Chapter 29

Twenty-Nine

Goldenleaf,capital of Ironforge, was as busy as ever. The capital had originally been in another region entirely but had moved here some three hundred years ago, as the location was better. The city sat on a deep harbor and was a central point for trading, sitting between two other major countries. All in all, a better place to make a living.

Of course, on the outskirts of this city known for its wealth were the shacks—the people who couldn’t afford to live inside the city itself and were forced to the outskirts. But they were largely ignored by the government, who were too busy keeping up with the latest fashions. It smelled vile out here, like rotten cabbage and unwashed skin. The stench almost overpowered my nose before I tied an orange-scented handkerchief around my face. I offered one to Jake and he grimaced before taking it and then tying it on. The people here did anything to survive, so I kept Jake close, as we looked wealthy enough to make good prey.

“Do people live like this on your world?”

“The third world countries and places, yeah. Unfortunately. I personally think it’s despicable that a government would ever let someone live like this. Dogs are better cared for than this.”

He had a good point. I might have been struggling to keep my duchy in good order, but at least my people had the means to keep clean and warm. Such wasn’t available here.

We’d arrived midmorning, which meant we’d made very good time, but the weather had been agreeable. There’d been no bouts of rain or anything to hinder our progress. I was glad for Jake’s sake, as he’d admitted he wasn’t used to traveling outside a protected vehicle, although he hadn’t complained one whit during the trip.

I felt proud of him all over again. He was such a resilient man, and I admired him for it.

We passed through the shacks, into the more “proper” part of the city. We were still outside of the main city gates, but this was where all the merchants, tradesmen, and such congregated. It was the part of the city I was most familiar with. I could finally take my handkerchief down; here, the scent was far more pleasant. Coal smoke, dyes, baking bread, and roasting meat, all mixed in with the sounds of people doing business or calling out to make way for a herd of animals to come through.

“I spy a market!” Jake sounded like a kid, his hand around my waist tightening so he could lift up and see over my shoulder better. “Ooooh, I see pretty, sparkly things already. Theon, where’s my favorite merchant at?”

“Likely the central stall. She’s got a table staked out there as hers.”

“Good, let’s go there first.”

It was somewhat slow going, as at this hour of the morning the market was packed, everyone buying up necessities and doing some trading. The stalls were two wagons abreast in width, but with all the people jam packed in here, it didn’t help us any. We steadily, slowly pushed our way through. I kept my eye open for my favorite clothier store. Jake only had four outfits to his name and two pairs of boots, and he really needed more layers before winter hit. He’d freeze otherwise.

I saw the sign before I saw the person. Bold red paint on a lacquered board read: Northern Traders. I’d told Jake that Boss Melva had her own table, but I’d really meant she had a full storefront here. She had locations all over, but this was her home base.

Melva was there, of course, moving about in a spritely way now that her leg was fully healed. A baby sat on her left hip, chewing on a teething ring while Melva held a clipboard in hand.

“Darel!” Melva belted out. “Make sure those seed sacks aren’t buried, they’re going to be picked up today or tomorrow!”

“But, Boss, we’re out of room!” an aggrieved male voice responded from somewhere in the back of the shop, out of sight.

“Then get creative!” Melva responded tartly.

Jake leaned around me to call to her, “Maybe we can help with that?”

Her head whipped around and she went from scowling to beaming from ear to ear. “Jake! You finally got here.”

“That I did.” Jake threw a leg off and slid down to the ground lightly before pushing his way forward. I lost half of their greetings because of all the noise about me, and I was also focused on getting the wagons into place so we could off-load them. By the time I turned around, Jake had the baby on his hip instead, the little girl looking up at him in pure adoration. I’d heard he’d healed a rock child. This must have been her.

Why did he look so inherently comfortable holding a child? For that matter, half the time I saw him, he was with a child. Perhaps he’d be open to having one of our own in the future? I needed an heir to pass the duchy down to, anyway. I’d speak to him about it later.

For now, I came in closer, greeting Melva politely. “Melva. It’s good to see you.”

