The Mimic Becomes a Merchant King

"Another smart mimic," Domajor murmured, stroking his chin with one hand. "I never would have believed it, if I wasn't seeing her with my own eyes."

Colony had taken a seat in the drawing room, her hands folded in her lap while the others examined her from a comfortable distance. Coin could tell she was uneasy, sitting as rigid as a statue. She didn't blink, as was the norm for her. In her unease she had fallen back on her mimic instincts, trying to appear inanimate.

Pearl sighed, slowly massaging her brow. "And she's a pretty woman. Of course she is. Why would I have expected anything else?"

It was Essine who made the first move, smiling and extending a hand to the other mimic. "This one is pleased to meet you, Colony. It is good to know Coin has kin in the world."

Coin watched with a hint of unease as Colony stiffly reached out, taking Essine's hand in her own as if it were as delicate as a soap bubble. "Y-y-y..." Colony swallowed, her expression still blank despite her unease. "You are the kobold. Coin thinks highly of you."

"This one is Essine," she said, maintaining her smile.

One by one the others introduced themselves. Domajor and Leonid with respectful bows. Pearl, despite her initial reluctance, managed to smile and curtsy to the elder mimic. Scylla, who had been waiting around Sentinel to sate her curiosity, gave Colony a cryptic smile. And Illyana saluted her, as expected of a soldier.

"She seems nice, if a bit odd," Illyana admitted. "Though she probably has killed a lot of people."

Pearl shrugged. "I'm sure everyone in this room has killed at least once."

"Er. I haven't, Lady Pearlovska," Leonid said, raising a dainty hand.

"Oh you're in the right company for it to happen eventually, dear elf."

Colony cleared her throat. "It is good to meet you all. I hope...I hope that we can become good allies. Though much of this world is... new and strange to me," she said.

"Worry not, Lady Colony. As Master Coin's chosen footman, I will do everything in my power to aid you."

Scylla leaned forward and rested a chin on her palm, still smiling pleasantly. "And I have many questions for you. I'm sure we have much to teach each other," she remarked.

"You are... the sorceress with the black birds," Colony said, staring at her.

"I am indeed."

"I should perhaps apologise for how we first met. I am told forcing my magic back through your mind was... ill-mannered," the mimic said.

"Oh, tosh," Scylla said, dismissively waving her free hand. "Water under the bridge."

Coin scanned his friends, briefly folding his arms. "So, er, anything happen while I was away? Business wise, I mean."

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"We did what we could to keep things afloat. Didn't do much to shake up what we had going, beyond hiring some extra security." Pearl leaned against a small table, bracing her palms against the varnished wood. "Business has been stable. But the Venture Company has been trying to undercut a few of our deals."

Coin sighed. "Bastard."

"Venture Company?" Colony asked.

"Another mercantile group. They're run by Ashur Clyde, a man who has a vested interest in destroying Master Coin's company," Leonid explained.

"Kill him," Colony said flatly.

Coin grimaced, feeling a small sense of dread swelling in his gut. "No, no, we don't just kill people if we don't like them."

"Well we could," Pearl replied, earning an annoyed look from Coin.

"As much of a pain as Ashur Clyde is, he hasn't tried to kill us. Nor can I say he's tried to harm us physically. For now, we'll fight him as a business. To that end, we'll need to expand."

"Most astute, sir. Your judgement in matters of business are admirable, as to be expected of Ser Elijah's chosen heir. There is one other thing." Domajor reached into his pocket, producing a neatly folded envelop. "We received a missive from Ser LeBon the other day. I did not read it, but given LeBon's nature as a creative, he may have some investment opportunity in mind."

Coin nodded and took the offered envelope. Domajor had a point. Coin had considered the possibilities of selling steamboats to folks, but that would be quite costly on his end. He broke the wax seal and quickly skimmed the single line of text written in an excited, spidery scrawl.

Ser Coin

Have had a breakthrough. Could change the whole world.

Your friend

Albus LeBon.

Coin hummed. He'd be lying if he said that didn't intrigue him.

"I have been doing some security work for your company in the meantime, Coin, but regrettably I'm being called back to imperial duties," Illyana said. "With the Goddess Festival on the horizon, Velasco wants every available sword at his beck and call."

Coin smiled, nodding at her. "Thank you, Illyana, for all your help. If you get free of Velasco's obligations, you'll always have a place waiting for you with us." Still, that meant there would be an opening for more security. He thought of Cricket at once.

The girl was odd, but capable. And she knew the city intimately. If he needed someone to keep tabs on his enemies, or to defend his people, Cricket could do both. He just needed to invest some money into Goddess Street to get her involved.

And then there was the ogres to consider. He hadn't forgotten that little idea.

So much to do. But he had time to get it done.

Coin's eyes roamed over to Essine, and she met his eye at that moment. "I'll leave you to get acquainted with Colony. Please, treat her nicely. And Colony, be kind to them too." It felt odd, sounding like a mentor to someone who was centuries his senior.

He and Essine left the room, and the kobold was instantly fretting and fussing with her clawed hands. "This one is happy to see you are alive," she said, pushing the door shut silently. "Your absence had this one worried."

"Sorry. But I had to go and meet her. And I'm glad I did. It's... nice, having someone else like me in the world." Even if she was an oddball. Was this how Elijah had felt, raising him when he was so dumb and new to the human world?

"Your happiness makes this one happy."

They stood in silence for some time, staring awkwardly at each other. He had no idea how relationships worked, and Essine had barely grasped the idea of how relationships with someone of her own species worked. Let alone being with a mimic that had made himself into a human.

"Essine," he eventually said, "before I left to meet Colony, when you kissed me, what did that mean to you? I... this sort of thing, it's new to me."

The kobold looked at her feet. "This one... this one wanted..." She was practically glowing red under her fur. "Thisonewantedtobeyourmate!" she blurted.

Coin blinked at her, then set about dissecting that exclamation syllable by syllable. "Aaaah," he eventually said. "My mate."

"Y-yes," Essine said, taking in a shaky breath. "This one knows she sounds selfish. That to be with you would be... difficult. Not just because we are not of the same species, but the way the world around you would react. They would see a human with a... a rat, and-"

"I don't care about that." Coin shrugged. "Let them judge me. Let them say what they want. If being with you would make me happy, then why should I care what other people think?" he asked.

Essine stared at him, nearly quivering where she stood. "You... you would-"

He settled a hand on her cheek, and she leaned gently into his touch. "I would," he assured her. And the more he thought about it, the more he knew it was what he wanted.

They kissed. And, content in the company of each other, they thought no more about how the world would judge them.