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stood near the entrance, mistrusting eyes fixed on the
conjurer. “So I’m here to help you stand against her.”
    “She’s not coming back. She’s been
defeated.”
    “Is that right?” The conjurer picked at his
teeth with his fingernail. “What if I told you I know better?”
    “What do you know?”
    “I know that every time Hacatine has a
harvest, her power escalates. After the last invasion, there were a
score of wizards for her to come home to. Today, there are only
four left. I’m one of them. So you see, she’s gained quite a bit
more force since the last time she visited your little community.
Right now, she believes the world is at her fingertips. Starting
with you.”
    The one room shelter was silent as they
stared at one another.
    “Besides, I can also help you make a better
life for yourself.”
    “There’s nothing wrong with our life.”
    “Oh? How strong are these homes of yours?”
he peered up at the holes above his head where the matting fell
short. “I can show you how to build a house so strong that when the
winds of the north blow against Hacatine, you won’t have to hide in
the caves on the mountain. That is where you go, isn’t
it?”
    Meneka had heard the stories of Hacatine’s
invasions. Accounts of the battles were taught to Taikan children
in school. The wicked queen mocked the natives for their cowardice
behavior. Whenever she attacked, the people would run to the nearby
mountain and hide in caves. If it hadn’t been for the torrential
storms that would come against her, Hacatine would be reigning over
this quaint little town, enjoying the wealth of its fishing
industry and making slaves of its people.
    “I’m not the one to discuss this with you. I
only offered my home as a place for you to rest, not to engage in
battle plans.”
    “Then tell someone with a little more
authority that I have a deal to make them.”
    Eric left. When he did, Meneka inspected the
shelter. It was vacant of any furniture, floor mats or basins, a
far cry from the marble halls and exquisite architecture of Taikus.
These people were unclean, it seemed, although perhaps they did
their bathing on the beach. But still, they weren’t ruled by an
evil queen that threatened his life, and for that, Meneka was glad
he was here.
    I wish Kaempie were with me. Maybe. The responsibility of negotiating with these people would have
been on his shoulders. Still, I don’t see eye to eye with Kaempie
so maybe I’m better off. At least alone, I’ll have some
control.
    Now that he was protected from the elements,
he took off his wet shirt and threw it over a stub on a pole.
Though elementary in its structure, the shelter offered Meneka a
safe place to lay his head. The night in the skiff had been
wearisome, his napping light. It didn’t take him long to doze into
a dreamless sleep.
     
    Fair Trade
     
    It was mid-day when Eric stepped inside with
three elders at his heels. Their entrance startled the conjurer
awake, and Meneka jumped to his feet. Though he didn’t want to seem
anxious, their age and size humbled him.
    “Eric says you have something to tell us,”
the eldest spoke, his face stern.
    Meneka cleared his throat and gained his
composure quickly. “I can teach you how to build a yurt.” He
blinked the sleep from his eyes. Oh to be so blunt! Wake
up Meneka.
    “A yurt?”
    Have you no knowledge of anything beyond
your own shores? he thought, but cleared his throat instead. “A
structure that would withstand the winds when they blow against the
wicked queen.”
    The three exchanged glances.
    “Why would you help us do that? You’re a
Taikan.” They studied him intently, their eyes resembled the tips
of blue arrows aimed at his head.
    “There are some things going on in Taikus
that you don’t know about. My friend and I are running from
Hacatine.” I hope I’m not telling too much. “A brutal
witch.”
    “We know of her. She’s attacked us
before.”
    “Then you know of her tyranny? She