“Well said, Nkosi, you’re not as barbaric as you seem.” The newer, a tall, dark-skinned man with a shaven head and pierg eyes, who was thin and wiry, dressed in a yet casual outfit, tinued his g, though by the angry set of Mr Nkosi’s features, it seemed to be sarcastic. The men behind him, either Chosen or spiritual beings, it seemed, also were smirking, and I could feel the tensioweewo groups.

  As if to undersy point, the man addressed the woman in red. “Beautiful Zozibini, why not listen to me and abandon dull old Nkosi? You’d have a far better time with us. I’d hate to see such a woman as you squander her life. These tired ideas of tribe and are so st tury. We’re all proud Afris, isn’t that enough?”

  Hang on, this one was on the Vermillion List data Christina brought me. He wasn’t Vermillion, so Adam didn’t attacredible importao him, but… His name was Dino Moloi, apparently, and while the Vermillion List didn’t have a great deal of data on him, he apparently was some sort of element user, though the details were sketchy.

  “I’ll dee, as I have before, Dino.” Miss Zozibini replied mildly. “Besides, isn’t it rather rude to ignore our iional visitors?”

  Bedside us, Miss Lindiwe was looking terribly nervous, beads of sweat f on her brow. She was gng at us, her expression apologetic, but it seemed it was out of her trol, so I didn’t hold her responsible.

  “Rha! Nobody asked them to e.” Mr Nkosi shey were still speaking rgely in English though, perhaps for our be. “Nobody asked you to e either, sorcerer.”

  Sorcerer?

  “I’m sure nobody invited you either, chief.” Mr Dino scoffed back, and I realised then it seemed they were making fun of each other’s names. “At least roperly dressed. Look around, barbarian. Who es in tribal dress to a meeting of politis and business leaders? At least beautiful Zozibini is wearing a suit as well as her beads.”

  “Please, I would very much like it if you don’t fight.” Miss Liried to intercede. Several of the armed security around us looked nervous, hands on their automatic rifles, but the Chosen here ighem. “I… these are guests I invited, who I owe a great deal to.”

  “It is true.” Miss Zozibini agreed. “You are looking well, Miss. It was a shame we couldn’t help…”

  “We are those chosen for battle.” Mr Nkosi agreed. “War is a noble calling.”

  “War is a sad waste of lives and resources.” Mr Dino disagreed. “But I would expeo less from someone who gs to the old ways.” He taunted Mr Nkosi, whose face screwed up into an expression e. Before it could escate, and with urging looks from Ichijou-san, I broke in.

  “Excuse me, but you take yuments elsewhere? Firstly, I don’t think you were invited, were you?”

  “We go where we please, none bar our paths.” Mr Nkosi said, which made Hinata chuckle. The ma her, but Hinata, proving her bravery, or perhaps her fiden me, merely met his furious stare.

  “Sorry, you just said what Shaeu did. She’s cuter and strohan you, though.”

  Miss Zozibini ughed at that, and before he could reply, one of the Chosen apanying Mr Dino stirred the argument. “Oh yes, I saw that. You would bar-bar my way? She certainly looked strohan you, Xhosa.”

  “Look, enough, all right?” I wasn’t going to let the argumee. “I have great fiden Shaeu, but she’s not here. We are though. And I am going to have to insist you all py his is a big day for Hinata, and I won’t let you spoil it. If you try… I might just stop being polite.”

  Miss Zozibini seemed to uand more than the men did. “You look very beautiful, young one.” Her words were kind. “Please tell me, what brings you here today?”

  “Simple. I am here for my e debut. In our circles, the first major event where a woman is with her fiancé holds special meaning and importa should be fttering I’m holding it in your try.”

  “I take it so. And I am mrateful that my saviors are attending this ga.” Miss Lindiwe agreed, hoping the angry mood would diminish, but it seemed her hopes were in vain.

  “Hoypical hubris from fn exploiters.” Mr Nkosi growled, his ornate bead neckces swaying and king as he gestured violently. “I know you are here to pilge our wealth, as has been done for turies. But that time is over.” He turo Miss Lihen. “Your father still isn’t listening. He is a fug fool. If he is not more careful, he will endure what Hili of the Amambalu experienced.”

