Kelsey was in an exuberant mood in the morning, humming excitedly as she produced breakfast for the girls to serve.

“Why so cheerful?” Aris asked, accepting her porridge and bread.

“I got a level!” Kelsey announced. There were some murmured congratulations from the group at large, but the girls didn’t really know Kelsey and felt reticent about speaking to her. Those who did know her had other concerns.

“I thought you said last night wouldn’t give you any experience?” Tyla asked. Anton shot a glance at her. He didn’t like the idea of Kelsey acting on his own while he slept, but he could hardly stop her. Realising he probably shouldn’t take her word for it, he checked her status.

“Kelsey”, Level 29, Necropolis, S: 22 T: 19 A: 21 D: 18 P: 24 W: 25 C: 20

“It didn’t,” Kelsey explained. “I had some delvers come down yesterday, and three of them didn’t make it.” She looked at Anton knowingly. “This is the first time I made a level since getting an Avatar. Plus one to each stat, not bad, eh?”

Anton winced. “Who were they?” he asked, ignoring her question. The main crew he knew of high enough level to interest Kelsey was Rathuan’s crew. They weren’t exactly his friends, but…

“No one you know, probably,” Kelsey told him. “Outsiders. Kaelan Stormblade, Draven Blackthorn, Finnian Stonehammer and Cedric Whitewood.”

“The Stormguard,” Anton said. “I’ve never met them, but I’ve heard of them.”

“I’ve heard of the Stormguard,” Aris put in. “They protected a lot of people.”

There was some more agreement further down the table. The Stormguard were pretty famous, and most of the girls had heard the story of how they had turned back the Darkenwolf Pack and saved the village of Alpenst.

Kelsey bristled, not liking the looks she was getting. “Well, whatever they did before, this time they were hired by Tikin to kill me,” she said. “Suliel said it was okay to kill them.”

“Wait, did you say Magister Tikin?” Syrena asked. “Doesn’t he work for Lady Suliel? I mean…” she trailed off, looking at Anton. “Your Lordship?”

“Not anymore,” Anton said, waving her attempt at using his title away. He still wasn’t used to that. “I guess we skipped what he was up to during all the excitement.”

He briefly explained. “—so he was gone, left with Suliel’s mother, back to the capital to find another core, I suppose.”

“It’s no surprise that he would be—well, not back— but back in the game,” Kelsey said. “Anyway, it was all in self-defence.”

“What about last night, was that in self-defence?” Anton asked knowingly.

“Actually, it was! I—”

“While the bartender did attack first, we were intruding. Against his stated wishes,” Tyla put in. Kelsey pouted.

“We left the rest of them alive, at least,” she said.

“We did,” Tyla agreed. She bowed to Anton. “Kelsey felt that you would prefer it that way and that they were too drunk and drugged to remember much of the evening.”

Anton stared at her for a moment before having the presence of mind to check her as well.

Tyla of the Padascar Tribe, Level 11, Elf, Apprentice Dungeon Witch, Padascar Hunter (Broken)/ Doxy(Broken)/Apprentice Dungeon Witch, S: 11 T: 7 A: 10 D: 16 P: 18 W: 12 C: 9

Only one level, he thought.

“Thanks the gods for small mercies, I guess,” Anton said, sighing. “Before I forget, one of those people Kelsey killed, Cedric. He should have had a decent bow if you’re still looking for one.”

“Had,” Kelsey stated with a smug smile. “It didn’t survive impact.”

Anton wanted to ask, but didn’t. Instead, he focussed on what had happened here.

“So what were you doing in the bar?” he asked.

“Investigating the Fishers, of course!” Kelsey said. “I think we found what you’re looking for.”

“Oh?” Anton didn’t think he was going to like what was coming.

“So the basic thing they’ve got,” Kelsey said, “Is your standard extortion racket.”

“What’s that?” Anton asked.

“Oh… Your gang stakes out a territory, and you tell anyone in that territory that they’ve gotta pay you money or you won’t protect them… from all these gang members standing around.”

“People pay you for protection… from yourself?” Anton asked. “That seems wrong.”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Kelsey shrugged. “It’s pretty much the same as what the nobles do, but they call it taxes.”

Anton frowned. Was that what taxes were? He’d have to ask Suliel when they got back… but Kelsey was moving on.

“In addition, they’ve got a workhouse scam going on.”

“What’s that?” Anton asked again.

“Where to start…” Kelsey said. “Um… so, Denasti has got a lot of kids on the streets, same as anywhere. Orphans, runaways, abandoned…”

Anton nodded. Kirido was small enough that places were found for stranded children, but he’d seen how it worked in Rused.

“Now, say that you’ve got a building big enough to pull this off. You go to the city and say: I’m going to take care of all these children, feed and clothe them and give them a place to sleep.”

“Sounds reasonable,” Anton said.

“And because food, clothes and beds aren’t free, you’re going to make them work, and you’re going to pay them a wage, and the costs are going to come out of that,” Kelsey continued.

“I guess that makes sense,” Anton said.

“And because the city doesn’t check, it doesn’t notice that you’re charging too much for their costs, and giving them too little in wages. By the time they come of age, they actually owe you money, enough for you to put them into debt slavery.”

Anton frowned. “That doesn’t seem right,” he said. “Surely someone would notice.”

“No one cares, because it’s the best outcome for those brats,” Soraya put in. She’d been quietly eating her breakfast but now she spoke for the first time. “They were just going to starve on the streets, becoming slaves will see them taken care of.”

