Marcus moved with practiced efficiency as he prepared the princess's order, but Kael noticed the subtle tension in his shoulders. This was clearly not standard operating procedure for the academy district's most discrete guardian. The vendor's sharp eyes kept scanning the growing crowd of onlookers, many of whom had stopped their evening routines to stare at the unprecedented sight of royalty conducting business at a humble food stall.
Whispered conversations rippled through the gathered spectators—merchants closing their shops, academy staff heading home, even a few lingering students who hadn't quite made it out of the plaza. *A princess? Here? At Marcus's stall?* The questions multiplied faster than answers, and Kael could practically feel the weight of dozens of curious gazes.
The situation grew more surreal when an elegant woman in midnight blue emerged from a carriage that had apparently been following the princess at a discrete distance. She moved with the fluid grace of someone trained in both etiquette and combat, positioning herself within arm's reach of Princess Lyra while simultaneously creating a subtle barrier that discouraged anyone from approaching too closely.
"Elena," the princess said without turning around, somehow having noticed her maid's approach despite being focused on Kael. "I trust you've secured our perimeter?"
"Of course, Your Highness," Elena replied, her voice carrying the kind of professional calm that suggested she was accustomed to unusual situations. "Though I should mention that Captain Blackstone will want a full report on this... impromptu meeting."
"Captain Blackstone can have her report after I've concluded my business," Princess Lyra said with the casual authority of someone who had never doubted her right to make such decisions.
Kael reached into his leather pouch, acutely aware that every movement was being observed by both the princess and her clearly competent bodyguard. He withdrew five stones, each no larger than a child's fist, and arranged them carefully on the rough wooden surface of Marcus's stall.
The effect was immediate and dramatic. Even in the fading afternoon light, the elemental stones seemed to pulse with inner fire—ruby red for flame, deep blue for water, rich brown for earth, and pale green for wind. But it was the fifth stone that drew the sharpest intake of breath from Princess Lyra. The neutral stone appeared almost colorless at first glance, but as it caught the light it revealed depths that seemed to contain every color and none at all.
"Interesting collection," the princess murmured, and Kael caught the genuine appreciation in her voice. "Water, fire, earth, wind, and..." She paused, reaching toward the neutral stone before stopping just short of contact. "A perfect neutral stone. That's considerably more rare than the others."
Kael had already made his decision during the walk to this stall, though he hadn't realized it at the time. Getting on Princess Lyra's good side was worth more than any amount of gold he might squeeze from this transaction. Political connections, royal favor, the kind of protection that came with being useful to someone with real power—these were investments in a future that extended far beyond immediate profit.
"What would you offer for all five?" he asked, deliberately keeping his tone casual despite the small crowd of observers.
Princess Lyra studied the stones with the focused intensity of someone conducting a professional appraisal. When she finally quoted a price, Kael had to work to keep his expression neutral. Three times current market value—which meant she not only knew exactly what these stones were worth, but had chosen to offer a premium that would make refusal difficult.
*This is going to be harder than I thought,* Kael realized. Dealing with someone who clearly understood both the materials and the market dynamics meant his usual negotiation tactics were useless. Worse, something in her dark eyes suggested she could read his intentions as easily as examining the stones' magical signatures.
If he tried to lower the price to demonstrate goodwill, she'd immediately recognize the manipulation. If he accepted too quickly, she'd know he'd been planning to undervalue his own goods. He was trapped between appearing greedy and appearing calculating, with a growing suspicion that either response would reveal more about his motives than he was comfortable sharing.
"That's... very generous, Your Highness," he said finally, accepting that straightforward honesty was his only viable option.
"I prefer to pay fair value for quality materials," she replied with a slight smile that suggested she'd enjoyed watching him work through the logical trap she'd created. "Though I am curious—where exactly does one acquire stones of this caliber? The Dark Continent is vast, and not all regions produce gems of such purity."
The question seemed casual, but Kael recognized the predatory focus behind it. This wasn't idle curiosity—she was fishing for specific information about his background, his capabilities, and potentially his connections to suppliers or expedition routes.
"The Shadowmere region has its secrets," he said carefully, offering truth without detail. "Deep caverns, dangerous creatures, and the occasional reward for those willing to take risks."
Princess Lyra nodded as if this explained everything, though her expression suggested she'd filed away several follow-up questions for potential future use. "Of course. Well, business is business."
She produced a leather purse that clinked with the substantial weight of gold coins and began counting out payment with the kind of casual precision that came from extensive experience with large financial transactions. As she worked, Kael found himself reassessing both her resources and her priorities.
"If I may ask," he said as she completed the count, "what do you intend to do with stones of this quality?"
"Experimental applications," she replied, lifting the neutral stone to examine it more closely. "I'm researching some theoretical approaches to elemental manipulation that require extremely pure base materials."