  Everyone’s faces harde that, and Miss Lindiwe looked shaken. It must have been some sort of proverb, idiom or threat. Beside me, Mayumi-san was watg on, seemingly uned about the tense air in our er of the room, but Katana-san and Kazumi-san were professionals, and were on edge, ready for a fight to break out at any moment. With my vision expanded by aether, I could see that the uests were split into ts, orying to steer well clear of us, the others looking as if they were eager to make either our or the Afri Chosen’s acquaintance.

  “How crude. Threatening a poor young woman who has just recovered with the Tokoloshes. For shame. After all, you don’t and them, do you, chief?” Mr Dino said pointedly. “For ohough, I agree.” He was outwardly kihan Mr Nkosi, but he was no less angry, it seemed. “Kumba-Stillwater has exploited Africa for far too long. And worse, the precious heart of our nd is dug out a far away, to serve the fes and factories of fn nds. Why, if Africa had a soul, it would surely be weeping, raped and pilged by the greedy, who give nothing back.”

  “Our nd does have a soul, sorcerer.” Mr Nkosi barked his retort. “It is our mother, who births and shelters us, and our father, which protects as us. But for once I agree with you. No more digging and mining. It is an affront to Qamata. Why else would the Gods return, other than to correct these wrongs, since we proved too greedy and feeble? Rha, fuck all the greedy!”

  “We… it’s unreasonable. Father is prepared to offer cessions, moo help restore the nd, provide for the less fortunate…” Miss Lindiwe promised, before looking at me, worried. “I… romises, to Mr Akio, for his aid. I…”

  “It is important to keep promises.” Miss Zozibini agreed. “With both hands, one must take, and one must also give. However… the times have ged.”

  “Yes, they have.” Mr Nkosi agreed.

  “But that’s not how the world works. Without mines and raw materials, without industry, how we progress?” Mayumi-san began. Her grandfather tried to stop her, worried, but Mayumi-san was enjoying herself, and liked tue. “Do you have a car? A puter at home? A mobile phone? Would you give it all up and live in a cave?”

  I don’t disagree, but… this is not the pce for that. I wasn’t the only oo think so, as one of the spiritual beings behind Mr Nkosi was insed. He reached out a hand faster than any of uards such as Katana-san could react, ready to sp the woman who had annoyed him, while he spat out some harsh words. “Little bitch. Go and fuck a dog…” Before he had finished I was gripping his wrist, o-gently, and his st words were etched with strain as he tried to shake free. Mayumi-san blinked, face suddenly pale as she realised she was almost struck, and Katana-san moved in front of her, urgio retreat.

  Miss Lindiwe was g out that violence rohibited, that this was a full of dignitaries, but Mr Nkosi and Mr Dino and the rest of their groups were watg. Perhaps this was just an excuse to see what we would and could do?

  “Let me go, fug pussy!” the spiritual being snapped, but then he suddenly fell silent, as I raised my League to its maximum, holding the focus so that it only affected the bastard in my grasp. He paled, shivering, clearly outcssed, and fell silent.

  “Don’t be so crude in front of the dies.” I said, deathly quiet. “And everyone here, including Miss Lindiwe and her father, is under my prote. e if you dare, this is your first and only warning.” I squeezed his wrist hard enough to leave already f bruises before releasing him. He staggered back, and I expanded on Mayumi-san’s point, which I agreed with, if not her unwise delivery.

  “Besides…” I tinued. “Mayumi-san wasn’t wrong. We ’t stress, and now… well, there’s the Boundary, isn’t there? We make progress in a better, safer way…”

  “The Aral World? I should expeo less from fners.” Mr Nkosi scoffed, gring at his beaten panion, perhaps ptuous that I outcssed him so much. “Not tent to destroy our Earth, you wish to ruin that too. Well, lions may fight each other for the pride, but when the hunter es, they will band together and fight tooth and cw, even unto death, to protect the pride.”

  “He speaks the truth. Ohing we are united on is that Africa is ours. Nner will be permitted to ehe Aral World, and any who is found there, no matter who and why, will be the enemies of all. petition, survival of the fittest, is our way, but we will not be overshadowed and exploited anymore. The time of our assion is now!” Mr Dino agreed, to nodding of heads and affirmative cries from his followers.

