The Merchant Prince: Tales of the Misplaced - Book 2, page 1
THE MERCHANT PRINCE
TALES OF THE MISPLACED - BOOK 2
ADAM K. WATTS
Copyright (C) 2022 Adam K. Watts
Layout design and Copyright (C) 2022 by Next Chapter
Published 2022 by Next Chapter
Edited by Fading Street Services
Cover art by Hung Tran, HDIArt
Cover design by CoverMint
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author’s permission.
CONTENTS
Characters
Map of Daoine
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Epilogue
Glossary
Acknowledgments
About the Author
CHARACTERS
Akshira: Rorujhen spouse to Farukan and mother of Barashan.
Alénia: A human woman living in the Shifara area. She is an expert with the long-sword and seeks out any who re proficient to challenge them.
Ancaera: Ashae widow to Vaelir, whom she had married out of convenience to maintain control of her family estate of Shianri.
Arané-Li: Ulané Jhinura Chamberlain in Su Lariano.
Arnelas: Ulané Jhinura Minister of Trade in Su Lariano.
Arugak: Founding king of Pokorah-Vo.
Astrina: Astrina Ulané Poloso. Ulané Jhinura queen of Su Lariano.
Azadi: Ga-Né-Mo Ri healer in Aganaté.
Barashan: Rorujhen son of Farukan and Akshira.
Bardian: Ga-Né-Mo Ri king in Aganaté.
Bavrana: An Urgaban merchant and the Merchant Guildmaster in Pokorah-Vo. Part owner with Mira of the Raven’s Nest Restaurant in Su Lariano.
Bijoux: Jahgreet cub. Rispan’s companion.
Chevis: Ogaré father to Gaetan.
Darkstar: Rorujhen slave owned by Dimétrian.
Darusa: Urgaban merchant in Pokorah-Vo. Aligned with the slavers.
Démka: Loiala Fé Guard in Shifara.
Deneven: Ulané Jhinura Chief Forester in Su Lariano.
Dimas: Ashae City Guard in Shifara.
Dimétrian: Ashae Master of the White Riders.
Dobarek: Urgaban Slaver Guildmaster in Pokorah-Vo.
Duskovek: Urgaban Captain of the Guard from Laraksha-Vo. Sent with the delegation to Su Lariano.
Dzurala: Ulané Jhinura General of the Investigations and Intelligence Branch (IIB) in Su Lariano.
Farlen: Ulané Jhinura who assisted in kidnapping Mira.
Farukan: The Rorujhen formerly enslaved by Vaelir. He serves Mira as mount and partner. Spouse to Akshira and father of Barashan.
Felgar: See Mouse.
Felora: Ulané Jhinura tailor and shopkeeper in the Su Lariano outer town. Wife to Gylan and mother to Tesia.
Gaetan: Young Ogaré whose actions resulted in him being sentenced by his people to follow and assist Genevané until such time as she can forgive him.
Genevané: Darakanos befriended by Rispan.
Giang: Pilané Jhin working for the Royal Court in Shifara Castle.
Gilglys: Ulané Jhinura who assisted in kidnapping Mira.
Gradela: Urgaban mercenary working for Dobarek.
Gralbast: An Urgaban merchant. Formerly the Merchant’s Guildmaster. Mira’s business partner in Pokorah-Vo.
Grangor: Urgaban diplomat sent to Su Lariano from Laraksha-Vo.
Gylan: Ulané Jhinura leatherworker and armorer in Su Lariano. Husband to Felora and father to Tesia.
Icolan: Ulané Jhinura bodyguard assigned to protect Mira. Rank of Bar, equivalent to private, with the Su Lariano Palace Guard.
Jakeda: Urgaban hired by Bavrana to be the head chef at the Raven’s Nest restaurant.
Jaleya: Ga-Né-Mo Ri queen of Aganaté.
Javen: Urgaban mercenary adopted by Mira to be Farukan’s groom.
