The land of Sorn was truly desolate once you got past the Ghost River just south of Suvera. The trip over the bridge was eerie, veiled in mist. At any time, as they crossed it, you wondered if someone would devour you. Supposed it went through the mountains to the east, turned north, and Savior's Run. Though it was known as Elranor's River while passing through.

It was a moot point; the true name was Savior's Run. In his mind, a river named after Baltoth should be less veiled in mist.

Baltoth was Truth, after all.

Even so, it was odd. You could see plants wherever you walked. The grass here grew long where there weren't fields. The fields produced a great number of plants, and yet there was no joy within them. Something about the land was... strange.

He saw great bushes of roses, carefully tended. Yet those who worked on them spoke only of their value. Most of the farmers went armed with knives and gave them wary glances as they walked. They would occasionally encounter patrols of Sornian Pikemen clad in chain armor. They marched with discipline. These bore the emblems of several different noble houses. They also spoke to Garrick with respect.

"It's a precaution," explained Garrick. "To ensure that the policing of the roads is impartial, each house pays a portion of the guard's."

"What threats do you face?" asked Sahshir.

"Bandits, sometimes," said Garrick. "More often, you have rebellions from the Numbered Villages. Also, now and then, undead stream forth from the Road of Ancient Stone. Though that hasn't happened in a long time."

"Numbered Villages?" asked Oresa.

"Where we're heading," said Sahshir, who had been in such a hurry he hadn't been able to explain. "A series of villages populated by people who are not citizens or slaves. But they have lived here for generations."

"Most of them are the descendants of captives. They were taken long ago as slaves and freed themselves," said Garrick, shifting his sword. "The villages were founded by Suvvest to work the vast empty land. It was a result of the Age of Withering when a large part of our population in those areas was wiped out.

"He carried off many people in raids. He forced them to settle here, under the watch of garrisons. Now, they supply a large portion of the food crops for Sorn. Most of it is sold, of course. The Great Houses have carefully ensured we need not fear starvation."

"So they're serfs," said Urus.

"No," said Garrick. "Serfs are afforded certain rights and according to contract. Their Lords owe them protection and land to work their fields. Those who dwell here have no such rights. They largely provide their own protection; the garrisons keep them in line.

"Though House Suvvest has recently introduced several Churches to the location. He sees it as an opportunity for a profit and a chance to reward his followers."

"By healing the people?" asked Oresa.

"Naturally not," said Garrick. "They had developed healers amongst them, worshipping other gods. The Church extended its influence there to ensure those healers had to make a profit for Sorn."

"Did it work?" asked Urus.

"No, most of them left or were killed for practicing healing illegally," said Garrick. "But Suvvest was able to levy an extra tax on them, and they are less self-sufficient. So, I doubt he cared.

"Humanitarian concerns are generally regarded as an excuse to extend the business."

"Nice people you work with," said Isamu. "I can see why you like the place."

"I do not like the place," said Garrick. "I am merely contractually obligated to work here. I am a Knight of the Coin."

Sahshir decided it was time to change the subject. So he looked down at the roads beneath his feet. They were flat and well-made, far superior to the best roads his people had made. If he ever did return to Kalthak, he'd have to build something like this.

"These roads are very fine," said Sahshir.

"Yes," said Garrick. "One of Suvvest the Great's achievements was building strong, easily traversed roads. They went all throughout the major locations. It has done wonders for our economy and makes suppressing revolts simple.

"At one time, he could charge everyone in Sorn a toll for using them.

"House Suvvest has wanted a return to those days for decades."

"Why'd he give up the right?" asked Urus.

"He did not, per se, have a choice," said Garrick.

By now, they had entered a place where many warped trees and occasional bogs could be seen. Mushrooms were sprouting all over the place, some truly immense, as big as trees. To their right, the sea stood serene, drab, and gray. To their left were fields with farms and occasional forts situated.