  That’s… a pain. Hinata knew our purpose here, so tried to offer a rebuttal. “You think Akio wants to exploit the Boundary? You don’t know him, or what he’s achieved. One of his other fiancées, Asha, is a Dryad. A spirit of nature. Would she love a destructive, exploitative man? In fact, we pn to make Japan a beautiful pce of teology and nature in harmony. Recyg, power… less pollution, more wealth to go around.”

  “Words. Talk is cheap, especially from one who has e to cim their blood money from Afri soil.” Mr Nkosi scoffed.

  “I…” Miss Lindiwe began, but I stopped her. There’s no point to this. It was then that the Chosen with Mr Dino smirked. He was light-skinned, with blonde hair, perhaps of some Caucasian dest, and his at erhaps Dutch, or some simir European nguage.

  “How about this?” He smirked, clearly having a pn. “Let judgement be dictated by the truth.”

  “I think that sounds iing.” Miss Zozibini giggled charmingly. “But ierests of fairness, let the threads of Anansi prevent any untoward tricks.”

  The man gred, but his smile soon resumed. “Of course, I trust you, beauty. And Anansi’s powers are not for evil use.”

  Hinata and I exged gnces, a little fused, but Mr Dino spoke up.

  “My friend Janco wields the feather of Ma’at. None cheat her and Anubis’ Scales. Since we are all… seeing from a different viewpoint, why not settle it by the judgement of a God?”

  “That sounds troublesome.” Hinata disagreed. “What’s to settle anyway? We have an agreement with Miss Lindiwe and her father. There’s always room to iate, but you have nht to interfere arbitrarily.”

  “Agreements with exploiters and plunderers.” Mr Nkosi disagreed. “But… this is an opportunity. Dino, you rhino pussy, let Zozibini weave Anansi’s threads to prevent trickery.”

  “I have no objes.” Mr Dino agreed, but I most certainly did.

  “Sorry, but just why should I submit to any judgement? I’m a guest here, and have dohing wrong.”

  “A guilty sce?” Mr Janco scoffed. “Is the one who saved Britain such a coward?”

  “It is truly foolish to fight here.” Miss Zozibini pointed out. “While mighty Nkosi fears no bullets nor bombs, I am not so willing to put my beauty to the test. Scars are so upsetting, don’t you agree, dies?” Her teasing tone olite. “But… there is more to this than you know. Fn powers still seek to trouble us. Many hunters have e, and brave Afri men and women sin or disappeared. Even the Prince of Gold has been driven into hiding.” She clicked her tongue. Does she mean the man amed Midas? That would make sense. Damn, I’m gd I didn’t bring Christina with me now. That would be awkward.

  “It’s not just you who’ve suffered that. I was almost abducted as well. And I assure you, we’ve not been involved.” I pointed out, but that didn’t move them.

  “History is full of our exploitation.” Mr Nkosi snapped. “Whether you are personally involved or not, this is not your pce! But I am unwilling to draw my knife unless I must. Give up your cim to wealth torn from Afrid leave us lions to fight for our own people.”

  “Don’t be so hasty, you’re as fiery as your name.” Mr Dino taunted. “This is an opportunity. Beautiful Zozibini, instead of tying us with your threads, do you dare to pce your heart on the scales?”

  I focussed my attention on her as she answered. I detected a bination of fear and wariness in her eyes, as well as calcution. She was uo stop her gaze flickering to me, but in the end, she nodded. “You ot py tricks on the spider, remember that. Instead, the spider weaves his ing schemes to trick others, but only those who deserve to be cheated.”

  “Why not make a spectacle of it?” Mr Dino asked, and he was so self-satisfied I had to think he was scheming for this all along, even if she wasn’t the target. Turning to the hall, he addressed everyone. “Huests. I know you are armed to see us intrude, but… we go where we will. The lions of Africa are proud and no hunter sy them, not and ehe sequences.” His panions gred at the security ptuously.

  I’m not sure I agree. Yes, it’s likely that the small-calibre rounds from the guards probably won’t be able to kill any half-det Chosen, but the South Afri army has missiles and bombs. Sure, I tank them, and probably Mr Nkosi as well, his League is impressive, and his arrogaoo, but… others would definitely die or be seriously injured.

