forum A Thing You Won't Remember

Started September 18, 2022 by @ElderGod-yellowqueen

tune

Elia smiled at his laugh. Deep inside her, she was in a panic. If he had means to bring her to the palace, what would become of her? If anyone recognized her, she would be screwed. If she said anything or did anything in a manner that showed she was comfortable or knew her way about, she was screwed. She would have to watch every step, every noise that she made. In the palace, there was no real alone time. Someone was always watching, always reporting back to someone else. It was dangerous. What she was doing was so dangerous.
"Of course, I will help them, though I cannot guarantee that all of them will listen to me. Some of them like to think they're too good and above taking my advice." She could do the best that she could but it was no secret that a handful of older girls despised her. They hated her for the treatment she got from the Madame. They hated her for being the top girl. If only they knew what had gone through to get there, they would not feel so jealous then.
"There is always someone more powerful that wishes to use those below them. I am not naive enough to think my prince charming has come to whisk me away. Women are not treated well in Venia anymore. I don't care what happens to me as long as the others are taken care of." She sighed deeply as she moved to her shelves, pulling out books to take with her. "How do you know I don't belong here? I've been here over half my life, I don't remember much else."
She watched him leave. The moment he was out of sight, she collapsed on the bed. She put her head in her hands and took several deep breaths. What would become of her? She knew her place with Madame Rosette. She had everything under control. But now a prince was stealing them all away and she had no control over anything. Where would he be taking her? She shook herself out of it and quickly laid out the things she wanted. Other than her books, there weren't many personal items. A couple pieces of clothing, a brush and a comb, and a pair of shoes. She wanted nothing else.