“Spoken like a true slave trader,” Kelsey said. Soraya nodded, ignoring the glares from the rest of the room. “But, like most criminals, they went a bit too far.”

“How so?” Soraya asked.

“Street kids are too smart to fall for that scam. They can snatch them off the streets, but the kids quickly learn what to look for. They didn’t have enough bodies to be profitable, and they were already snatching kids, so… they just started snatching kids with families.”

“That’s abhorrent!” Soraya exclaimed. “Those children would be citizens. Taking away their futures like that… what?”

“They’re looking at you like that because they’re appalled at your selective sympathy,” Kelsey explained. “But it demonstrates an important point. The Fishers are vulnerable now, in a way they weren’t before. If Anton frees a bunch of kidnapped children, the hue and cry will go up and any gang members that we miss will get snapped up by the authorities.”

“And too, you would be lauded as a saviour of children instead of a vigilante murderer,” Soraya said thoughtfully.

There was a mutinous muttering from further down the table.

“Lord Anton isn’t a murderer!” Morwyn hissed.

Soraya held up her hands. “Spare me from the wrath of your harem, Lord Anton!” she said sarcastically.

“Just keep on making friends, Soraya, I’m sure that will turn out well,” Kelsey said. “Speaking of future debacles, have you figured out how you want to handle the ransom?”

Soraya glared at Kelsey, but she didn’t take the exchange further. Instead, she modulated her tone to sound more friendly.

“I shall have to take the second option, I fear. Returning to my father does not seem wise. We shall take the money and run.”

“Only now, you’re talking about running from a Fourth Tier,” Kelsey said. “Any ideas of how you’re going to pull that off?”

“He’s only a duellist,” Soraya said. “He isn’t known for any social or tracking Traits. I understand that you plan to leave the city, perhaps I could accompany you?”

“So he comes after all of us,” Kelsey stated. “I’m sure how you could see that wouldn’t be ideal for us? Why would we take you along?”

Soraya hesitated, “Well, the money…”

“That is why you’re here,” Kelsey pressed. “You want to get in on our escape route as well? We need something more.”

“I can’t give you more of the money!” Soraya protested. “I need it to make a new life!”

Kelsey glanced quickly at Anton. He wanted to speak up, but he didn’t want Al-Kadir chasing after them. He looked away.

“You want to put our lives in danger, for nothing in return?” Kelsey said softly.

Soraya swallowed nervously.

“Um,” Zaphar spoke up. “This is, it is about being useful, yes?”

Everyone looked at him and he gulped.

“I think I know how the esteemed merchant’s daughter can be of use to us,” he said.

“Oh? Tell me more,” Kelsey purred. That seemed to discomfit Zaphar more than the stares did.

“I have, have not had much progress with the documents,” he said. “I am just a thief, I do not know what is required, what is necessary for such things. Even the seals, there are many, and I do not know which is correct.”

Kelsey looked at Soraya. “Do you know which is correct?” she asked. Soraya stared at her for a second and then started into life.

“Well of course I know!” she exclaimed. “I’m not my father’s daughter for nothing. In fact, I know where Father keeps examples of just the documents you are looking for. Articles of passage, registration for human cargo… You would have to alter or copy the documents themselves of course…”

She trailed off under Kelsey’s stare, before rallying gamely.

“I can show you where they would need to be modified…”

Kelsey held her silence for a minute more, and then smiled warmly.

“I always knew you were going to be part of the team,” she said.

Soraya swallowed and bowed her head. “Part of the team. I should… speak with Zaphar more? About where to look for the documents?”

“Great idea,” Kelsey said.

“You both got new levels,” Anton said, in an attempt to change the subject. “What Traits did you get?”

It was a little rude to just ask, but he was fairly sure Kelsey wouldn’t mind. They were working together, so it would help if he knew what his team members were capable of.

Tyla seemed to agree. “I can cast spells now,” she told him. “Small ones. I couldn’t erase the memories of the people that we questioned, but I could… confuse them. Make them go to sleep.”

“That will improve as her levels increase,” Kelsey said proudly. “As for me, I haven’t decided yet. Not that it will make a difference here.”

Anton blinked, and then figured it out. “Your Trait will be for your real self,” he said.

“Both of me are equally real,” Kelsey replied, “But that’s the gist of it.”

She stretched out her hands to her sides. “One of the options is another Avatar body, which I’d love to take. But Mel wouldn’t hear of it.”

“Does she have a say?” Aris asked. Kelsey’s face fell. She put a smile right back on, but Anton had seen the lapse.

“Yeah, she does,” Kelsey said. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“So what are the other options?” Anton asked.

“I could get a new monster type,” Kelsey said thoughtfully. “Of course, then I’d have to choose what monster. But I was thinking that the undead fishies were underperforming.

“They got that far?” Anton asked.

“They killed Cheryl,” Kelsey said. “I’ll respawn her as soon as that edgelord stops camping the floor, but she won’t be the same.”

That fit with what Anton had heard of the Stormguard. They were—had been— powerful fighters. Kelsey saw the look on his face and decided it was her turn to change the subject.

“Let’s talk about our biggest problem,” she said. “We’ve been dancing around it, but I think you need to confront him head-on.”

“Him?” Anton asked.

“Al-Kadir,” Kelsey answered. “He’s going to be involving himself in this ransom handover, so you need to find out just what he’s going to do.”