  “But fear not, we are not barbarians. We are civilised men. Well, most of us.” He g Mr Nkosi with arrogan his eyes. “We bring no harm to those who respect us. We simply wish t our try, our people, back to better days. After all… Africa is the cradle of humanity. It is only fitting that we recim the world we gave to others. But for now… how about some harmless eai? We have distinguished guests. The Hero of Britain, who stood against evil. His lovely little fiancée and some… other friends.”

  As all eyes were already on us, Mayumi-san waved cheerfully, her earlier fear fotten, and Hinata curtsied elegantly, not a Japayle, but attractive heless. I ined my head too, not deferentially, but not tantly either.

  “So, some eai, to celebrate the recovery of dear Lindiwe here.” He tinued. “I know many of you misuand and fear us, but it is natural to fear what you don’t uand. So… to that end…” Aether surged, and it resolved into a mysterious set of glowing scales. They were translut, irely physically present, and three ft pans held up by golden s were at one hundred and twenty degree angles, surrounding the tre spire, which had the height of a person. “The Scales of Judgement!”

  Hinata looked at me, clearly worried, and I wasn’t happy myself. I don’t py a game where I don’t know and ’t trust the rules. To that end, my Eye shohough I also elled a little light element, to try and mask the glow as best I could.

  Anubis’ Scales Of Judgement – These Scales will judge the sins, ative karma reting to a desired oute, and the Feather of Ma’at will form dependant on that oute. Then one’s karma will ma, f a heart. If the heart of sin depresses the scales more than the Feather, then punishment as determined by the holder of the Scales will be enacted. ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???.

  I don’t think so. Straining, focussiher into my Eye, I grinned. Ba the Boundary, Shiro was just about to leave. She was meeting Hayato-kun and the gang for a few drinks, sin Japan it was getting on for eleven at night. Stopping her, I asked her to buff my Eye, and with a worried frown, she did so. The extra weight of information was a sudden drag on my mind, but it was enough to resolve the question marks, and I then had Shiro dismiss the buff, before it could affect me further. Only Miss Zozibini had noticed how pale I was, but she merely smiled at me, a seductive ohat made Hinata ball her fist and punch me in the side, though she wasn’t trying to charm me, but as I had noticed what she was doing, her smile was full of praise. I didn’t just see through the question marks.

  “Everything going to be okay, Aki?” Shiro asked, and I nodded.

  “Yeah. Pass on my apologies to the gang, and have fun tonight.”

  “Just… be careful, okay?” Shiro warned me, before departing.

  “I’d like to say I’m always careful, but… that would be a lie.” I said to myself, now mostly alone under Asha’s Tree. While I was here in the Boundary, I was merely funing as aher geing process by mitigating Shiro’s buffs oree. Everyone else was busy having fun, not that I bmed them. Shiro’s taking Tsukiko out as well. The two of them get on, which is good. But then, they do have simir circumstances…

  Setting that aside, I sidered what I had seen. Firstly the question marks. Due to the influence of ?????????????, the wielder of the Scales choose to accrue sins by increasing or decreasing the weight of other hearts, and does not have to truthfully disclose the punishmeed. It must be mentioned, but the words be misleading regarding severity or other matters unless called out, though the more misleading, the more sins one accumutes. In time, one’s heart will bee heavier and heavier.

  Yeah, stands to reason that it’s a rigged game. That’s not the most iing thing, though. Influence of what? And besides that… When my Eye was strengthened for a mere moment, I caught sight of dozens of tiny, nigh-invisible strands ed around me, Miss Zozibini, Mr Jand the scales. Oddly enough, they had also wound around Adelheid, who hadn’t noticed. Remembering the words that had spiked y vision, I uood what they were.

  Anansi’s Threads Of Fate – These maions of Fortune, Fht and Fate ect together shared destinies, in a way that allows the bearer to uand and avoid ing tricks and traps, and weave their own schemes to fool and outsmart oppos, g victory and the greater the unfair scheme overe, the greater the rewards, and the greater the fall her oppo suffers.

