Finances

Income

Mission #6

£2

Wade Enterprises

1s 1p

Expenses

Wages

9s 3p

Miscellaneous

6s 3p

Profit

£1 5s 7p

Total

£2 15s 7p

Lothar supped at his pint. He hadn’t thought it possible that the beer in The Rose could get worse, but there it was. The building was disintegrating around him.

Meanwhile, his bank balance was healthier than ever. I’m not a clever man. But this particular opportunity is staring me in the face.

‘Suzie?’ he called.

Dutifully, the girl appeared before her one customer.

‘How is your father?’

‘No better, Stiff.’

‘I need to speak with him.’

Her eyes widened, as if no one had ever made such a request before.

‘Sure. I’ll take you.’

In the kitchen of The Rose, Suzie’s mother stirred something foul smelling in a pot that looked like it had never been washed. Her father was crumpled in a chair. Grey of pallor, his life was leaching away at the same pace as his premises. Lothar briefly wondered what kind of man he had been when he built this place, and what kind of hopes he’d had for it.

‘I can’t help but notice business isn’t going well,’ Lothar commented. It was obvious they were losing money every day. Money they didn’t have.

The man coughed, a dry sound that didn’t bode well. ‘No, sir.’

‘I have an offer. It’s non-negotiable. Two pounds for The Rose. More than enough for you and your wife to buy a small retirement dwelling in the city. I will keep Suzie on if she wishes.’

Suzie stared at him with wide eyes. She nodded slowly, as if not believing that such an outcome was possible. How long has the poor thing been stuck in this predicament?

Suzie’s mother had dropped her spoon into the slop. Her father had tears in his eyes. His family would be provided for when he was gone, and that is the only concern of a dying man.

‘What have you done, Stiff?’ Rosalind asked him.

They were standing outside The Rose. She refused to go in.

‘You just need some imagination, is all. New materials and a good clean.’

She shook her head. ‘That’s more imagination than I have. Who will the clientele be in this neighbourhood?’ It was a little snobby, but Lothar was more than happy to overlook that if she was genuinely considering his proposal.

‘I have close to ten mercs on my books now. They’ll set the tone. It’ll be a safe, warm place to spend an evening. People round here don’t need more’n that.’

‘If you say so. Against my better judgement, I’ll lend you a pound. Will that be enough?’

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

‘Thank you, Rosalind. It will. I just need the materials. I have enough people to help me sort the place out. Now, in terms of interest?’

‘Interest free. I just want it back.’

‘I appreciate that. I really do. Give me two months, and you’ll have it back.’

Rosalind offered a hand, and Lothar shook on it. They shared a smile, and Lothar kept a hold only slightly longer than was proper.

The heroes of Eisenberg were back in Avolo. Some, especially Ashlyn, needed rest. Femke and Christoph rolled their sleeves up and helped Lothar with the renovations. They were hard workers, and Femke was good at organising people without irritating them.

Lothar was a little more surprised that his criminal wing was also present. Mags was willing, if limited in what he could help with. But Murder did whatever Mags told him to. He was strong, uncomplaining, and prepared to work from dawn till dusk. Wade had responded to the responsibility Lothar had given him. He was keen for the Order to succeed, and that included the future of The Rose. Lothar had thought manual labour would be beneath The Baron, but even he turned up. Finally, Mila worked with Suzie in the kitchen, keeping everyone supplied with food and drink.

Their willingness to help, and without pay, affected Lothar. He felt like he had built a little family in Gal’azu, from all these individuals who had left what they knew behind for a new life. He realised he had become a sort of father figure to them, and that they all, in some way, needed his guidance.

Responsibility for them is a privilege, not a burden, he told himself. But he had run merc companies in the past. He’d enjoyed some success along the way. But it never lasted. There had been failures; betrayals; deaths; recrimination. No one ever seemed to stay for the long haul. How can I know if this will be different?

