Weeks had passed since Drystan had been made a member of the council, although he could not weigh in he gained more of an understanding as to the problems the city faced.

  Cases of families or individuals in dire need who had defaulted on their debts, we forced into indentured servitude or slavery by another name.

  He saw time and time again the way the council ruled in the favour of the landlords, the money lenders and the labour merchants. It stuck him that they always entered the room smiling and nodding at the council like they knew the decision would be going their way.

  Many of the peoples debts were bought by the councils and a contract drawn up immediately, sometimes before the meeting has even began he noticed.

  The only time the council argued were either between Master Galen, the kindly old man in the tattered robes spoke on behalf of the poor people about to be subjected to slavery.

  The old man argued for leniency in all cases but was very rarely successful, when there was a full family under the councils judgement he was very often given a win.

  The old Master saved who he could and brought them to the employ of the healers, there was always a need for healing, whether that be in cleaning or laying linens, cooking meals, maintaining the temple and residences. Galen had places open for all, unfortunately the other masters had ideas of their own, any females were taken by the Mistress Scarlet of the entertainment quarter, healthy males were split between Master Ghazan of the merchants guild who was a well know goods trader and not so well known slave trader and the illustrious Master Corvus of the Mages guild, there seemed to be an unquestioned one way flow of people into the mages guild.

  His cousins part in all this took a little longer to decipher, he would be the voice of decision as to who went where. Paid off by the prosecution and by the judge, his favour was gained in offerings of a monetary value or even more valuable, favours.

  ‘A gold coin is and always shall be worth a gold coin’ His cousin had said ‘ A favour paid in gold can be worth diamonds when requested at the right time’

  He had handed Drystan a purse full of coins ‘This dear cousin, isn’t bad for a few hours work’

  ‘Work?’ Drystan asked.

  ‘You see, we need fuel for the fires of our industry, our guilds require labour, the people need jobs we are meeting the needs of all the people’ Damon had said ‘The money lenders find those most in need and offer them assistance, they either make good and thrive or cannot meet their promises and we arrange for employment’

  ‘But they would be slaves?’ Drystan said

  ‘Indentured servants’ Damon corrected ‘And where would they be if not, no home, no food, no money, debt collectors taking their pound of flesh as and when they can, is that any way to live?’

  ‘I guess not’

  ‘And aren’t they better owing and earning back under reputable guilds than unscrupulous loan sharks’

  ‘I guess so’

  ‘You need to stop guessing and start knowing dear cousin, you are being allowed into the council chambers to see the world is not pretty, it is not just. It is a cruel world and we must all learn to navigate its treacherous waters’

  Drystan looked down thoughtfully.

  ‘Don’t fret dear cousin, you are joining a game that I have been playing a long while now, follow my lead and you will be set’

  Drystan shook the bag of coins, regardless of the gold within the purse was too heavy for him to carry.

  ‘What do I do with this?’ He asked

  ‘Do as you wish cousin, I wouldn’t give it away though, shame what happened last time. Maybe spend an evening at Madame Scarlets entertainment district, gods know you could use some company other than I’ Damon smiled and patted him on the shoulder

  ‘My ears Damon are burning’ came a sing song feminine voice ‘Are you boys talking about little old me?’

  ‘Scarlet my dear, I can honestly say that old and little are not words that spring to mind when you grace our presence’

  ‘It’s a pleasure as always Mistress Scarlet’ Drystan said

  ‘Speaking of pleasure, will we have the honour of hosting yourselves this evening?’ She said

  ‘Unfortunately I have prior engagements however I was just discussing the fact that my dear cousin needs to very much experience the city we all call home’ Damon said

  ‘Oh I couldn’t agree more, I insist that you accompany me’ Scarlet said ‘A fine gentleman such as yourself wouldn’t leave a sweet and vulnerable woman like me to venture home alone’

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Damon smiled, sweet and vulnerable where not words that sprung to mind when it came to Scarlet the harlot.

  ‘But first my thanks to your favour this afternoon Master Damon’ she said holding out yet another purse.