Lear didn't respond to her cynicism, other than to nod and acknolwedge her nerves. He sent the stocky guard, Alak, to go help her pack after a few minutes.
The guard knocked on her door, and stood there with a small trunk. Lear had told him the girl probably wouldn't want much.
When she eventually opened the door, he cleared his throat. "Ahem, ma'am, I'm here to help you pack." His voice was more of a growl, but not an aggressive one. It was just very deep and gravelly. He stepped in and set the small trunk on the ground. "All of your belongings of course go in the trunk. And any books you might wish to read as we travel. The rest will be stored carefully, but in a less accessible place." He waited for her to choose which books, if any.
Alak had kept his visor down, for the particular reason that Elia dazzled him. She was very beautiful, and clearly a tad nervous at the moment, and Alak, despite being built like a short, round boulder, was a kind man. His natural urge to try to comfort her needed to be quelled.
So he kept the visor down, schooling his features behind it.

~~~~
Lear smiled as one of the guards drove up the wagon they had bought. Lear and Carth would ride their steeds, while Alak and Dorn would drive the wagon, pulled by their Wulves. The teens and Elia would ride in the wagon, since Lakeside had no mounts for them to buy. Perhaps the next town would, but the wagon would be good for hauling their things as well.

Lear checked the time. He knew where Romulus and the other guards would be stopping for the night, and he knew how long it would take his little party to get there. By the time they arrived, the others should have a camp set up and food ready for the newcomers. It was a system Romulus had developed years before, and it had worked so far.
He looked up as Alak began carrying books out of the brothel, and stacking them in the wagon. He would stack them evenly across the floor, before they laid long boards over the books. The floor of the wagon would be even, the books would be stored and protected, and no space would be lost for passengers and other things.

Elia smiled beautifully at the guard. His appearance didn't matter to her. She had never been one to care about looks, despite her beauty. Some of her best patrons had been the ones considered unattractive to the majority. She carefully packed her few things into the trunk, placing a few romance books in there as well. Not enough to weigh it down too heavily, just a few to get her through the road ahead.
"Thank you, love, for the help. I appreciate it."
She took one last look at her room, remembering everything she had gone through to get there. It wouldn't be something she ever forgot. She learned a great many things while in employment. She would do well to remember.
Taking a deep breath, Elia turned and walked out of the room and out of the brothel. She never once looked back. It didn't deserve that from her. She made her way over to Lear, looking around, before setting her gaze on him. "I am begging you," she poke in a low voice, "Please don't make me ride in the wagon with the others. There is only so much I can take. I promise I can sit prettily on a horse. I just don't want to be back there with them."

Alak bowed, an impressive motion for a man almost as big around as he was tall, and carried her trunk out, setting it in the back of the wagon. He proceeded to pack all of her books, carefully and neatly stacking them, before covering them over in boards, forming the floor of the wagon.
The poor teens, as a group, had fit all of their belongings in one small chest. It was set next to Elia's, and the teens climbed into the wagon. Lily and Calvin sat next to each other, and Lily, the sweet girl, waved timidly at Elia and patted an open spot next to her.
The wagon wasn't cramped, they would all have plenty of room, and the sides had been covered over in canvas and blankets, creating padded seats.
Lear looked at her for a long moment. "My friend, where did a peasant learn to ride a horse in Venia?" Horses were a status symbol, and Lear knew full well only a noble would be comfortable on one. He looked at her a moment longer, before smiling politely.
"No matter. But I'm afraid we don't have an extra horse to offer you, and there are none to be found in Lakeside. I checked personally." He looked over her shoulder at where Lily was still smiling sweetly. "I think you will survive. If they set upon you just scream, and I'm sure Alak will make sure you're safe." He winked, before turning and nearly leaping into his saddle. "Claim your spot, we leave as soon as you're seated."

Elia gave him a vulgar gesture, ignoring the gasps from the wagon. "I never said I knew how to ride a horse, just that I am content to sit behind you. Or in front. I suppose it depends on your preference."
In all honesty, Elia wasn't sure she could even ride a horse anymore. It had been twelve years. And the last time she rode she was too small to ride anything but a pony. The basics were easy enough to remember. Sit. Steer. Pray the horse listens to you.
She took a deep breath before turning on her heel and walking to the wagon. She claimed the spot next to Lily, wrapping her arm around the girl. She liked the girl. Lily was quiet and shy. She made a much better companion than some of the others. They were gossipers. they loved to whisper amongst themselves and blow things out of proportion. They were already doing so. They irritated Elia to no end.
"Don't worry, darling, I'll make sure you are taken care of." She whispered to Lily, brushing back her hair and kissing the top of her head. She smiled at Calvin and reached over to ruffle his hair. "I'll make sure you are both taken care of."
She and the prince were going to have a conversation about this.

Lear grinned at her gesture, turned his horse to go, and returned vulgarity for vulgarity. "I usually prefer to ride from behind, but you're no longer a whore, Elia. Into the wagon with you."

Alak made sure she was seated before he slapped the reins. The Wulves took off at a run, pulling the wagon easily behind them.
Lily smiled up at her happily snuggling into Elia while keeping a grip on Calvin's hand. The boy looked at her, his intelligent eyes taking in her words. He smiled slowly as she ruffles his hair.
"Thank you, Elia."

~~~~
Their trip was uneventful. They had left around noon, and made good time. Lakeside was a medium sized town in a rural area of the kingdom, and they passed several farms. Lear stopped once and purchased some fresh fruits, which he set in the back of the wagon. Lily had taken one shyly, and he'd smiled. "They're for everyone, please eat."
They kept going, taking the occasional break to stretch and relieve themselves. The sun was beginning to set by the time they came around a bend in the path and saw a guard waving them down. Lear rode over and spoke with him for a moment, before signaling Alak. Another 5 minutes off the path and into the forest brought them to a campsite. There were tents set up, several fires burning, and food being prepared.
The wagon stopped, and Lear dismounted. "The smaller tents will be your rooms for the week. We generally put two in a tent, so pick your partners." He indicated which direction the smaller tents were.
Calvin looked at Elia for a long moment, and started to let go of Lily's hand. "You two should room together…" He clearly wanted to claim Lily as his roommate, for obvious reasons, but… he knew Elia didn't much care for the other teens, and he was trying to be nice.
Lear pointed to a bigger tent. "That's where food will be served tonight. Once you've picked your tents and partners, join us in there and we'll let you all know what's going on while we're here."

