Priscilla looked out the carriage window and watched the ruined buildings of the lower city go by. She had heard that the lower city was for the criminal and the poor, but she had never expected it to look like this. Many buildings were boarded up with large holes in the roofs. The people were walking around in ragged clothing with dirt caking their skin. What horrified her the most were the number of women standing on corners wearing practically nothing and trying to get the attention of men. Some of them were even girls her own age.

“This is terrible,” Priscilla covered her mouth.

“Indeed,” Meridith sighed and gently touched Priscilla’s shoulder, “Our master has been trying to get the girls off the street by sending them to reputable establishments, but without alternative forms of work… they simply come back to the streets.”

“And he’s certain he can fix this,” Priscilla said doubtfully.

“See for yourself,”

The carriage came to a stop in front of a three-story building. The rafters were pristine and the walls clean. The windows were spotless as they reflected the sunlight and lamps properly lined to building so that they would bathe the area in light. The sign hung evenly above the door which depicted a red-headed woman hugging a longsword. It was completely out of place among the ruins.

“Incredible,” Priscilla gasped.

“Master Legion always takes care of his belongings,” Meridith chuckled, “Shall we go in?”

Kogna opened the carriage door and helped the four women down. Her guards dismounted their horses and eyed the surroundings. Meridith led them inside, and Priscilla was impressed with the building’s interior just as much as the exterior. It was warm and inviting and the staff smiled at them as they entered.

“Kogna!” a girl around Priscilla’s age ran up and hugged him, “Welcome back.”

“How have you been kid,” Kogna smiled petting her head.

“Fine, but Teddy keeps smacking my butt,” she sneered at the boy who stood at the back, “So I kick him between the legs just like you taught me, but I think he likes it.”

“Is that so,” Kogna gave the boy a toothy smile, “You don’t mind if I put your brother through the wringer, do you Ada?”

“Go right ahead,” a motherly blonde woman smiled as she held the boy down.

“Come on sis, I was just being affectionate!” Teddy cried as he tried to escape.

Kogna grabbed the boy by the collar and took him into the back. His screams not dying despite the distance.

“That’ll teach him,” The girl said proudly. She turned to Priscilla with a warm smile, “Hi, I’m Vaera. That’s a pretty dress.”

“Thank you, I’m Priscilla, and I like your dress too.”

“Vaera,” A woman who looked like an older version of the girl called out to her, “You still have work that needs to be done.”

“Yes mama,” Vaera smiled and waved to Priscilla, “I hope we get to be friends.”

Priscilla watched as the girl disappeared, “Who was that?”

“Vaera’s a girl we took in along with her mother,” Meridith smiled fondly as she slowly walked through the room. Her hands clenched tightly, “The poor girl was being sold on the streets. Virtues know what she had to go through. Then Kogna started hiring her to help around the tavern, and eventually we took them in.”

“I see master Legion started this project a long time ago,” Priscilla nodded in approval, “Is that true for everyone else here?”

“For the most part,” Meridith said with a strange smile, “Come, he’s waiting downstairs. Ada, please get something to drink for our guests.” The busty blonde woman bowed.

Priscilla followed Meridith downstairs. A smaller bar sat in the basement with a handful of tables spaced out. There were several pillows laid before a curtained box with the curtains closed. Meridith kneeled next to the box and gestured to a pillow in front of the box.

“Its’ good to see you again, my lady,” Priscilla jumped as a voice came from the box.

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, master Legion,” Priscilla’s smile twitched as she sat down, “I’m glad you could meet with me.”

“It is… a pleasant surprise,” master Legion chuckled, “And to what do we owe this pleasure?”

“The Duke has agreed to your proposal,” Meridith slipped the contract into the box. Priscilla tried peeking inside, but she couldn’t see anything. “However, he wanted there to be oversight, so he appointed lady Priscilla as his representative.”

“That’s correct,” Priscilla said warmly, “It’ll be my responsibility to determine if your making good progress and to make sure that the money isn’t being spent frivolously.”

“Why would we need oversight in spending our own money?”

“The Duke will be providing a portion of the funds,” Meridith replied with a smile, “He felt responsible for not properly taking care of the slums, and by helping, he can have a reason to oversee us.”

“That makes sense. Please forgive our flippant comment,” Master Legion said solemnly.

Priscilla smiled, “I understand, but wouldn’t it be proper for us to have this conversation face to face,” Meridith’s eyes widened, and she started fidgeting.

“You’re right,”

Priscilla’s smile faded as the curtains opened, and she couldn’t stop the gasp escaping. The man in the box looked half dead. His pale grey skin hung off his bones, and his eyes were bloodshot with red irises. Stringy white hair hung off the left side of his head with a tattoo decorating the right side. A thick black mantle hung around his body.