And at last, they came to a village. It was a maze of wooden villages on raised platforms. Wherever you looked, you could see nets being stretched on wood. The people were dressed in clothes that looked to have been repaired many times. As they descended, Isamu missed the obvious.

"Is that the place, Garrick?" asked Isamu.

"Yes," said Garrick. "This is Village Six."

"Some name," said Isamu. "So, where are villages five through one?"

"South, of course," said Garrick.

"Hasn't anyone ever tried to rename it?" asked Oresa.

"That would be a breach of contract," said Garrick. "Sorn wants all its employees to fully understand just how much of their own world belongs to them. A word of warning: only expect aid from the priests with payment.

"You won't get it."

"Why?" asked Oresa.

"The Priests of Coinfurth are forbidden from aiding anyone without pay," said Garrick. "They are strict followers of Suvvestianism."

"Which is?" asked Isamu.

"An ideology I once followed," said Garrick. "It teaches that the greatest good comes when every man tends to his own self-interest. Under Suvvestianism, charity of any kind is the worst thing you can do."

"Oh, I see," said Isamu. "It's an excuse for rich people to murder and exploit poor people with a clear conscience."

"More or less," admitted Garrick. "Suvvest outlawed charity of any kind and closed down all the orphanages. The only charities allowed were workhouses. And they were encouraged to be as brutal and exploitative as possible. To motivate them to become less poor, of course.

"Fortunately, Grandmaster Hafkin was able to change Suvvest the Great's mind. Mine too."

"How?" asked Isamu.

"Well, it came out that Suvvest was beginning to own just about everything," said Garrick. "The other Merchant Lords weren't pleased, but my order remained neutral.

Eventually, Suvvest started breaking contracts. Many of which were long held sacred. He claimed they interfered with people's ability to pursue their self-interest. In practice, they just got in the way of his ability to exploit people.

"Naturally, the Knights of the Coin staged a popular uprising against Suvvest. The other Merchant Families united with us. We burned his house, and he was forced to flee with his family for Harlenor. I was only a young knight then, but I pursued him on the orders of Grandmaster Hafkin.

"I tracked him all the way to the border, caught him. He was half-starved and dressed in rags alongside his family.

"I then offered him a choice. He could either be tortured to death over months. Or he could accept a large bag of silver and restart his life in Antion.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"He took the silver."

Isamu roared with laughter. "That's a dangerous way to make a point. You sure you wouldn't rather just cut him in half?"

"Grandmaster Hafkin was very fond of morality tales, actually," said Garrick. "And Suvvest and he had hated one another their entire lives. More importantly, it permanently discredited Suvvestianism in my eyes and ensured my loyalty.

"At any rate, House Suvvest restored its good name, which I mean its money, and returned to Sorn. They've now taken control of the Church for the most part and are trying to restore Suvvestianism." He stopped as they reached the gates.

"What?" said Oresa. "But didn't they learn anything?"

"Of course, they didn't learn anything," said Urus suddenly. "Suvvust's ideology was pure selfishness. He may have come up with elaborate reasoning for why it was good for society. But in the end, he didn't care about society, or he wouldn't have gone to the trouble of making it up. It was all about satiating his ego.

"All Suvvestianism really meant was that he could do whatever he wanted to get whatever he liked. When Suvvest took the silver, he made up an elaborate lie. He talked about how the silver was his rightful due to establishing the Empire. And therefore, he was really establishing partial restitution for his money. While anyone who didn't believe in his code would be wrong to accept it."

"All that is true," conceded Garrick. "However, he was somewhat wiser in his approach afterward.

"Still, this is where I will be stopping. King Sahshir, have you found any sign of the spirits?"

"Wait, a minute, Urus, you know about all this?" asked Isamu. "Why didn't you tell us earlier?"

"Because you never ask questions, Isamu," said Urus. "Cadas is almost always silent. And Oresa hasn't been with us at all. So nobody has been around to ask about the places we visit."

