“You wanted to see me?” Rasia asked as she poked her head into the Mythkeeper’s office. The office hadn’t changed much since the days the Mythkeeper used to lecture her about her absences from school.
The Mythkeeper sighed in relief. “You made it. I was concerned you wouldn’t be here in time.”
“I feel hurt you doubted me so,” Rasia teased as she swept in and took a seat on the Mythkeeper’s desk to lean a look at the documents she was working on. The Mythkeeper quickly shooed her off the desk, and she skipped back to one of the seats.
“Congratulations, you’re hired as a scribe.”
“Yay,” she said in faux-excitement.
The Mythkeeper shook her head at her dramatics. “As you know, this isn’t a typical scribe position. I’ve modeled it after the hunting kulls. While you are out of the Grankull, your family will still receive a paycheck on your behalf. But for right now, I’ve approved a monetary advance for you to buy equipment and supplies. I advise you to go check in with Raiment Foreigner about the things you might need for the journey.”
The Mythkeeper handed over a large pouch of money. “That’s enough for three blinks of a scribe’s salary. After the initial three blinks, your salary will then be paid out to your family.”
“What about gonom?” she asked.
“You will receive an upfront year supply of gonom as is your due, but first, you have quite a bit of paperwork to fill out before you can receive the gonom from the administration office.” The Mythkeeper tapped the tower of paperwork she had been snooping on. She groaned at the size.
“Quite frankly, this position is tentative—it’s an experiment. We hope it can strengthen and rebuild the relations that the Grankull broke with Raiment Foreigner, and we hope it can provide us with information and more options in the event of another bad year. You don’t necessarily have to come back to the Grankull and physically report in, but if you’re sending reports and maps back to me, that’s sufficient. I don’t want you to worry about the Council, or if they’ll eventually consider this job unnecessary. I think this is important, and I will fight for it as long as you submit the work.”
“I will.”
“Good. How about we work on the paperwork together? You won’t be here to correct any mistakes.”
“Thank Elder,” she said in relief. They tackled the stack of paperwork. After it was all said and done, she stood with an armful of paperwork to file.
“Also,” the Mythkeeper said as she reached the door. “Please, do work on your handwriting.”
Rasia laughed. Then she smiled and said, sincerely, “You’re one of the few people who have always believed in me. Thank you.”
For once, the Mythkeeper’s face was not tinged with exhaustion or exasperation, but with unabashed pride.
“Go conquer the world, Rasia Dragonfire.”
Rasia neared the private renting spaces where Raiment’s windbarge was located. Every merchant knew the exact day of Raiment’s departures, often getting bulk orders prepared and calendared for the large pay day when he returned.
The crew directed her to the Han’s quarters, and she passed the preparations with mounting excitement. By tomorrow morning, she’d be leaving the Grankull behind. She peeked her head into Raiment Zara-kulani’s office. “Hello?”
“Ah, it’s you. Glad you could make it,” Raiment said, jumping up from his chair and whisking her into the office. He wore his hair styled in waist-length dreads that were decorated with expensive evory beads. It was funny how short he was compared to Zephyr, which meant he was her height. Sort of nice not to have to look up.
Her eyes flicked to a painting of people in large furs playing amidst a white blanketed landscape, then to a painting of wooden windships sailing atop water, and another of a busy city protected behind giant walls.
“The Mythkeeper wanted me to stop by and ask what I’ll need for the journey?” she asked.
“Honestly?” he answered, “Bones of dragonsteel, but I hear from Zephyr-po you’ve got plenty of those. I run the largest trading business through the four main empires—a dangerous way to make a living for sure, as all lands are beset with their own manner of behemoths. This job requires a person of a certain fearlessness. And after that dragon business? I can’t think of anyone better the Grankull could have nominated for the job. I’m glad to have you along for the ride.”
“I’m glad to be along.”
“We’ll set off first thing at dawn tomorrow. First, we’ll sail the windship to the forest, where we’ll maneuver through to meet up with my brother and some wagons and horses on the other side.”
“Horses?”
“Aye. Now, that forest isn’t for the faint of heart. I’ve lost a lot of people who couldn’t keep their heads about them. The behemoths that reside in that forest are-”
“I know.” Rasia stood and pulled up her shirt to show him the scar. “Gave me this one. I know how dangerous the shadowcats are, but I don’t understand. How do you get a whole ship past those things? You can tell me now, right? I’ll learn the secret in a few days.”
He smiled and leaned forward with a whisper, “Dragon shit.”
“Huh?”
“The smell of dragon shit repulses them. It’s disgusting, but rub it all over your skin and they won’t bother you.”
Rasia couldn’t believe she didn’t think of that. Most creatures fled at the scent of a dragon. Now that she knew, she could probably get through the forest by herself, but it would be best to go with Zephyr’s tah. She didn’t know what other ‘behemoths’ awaited her on the other side.
“One day I’m going to have to tell you the story of how I found that out. After we make it through the forests and meet my brother, we’ll take the wares to my base of operations.”
“So . . . we’re going to your warehouse and coming back? What about those places in the paintings?” she asked. “Are we going to see those?”
“Ah, we’ll be going through the countries of Fjaren and Alohver, but I’m afraid the Alohverian capital and the Fjaren canals are out of our way. But I have plenty of trade routes and merchants that go through those economic centers. You’re more than free to do whatever you like or go anywhere you want once we arrive at my warehouse.”
“Good,” she said. “I don’t want to come back. I hate this place.”
Lines wrinkled at his eyes. “You can certainly send back any documents through me—but, if you’re looking for somewhere perfect, I’m afraid that place doesn’t exist. There are always the poor, always those who have less and those who have more. There are always systems to keep people in power.”
“No, I—that’s not what I’m looking for. I—” She could never really put into words or explain this pull that tugged insistently at her chest. “How can anyone possibly sit still when there’s the unknown over the horizon? I’m not looking for a place to be but somewhere to go.”
Raiment melted into a warm understanding smile. “Ah, an adventurer after my own heart. We’re a rare few indeed. Well, my dear wind child, all roads lead to my warehouse. Once we’re there, the whole world is yours.”