She returned the greeting, ducking her head. “The same, Your Grace. I understand from Jake you’ve got three dozen crates full of healing potions on you, two dozen crates of tonics. You’ve certainly been busy up north.”

“That we have.” Although that number sounded wrong to me. We had another dozen crates on top of that, didn’t we?

Jake shot me a wink. “Melva, actually, we have more than that, but I’m going to sell the others?—”

“What! Why don’t you just sell them all to me?”

“Because I don’t believe in monopolies.” Jake looked her dead in the eye. “And you don’t have space in here.”

Melva did not agree. She squared off with Jake. “Give me half of it, then.”

“You can store another one hundred and forty-four bottles?”

She faltered a little, the merchant in her calculating at high speeds. Then she slumped in defeat. “Dammit. No. I don’t have the space for it. All right, fine. Let me act as your distributor. I know exactly where to sell these.”

“That’s fine by me. Fee?”

She shook her head. “I still owe you for Grace’s healing. It’s fine. Now, come along.”

I wasn’t sure if that “come along” was meant for me or not. Really, I wasn’t necessary. I let those two go and instead helped unload the wagons, then load them up again with all the seed we’d purchased before. From the smell, we had more than just grain seed here. I suspected Jake had had something to do with that. These days, if something unexpected happened, Jake was usually behind it.

We were more or less done loading the wagons when they reappeared. Jake looked quite smug, so I knew he’d done well. Melva looked pleased too, though, so he hadn’t been greedy.

I caught part of their conversation as they approached.

“—something pretty but sturdy,” Jake explained, still holding Grace on one hip. “Twelve settings, too, with all of the utensils and things to go with it.”

“Got it. I have a few things in the back that might work, and my brother-in-law owns a pottery shop just down the way; I can take you there if you don’t like what I have on hand.”

“Good. Now or later?”

“Later. Got to get these wagons unloaded and out of here. They’re blocking my store.”

“Okay by me.”

It took a second to click before I remembered Jake promising Rachel new dishes for her help. I knew they’d be so excited to have them. Perhaps we could also afford some for the castle come next harvest. Ours were also on the verge of wearing out.

Jake handed Grace back to Melva. “Back in three hours?”

“Yup.”

“Okay, see you soon, then.”

Melva informed me, “Leave your boys here, I’ve got things for them to do. The Green Horn is ready for you.”

“You even made hotel arrangements for us? I don’t deserve you, Melva.” I’d planned on staying somewhere near the market, but her arranging it ahead of time made things easier.

She just winked before turning back to business.

I slid my hand into Jake’s, which made him smile. Funny how such simple things always delighted him. I wanted to give this man the world, but all he wanted from me was my time and affection. Which was incredibly flattering.

I stood by my desire, though. I would find a way to spoil him. Let’s start with the obvious, shall we?

“Clothes,” I told him. “You are far too beautiful a man to wear something so ill-fitting.”

He batted his lashes at me, a teasing grin edging up on one side. “Oooh, flattery. Do go on.”

This scamp. Why he loved teasing me so much I had no idea. I tweaked his nose with my fingers just because, which made him laugh. This light in his eyes—from simple happiness—was quickly becoming my addiction. I would do practically anything to keep him happy like this.

What I couldn’t do was stand here flirting with him in the middle of a busy street. We’d be run over.

Shaking myself mentally, I drew him into motion, heading for the part of the market dedicated to clothes. I myself bought things from there, so I wasn’t a stranger to that area.

We went directly to one of my favorite shops. It was actually a tailor’s apprentice shop. The quality was excellent and very reasonable in price. The apprentices worked here to get the experience necessary to strike out on their own, all under the watchful eye of their master, who kept them from making the really serious mistakes.

The sign out front was a simple wooden placard hanging by a thread over the doorway. I called it a doorway, but really it was a massive tent that might as well have been built out of brick and mortar, as it hadn’t moved in sixty years. I stepped through the open tent flaps, lifting my hand in greeting.

