The True Confessions of a Nine-Tailed Fox

Chapter 152: In Which We Discover That Lodia Talks

Because I was such a magnanimous soul, I permitted Anthea to submit candidates for the location of the second Temple to the Kitchen God. (It helped that she knew South Serican geography better than I did.) Katu, naturally, had plenty of opinions, but it was Lodia who shocked us all.

I'd invited her to sit in on our meetings, assuming that she would hide in a corner and embroider while the rest of us fought. And, for the first several sessions, she did just that. She stayed as silent as a glove puppet, apart from the occasional breaks we took during which she'd show Anthea her progress and double-check the design or the shade of silk.

And then, in the middle of a fight over whether the next Temple should be in a port or inland city, Lodia spoke up.

It has to be a port, I was arguing. The Temple has to be close to the docks. Sailors from other parts of Serica will see it when they come ashore. They can make offerings before and after sea voyages to pray for or thank the Kitchen God for a safe journey.

Anthea snorted. "What sea voyages?"

What do you mean?

Different parts of Serica had always specialized in different resources. Maybe lychees had come north by express riders, but the best rosewood trees for furniture grew along the southern coast, and I was fairly sure that they'd come to the capital by ship. You could haul wood across or around the Snowy Mountains, but why would you risk the demon attacks and damage to the shipments?

However, when I pointed that out, Anthea snorted again. "Your knowledge is five centuries out of date. There is no sea trade between different parts of Serica to speak of."

Would you care to elaborate?

"Not really."

When I continued to stare at her, she heaved a pained sigh. You'd have thought I'd demanded that she roast her firstborn pup or her precious Jullie.

Or elaborate on economics and trade networks, I supposed.

Katu, naturally, was happy to oblige. "I don't know how it used to be, Pip, but we learned in school that the Dragon Kings of the Southern and Eastern Seas charged such high tolls for using their waters that we gave up on sea voyages. I'm not sure about the Dragon King of the Western Sea, because nobody in their right mind would sail west." He cast a nervous, apologetic look at the ex-demons from the west. "No offense."

Far from following our discussion, the foxling had pulled her chair right next to Lodia and was practically on top of the girl, jealously watching each new stitch. She glanced at Katu and shrugged, the motion rippling the fur on her tails.

I clenched my beak and looked away, accidentally meeting the bright yellow eyes of Steelfang. The wolf grinned, baring his long teeth. I hoped they all rotted and fell out.

No offense taken, answered Stripey, and I gave a start. I'd forgotten that in this life, he too had come from the west. There are no good deep-water harbors to speak of along the western coast. The mountains just plunge into the sea in steep cliffs.

Aren't you thinking of the northern coast? He could have been describing the seaside of my childhood.

I haven't seen the northern coast. Only the western one.

Pallus shook his head, making his shaggy ruff fly around his face. "We do have some natural harbors and fishing villages in the south. The fish further north are much more fun." He purred at the thought, rattling the table.