(I'm crying I'm laughing so hard XD)

Elia got out of the wagon as soon as they stopped, needing to stretch her legs and get away from the other and their annoying bickering. They had been going on and on about who the prince preferred and which guard was the most attractive. She was tired of it and wanted to get away from them as quickly as possible.
"She's all yours, Calvin, as long as she's okay with it." She knew of the bond they shared and wanted nothing but happiness for them. She prayed they would not be separated in the future to come but had no doubt Calvin would find her even if they were. She gave them each a ruffle on their hair before walking away.
She ignored the others as they paired up, going straight for Lear. "I need to speak with the prince. Now preferably."
She was impatient and tired and sore from sitting in a wagon all day. This reflected on to her mood drastically. With the look on her face, she was in no mood to play. She had business to attend to with the prince and she wouldn't be kept waiting.

(I'm glad. Lear can be sassy XD )

Calvin looked grateful as he tightened his grip on Lily's hand and nodded quickly. Lily blushed and smiled at him, clearly very ok with it.
Lear glanced at the position of the sun. "He'll be in the city till tonight. We're just about a mile out from Calegon. But, if there's anything I can help you with, let me know." He turned and quickly counted the smaller tents. "I believe there's one extra, which means you could have your own, for now at least." He began walking towards the bigger tent. "Grab your chest, claim a tent, and come get some food. You'll want to know what's going on this week."
The wagon had stopped on the edge of the campsite. The smaller sleeping tents were set up towards the middle, around a large bonfire that would keep them warm. There were 2 bigger tents, the tent they'd been instructed to meet in, and another tent with the royal crest on it. The whole campsite was ringed with trenches, berms, and the various mounts of the soldiers. The Wulves were intimidating creatures, and the horses only slightly less so, with their desert strength end endurance and their fiery temperaments.

Elia muttered curses under her breath as she walked away to charm sweet Alak into grabber her trunk. It didn't take long for her to get situated in the tent. There really wasn't anything to unpack. She just combed her hair and put it in a simple braid down her back to keep it out of the way. She had wanted to cut it several times but the Madame had always forbid her to go any shorter than the end of her rib cage. Now that she was free to do as she pleased, supposedly, she may cut it shorter.
She walked to the tent to grab some food, not particularly picky on what they gave her. No matter what food they had, it was likely she had had worse. She stood on the outskirts, picking at her food. Her appetite was almost nonexistent. She was too riddled with anxiety to care to eat, though her body and face didn't show it. She was a master in schooling her features and hiding her emotions.
She was worried about the future, what would become of them, of her. She had no use out of the brothel. She knew no other life, at least not one she wanted to remember. The closer to the palace they, the more anxious she would be. She didn't belong, there anymore. She would rather die than be the prince's personal whore and be holed up in a palace filled with people who would want her dead should they know she existed.
Her hands itched for a glass of wine, just wanting to take the edge off. She hated the feeling of getting drunk but relied too heavily on it to help just take the edge off. She refused to admit she had a problem though, and as long as she performed with excellence. the Madame didn't care how much she drank. The more wine she consumed, the higher her debt.

Alak had been charmed easily into carrying her trunk. He'd set it near the cot. The sleeper tents were minimal, but nice. Cot with soft sleeping pad and warm blankets. Small brass pot full of lit coals to keep the room warm. Little nightstand made of a sawn-off log. Long bar connecting the tent poles that also allowed for clothes to be hung. Repeat the setup on the other side.
The food in the meeting tent was warm and nourishing. Some of the guards had been hunting, so they had roasted venison, as well as more of the fruit from earlier. It was simple, but filling. There was only water to drink, mostly because the guards didn't want to deal with a bunch of drunk teenagers.
The bigger tent had rows of tables, with long benches on both sides. Most of the teens had sat at one, and most of the guards at the other. However, Lear was sitting on one end of the nearer bench, talking to Calvin and Lily. Or, mostly to Calvin it seemed. Lily had her head on his shoulder and appeared to be asleep already.
Lear noticed Elia and motioned her over. "You're the last, we were just going to fill everyone in on the plan for the week." There was plenty of room on either bench for her to sit.
"You'll have to catch Lily up later." Lear chuckled to Calvin, who just blushed and smiled at the sleeping girl.

