Learning to Fall

Left alone, without any clear direction or goal, Aytin had been moments away from just walking over to Reiker and asking the barkeep for something stronger than his usual ale.

Thankfully for both his coin purse and his sanity, a messenger showed up not long after Kesti had left. There was apparently a problem at the warehouse where he had rented space to secure supplies. Not what the crafter's guild would be using to rebuild the keep. Anything the guild couldn't source on site for that task, they would be bringing themselves.

No, this was the gear for the keep dwellers. Salt and tools and cloth and barrels and oil and all the other things a keep would need but couldn't make itself.

There were even the makings of a basic forge. Faelon was a red dragon, after all, meaning there would be no need to go through the trouble of finding a vein of coal or doing charcoal burns to keep it running.

Aytin had even managed to find a blacksmith willing to come out to the frontier. She was young and only just finished with her apprenticeship, so they wouldn't be getting anything too complex out of her at first. But they weren't planning to make a name for themselves selling enchanted armor or precision clockwork. There wouldn't be any need for much more than repairs and basic tools for the foreseeable future.

All told, there had been far too much to just keep under his bed. So Aytin had paid a few silver for space in one of the dozens of warehouses that traders used for their shipments, and stored it all there instead.

The last thing he wanted to hear was that there was trouble at the warehouse. Those supplies represented a large chunk of Faelon's funds. As soon as the messenger passed along the warning he drained his mug, passed over a few copper coins to the young girl, and headed towards the Traders Quarter.

There hadn't been any details. No note or names or even a hint what had happened. Just a request for him to come as soon as possible to work out a few issues.

Aytin savored the feeling of the wind on his face and the sun against his wings as he flew. It had been a long day sitting on his tail inside of the stuffy tavern. 'I thought that once I got out of Uncle Cork's office, I'd be able to get out and do things, but nooooo. It's all interviews and visiting guilds and talking to traders!'

He was finding that he actually missed living out with the wildlings. Parts, at least. He did prefer a good roof over his head and solid walls around his bed. A real bed, too, not a pile of furs. That was something he was sure looking forward to introducing Rina to.

Arriving at the warehouse, a quick pass overhead showed that it wasn't billowing smoke and seemed otherwise intact, so that was something. Aytin waited for a gap in the ground traffic and landed not too far away from the small office that doubled as the manager's apartment.

He was halfway there when he abruptly found a burley dragonette in his path. When he tried to step around, the other male moved to block him.

Aytin wasn't stupid. His hand had already dropped to brush against the hilt of his knife, even as he took a careful step back. The thug saw and gave the sort of smile that dared him to draw, matching the young dragonette's retreat with a step of his own.

That was it, though. When nothing else happened, he relaxed ever so slightly. This was the middle of a public street in broad daylight. A shout would probably bring the city guard flying his way. And outside of being intimidating, the thug hadn't actually done anything.

"Well, hello there!"

A new dragonette stepped into view from behind the first. He was almost as big as his companion, but dressed more like a relatively successful shopkeep than a common laborer. His shirt and pants were clean and free of any patches, blue dye vibrant and unfaded. Sharply curled horns shone with the gleam of some sort of oil as they caught the light, and he wore a grin that showed just a few too many teeth.

It didn't take a genius to recognize a setup. Flying off probably wasn't an option, so Aytin steeled himself and cautiously returned the greeting. "Hello. Is there something I can do for you?"

The well dressed thug positively beamed. "It's actually what I can do for you!"

'That's a load of oxshit if I ever heard one.'

When he didn't respond, the other dragonette went on, still in that overly friendly tone. "Well, Aytin. Your name is Aytin, right?"

"Yes."

"I knew I had the right dragonette, but it never hurts to be sure, does it, now? Aytin, I'm Sil. Sil Calinti." He said it like the name should mean something, but didn't even pause for breath before pressing on. "I've recently been made aware of your little endeavor. Very brave, I might add. Giving up your own family to go take care of a crippled dragon out on the frontier. Absolutely touching."

"And you wanted to join?"

