Fortunately it seems only a handful of crew members suffered minor injuries. It would definitely had been worse if you had not acted quickly, and the workers are all grateful for your intervention!
It’s early afternoon now. You could head to another social gathering to try to influence the patrons, or you can rest and continue currying favor tomorrow.
Relieved, Hotcha tells the guys, “I need a drink.” She means a twenty-minute dip in a goblet that only her faith in Cayden can fill.
Once out of the drink…
Hotcha gives her opinion on the Lady Qiu situation. “If we stick with her, we’ll be a well-funded team with the Empress herself cheering us on.”
She glances at Lady Xhia and the General. “I’ll do what I can to butter up the others, if ya want, but I don’t think I’m the General’s type, and honestly, Lady Xhia should sponsor Steps of the Sun.
“But I’m also thinking that if after the Empress’ Lady-in-Waiting makes her best offer, we choose somebody else, there’ll be a consequence.”
That would hurt Yan Fei’s feelings.
"I am satisfied," says Xin. "It would be an honor to be sponsored by the Empress's proxy. Can we be certain she -will- sponsor us? You mentioned best offers. Will there be bidding? I am not interested in being wrangled over like a prize bull at an auction."
Hotcha replies, “I feel the same way. We’ve already blown away the Empress and her proxy, and I’d rather not play mind games with the other sponsors. We could secure Lady Qiu like Tino’s Toughest secured theirs, and then we can just do fun stuff all week—like I can go to the factory and see if there really are tiny fey!”
"Are you willing to approach Lady Qiu on our behalf and ask her to lock us in as her choice?"
"Wait, some of your cousins? Hotcha, I hope you go."
“Yes.”
That is Hotcha’s answer to the question of her willingness to approach Lady Qiu. No joking around. But when asked about meeting sprites, she perks up.
“I’m kinda hoping they’re like me, but there are all kinds of sprites, and even Ahmitar might be called a ‘tiny fey’ by someone who’s triple his height. I’ll go and find out tonight!”
As evening approaches, you head to the Ruby Village to check out your accommodations . The immaculate and well-appointed private houses are in a typical Gokan style in order to give the visiting teams a glimpse of daily life in the city. The houses are identical in layout as well as accommodations. The floors and roofs are made of glazed tiles. The walls are made of stone halfway up the first story and then thick darkwood from there to the awnings.
Each domicile measures roughly 2,000 square feet, with a single main entrance that leads to a broad courtyard surrounding a large fruit tree; the building itself surrounds the courtyard on three sides. Doorways from the courtyard lead to separate small sleeping rooms for each contender, a spacious living room with a small hearth, and—best of all—a communal bathing area with a small stone pool that overlooks the Cliffside Court and the bay beyond. Attendants are on hand at all hours to provide the contenders with hot water, meals from the communal kitchen, collapsible privacy screens, and anything else they might need during their stay.
Lady Qiu May Shai and Lady Xhai Zhia are both at the Ruby Village when you arrive. They offer to show you their accommodations. Qiu answers any questions you might have about a typical day in the life of a Gokan, whereas Xhai can explain the basics of popular Gokan architecture.
Now would be a good opportunity to speak to Lady Qiu about securing her sponsorship.
Hotcha happily takes this opportunity.
“Lady Qiu… first, thank you for showing us around. I appreciate what you’re doing, but I imagine there’s gotta be some pressure for you and Lady Xhia—she’s no nice!—and all the other sponsors. I think you all want to pick the winning team and also a team that’s a good fit.
“But don’t ya think all this politicking’s inefficient? Who better than Steps of the Sun to work with Lady Xhia? Tino’s Toughest are lovely, and I think the oddsmaker will profit from that, and Tino’s crew are just really good people, happy to be among the top eight.”
And getting to the point however inefficiently,
“You vetted us. You assured you’ll fund us as much as you can afford. The men and I take your word for it. I think you’re a good fit for us, but more importantly—bigger than you or me or the tournament—the Empress told me in our private meeting she’d personally recommend our team to you.
“Let’s not keep Her Majesty waiting all week. Three Men and a Fairy are both proud to have you as our sponsor and grateful that we’re your first choice.”
