“More like an idiot’s star,” I muttered, thinking about how he’d crashed into me yesterday. Movement at the far end of the marketplace drew my attention. “What’s going on over there?” There were twice as many guards as usual patrolling the marketplace, and these guards were all bright-eyed and alert. The city guards I usually dealt with were lazy, half-drunk men who, having failed to get into the Palayian army, had applied for a job with the city guards.

“It’s because of the Kashnian delegation that arrived a few days ago,” Salma said. “You know how it is, they want to make a good impression for the visiting dignitaries so they increase the guard patrols in visible areas like the marketplaces.” She leaned towards me to murmur, “I heard they borrowed soldiers from the army in order to increase the number of guard patrols.”

I snorted. “Anyone could see what Navar is really like once they wander off the main streets.” Navar was one of the largest cities in the known world, and like all cities, there was a certain level of crime, but I don’t think we were too lawless here. Not compared to some other cities I’d overheard merchants talk about. After the war ended between Palay and Kashna, we’d been in a relatively stable time of peace. Especially after King Kazian was deposed last year.

“You really think the Kashnian King would be caught dead wandering the slums of Navar?” Salma asked, eyebrow raised. “He’s a King, Jak, not some curious merchant’s apprentice who’s never seen a big city before. If anything, the guard patrols are overkill; I doubt any of King Kyros’ retainers, much less King Kyros himself, would come wander such a common marketplace.”

“I still can’t believe he actually came,” I said. “No one thought he would when King Marcos made that ridiculous request.”

King Marcos, ruler of Palay, became king at the age of twenty when his father mysteriously fell ill and died within a week. In that same week, the crown prince mysteriously fell off his horse during a hunt and broke his neck. That left the second prince, Marcos, to inherit the throne, and for the past thirty-five years, he’d ruled Palay with an iron fist.

“I think King Marcos fully expected to be rejected,” Salma observed. “He didn’t expect King Kyros would personally come to Navar to discuss peace and trade agreements.”

“The Butcher’s Son, do you think he’s anything like this father?” I asked, wondering what the newly crowned Kashnian King was like. Half the rumors I heard said he was a handsome young man full of optimism for the future. The other half said he was a pretty face hiding a cruel nature, like his father.

“I’ve heard he’s not nearly as bloodthirsty as his father was,” Salma said. “But he’s been King for less than a year. Time will tell if he inherited his father’s nature.”

A priest wearing the white with gold-trim robes of the Sun God, dropped some copper coins in Salma’s begging bowl as he passed by. “Gods bless you, sir,” she immediately said. Scooping up a few of the copper coins, Salma held them out towards me. “Why don’t you go buy us some breakfast? Your stomach has been growling at me this whole time.”

I bargained with a nearby food stall owner and triumphantly returned to Salma with two sausage turnovers and a small meat pie.

“All that for four copper coins? Impressive,” Salma said, taking one of the turnovers. “You must have some merchant blood in you.”

My mouth full, I could only shrug as I took my seat again.