Amongst the work on The Rose, Lothar knew there were important conversations to be had. First, a possible new recruit. Ashlyn had brought a young man named Jaelin who had helped his crew deal with the brigands. Lothar liked what he saw on the Livanian’s stat sheet. He could use a bow, which put him ahead of Christoph in that department. And the Scouting skill was exactly what he needed if he was going to be operating out in the wilds.

‘Eisenberg will continue to need your help,’ Jaelin told him. ‘Redblade still has plenty of warriors.’

‘I’m sure. But taking out ten of them must have made some kind of dent?’

‘Yes. But it will also have made him angry. And dangerous.’

‘I understand that.’ Lothar eyed his mission roster. KILL REDBLADE had appeared once the previous mission had been completed. But Lothar was keen to keep that to himself for now. Firstly, there was no reward offered with it. Secondly, he was unsure that his crew was strong enough for the mission.

‘I’m all for saving Eisenberg,’ Lothar told Jaelin. Indeed, a functioning iron mine is hardly something I can ignore. If it doesn't end up in my hands, it’ll end up in someone else’s. ‘But I need more resources before I can take on Redblade and win. That’s where you can help. Join my crew. You have skills that no one else does.’

‘To do what?’ Jaelin asked him. ‘I don’t like killink.’

‘LOCATE WARG DEN. That’s the next mission. No killing. No dealing with people at all. Just exploration. And I pay you. How does that sound?’

‘Sounds like it’s suited to me, I admit. What’s the catch?’

‘The catch is you can’t go alone.’

‘But I—’

‘I’m sorry. I’ve tried that once. It’s too dangerous.’

‘Then who?’

‘Wilson.’

‘Oh.’

‘He’s not so bad. I trust him. And I expect he’s more bearable as part of a duo than in a group.’

‘I suppose I’m going to find out if that’s true.’

Lothar grinned. ‘Excellent. Good to have you on board.’

Next, Lothar got Christoph alone.

‘You heard about what happened?’ asked the lad morosely.

‘Yes. It’s happened to everyone. But especially to archers, of course. It’s all part of the process, I’m afraid. And Ashlyn has no hard feelings?’

‘Oh, she was very good about it. And I’ve learned my lesson. I’ll not shoot into a melee again.’

‘Well, of course you must think twice. But there might be occasions when you need to do precisely that. So the real lesson is, get better. You’re still practising daily?’

‘Yes. And I’m getting better. That’s the annoying part. I thought I could make that shot.’

‘The practice field is different to the battlefield. That’s why we need to keep putting you in those situations. It’s the only way to really improve.’

‘I understand.’

‘Good lad.’

Lothar knocked on Ashlyn’s door. ‘It’s Stiff.’

‘Come in.’

She was propped up in bed, in one of the guest rooms of The Rose.

‘You’re doing alright? Sorry about the racket we’re making.’

‘It’s fine. I was going to come and help today, but—’

‘You’re exhausted. I know the feeling. Your body borrowed from its reserves to get you through, and now it’s payback.’

‘Yeah. Auntie is helping me though.’

Lothar shook his head ruefully.

‘What? You don’t like the nickname?’

‘Not the most fearsome I’ve heard. But appropriate, I suppose. I wanted to ask you about Manslayer.’

‘Ah.’

‘Sounds like he got you through the combat.’

‘He sure did.’

‘As I expected. But his wife, Betty, never showed up. And if you recall, she also missed the meeting at The Sailor’s Knot.’

‘I do. Thing is, Stiff. I came to Avolo on the same ship as Edmund. And he was alone.’

‘Alone?’ More than one explanation ran through Lothar’s mind. ‘It’s possible she came here separately.’

‘Possible,’ Ashlyn said, but the doubt in her voice was clear.

‘What do I do? Have it out with him? I can’t afford to lose him.’

‘Leave it be for now,’ Ashlyn suggested. ‘Whatever it is, it’s not doing us any immediate harm. If I get the chance, I’ll talk with him.’

Lothar studied the girl. Manslayer was the ace in his pack, it was true. But Ashlyn had a savviness about her that was rare; especially in one so young. He wondered whether she might prove to be just as important to The Apples.