  Of course Miss Zozibini knows this is a rigged game. So where does Adelheid fit in? Wait… The position of the threads were suspect too, as one was tangled up in my eyeshes. I couldn’t see it anymore, but it did make me blink unfortably. So obviously, for Miss Zozibini to win, I o have used my Eye… Karma, huh? Threads were also at my lower body, and I realised that I couldn’t lose. Just like Adelheid, with my Spiritually Pure Physique I hard ter this sort of trick… Adelheid… ter. Oh… If I couldn’t lose, that meant Miss Zozibini would, and it seemed there was a definite rivalry betweewo groups of Chosen.

  “Since we stand here, at a party for the young Miss of Kumba-Stillwater, here in South Africa… let us pete on who has dohe most for this great ti, the home of our forefathers!” Mr Dino shouted, and Mayumi-san spoke up.

  “That hardly seems fair. After all, this is the first time Akio-kun has ever been here…”

  “Hush now.” Ichijou-san told her. “Let him ha.”

  “I’m so frustrated! These people have no manners!” Mayumi-san pined, only for Adelheid to grumble.

  “You think you do? Always making a fuss. The world doesn’t revolve around you, rich girl.”

  Mayumi-san shot her a look, befn her.

  “I feel that our Hero here is willing to brave this challenge.” Miss Zozibini wi me, fiwitg imperceptibly, and I caught the glimmer of silver strands, visible uhe light, before they were gone.

  “Sure. But it depends on the penalty. Isn’t the Scales Of Anubis about ning a soul to beien? This is a happy occasion, why spoil it?” I pointed out, and Mr Janco ughed.

  “True. And we need no trouble tonight with our Xhosa friends.” He the stone-faced Mr Nkosi. “Not that our beautiful rival would lose, she cherishes our try and agrees with oals. But how about this… those whose hearts have not aided Africa will not be able to ehe Aral Realm here in Africa. A small penalty, no? Africa should be for Afris!”

  I could see a number of dignitaries in the room nodding. And it did seem a small penalty, except it was obvious there were loopholes. Not being able to enter in Africa… well, it could be death, as the dead ’t go anywhere, but the weight that would add to his heart would be a lot, I’d imagine? Perhaps it might make getting into the Boundary anywhere impossible. Holy, I’m not sure if his Favour do that, especially to a stronger oppo, but… perhaps the drawbacks make it stronger? After all, if he keeps cheatiually his heart would be so heavy he’ll always lose. Does it work like that?

  “I disagree.” I shook my head. “We’re all citizens of the world, and we all be friends. Just as I helped Britain and Korea. One day you might need my aid, and it’d be a shame if I was shut out, wouldn’t it?”

  “Are you scared?” Mr Died, and I shook my head.

  “Not at all. Just illustrating a point. But… since I have no reason to py yame, how about this?” I turned, and introduced Hinata, expining that afterwards, I’d very much like to have a talk with the majnitaries here with her, and take some photographs of them blessing agement. That sent a murmur through the crowd and made Hinata blush.

  “I see you are always thinking of her.” Miss Zozibini said approvingly. “If only Nkosi was so thoughtful.”

  “Male lions have their pride!” Mr Nkosi grumbled, embarrassed, and she wi me. “Anyway, may you follow the spider’s thread to a triumph.”

  “In Japan, we have a simir saying.” I nodded. “Do your best as well.”

  “Enough talk!” Mr Dino called out. “Let the show begin!”

  Aether surged, and I felt a pulling within me. I actually felt I could resist, my League outg Mr Janco by a signifit margin. Feeling that, I realised that the power could be used as a on quite easily. Just summon the scales against a mob of ehen forcibly weigh their sins, with a death penalty. Risky, but if his own karma isn’t too sinful, and their League doesn’t surpass his too greatly, it’d be rather effective. Ugh, I hate cheat powers like that. It’s fwed, but situationally lethal. It’s why I have to be careful.

  Despite my high League, great stats and an array of powerful Skills, I ook that franted. After all, there were many Favours still out there, and it just took oh the right ability to render my advantages moot. Not this ohough… I let the spiritual heart be pulled from my chest, and it appeared, a brilliant, glowing orb of white, fringed with e and indigo. The croed, and moments ter Miss Zozibini’s ulled free, this one a bck orb trailing numerous firands. Finally, a small, pure white heart left Mr Janco. All three settled on their respective scales, and then three further bances appeared, now they were at sixty degree ahese empty scales were suddenly glowing, and three feathers appeared above them, small and white.

