Joe woke up in his bed, his colourful quilt hugging his body and draping off of his mattress. One of few luxuries he allowed himself, a comfortable night’s sleep one of the most important things to him. Almost every coin he had was put towards bettering Foizo to the least fortunate who found their way to the town and struggled to make ends meet.
But his bed remained a comfort he enjoyed nevertheless. A place to relax after a long day, to unwind and to let the stress wash away. A good night’s rest was the difference between beautiful day and a dim one, Joe found.
He got up and rubbed his back, his back sore and worn in his old age. If he was going to get immortality, the least he could have done was get it before he got old. Maybe one day Zoe would return with some way to make him younger, Joe chuckled to himself.
She lucked out, grasping immortality for herself at such a young age. So spry and full of vigor, for all of eternity. Joe shrugged, being old had its benefits as well. Without a reputation, nobody would know Zoe was as old as she was. They still saw her as a naïve young girl — and her fancy necklaces hiding her level hardly helped with that either.
Joe pulled his quilt back over his bed and fluffed his pillow then staggered over to his desk to sit down. Today was a big day, the council was meeting with the king for their annual report and they needed to put on a good show. It didn’t really matter, Joe knew. At least not for Foizo’s prosperity. Foizo paid their taxes, and the kingdom had an obligation to provide assistance befitting the amount paid. Lest they risk losing that income for themselves.
But meeting the king himself was always nervewracking. Everybody was on edge as they waited for the mage to arrive, double checking all of their numbers and plans. Being sure they had all of Foizo’s needs ready at their fingertips and wouldn’t fall from the pressure.
He rummaged through the papers on his desk — housing requests for the most part, though there were some scribbles of budgets and a document discussing the future expansion of the town. Some of the council wanted to expand towards Flester’s Might and create a district just on the outskirts of the dungeon to bring in more income from the dungeon.
Joe disagreed with the idea personally. The dungeon was close enough for many to commute to work there, especially since they’d created the road to Inkley. But to expand the town all the way to the dungeon would be far more of an undertaking than it would be worth.
Increasing revenue from the dungeon was something worth doing, but Joe’s preference was a toll on the road. Anybody who lived in Foizo would be granted free passage through some means of identification, and anybody who did not would need to pay a fee to use the road. Perhaps they could take a page from Zoe and Fred’s book, create some sort of escort through Flester’s Might. A tour of Flester’s old beauty, how the city changed under the dungeon’s influence.
He shrugged and turned his attention back to the papers on his desk for a while until the sun rose and he stored the important pile he’d separated away in his ring and left his room. The hallway just outside was dim with some deafened snores sneaking through the cracks in the enchanted doors. He’d have to get them repaired soon, people too often slam them shut in frustration and while the doors work wonders in good condition, with holes and cracks in them the sound seeps out anyway.
Downstairs, Kenzie and Sue were working, cleaning up the mess left from the previous night. Mugs and plates left on tables with cutlery covering the ground.
“Good morning, girls.” Joe said as he walked down.
The two girls looked up and smiled at him, a joy he didn’t think he’d ever get old of. Just a few short years ago they were in such disarray, and now they were confident. Had their own home, and even helped Joe out at his inn. A fact he couldn't appreciate more with how busy the council made him some days.
“Good morning, Joe!” Kenzie called out, waving a rag above her head.
“Morning Joe!” Sue called out from behind the bar.
“You two need anything today?” Joe asked.
“Nope!" Kenzie smiled. ”We’re all good.“
Joe nodded. “Well, don’t hesitate to bother Emma if something happens, alright? I’ll be busy with the council for most of today.”
“Okay!” Sue called, her voice dampened as she knelt behind the bar. “But we’ll be fine, Joe.”
“What’s going on today?” Kenzie asked.
“We’ve got our annual meeting with the king today. Gotta pay our taxes, and we’ll try to get some more assistance if we can. But we’ll see how it goes.” Joe explained.
A dull thud came from the bar where Sue was and she stood up rubbing the top of her head. “Eugh. I hate taxes.”
