With snacks downed and refreshments in hand, Fiona got to work as Greg and Bonnie headed off to mingle with some of the other guests. Greg seemed to have a plan of his own, and she told him to signal her when whatever strategy he was planning paid out. In the meantime, she had people to hang out with, including two of her favorites who happened to be mingling–wait–

  She stared and opened her mouth to gape, eyes wide in disbelief. Nick Mizar, a sleek and suited-up avian of black feathers, blue eyes, that luxurious black and green feather mane, and well-trimmed clawed hands was talking at a nearby table. He was neatly dressed in a light white jacket and slightly darker pants, with white bindings around his clawed feet.

  Nick never did anything formal! He was as carefree as they came when he wasn’t on the job. He was always making jokes–usually bad bird jokes, as she tried to suppress a laugh at that thought–and could always be found having a good time with the rest of the guildmates. But what drew her attention even more, was the person he was talking to.

  Next to him was one of her other besties, Cita Deimos, their sneaky loot ninja and mage. She was a human with black hair, and light blue eyes, and looking all pretty and cute. She was draped in a dark dress that trailed lightly behind her, with a modest opening in the back, leaving much to the imagination in the front. Her face was slim and angular, her nose small and pronounced but her lips were round and full. Very kissable lips that she wouldn't mind giving an exploration, at home, based on a few unsubtle things that wisp of a woman had mentioned.

  Like preferring cozy hangouts on rainy days, or hanging out with girlfriends, and the way she held hands and blushed at the slightest graze–

  And these two were hanging out, with Nick edging in and being all flirty? Her, not even turning the slightest shade of red? Fiona smiled; she had to know what was up with this. Nick spotted her with a flash of enthusiasm and waved her over.

  “Fiona! Glad you could make it!” he called out over the room, and she wrapped her hands around him in a gentle hug and wasted no space by pulling in Cita as well. “Aw, getting cozy, you crazy red-haired berserker?”

  “Nah, berserking isn’t my thing! I do magic! And swing things hard. Cita darling, you look ravishing!” Cita did more than cling a little and blushed before adjusting her hair, and the three of them gathered by one of the tables, with Fiona leaning in and nibbling on one of the appetizers–someone made twice-baked tubers, and she didn't have anyone to thank? “Anyway, you guys breezed back into town fast! I saw Jake on the way in, I’m still looking for a couple of others. How have you guys been?”

  “Fi, we’re doing great! We missed you, Jake said you’ve been busy all week setting up some kind of business. Did that big bad dragon scare you out of adventuring?” Cita teased while leaning in all cozy-like.

  Fiona let out a grunt. “That oversized lizard was small-time! The understudy king has more scales and teeth than Doug ever did. Long story, I’d rather party now than talk about it. Me having a fun time, pisses him off,” she announced with a flourish and a shake of her shoulders. The dress sizzled in that same motion.

  "We heard the story," Nick grunted. "I heard about it from Jake. You know you can ask for help on this one."

  "I appreciate it, Nick, I do. I’ll do everything I can to make sure that pasty faced creep doesn’t see a dime, from a legal standpoint. At least, until Greybeard comes storming back home and finds out what his son did.” Fiona grabbed a glass of champagne, and took a sip–it was delightfully refreshing. “Sooo, when did you two find a nest together?” she added with an emerging smile.

  “Oh, you noticed? I thought I was the one with the eagle eyes,” Nick said in a pointed dose of humor, and Cita wrapped one arm gently around his. “I mean we’ve hung out forever, and we had mutual friends that weren’t eaten by monsters, and it's just…”

  “Happened by natural occurrence,” Cita added with a wink, and preened a feather back into position on his nape. “Ah dearie, we figured we’d give it a try! I saw that gape from a mile away Fiona. Don’t think I didn’t notice,” she added with a flash of mischief.

  “Strong, bold, flirty, whatever! I know what I like, Cita. You two are as cute as a button,” she added with a twirl of her hair in her fingers as she looked at the two of them dreamily. “Now, before this becomes another kind of party that I might be intrigued by, I have questions. Seen anyone looking to be separated from their hard-earned coin and giving it a loving farewell around here?”

  Almost as by reaction, she saw her mark had edged out past the sleeve–and fluttering? But it felt like a dose of good-feel vibes when she saw Nick and Cita together. I wonder what that says? They’re not rich, but…oh tell me this isn’t some obscure thing. Is it literally the wealth of hearts?

  The feeling stopped when she focused back on her friends. This warranted more sleuthing later! She regarded Nick and Cita. “Anyway, listen to me gab. I don’t want to spread myself too thin, there’s just so many people here tonight.”

  “Oh, boy. I fear for the business world, Fi,” Nick said with a low cawing sound from his throat. Cita giggled in response, as he pretended it didn’t happen. He tilted his head, to look over his shoulder. “Mister Bedivere just got back from Erurtai, the western end of the continent. He finally hit a payload of mithril while digging around on a site he bought for next to nothing. But that might be the boss tier negotiator, Fiona.”

