Kei went out the southern gate and turned toward Redweed, and the whole way he felt the eyes on him — commoner Rakshasa staring, and muttering about him under their breath. He picked up his pace to be out from under it, but the road was thick with them, and the suspicious looks trailed him the length of it.

When he saw he was still being watched, he stopped, and ducked into a small building off the side of the road.

It was a single dome of stone, one solid piece, shaped like the top of an egg set into the ground with the rest of the egg buried beneath — the usual form of the merchant guild’s shops on the Black Earth.

" Hello. Welcome, young master. How may this humble servant be of assistance today? "

A melodious voice, and Kei turned to find the owner of it.

An adult female Rakshasa, a commoner — pale grey skin, a body made to be looked at and dressed to be looked at, sharp feminine features, and the bright over-eagerness that came with the trade. Seeing the altered color of Kei’s skin, she had taken him for a noble, and wanted very much to catch this young lord’s eye.

Kei was thrown by the deference for a breath — and then he read the whole of it in the way she was looking at him, and decided to play along.

" Thank you. Bring me some quality garb. "

He was aware, as he said it, of how little he had on — a trouser-like wrap from waist to knee and nothing above it, his chest bare, the muscle of him on show.

" Of course, young master. Follow me. "

She turned, throwing a look back at his bare torso, and went for the upper floor, her hips moving in a rhythm meant to be watched.

These shops along the Redweed road were for commoners, in the main, and stocked low-tier and tier-one goods. But they kept upper-tier things too, set aside for the nobility — because young noble Rakshasa came down this road often, either to test themselves against the things in the Black Bowels marshes, or to quietly enjoy the brothels of Redweed. So Kei’s half-dressed state raised no question in the salesgirl at all. She was used to young nobles turning up on this road in exactly this condition, out of a fight in the marsh or a fight in a brothel bed.

He followed her up to the second floor, into a large room hung with wardrobes of different apparel.

" Here, young master. The best garb in the shop — tier three, all of it, some of it tier four. We keep no armor and no enchanted apparel; the merchant guild has forbidden their sale outside the capital, as young master will know. Have a look, and tell me what suits your eye. " She drifted a little closer as she said it.

" My thanks. You have good things here. Some have caught my eye already. "

He began going through the wardrobes, and the salesgirl smiled, enjoying the flirtation to the hilt.

Half an hour on, he had chosen five household garbs of tier three, four combat apparels of tier three, and two sets of armed gloves of tier four. She had helped him through the trying-on the whole time — brushing against him, laying her little hints down one after another.

Kei laughed at it, privately — at the naïve honey-trap of it — and played along anyway.

As he handed her the last of what he had chosen, she said, " Is that all, young master? A body as manly as yours — why not try on a few more? It is near a feast for the eyes, watching you in and out of these clothes. "

He looked at her. And then, as though taking the advice, he went to a wardrobe.

He picked out an extremely short piece of women’s apparel, brought it back, and held it out to her.

" Thank you, dear. But speaking of bodies — yours is as tempting as any comes, and you keep it covered head to foot. Take this. A gift. Wear it, and let my hungry eyes do the feasting. "

She was delighted with the costly gift, and certain now that she had roped in a young noble fool.

" Thank you, young master. Though — I am sorry, I cannot wear it now. But if it would please you, we might meet later today. A private room at the Redweed village inn, tonight. I will come wearing your gift, and try to give your hungry eyes their fill. I do feel for them. " A giggle.

" I would like that. " Kei smiled, wide. " I am Markus, by the way. Of the noble house of Tsakani. "