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with at least one of them, if they're griping about magic being aboard ship. Thankfully it seems Nankyo's magic masking is
working. If they find him after we've said no one but myself is aboard we'll be in a world of political trouble."
Raiden rolled his eyes, "The Pozharian obsession with keeping out magic will never cease to amuse me."
The secretary shrugged, "It's no less ridiculous than traveling to a nonexistent island to offer tribute to gods we haven't seen
or believed in for several centuries."
"True enough, Taka. True enough." Raiden's deep red robes swirled around him as he turned away from the view of the city
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AmaSour Fiction
and headed for his cabin to await the officials of Pozhar.
Inside he made for his desk, pausing to look back at Takara, "All right expert, so long as you're here I may as well abuse
your services. Suggestions?"
Takara sighed, "As much as I hate to say it, the best thing you can do is emphasize that this is a pleasure voyage. We're
headed to your home for an extended vacation."
The merchant grinned widely at that, "I suppose I could be persuaded to emphasize that."
"Somehow I didn't think you'd protest," Takara shot him a disgusted look. "Now pay attention. Beyond that say little to
nothing. The story of our finding Culebra need not be changed, save that it was I who initially recognized and woke him. Of
course he is part of the reason they sense magic on the ship& which makes me wonder why they're putting up such a fuss.
I wonder if perhaps they sense Nankyo after all. But no, they wouldn't follow protocol if that were case. They would be
storming the ship and demanding to know why we failed to mention we have Kundou royalty aboard."
Raiden grunted, "Which thankfully they don't. This would never have been a problem without Culebra." He slid his gaze
across the room to the prince in question, grinning. "Not, of course, that we're not happy to have your highness along."
"Indeed," Culebra's mouth quirked. "I am sorry for the inconvenience. Very sorry. But rest assured they'll not hear about
Nankyo from I."
A sharp rap interrupted their conversation, a second's warning before the door swung open to admit Kindan and two other
men - one who wore the garments of a government official, the other clearly a soldier.
The official immediately fastened his gaze on Takara, lingering on the slender body encased in teal robes. Slowly he brought
his eyes up to look the secretary in the face, "Lord Noumi. A pleasure to see you again, it's been far too long."
Takara twitched, though his face remained calm. "The pleasure is yours. I had no idea you would be handling this matter,
Duke Krasny. Matters of magical interference is the realm of Earl Zholty, is it not?" He squashed his desire to slide closer to
Raiden, as unsettled as always by the presence of the Duke. Krasny always reminded him of a hawk, even his red hair
fluttered about his head in a feathery manner, his face sharp, nose pointed. Eyes dark, unpleasant. Takara hated the man.
"The Earl is indisposed at this time, and when I heard you were aboard Lord Noumi& well, how could I not come?" He
turned to address the man seated at the table, "My apologies, your Highness. In my eagerness to greet my old friend, I
neglected my duties. Are you well, Prince Culebra?"
"As well as can be expected Duke, thank you." Culebra's voice was polite, level. "But do explain to me all the fuss. Surely
you would have expected high levels of magic on this ship?"
The duke's expression grew suddenly serious, "Yes, except that the levels are much higher than they should be. Of course
I'm sure it's simply an error that will be rapidly corrected," he smiled briefly. "I was quite astonished, Lord Noumi, to hear
you were on vacation. With& " his eyes strayed toward Raiden, whom he'd pointedly ignored until now.
"With me." Raiden said flatly. He ignored the warning touch of Kindan's hand on his shoulder. "And I dislike being treated
rudely aboard my own ship, Duke."
"Of course, forgive me," the Duke smiled nastily. "I am Duke Nikolai Krasny, Chief Advisor to his Majesty Zarya IX."
"Good for you," Kindan cut in. "But even a Chief Advisor should be aware that on a ship the rules change."
Krasny's eyelids drooped, as he stared lazily at the pair by the desk. "Of course," he murmured. "I did not mean to be rude.
As I said, I was over eager to see my Lord Noumi."
"State your business please. We have done nothing but what we dictated in the messages exchanged with you."
The duke nodded, "I have men searching this ship, a mere formality I assure you. If there is any problem, it is likely to be
here in this room." He turned his gaze on the secretary, "I would like to use a crystal, if you don't mind."
"I have no problems with that." Takara tensed as the advisor approached him, withdrawing from his voluminous black coat a
heavy, dark red crystal. The secretary accepted it as Krasny held it out. Gripping it tightly, the room waited in silence,
Kindan and Raiden watching in confusion. Seconds ticked by, then the crystal slowly began to glow, turning eventually into
a bright ball of light in Takara's hand. The secretary's eyes went wide, and he stared in shock at first the crystal, then the
duke. "What& "
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