Business

Anna thought about how to approach the problem. Lying would get her imprisoned at best as this Andrew fellow was sharp as a tack, but then she remembered the advice Vordea gave her. Have fun.

"Yes. We both," Anna started, gesturing at the bag. "Came from another world. Obviously getting some money is going to be difficult if people faint when they see coins like this."

The grin on Andrew's face started small. "What kind of work have you done?"

"Oh, all sorts." The smile on Anna's face said it all. "But before you chain me to the wall in a brothel, I have an alternative suggestion."

Andrew motioned for her to continue, so she cleared her throat.

"I'm not from here. I don't know the social etiquette. I can blunder into things people would just quietly pretend they didn't see."

Andrew's face contorted in a predatory grin. "Slavery is illegal in the Barony of Thoryn thank you. But I do have the perfect job for you. Two of my... let's call them agents, have gone missing. Rather, they haven't sent reports in over two months."

"Sure they didn't quit?" Anna probed.

Andrew chuckled and shook his head. "Their parents owe me far too much money."

At those words, a knock at the door came, before it opened to reveal a pair of maids and a cart of snacks and drinks.

"Ah, my apologies Baron." One of the maids said. "I wasn't aware you were entertaining company."

Andrew gestured for the maids to come in. "It's fine Gloria, come in."

Gloria nodded and entered. The cart had an array of sweets, mainly cakes, pies, along with what Anna was positive were doughnuts. A bottle of what was definitely a clear alcohol was left along with a pot of coffee and two cups.

Anna couldn't be sure of it, but the two maids were definitely bending over very deliberating and provocatively, and the way the one named Gloria kissed Andrew on the lips before leaving felt strange. It wasn't forced like it was part of her job description, but she noticed the discomfort flicker in Andrew's eyes for just a moment.

"I'm sorry you had to see that." Andrew said quietly once Gloria and the other maid had left.

"You seem... upset? Guilty?" Anna ventured.

"It's a long story for another time, but I'll say I don't enjoy it and I've tried to discourage it."

Andrew cleared his throat, and for a moment he looked wistful.

"Let's move on." Anna said, moving past an obviously touchy subject. "Where am I going?"

"You're going to my creation mage first, frankly." Andrew said, grimacing at her hair. "You stick out like ivy on stonework. But after that, Mister Smith will meet with you and you'll travel to the Principality of Tostein. Ask around, be nosy, you get the idea."

Andrew paused for a moment. He suddenly had an idea that would be very funny. If only he could be there for the payoff.

"Make sure to stop by the Spiritual Garrison in Gilnas City. They'll be able to arrange transport out to Tostein. Off the beaten path if you catch my drift."

"Noted. Is there someone I should make contact with?"

"Praetor Svetlana will be expecting you by the time you get there. She's a capable woman."

After a few more details and pleasantries were worked through, Anna bid the Baron farewell. Despite appearances he was a reasonable man, and he didn't even leer at her any more than the normal amount. Following the directions given, she found herself at a small cottage on the manor grounds.

Knocking politely on the door, it swung open to reveal a woman wearing coveralls and large round glasses. She looked at Anna's blue hair for a moment, and nodded.

"You stand out." She said, but the voice was far too deep. It belonged to a dockworker, or perhaps a bear.

"I stand out?" Anna asked incredulously as she made her way inside. "You've got a voice like gravel!"

"None of your damn business." The mage said, looking slightly annoyed.

Anna noticed a full length mirror across the room and wisely decided to not press the issue.

"You're right, I stand out. I need to fix that. Think you're up to it?"

Anna knew it was bait. The mage knew it was bait. She still grabbed it.

"Hair? Hair is a simple matter!" She huffed. "Hurry up, take off your clothes."

"What?"

"I need the hair to match, idiot! Unless you want everyone to know you've been to a mage the second you go for a bath, clothes off so I can match."

"Which hair?" Anna whispered in her ear, as she shed her shirt and skirt.

The mage's face turned beet red and she refused to elaborate, instead going to her books.

---

Emerging a few minutes later, Anna's hair was now grey, nearly silver. While it still stood out in a way, it wasn't for the wrong reasons.

"Remember, as far as your body's concerned, that's your natural hair colour now." The mage warned her. "I have to get back to my... studies."

The door slammed shut, and Anna was sure she heard something untoward as she walked off, but paid it no mind. She meandered through the gardens on the manor grounds, until she arrived back at the front door. A somewhat short, scrawny man with bent glasses was waiting for her. He had bags under his eyes and stubble, but he was staring at her like he was trying to drill a hole through her.

"Yes can I help you?" Anna asked.

"You're keeping a dagger in your right pocket." He stated, holding out his hand. "They call me Mister Smith, but you can call me Victor."

Anna nearly blurted out the answer, but kept her cool. "What makes you so sure?"

Victor flashed a quick smile. "If you pardon me for being rude, your melons are too small to hide a dagger between. Your queer shoes can't conceal a dagger like boots can, and your garters aren't accessible enough. Statistically most people are right handed so it's in your right pocket."

Anna narrowed her eyes. "Oh you're good. Did the Baron fill you in?"

Victor nodded and gestured at the gate. "Sure did. Said you'll ask all sorts of questions."

Anna understood immediately. He didn't have the full story, just enough so that he doesn't ask any questions. She started walking, and Victor followed. "Well our first step is getting up to Gilnas City."

Victor pulled a watch out of his pocket and checked it. "Next carriage to Dragonpost leaves in an hour."

"These carriages. Are they private?" Anna asked as they turned the first street corner.

Victor pointed at a street. "Baron wouldn't use them if they weren't. There's the public ones but unless you fancy being stuck with a chatterbox for a thousand miles, I wouldn't recommend it."

A few streets later, a rather boring looking building attached to an impressive set of stables came into view. Across the top of the building was an even plainer sign that simply said Republican Coach Lines.

"Which republic?" Anna asked out loud, not expecting an answer.

"Hmmm. Nobody's sure, really. I heard a rumour it's named after the Saffron Republic, but they couldn't run a bath."

The process of booking a coach headed for Dragonpost went about as Anna expected it, and before long they were on their way out of Point Thoryn. The road was rough at first, but after a few hours, Anna heard the unmistakable sound of paved stones. She peered her head out the window and was slightly surprised.

"We're in the middle of nowhere Victor, correct?"

"More or less."

"Why are we on a paved road?" Anna asked, almost exasperated.

Victor smiled. "Because we're on the Queen's Highway, ma'am. 16 feet wide, two thousand miles long, across the entire continent. A marvel of 2nd century engineering, really."

Anna didn't reply, and instead looked out the window. It didn't make sense. If her intuition was correct, and it usually was, they shouldn't have been able to build this 600 years ago. Yet here it was. At the edge of the road she was sure she saw something almost humanoid looking at them for a moment before it darted away into the woods.

She turned to Victor, but he shook his head.

"What? You think I got every answer?" He asked. "Queer things happen in the woods."

Most of the ride passed in relative silence as they passed through forests and farmland. As the sun hung low in the sky, the woods start to thicken to the point where they felt almost suffocating. Then she noticed there was a low fence on the side of the highway, and the road narrowed just a bit. Two paving stones, perhaps.

"What's with the fence?" She asked.

Victor opened one eye, and looked out. He nodded, closing his eye again.

"We're in the Dragontail Mountains now, miss. The forests belong to the dragons. The fence is to remind you of that."

"Is that why it's only a foot high?"

"Aye. It's not to keep you out."