“I suspect you’re right.”
“Then why the… search?” She’d been about to say charade.
“I fear the Prince’s parents… and his grandmother, are applying a lot of pressure. They would see the Vallas Realm’s future firmly secured with ready heirs sooner, rather than later.”
Alia swung her boots slowly back and forth. “And the man is unable to stand up to his own kin and say no thank you, I’m not ready, I’ll find my own bride in my own damn time? So, he’s spineless?”
“I don’t know about that. He’s been able to hold his own for the last five years. Perhaps not so spineless after all. Besides, dealing with forceful parents I have heard can be tricky. Perhaps you could advise how you manage to stand up to your Father and never do his bidding, unless it suits you. I shall pass the information on to the Prince.”
Alia tried to swallow the laughter that bubbled up but some of it escaped. Darnation, she knew she sounded like chains being dragged over cobblestones, but surprisingly Talac didn’t wince like many did when they heard her. Instead, the edges of his lips tilted upwards as if he was pleased he’d been able to provoke her amusement.
“So, what does… the Beast do exactly?”
“Do?”
“You’ve built yourself a splendid little fiefdom here at the Lair. You hunt… expertly so, your takedown of that rogue boar was a thing of beauty to behold. But what does the Beast do?”
“I run a business. The butcher takes the meat we hunt, drying most of it. The tannery deals with the skins. Our healers grind the bones and bottle them. The distillery makes mead, sweetening it with wild mountain honey that we harvest quarterly. Our products eventually make their way to the larger coastal and major city markets.”
“Where you sell all your keymoat products at distinct markup prices because the buyers are under the impression the animals live in far off dangerous lands and are quite rare.”
“They are very rare in the Green Hills Realm, indeed. I understand many a hunter travels there and leaves disappointed. Whilst the locals appreciate mightily their tourist coin and bid them come back and try their luck for the elusive creatures another season.”
“And all the pilgrims that walk the long dark roads through the woods to knock at your portcullis… you hire them?”
“We educate them in a trade, or a field of study. They often come to us broken, uneducated, ill… desperate. And in exchange for our help they must work, hard. We are not a charity. We designate a number of years of service that we expect in exchange for our shelter and training. Many choose to stay on after their contract has expired, others choose to move on, with our good wishes.”
“Was Frederick Fa’pugl one of your former charges?”
“You know Freddy?”
“Only by reputation. He’s taking Crested Seas by storm with his building innovations. Many think him a reputable architect who honed his skills across the waters in the likes of the Crystal Isle Realm. I understand every wealthy person who abides at Crested Seas wishes to hire him to build them a bathhouse. One that he promises will deliver endless hot water. Just like I experienced in the bathhouse here at the Lair.”
“We get the occasional reports on his progress, it’s good to hear things are going well for him. When he first came to us, he had issues dealing with… his nerves I guess you would say.”
“And your healers fixed him?”
“I think purpose and hard work helped heal him more than anything. We started Freddy at the blacksmiths, just to haul coals, and within three months he’d redesigned the water system to the forge. After a while he sought out each of our master traders, learned their craft and designed gadgets or systems to aid them in their endeavours. New drainage for the butchers. Better feeding troughs for the horses. And he designed and built our bathhouses. For those alone we praise Freddy’s name daily.”
“Where did he get his ingenious ideas from?”
“You would be surprised at the number of scholars who have made the pilgrimage here to the Lair. Many outcasts, driven from their former jobs because their ideas were considered too radical or out-dated. They arrive generally with nothing but a backpack weighed down with their most beloved books. You should see our library, it’s most impressive. Freddy used to spend hours in there after his work shift, reading. We knew he was on the mend when he began to debate with the scholars, very enthusiastically and very loudly.”
“He sounds like quite the success story.”
“One of many.”
“And yet, I’d never heard of this sanctuary before coming to Gloomenthrall.”
Alia made a show of running her gaze up Talac’s frame, from his shiny expensive knee high boots all the way up to his glossy choppy mane of chestnut hair. “News of the Lair’s existence reaches the ears of those that need it… I do not think, Captain Talac, that you have ever stumbled upon your chosen path and been unable to get up again.”
“And you just help them? Everyone who bellies up to your portcullis and spills their sob story of misery? You feed them? House them? Invest in them? No questions asked? No one is ever turned away?”
“As I said, we’re not a charity. There are rules of behaviour demanded and expectations set. And there’s a probation period. If, during that time, the pilgrim feels they are unable to abide by our rules, or meet our expectations, then they are free to leave without any recriminations on our part. Alternatively, if we deem them an ill fit to the Lair, we ask them to leave.”
“And if they refuse to learn to kill, what then, do you kick them out?”
“Excuse me?” Alia was a little bewildered by Talac’s query.