Hotcha resists the urge to mention how she and the men stopped that weird rift. Save that in case she needs to be hard-selled, Hotcha tells herself before asking herself, or is it ‘hard-sold?’
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Lady Qiu listens to Hotcha's pitch. She smiles at the sprite. "Very well. Truth be told, I despise this formal politicking as well. I am pleased you have chosen me to be your sponsor, and I am sure the empress will be pleased, as well. I still have to follow the rules and cannot make my offer to you until week's end, but I assure you, you will not be disappointed."
The lady-in-waiting bows before departing. Now that you have your sponsor secured, you can relax more during the rest of the week's social events. For now, you turn in to rest for the night--all save Hotcha, that is, who flits off to the factory...
Tiny fey… big people call me tiny. Are they like me? Or even other kinds of sprites, or…?
Her heart is pounding. A part of her wanted to ask the men to tag along, but what if other sprites are scared of big people? It would explain why Hotcha’s never met another of her kind.
<Hello?> she calls out in Sylvan from a secluded place she thinks a sprite might go to avoid the forest of legs which Hotcha has long grown used to.
<I am Hotcha Twinkletoes.> The name sounds more elegant in Sylvan. It’s not a true surname, but one given by Sister Jillian. She was only five and Hotcha was one and a half. <I’m alone… my friends are big people. I’ve never met another fey like me before. I’d like to…
<I mean, if… y’know… you’re really here?>
She sits down and, not sure what to do with herself, simply waits.
Hotcha sits under one of the docks across the bay from the nearby Gon Yan Factory. Even this late at night, colorful smoke bellows from the chimneys of the building.
She calls out in Sylvan, and at first, there is no response. Then, after several minutes, a trio of glowing lights appear across the water. They move toward her hiding spot, and as they draw closer, the lights resolve into the forms of three tiny sprites, just like her! There are two males and one female, glowing with yellow, blue, or green light. Each is clad in scant clothes, and their gossamer wings flutter as they land across from Hotcha.
<Nobody should be alone!> says the female sprite. <And now, you are not! Welcome, sister!>
Hotcha can’t help but feel her dancing scarves make her a good fit for her kind, though she’s maybe a little fancy with the bells.
Hotcha rises and curtsies to the trio. They are beautiful, and their wings…!
<Wow. It’s really true… you’re really here.>
Hotcha’s glow is usually golden, but she makes it pink just to be different.
<I’m a Cayden nun. I was raised by Shelynite nuns, but I ended up learning how to fight in case a big person tried funny stuff.
<Well now I’m here in a tournament and my team is number one so far! All of my opponents are big people.>
She unhooks her tin cup. <Would you like a drink?> She wills the cup to fill with Fire Nectar and offers it to the lady (first). <You don’t have to, but I’d be a lousy Cayden nun if I didn’t offer to the first people I met that can drink from my cup!
<It’s Fire Nectar. Spicy and sweet, but not too potent as far as booze goes. I fight and dance well because I’m sober. Mostly.>
Whether they accept the drink or not, Hotcha asks, <What are your names?> She will likely follow up with What brings you to Goka? and Are you from the First World?
<Thanks!> the female fairy says. She guzzles the fire nectar, then lets out a loud belch. She offers it to her companions, who similarly down the drink.
<I’m Raq! These are Shad and Beni! So, you’re a warrior? That’s so amazing! I’ve never met a warrior sprite before!>
Beni grins. <We haven’t seen any other sprites at all since we came to Goka,> he says. <This factory is built on a ley line contiguous to the First World. We were drawn here through the convergence, and we’re enjoying everything this strange city has to offer!>
Hotcha is amused by the belching. She takes a swig after the others, then hooks the cup back to her hip scarf.
<I never heard of a leyline before. But, does it mean you know how to travel to and from the First World? Like… you choose to stay here, but can go back if you wanna?>
Hotcha wouldn’t jump in a leyline now, but to know she one day could…
<Yeah, I think I’m actually getting stronger. Like, look—my arm has one of those muscle-bumps!> Hotcha flexes her bicep. <That’s new.
