Page 21 of Children of Blood and Bone

“Forty bronze pieces—”

“For a tigerfish?”

“I won’t pay a piece above thirty!”

The shouts of hagglers at work ring so loud I can barely hear myself think. This isn’t the floating market of Ilorin. A regular barter won’twork. I bite the inside of my cheek, surveying the crowd. I need a mark. A fool, some—

“Trout!” a man shrieks. “Do I look like I eat trout?”

I turn to the plump noble clad in a dark purple dashiki. He narrows his hazel eyes at the kosidán merchant like he has just received a grave insult.

“I have searobin,” the merchant offers. “Flounder, bass—”

“I said I want swordfish!” the noble snaps. “My servant says you refuse to sell it.”

“They aren’t in season.”

“Yet the king eats it every night?”

The merchant scratches the back of his neck. “If a swordfish is caught, it goes to the palace. That’s the law of the land.”

The noble’s face turns red and he pulls out a small velvet purse. “What does he offer?” He jingles the coins. “I’ll pay double.”

The merchant stares at the purse longingly but stays firm. “I can’t risk it.”

“I can!” I shout.

The noble turns, eyes narrowed with suspicion. I wave him toward me, away from the merchant’s stand.

“You have swordfish?” he asks.

“Better. A fish no one else in this market can sell you.”

His mouth falls open, and I feel the same rush I get when a fish circles my bait. I unwrap the sailfish with care and move it under a ray of light so that its scales gleam.

“Skies!” The noble gapes. “It’s magnificent.”

“It tastes even better than it looks. Red-tailed sailfish, fresh from the coast of Ilorin. They’re not in season, so you can be sure even the king’s not eating this tonight.”

A smile crawls onto the noble’s face, and I know I’ve made my own catch. He holds out his purse.

“Fifty silver pieces.”

My eyes widen, but I grit my teeth.Fifty…

Fifty gets us by this tax, maybe leaves us enough for a new boat. But if the guards raise the taxes next quarter moon, fifty won’t keep me out of the stocks.

I let out a loud laugh and start rewrapping the fish.

The noble’s brow furrows. “What are you doing?”

“Taking this jewel to someone who can afford it.”

“How dare you—”

“Forgive me,” I interrupt. “I don’t have time for a man who bids fifty on a prize worth ten times that much.”

The noble grumbles, but he reaches into his pockets and pulls out another velvet purse.

---