4.
"Save you?" Natsuki blinked, "Nao…"
"And to think, the danger comes from the same faithless wolf that sits here with you," Nao slumped onto Natsuki's bed, looking haggard and worn.
"Faithless?" Shizuru looked affronted, "At no point have I broken my promises. And I am not the one who has brought armed men to the door."
Nao gave a bitter laugh, "Brought is not the word I would choose. They are my escorts. They are here to see that I deliver a message from Medio Trading, and then they are to escort me back."
"Nao, what is going on?" Natsuki asked.
Nao sighed, "I was caught by the wolf."
"It is the expression from Pasloe," Shizuru said, "The person who harvests the last of the wheat is caught by the wolf, and must spend a week in the store house."
"And this season, it was me," Nao said softly, "Only…now the Church has come. "
"The pagan festivals will end," Natsuki nodded, "And all things doing with them erased."
"And one of the things that will be erased…will be me. Unless, that is, this deal with the silver Trenni coins is successful."
"I don't understand," Natsuki said, "what do you mean?"
"Earl Erhendott heard about the plans to devalue the silver Trenni. I concocted a plan to gather together the older silver Trenni coins with higher silver purity and offer them to the King in exchange for the tariff rights for Pasloe.
"But then, one of our agents, Zeiran, had the misfortune of speaking to a clever merchant who saw a means of making money, and that merchant took the idea to Milone Trading Company," Nao said.
"Us," Natsuki concluded.
"Yes. And if the deal falls through, then when the time comes to show the Church that they village has fallen in line, I will be offered up on a burning stake as a sacrifice," Nao concluded.
"Barbarous," Shizuru sniffed, "But not the whole truth."
"That's true," Nao said, "My escorts want to take you both back to Medio Trading. Then, send Natsuki to Milone Trading with a warning…that the door to the Church is always open, and that the wolf will be offered to the Church."
Natsuki looked at her old friend, "You can't mean to sacrifice Shizuru just to save your own skin!"
Nao looked at Natsuki, a sad smile on her face, "I have to concede, the thought had occurred to me. But then, there's no reason that I can trust that my current partners won't pull the rug out from under me, accuse me, all the same, and send me to the stake with her. There aren't many things I find more unpleasant than dying, but having the faithless wolf as my companion in death is definitely on the list."
Natsuki blinked, then quickly dug out her quill. She wrote quickly, in bold scrawl, then showed the note to Nao and Shizuru.
Nao grinned, then motioned for Shizuru to join her by the door.
"Kuga!" she called, "Open the window. It reeks of beast in here!"
Shizuru's eyes narrowed, but she could read the situation well, "Beast? Faithless Wolf? I would say that you are an ingrate! For centuries did I keep Pasloe in abundant wheat. Your people never suffered famine or loss while I resided there!"
Natsuki opened the window, leaving Nao and Shizuru to argue at each other by the door. The men on the other side would be listening to them, listening for a phrase from Nao to invite them in.
Natsuki quietly slipped out of the room through the window, gently lowering herself to the ground below. Fortunately, the window overlooked the stables, and so Natsuki was able to make her way to her cart. She retrieved her crossbow, and ensured that it was ready to fire. She also made sure she had her dagger. Thus armed, she made her way back to the entrance of the inn, then quietly made her way up the stairs.
There were three men in masks outside of her room. She saw that they had rope, a couple of burlap bags, and daggers, but nothing ranged. She nodded, then, in a still voice that penetrated the darkness, spoke to them.
"The first man to move will find a crossbow bolt in his throat," Natsuki said evenly, "The next, a dagger in his gut. The third will meet his end at the jaws of my traveling companion. Now, drop your blades, all of you."
These men were professionals. They were skilled fighters and cutthroats. As such, they were aware of their distinct disadvantage, as well as the aura of calm exuded by the woman who was menacing them. They complied silently with her orders.
Speaking more loudly, Natsuki called, "Nao, Shizuru, open the door."
The door parted gently.
"Why don't you make yourselves our guests?" Natsuki motioned the men to go into the room. They obeyed.
"Nao, are you still skilled with knots?" Natsuki asked.
"Oh, sublimely," Nao grinned.
"Demonstrate your technique for our guests, would you?"
Shizuru sniffed indignantly, "That girl is a regular spider. I don't much like her."
Natsuki sighed, "She's a friend of mine, Shizuru. Please try to get along. We need her for the next part of my plant to work."
"Ara, and what is Natsuki's plan?" Shizuru looked at her.
"Hell if I know. I'm making it up as I go. I've got to speak to Milone Trading, and let them know what Medio is doing. But if I take you there, now, Shizuru, then Medio can summon church officials, and…"
"And the whole of Milone trading would be put to the fire," Shizuru nodded her understanding, "Then, let us do this. I will stay here with your acquaintance and entertain these fine gentlemen."
"No good," Nao said, "When they don't report back, they'll send more men, and they'll come with church men. We cannot be here when they return."
Shizuru's wolf ears twitched in irritation, and then she grinned, motioning the other two to join her in the hall, then shutting the door, "Then might I suggest we do the last thing that Medio would expect? You, Nao, you take me to their headquarters. Report that Natsuki slew these men, but that you captured me."
"But…then they could turn you over to the church," Natsuki said.
"No. Natsuki, go now, and report to Milone. Tell them to make an offer to the King at once."
Nao nodded, understanding, "If Milone is engaged in business with the King, Medio would incur their wrath, getting them in trouble with the Church. The King would be implicated as well, and would fan his fury over Medio."
"Right," Natsuki said, "Listen, here's my idea…"
She spelled out her plan. Nao and Shizuru listened, and both looked at each other, then at Natsuki.
"Kuga, that's…" Nao shook her head, "It's either brilliant, or insane, and I can't figure out which."
"It is inspired," Shizuru said, "Though it requires a great deal of trust between the two of us."
She looked pointedly at Nao.
"I'll play along if you will," Nao said evenly.
"Then give me half an hour to get to Milone. Then you two head to Medio."
"…and that's the plan," Natsuki spoke calmly to Richten Marlheit. He looked thoughtful, scratching his chin.
"I see. I agree with you. Given the involvement of Medio trading and Earl Erhendott, this is the best course of action. I will dispatch a messenger at once to the King. We should reach him by morning."
"Without knowing how many coins he will ask for?" Natsuki mused.
"We'll make an estimate, and when the time comes, we'll have what we need," Marlheit spoke confidently, "Now, as to the matter of your companion and the girl from Pasloe…"
"When it's all done, Nao can't go back to Pasloe. But with all she's told us, I can get her set up with Rowen Merchant's Association in Ruvinhagen. She should have a promising future."
"And Shizuru?"
Natsuki shrugged, "Shizuru is Shizuru. She'll travel with me for as long as she wants."
Marlheit smiled, "It has been a good long while since I had occasion to travel on the roads, but I remember the burden being easier by the companionship of my wife. It must be nice to have a friend to talk to on the relentless hours on the road."
"She certainly has made my life lively," Natsuki admitted, "At first…I wasn't sure how I felt about it. But…in the short time we've been together, I've gotten used to having her there. I'd miss her if she were gone."
Marlheit nodded, "I can understand that. Now, why don't you get some rest. We'll dispatch our messenger, now. For your plan to work, we'll have to wait until almost noon in the market place."
"Noon," Natsuki agreed, looking out the window.