Page 51 of Draekora

“Apologies for leaving you alone, mortals,” said the female Meyarin whose back was to Alex, her tone brusque. “The king has agreed to the trade and permitted me to make the exchange on his behalf.”

The Meyarin turned and, seeing Aven, her eyes lit with recognition. Because of that, she missed Alex’s doing the same, but towardsher.

“Vaera, can you translate for me?” Aven asked. “I want to ask them a few questions before you finalise their affairs.”

Alex was trying so hard to rein in her shock that she missed whatever accepting words the female Meyarin replied with.

Vaera.

Alex had seen her before—just once, on her first trip to the Lost City. At the time, Vaera had been one of the guards stationed at the front archway entrance into the palace along with Zain. Like everyone else Alex knew in the future, this version of the Meyarin was more youthful looking, but her glossy black hair still hung in waves down her back and her steel-grey eyes were as intense as Alex remembered.

“This is Prince Aven, second-born son to Royal House Dalmarta of the High Court,” Vaera told the humans, whose eyes widened as they each proceeded with more bowing and an even deeper curtsey from Lilith. “The prince offers his apologies for not yet being fluent in the common tongue, and he has asked if I would stand in as translator, provided that you don’t mind.”

“Not at all, sir—uh, Your Highness, sir,” Bensie said to Aven, twisting her hat nervously in her hands. “We’re happy to answer anythin’ you’ve a mind to ask.”

No, no, no, Alex thought frantically, but all she could do was watch in muted horror as Aven through Vaera began to question the humans about the wares they had brought to trade.

Bensie and her crew seemed delighted by the regard of the prince and they responded eagerly to his questions, telling Aven all about the items in their possession. With every description, Alex found herself wincing more and more in line with Aven’s darkening face.

The humans had brought medicinal herbs, but the Meyarins didn’t need them since they couldn’t get fatally sick and they had abundant access tolaendrafor the healing of any other injuries. The Meyarins also didn’t need the spices that were offered, since their food was already decadent enough. Textile fabrics were unnecessary when the clothing of the immortal race was silkier and sturdier than anything the mortals could yet produce. The soaps and perfumes, while pleasant, were valueless to the people of Meya who, from Alex’s experience, seemed to permeate their own naturally pleasant aromas. The wax candles were entirely redundant due to the advancedmyraesthat needed nothing in order to burn. The handcrafted trinkets—blown glass jewellery, pottery and wood sculptures—were nothing beyond ordinary to the eye. Even their cases of bottled wine likely paled in comparison to the liquor already available to the immortal race.

Quite frankly, Alex could actuallykind ofunderstand why Aven looked like he was about to throw a fit. But it only became worse when he asked Vaera what the humans were receiving in return for their wares.

Her answer astonished him—and Alex too, even if she had already known that Meya provided the humans much of what made them into the future version of themselves. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t still surprised by the detailed inventory of what Meya was giving the humans. Everything from medicines to weapons to practical knowledge that helped with the mortals’ advancements in technology was offered to them, all traded in return for a handful of useless wares and some art that even the eclectic Pablo Picasso himself would turn his nose up at.

Alex wasn’t surprised when, without so much as a word of farewell, Aven stormed away from the humans, activated theValispathand took off for the palace. The reason she wasn’t surprised was because that’s exactly what D.C. said had happened. Right this moment, Aven was on his way to demand the king cease the trade alliance with the humans, claiming that they were earning everything while the Meyarins received nothing in return. Which was, essentially, true. But, if D.C. was correct, Astophe would turn Aven down, saying that ‘he would understand one day’. That, in turn, would prompt Aven to begin meeting in secret with other young Meyarins, eventually leading to the mass slaughter of the next human trade delegation to set foot in the city, followed by his attempted murder of Astophe and Roka right before his pending banishment.

Knowing how it was all going to play out and that there was nothing she could do to stop him made Alex feel sick. Because of that, she pushed aside her nausea and focused on her more immediate concerns—like the fact that Aven had left her on her own, with no way to get back to the palace.

“Crap,” she muttered, looking about the courtyard at the Meyarins going about their business.

Vaera was the only one around who might be willing to take her back to the palace, but before Alex could interrupt her to ask for a ride, Vaera nodded her head at the humans, handed them a sealed scroll, took a step away and vanished on theValispath.

“Double crap,” Alex said, louder this time.

Hearing her curse, Bensie walked over and said, “’Twas a right nice pleasure meetin’ you, m’lady. Please share our farewells with your prince as well. A fine gentleman, that one. We don’t oft visit your grand city, but perchance we’ll return next moon cycle and happen upon him again.”

“No!” Alex blurted out.

Startled, Bensie asked, “M’lady?”

“I, uh, I just mean…” She stumbled over what to say. “Meyarins—my people—we value our privacy. It’s, um, probably best if you wait until we come to you next. Allow us some time to grow comfortable with the idea of you visiting us.”

Eyeing her shrewdly and likely reading the panic on her face, Bensie slowly nodded her head. “As you wish, Lady Aeylia. We won’t return ’til we’re invited. Does that comfort you?”

Alex felt shaky with relief. “Indeed it does, Madam Hayes. Thank you.”

Bensie offered a crinkled smile, her weathered features like brushed leather. “Not at all, m’lady, and while it’s a fine thing to hear you callin’ me Madam, I’m but a humble tradeswoman. ‘Bensie’ is all you need call me.”

“Well then, Bensie,” Alex said with a smile that seemed to enchant the old lady. “It seems you’ve lost your translator again—did she say when she’d be back?”

Bensie shook her head. “Lady Vaera won’t be returnin’. We’ve already settled our business for the day.” She waved the scroll in her hands and pointed to her companions who were packing up the horse and cart. “We’ll be leavin’ soon. ’Tis a long walk home.”

At that, Alex’s shoulders dropped. If Vaera wasn’t coming back, then she truly was on her own, since she doubted she was at the top of Aven’s list of priorities right now. The only comforting news was that Roka was expecting to continue her Meyarin education that evening, so worst case scenario, if she failed to show up for her lessons, he would hopefully search for her. But that was still hours away.

“I won’t take any more of your time,” Alex told Bensie, realising that they likely didn’t have Bubbledoors invented this far in the past, and wondering just how long it would take the humans to walk to wherever they were settled. “It was a pleasure meeting you.”

“Mayhap we’ll meet again, Lady Aeylia,” Bensie returned with a wrinkled wink. “I’ll chance lookin’ forward to that day.”

---