“We know we’re not handsome, but that’s simply rude,” Master Legion chuckled.

“I-I-I’m sorry,” Priscilla swallowed trying not to stare, “I… wasn’t expecting this.”

“It’s fine, my dear,” Master Legion sighed, “This is a result from a flawed experiment, which cursed us. Now, the day weakens us, so we try to stay in doors as much as possible.”

“I-I see,” Priscilla laughed nervously, “We should discuss your plans, shouldn’t we.”

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“We think it would be better if we showed you. Meridith, why don’t you take her grace on a tour of the slums.”

“Of course, master,” Meridith smiled, “May I have a word with you before we leave?”

“Very well,” Master Legion smiled, “Your Grace, please feel free to ask of anything while you wait.”

“Thank you for the hospitality.” Priscilla rose and followed Mina upstairs.

----------------------------------------

Meridith waited until the door closed and the footsteps disappeared before turning to Reviled. She cocked an eyebrow with a playful smile, “Don’t take this the wrong way master, but your true look is much more handsome.”

Reviled chuckled as his face wavered, “We’ll take the compliment, but we couldn’t let the princess see what we truly are,” It tossed aside the cloak, “We need this to be a long, fruitful relationship.”

“I understand,” Meridith laughed, “I’m simply taking her grace for a stroll around the block, right?”

“Yes,” one of Reviled’s familiars appeared on her shoulder, “We’ll be joining you like this, that way we can explain our plans. Make sure you take her to the lot where we want to build our mercenary house.”

“As you wish,” Meridith bowed before heading upstairs.

Meridith smiled at the sight around the hall. Most of the guards lingered around the bar, flirting with Ada and Yula while Kogna and Mina caught up. Priscilla sat by the cold fireplace sipping on a glass of juice while Vaera happily spoke with her. Priscilla seemed to enjoy listening to the girl talk about how great her life has been lately.

“I’m ready to take you on a tour my lady,” Meridith smiled, “If you want, we can have Vaera join us?”

“Can I?” Vaera beamed at her.

“I’d love for her to come,” Priscilla said, “But doesn’t she have work to do?”

“We can give her some time off,” Reviled’s familiar climbed down the chair.

Priscilla looked worried at the rat, but forced a smile, “Thank you for indulging me,” she rose from her chair and locked arms with Vaera.

Meridith led the way. Kogna pulled the guards away from the two women and followed closely behind Priscilla. Right outside the tavern was a large open square with ramshackle buildings around the perimeter. A few broken and disjointed stalls filled the area with a closed off well in the center. Several of the citizens eyed them nervously but left them alone.

“We would first like to clean up this square,” Reviled’s familiar perched on Priscilla’s shoulder, “We’d start by repairing the well and adding streetlamps around the area. By properly lighting up the area, we can discourage criminal activity.”

“It would also help your own business stand out,” Priscilla scoffed.

“We won’t deny it,” Reviled’s rat nodded, “Right now, we mainly cater to adventurers. They’re the only ones brave enough to patronize our tavern. However, by securing this square we can make it safer for other businesses as well.”

Priscilla stopped at a stall selling makeshift talismans, “Aren’t these buildings already owned?” she pulled out a silver coin to purchase two, but the owner pushed it away and gave it to her instead.

“Be careful about showing your coin, my lady,” Reviled chuckled as Meridith slipped the woman several bronze coins, “Bronze coins are the main currency here. Silver and gold will get you killed here,” Priscilla nodded as she handed one to Vaera and slipped the matching one around her neck. “Most of these buildings are abandoned. They’re mainly being used by squatters as temporary shelters which is why they’re in such disrepair.”

“So, you want to buy them and fix them up?” Priscilla smiled as Vaera pulled her along to a food stall. She hummed in delight as ate the strange, puffed pastry.

“Correct,” Reviled’s rat happily ate the small piece Vaera gave it. The servant girl laughed at Priscilla’s horrified look. “We’ll rebuild these buildings and then convert them to proper stores. The citizens we hire to man the stores will be allowed to live in them for free.”

“And what stores will you open?” Priscilla feed the rat another piece. The guards tightened their formations when a group of rough looking men approached, but they backed away when weapons were drawn.

“We’ll start with the basics,” Reviled’s rat pointed to each building, “We’ll turn that one into a grocer, that one a general store. That building would make an excellent forge with a stone mason next door, and across from them will be a tailor and carpenter.”

“Do you think artisans will want to live here?” Priscilla scratched her chin looking at the buildings but kept an eye out on the groups hanging around the alleys.

“They won’t be masters, but there are plenty of apprentices wanting to free themselves from their master’s yoke,” Reviled chuckled, “They won’t have the skills and reputation, so we can make sure they don’t overcharge the citizens in this area.”

