off of one dress, ripped it in half, and pinned it to Theesa's sleeves

"...sew these on here..." she told the seamstress.

Then she used her knife to drastically lower the neckline of Theesa's dress. It wasn't quite scandalous, but it would certainly get attention. Ten minutes later, Theesa was wearing a gorgeous dress that bore only a passing resemblance to the one she'd put on.

"Oh, my," she said as she admired herself in the mirror. "This is-"

"What is THIS!?" said Madam Vivian. The shop's owner had returned to check on her patrons. She saw Theesa standing in the middle of a pile of scrap cloth... the torn remains of several of Vivian's custom-designed dresses. "What have you DONE to my BEAUTIFUL GARMENTS!"

"WHAT beautiful garments?" said Zade. "Where do you keep the beautiful ones, 'cause I sure haven't seen any out here!"

"SHE DID IT!" The young seamstress pointed at Zade. "She's HORRIBLE!"

"WHAT IS THIS OUTRAGE!" Vivian howled. "VANDALS! I'M CALLING THE SHERIFF!"

"You go right ahead," said Zade. "They'll arrest YOU for actually producing this CRAP and selling it to people."

"HOW DARE Y-"

"But Zade, what about this one?" said Theesa, trying frantically to avoid a fistfight and subsequent arrest. She modeled the dress that Zade had created from Vivian's rather gaudy garments.

"That dress," said Vivian. She eyed Theesa's dress with suspicion... and confusion. "Did I design that?"

"Hell N-"

"Why, yes you did," said Theesa. "It was hanging right here with the others. It's very beautiful! I LOVE it... I'd be honored to wear it to the ball! It's Absolutely GORGEOUS! I'm sure EVERYONE will love it... and I'll tell them ALL that it came from..." Theesa read the letters painted on the window... "Vivian's Finery! How much do you want for it? This dress much cost a fortune... but I MUST have it! NO price is too great! Name your price, Madam Vivian... name it and I will pay TWICE the sum simply to own this masterpiece."

"Price? Ummm...." Vivian frowned. "I don't remember that one..."

"Well if it was here in your shop then you MUST have designed it, right?" said Theesa. "It's so lovely... perhaps it was a display piece that you hadn't meant to sell?"

"Errr... yes. Yes, that's it. I remember now. You've stumbled across one of my display pieces."

"Oh, but I MUST have it," Theesa continued. "I simply MUST! I know you don't want just ANYONE walking off with this work of art, but I assure you that I will take the GREATEST care of it! Oh, PLEASE sell it to me!"

Off to one side, and apparently forgotten, Zade rolled her eyes and tried not to gag.

"Well," said Vivian. "It, uhhh... it IS made of Virgin Silk..."

"The BEST silk I've ever felt against my skin!" Theesa crowed.

"And, I put a LOT of work into it... quite a bit..."

Zade coughed. Theesa shot her a sour look.

"I surely can't part with it for less than ten thousand gold-"

Zade's eyes widened in disbelief. She started to say something, but Theesa beat her to it.

"TWENTY!" she blurted. "I cannot pay less than TWENTY thousand gold for this... this DIVINELY INSPIRED work of beauty!"

Vivian's mouth opened and closed silently several times.

"Zade, fetch our money-"

Growling, Zade produced the pouch carrying the remainder of December's diamonds... those that they hadn't converted into gold coin. She picked out a few of the larger stones and held them out in the palm of her hand. Vivian looked at them doubtfully.

"Diamonds?"

"They're real," said Zade.

Right before their eyes, Vivian's look of doubt transformed into overt greed. She looked as if she were going to start drooling at any moment. Vivian held out her hand-

"Let me see," she said.

Zade gave her the stones.

"If you won't accept them as payment," said Theesa. "Keep them as collateral. Your seamstress still has to make some alterations..."

"Alterations?"

"To fit the dress correctly. And to Zade's dress as well. Deliver them both to the Golden Eagle Inn, and we'll exchange those diamonds for the proper amount of gold. Or you may have them appraised and decide to keep them... the choice is yours."

"Ummm... of- of course."

"We must be going," said Theesa as she began to get dressed. I simply HAVE to tell December about this MARVELOUS DRESS!" She handed the dress to the seamstress, who'd remained mercifully silent during Theesa's soothing of Vivian's ire.

"They'd better fit right, too," Zade said in a low voice. "Or I'm coming back."

The seamstress gulped.