Jill Ramirez: Mira’s foster-mother on Earth.
Kaerélios: Childhood Ashae friend to Ancaera, also a White Rider. Pledged to Mira and assigned to protect Ancaera and Shianri.
Karis Ulané Panalira: Missing younger cousin of Neelu.
Karugan: Urgaban king in Laraksha-Vo.
Kalisan: Long-deceased husband to Neelu’s missing sister, Reelu.
Kergak: Deceased Urgaban king of Pokorah-Vo. Father to King Vegak and son of King Arugak.
Kholinaer: The Ashae king in Shifara Castle.
Khuyen: Pilané Jhin queen and only survivor of the massacre of her people led by Arugak long ago. Leader of Chados, the resistance of Pokorah-Vo.
Kiarash: Ga-Né-Mo Ri scout and resistance member. Befriended by Rispan.
Kirsat: Ulané Jhinura friend to Mira from her military training in Su Lariano. Part of the original mission to Pokorah-Vo and who did not survive the journey.
Kooras: Ulané Jhinura friend to Mira from her military training in Su Lariano. Part of the original mission to Pokorah-Vo and who did not survive the journey.
Lacela: Ulané Jhinura student healer in Su Lariano.
Laruna: Ulané Jhinura mage and magic instructor in Su Lariano. Became a fugitive when it became known she orchestrated Mira’s kidnapping.
Lengel: Ulané Jhinura aide to General Dzurala in Su Lariano.
Meshin: Ulané Jhinura general of the army and City Guard of Su Lariano.
Mikolosk: Urgaban who serves as Gralbast’s right hand and personal assistant.
Mira: Mirabela Cervantes Ramirez. Child of Earth who finds herself stranded on Daoine.
Mooren: Ulané Jhinura assigned to accompany Mira and advise and protect her on her missions to Pokorah-Vo and Shifara. Holds the rank of Lance with the Su Lariano Palace Guard, which is equivalent to corporal.
Mouse: Also known as Felgar. Close Ulané Jhinura friend to Mira and Rispan since her early days in Su Lariano. Becomes manager for the Raven’s Nest Restaurant.
Nadezhda: Healer in a Loiala Fé village.
Naga: Name of the reshan eagle that serves as Kiarash’s mount.
Nazreela: Urgaban queen in Laraksha-Vo.
Néci: Loiala Fé house servant in Shianri.
Neelu: Neelu Ulané Pulakasado. Ulané Jhinura daughter of Queen Astrina. Mira’s first friend in Daoine.
Niden: Loiala Fé groom in Shianri.
Niklos: Vaelir’s Ashae nephew.
Nirellen: Ulané Jhinura commander in charge of Mira’s platoon in military training in Su Lariano. Holds the rank of Tree, which is equivalent to Staff Sergeant.
Nora: Leanora Leland. Mira’s foster-sister on Earth.
Reelu: Reelu Ulané Pulakaloso. Missing older sister to Neelu.
Réni: Ulané Jhinura Assistant Minister of Trade in Su Lariano. Assigned to accompany Mira on her mission to Pokorah-Vo.
Rhesaeda: Ashae Minister of Internal Relations in Shifara Castle.
Rispan: Close friend to Mira and Mouse since her early days in Su Lariano. Is assigned to join her mission to Pokorah-Vo.
Rizina: Ulané Jhinura bodyguard assigned to protect Mira. Holds the rank of Bar, equivalent to private, with the Su Lariano Palace Guard.
Sabela: Ulané Jhinura friend to Mira from her military training in Su Lariano. Part of the original mission to Pokorah-Vo and a highly skilled tracker.
Shaluza: Part of the Urgaban delegation to Su Lariano from Laraksha-Vo. Assigned to accompany Mira on her mission to Pokorah-Vo.
Shéna: Korashéna Ulané Sharavi. Last surviving member of the royal family of the Ulané Jhinura city of Su Astonil. Enslaved in Pokorah-Vo all her life until she was freed by Rispan.