The laugh that followed was just a little too hard and went on a little too long. "Oh, no, I'm afraid I have far too much to do in this city to pack up and fly off. People depending on me and all that."

"I'm sure." Aytin didn't even bother disguising his sarcasm.

"But, as a pillar of the community, I realized that I would be remiss if I didn't do everything I could to help you with your little situation. After all, I know what it's like. Being alone in a new place. Not having anyone to turn to for support. No family at your back. Alone in a sky without friends. Terrible business. But that's why I'm here!"

Sil puffed up his chest and spread his wings slightly while opening his hands wide. "See, I've heard that you have quite a bit of gear stored in that warehouse." He jerked a thumb at the building behind him. "Seems to me that's quite a risk."

Aytin was pretty sure he already knew the answer, but he still asked, "How so?"

"Well, not being from here, you wouldn't know that this is a bit of a bad part of town. Trader crews attract some unsavory sorts, you know? Makes accidents all too common."

"Accidents."

"Oh, yes." Sil nodded emphatically. "I'm friends with the owner, you know. Very good friends. Old Linnie is a great guy, except things have gotten away from him the last few years. If I wasn't so busy I'd step in to help, but..." He spread his hands and wings wide in a "what can you do?" gesture.

"Still, he's told me all the stories over drinks. Shipments misplaced, gear getting dropped, fires, roof leaks... Why, I've even heard of the occasional case of pilfering, if you can believe it!"

Aytin gave a sigh. In a tired voice, he asked, "And what exactly can you do to stop this?"

The other dragonette practically beamed. "So glad you asked! See, I know everyone around here worth knowing, right? I can make sure your gear gets treated with the care it deserves, so you don't have to worry about your new keep being left destitute..."

'Here it comes.'

"... for a price."

The scam was so old that Aytin had heard of it before even leaving Luffin Keep. No threats, nothing he could go to the guard over, just the promise of a service. A few traders had mentioned things like this over the past few months, with varying advice.

"How much?"

Resignedly, he thought of his finances. It would probably be a couple of gold. Not cheap, but easier than trying to fight and risking a reprisal.

"Ten gold to make sure your gear stays where it is without a single scratch on it!"

Aytin blinked. For a moment, he thought he had misheard. "Ten... gold?"

"And a bargain at that!"

To his credit, it didn't take long for Aytin to react to the outrageous opening offer. "I'm pretty sure your... competitors might have a better deal. Or I could go to the manager of the warehouse and negotiate for some extra security. Really, I think one gold might be a better price."

He thought it was a perfectly reasonable counter-offer. A good place to start haggling from. He was taken off guard when instead of coming back with an offer of his own, Sil shook his head, mock disappointment writ all over his expression. "I'm afraid the price is very firm. But I can promise you that you won't find better in the city. In fact, you've already met some of my associates!"

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Someone tapped Aytin on the back. He twisted, looked up, and came face to face with a familiar looking tough missing the tip of one horn and staring down at him with such a viscous grin that he jerked his head back on instinct.

"Tar Thumb had quite a few things to say about you. She was positively adamant that we track you down to make you an offer. And that she'd do whatever it took to... persuade you if it came to it."

"And I can be very persuasive." The hulking dragonette craned her head down until Aytin could smell the stink of her breath. "I also don't fall for the same dirty trick twice."

"Now, now, don't crowd the young master," Sil admonished, and his subordinate straightened without a trace of shame in her expression.

"I'll admit, our services are more expensive than the competition. Ten gold is a lot to pay, after all," he continued, locking eyes with the former noble and finally letting the false cheer drop away. "But, ask yourself this: Can you afford not to?"

A dark smile flashed across his face, somehow even more terrifying than Tar Thumb's vindictive grin. It was gone in an instant, replaced once more by that cheerful mask as he spread his arms wide. "So, what do you say?"

"Do you think that I carry that much gold on me?" There wasn't so much as a quiver in the young dragonette's voice. That seemed to take the other dragonette aback slightly, but he recovered quickly.

"We'd be happy to fly with you back to where you're staying so you can gather the gold. The Sweet Dragon, wasn't it?"