"I'm ready, Zade," said Theesa. She started walking toward the door. Zade followed, and when they got outside-

"TWENTY THOUSAND GOLD! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!!!!!! That dress wasn't worth any more than TWO thousand!"

"We had to pay for the dresses that you ripped apart," said Theesa.

"They were GARBAGE! I IMPROVED them!"

"AND we had to avoid arrest for destruction of property. I think twenty-thousand is a steal... she could have easily asked for more."

"But it isn't YOUR money!"

"Of course it is... December gave it to me!"

"I'm SURE he wanted to get some of it back!"

"He didn't SAY he wanted any back, now did he?"

Zade sighed and shook her head.

"Where did you learn to do that?" said Theesa.

"Do what?"

"The dresses. They're very beautiful, thanks to what you did. Were you a seamstress once?"

"Do I LOOK like a seamstress?"

"What you look like is... well... no. But you do have talent. I thought maybe-"

"When I was small, my mother used to make dresses for... someone. She taught me, and I helped her."

"Why didn't you become a designer? You'd certainly be better at it than-"

"Because I was a slave. Slaves don't become designers. Or seamstresses. Or anything else. The only thing a slave can become is a DEAD slave. When my mother stuck the master's wife with a pin, the overseer broke all of her fingers and sent her out to the fields with the rest of the slaves. Are you satisfied, now?"

"Oh. I'm sorry-"

"Did YOUR family own slaves?"

"No! Of course not!"

"Then you have nothing to be sorry about. At least as far as THAT is concerned."

"I didn't know," said Theesa. "I didn't know what you were a... you know."

"I've been a lot of things," said Zade. A store caught her eye as they walked past. She stopped. "We're going in here."

"Where?"

"HERE. C'mon."

"But this is-"

Zade pulled Theesa inside the large shop, easily twice as large as December's store back in Montfort. But, instead of jewels and gemstones, this store was packed from floor to ceiling with weapons and armor. Suits of chain, plate, and leather armor hung from the east and west walls like fine art. There were bracers and shields and helmets of every size and construction imaginable. Then there were the pole arms... quarter-staffs, tridents, halberds, bardiches, and other types that not even Zade had seen before. There was a huge assortment of traditional weapons like longswords, maces, hammers and axes... and non-traditional ones, such as sai, boomerangs and slingshots. The place was so crammed with inventory that it was difficult to walk down the narrow aisles without bumping into something.

Zade was in heaven. Her eyes widened in awe as she made her way to the center of the store. There was a large open area there, and a raised circular counter where the storekeeper sat. Zade stood there and turned around in a circle, taking in all the wonderful weaponry that surrounded her.

Theesa leaned against the counter and looked bored.

"May I help you ladies?" said the storekeeper. He was a small, thin man...hardly the type of person one would expect to be selling weapons and heavy armor. He probably couldn't even lift half of the things in his own store.

"Uhhh..." said Zade.

"She's just looking," Theesa interrupted.

"The hell I am!" said Zade. She tapped the money-pouch on her belt. "I'm buying! Do you have any whips?"

"We have everything," said the storekeeper. "Follow me, I think I have something you might like." He lead them to a small table and picked a black leather whip out of an assortment of twelve. He gently handed the whip to Zade as if the weapon were made of glass. "Eight feet of the finest leather. Excellent construction. Feel free to try it out."

Zade turned to face the open area of the store. She uncoiled the whip and made a quick motion with her arm. The whip made a loud, satisfying CRACK! as it snapped in the air.

"Nice," she said. She coiled the whip and handed it back to the storekeeper. "Got anything better?"

"Well, we have-"

"I want the best you got," said Zade. The storekeeper eyed her with suspicion. "I can pay for it," Zade added.

The man nodded and walked to the end of the table. He ran his fingers across the last whip...

"This eleven-foot whip just came in last week. Feel the leather..."

Zade stroked the weapon the same way that Theesa had been handling the fabric at the clothier's.

"This IS good," she said.

"And much sturdier," the man added. "It has a segmented metal cord underneath the leather... very strong, almost unbreakable... yet just as light as the other."

"Let me see."

The man handed her the whip. Zade felt the weight, then uncoiled it and let it hang to the floor. She flicked the handle a few times to see how the whip moved... it undulated in the air like a serpent... smooth and fluid... almost hypnotic. She made a few more practice motions, and then-

CRACK!

The snap of the whip was so loud that it made Theesa yelp. Even the storekeeper jumped.

Zade smiled.

"I'll take it," she said.

"Would you like me to wrap it?"

Zade coiled the whip up and hung it from her belt.

