“Well, yes, my immediate family is in Cheswick, but my uncle and his wife live in Kaibain,” she replied.

“And …” Tam prompted firmly.

“And, that is why I am going to Kaibain,” the young woman continued. Rezkin could tell she was skirting around the truth.

Tam crossed his arms and gave her a stern look. “Frisha, tell him why you’re going to Kaibain.”

“Well, I am … um …”

Rezkin was losing patience with the conversation. “What?”

“Looking for a husband,” she mumbled, averting her eyes.

Rezkin frowned. “Why?” he asked, completely dumbfounded.

Frisha huffed with frustration. “Because I’m already twenty years old and still unmarried. My father says it’s past time, and my mother actually agreed!”

“Ooookay,” Rezkin drawled. “What does that have to do with Kaibain?

“Well, you see, my father is a merchant, the most successful in our city. He’s actually the head of the Merchant Administrators. So, he insists I marry well.” She laughed and waved toward Tam as she said, “When we were growing up, we were so close that my father started to worry we would fall in love. He tried everything to teach Tam about commerce and trade, but Tam would have none of it.”

“It was so terribly boring,” Tam complained with a cringe.

“Anyway, he was relieved when it turned out Tam and I had no interest in that kind of thing. We were too close growing up.”

“She’s like a sister to me,” he interjected.

Frisha nodded. “Exactly. So, my father decided to try to marry me into one of the Great Merchant Houses, but all their sons were too old or too young or just plain insufferable.”

Rezkin was following along with the young woman’s rambling but still was not sure what it had to do with Kaibain. He hoped she would get to the point soon.

“Well, then my uncle contacted my father and said he was going to name me his heir since he doesn’t have any children of his own. My mother and father both jumped at the chance for me to marry into the nobility,” she finished.

“Why would being named your uncle’s heir help you marry into the nobility? Is he important?” Rezkin asked. He was familiar with important people and the nobility. This part might start to make sense.

Frisha sighed. “My uncle is General Marcum.”

Rezkin was staggered at Frisha’s revelation. He furrowed his brow in confusion as he said, “When we met, you told me you are not a lady. If you are General Marcum’s niece, then you are a member of House Jebai.”