Of course Sil knew where he was staying. He'd sent the message there, after all. Still, Aytin shook his head. "I keep my money in a bank. And I doubt they'll be able to see me tonight." He glanced pointedly at the sun where it was dipping into late afternoon.

The gang leader frowned for a moment, then shrugged. "Fine. I'll be waiting here for you tomorrow at noon. And I hope I don't have to remind you what a terrible shame it would be if you happened to be late."

With that final ominous warning, he and his bodyguard brushed past the young dragonette, leaving him alone with the thug that he had last seen broken and bleeding as he sprinted down an alley. "Between you and me," she hissed, just loud enough for Aytin alone to hear. "I hope you are late. I really, really do." Then he found himself roughly shoved aside as the tough moved to follow her boss up the road.

Once he was sure that they had left, Aytin closed his eyes and rubbed the base of his horns. "Fuck me," he muttered, too softly for any passerby to hear.

It wasn't that he couldn't afford the price. Faelon had amassed quite the savings over the decades, and even if rebuilding the keep would nearly drain those accounts there was enough left over to pay off a greedy gang of thugs. Still, it was almost two years' pay for a veteran huntress in Luffin Keep. Wages for ten greenhorns out at the keep they were building. The price of enough supplies to last everyone through a hard spring and then some.

Nor did he think the dragon would appreciate his money being handed out to anyone with a lot of muscle and a big mouth.

Which left Aytin with the problem of what to do. He had no doubt that the gang could and would follow through with their thinly veiled threats. Whether or not they could actually get to his supplies didn't matter when they knew where he was staying.

And those threats were only implied. Thinking back, Sil had never said a thing that he couldn't argue his way out of. Maybe the guard would listen, maybe they wouldn't, but they probably wouldn't be able to do much.

There was one option, though.

Throughout the whole exchange, there had been the implication that Aytin was alone and friendless. He wasn't. He knew he wasn't. Mentally, he ticked down the list of acquaintances, contacts, and friends he had made during the last few months.

After a few moments he nodded to himself, got a running start, and took off.

His destination wasn't even that far. A small family compound just outside of the city, but conveniently close to the free traders guild. It was surrounded by a couple of small plots of farmland and a stand of fruit trees that weren't really big enough to be called an orchard. Not that it mattered. The family who lived there made their fortune through other endeavors.

He had only been there a couple of times before, but the housekeeper who answered the door smiled brightly as he saw him. "Master Aytin! Are you here to see Mistress Ivy?"

"If she's available."

"Oh, yes. She's just relaxing out back after her afternoon flight. I'm sure she'll be happy to see you."

They found Ivy resting on a rough wooden chair in the shade of one of the apple trees. The retired trader smiled as she saw Aytin approaching and rose to greet him.

"And here I was thinking you had forgotten about me. It's been weeks!"

"Sorry," he answered, sheepishly. "Things have been... well..."

"I've heard rumors." Her voice lost any note of teasing as she put a hand on his shoulder. "They say you were kicked out of your family?"

He shook his head slightly. "Not kicked out. It was my decision, not theirs, but you're right that I'm not a Luffin anymore. It was the only way I could... Well, my mother didn't understand."

"I see." Ivy made a face. "Terrible business. Still, you look good. Maybe a bit rougher around the edges." She flicked the sleeve of his utilitarian shirt. "But good for someone who gave up their family name just a few weeks ago."

She motioned for him to sit in a nearby chair, then sent the servant off to fetch a pot of tea. Once they were settled, Aytin let out a long breath.

"Honestly, it was a long time coming. I should have known from the beginning that I couldn't stay a part of the family. Not if I wanted to go back to Rina and Faelon and the rest."

"I thought that would be the case. But from the rumors, it was a quick, clean break, yes?"

He nodded. "As far as things go, I guess. I haven't heard a thing from the family since I left."

"Well, maybe the rift can be mended someday."

Aytin's response was immediate. "I'm not going back."

"I didn't expect you would want to. But they're still your family. Even if you don't share a name anymore, I think you'll find that people there still care for you."

