Chapter: 518 – A Fortuitous Encounter

Tala, Rane, and Terry set off across the rolling prairie once more a bit after noon.

It was still well before dusk—and they still had miles to go before they slept—when a small cloaking field rolled over them, revealing an even smaller craft with a single woman atop it.

The craft was an interesting one, seeming almost like a single board with a sail atop it, the controls incredibly simple, just a bar which the woman could manipulate to change the path it took.

The magic coming from the lower, sculpted board was almost natural in feel. Tala would have bet gold that it was crafted from floating tree or rock or the bone of a flying beast of some kind, and used essentially in its native state, rather than heavily modified as those that were implanted in larger crafts.

That was utterly unlike Sunnydale, which was kept aloft by clearly artificially induced artifacts. Sunnydale’s way was more powerful, true, but there was something… choppier about the results that Tala hadn’t even realized was present until seeing this new craft.

The sail was just as powerful, seemingly filled with magics of thrust and lift. After a moment, Tala realized that she recognized the material.

That’s cloud elemental fleece.

-Yeah, but it’s been processed into a different form and for an entirely different purpose.-

Tala could perceive a heavily protected, expanded space, anchored to the craft in a way that she didn’t quite understand with only a quick inspection.

The woman herself was grinning down at them, where they’d stopped among the summer grasses.

She was tall and strong as she stood there on the board. With gray-blue eyes that held a depth of intensity along with a spark of humor, the woman instantly put Tala at ease, as counterintuitive as that seemed. Her dark red hair was shaved on the sides while remaining long and curly on the top and back, held together in a messy braid reaching halfway down her back.

Her clothing was well-kept but not meticulously so, conveying care without obsession or vanity. The style was incredibly minimalistic. On top, she wore a close fitting piece, cinched tight—likely to keep it from flapping in the wind of her flight—covering little more than her chest and leaving her midriff bare. That was above baggy pants that seemed designed to allow easy movement. Her feet were bare and her only jewelry or ornamentation was a dark crystal pendant that looked to have a storm raging inside.

When she spoke, her voice was smooth and strong, the woman clearly used to projecting over the sound of rushing wind, “Greetings travelers. I am Mara. Are you in need of assistance?”

Rane gave a small bow and returned a greeting for them. “Greetings, Mara. I am Rane, and this is my wife Tala. We aren’t in need, but thank you.”

Mara nodded once, then her smile grew. “Well then, with no need, there must be something you want. I’ve a healthy stock, and you’ve the good fortune to have stumbled across me on the way to find the right market.”

Tala smiled in return. “A merchant then?”

“Yes. You’re humans, are you not?”

They both nodded. Terry remained silent, even as he rested on Tala’s shoulder, regarding the merchant. He’d only taken up that place shortly before Mara’s appearance, and he seemed content to remain. Tala could tell that the merchant was gateless. She looked human, but her aura was strong, if inexpertly veiled.

Or maybe expertly?

-Yeah, I can’t tell what her advancement is.-

So, projecting confusing signals rather than a false one. That’s an interesting tactic. Might be worth attempting.

-Later.-

Later.

Regardless, what Tala could detect of her power level indicated arcane or maybe a half-arcane. If so, she was most likely of the hue-man lineages. Not that it mattered much.

Rane spoke into the momentary silence. “I’m not sure we will buy anything that you’re selling, but we’re happy to take a look.” He gave a rueful smile. “I’m always interested in seeing wares, but I don’t wish to waste your time.”

Mara waved that off. “Nonsense. Even if you don’t buy anything, a bit of conversation will be worth the delay.”

She took a single hopping step backward, dropping off her craft, the vessel following her down as she fell the dozen or so feet to the ground, landing lightly.

It was subtle, but Tala was able to pick out magics reaching out of the woman as she fell and when she landed, guiding her fall and cushioning her landing, it had a heaviness and static to the magic, like the air right before a thunderstorm.

A moment later, her craft landed behind her, having folded open, the sail tucking against the outside of one half of the board.

Within the two halves was the portal into an expanded space.

It wasn’t that large, but it was well laid out so that a huge variety of things were easily viewed.

Tala chuckled. “You do this often, then?”

Mara grinned in return. “Of course. I have to make a living.”

Rane gave her a side-eyed look, making a statement more than asking a question. “You didn’t really think we needed help, did you.”

She shrugged. “You were both practically flying. You’re well dressed, clean, and obviously not starving. There was a chance you needed help—and I would have given it if so—but there was a higher chance that you needed goods.”

That made Rane laugh. “Fair enough.”

Tala frowned. “So, you travel around all alone?”

Mara reached up and stroked her necklace. “Not quite alone, but without any other people, yeah.”

“Doesn’t that get lonely?”

“Honestly?” Her gaze went a bit wistful and her smile a bit sad, “I fell in love once, but he would have taken me from the skies…” She shook her head, her smile returning in full force. “I couldn’t have that. This is better.”

Tala felt something stir within the woman’s necklace, and Tala caught the flicker of… not a soul, not quite, but a spirit? There was an intelligence within the necklace. “So, you prefer the open sky to people and company?”

“For the most part, but each have their place.”

“I can see that.” Tala shrugged, then moved on to business. “Well, we actually have a rather large pool of folks who might trade with you, if you’ve any interest.”

“Oh?” Mara arched one eyebrow, her ready smile not leaving her face. “If they aren’t far, I’m game.”

Tala opened the portal into the Ironhold, Lyn already waiting on the other side, Alat having warned her and Tala having moved her into place.

Mara froze for a moment, her smile becoming momentarily wooden for the first time. “Is that… is that a soulbound space?”

“It is.” Tala held up her hands. “But it is special. There is no soulbond required or enforced upon entrance.”

Lyn stepped out smoothly and chuckled. “I should hope not. With thousands of souls within, our beloved Tala’s existence would have been shredded to ribbons ages ago.”

Mara frowned. “That’s good to know, but there is still another problem. I won’t be able to enter such a dominated space.”

Tala frowned. “What?”

The woman shook her head. “Let me just show you.”

Mara walked forward and stepped into the portal.

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Tala instantly felt the oddities. Mara was within Kit, but she remained utterly outside of Tala’s authority. That should be impossible.

Regardless, the merchant was obviously struggling, somehow looking like she was wading through deep water even as Tala’s power and authority flowed around her, unable to get within an inch of her skin.

She’s shedding authority like a duck sheds water. That’s incredible.

-Yeah, it seems like an absolute rejection. We might be able to force it, but our passive aura and authority is never going to reach her.-

A moment later, Mara was ejected from Kit by something that seemed akin to buoyancy.

The woman was clearly ready for it, landing smoothly and taking a few steps backward to shed her momentum. “See.”

Her smile was broad as she met Tala’s befuddled gaze. Tala had never seen anything like it, and her question conveyed that confusion, “What now?”

Mara laughed. “It’s my concept. I am anathema to other’s authority. I am as free as the storm.”

Tala’s eyes widened. “That is… That is ridiculously powerful.”

Mara shrugged in return. “I imagine you weren’t trying to hurt me, nor truly attempting to dominate me, that was just your passive authority?”

Tala gave a slow nod.

“I thought so. It’s more annoying than useful these days.” She laughed. “I don’t make anyone angry enough to need its protection very often. Additionally, you could probably breach it with intent.”

“Well, I imagine that was just your passive defense, too.”

Mara tapped the side of her nose, her smile broadening. “That would be telling now, wouldn’t it?”

Tala found herself, once again, smiling in return.