The rest of the evening was spent doing the inventory, and the plan. Greg had most of it written down in his notebook, while the rest of them committed it to memory.

  It wasn’t an overly complicated plan; Find out what Glados was up to, find her contacts in Vale, and more importantly, find out what the next shoe drop on Fiefdala was, now that their smaller schemes had been thwarted. Doug also detailed the idea that the gold in the mines had been stolen or relocated, and could have been a very long-term plan.

  Fiona wasn’t a hundred percent sold on that, but Doug also said that if he could find a sample of aurelium with significant historical value, he could track its presence, and where it had been. In a way, he was the optimal person to bring along for the ride. Even if they were still somewhat at odds, and the occasional barbed insult flew between them.

  But, if there was one thing Doug wasn’t…he wasn’t a villain. Not even close. Man, the books back at home got dragons completely wrong. I mean, I knew one other dragon, and Liam was fun! He was a fun dragon when we partnered up!

  The only lasting memory of that gold scaled cutie, was them both covered in spider goo, in a monster extermination job gone horribly wrong.

  She buried her head in her arms and groaned audibly, disrupting everyone else at the table. “Is…something amiss?” Greg asked hesitantly.

  She gave him a sullen look. “Yes. No. Sorta. Let’s keep going, then let’s call it a night.”

  I hate this feeling. I hate the fact that things aren’t simple anymore. Give me a monster to beat up, sure, no problem! Give me an impossible task, I’ll take two, even! But this notion that I have crash-coursed this hard on this world, and only am just now trying to be a real part of it? Why is that so hard?

  And Doug? I feel awful about what I did, now. And yet, people were cheering me on about the utter humiliation I handed him. She wondered if Rikkard, or maybe even Barry, had a hand in delaying his land deal, setting him down the path of being played like a fiddle by Glados and Karlin. Or worse, someone else was in on it.

  Then, a disturbing thought came up: what if she had killed Doug? Most others would not have been so lenient in dealing with him, given what was known at the time. Oh, this just gets worse. Wingding, I’m trying to do the right thing, so why is all this cropping up now?

  [Learning. Sometimes, it’s hard.] Her coded message from her wing taps rang loud and clear.

  She sat up while listening to Greg talk about customs, and how Vale wasn’t quite as refined. Yes, kiddo, it’s very hard. I hope I learn something helpful. And hopefully with more smiles from others along the way.

  It wasn’t easy anymore. All the easy problem-solving was a thing of the past.

  Eventually, the discussion tapered off, after Fiona had made a list of people to look out for in Vale–including who the King would be having them setting up meetings with. “I’m no diplomat, guys. I know how to sell merchandise and find what people want, but this? This feels like we’re being set up to fail, in the same way Barry threw an impossible task at me.”

  “You’ve got us,” Darla affirmed gently. “You know why you’re fun to be around, Fiona? Yeah, you were always fun, as this boisterous, loud, mischievous elf that came out of nowhere. Now? Now there’s this sweeter, kinder side of you that cares deeply about something. Thing is, I think it was always there,” she added coyly. “You just needed a nudge.”

  “Getting possibly taxed to death has that effect,” she replied drolly, eliciting a few small laughs. “So, I don’t do big speeches. So I won’t, except I’ll lead with this: I’m glad I met you guys. So, let’s rest up tonight, and we’re gonna go sniff out the real problems behind Fiefdala. And hopefully, rack up some sales while we’re at it.”

  “Given your prior track record?” Doug mused while clenching his jaw and tapping his claws anxiously. “We’re more likely to land in an even bigger mess.”

  “That’s why I didn't retire the hammer just yet, Doug.”

  Fiona realized that, for the first time, she was using a teleport. Not the kind that she could use on-demand to get to her shop, but an actual, bona fide teleport. The platform was located in a large municipal building, not far from the palace. It was two stories of brickwork, daintily ordained tapestries, and rustic timber that accented the building. There wasn't much to the teleportal, in hindsight. It was a circular platform where people went in, teleported to distant platforms, and other people disembarked, dozens at a time.