"I'll take that as a no," said the man. "Now I'm sure you can imagine that the cost for such a-"

Zade had already moved to another table, where something else had caught her eye. She picked up a set of twelve throwing knives in a soft leather case. She took out one of the small daggers and held it.

"Great balance," she said. "And light." Zade held the blade at each end and applied pressure to see if it would bend. It wouldn't. "Strong, too. What kind of metal is it?"

"Ahhhh...," the storekeeper beamed. "THAT, my good lady, is a new metal from the west. The traders call it Metal of the Titans. Stronger than steel, and quite a bit lighter. The same metal is in your new whip... it came on the same shipment as these blades. Care to test one out?"

"Of course. Theesa, go stand over there by that wall."

Theesa had taken two steps when she realized what Zade said.

"Oh, ha, ha." she smirked.

The storekeeper pointed her to an archery target hanging on the far wall. Zade eyed the target for a moment, then drew back and threw the knife. The blade hit the bullseye dead center.

"I'll take 'em," said Zade. "What else you got with this metal?"

"There's this hunting knife here-" the storekeeper picked up a seven-inch knife, which Zade quickly snatched away and stuffed into her belt.

"Sold. What else?"

"Swords-"

"Not interested. What else?"

"Hmmm... come this way..."

Zade followed the storekeeper to a collection of quarterstaves. Most were wooden, of various lengths and thicknesses. There was one, however, that was metal. Zade grabbed it and gave it a few practice moves... twirls, lunges, thrusts, parries and blocks. The staff's balance was superb, and it didn't weigh any more than a wooden staff of the same size. Zade finished her routine and nodded appreciatively.

"It's a good one," she said.

"Good?" said the storekeeper. "I doubt you'll find one better. And then there is the hidden feature... if you will allow me-"

Zade handed the staff to the man.

"Watch carefully. If you twist and pull the shaft gently like so-"

SHIK!

Two six inch metal blades popped out of either end of the staff... Zade's smile widened to a sinister grin.

"To retract them, simply reverse the motion, like this-"

CLACK!

Both blades retracted.

"Perfect for a surprise advantage against an unsuspecting opponent," said the storekeeper.

"Lemme see that." Zade grabbed the staff away.

SHIK!

"Ohhh, yeah..."

CLACK!

"I'll take this, too."

SHIK!
CLACK!

"Ooo, this is pretty," said Theesa. She'd removed a lightweight quarterstaff from the wall. The wood was dark and polished to a nice gleaming sheen. Theesa imitated a few of the moves that Zade had done earlier... although much, much slower. "It's just my size, I think."

"Put that thing away before you knock yourself unconscious."

"I won't-"

BOK!

"Ouch!"

Theesa put the staff back and rubbed the small bruise on her forehead.

"That's all the titanmetal weapons I have," said the storekeeper. "But I do have some bracers-"

"I got bracers."

"Not like THESE, you don't." The storekeeper winked. "Follow me."

The armor was on the other side of the store, and took a few minutes to maneuver through the cramped aisles. The storekeeper came to a table loaded with bracers of all sizes and descriptions... and he walked right past it. There was a locked chest just beyond it. He unlocked it with a key that he wore on a chain around his neck. Inside the chest were quite a few pieces of assorted armor... boots, a small shield, a helm, and a pair of bracers. The man removed the bracers, then closed and locked the chest.

"Usually these things would have sold the instant they hit the store," he said. "But, as you can see, they are sized more for a woman's arms... we don't get many women interested in armor."

The bracers were slender, with smooth curves and an elaborate design engraved into the front. They looked more decorative than functional. The polished metal glinted in the light like a piece of fine Jewelry.

"Now I know what you're thinking," said the man as he put one of the bracers down on the table. "But I assure you these are VERY functional." The man reached under the table and grabbed a sledgehammer. He stepped back and swung it at the bracer-

CLANG!

The hammer bounced off of the metal without leaving a mark.

"Lemme try that-"

Zade took the hammer and hit the bracer as hard as she could... which was quite hard. She heard the wooden table crack, but the bracer was undamaged.

"Impressive," she said.

"Don't be impressed yet," said the man. "Would you mind if I 'borrowed' the knife that you haven't paid for yet?"

Zade grunted and handed him the hunting knife. He held it against the front of the bracer and ran his finger along a portion of the bracer's engraving.

THIP!

The knife vanished.

"Where did it go?" said Theesa.

"Look-" The storekeeper held the bracer up so that they could see the design on the front. He pointed to the center... "Do you see it?