Shigara: Ulané Jhinura Chief Healer for Queen Astrina in Su Lariano.
Tabalin: Ulané Jhinura Forrester scout assigned to accompany Mira on her mission to Shifara.
Tarana: Ulané Jhinura friend to Mira from her military training in Su Lariano. Part of the original mission to Pokorah-Vo and who did not survive the journey.
Tesia: Ulané Jhinura master mage in Su Lariano. Friend to Neelu and daughter of Felora and Gylan. Trains Mira in magic and accompanies her on her mission to Shifara.
Tony Ramirez: Mira’s foster-father on Earth.
Vaelir: Ashae White Rider who is killed by Mira when he attacks her and her team on their way to Pokorah-Vo.
Veeluthun: Veeluthun Ulané Gabolé. Younger brother to Neelu in Su Lariano.
Vegak: Urgaban king in Pokorah-Vo.
Veron: Ulané Jhinura weapon’s master in Su Lariano. Oversaw training for Mira in martial arts.
Veselek: Urgaban working as Bavrana’s right-hand.
Yarmilla: Urgaban sent from Laraksha-Vo as a junior diplomat to assist Grangor.
Ysiola: Ashae queen in Shifara Castle.
MAP OF DAOINE
This book is dedicated to artists and dreamers everywhere. You are the soul of the world; don’t ever forget it.
CHAPTER ONE
MIRA
Gralbast says there are two types of people, the takers and the took. I know he’s not really that cynical, but I also see a level of practicality to that approach. The truth is, life’s not that simple, and there are more colors to the universe than black and white.
The more I saw of Pokorah-Vo, the more colors I saw in that spectrum. Not in the Urgaban themselves. Physically, they were all pretty much the same shade; kind of a pale yellow, not quite green. And they mainly seemed to be just under four and a half feet tall, so at five foot two, I was hard to disguise.
That’s the thing though; I was in disguise.
A couple of assassination attempts convinced me it might be wise to make people think the last one succeeded. So instead of being seventeen-year-old Mira, I was Raven. A man and a trader of goods. A merchant. Partner to Gralbast, an Urgaban of Pokorah-Vo, a city founded by exiles and criminals.
Urgaban was the real name for what humans called goblins. It seemed like humans made up a lot of names for races that already had names for themselves. Goblins, Urgaban, had a bad reputation.
“Look,” Gralbast was saying to me, “We both know there’s more to you being in Pokorah-Vo than a little trading. All I’m saying is that the more you tell me, the more I can help you.”
We were seated at a table in his home, and he had his familiar pipe in his hand. My team and I had only arrived at Pokorah-Vo a few days earlier. I’d given him the story of our trip from Su Lariano, but otherwise, Gralbast and I hadn’t discussed anything beyond trade.
“Help me?” I cocked an eyebrow at him in amusement. “All out of the goodness of your greedy little heart?”
His eyebrows shot up, “You wound me, Raven.” He put extra emphasis on my assumed name to remind me he was already keeping secrets for me. “Sure, there’s profit in stability. But we’re in this world for more than profit. You know me better than that I would think.”
I nodded as I thought about what he’d said. He wasn’t lying. I knew how he felt about slavers and that he’d taken an occasional loss by acquiring and discreetly freeing a slave or two. But what if it came to deciding between his people and other races?
“I’ll tell you what,” I said, “let’s speak hypothetically.”
I noticed the flash of victory that showed in his eyes before he had a chance to hide it.
“Alright.” He nodded. “Hypothetically.”
“Let’s say that until recently, no one knew that this city existed. As far as anyone knew, there were just random bands of Urgaban running around causing problems. Attacking and enslaving travelers… Occasionally eating them…” His face flushed a bit at that last part, but he couldn’t deny it. “You could see how some might think it would be a good idea to get together and just eradicate these bands. Yes?”