<Hey, if I can arrange it, would you like to see the tournament? My team is Three Men and a Fairy! I hoped the name would make big people think we’re a bunch of wimps, but now that we’re number one, we ain’t fooling anyone.>
Hotcha considers how Raq and the boy-sprites came across the water.
<You flew from over there, huh…>
Hotcha doubts her wings would get her so far, but she can swim, if…
Shad nods. <That's right! Once we've had our fun here, we can pop back over to the First World. It's pretty cool there! You should check it out!>
Raq gasps as Hotcha flexes. <Ooh! So big! May I?> If allowed, the female sprite tentatively touches Hotcha's bicep, giggling with delight. <Yeah! We'd love to watch the tournament! So we can see that muscle-bump in action!>
Hotcha replies to Shad, <One day, I will. But not tonight—I’ll be washing my hair.> She recalls what she told Xin what to tell a boy sprite, though in the current context, <I mean I’ll fall into the sea if I try to fly far. I was born wingless, and it wasn’t until a few moons prior to the tournament that I could fly at all.>
When Raq places her hands on the muscle-bump, the sensation of being touched by someone her own size is entirely new. Hotcha doesn’t say no and doesn’t say stop and most certainly does not say don’t stop. She giggles when Raq does.
<Okay, I’ll see what ya gotta do to be a spectator. Or maybe we can do that together.> She tells the sprites her itinerary, in case they want to meet her in town.
Not wanting to end the night just yet, Hotcha shares a bit about what she’s read of sprites—particularly birth and longevity, the human explanation of winglessness, and one other thing:
<Or is that a misconception? I never met my parents, if I even had any. And you all look my age, but…> She feels rude asking. Instead Hotcha says, <…well, I’m twenty-two.>
<Oh! You are one of the wingless!> Shad says, eyes wide. <I’ve heard stories, but I’d never actually seen a sprite like you until now. You must be mighty, indeed, to have earned your wings back!>
Raq giggles at Hotcha’s third question. <That’s a new one! No, a sprite isn’t obligated to heal a human if they capture one in a bottle! How would that even work, anyway? So silly!
<But for the rest of it, well... Most sprites born in the First World are immortal. When we die, we reincarnate as a different fey. Our bodies change, but our spirits endure. The wingless, like you, are tied to the Material Plane’s cycle of souls. You were born to sprite parents, you will age like a mortal and, when you eventually die, your soul will move on to the Great Beyond.
<Now, you’ll probably have a lifespan measured in centuries, but alas, it will have an expiration date. But, we First World faeries are bound to the limits the Eldest imposed upon us. You, as a wingless, are free to forge your own destiny. Your potential for growth, for power, is practically limitless!>
<Ooh, yeah! Like, you could grow two muscle bumps!> Beni says.
<Or those little lines on your tummy!> Shad suggests.
Hotcha laughs. <Those are great for tic-tac-toe! I’ll get tips from my elf teammate! He works out!>
<Ooh!> the three sprites gasp in unison.
When the sprites ooh, Hotcha replies, <Whoah! Not that I actually play tic-tac-toe on his abs. There are boundaries! It’s how you know where to write the Xes and Os!>
It seems Hotcha being reminded of her mortality did not faze her. She’s psyched to meet her kind, and bids them goodnight for now!
The sprites wave. <Bye bye! See you soon!>
At breakfast, Hotcha starts talking a mile-a-minute about the trio of sprites!
“Their names were Raq, Shad and Beni—sprites like me, but born with wings! They’re immortal and I’m not, but that means I’m more like you guys so we can be reunited in the afterlife!” Why she sees not being immortal as a good thing is explained no further. “I have a real mother and father, so my guess is they left me with mortals because I am one. It’s probably hard for them, but I’m gonna find ’em someday and thank them! I’m alive and life is good!”
Eventually, she talks about the whole interaction, laughing as she gets to the wash-my-hair part, and blushing a little at her tic-tac-toe joke. “But can you believe that, a sprite girl feeling my muscle, and even the boy-sprites were like, wow! You go, girl!
“Do you think they gotta pay money to watch our fights? Or do we all get a comp guest chair? Maybe if you guys all invite a plus-one, they can pretend to have sprite familiars. Is that a thing, or another dumb misconception from that book?”