  Mages had, for the most part, boiled this down to a relative science. The platform was standing in the middle of the room, with banisters and railings to protect against people going on and off of it when they weren't supposed to. The platform itself was made of a gleaming metal, glass, and tubing that connected underneath. The controls were driven by no less than two consoles, gleaning silver and with bright shiny buttons. Two technicians worked hand in hand on the effort. It was almost like a train schedule–reliable, and efficient. People teleported to and from at specific times, and would have to gather on the platform all at once, much like a train platform.

  She wished earth technology was this efficient. Every time she got on a train or a bus, she never wanted to be off fast enough. Usually, because someone was trying to get cozy, was trying to be nerdier than her, or the dregs of society were trying to tell her their tales of woe.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  Bonnie accompanied her, along with Doug to the platform. She and Doug were dressed in more casual wear, and he was holding a backpack filled with his belongings, fitted snugly between his wings. Fiona had the same setup, but she also had the backpack with the mobile storefront. Her heavy coat was now a long-sleeved shirt with a simple scarf, and leggings made of a material similar to denim–Vale was a little warmer, and their winters were milder than here by Fiefdala. The lake had some impact on the local climate, which made for pleasant summers.

  She hoped she'd be able to drum up some business and deals on the side during this jaunt, but there were no guarantees. A lot of the time would be spent negotiating. Bonnie wrinkled her nose, making a sound of disgust. “I don't like this, Fiona. I still feel like somebody is going to do you dirty on this one."

  Fiona wrung her hands and blew an errant strand of her wild hair away from her face. "Look Bonnie, I do not trust anybody in this city that we're going to be camping out at. Plus, I'll have Doug."

  “Yes, the guy whose house you torched. This is such a great plan,” she added with a roll of her eyes, before putting her hands on her hips, sizing up Doug. “Are you sure you want to do this? Because Fiona can be a handful.”

  “I am not!” she protested.

  “Girl, you are distracted by the first shiny thing you see. You will chatter up random people looking for ‘quests’ that will help somehow realign the world. Also, no snack is safe from you, no matter where you might stash it.” Bonnie tapped a padded foot patiently while Fiona struggled to retort to this unfounded series of accusations.

  “I seek treasure! To put into a museum. And maybe get a tiny reward for recovering lost bits of history and culture. Also, don’t you go up to random people to say ‘hi?’ Just to break out of the mold?” Fiona tried with a high-pitched tone. When Bonnie put it like that, maybe she was a little weird.

  Bonnie’s piercing gaze was not dissuaded by her elven charm this time. “No, Fiona, I don’t.”

  “Oh, you’re missing out!” she sighed with a hand wave. “It’s fun! You should try it sometime!”

  Doug shook his head and wore a calm expression. "Banter aside, I’m doing this for my own reasons. If Miss Swiftheart wishes to make amends, that would be beneficial, possibly for both of us. And hopefully, I'll be better off than before. Now, a few things before we get on this platform, and go to Vale. First, there are a few cultural things there that are a little...different."

  Fiona had a feeling where this might be going. The giant warning of ‘don’t swing a hammer at the first sign of people being inhumane. “You mean, where they hold slaves and you might see them on the streets, their dignity and their freedom stripped from them?”

  Doug let out a grunt acknowledgment at this. “Close. They use something a little more sophisticated than that, now. They have what is called labor contracts. Essentially, somebody pays your existing debts, whatever they may be, and then, you agree to work for somebody, for a predetermined period of time. Better deals can be secured with better negotiations, but as you can imagine…”

  Fiona felt her ears go on edge. "Let me guess. A lot of people are not skilled negotiators, right?"