There amidst the delicate curves and swirls was an image of the dagger that had just vanished. It looked no different than any other part of the engraving, yet it clearly hadn't been there before. The storekeeper touched the image with his fingertip, and the dagger... the ACTUAL dagger... reappeared.

"Both bracers bear the same enchantment... I don't know who performed the magic, but I doubt there's a mage in THIS city that can reproduce it. You can use these bracers to hide almost any weapon that-"

"This?" Zade held up her metal staff.

"Oh, that's much too big," said the storekeeper. "The bracers were intended to hold smaller weapons. Crossbows and daggers... that sort of thing. And speaking of crossbows-"

"Already got one. And I can guarantee that it's better than anything you've got here."

"Oh? Would you care to sell it?"

"Not a chance."

"Can I interest you in some titanmetal bolts, then? Same metal as the bracers and the staff? They'll withstand quite a bit of punishment, and are only slightly heavier than a standard wooden bolt."

"How many ya got?"

"Two dozen-"

"I'll take 'em all."

"Right this way, then..."

The storekeeper lead them further into the store. Zade scooped up the metal bracers and slipped them onto her arms.

"They match your armor," said Theesa. "Very nice."

"The question is... will they go with a black formal dress?"

"Oh, you can't possibly expect to take weapons to a ball."

"You can't possibly expect me NOT to."

"But it's a BALL!"

"And?"

"It's a party! You don't take weapons to parties!"

"I do."

"Twenty-Four metal bolts," said the storekeeper. He had opened another locked chest and removed a large bundle wrapped in a soft brown cloth. The bolts clinked slightly as he handed them to Zade. She took one out of the bundle and held it up to inspect the barbed point.

"Razor sharp," she said.

"And they'll stay that way for quite a while under normal use."

"Are we done yet?" said Theesa. Zade and the storekeeper both gave her the exact same annoyed glance.

"What else can I interest you in, today?"

"This will do," said Zade. "For now. Expecting any more shipments in before the end of the week?"

"Yes. Three, in fact."

"I'll be back."

Zade paid the storekeeper a shameful amount of money and then left the store carrying her new possessions.

"I guess the day wasn't a total loss," said Zade.

"I'm glad you've found yourself some new toys," Theesa replied.

"Toys? TOYS!? It was 'toys' like these that saved your butt when that assassin was after you in Montfort. But I suppose you don't remember that, eh?

"You just HAVE to keep bringing that up, don't you?"

"Yes. And did I ever get any thanks for that?"

"Yes, you did!"

"I don't remember. Maybe you should thank me again."

"Thank you for saving my life, Zade," Theesa said with a complete lack of enthusiasm.

"Huh? Did you just say something?"

"I said thank you."

"Eh? What was that?"

"THANK YOU!"

"Ohhhh... now what were you saying about my 'toys'?"

"I was saying that I'm hungry," said Theesa, in an attempt to change the topic of conversation.

"For once, I agree with you. I'm starving."

"Let's eat there-"

Theesa pointed up... at the ARK. The theater/restaurant was just a few blocks away. The large sailing galleon loomed above them, supported by a network of stilts and platforms. The ship itself was the theater, and it was currently closed. But the lower platforms were crowded with people eating their over-priced midday meal.

"Oooo, I bet they have the most wonderful food!"

"As long as they have steak, I'll be happy. Let's go."



---


December took the long way back to the inn, not because of any desire to see more of New Venyce, but to see how many people were going to follow him.

Three, so far.

He'd picked up the first tail just after he'd left the sheriff's office. About an hour later, that man traded off with a second who'd been following December for the remainder of the day. And then there was the third, who kept to the shadows so well that the second man was unaware of his existence.

Things were going exactly as he had predicted.

December eyed the shops that he passed. Any one of them would do. He headed towards the leathersmith's shop on the corner. As he walked, December reached into his pocket and retrieved a small piece of parchment that had been folded into quarters. He did not unfold it. He merely looked at the faint scribbling on the outside to make sure it was the correct one. Then, as he entered the leathersmith's shop, he dropped the parchment on the ground just outside.

"May I help you?" said the leathersmith. The man's shop displayed a large assortment of leather goods... saddles, belts, shoes, and even an exquisite suit of leather armor. None of it interested December. However, the large leather whip that hung beside the armor did catch his eye.

"You like it?" said the shopkeeper.

"No, but I believe I know someone who might," said December. He pretended to browse the shop for about a minute. Then there was a surprised yelp from just outside the door.

"Eh? What was that?" said the shopkeeper.