Joe laughed. “You know, Zoe never used to like taxes either. She hated them so much more than anybody I’d ever seen.”
“Is that why she’s never around?" Kenzie asked.
“Probably not. She got over it eventually. I think she just gets bored being in one place too long. Or maybe she’s not truly over her past and needs to distract herself sometimes. Who knows.” Joe shrugged. “But you better be paying your taxes. I don’t want to have to show up at your home to collect.”
“We pay our taxes, Joe.” Kenzie said. “Or I pay our taxes, at least. She never does them.”
“Sue, you’ve gotta learn eventually.” Joe said.
“I know, Joe. It’s just all so confusing.” Sue pouted.
“That’s not gonna work. Kenzie, help her do them next time. You can’t just do everything for her.” Joe said.
“Told you,” Kenzie said and smirked in Sue’s direction.
“Fine. Next time I’ll try and do them myself. Happy?” Sue said.
Joe laughed. “Yes, very. Alright I’ve gotta get going, you two have a nice day. Remember if you need anything go pester Emma. Or Peter and Lauren, but they have a business and Emma’s probably just sleeping with her cats.”
Kenzie laughed. “We’ll be fine, Joe. We always are.”
“I know. I just worry.” Joe said.
Kenzie walked up to Joe and started pushing him out the door. “We’ll be fine, Joe. We’re not the fragile little girls we used to be.”
“Alright, alright. I’ll see you two later tonight maybe.” Joe said as he walked out the front door.
“Good luck, Joe!” Sue called out from behind the counter.
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“Good luck, Joe.” Kenzie hugged Joe.
Joe turned and walked down the street towards the council building. The two girls meant the world to him. Watching them grow up, seeing them become their own people. Women, now, Joe reminded himself. Adults, making their own way in the world.
He couldn’t be prouder of them. To overcome such adversity and still be so pleasant and happy was such a hopeful thing to see. No matter how bad the days were, no matter what disaster might strike, they were always a reminder that things could get better.
And a reminder of the importance of the work he did, though now he’d expanded beyond just his inn. It was less personal, being on the council. Pushing through changes that helped with the less fortunate people of Foizo, that gave people homes, food and support they needed. He couldn’t be there with them every step of the way like he had with the others, but Foizo was a pleasant place to be, thanks in part to his efforts.
People were happy and comfortable in Foizo, with plenty of opportunities to better themselves. Though he did miss the personal touch The Risen Cask had at times. There was a pride he felt at seeing the safety of Foizo, the comfort the people had.
But there was no relationship. Many people knew who he was, and his position on the council. Most people knew, he thought. The council was hardly some secretive thing, a hidden group that ran the city. Many of their meetings were even done in public, with suggestions taken from the citizens.
There were just too many. It was impossible to develop such a personal relationship with each and every one of them as he had before. A fact he found difficult to accept at times, loving the connection he had with people who came through his inn before. But he did good, he reminded himself.
Joe walked in to the council building, a rather gaudy two floored wooden building with gold embossing around the doors and windows. A waste of money, in Joe’s opinion — and for that matter the rest of the council. But the royals had their own twisted sense of necessity and outright refused to join them for a meeting in anything simpler.
Eileen was sitting behind the front counter and smiled when Joe walked in. A past member of the council, who stepped down to a less stressful role after the first few years. Joe couldn’t blame her.
“Good morning, Joe.” Eileen said as Joe walked up to the counter.
“Good morning, Eileen.” Joe responded.
“You’re the first as always, Joe.” Eileen said.
Joe smiled. “Everybody’s got their own thing going on.”
“That includes you, you know?" Eileen asked.
Joe rolled his eyes. “I’ve got a simple role. Make sure people have houses.”
“They’re all simple. Until they’re not.” Eileen sighed. “But shall I check you in, then?”
Joe nodded. “Thanks, Eileen.”
“Anytime, Joe.” Eileen said.
Joe nodded and made his way towards the stairs at the back. They led up to the second floor which was just a single large room with a far too long table set down the middle, and dozens of small tables along the edges of the walls with green plants growing from pots.