Kael stared at her, momentarily speechless. Using stones of this grade for experimentation was like using masterwork swords for firewood. Most experiments failed—that was the nature of magical research—which meant she was prepared to potentially destroy a fortune in raw materials for the sake of advancing theoretical knowledge.
The sheer waste of it made his head spin, but more troubling was what it represented. Only someone with unlimited resources would approach magical research this way, and only someone with unlimited resources could afford to repeatedly purchase materials of this quality. The systematic advantages this gave nobles over common-born mages were staggering.
"Experiments," he repeated, scratching his head as the implications sank in. "Your Highness, do you realize how many commoners could enhance their entire careers with just one of these stones?"
"Of course I do," she said matter-of-factly, securing the stones in a specially designed case that appeared to be warded against magical interference. "But individual enhancement isn't the goal. If my theories prove correct, the applications could revolutionize how we approach elemental magic entirely. The potential benefits to the kingdom justify the expense."
*And this,* Kael thought grimly, *is exactly why the gap between nobles and commoners keeps growing wider.* Nobles didn't just have more money—they had the luxury of thinking in terms of long-term theoretical advancement while everyone else worried about immediate practical needs. Every successful magical innovation could be patented, licensed, and monetized, creating a cycle that ensured the wealthy became wealthier while everyone else remained dependent on their discoveries.
Princess Lyra rose from her stool with fluid grace, apparently satisfied with both the transaction and whatever additional information she'd gathered during their conversation. From her sleeve, she withdrew a small card made from what appeared to be enchanted silver, inscribed with symbols that seemed to shift slightly when viewed directly.
"In case you acquire additional materials of interest," she said, offering him the card. "Present this to any member of the Royal Guard, and they'll arrange a meeting."
Kael accepted the card, noting its substantial weight and the complexity of the magical auras surrounding it. Clearly this wasn't simple contact information—the amount of enchantment work represented was considerable, suggesting the card itself held significant value beyond its stated purpose.
"I appreciate the opportunity to do business, Your Highness," he said, offering a respectful nod that acknowledged both her rank and her professionalism.
"Likewise," she replied. "It's refreshing to meet someone who understands the value of quality materials."
As Princess Lyra prepared to depart, Elena falling into step beside her with practiced precision, Marcus finally approached with their delayed order. The vendor's expression was carefully neutral, but Kael caught the slight shake of his head that suggested this had been far from a routine afternoon.
"Your Highness," Marcus said, offering an elegant silver tray bearing delicate pastries and steaming tea in porcelain cups that definitely hadn't come from his usual stock. "Please forgive the delay."
"No apology necessary, Marcus. Business took precedence over refreshment." She accepted a cup of tea but left the pastries untouched, apparently more interested in departing than socializing. "Until next time, Master Thornwick."
The use of a formal title caught Kael off-guard—he'd never mentioned his former rank, which meant she'd either guessed from context or had access to information sources he hadn't considered. Either possibility suggested depths to Princess Lyra that extended far beyond impressive magical knowledge.
As the royal party made their way toward the waiting carriage, the crowd of onlookers began to disperse, their evening's entertainment concluded. Kael remained at the stall, absently sipping Marcus's surprisingly excellent ale while processing what had just occurred.
"Interesting afternoon," Marcus observed, beginning to clean up the impromptu royal dining arrangement.
"That's certainly one way to describe it," Kael replied, examining the silver card with growing appreciation for its complexity. The symbols seemed to respond to his touch, revealing additional layers of enchantment that suggested capabilities far beyond simple identification.
"Word of advice," Marcus said quietly, his tone carrying the weight of professional experience. "Cards like that aren't handed out casually. Whatever you did to impress her, it's put you on a very exclusive list."
Kael looked up from the card to find Marcus watching him with the kind of serious attention usually reserved for potential threats or valuable assets.
"Exclusive how?"
"The kind of exclusive that comes with opportunities and dangers in equal measure," Marcus replied cryptically. "Congratulations, Master Thornwick. You've just become interesting to some very powerful people."
As the sun set behind the ancient oak's sprawling canopy and the academy district settled into evening quiet, Kael found himself holding a fortune in gold and a card that represented possibilities he was only beginning to understand. His plan to start fresh in the capital had just become considerably more complicated.
The irony wasn't lost on him. Former B-rank adventurer, former low-ranking royal guardsman, and now... what? When circumstances had forced him to leave both careers behind, he'd made a simple decision: if he couldn't succeed as an adventurer or a royal guard, he'd create his own path. A mercenary company built on his terms, serving clients he chose, with the independence he'd always craved.
But for the first time since returning to the city, he felt like the future held genuine promise rather than mere survival. Sometimes the most dangerous opportunities were also the most worthwhile, and Princess Lyra had definitely qualified as dangerous.
The question now was what he intended to do with the advantage she'd inadvertently given him.