She takes a bite out of a blueberry to shut herself up.
“M crn’t wrrt tm mmtrrdrce thmm tr yrr.”
Sort of.
Wu Xin has been meditating before a small shrine in a stand of bamboo so dark it is almost black. One by one, he feels each individual muscle and moves each with precise deliberateness as a gentle breeze rustles the bamboo leaves around him. Suddenly, the calm scene is replaced by Hotcha's mile-a-minute breathless tale.
Xin struggles to follow the narrative, but understands the gist of the story. "It sounds like you had a wonderful visit," he says, rising and adjusting his gi with a smile.
"I can't imaging never having met other humans. Dull and venal as we can be, we form the essential fabric of each other's lives. You are fortunate to have found other sprites! May they bring your spirit peace, Hotcha."
"And of course your friends will have their own seats at the tournament! I'm certain that Lady Qiu would arrange that, and if she won't, I will. The only other sprites you know, possibly the only other ones in Goka, will not miss watching their hero win the day."
"You, um, you did get Lady Qiu's agreement to sponsor us?"
“Yes. I was thinking the Empress would be hurt if we picked a different sponsor after getting her personal recommendation. And I thought about Lady Qiu. Why would she blow off her boss’ recommendation unless she saw us… well, y’know, do something embarrassing and stupid like the Lightkeepers? After kicking that rift’s butt, I figured I could give my why-make-Her-Majesty-wait pitch. It turns out Lady Qiu doesn’t care for all this politicking, so now we can just enjoy all the outings!”
Quite giddily, she adds, “And maybe Raq and the boy-sprites will meet us! I told them where I’d be.
“But y’know humans aren’t boring to me, right? Every person is different, and some of my best friends are human—past and present!”
"I'm glad to hear it. With all the paths we've walked together, I sometimes forget we're actually four different species."
"So, now that we're out of the patron-shopping business, there is something I've been wanting to do. Do you remember with Tino and his gang just gave us these ghost runes? I've been wanting to repay them. Do you think you can find something in the shops to pay them back? It doesn't have to be runes. I don't know what it should be. I thought you might have some ideas?"
Hotcha thinks a moment. “Well… this might be kinda… cheap? But there’s these masks? Psychopomp masks? They got a dumb name, but supposedly they can save you from the brink of death.
“But we can go check out the shop and see if there’s something better we can get ’em.”
Hotcha then adds, quite abruptly, “Hey, if just me and you go, I should tell you about Sister Jillian. Esh heard it already and Yog’Moi would probably think the story’s boring.”
Xin hesitates for a moment. <I was that close to not having to shop. They really don't understand how much we hate it, do they? Well, it won't be so bad if I can spend the day with Hotcha. That'll get my mind off the competition. At least I don't have to figure out what to get Tino.>
"Of course," he says, patting his shoulder for her to sit on. "That sounds like a good idea."
"Gentlemen, try to stay out of trouble," he says with a wry grin.
Goka’s Neverending Market is a ring-shaped open-air marketplace that sells countless varieties of equipment, magic items, and food delicacies from around the entire world. Day and night, vendors endlessly hock their wares at the thousands of tourists and locals who pour through the market’s four entrances, one in each cardinal direction. For first-time visitors of Goka, the shopping experience can be either thrilling or traumatizing.
You can be certain to find whatever it is you are looking to buy here, provided you have the coin, as well as the time needed to track down what you seek!
From her perch on Xin’s shoulder, Hotcha tells Xin about Jillian…
“I mighta mentioned her before—best dancer in our troupe? I really missed her when we parted ways.”
…she has a reason to tell him.
“I mean really missed her.
“Like y’know how I told you when you mentioned boy sprites? I was sure I wouldn’t wanna sprite boyfriend ’cause of Sister Jillian.
“I was attracted to her.” Hotcha pauses for breath long enough for the pronoun to be heard.
“Not that… y’know, we never… I never even told her.”
In fact, Hotcha never told anyone. Six years of silence broken, of all places, in a crowded bazaar.
