Very short chapter her e Mostly because its hard to motivate me to write the Ryu and friends parts), but it will pick up, soon. We'll be back to Fou-Lu by next chapter.

Please see introduction for disclaimer regarding this work.

Chapter Twenty

A Paltry Sum

            That midday they trudged into Shyde, the sun beating hot overhead. Shyde was a small but lively place, built of sun bleached brick and people by sun burnt merchants who immediately tried to sell them things. Darnik, who had assured her he knew the place, led them up a flight of stairs and along the top of the city's wall. They crossed a large bridge that was designed to let sandfliers pass under without harm, and came to a small, square building.

            The man inside looked up to greet them. Darnik had earlier convinced her to let him do the talking, since sorting out language barriers would make bargaining even harder than it already was.

            Darnik began by explaining that they wanted to buy a sand flier. The other mortal hemmed and hawed and replied with a price that made Darnik exclaim loudly about the morals of robbery.

            When it became clear that the man wasn't going to lower the prices any, no matter how dramatic Darnik became, Yahla interrupted and took things over.

            "That wasn't fair, Yahla," Darnik complained. "I was doing fine bargaining on my own."

            "Yon merchant was soon to be throwing thee in the street," Yahla informed him. She had handled matters much better. Within minutes they had their own new sandflier. She had to do some extensive intimidation to convince the man to give them the sandflier and contact the empire to cash in his credit.

            "You threatened to throw him in the street," Darnik said, "No, you did more than that. You terrorized the poor guy into accepting a false line of credit in exchange for his life."

            "'Twas no falsity," Darnik blinked and she continued, "Mayhap thou hast forgotten whom I be wed with." As the human mulled over that, she commenced obtaining the supplies they would need (mostly of water) and bullied one of the merchants into halving the price of a new spear for Darnik.

            "So when the guy contacts the Empire they actually will pay him back? Somehow I don't think your hubby will like getting the receipt," Darnik said after they had finished shopping and headed out to their new means of transport.

            "'Tis a paltry sum," she replied, shrugging.

            "A paltry…okay, whatever." They came in sight of their new sandflier and Darnik whistled in appreciation. It was a sleek vehicle, obviously newly commissioned. The stabilizing back wings and the engine were all without wear or tear and the hull gleamed dully in the sun. "Dude," Darnik breathed reverently, then glanced at Yahla, grinning. "I drive!"

            She looked incredulously at him. "Thou, why thou?"

            "Because my time period invented the sandflier and they didn't exist in yours." The reason sound lame, even to him, and Yahla rolled her eyes.

            "…Dost thou e'en ken the method of driving?" she inquiered sharply, raising a brow as he stuttered.

            "Erm…well…" He grew increasingly sheepish, and the answer was clear enough. He certainly didn't.

            Yahla smirked. "As I didst think. I wilt drive." She jumped up onto the deck of the vehicle, leaving Darnik standing in the sand below.

            As he clamored after her, he murmered unhappily, "…Dammit."

            "Are you guys sure you want to do this?" Cray asked, watching his friend with brotherly concern. Well, she was his soon to be sister-in-law, after all. "Now that Elena's safe…you could stay here, Nina." He offered the later rather hopefully, though he knew the response he'd get.

            The little windian shook her head, blond hair bouncing and a few hair pins going to skitter in all directions. "I can't, Cray. Ryu had to get to the Empire, to meet his other half…I won't abandon him. You know that, don't you? And because we can't get to the empire, or do anything to thank this Fou-Lu, we might as well try to see his wife stays alive."

            "Are you sure? The Ludians will try to kill you, if they can. You'll be risking your life," he said, imagining just what Elena would have to say if he let her little sister run off and get killed. Still, he was proud of her loyalty, and if not for the war, and his new fiancée, would probably have been accompanying them.

            "So? They'll try to kill her, too, won't they? And…it's a small price to pay, to have Elena back again." Nina looked up at him, and the spark in her eyes told him there would be no changing her mind, this time.

            "Alright, Nina." He smiled. "You win."