Section Thirty-Nine: The Question of the Feishis (Part One)

Philip fell into deep thought, while Helen, unable to contain herself, began to persuade her brother. She was very eager for the Fechi to agree to this cooperation, for then she could boldly visit the land and amuse herself as she pleased.

“There truly are some wonderful things on land,” Philip mused aloud, finally understanding why his uncle spoke so fondly of the surface. “Wine, for instance, or the same materials we possess under the sea, but crafted by land-dwelling artisans into more beautiful forms.” He touched the knife at his waist, a rare piece fashioned from an exceptional kind of jade—crystal clear and radiant. He had been captivated by it at first sight, and most importantly, it was something he could bring back to his palace beneath the waves. Most metal objects would rust in the sea, but jade would not.

“Your Highness is absolutely right. In fact, there are many avenues for cooperation between us,” Councilor Kidd seized the opportunity to continue. “Don’t you think so? You possess inexhaustible wealth; the entire ocean belongs to you and your father. We, on the other hand, have the technology to put these treasures to use. Take the gems and corals from the seabed, for example—we could incorporate them into clothing designs, which your sister happens to adore.”

Helen nodded eagerly, the allure of novelty drawing her to speak in the council’s favor. “Brother, if you have a chance, you should visit Valencia. There are things on land that even we in the sea don’t have. For example… lace!”

The princess, ever concerned with feminine finery, struggled for a moment before the word came to her. Philip had no idea what lace was, but after several days on land, he realized there were many things absent from the ocean. Even the art of building houses astounded him; humans could create myriad forms, while in the sea, only the ancestral palace of the Sirens filled him with pride. The dwellings of other clans were nothing more than holes dug into the reefs.

“You do have fine things, worthy of trade,” Philip conceded, “but too many of them can only be used here on land. We can’t take them with us beneath the waves. And as for entrusting our traded goods to your people for safekeeping, I am uneasy. People of the land are cunning—I do not trust you.” At last, Philip voiced his concern.

Kidd’s heart lifted. What he feared most was that the crown prince would be utterly indifferent, but now Philip’s tone had softened—his only concern was trust. If a way could be found to earn that trust, the problem would be solved. Not only could this resolve the crisis at Herldasin, but it might rid them once and for all of threats at sea from the Fechi.

“So that’s the issue,” Kidd replied respectfully. “But how can we earn your trust? As for the goods, there is another solution: convert them into currency. When you return to land, you can use the money to buy whatever you need directly. That way, there’s no fear of loss, and you’ll always have the newest fineries, Your Highness. This is commerce—you can visit the land and use your resources at will, while our ships can sail freely upon the seas.”

“Currency? You mean exchanging our underwater treasures for those round metal pieces you mint? Impossible! Those things are heavy and awkward—how could we possibly carry them every time we come ashore? Do you see anything on us suitable for carrying such things?” Philip retorted.

The assembly fell silent, realizing the oversight. After all, humans and the Fechi were fundamentally different. Helen, having spent time on land and developed a fondness for human goods, adapted quickly. But the Fechi before them had just arrived. Their clothes were rough garments woven from seaweed or animal hides—already an effort for modesty, for Fechi society at sea felt no such shame and often went unclothed, men and women alike.

Their attire was so crude it lacked even a pocket—how could they carry large sums of money? Let alone...

“And besides, your people are cunning. Ours are too honest and would be easily deceived. If you would have us trust you, the solution must come from you, not me,” the crown prince declared with authority. His understanding of the land might be limited, but he was no fool. The responsibility for reassurance, therefore, was cast back to his counterpart.

“Brother, why not consult Uncle Hermes? He’s sure to have an idea,” Helen reminded him. In the Western Fechi Empire, no one had more dealings with the land than Prince Hermes, who out of curiosity once lived among humans for years and even infiltrated the world of magic as a mage.

“I know. Stop interrupting,” Philip said curtly. Though he adored his sister, Helen’s repeated interjections favoring the humans irked him, and he forbade her from speaking further.

“Well, you’ve returned my sister today, and for that I am grateful. As for your proposal, I’ll give you a chance. We’ll speak again tomorrow. If you can find a way to assure me my people’s interests will not be harmed, I will, on behalf of the Western Fechi Empire, agree to your terms for open trade.” Philip’s patience with the humans had worn thin; his tone made clear he wished to end the meeting.

Councilor Kidd had no choice but to take his leave. Still, though the goal had not yet been achieved, hope remained. Before coming, he had met with Warrenheit, and both men understood the present situation well. Under the pressure from the Church, conflict between Landia, the Church, and the northern nations was imminent. Should Fechi raids at sea continue, the situation would become untenable. Warrenheit could not be everywhere at once, and if he continued to act solely through his own people, the Democratic Party would surely accuse him of monopolizing power. Thus, Kidd was appointed chief envoy for these talks at Herldasin—if he could persuade the Fechi to withdraw, it would be a notable achievement for his political record. Yet Kidd’s ambitions went further; he aimed not only to secure the Fechi’s withdrawal and reclaim Herldasin, but also, daringly, to establish trade relations—a proposal that, though seemingly fair, would be of enormous benefit to Landia if realized.

If both sides permitted the other unrestricted passage through their respective territories, Landian merchant ships would encounter far fewer troubles at sea. Kidd even fantasized that, in time, Fechi escorts might safeguard Landian vessels. And as the Fechi became accustomed to visiting Landia, growing fond of certain things, they would gradually accept human customs and rules. Moreover, Landia would gain access to resources no other country enjoyed: pearls and gemstones from the deep sea, the liberty for fishermen to venture out and catch rare and unfamiliar fish—all unprecedented advantages.