Under other circumstances, Xin might be only half listening to Hotcha's chatter, but she seems in earnest and he's glad to have just a little time off to be with her, so he's listening attentively while navigating the bazaar and wondering where they were going.
Still, it passes him by for a second.
"Wait," he says, trying and failing to see her clearly where she sits. He steps aside between two stalls, one selling piles of furs and the other hawking charms and trinkets from the mysterious West.
He lifts Hotcha off his shoulder and places her gently on a pile of deerskins so he can look her in the eyes.
"Are you..." he closes his mouth and thinks for a moment, marshaling his thoughts. A thought clicks into place from when he was freezing after coming out of the ice.
"Oh." He takes a slow breath and exhales.
"Aaand not just her. But women in general. Females, I mean."
"And," he says, the last piece dropping into place for him. "And not men." <Not me.>
She can see it in his eyes, the change. Something in Xin shifts and he’s not quite the same person. His face, always so open, so accessible, reveals nothing, but to someone who knows him as well as she does, his eyes hide the hurt more slowly. A second or two later, his stoic discipline asserts itself.
He takes another slow breath. ”Alright, Hotcha. I’m... I’m... thank you for telling me. I know we’ll always be friends.”
”Come on. Let’s go find those masks.”
It’s clear he has no idea which way to go.
“Wait. Xin… I’m not telling you this for my sake. I like the way you look at me. If I were selfish, I wouldn’t have said anything.
“But I went six years saying nothing. And for six years, I couldn’t let go.”
She blushes a little. Her fingers tighten their grip on little tufts of hair on the deerskin she’s seated on.
“I don’t want that for you.
“We’re the number one team, and women are gonna notice and they’re gonna know who’s leading us to victory. I don’t want you to deny yourself something beautiful because of me.”
Hotcha gets up. She’s ready to shop or keep talking or just listen.
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Xin stops in his tracks, his face stony.
"I am not looking for women, and I don't care about impressing anyone. This was about you, you personally, not some generic woman. I don't want women. I wanted you."
"I wanted you, Hotcha."
He sighs and crosses his arms angrily but his voice softens. "Look. It was stupid. It could never have been real. But that's not how it feels. Felt."
"You're not selfish. Well, you do love to be the center of attention, but that's where you belong. You're not selfish in the ways that count. That's the danger of being you, I guess. You're going to capture hearts as well as attention."
"I'll bet I'm not the first and I'm sure I won't be the last." He smiles ruefully, briefly.
<Tell her. Tell her you love her. That could change things. That could matter more than...>
<Than what? Than what she wants? No, that’s the coward’s way. You’d just show her your hurt and make it her burden. She doesn’t deserve that. You need to tell her its all right. Tell her what she wants to hear. What you know she needs to hear. You’re the team leader and her friend. Don’t think, act.>
The attempt at a smile fades. "You can’t blame a man for being dazzled, right? We’ve got two paths we can choose. We can act like awkward moody teenagers or we can get on with our new reality. It’s going to take some getting used to, but we will get used to it. Meanwhile, this,” he gestures between them, ”isn’t breakable. We’ll be all right.”
It's more than merely being dazzled, and they both know it, but he's willing to let that be the story they work from.
He offers her his hand to lift her back up to his shoulder.
Once she’s situated, he heads off through the bazaar.
”Still going to stare at your butt, though,” he says.
Hotcha listens. He’s already where she was with Sister Jillian Li. It’s not Jilly’s fault. Hotcha blames herself. But with Yan Fei and Wu Xin, she’s been as clear as a girl can be. That second date won’t be for a while unless there’s a way Hotcha can teleport to the palace, which means any potential for romance is on hold.
Hotcha’s good with that. As for the butt comment…
“Then I guess you won’t mind if I dance in the street right now. It’s a sunny day, which reminds me of a tune the nuns sang with me when I was two or three.”
Hotcha hops out of Xin’s hand, and shakes her butt for percussion as she sings the melody.
Bup-bup, bupp-bupp, bup-bup, ba-da-da-da
Bup-bup, bupp-bupp, bup-bup, ba-da-da—
She tries to lead the people nearby to shake their hips and tap along to the lyrics—
—not what the nuns sang about sunny days and sweeping clouds away. Hotcha improvises lyrics to fit the task at hand:
Crowww—ded – plaaace
Seems we have
Lost – our – waaayyy
Friendly Strangers,
I would like – to – aaaaask:
Can you tell me how to get
To the shop sell’n’
Psychopomp masks?