“Master Pann, how are you?”

The one-foot-tall Brownie turned, spied me, and his crescent eyes went moon-shaped under a bright smile. “Well, well. Look what the wind blew in. Lord Nox, you haven’t been in here for a good two years. And who’s this handsome man on your arm?”

“Jake Alexander, my intended.”

Jake gave a beautifully elegant greeting in return, his eyes taking in Master Pann curiously.

“This is Master Pann,” I said, continuing the introduction. “He’s a very skilled tailor. All of the people here you see are his apprentices. They’ll make anything custom for you that you wish.”

“Don’t tell me that,” Jake warned. “I’m a clotheshorse.”

“A what?” His world’s idioms rarely made sense.

“In other words, I adore dressing up nicely and having a million outfits.”

This from the man who had managed with just four? Without a word of complaint? I felt humbled he’d not mentioned this before.

“Buy to your heart’s content.” I meant every word. “You’ve more than earned it.”

Jake pointed a stern finger at me. “You should stop spoiling me.”

“Never.”

Master Pann clapped his hands together. “You two can flirt later. I must get this man into better clothes. Master Jake, this way, please.”

There were curtained-off fitting rooms, and Jake was promptly whisked into one of them, no doubt for measurements as well. Knowing this would take a while, I settled on the couch nearby, which had been placed here for this exact purpose.

Master Pann swooped in, eyeing me up and down and tsking. “You need new clothes as well.”

I lifted a staying hand. “Jake is the priority. He truly doesn’t have a wardrobe.”

“Surely just one or two—” Master Pann argued.

“Only Jake today, thank you, Master Pann.”

I got a very angry glare in return. From my lover. “You promised one outfit.”

Damn, I had. Of course he remembered.

Master Pann sniffed, appreciating the backup. “We’ll start at the top. Give me your vest and coat. Seeing mismatching buttons on them is making my eye twitch.”

Ah. Yes, knowing him, that was likely the case. I stood, took off both, and handed them to an apprentice who appeared like stage magic at my elbow.

Somewhat satisfied, Master Pann whisked off again. For a being so short, he sure had speed.

Tea was offered to me, which I took, and I relaxed back into the couch without worry. I knew Jake would be in good hands here.

Master Pann knew my sizes well, and my preferences, so he didn’t make me try anything on. He came by with several different options of pants, vests, and coats. I took advantage and chose the sturdiest of the choices, something I could tramp around in, which satisfied Pann. Jake stepped out wearing formfitting black pants and a rich blue shirt that seemed already tailored for him. A silver vest embroidered with swirling cloud patterns on top brought out the platinum of his hair, and frankly, he looked good enough to eat.

Master Pann kept circling him, a master’s critical eye looking him over from head to foot. “Yes, yes, very good.”

“Pants are a little tight,” Jake informed him.

“The pants fit perfectly.” Master Pann dismissed him.

“Listen. The jewels need some more room in the treasure chest, if you get my drift.”

Master Pann stopped dead, eyed him, then tsked his tongue. “I’ll let out a few seams, should be fine. All right, in with you. We have more to try on.”

Jake cast me a quick glance as he was turned by his knees back toward the dressing room. “What do you think?”

“You look stunning.” I gave him a hearty smile and nodded. “Blue is definitely your color.”

“Yeah? I think so too. Good, good. Uh, Master Pann? Do you have, like, a catalog or something I can look at?—”

“No, no. For you, I will bring out my best.” Master Pann kept pushing against his calves to get him to move.

Jake went, but he argued as he did so. “Okay, but I need clothes I can actually work in, not something fancy like this?—”

I wished him luck with that argument. I rarely won it. Master Pann had a definite bias for anyone beautiful, and he was determined to showcase that beauty in every way. Which was very flattering if you were on the receiving end, but it could also be annoying if you needed something in particular.

This would take a while, but it was all right. Today, I had all the time in the world, and I would use that time for the most important thing—taking care of Jake.

Good tea here, too. I wondered if there were cookies.