Mythran's Master Of All

After he had jumped overboard, Ren ran across the surface of the water as if it was solid ground and laughed at himself.

“It's just a novelty item! Ha ha!” Ren said and Teepo chittered in laughter. They arrived at the single dock outside the north side of the city; but, instead of stopping and climbing up, he just ran the rest of the way to the shoreline and onto the land itself.

“Well I'll be.” Ren said as he came to a stop where he thought a warehouse would be best positioned to send and receive goods from the dock. There was already a huge warehouse there, half-buried in a small hill, with a dozen empty carts waiting to be used. A stable was set back a ways from the warehouse, and a quarter of a mile away there was a large well-built house.

“You've been busy, Jen.” Ren said, then went over to the stable to see a dozen horses stored inside. He glanced into the manager's office and didn't see anyone. “Hello?”

“Hello!” A woman's voice said, and then a very tall woman backed out of the last stall and shut the gate behind her. She was about 6 and a half feet tall and had long silver-black hair tied into a ponytail. She wore a loose-fitting shirt and a very tight pair of black pants, then she turned around and froze as she looked at Ren. “You're Ren.”

Ren's Etiquette skill kicked in and he bowed his head slightly. “I believe you have the advantage of me, dear lady.”

The woman smiled knowingly. “Jen wasn't kidding when she described you.”

Ren beamed a smile at her. “Was it my short stature, or my overly pleasant nature that surprised you?”

“Both, good sir.” She chuckled and walked over to him. “I felt your Aura when you approached.”

“It's changed a little since I was in Aurora last.” Ren said and held out a hand, then concentrated on his Sending Ring and thought of Frikara. “Besides expanding by a ridiculous amount, it's influence touches those receptive to it.”

“You've been walking around for a minute or two, haven't you?” She asked and took his hand.

“No, madam.” Ren said. “I just walked in the door.”

“Then... I felt it when... oh, my.”

Ren nodded. “It's at 300 feet right now.” He smiled again. “I can make it bigger, though.”

“Well, Mr. I Can Make It Bigger.” She said and smiled demurely. “My name is Catalina Abernathy.”

Ren bent over her hand and gave the back of her fingers a light kiss. “It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Abernathy.”

“Please, call me Catalina.”

“I would never presume to call you by your given name, Ms. Abernathy.” Ren said.

“Then what should I call you?”

“Unavailable.” Ren said, and she laughed.

“Carmilla said you would be a delight when I met you.”

“Carmilla?”

“The Minister of Finance's wife.”

Ren thought back to when he had paid the taxes for the Refugee Center with 50 million copper coins, then meeting the Minister and his wife. “Ah, yes. I remember her. She was quite charming.” He said and remembered giving her a donation for a party. “How did the birthday party for her husband go?”

“It was a big hit!” Catalina said. “I can't remember the last time I had so much fun.”

“I regret that I didn't get to attend.” Ren said sadly, because he had planned to dance with Sally.

“I'm sure that when I tell Carmilla that you're here, she'll want to throw another bash.”

Ren chuckled. “I suppose she's been dying for another excuse?”

“Like you wouldn't believe!” Catalina said, amusement on her face. “I swear she's going to die if she doesn't have another party soon.”

“Then please tell her I'll only be in town for the next week before I head off to Walin County to begin work there.”

“Hm.” Catalina said. “I don't know if she can have anything done that soon.”

Ren smiled and pat the hand he still held. “I'm just telling you where I'll be next week. That's not a deadline for her to be done by.” He explained. “Just send a messenger out to my Main House and it'll reach me.”

Catalina nodded. “That's good.” She said. “I'm sure Carmilla will be relieved she won't be under too much pressure organizing it.”

“My ship will be here in the next 20 minutes or so.” Ren said and let her hand go, then looked around. “Do you have workers to hook up the horses to the carts?”

“Of course I do.” She said. “They should be here right after breakfast.”

Ren nodded. “Would you care to place a wager on who will arrive first?” He asked, and his Haggle skill kicked in.

Catalina smiled. “Will this just be a friendly bet, or are we playing cutthroat?”

“Oh, definitely friendly.” Ren said and smiled. “I wouldn't want to start off on the wrong foot.”

Catalina chuckled. “Then what shall we wager?”

“What do you suggest?” Ren asked her.

“If you win, I'll wave today's rental fees.” Catalina said.

“Are you sure?” Ren asked. “I've got hundreds of tons of cargo to unload and store in the warehouse.”

“Yes, yes. It's fine.” Catalina said. “But if I win...”

Ren raised a single eyebrow at her, and she smiled slyly.

“You try to seduce me like you did with Jen.”

“She told you about that, did she?”

“Only after a few hours of alcohol and constant prying.” Catalina said and laughed.

“Well... I don't see the harm as long as it's under the same conditions.” Ren said. “I'll do the attempt, but nothing will come of it. I won't follow through, and you can't expect me to.”

“It's a deal.” Catalina said and shook his hand.