"Ahem," said Sahshir. "The enemy is near. Very near. I do not see any reason to remain here any-"

And then a commotion happened in the street. Sahshir saw a slim, healthy white man walking with armed guards. He had curly blonde hair. Suddenly, a woman with small horns, a half-satyr, he guessed, bowed before him. "Please! Please, Master Priest, you have to help my husband! He's bleeding and needs your help!"

The Priest smiled but did not move. "Coinfurth is glad to aid those who contract with his priests, of course."

"We... we don't have the money," said the woman.

The priest looked almost relieved. "Then, I must ask you to cease blocking my path."

"But he's dying!" said the woman.

"One can never aid someone without them first giving something in return," said the priest. "To do otherwise is to weaken yourself and weaken them. This is your fault for not making economically sound decisions."

"He's fading!" shouted someone else.

Oresa and Isamu broke with the group at once. Oresa headed for where the voice was going, and Isamu stalked toward the priest.

"Economically sound?" asked a nearby man. A mob was gathering.

"The economy naturally rights itself," said the priests.

Sahshir noted that many of these people looked hungry and greatly doubted that.

"We don't have any money because you took away our lands and forced us to pay rent!" snarled a man. "We can hardly make enough to feed ourselves! Let alone save up! You tax us for not being part of the Church of Coinfurth, and then you don't let us join!"

"Those who wish for Coinfurth's protection must be willing to sacrifice for it," said the priest.

The people moved forward, but the guards lowered spears.

"Be wary; attacking a Priest of Coinfurth is a sign of disrespect that will not go unpunished," said the priest.

"To hell with your Church!" snapped the man. "What has it ever done for us!"

The priest went cold. "...Unfortunate.

"Break both his legs, then fine his family-"

Isamu landed behind him and stepped between them, sword raised. "Step away from that man, you bastard! Oresa, heal the injured man. Now."

"Heresy!" snarled the priest, leaping away. "Kill them! Fine them! Tax their funerals!"

And then Garrick stepped into view from the shadows. Somehow, even though when Sahshir had last noticed, he'd been in broad daylight. He was very good. "Enough.

The priest shuddered and turned to where Garrick was. The guards suddenly found they had better things to do. They stood to attention a healthy distance away from the priest. "G-Garrick... E-Estov... I..."

"You are in violation of your contract," said Garrick simply.

"No, no, I'm not," said the young man. "They have to pay me for the use of-"

"The social contract," said Garrick. "Unwritten, but binding. You are a leader. You are obligated to ensure they remain productive. Your actions have nearly caused a riot—the exact opposite of productivity.

"It would have been a small price to pay to heal the man and expect service later.

"Now that price will be far larger." Then he moved past the priest and slammed a fist into Isamu's gut. The man doubled over, spitting out blood as he did.

Isamu glanced up. "Just who the hell do you people think you are?

"The legal authorities," said Garrick. "Explain yourself at once, Isamu."

"This guy was about to start killing people because they were angry a man was being left to bleed out in the street!" said Isamu. "And you want me to explain myself! If he'd tried to break his legs, there'd have been a riot, and then that idiot would have called for a massacre!"

"My associate took a rather superficial view of Coinfurth's teachings," said Garrick. "It is true, and for that, I apologize. However, you have nearly assaulted his guards.

"King Sahshir, I must ask for an explanation."

"Isamu is not by nature a careful person," replied Sahshir. He found all this needlessly elaborate. "However, he is not under my authority. If you are to seek him punished, you must speak with King Belosh."

"You son of a-" snapped Isamu.

"Is he not under your command now?" asked Garrick.

"It is true," said Sahshir. "However, to execute him for disobedience would be beyond the scope of my authority. It would risk war with King Belosh. Allow us to complete our mission; from there, we shall speak to the King on your behalf.

"We are acting on behalf of the Houses of Sorn, after all."

"And yet you have not illustrated the nature of your mission," said Garrick.

"We are investigating the recent mists that rose up over Suvera. To cover the lizardmen's escape," said Sahshir. "Isamu will be of importance in this mission."