Hotcha's song soon has many of the shoppers and merchants clapping along and tapping their feet to the rhythm of her shaking butt. They laugh and cheer at the end of the tune, and several people offer to guide her and Xin to a stall selling enchanted masks. You can buy several for the members of Tino's Toughest and present it to them later back at the Ruby Village.
Reuniting with Esh and Yog'Moi, you head out later that afternoon to one of the scheduled social events at the Icefang Aerie. The massive rookery known as Icefang Aerie towers over Goka’s northern shoreline, but in terms of grandeur it competes with many other incredible structures in that area like the Seven Dragons Bridge to the west and Goka Imperial University to the north. Styled like a pagoda with ten enormous levels, the Aerie houses over 500 of Goka’s drake inhabitants and is the launching point for nearly all of the city’s famous drake races.
Attendants at the door greet you and bid you to go upstairs to the third floor where your hosts await. This entire floor has been cleared as a training space for both drakes and tournament contenders, though it normally functions as a social space for the drakes to roughhouse. An open wall to the north leads to a balcony where drakes can take off or land.
Malaika Tao, General Kaso Hida, and Lady Qiu May Shai are here. Lady Qiu coordinates with the managers of the Icefang Aerie to ensure the city’s working drakes are treated well and in good health, and she introduces you to several of the drakes who she is friendly with. Another team, Winter's Roar, is also here seeking to curry favor with the patrons. They are focusing their efforts on General Kaso, who seems to admire the Ulfen warriors' close friendship and warrior spirit.
You make small talk with the patrons for a while until the event comes to an end. As you are making your way back to the Ruby Village for the night, however, you are approached by a striking Tian-Shu woman and two cloaked accomplices. "Good evening! Might I speak with you for a moment? The name's Kas Xi Rai. I'm quite a fan of the Ruby Phoenix Tournament." She grins and flashes a metal pin hidden beneath her robes. The pin bears the sigil of the Golden League, a famous crime syndicate first formed in the distant nation of Minkai with strong ties to the city of Goka.
"So, what do yo uthink of your competition? Think you have what it takes to come out on top this year?"
Hotcha literally and figuratively dances about.
“I just dance like a butterfly; sting like a… buttery with a stinger.”
She does all in her power to impress the criminals with her moves. Yes, they want information. They won’t get anything any other observer wouldn’t figure out.
“If I tell you what I think of the competition, what you’ll hear is the babbling of a idiot. No one steps into the ring knowing their opponents. You know ’em after you step out.”
She stops dancing.
“I’ll say the same if any of our opponents tell you about us. They only know what we’ve shown ’em. Next fight, all who see’ll know us better. And even better after the next. Talk is cheap in our world. I’m sure half the teams will claim to be the best, tell you who cheats, who’s predictable, how their Argyle Socks of Spider Kicking will pave the way to Victory Road.
“Your eyes are a far better judge than a fighter’s lips.”
“Well said, little lady. Well said! The competition certainly is fierce,” Kas Xi Rai says with a low whistle. “Quite exciting that it’s a double-elimination tournament this year, though. That means that even if you lose the first round, you’re still in the running. It might even be easier that way, come to think of it, right? That is, if you’re in the loser’s bracket from the get go, you just have to beat second-rate teams until the very end. Not a bad deal.
“As a matter of fact,” she continues, “and this is a bit silly, but have you made any bets on the outcome of the tournament yet? I have, and let me tell you, there’s a lot of money to be made. It’s actually quite the... coincidence, running into you here today. Because I made a pretty hefty bet—and I mean no offense by this—that your team would lose the first round of the tournament. Funny, right? Now, getting a better look at you, I’m having my doubts... Perhaps such a bet was foolish, I’m thinking now. Unless, that is, you’d be interested in striking a deal?”