  She followed his prompt and recognized the short, stocky man who was more muscle than suit. H was talking in enthusiastic whispers to another gentleman next to him–possibly a dwarven lord, based on the runes sewn into his lapel. She didn’t know names, but she knew stature by how people dressed.

  “Well now, that is interesting,” Fiona said with a flash of teeth emerging. “You two owe me a rundown of how things went, I need to keep running my list of clientele. You know, before Jake puts me in the spotlight. He should be putting a spotlight on you two, as well! Nick, make sure your feathers are combed, don’t sound like a chicken when you do a speech! Cita, a dab more darkening on your cheeks! Also, relax a bit, we’re in the company of friends! Ignore the other peacocks ruffling their feathers at us, with the lack of lordship and nobility!” she slyly slipped in.

  Nick chuckled softly and clinked a champagne glass against hers. “Alright, I’ll try to be presentable. Now don’t go causing trouble, either. I’m sure Jake will want to put us on stage and have us do some silly speech!” he took a sip of his drink, frowning when he had to maneuver his beak to avoid spilling. “Slightly envious of you short-beaked people,” he added as an aside, with Cita patting him on the arm.

  “Uh-huh. You know, there are some things I can teach you about that–”

  Fiona was already skimming ahead, glad to be able to engage with so many people. This was all part of the fun! And as luck would have it, the strategy.

  Several minutes later, she sidled up to a few other faces she recognized–the head of the smith guild, a prime candidate. She quickly got a quick nod from the stout dwarven woman that she would be there at the opening. She also dropped a less than subtle hint that they would love to add to the collection of high-quality dwarven steel armor, once initial stock was running low.

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  Fiona loved the fact that the woman stroked her gold-colored braided beard thoughtfully at this notion, and she knew how good the armor was, from personal experience. It might be heavy as sin, even for her strength, but nothing was getting through it, short of an arbalest shot. She decided to push the approach.

  “Celene, look, Douglas may have had a good collection of artifacts and adventurer’s gear, but I have plans for the future. This place will carry mid and top-grade items. I have a lot of knowledgeable customers who would love to see these kinds of imports from Derikin Stronghold.” She noted the dwarf's interest. "I know the armor is top-notch. I've seen it used. It's just under-utilized."

  “Miss Swiftheart, jumping into the hole with both feet?” the dwarven female named Celene replied with a hearty laugh. “You don’t know any bounds or barriers, do you?”

  “I know, it’s great to break them! Everyone keeps telling me I should be a fleet-of-foot elf who dances around their enemies to death, and eats grass! I’m sure elves don’t eat grass, but don’t let anyone know I said that. We like snacks,” she added with a click of her tongue and a finger pistol salute. Celene let slip a hearty laugh that drew a few looks of consternation from the fancy dressed people in black ties, and even more drab-looking dresses. But Fiona didn’t care. She could win them over with her charm.

  “Okay, here’s the rub. The clans don’t like taking armor and arms for sale out of the mountains. Each craft we make, carries a history of culture, of pride in our constructs! Selling them is…well, like giving away a piece of ourselves!” Celene summarized.

  “Yes, but, think of it as a cultural exchange. I know a guy from the Arkantine mountains up north, his name is Janik. He was telling me that their armor is top-notch! He was a walking tank when we went into a nest of razor rats, he didn’t have a single nibble on him! Me, I was hopping dodging, and dancing to not get my face eaten off! Those poor little boogers broke their teeth on the metalwork!”

  “So, what was the issue?” Celene asked, eyebrow raised.

  “the armor lacks finesse! He couldn’t move too well in it. My mage friend Bonnie knows runes and other enchantment work that could easily alleviate shortfalls in design. What I’m saying is, I’m sure that the Arkantine clans wouldn’t mind an exchange of ideas and culture? Right?”

  Celene pressed her lips firmly together, finger-twisting her beard gently. “Is she the only mage that can do it?”

  “No. But she is the best. Think about it! Sleek, efficient dwarven steel! Dressed like a tank, fast like a hunter! It’ll be a whole new line of products!”

  “Interesting,” she purred. “There’s precedent for it. The dragons contracted us for enchanting their coins against tamper-proofing. Plus, our coin presses are magitech and streamlined!” Celene tapped her arcane relay against Fiona’s, so that the contact was exchanged. “I think there’s an opportunity to be had, here.”

  She talked for a little while with Celene, and through a bit of deft maneuvering, got her contacts for a few other smiths in the valley who could import the armors at a relatively low cost, and a way to get them to the shop! She thanked the master smith and clapped her hands together–this was easy! All she had to do was keep angling this emporium for the current short-term yard sale, then line up the long-term stuff!

  She hoped, anyway. Her next stop was a guy that she knew who owed her a favor, and she spotted his jet-black mop of hair in the crowd. His nerves went on the second he saw her, and he attempted to weave his way through the crowd. Like she could be tricked by that!