Lear stood and cleared his throat. "Alright, now that we're all here: we are currently camped outside of Calegon, one of the bigger cities on this side of the Kindgom. The Prince plans to spend about a week here, as he did at Lakeside. During that time, he may ask for your help with things in the city. There are ways you can be of help in what he is trying to do." Lear held his hands out, palms down. "You will not be forced to do anything, and nothing will be asked of you that I would not do myself. But there are ways in which you may be more effective than one of the guards." He smiled. "The Prince plans to repeat what he did at Lakeside. He has done it many times before, so this is nothing new. Another set of guards will arrive here tomorrow, and they will eventually become the peacekeeping force for Calegon. We may also gain other people as the Prince frees them from their situations. We will put up more tents, but if there are many of them, we may ask you to add a third person in your tents." He paused, thinking. "Food will be served here three times a day. Breakfast will be simple fruits, unless one of you would like to volunteer to cook breakfast. Lunch and supper will be more complete meals, and you're free to offer suggestions and criticisms, as long a you're willing to chip in to help make those suggestions or fix those criticisms." He pointed to a guard seated at the other table, who stood and waved. "If you need anything, you can come to me at any time. If I'm not avaliable, you can see Carth, and he'll help you. If you don't see either of us, ask any guard, and they'll direct you to whoever is in charge."
He glanced at Elia. "The Prince will be available in the mornings and late evenings, although by the time he returns from the City each night, you'll all likely be asleep. Your best chance to see him, if you must, is in the early mornings, just before breakfast."
He smiled at the group. "One more thing: you're not our prisoners. If you decide you'd like to go into the Calegon, you can. Just let somebody know so we don't lose you. If you decide you'd like to stay there, you can. Just let us know so we know not to hunt you down. We're not here to force you to do anything, just to protect and help you thrive. But please let us know your intentions if you make decisions." He paused, thinking for a moment. "I believe that's all. This is supper for the night. You're free to do as you please, but be aware that this forest is not tamed, despite the city nearby. Don't get eaten."
He sat back down at the table to finsh his meal, as the chatter in the tent slowly picked up again.

Elia sat beside Lear, smiling at the two little ones. She was happy for them, truly, even if her heart did ache for what they had. She wished she had been given a chance like they did, to find someone for herself. But of the girls at the brothels were not her friends and it was only then couple of younger ones that she seemed to get along with. Another part of the Madame's scheming. She wanted to keep Elia isolated from the others so she only had the Madame to turn too, in which she was normally shoved into another man's, or occasionally woman's, arms. She had no chance. It was as if the gods were punishing her for something she had no control over.
Elia listened to Lear's speech, though there wasn't much that interested her. She had no care of the plans for the city, only that she was irritated in being forced along with the prince's vacation. She wanted to get it over with, whatever was to become of them. She didn't want to wait any longer than necessary. She cared not about the food either. She learned to eat what was given to her. She never knew when it was going to be taken away from her. She enjoyed the luxury when she could. She had had a problem with her weight in her teen days. Over the course of a couple years, she was starved when the madame noticed any weight gain in her, until she grew into her womanly body and filled out in all the right places. It was only then that she let up on Elia.
She had no doubt that she would be able to catch the prince at night. She never did sleep very well, especially if she was to be deprived of wine. She was too wound up and used to late nights. She could stay up until the sun rose and function well enough. An act she had trained herself to do. She doubted being in camp would help at all, if anything, it would make it worse. At least at the brothel, she had somewhat control and knew what to expect. She was out in the open here. She didn't want to imagine how easy it would be for a guard to come in and hold her down and take advantage of her.
No, she probably would not get much sleep at all.