  He held his hand out and pushed it back to her, ‘Please keep this in payment for any services my cousin is in wish of procurement this evening’

  Drystan made to object but the lady retrieved the bag with a speed that astounded.

  ‘Shall we be off Master Drystan?’ she said holding out her elbow for him to take.

  He shook his cousins hand and took Scarlet by the arm and walked to the front of the building.

  In the carriage Drystan looked out through the window of the well-appointed carriage watching the city go by, the suns cresting the walls on a sleeping city that suddenly sprung to life in a crescendo of bright colours emitted from various lamps and windows.

  ‘Have you ever visited the district before?’ Asked Scarlet

  ‘I suspect you know the answer is no’ Smiled Drystan

  ‘Indeed but there’s never any harm in pretending to know less than you do, I imagine you are well acquainted with that way of thinking around your ‘dear cousin’ the last words where said with a mocking pompousness.

  ‘I like my cousin, hes been very kind to me’

  ‘Oh my dear, I didn’t say you didn’t like him, I quite like him as well’ She said ‘He’s always very courteous to my face and so far has been true to his word’

  ‘He is reliable, as you no doubt are aware we at the council have an arrangement’

  ‘My cousin gave me a brief education, yes’ He responded

  ‘Well, what do you think of me buying the girls to work at my district?’ She said smiling with the mouth of a friend but the eyes of a predator.

  ‘I think that ..’he started

  ‘And please don’t regurgitate your dear cousins words’ the smile left her face

  ‘I don’t think I like the idea of forcing the vulnerable into forced slavery’ he said

  The smile returned to her face, ‘Well at least one of you can be honest, I like you Drystan, but you are a dreamer.’ She said ‘If you have a better idea of how to keep women from the slavers market where they are treated worse than cattle or off to the mages guild where gods know what happens to them’

  Scarlet had visibly started shaking,

  ‘The girls under my protection work, no the work is not always nice but it earns them money quicker than washing linens or changing bandages for the old man’ Scarlet said

  ‘But surely...’ he started

  ‘I speak from experience, I know of my alternative moniker’ She smiled once again

  ‘I earned my place to ensure that no one would suffer under the rule of any man the way I and my sisters did’

  ‘I have no judgement of you, please do forgive my cousin and his ill-advised word’ he said apologetically

  ‘Oh please I bear your cousin no ill will, we have a mutually beneficial relationship and we both get what we want’ Her smile widened ‘And speaking of wants’

  She slid over to his side of the carriage and held his hand in hers.

  ‘What kind of want will we be fulfilling tonight?’

  ‘I’m not sure that I …’

  ‘Don’t worry, I can already tell that whores aren’t your thing perhaps some milder form of entertainment, do you enjoy plays Master Drystan?’

  ‘I do when I get the chance, well we may not be the great playhouse but we do ourselves proud even if I do say so myself’

  ‘A play sounds wonderful’ said Drystan ‘and would you do me the honour of escorting me?’ Drystan smiled

  ‘Well how else would you find your way around?’ She asked

  The room broke into drunken applause as the cast bowed and took in their standing, leaning or lying down ovation.

  ‘Well Master Drystan what do you make of our little performance?’

  ‘I liked it well enough’ Drystan smiled honestly

  ‘Well the drinks aren’t as watered down as in the play house’ She smiled ‘Don’t get me wrong they are definitely watered down, just not as much’

  ‘Well I enjoyed myself none the less’ Drystan said

  ‘Would you like to avail yourself of other pleasures on offer?’ she asked

  ‘I think no, thank you’ Drystan said making to stand ‘ I have enjoyed my time here immensely more than I thought I would any more would be too much’

  ‘Please call for my carriage to take Master Drystan home’ Scarlet called out

  No one responded but that mattered very little, by the end of a minute it would be waiting out front.

  ‘Mistress Scarlet the evening has been an absolute pleasure, id surely like to visit again’ Drystan smiled

  Scarlet laughed out loudly ‘ We’ll make a scoundrel out of you yet’