For three days, Lena Sanders did not step beyond the courtyard of the lodging house. By the third morning, Darren Chang's wounds had mostly healed, and the strength he had lost had finally returned.
On the fourth day, leaving Darren to rest, Lena took Jack Golden and Harris Ma out into the city. They wandered through Castleton's bustling streets from morning till dusk.
Castleton was far larger than Riverford City—its avenues wider, its crowds denser, its clamor never-ending. The three of them roamed through seven or eight districts that day, finally ending up in the East City theater quarter. Harris and Jack watched two full operas; Lena sat in a teahouse all afternoon, quietly sipping her tea and listening to the idle gossip. By the time they stepped outside, the sky had turned pitch-black.
The next day, they went out again.
For over ten days, Lena led the two men through every alley and market in Castleton, until the entire city lay mapped in her mind.
"Boss, have you decided what trade we'll take up?" Harris Ma asked, eyes gleaming. "There are six incense guilds in the city, each richer than the last. If we could bring them all under our hand—"
"Would you shut that mouth of yours?" Jack Golden smacked him across the head before he could finish.
"First," Lena said calmly, "we buy a house. Staying at the inn costs too much."
She took the leather pouch Darren handed her, drew out two banknotes, and passed them to Harris.
"That house—the one where the whole family nearly got wiped out last month?" Harris asked, clutching the notes with barely contained excitement.
He wasn't thrilled about buying property—he was thrilled that his news had proven useful. It had been he who discovered that the house was up for sale. Yesterday, when they passed the Lao Jun Temple, he had spotted a group of Taoists preparing for a ritual. A few casual questions later, he learned they were performing an exorcism for a broker down the street—and the house in question was indeed the same one.
Lena had chosen well, as always.
"Mm. You and Jack will handle the purchase. Darren and I are going to the docks."
She stood, handed the pouch back to Darren, and together the four of them left the alley—splitting off in different directions once they reached the street.
Lena and Darren crossed the bridge and boarded a riverboat. Darren sat at the bow, Lena beneath the canopy, watching as the vessel stopped to load and unload passengers and goods.
Beyond the South Water Gate, the sails unfurled, and the current carried them swiftly downstream to Castleton's largest port—Tongyuan Wharf.
They disembarked and climbed the long flight of stone steps to the brokers' street. Lena's pace was brisk; Darren followed unhurriedly, two steps behind. When they reached the top, he glanced back. Lena didn't turn—but it was as if she had seen him do it.
"Don't mind them," she murmured. "Let them follow."
Darren grunted in assent. They walked down the street and entered one of the brokerage houses.
"Fine set of shoulders, you've got there!" called a riverboat captain lounging in the doorway with a teapot in hand.
"Too kind," Lena replied smoothly. "Is Master He around?"
"Just came in this morning. Hey, Old He! You've got visitors!" shouted a runner, hurrying inside.
"Coming, coming!" came a voice from the courtyard.
Moments later, a sturdy middle-aged man jogged out, breaking into a grin when he saw Lena and Darren. "Just unloaded the last shipment—was about to head into the city, and here you are!"
"We'll talk here," Lena said, nodding toward an empty table nearby.
"Alright." Master He pulled out a chair for her, then sat with Darren flanking her on the other side.
"All six ships have arrived," he began. "Mine was the last. As you ordered, everything went as usual—regular cargo, no trouble at all. All vessels are docked here now, waiting for your word."
"Good. First, tell everyone I plan to settle here. Anyone willing to come along will get five taels for relocation—bring their families or not, that's their choice. Those who'd rather return to Riverford will receive twenty taels each. That's all."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Second, we won't take shipments bound for Southland."
"Yes. What about Riverton?"
"That's fine. The rest of the rules stay the same."
Lena rose as she spoke, already walking toward the door.
Master He escorted her to the entrance and watched her disappear into the street before turning back inside.
Lena and Darren returned to the docks, buying thirty meat buns for lunch from a stall by the pier. They ate aboard the riverboat as it drifted back toward the city.
By the time they reached the inn, Jack and Harris were already waiting, squatting by the gate with strips of jerky in hand.
The moment Lena appeared at the alley's end, Harris leapt up and ran toward her, Jack following half a heartbeat behind.
"Boss! We bought the house! Guess how much? Eighty taels—total! That includes the broker's fee and the government tax. The broker didn't even mention money!"
"Boss," Jack chimed in, "someone else wanted that house too, but they came too late. When they heard we'd bought it, their faces turned dark—didn't look friendly at all."
"Friendly or not, who cares?" Harris snorted. "Who've we ever been afraid of?"
"Who was it?" Lena asked quietly.
"When Harris went to the tax office, I stayed back at the broker's and made some inquiries," Jack explained. "Turns out it was a man named Yin—deals exclusively in so-called haunted houses. He'd had his eye on this one for a while but missed it by a step. The broker said we did everything proper and aboveboard, but that those who try to dodge taxes always end up paying more in the end. Said he's seen plenty learn that the hard way. Boss, I think he was hinting that this Yin fellow isn't exactly an honest trader."
Jack's eyes gleamed as he rubbed his palms together. His boss always enjoyed turning a predator's trick back on them.
"Boss, are we getting into the haunted-house trade?" Harris began eagerly, only to be yanked back by the collar—Darren pulling him aside as they reached the courtyard gate.
"Anyone following you today?" Lena asked once they were inside.
"Same as before," Jack whispered. "Two groups at least. We spotted them soon as we left the alley—one tailing me near the broker's, another watching Harris at the tax office."
"Two groups, and they smell different," Harris added, sniffing theatrically.
"How long are they going to keep this up?" Jack muttered, half complaint, half fatigue.
"One side will stop once they're satisfied we're harmless," Lena said, pouring herself tea. "The other—when there's an official verdict about the Prince Heir's assassination."
"Boss, we should guard against a setup," Darren rumbled.
"Exactly! That's what I was going to say!" Harris chimed in hastily.
"If they frame us for anything—big or small—Castleton won't be safe for us anymore. We'll leave at once," Lena said evenly. "No need to overthink it. Just stay alert."
Darren nodded. Harris frowned in confusion. "Boss, what do you mean by—"
"If someone tries to frame us," Jack cut in, "it means either the Prince Heir wants us gone—or he's losing to that Marquis's household. Got it now, genius?"
"…Then why buy a house?" Harris asked at last.
"Because a house isn't worth much," Jack snorted.
"I buy it," Lena said softly, "because I prefer to live under my own roof."
It was rare for her to answer him directly.
"Tomorrow we move in," she continued. "You two—buy whatever we'll need. Darren, hire a few men from the brokerage to clean the place up."