Lear finished his meal, asking Calvin the occasional question about things he liked. The boy had a lot of interests but hadn't had a lot of opportunities, and Lear offered him several chances to do things over the coming week. At some point, Lily woke up and sleepily tapped Calvin's shoulder. He smiled and excused himself, before shuffling back to their tent with her leaning on him the whole way. Lear smiled over at Elia.
"Sweet kids. That one is a dreamer." He looked around. Most of the teens had gone to rest, or were off with the guards, talking. He stood and left the tent, coming back a moment later with a bottle and two cups. "Would you like something to drink? Didn't wanna tempt the boy." He offered her a cup, even as he poured himself one.
"Something on your mind, Elia? Or is your concern too lofty for any but the Prince's ears?"

Elia watched as the kids left, smiling as she watched them. "It's unfortunate where they ended up but I'm glad they met each other. I only hope they can work through everything they've been together to have a healthy relationship."
She nodded in response to the drink, taking a sip once the cup was full. She tapped her fingers against the glass, studying Lear. "I don't mean to offend, but it is something I'd prefer for your prince's ears only. At least for now." Because he was Lear's prince. He might be heir in name but she would never accept him as king, as she does not the present king. They were not meant to rule here. Venia was not theirs. But through deceit and cowardliness, they had taken the throne.
"You've been in his employment for a while, yes? What's he like? Do you enjoy working for him? Will he make a good king in your opinion?"

Lear nodded. "I think Calvin is determined to make it work as long as Lily is, and she seems quite settled on him at the moment."
He grinned at her. "Ah yes, your sweet nothings ought to be kept just for him." He finished his drink and set the cup aside. "As long as you're sure there's no way I can help solve your issue." He paused a moment, before continuing.
"I have been with the Prince for 8 years now, yes." His grin changed to a more genuine smile. "What is Prince Romulus Vespasian like?" Lear laughed, not at her or at the question, but just the absurdity of trying to answer a question like that. "That's a question you'll have to answer for yourself, friend. As to whether I enjoy working for him, the answer is yes, but I don't think of it as working for him. Mostly because he doesn't either." He tapped his cup on the table, looking down while he thought for a moment. "The Prince has a particular way he handles things, and with his men… he is as a brother to many of us." He looked up at her. "And as for whether or not he will be a good king, well…" He smiled wider, obviously happy at the thought. "I can only say, I would not wish to serve under any other monarch."

Elia hummed into her cup as she took a large gulp. She felt the moment that it began to calm her nerves and anxiety. She let out a long breath, sinking into her seat more on the bench. She watched Lear, narrowing her eyes at him as he avoided some of her questions. She would find answers to them soon enough, no matter how she went about it. "With the way you talk, I can only imagine you as a courtier, not a warrior by the prince's side. I think no matter what happens, you'll survive the game. Whether your dear prince will is the question."
She drained her cup and instantly grabbed the bottle to fill another cup. She knew her limits. She wouldn't drink more than another glass. Had she been in her youth, she would have attempted to drain the whole bottle but she had matured since then. She sipped this cup slowly this time. She was relaxing but hadn't dropped her guard.
"Compared to the previous monarch, how do you think he compares? If he wishes to rule with absolute submission by the people, he will have to be smart. Venians don't like bowing to outsiders."

Lear just continued smiling. He was an easy man to get along with.
He grinned at her assessment. "Only a courtier, hmm? Well, you would know." He paused, his grin taking on just a bit more of an edge.
He relaxed again after only a moment. "And as far as survival, it's to the Prince's credit I've made it as long as I have. He's saved my life on multiple occasions." He fidgeted with his cup, not bothering to refill it. "And the Prince has been surviving the court game since birth, I have no doubts of his ability to navigate it comfortably."
He noted her refill her cup, and corked the bottle. "We don't have as much of this in camp as you might think." He stood and went to put it back wherever it had come from.
When he returned, he sat across from her, facilitating the conversation a little easier. "Compared to which previous monarch, our current king, his father? Or the previous Venian king?" There was something in his eyes as he said it, some unpleasant feeling there, which was unusual for the diplomatic Lear.
"And as for absolute submission, he's well on his way. The people have responded to him incredibly well over the last 12 years. They've had a chance to watch him grow up, in many ways." He smiled. "Venians may not much like bowing to outsiders, but it certainly hasn't stopped them from doing so anyway."