Xin had been an accomplished liar in his earliest days, doing and saying whatever was necessary to work his way from poverty into the bureaucracy, but he'd never been a criminal, and he viewed them dimly. This sort of person preyed on poor communities like his while working hard to appear respectable to those they couldn't threaten.
"Three Men and a Fairy will win the competition," says Xin, coldly. "You may take that to the bank."
Hotcha definitely did not see this coming.
“You bet on the wrong horse, so now you want the winner to throw a shoe? You don’t know us.”
You only know a fighter after you step outta the ring.
Hotcha wonders who this person is. Clearly, a threat to the tournament. And definitely not the type that belongs in Yan Fei’s empire.
Hotcha recognizes Kas Xi Rai’s name. She is a xun, one of the top enforcers in the Golden League. The criminal syndicate tried to interfere with the last Ruby Phoenix Tournament ten years ago, hoping to fix it so that their team would win, but their plans were foiled.
”You sure? I can make it very much worth your while to take a fall. Say, 20 thousand gold pieces?” Xi Rai says. She and her underlings remain relaxed and casual.
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"Those who would sell their honor never had it to sell in the first place," says Xin.
"Now, you've made your offer and been refused. Traditionally, the next step is a threat. Out with it."
Hotcha says, “But before ya do, lemme tell ya—there’s no point buying us anyway, ’cause no one’ll buy our act if we, the undefeated team that crushed the now-number-two team right in front of the Empress and Hao Jin, have our first lost when you bet against us. You, being connected to the syndicate that tried to fix the winner ten years ago.
“I was twelve at the time, which means if I know, I must’ve heard it recently. In other words, word’s getting ’round.”
Seeing the confidence in the goons, Hotcha goes on, “But you already know this. You’re not dumb. You’re hoping we are.
“’Cause Hao Jin certainly ain’t dumb, which she’d have to be to believe it when we fight through the boring losers’ circle and come up top for the win. Which means, your plan’s that we throw the championship too so no one’ll suspect foul play.
“And you’ll even lose a bet on us while placing a bigger bet against us through whoever owes you a favor, so it’ll look like you lost.” Hotcha scratches her head. “Or is that what really happened ten years ago?
“Anyway, your plan is too convoluted and losing sucks. A better plan’s to have your dudes bet on us, so all that precious gold you bet on the wrong team won’t… disappear!”
—which is exactly what the fairy does as soon as she says the word!
⏩
Hotcha moves about, ready to fight in her invisible form. Or will the goons back down knowing they’re outnumbered and up against a target they can’t easily hit?
”Nah, no threats. We’re all friends here, right?” Xi Rai says with a smirk. She seems unfazed by Hotcha’s sudden disappearance. ”If you’re not interested in making money, that’s your prerogative. You folks have a pleasant night, alright?”
She turns to leave, hands in her pockets. Her flunkies follow behind her, and soon they have turned down an alley and are out of sight.
Hotcha says to the men, “They got a plan. Our cooperation doesn’t figure into it.”
"I'm going to get out sight and see where they go," Wu Xin whispers. "Wait for me here."
Xin swiftly and silently follows along behind the trio of Golden League thugs. They don’t notice his presence as he tails them to the Island of Endless Fortune. They head inside the bustling Red Dragon Casino. It will be impossible to follow them further in such a busy place.
Hotcha tells the guys, “We gotta let the enforcers know something’s up. That they named a price has to be a problem!”
She kinda kicks herself for letting Xin go off alone. Really? You’re gonna break his heart AND tear apart his hero cape? He’s got this.
Xin watches the casino for awhile, then returns to Esh, Yog'Moi and Hotcha, strolling up without trying to hide.
"I tailed them to a casino. I doubt the priests of Abadar who arranged this tournament will be happy if I disturb such a place. I think we will need to be on our guard for assassins and possibly cheating during the tournament."
“Nice work, Xin! So we know where they are. We should tell someone—like—now.”
Not that Hotcha knows who to tell. It’s not like Hao Jin’s standing in the lobby greeting guests who come home late.
Hotcha knows that trying to alert the Gokan authorities about Kas Xi Rai's potential schemes won't amount to much. Without any concrete proof of wrongdoing, they wouldn't take action. And even then, the Golden League itself is a semi-legitimate organization in Goka. In fact, one of their members has a seat in parliament!