  “Let the Scales judge fairly!” Mr Janco decred, and as they desded to the empty bances, he out aether. He was grinning at me, as if sure he had won, but I merely stared back, fident in myself.

  “I doubt wanting the treasures of the earth, dug from our mother’s soil, makes you a beor of Africa.” Mr Dino whispered to me. “I daresay Nkosi there respects your bravery, though. Me… I hate your foolishness.”

  “Shut up.” Mr Nkosi whispered back, as my feather hit the empty bance first. “I do respect it. I am the spear of Qamata, the Xhosa and Africa. You… you are a spear of selfishness and greed. One day soon I’ll force you to kneel.”

  “But not today. Now watch as we humble the famous… huh?” He faltered, and I smirked inwardly at the look of sho his face as the feather sank, pushing up my heart.

  “I guess I do mean well after all. And it’s true.” I decred to the crowd. “My new industry does indeed require a lot of material. But… holy, mining the Earth dry isn’t something we o do. In fact… soon, we’ll be ung our new recyg teology. It recim all of the materials from anything. Trash to treasure. With that, we keep the Earth and satisfy our needs for decades, just off what we already have!”

  Hinata agreed, seizing the moment, while I could see the strain on Mr Janco’s face, and the sheer perplexity at why the Feather outweighed my heart so massively. “That’s right.” Hinata shouted, proud, before tapping Mayumi-san on the shoulder. “My friend and I, we have an agreement with Kumba-Stillwater. And holy, even with Akio’s recyg, it will take time to reaough scale to fill our needs, so on the short term we’ll need ores aals. But… trust me. One day soon… Akio will transform this nd, just as he will Japan, and it will be a magnifit sight to see!”

  “Arrogance!” Mr Nkosi decred. “What need have we of outsiders?”

  “There only be oral Emperor.” Hinata lowered her voice, letting Mayumi-sao the crowd. “And sorry, but it won’t be you!”

  “This… cheating!” Mr Janpined, but Miss Zozibini sniffed, amused.

  “A cheater always accuses others. Now… the game isn’t over, is it? I warned you, Anansi’s threads would choke you if you tried trig me.”

  “I wasn’t… I was after… you should want him removed as well!” It didn’t matter to Mr Janco that I could hear him, since he could no longer harm me.

  “Oh? What do you say, great Nkosi?” She turo her leader, whed, his beads king.

  “I do want him gone, but as of yet, he hasn’t crossed me. Rha, you rhino fucker, you wouldn’t know honour if it rammed a horn up your ass.”

  “Honour doesn’t protect you!” Mr Dino pined. “Just as it didn’t our aors. Even now, those who have power still treat us as fools. How many of those like us you killed did you do with honour?”

  “Fine. You made a mistake.” Mr Janco scowled at Miss Zozibini. “It seems you lose.”

  “That is yet to be seen.” Her feather nded , and with a trembling, her heart began to sink slowly. At the same moment, his feather found its pce, but instead of the heart sinking, the feather did, and he looked up triumphantly. At that moment, I muttered a few words, shrouded in wind energy, so only the recipient could hear.

  “See? Poor Zozibini. You grasped your defeat with both hands. Now… your time is over. Anansi chose poorly.” Mr Janco gloated, before he suddenly screamed in e. His heart dropped so suddenly the golden s shattered, and in the same moment, Miss Zozibini’s feather began to sink, until her heart was above the feather, safe.

  “Impossible! How? I…” He suddenly chocked, and I could see strands of spider silk around his neck.

  “This time you made your own Akua doll sticky, and spped it with both your hands.” Miss Zozibini taunted him. “Now you’re trapped by your own scheme. Such a shame…” The beautiful woman her bright red suit ughed, and there was mali it. “It’s been a good day indeed.” She o me, and then to Adelheid, who grunted sourly.