"I am afraid I must take my leave," December replied. "Good day, sir." He left the store, and waiting for him right outside was one of the SHERIFF's deputies. The man was holding a piece of parchment in his hand. The parchment was burning... rapidly turning to a very fine and completely untraceable ash. The deputy didn't seem to notice, however... he stared at it as if mystified. In a way he was. Lovvorn's rune had paralyzed him... a harmless and temporary spell that was especially suited for the overly-curious. By the time the spell wore off, December would be on the other side of town.

Now there was only ONE person following him. December spotted him in the shadows... his shape was hidden from normal sight but the heat of his body was clearly visible to the icy jeweler. He let the man follow him... all the way across town... right to the Golden Eagle Inn. Instead of walking up the steps and entering the inn, December wandered around the building until he found a suitably isolated spot. Once there, he simply waited.

A few minutes passed. And then...

"You trying to get me killed!?!" said Sheriff Wylen. The sheriff stepped around the corner of the building and pressed himself against the wall as if trying to become a part of it. "At least you could've gone inside!"

"Our conversation will be much more private if we do not enter the inn... a number of the employees are overly curious about the affairs of the guests."

"Then why the hell are you staying here?"

"Because I am but a simple jeweler... I have nothing to hide."

"Uh-huh... look, I'm a marked man now, thanks to you!"

"There have been attempts on your life?"

"Not yet! Not until they FIND me!"

"And you feel I am responsible for this turn of events?"

"Half the deputies in my office are on Brink's payroll... and you walk in there throwing accusations around like you don't even CARE about what happens when you leave!"

"I do not care," said December. "However... if so many of your subordinates are disloyal, why are they still in your employ?"

"You assume waaaay too much," said Wylen. "I'm just a figurehead! I have no authority to do anything! I can't even hire and fire my own deputies!"

"Then why do you still hold the office of sheriff?"

"Brinks ain't gonna be here forever," said the sheriff. "Men like him never are. But when he's gone, somebody's gotta be here to pick up the pieces... restore law an order to a town that USED to be a pretty decent place to live. I'm just waiting... trying to outlive the evil so that I can start doing some good when the time comes. But thanks to YOU, that's pretty much out the damned window!"

"I see no connection between our earlier conversation and your current predicament."

"Will you STOP with the innocent act! PLEASE?"

December looked down at the sheriff.

"What do you wish of me, SHERIFF?"

"Me? No... what do YOU want from ME? I'm not stupid... I know I've been played like a cheap fiddle. Brinks is paranoid beyond all semblance of sanity... and you've just focused all of that paranoia on TWO people: Me and You. YOU obviously ain't concerned about it, but I AM! So if I wanna live past today, I gotta do what you say! I work for YOU now!"

"That would be extortion, Mr. Wylen. I am in no way connected with any such scheme."

"Whatever. Look... I know who you are and what you do. And I think maybe... maybe you're just what this town needs."

December's white eyebrow crept up towards his forehead.

"What I mean is, given the choice between Brinks and you... I'd take you any day."

"I have no idea what you are talking about, Mr. Wylen. I am but a visitor... I have no interest in expanding my business to this town."

"Are you gonna tell me what you want or not!"

"What I want," said December. "Is what every tourist wants. Information... specifically about the more important figures in this city."

"Brinks. You already know about Brinks... what do you expect ME to tell you?"

"Whatever you feel would be of interest to a tourist such as myself."

Wylen sighed and looked around to make sure they were still alone.

"Dust comes in... Dust goes back out. All under Brinks' direction. Brinks had the laws tailor-made to fit his Dust business: you can't make the stuff here, but you can own, buy, sell, and ship it as much as you want. So much of the stuff ends up on OUR streets that-"

"I am aware that the city has a crime problem," said December.

"That's a mild way of putting it, yes."

"I find it interesting that the population has not risen up in arms against this substance and its supplier."

"They do. Sometimes. We fish what's left of those bodies out of the river with a really fine net... so the smaller pieces don't slip out."

"The population is afraid."

"Afraid or addicted or indifferent... or well-paid by Brinks. Brinks owns over half this town. Lots of GOOD, HONEST people depend on him for their livelihood. You think they're gonna turn around and bite the hand that feeds them? No. Not gonna happen."

"Then they are weak cowards who deserve to live in the hell they have created for themselves," said December.

"The children too?" said Sheriff. "I've seen seven year olds strung out on Dust... they'll kill their own parents just for the hell of it... then when it wears off the next day, they're standing there crying in a pool of mommy and daddy's blood. You know what that does to a kid's mind? You sayin' they deserve that?"