  Doug nodded and also gave a wave of his wings. " Correct. What you may find to be unacceptable here, is an ingrained culture over there. My first suggestion? Do not try to free all the people from ‘labor contracts’. That will not end well for you, me, or Barry. Second off, don’t try to buy out their contracts. You’ll run out of coin before they run out of marketable equity.”

  “Doug, I’m still a broke heroine. I buy items from the clearance section when I grocery shop,” she added with a light growl. “I spent every copper in Fiefdala to get leverage on Barry.”

  Doug chortled heartily at that. “The sight of that jerk almost getting nerfed by his own power was worth all the crappy things that happened beforehand. The second thing in Vale. Women have…”

  “Don’t tell me. Fewer rights than men?” she asked, feeling her hand twitch. Hammer time was not an option, even though it felt like the right one.

  “There are a few infrequently enforced laws there that a law officer can use to extort you, such as being ‘unescorted’ or ‘being a distraction’ for married males. My advice? You see anyone in a uniform, disappear into a crowd, outside of the negotiations.”

  “Doug, I’m gonna be real with you? The more I hear about this place, the more I want to smash it to rubble.”

  He shook his head, before rubbing one horn gently. “There was a time when Vale was beautiful and cultured. It could have surpassed the Unified Kingdoms. They had everything. Fertile soil, mineral wealth…all of it, squandered when greedy men took over. The slaver houses have been a constant influence on politics, and accrued wealth–and influence–in doing so. And they don’t call it slavery, now. It’s–”

  “Labor contracts. Got it.” She’d done her reading before this, but Doug telling her these things for emphasis, burned her. “Rikkard should have hung them all. On that accord, he and I agree. Now, any other obscure things I need to look out for?”

  Doug wore an out-of-place smirk. “Yes, you will be accosted by many people in the city. They are a little more bold than you might be in Fiefdala."

  She rolled her eyes at this. "Well, assuming Theo doesn’t get scared off, I think I’ve got that covered. Plus, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Doug. I have more than cute looks and a biting wit to back me up.”

  Bonnie’s fur bristled up, as if she’d said something terrifying. “Fiona, do me a teeny, tiny, immense favor, please. Don’t cause an inter-kingdom fiasco, okay?”

  “Bon-bon, I’m trying to solve problems, not add to them,” she added as she glanced upwards at the ceiling. She silently mouthed off at the gods who likely had a hand in dropping her head first into this magical land. “I think I’ve evolved past the ‘smash everything for loot and mead’ phase. It lost its novelty.”

  Bonnie’s tail wagged gently before she wore an amused smile. “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t change for the better, Fi. Because, you have already. Now, I’m still a little rusty Douglas, but…any other pointers?”

  Dog nodded gently and glanced at a notebook. “Yes, there are a few norms that are... Different there. Also, you may find that there are different species of folks there, that you haven't seen in Fiefdala–more reptilians and even some marine Folk. There are a lot more kobolds down south than you might think. That's where some of the refugees from the current kerfuffle may have been displaced. I'm hoping that after all is said and done, they can all return to their homes.”

  Fiona raised an eyebrow of surprise “Don't tell me you cared about them, did you?”

  “What kind of dragon do you think I am? Before Karlin showed up and mimicked my mannerisms, I kept them employed and happy. I had a few friends, even. Still do…maybe,” he added, glancing down at his clawed feet.

  Fiona smiled faintly. "Doug, all things considered, you're kind of adorkable. And I might have misjudged you.”

  Doug ruffled his feathers on his wings at this. But he didn't look particularly upset by this. "Well, I'll take that as a compliment. Now, that said, do we know what accommodations will be? I do know that we should have somewhere to stay in Vale, but I don't particularly trust Barry that much."

  Fiona glanced at the approaching King and nodded. "Yeah, ten gold says he's going to cheap out on us, but splurge on himself.”

  Barry is now forced to work with his worst enemy...this karma is gonna be epic...

  Newly Broke Heroine. Go check it out in the clickable image!

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