Xi Fang found Xie Mu in her private study, surrounded by scrolls detailing the protection of trade routes and merchant agreements. The Alliance had united the Eight Clans, but as the Shadow Sect had demonstrated, it dissolved just as fast. Xie Mu could not let her guard down. The candlelight cast dancing shadows across the walls as Xi Fang closed the door behind her.
"What did you make of Lady Jiao during the Crimson Moon City assault?" Xi Fang settled into a cushioned chair. "Is her reputation for intelligence earned, or merely inherited along with her trading empire?"
Xie Mu set down her brush, considering the question carefully. "Her mind is as sharp as any I've encountered. What impressed me most was how she balanced logic with empathy."
"Explain."