Unbidden, his sister Lin came to mind. It still ate at him that he would probably never see her again. He just wished he could talk to her. Explain everything. But that probably wouldn't happen.

After a few heartbeats, Ivy continued. "If you want my advice, let things cool down for a few seasons. Then send a letter. Maybe you'll hear something, maybe you won't. But it can't hurt."

"I- I think I'll do that," Aytin replied, a little catch in his voice. "Once things are settled at the keep."

"Good. I assume you've been keeping busy? That's the best medicine, after all."

He gave a thin smile. "Putting together a new keep is hard. Especially when you don't technically have permission yet."

"Faelon's title still hasn't come through yet?"

"Nope." Aytin gave a shrug, then accepted a cup of tea from the servant who had just returned. He also took one of the pieces of thinly sliced sausage from the plate that had been set between them. They were heavily spiced, and Aytin nibbled at a piece as his host frowned.

"I've heard of the crown giving titles for less than dealing with a pack of brigands, and that's not even including his years of service in the royal guard. Has there been any word on the hold up?"

"None." He swallowed the bite of sausage he'd been chewing before adding, "But hopefully there will be soon. I've called in my favor with the Carnots."

"Ah? Yes, I remember you mentioning that. A good use, I would say."

"It was all I could think of short of following a crown clerk to a tavern and getting him drunk enough to let me in on the secret."

"It wouldn't be the first time," Ivy said with a chuckle. "If you were going to be here longer, I'd tell you to go ahead and try cozying up to a few of them. Never underestimate the value of having a friend among the people who do the real work in the government."

"Speaking from experience?"

"Oh, I might be." She leaned in and added a conspiratorial ear flick. "All I'll say is that buying a few mugs of ale or a bottle of wine for the ones who know, say, which keeps paid the most taxes in the last year has never been wasted gold."

"I can imagine. I don't suppose you've kept in touch?" he asked, only half-joking.

"Of course I did. One of them even took my son Oak as a mate. But I don't think the tax and trade offices will be much help to you."

"Not right now, no. But maybe someday. Will you put in a good word for Faelon and I?"

She slapped her leg and grinned at the suggestion. "Ha! I'll certainly do that the next time I see them."

"Thanks." And Aytin found he actually meant it. "That's one problem off of my wings."

"And what about the rest? Problems with the guilds? Not finding anyone willing to follow you to the edge of the frontier? Other traders gouging you for supplies?"

"No, actually. Trademaster Raleigh has been really helpful with the other guilds, and I have all the slots I need filled." He paused for a moment and pursed his lips. "Actually supplies are a bit of a problem. Not getting them, but keeping them in one piece. That's kind of why I came to visit. I wanted to ask for your advice."

"Oh?" She raised one eyeridge. "Why don't you tell me what the problem is?"

So Aytin explained about his encounter with Sil and the attempt at extortion. When he got to the price, Ivy nearly snorted into her tea.

"Ambitious little fucks, aren't they?"

Aytin's eyes widened a little at the profanity, but she waved it away. "Come on, I was a trader, remember? I'm sure you've heard worse from the crews."

"Sure, but... well..." He finally shook his head and let it drop. "Anyway, I think in this case, it's more vindictive than ambitious. I kind of messed up one of them a few weeks ago when they tried to rob me."

"Well, good for you. Scum like them need to be taught a lesson every chance you get. Pity they didn't learn it right the first time."

"So what do I do? Not pay it, I'm guessing."

"Oh, gods, no. You can't let a bunch of punks get away with that kind of extortion. A few gold here and there might." She waved a finger at the word. "Might be the cost of keeping things running smoothly, but if the gangs decide they can get away with demanding a good chunk of a trade run's profits like that then everyone will suffer."

"Then what?"

Ivy drained the dregs of her tea then stood and stretched. She motioned for Aytin to follow as she strode towards the house with more energy than he ever would have guessed she could have possessed during their first meeting.

"Let me get a few things. Then we'll head for the guild. There are some people there I want you to meet."