"I am not here to help them... or anyone else. I am here to claim my property and return to Montfort."

"And if Brinks happens to get crushed in the process?"

"The jewel-trade is often brutal; and I have been in the business for a very long time. Brinks is in possession of something that belongs to me. I require information to facilitate its return. Tell me of Brinks' family."

"Easy. He doesn't have one. You knew that already, right?"

"The deaths of his wife and child. Was he ever investigated?"

"Did he kill 'em, ya mean? Yeah, he killed 'em all right... but not in the way YOU'RE thinking. Felicia Brinks was an addict. He killed her by feeding her that damned drug every day until her body was so messed up it couldn't survive the birth of her child. The boy didn't last but a few years before HE died... he was so sickly that you couldn't look at him without your stomach turning. The gods had mercy on him by letting him die... but it was still Brinks that was responsible. Had big huge funerals for both of 'em... like THAT would make up for the fact that he's the one that killed 'em."

"His late wife's family no doubt holds a grudge. A grudge that may be used-"

"HA! Those inbred ruffians ain't gonna help anyone. They live on the other side of Iffrean... royalty in some tiny speck of a place that nobody ever heard of. They sell their daughters off to whoever wants to pay the most money."

"Then Brinks has no heir to his fortune."

"No. Not having a son running around plotting to KILL you is just a nice fringe benefit of killing your family. Brinks never wanted kids... he made that clear from the beginning."

"So who would acquire his assets in the event of his demise?"

"That would be... uhhh... you know, that's a damn good question. No wife, no kid... I guess the city would seize all of it."

"And WHO in the city will benefit most from such a seizure?"

"The Chief Tax Administrator would be the first to take his cut. He'd steal as much as he could get away with before handing the rest over to the city. But HE has his lips so far up Brinks' butt that-"

"And who else?"

"The mayor would decide who gets what. But there ya go again... the mayor is already bought and paid for by Brinks."

"I wish information on these two men. Their families. Their debts. Their heirs. How much Brinks pays them. Everything."

"Hey, I'm not that big a fan of these guys... I have no idea about any of that stuff."

"Find out, Mr. Wylen. Find out today."

"But I'm a wanted man! I can't just show up asking questions-"

"I suggest you find a way. You will report it to me tonight... before the ball."

"And then what?"

"Be ready."

"For what?"

"Everything."

"But-"

"Goodbye, Mr. Wylen."

December walked away, leaving Wylen alone in the shadows.




---

"Ohh, that was delicious," said Theesa. She slid her empty plate away from her and turned to look down at the city below. They were seated near the edge of the open platform, with an excellent view of the market square. "Best filet mignon I've ever had!"

"Have you ever HAD filet mignon before now?" said Zade, who was still chowing down heartily on a large T-Bone steak. Cooked rare, of course.

"Well... not exactly. But even the SALAD was good!"

"I'll take your word for it." Zade's salad sat at the edge of the table, untouched. A waiter appeared a few seconds later to claim the empty dishes. Zade quickly scoffed down the rest of her meal and tossed the plate to him.

"You really COULD use some table manners, Zade," said Theesa.

"We didn't have tables growing up," said Zade. "We ate off of the dirt floor. With our fingers."

"Oh." Theesa turned red got a very uncomfortable look on her face. "I'm sorry."

Zade watched her squirm for a few seconds.

"HA!" Zade laughed. "Of COURSE we had tables... damn, you're naive."

"That wasn't funny," said Theesa.

"No, but watching you change colors like that is pretty damned amusing. Are you part chameleon?"

"You-" Theesa began. Then the waiter returned.

"Would the ladies like some desert?" the said in a snooty, nasal voice. "We have strawberry souffle... chocolate eclairs-"

"Chocolate," Theesa and Zade said together.

"Right away!" The waiter scampered off toward the kitchen.

"You know," said Theesa. "I get the feeling that you don't like me very much."

"Really? I wonder what gave you THAT idea... maybe it's because... hmmm... because maybe I DON'T like you very much."

"Why?" said Theesa. She looked expectantly at Zade... she actually wanted an answer. "Why don't you like me?"

Zade had no idea what to say. Not that she didn't have an answer... it was just against her self-established rules to get personal with employers, or with employers's girlfriends.

"You don't know, do you?" Theesa prodded. "You hate me for NO reason, don't you?"