Priscilla looked at Reviled surprised, “You thought this through,”

Reviled’s familiar climbed down her arm and into her hand, “Of course,” Reviled stared up at her, “A city is not made from a single building. Everything has its place, and when people don’t have a space of their own, then the city can’t function properly,” the familiar gestured to the end of the square, “That’s why it’s important for people to know their strengths and weaknesses. That way others can compensate for those weaknesses.”

“Are you royalty?” Priscilla stared at the rat in awe, “You must be considering your skill.”

Reviled laughed heartily, “You could say that,” the rat smirked at her, “Our mother made sure we could fulfill our role.”

Priscilla nodded, “Would you be willing to share it with me,” she smiled shyly, “I… want to support my brother as much as I can, so I want to become his magister.”

“It’s odd seeing a noble so loyal to their family,” Reviled’s rat cocked its head, “Normally, they try to usurp their sibling’s power.”

“Not us,” Priscilla snapped, “Father raised us to support each other. That way, our domain can be prosperous.”

“Very well, my lady,” Reviled bowed, “We will gladly share our knowledge with you,”

Priscilla smiled but then stared at the three ruined buildings in front of them, “And what’s going here?”

“This will be our mercenary headquarters,” Reviled said, “Truthfully, we see it more as a knightly order, but without a noble patron we can’t call it that.”

“So, these mercenaries will be responsible for maintaining order,” Priscilla nodded as if she could foresee it, “Will this order have a name?”

“Knights of the Withered Thorn,”

Priscilla’s eyes sparkled, “I love that tale!” she gushed, nearly crushing the rat, “The story of the Withered Knight is such a tragically romantic story.”

“Who’s the Withered Knight?” Vaera looked at them quizzically.

“How have you not heard the Tale of the Withered Knight!” Priscilla shook her friend, “It’s about a knight who was cursed to walk the world for all eternity, and he goes around saving damsels and punishing evildoers, but because of his curse he can never know love.”

“We take it you approve of the name?” Reviled chuckled.

“Yes!” Priscilla’s smile grew, “I’ll even talk with my father about making them proper knights. I can see it now.” Her eyes glazed over as she fell into the daydream, “Will Sir Kogna be one of them?”

Reviled’s rat peaked around her, “For you my lady, yes,”

Priscilla released a loud squeal that filled the square, and she kissed the familiar without thinking, “Thank you! I’ll see to it he gets a proper title,” she gazed lovingly at Kogna, “How does Knight of the Wilted Lavender sound?” Kogna let out a deep sigh.

“I think Knight of the Fallen Wind works better,” Meridith chuckled.

“How about Umra dia Kubonshiri?” Mina smiled, “It roughly means Blade of the Deadly Gale.”

Kogna groaned, “Please stop,”

Priscilla laughed as she handed the rat over to Meridith, “Thank you for sharing your plan with me,” she said, “I’m excited to see the change we can make.”

“As are we,” Reviled said gleefully.

They showed Priscilla back to her carriage, and they watched as the carriage rolled down the street. Vaera waved enthusiastically at the lady who waved back at her. As it disappeared, they entered the tavern. Reviled came up from the basement to join the others.

“Thank you for letting me accompany you master,” Vaera bowed with a bright smile, “I had fun,” she fluttered her big eyelashes at it, “May I accompany you when she visits, please?”

“Of course, sweet child,” Reviled petted her, “We’re glad you enjoyed today.”

Vaera grabbed a chair, climbed on top of it, and kissed the monster’s cheek before running off into the kitchen.

“That’s the second girl to kiss you today,” Meridith said with a teasing smile, “Are you trying to make me jealous?”

“Perhaps,” Reviled chuckled as it headed back downstairs, “We’re surprised that her grace was familiar with the Withered Knight.”

“Why,” Meridith said, “It’s a popular story among young girls, especially those around her age. I thought that’s why you chose it.”

“We’re surprised because the Withered Knight was an avatar,” Reviled held out its hand and the Tome of Elithis materialized, “He was the avatar of Ulmerak, the Dead God of Deception.”

Meridith gasped, “Truly,”

“Yes,” Reviled flipped through the pages, “Now that’s interesting, apparently, Ulmerak’s avatars parade themselves as heroes, and are the protagonists of many fairy tales.”

“That would break a lot of girls’ hearts,” Meridith smirked with a shake of her head, “Many girls have fallen in love with those heroes.”

“Then there’s something we could learn from these tales,” Reviled said, “Be a dear, and buy these books for us.”

“You best be careful master,” Meridith smiled sweetly, “A woman’s heart is a fickle thing.” She turned around and headed upstairs, her hips swinging sensually with each step.