  “Felix! Oh hey, I thought I saw you over there! How is my favorite fixer doing!” she called out with a cry of enthusiasm. He smiled with his teeth on edge–the nervous smile of someone who just peed in your garden, and got caught doing so. “I got into town, and you didn’t even say hi! So uh, hi!”

  The thing that she loved was how he was frozen to the spot and couldn't decide on a plan of escape, and he just stood there next to the snack tray, where he grabbed a dumpling and tried to scarf it down, and choked. Almost as if he could delay having to talk to her for a few more seconds. Which, as luck would have it, gave her ample time to close the gap and slap the twitchy rogue on the back, and he coughed out half a dumpling.

  “Felix, didn’t your mother tell you to chew your food?” she asked, even as he coughed into a napkin. This human flight risk knew there was no escape, and he couldn’t look away from that menacing smile she was wearing. “I would miss you too much if you died so preventably!”

  “F-Fiona, please, I must insist, I need to–”

  “Oh no, stick around, have a seat! You should take it easy, you could have died! Choking is a leading cause of death!” she said with the assurance one must give to someone who is twitchy as all hell and will bolt on you on a second's notice. Especially, if they’re in the middle of stealing stuff from you, like your snacks, which is the most egregious offense on Cepalune.

  He’d also been fencing supplies from the adventurer’s guild. It was probably to fund underprivileged orphans, but she couldn’t let the stealing of snacks go. He owed her a favor. So she put on her best leering smile and peered right into his shifty-looking hazel eyes. “See, Felix, I have a little, itty, bitty problem. Something that you, with your big-brain, cunning talents might be up to the task for! Call me, babe. I insist,” she added with an evil grin, and tapped his arcane relay in his pocket. With that subtle motion, he should be able to dial her at any time, and in privacy. “Now, this should be a task suited for your tastes.”

  “Uh…what now?”

  “Pssh. Felix, please, this business is best reserved for someplace…a little quieter. And less crowded.”

  He gulped nerviously. “Please don’t make me do something likely to get me killed, jailed, or eaten,” he added.

  She let out a flirty laugh, to make sure absolutely no one was paying attention when she leaned in a second later and pinched his cheek. “Dearie, listen. You might have heard a rumor I got into a bind. Help me on this one, and your past transgressions are forgiven. You are a cutie who can charm his way in just about anywhere!”

  “Dear gods woman, I took one pastry!” His face practically twitched, and she thumbed his chiseled chin and gave him a boop on the nose.

  “And that is the greatest sin of all, Felix. Oh, and I’ll burn the evidence of the other thing you seem to be less worried about,” she added. “Heck, I’ll make sure that little discrepancy on a little piece of paper is corrected. Courtesy of me, like someone found a roll of coins under the doormat!”

  “Alright, fine! I heard King Barry screwed you over, but seriously, don’t push too hard.” He put his hands up in surrender. “Call me at your convenience.”

  “Thanks, bunches! I gotta go talk to more people, ciao!” She practically skipped away and took the rest of his dumplings. The droopy frown on his face was almost too priceless, and this was indeed a tasty treat!

  “There goes Fi, doing her magic,” She heard Bonnie say somewhere nearby, to her super sensitive ears.

  “I worry for the future of Fiefdala. Or its pastries,” Greg chuckled.

  “Why not both?” Bonnie added with a laugh. She would join in, but then Jake started his announcement, at the center of the room. He’d smoothly brushed his fur and cleared his throat before someone brought up a little device to amplify his voice. She zipped over to Greg and Bonnie, who saw her and gently waved her over to an empty seat.

  She hoped Jake wouldn’t call her out, she could do speeches, but she didn’t like the formality of that level. Small talk and engaging with business partners and uncool kings was fine, but speeches?

  Nope. Her media class from high school had been too much of that, and she wanted no part of it.

  Jake started with boring stuff like thanking everyone for being here, and she ignored that pre-baked routine that even Jake was forcing himself to do. She was much more interested in these dumplings that Felix had been a fine donator of. She lamented not snagging the dipping sauce. This world didn’t have soy sauce, so she needed to figure out where to find that!

  “--present to you, the illustrious, dazzling, melter-of-hearts–and occasionally monsters–Fiona Swiftheart!”

  The panic moment started when she realized everyone turned to look at her. At present, her mouth was slightly bulging with food, and then the clapping started She had a shot of energy down her spine, and she sprung to her feet, while swallowing the whole dumpling in one go. Nick might be proud of her trying to emulate an avian, by bolting all her food like that, but there was no time for formalities.

  She took a quick sip of her drink before striding forward, and felt that dress flow through the air. Each motion felt effortless and fluid. She flashed a knowing smile at the audience, wondering if she should have had some a speech prepared.

  Nah, these are my guys, my friends, and my guildmates. I’ve got this! She cleared her throat before she took the magical microphone from Jake, and surveyed the room. Everyone was paying attention, now.

  “Uh, testing, this thing on? Okay, good, here we go!”

  (Magius acquires the Merchant Class to make the sale...)

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