"I don't hate you," said Zade. "If I hated you, you'd be dead. The FACT of the matter is... I work for December and you're December's... whatever you are. How I feel about you is beside the point... I don't HAVE to like you to do my job."

"But that isn't answering my question."

"You want an answer? Fine... I'll give you one. You're weak and naive and completely incapable of being anything other than someone's plaything. That disgusts me. YOU disgust me."

"That... that hurt, Zade."

"Well, you ASKED!"

"I'm not at all like that!"

"It's true! LOOK at you... you can't even defend yourself! Somone ELSE has to walk with you to keep the muggers and cut-throats away! You couldn't fend off a rabid squirrel, let alone another human being. You couldn't survive for more than an HOUR outside of someone's household. You can do nothing for yourself... you were born to be owned and kept by some man... like a slave or a pet. Your entire PURPOSE in living is to cook and clean and shop and complain... just like almost every OTHER woman. The whole LOT of you are a disgrace to those of us who've made something of ourselves.... those of us who can stand against men as EQUALS.... or sometimes even superiors. I look at you and I see a waste. A waste of WHAT, I don't know... but still a waste."

Theesa's reaction was something that Zade didn't expect. She didn't cry or get mad... Theesa laughed. She laughed very loud.

"What's funny?" said Zade.

"You!" said Theesa. "You remind me of that way I used to think, once."

"I doubt that very seriously."

"It's true! When I was young, I wanted to be a carpenter, just like my father... I waned to be the best carpenter in the world! Better than ALL the men!"

"Probably couldn't even lift a hammer," said Zade.

"I could, too! I worked with him sometimes when I was small... I saw how hard he worked and how strong he was and I wanted to be just like that. But then I noticed something... my mother and grandmother worked just as hard. They were just as strong... even stronger... than he was."

"Your dad marry into a family of ogres or something?"

"They were strong here-" Theesa tapped her forehead with her finger. "And here-" she did the same to her chest. "There's more than one kind of strength... more than one kind of work. You can swing a hammer or forge a sword from raw steel... or you can raise a family and teach your children. It takes more strength to love and trust a man than it does to fight him... and the consequences of a mistake can be just as deadly. Being a wife or a mother takes more endurance than any job that any man has ever worked. More than most men are capable of even in the heat of fighting for their very lives. When I look at YOU, Zade, I see someone who's taken the easy way out. You're happy with what you do, and you're proud of who you are... but I can't help but wonder if you made your choices because of what you WANTED TO BE, or because of what you DIDN'T want to be... what you thought you were too WEAK to be. What you were AFRAID to be."

"What a load of bull," said Zade. "What a great steaming PILE of-"

"Chocolate Eclairs" said the waiter.

"Gimme that."

Zade snatched her plate away from him and placed it on the table. The waiter placed Theesa's desert in front of her, then left rather quickly. Zade watched him go. She frowned.

"I'm not as weak and naive as you think I am, Zade," said Theesa. "My strength and experience is just different than yours." Theesa began to take a bite of her desert.

"Don't eat that," said Zade.

"What? Why?"

"Because our waiter was afraid."

"What?"

"I smelled fear." Zade touched her dessert with her finger... she scooped up some of the powdered sugar which had been liberally sprinkled all over the top of the pastry. She brought her finger to her nose and sniffed...

"This isn't sugar," she said. "It's Dust. Someone just tried to poison us."

"Oh my!" Theesa dropped her eclair onto the plate.

Zade wiped her finger off on the napkin, then stood up.

"Where are you going?"

"To find our waiter and yank his testicles out through his ears. Wanna watch?"

Suddenly the floor began to shake. Not steadily, as in an earthquake... but rhythmically, as if someone very heavy was walking toward them.

Thorne and Gabrial Brinks were headed towards their table. Brinks smiled and waved at a few of the patrons as if he were some kind of celebrity. A few OTHER patrons quietly got up and left the restaurant. Zade watched Thorne carefully... there was something different about him. He looked exactly the same, but his movements were different. His proud, looming march was now a lumbering trudge. His metal-clad feet half-dragged across the floor, as if he were straining to keep moving under some heavy load.

"Ahh, what have we here!" Brinks said as he approached the table. "Two visions of loveliness! How pleasant to see you here.. are you enjoying the view?"

"Until now," said Theesa. She had begun to look ill... almost nauseous.

"And how is your meal? I hope the kitchen is up to its usual standards... I own half of this restaurant, you know."

"Somehow I knew that" said Zade. "The food stinks. Just like you."

"I'm sorry to hear that. But look... you haven't touched your desert!"