The best you can hope do, it seems, is to keep your wits about you in the coming weeks.
You make it back to the Ruby Village without further incident. Tino's Toughest are relaxing in their assigned lodge. Now would be a good time to present your gifts!
Yog'Moi is not at all impressed by the criminals and knows that if he were to go along with their scheme, Hei Feng would zap him in places most uncomfortable and then cast him into the sea. Some things are simply not done. Luckily, the moment passes without there ever being a need to get physical. A rarity, Yog'Moi knows from experience, when it comes to dealing with extortionists and other coin-hungry scum.
"Here in Goka, you don't tell. You simply do. Heh, if we can figure out where people like that low-life thug place their bets, we can perhaps have a chat with the owner. If we win, they win."
This particular situation, however, seemed tailor made to cause me to lapse in my self-control. I wasn’t even angry per se (I’ve had extensive practice with dealing with my rage), as much as I was incredibly irritated. They were not just attempting to be dishonest, but attempting to cajole us into dishonesty? Then on top of that, they were trying to do so right under Hao-Jin’s nose?! She’s one of the most, if not the most, powerful mage on the planet! This is her first tournament attendance in over three hundred years, and they were attempting to make it less with their dishonesty. A righteous indignation fills me at the disrespect to my former teacher, and I can feel small, barely visible eddies of flame flicker in and out with my breath.
I know that I am not the most social of people. I am introverted, and often inwardly focused due to my condition. For many years I muddled through social interaction mostly due to the fact that I was large, attractive, and generally polite. It is only through many many years of experience that I possess any sort of eloquence or conversational aptitude. I also eventually learned that the same traits that could inspire friendliness could also inspire fear. I’ve never been afraid of those who yell and scream. It merely strikes me as obnoxiously lacking discipline. The scariest person I’d ever met was quiet, reserved, polite, and had a sakki that could silence an entire battlefield. While I certainly didn’t have either his skill or temperament, I could make a passable imitation with just my size and my flames. Most everybody will feel something when someone twice their size is looming over them and breathing fire.
Dragons had it so easy.
”You may not know this, but for a brief time Hao-Jin was my teacher. As such, I am honor-bound to answer any disrespect towards her or her institutions. I do not possess a silver tongue, great wealth, or powerful magic. I do, however, possess this sword here, and as such it is the only way I can answer. Have you perhaps seen what I can do with this sword?”
Instead of casually strolling away, the trio of thugs scurry away at top speed!
Finding no one to whom they can report the event, Xin reminds his team to be cautious. "When you're outside the villa, try to go in pairs. Let's stay sharp."
"We'll stick to a medium training regime. I want everyone in top form without straining or twisting anything. We only have a few days before the contest actually begins and we need to stay at peak readiness."
"I'd like to do individual training in the mornings and team sparring and drills in the early afternoons. Late afternoons and evenings are free time. Agreed?"
_________________________________________________________________
Despite his pronouncement about a medium training regimen, Xin trains intensely whenever he is not with the team. He gives himself no time to think or feel. Knife practice, acrobatics, pressure points, running and endless calisthenics. He drives himself to the point of fatigue each day without letup, dropping into bed at night and immediately falling asleep. He'll be in the best shape of his life if he doesn't collapse.
Hotcha is impressed by the way Esh talked the smirk off the toothpick-lady’s lips.
“Hey, that was weird, but let’s not forget about Tino and the gang.”
Hotcha will gladly let Xin present the gifts.
…will be a dancing fool!
Dancing fool!
Only twenty-two!
Only thinks she’s cool…
“Well, Tino’s the leader…” She describes him and his crew, adding details like race and color scheme, if the caster would prefer to have creative control. Else, Hotcha comes up with a look for each, though she asks Xin’s advice in case her ideas are too girly.
Later, the entire team goes calling on Tino's Toughest and presents them with the masks. "We wanted to thank you for the runes you gave us when we first met. They were immediately useful. We had something made up specifically for you, to say thank you. We want to wish you luck in the tournament, too!"
"Hotcha's the brains behind the gift, but I'm sure you all figured that out already."