  “The show is over… what an… ued result…” Mr Dino tried to keep face, but Mr Janco colpsed, and blood ran down his face. The crowd panicked, but I used all my Charm and Majesty to calm them, saying that nobody else would be harmed. My Eye shone, and I could see that the Divine Favour within Mr Janco was colpsing. I see. Basically his pn was to have the losers' Anchors be destroyed. Whether he po take down both me and Miss Zozibini or just me… in the end, he was defeated by his own trap…

  It was as if he had been quered by himself, which had caused immense damage to his subtle body, as well as ripping free his Favour. Unfortunately I was uo take it before it vanished, but now I could see hatred in Mr Dino’s eyes, as well as on the faces of his rades, as they looked at us. He gathered up the fallen man, before stalking out of the hall as quickly as he had arrived.

  “This isn’t the end!” one spiritual being spat, before the rest of his group also departed.

  “Please, everyohere is no need for panic.” Mr Mand decred. “sider it a rare ce to see how dangerous it be to meddle with the powers of ods. Perhaps we should be thankful we weren’t chosen, eh?” His joke was followed by nervous ughter from the crowd. Some of the less brave guests did leave, but he tio reassure them. “Mr Akio is not at fault, and he is the man who cured my darling Lindiwe. Nor are our… other brave guests, unihough they are, but far from unwele.” More nervous ughter, and Mr Nkosi spoke up boldly.

  “That Afrikaner goat pussy is no loss. He’s not a good man.” Mr Nkosi spat. “I’ve my suspis about just how hohe Scales are. I warned you, Zozibini. You pyed a reckless game.”

  “Of course. Qamata is fair, and those who try and cheat Anansi seldom e to good ends.” She was uhough she gave him a brilliant smile. “I’ll try not to worry you, great Nkosi.”

  “Rha! Who would worry about you, woman?”

  “In that case, we were talking about your presence here…” Miss Zozibini said to me, but I shook my head.

  “Later. I’m not here for business, I’m here for Hinata. So… it’s time to do the rounds and introduce her to the people that matter.”

  “I ’t wait!” Hinata agreed, rather excited. She believed in me before, so when I said I would win, her nerves disappeared, but she was a bit shaken up by the cheater’s fall. “e o’s go.”

  “Zozibini, go with her. You know everyone, don’t you?” Mr Nkosi grumbled, and I shrugged. Maybe he’s not so bad after all?

  ***

  Hinata was chatting way happily to the Prince of Lesotho, as well as the Presidents of Ghana and South Africa. I had taken some group shots with Hinata and the dignitaries, and Mayumi-san had already sent them to the leading dies at Hanafubuki, and was already getting responses.

  “This is annoying.” Adelheid grumbled beside me. “Everyone’s looking at me. I feel out of pce.”

  “Shouldn’t be so cute then.” I ughed, in a good mood. She grimaced, before kig me in the ankle, only to wind try and pretend her foot didn’t ache.

  “Thanks for your help though. I don’t know if she’s a good person or not…” I Miss Zozibini, who was helping smooth Hinata’s versations with the huests here. “…but I do know that Mr Janco was a cheater.”

  Adelheid shrugged, rubbing her sore foot against her other ankle surreptitiously. “The Furies hate disho sinners. His heart was heavy with treachery and evil. That’s all there was to it. Ugh, where’s the beer?” She picked at the pte of food in her hands idly, sipping at the gss of champagne she held with a plicated expression on her face. “This stuff just isn’t to my taste.”

  “I’ll go get you something if I find it.” I looked around, sing the waiters, only for oo step up.

  “Here you are sir.” He passed me a gss of foaming amber beer, which I hao Adelheid, who took it eagerly, though she gnced around to see if anyone would pin. Seeing as nobody did, she took a swig, smag her lips.

  “That’s better. I don’t like wi’s got to be beer. Huh…” As she tilted her gss, there was a king noise. “Is something in here?” She reached intss and moments ter pulled out a leaf. “Shit, even at swanky parties, there’s still… huh…” Her blue eyes narrowed as she looked at the leaf in her hand. “This feels… wait, is this… solid gold?”

  Hearing her words I narrowed my own eyes. Gold, huh? Thehat mean…? I turned, but the waiter who had givehe gss of beer was o be seen, vanished into the crowds perhaps…

  ShipTeaser