章 23: Chapter 23: Plague, part 2

He made his way to the butcher's, greeting the people he knew on the way. None of them knew who he really was. He could not help but think that, should they know that they had the Emerald Emperor in their midst, they would not smile at him.

But none of them knew, and so he got many a nod, many a smile.

From women, mostly, but there were some men who had taken to coming to him so that he could predict what would anger their wives. One man, a rice farmer, stopped him and showed his palm to Nikola nervously.

"Oracle, I will ask my love to marry me tomorrow. I was at the bun stall this morning, but you weren't there. Will I have success? Oh, right! Here is your copper!"

The man pressed a coin in Nikola's hand, who thought about refusing it. The man didn't look well off, wearing rough gray robes. But he knew that he would hurt the man's pride, so he pocketed it instead.