"I see," said Garrick. "Then it would not be within my rights to interfere. Very well, then, the restitution for your crimes shall be thus: One day, I will ask you for a service. When that day comes, you will perform it on behalf of the Knights of the Coin.

"Agree to this, and I will let the matter pass."

"Sure, as long as it isn't anything evil," said Isamu. "I don't burn villages or enslave people."

"...I assure you, it will be nothing of the sort," said Garrick. "Let us move past this."

"My thanks," said Sahshir.

"Why the hell do I have to do a vision quest because that scumbag wanted to start a massacre?" asked Isamu.

"Because you threatened a priest with death," said Sahshir. "You may wish you had kept some of your winnings from the tournament earlier. The fine for this may be very high."

"Perhaps we should continue with our own business," said Garrick.

"What is your business, anyway?" asked Isamu, forgetting the confrontation. In the background, Isamu could see Oresa being led to several other sick people to heal.

"I am investigating the nature of the contracts within this area," said Garrick. "The villagers who dwell here are immigrants: escaped slaves, foreigners, things like that. Dwarves tend to live in the mountains to mine the Suveran silver mines, but here is where we move them.

"The Church of Coinfurth owns all these lands, and those he dwells here merely work them. They must pay for their rent and taxes on various goods—both the ones they buy and the ones they sell.

"The Knights of the Coin have ordered me to investigate their numbers. I hope to prepare a full report on whether or not the exploitation of those here is legal."

"Legal exploitation? Is that not a contradiction?" asked Sahshir.

"The contracts of men may suffer injustice," said Garrick.

"The contracts of men is not the law," noted Sahshir. "Only an attempt to recover the moral law that binds us all. What you do to these people is illegal, no matter how many contracts you sign."

"Perhaps so," said Garrick. "However, until the original contract is found, we will operate on inferior codes. The exploitation of these people is legal to an extent. However, the Knights of the Coin have reason to believe it has gone beyond that extent. I may write an official report for review if the information on these abuses can be found."

"Where are these Knights of the Coin anyway? I haven't seen them anywhere?" asked Urus.

Garrick went silent and glanced at the priest, who took this chance to leave. "...There are not very many of us left now."

"What do you mean?" asked Isamu.

"Our orders were established to ensure fairness was upheld in contracts," said Garrick. "However, when Sorn began to adapt Antion's legal code, we decreased in relevance. Knights of the Coin were expected to fight at the forefront of wars. Much of the order was drawn from aristocrats seeking power and prestige.

"However, in recent times, Sorn's wars have been almost entirely against native populations. The traditional stratagem was to make contracts with them. Then, one would break them when it was no longer convenient. The Knights of the Coin spoke out against these actions, however. That alienated us from the Merchant Elite.

"We were no longer called in to preside over contracts. We were sworn to fairness, precisely what they didn't want. Even when we ruled against abuses of power, the Merchant Elite ignored us. They smeared our name, blaming us for the corruption they had spread and argued as a means to reduce our power.

"Many left the order. Those that remained began to die with alarming frequency. I found a large number of thugs decided to rob me this morning. Eventually, it was decided to take up service under House Magnious.

"Many more of us have been killed in the Third Dinisian War, and many that remain have left the order. Grandmaster Wrentath is old, and I am now his primary agent. For the moment."

"I'm sorry," said Sahshir.

"It is of no concern," said Garrick. "All of us have our own dues to pay. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a lot of paperwork to review."

Sahshir then remembered his own mission and sensed where the spirits were. Now he knew where to go. It wasn't far now at all. Oresa returned then. "Urus, Oresa, Alkela, you will accompany me.

"Isamu, Cadas."

"What is it?" asked Isamu.

"Stay with Garrick and make sure that nothing happens to him," said Sahshir. "We won't need you for this."

"Fine, whatever," said Isamu. "I was hoping to get this stupid quest over with anyway."

Then they were off.