“Eradicate?” He gaped at me. “You can’t be serious!”
“But,” I went on, “when it was discovered there was an actual city and how big that city was, those same people might have decided they needed to figure out a different approach.”
His eyes narrowed as he put his first reaction behind him and started to examine the problem objectively, drawing from his pipe as he thought.
“And there are really only so many different approaches they could take,” he mused.
“Right.” I nodded. “But in all cases, the approach would have to result in ending the attacks and the slavery.”
“Slavers.” He looked like he had a bad taste in his mouth. “That’s going to be tough.” He met my eyes. “A lot of powerful people, and not just in Pokorah-Vo, make a great deal of money in the slave trade. They aren’t going to want to let that go.”
“So, if you were trying to solve this little problem, what would be your solution?”
“Well,” he said, “the first problem these hypothetical people would have, is that they don’t know anything about the power structure in this city. Without that, there’s no way they could formulate any kind of effective strategy. They’d send someone to gather intelligence. I’d already figured out you were here for that. But they must need whatever you can get for them before they can even start to put together a plan.”
I just looked at him without comment.
“Alright.” He nodded. “I’ll help you to get your information. But let me tell you why. This is my city, the good and the bad.”
“And the ugly,” I supplied.
“Even so,” he agreed, not knowing the reference, “but I’m no traitor. And there are good people here. People that deserve a better life for themselves and their families. If we can bring Pokorah-Vo into the open, to trade and deal equally with the other races, it will help my people. But my people can’t get there without help. I’m going to help you because in the end it will make a better life for them.”
“Well,” I grinned at him, “if I were on such a mission, I’m sure I would include that in my report!”
He shook his head, “No more nonsense about hypothetical. You need a plan. That’s what this is really about. You need a way to make Pokorah-Vo a peaceful, contributing ally. And without going through a bloody war and subjugation to do it. Yes?”
I hesitated a moment, then nodded.
“I have the connections and the knowledge,” he said, “and if truth be told, I’ve been looking for a way to change things around here for a while. But I didn’t have the resources to do it on my own. A little external… motivation. That can do wonders. We’re not just going to send information to let someone else try to figure it out. We’ll send the information and the plan.”
“You’re very ambitious.”
“A fellow never made a copper without a little ambition.” He grinned.
“Then I’d make a bet you aren’t running low on coppers.”
He just grinned at me in response.
“Gralbast, there are also some other things that people are curious about. Like why they haven’t heard from the Ulané Jhinura from the local forest. From Su Astonil.”
All levity left his face, and he no longer met my eyes.
“That was mostly before my time,” was all he said.
“You might as well tell me,” I prompted him. “I’m going to find out eventually.”
The eyes he raised to mine were hardened steel. “I’ll not sugarcoat this. You asked about ugly. This is about as ugly as it gets.”
“Tell me.”
“I understand it started when some Urgaban wandered into a forest garden. All but one were slaughtered by the little creatures that lived there.”
“The Pilané Jhin and the Sula Jhinara,” I supplied. “The pixies and the sylphs.”
“Aye.” He nodded. “This survivor. His name was Arugak. He got mad and gathered a bunch of others and they started burning all the gardens they could find.”
“What?” I was horrified. “Then the Ulané Jhinura must have tried to stop them!”
“Yes,” he agreed. “The Ulané Jhinura attacked them and drove them back out of the forest.”
“Naturally,” I said, trying to control my revulsion at what the Urgaban had done to the Pilané Jhin and Sula Jhinara. “Their entire purpose is to protect the forest.”
“Well, Arugak gathered more men. By then, he’d proclaimed himself the first king of the outcast Urgaban. He had tracked the Ulané Jhinura to their city. I’ve heard of your Su Lariano. This Su Astonil wasn’t nearly so large. With a combination of fires and cave-ins, they were overwhelmed. Most were killed in the attacks. Or shortly thereafter, in the feasts.”
