The grand hall of Golden Blade Palace emptied as the morning session concluded. Merchants and tribal leaders filed out into the sunny courtyard where food stalls lined the perimeter. The aroma of grilled meats and spices filled the air as vendors called out their specialties.
Lady Jiao watched from above as small groups formed around different stalls. A merchant lord haggled with three tribal elders over dried dates while sharing bowls of spiced lamb. Near the eastern wall, Gang Xing's raiders discussed caravan routes with traders from distant cities. Coins and papers changed hands discretely between bites of flatbread.
She smiled, knowing these informal gatherings often accomplished more than formal negotiations. The merchants believed they cleverly concealed their dealings from her view. Let them think they had outsmarted her - it made them more amenable to her leadership.
