Merchant Lady Grimwolde

aka

"I own more land in the city of Nexus than any except the city itself, and it's city-father. My lessees count six thousand, five hundred and fifty-two, at last census-taking, according to Nexus' own rolls. Flora, you must harden yourself, there are always those that will take advantage of a pretty young woman."

"I know. But he... just left."

"There's more than one fish in the sea... Not that Noura is doing that much better."

"I was just out for a drink and a bite to eat."

"And happened to bet and win a silver talent? From Plentimon's own casino? Come on, admit it, you caught the eye of a rich man, perhaps one of those guild criminals, and he gave you a 'token of his esteem'." Noura stiffened unperceptibly.

"Now, now, Milady, there's no need for us to think too much on such ruffians. Although, from what our friend Stelsor and his housemates said, they are trying to civilize them..."

"That only makes them more dangerous, in the long term, capable of doing more damage, a smart criminal is much more fearsome."

"The criminals living in Nexus for the longest can hardly all be fools..." She meant The Guild, whose presence dated back quite a bit.

"And the new ones ally themselves with chosen and other beings of power, showing they also are not idiots. Reminds me, Noura, you've been seeing these fights... Are they safe? I hear they had these fighters there, like Shun-the-enemies-of-Autochton, and he broke the noses of three spectators in one blow!"

"I was there, for that fight, Milady, but I took precautions, it's well known that the first few ranks are for 'fixers', people unofficially allied with one the fighters, and trying to help them... The alchemical tripped on one of their legs, and so it wasn't his fault they got hurt... The silly billies forgot that alchemicals are made of stern stuff, Orichalcum Alchemicals more than most..."

"So, he's made of metal?"

"He's made of clay-like flesh, with metal plating in places..."

"How do you know that?"

"I asked to touch his biceps, before the fight... Said it would bring us luck, and lo, he won the fight and won me some money! He's certainly very buff!"