He took his seat at the fourth chair on the right of the table — pointless structure in Joe’s opinion, they didn’t have near enough members on the council to fill the table. And the royals never sent more than three, often even just two people for their side.
But it all played into the silly rules the royals needed their cities to fit. Organization and structure, and as much as Joe hated to admit it, it did make sense. They’d be speaking with who knows how many cities today alone, and who knows how many the previous or next days. If every room they met in was different, with different placements and expectations it could slow them down on getting necessary support to cities in need.
It just made more sense to Joe to require no structure in the meeting rooms. Let people sit where they wish, or perhaps require a separate table for the royal delegation.
Doris was next to show up a few minutes later and sat next to Joe at the third seat. Ingrid and Kiara came in not long after and took their seats at the fifth and sixth respectively. Elliot was next and sat at the second seat, with Ernest showing up last and taking his spot at the first seat.
“Everybody ready?” Ernest asked when he sat down.
He was met with nods from the other members.
“Good. I’m told Yul will be here in a few minutes with Jorg and Hirl.” Ernest said.
“Damn, I never get along with Jorg.” Ingrid said.
“We’ll be fine. We’ll say our greetings, make our demands known and that’ll be it. Alright?” Ernest asked.
“I know. She just rubs me the wrong way, somehow. Hopefully they don’t stay in town too long this time.” Ingrid said.
Ernest nodded, and the council sat in silence for a few minutes before the royal delegation appeared in the room with a puff of white smoke that floated up to the ceiling and vanished.
Yul took their spot at the far end of the table, with Jorg and Hirl sitting down at the two seats opposite Ernest and Elliot.
“I come on behalf of his royal majesty. To begin, his royal majesty requires you pay your taxes. Please hand them to Jorg and Hirl.” Yul said, their voice clear despite being twenty feet away at the end of the table.
The council members nodded and all summoned small bags of coins that clanked and clattered, handing them to the two delegates.
They looked through the bags and nodded to Yul.
“Excellent. Are there any problems we should be aware of before we summon his royal majesty?" Yul asked.
“No, sir.” Ernest said. “Not to our knowledge.”
“Very well.” Yul said and a wave of mana washed out over the room. Colours warped and twisted, pulling away from the table and walls and rushing to just in front of Yul, splashing up against the air like paint thrown against a canvas. In moments, a painting of the king appeared, floating in front of Yul.
Short brown hair covered with a gaudy bejewelled crown. A heavy red coat covered in gems and gold threads rested on his broad shoulders and contrasted his pale skin. Joe could never get over how young the king seemed. Was immortality given to the royal family, some secret keeping them around forever? He didn’t look a day over thirty, and yet ruled an entire kingdom.
“Greetings, your royal majesty.” The council said in unison as they stood and bowed their heads.
“Please, sit.” The king said, waving his hand.
The council sat.
“Have there been any concerns in,” the king looked to the side and then back to the council. “Foizo, that we should be aware of? Any troubles that require our assistance?”
“Yes, your majesty.” Ernest said, bowing his head. “We are in need of more builders. We plan to expand the walls.”
“Hmm,” the king pondered, rubbing their chin and looking down at something outside Yul’s projection. “Yes, I believe this can be done. Is there anything else?”
“Yes, your majesty.” Kiara said, bowing her head. “I believe it would be in Foizo’s best interest to have a permanent road leading to Darpi. At present we need to travel first to Flester and then down the road to Darpi.”
The king nodded. “We will consider this. Is there anything else?"
When nobody spoke up, the king nodded again. “Very well. It is good to see you all well.”
“Thank you, your majesty.” The council said in unison.
The king nodded, and the painting dissolved away. Colours rushed back into the plants and walls again, filling the room with life.
“We must be going,” Yul said as they stood up. “You have been most hospitable. Please alert Diana should you need any further assistance.”
“Thank you, sir.” Ernest said before the royal delegation vanished again.
Ingrid let out a sigh of relief. “Thank god.”
Joe laughed.