"Too much sugar," said Zade. She picked up her drug-laden eclair and held it out to Brinks. "Maybe YOU'D like to try it?"

"Alas, I am not as young as I used to be," said Brinks. "One bite of that would add pounds that I simply do not need."

"Among other things," said Zade. She put the desert down.

Brinks sat down at the table next to Theesa. Thorne and Zade remained standing.

"What do you want?" said Theesa through clenched teeth.

"My dear, you look pale," said Brinks. "Are you felling well today?"

"I'm fine," she replied. "But YOU, sir, are an evil, evil man!"

"I am wounded!" Brinks gasped with a fake display of being offended. "Now why would you ever say such a thing?!"

"Because it's true!" she replied. "You AND your toy soldier over there."

"Thorne? Why... Thorne may not be lovely as YOUR bodyguard, but he is a lifesaver. And certainly not 'evil.'"

"Unlike certain OTHER employees of yours, right?" said Zade.

"Excuse me?"

"Oh, nothing... I was just thinking how dangerous this city is, what with all the murders. Just last night I saw an old man get torched by a hooded assassin with a flaming staff. You hear anything about that?"

"Oh, really?" Brinks said without blinking. "No.. no I haven't."

"Yeah. I ran the hooded guy off, but it was too late. I did manage to talk to the old guy before he died. He had some interesting things to say. Turns out he's the same guy we saw at the casino the night we met you. What are the odds of THAT happening, eh?"

"It is a 'small world' as they say. I suppose the sheriff will be very interested in your story."

"Probably be even MORE interested in what ELSE I saw last night. At the pier."

"Pier?"

"Some pirates got trashed. You saw it, right?"

"I WAS out for an evening stroll, enjoying the break in the rain. But I'm afraid I missed any excitement that may had transpired."

"You couldn't have missed it, Brinks,... you were standing right in the middle of it when it happened. I saw you. We all did."

Brinks and Zade exchanged stern glances in silence.

"Soooo...." said Brinks after a few uncomfortable seconds. "Where is Mr. December, this fine day?"

"Wouldn't YOU like to know!" said Theesa.

"He's just taking care of some business," said Zade. "You know... talking to some people... making arrangements to reclaim some property. Sorta like what was going on at the pier last night."

"I see."

"Nooo, not yet. But I'm sure you will. Soon. Theesa, are you ready to go?"

"I've been ready for about five minutes now," said Theesa. She stood up.

"See you around, Brinks," said Zade. "See you tonight, in fact."

"Ahhh, the ball? You will be attending?"

"Your big going-away party? Your last big bash? Wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Thorne and I will see you there," said Brinks. He stood up as well. Zade saw Thorne take a step back, moving out of Gabrial's way. That was when several thoughts converged in her mind... the gory fight at the docks... the way Thorne seemed so different now...a half-dozen interesting things that Dr. Azarius Park had said... and even the conversation she'd just had with Theesa.

"I'm sorry," Zade said to Gabrial. "I offered you some desert and didn't offer your bodyguard any." She picked up the eclair and held it up in front of Thorne's face. "Want some?"

"Thorne is not hungry," said Gabrial.

"You sure? He looks like he could use a little something. Here, big guy..." Zade held the desert right in front of Thorne's visor. "Want it? See that sugar on top? Looks good, doesn't it?"

Something inside of Thorne's armor stirred. Zade moved the drugged eclair even closer... less than an inch from the tiny slit in Thorne's visor.

"Allll that white sugar. Delicious. You want it don't you? C'mon... lift that visor and take a big huge bite..."

"...mmmmmm...."

Thorne's huge arm moved. He began to reach out for the eclair.

"THORNE!" Gabrial shouted.

Thorne's arm snapped back down to his side. The bodyguard stood at strict attention.

"Oh well," said Zade, now waving the eclair back and forth in front of Throne's visor. "Gotta do what the boss says, I guess. But, hey... he can't do anything if I just feed it to you, right? Open wide-"

Zade shoved the eclair onto Thorne's helmet and smeared it all over his golden faceplate. Chocolate and Dust went everywhere, creating a big, gooey mess.

"Ooops," said Zade "Sorry about the mess. I guess I should be going now... Theesa?"

"Right behind you."

Theesa and Zade walked away. Behind them, Thorne made a deep, menacing growl. Zade stopped turned around, and gave an even deeper and MORE menacing growl. Then she left along with Theesa.

"We're going to have to kill them," Gabrial said under his breath. "All three of them."

"...mmmmmhmmmmm..."

[To Be Continued]