Elia was curious on how the prince saved him but decided not to question it. Sometimes, things were better left unsaid and they did hardly know each other. She wasn't going to ask him to spill all of his past to her. Honestly, it sounded quite boring to know every detail.
She offered a small smile. "I promise I only have a two-glass limit. Getting drunk was never in my best interests as a whore. I won't let a man take advantage of me again." She had learned many hard lessons in her youth, some none should ever have to learn. She took a sip out of her cup, grateful for the change in subject. She didn't like talking about her failures or shortcomings. She would much rather talk about anything else.
"The Venian royals your king slaughtered in their sleep, of course." She didn't hide her disdain. Any true Venian born felt the same as her. They may bend the knee to survive, but they would never forget what had been done to them. "Our kingdom was in a time of prosperity and peace before your king came around and now look us. The poor are poorer and the rich are richer. And notice how not a single Venian is in a position of power. You're close to the prince. I would advise him to remedy that is he ever hopes to remain in power."
She took another sip of her cup, glancing around before back at Lear. "You and your prince may not wish to listen to me because I am a whore and a liar. But you should listen to this. There will always be unrest as long as Vespasian blood is on the throne. If you want to see your prince be crowned king, I suggest you find a remedy. Allow the old nobility to regain their status, maybe even marry one of their daughters>
Why would she help?
That was the question. This man, his people, his prince were her enemy. She held no love for them. But she had no other living relatives. She was the last of the Callistar line and she had no desire to be queen. She was never meant to rule in the first place. Not because she was a woman. The Callistar family had no quarrel against sex. She was the last born of seven children. She should have been the end at the line of succession. She was never taught how to rule or politics. It wasn't until she entered the brothel that it even became an interest to her.
But she was tired of seeing her people hurting. Perhaps if she had some kind of influence on Lear and the prince, she could make a change. She was tired of seeing her people being treated like scum. They didn't deserve that just because someone decided they wanted to be a king.

Lear listened to her, nodding along. He waited till she was done, and thought for a moment, before speaking very gently.
"You've been in that brothel a long time, haven't you…" It wasn't really a question so much as a statement.

She had no clue what the outside world looked like anymore. When King Augustus had conquered Venia and taken the throne, there had been widespread unrest. The people had rioted, and fought, and tanked their own economy in an effort to screw the new monarchy. The Haradrim hadn't been the ones to impoverish the Venians. It made no sense for the new monarch to crush his people under his boot, his prosperity was directly tied to theirs. And rather than put down the rioters and restore order by force, the king had let it die out on its own. It had, over the next few years, as the people found they had put themselves in a position of having to survive. Survival over protest. The most prosperous areas of the kingdom now, were the areas the Prince had been to, like Lakeside. His investment in the Venians had endeared him to many of them. He couldn't blame her for being wrong about that, because she'd been stuck in a brothel for most of the 12 years, and had just had her first interaction with Romulus.

She was also wrong about the positions of power. There were many Venians in village positions, in positions within their county, their city, even within the Palace. But of course, he couldn't blame her, because there was no way she could know that, without visiting everywhere.

And as far as unrest because of Vespasian blood on the throne… well. Lear wasn't going to tell her any of the reasons why that was a silly sentiment, but… there was always unrest when anyone was on the any throne. But again, if she was who she said she was, and had been in the brothel as long as she'd claimed… there was no way for her to know that.

"I've been in there for twelve years," Elia said.
She would let him put together the pieces, that she was somehow tied the old Venian blood. She wouldn't confirm nor deny. Nor was she inclined to share her family name. It didn't matter anymore. She was Elia now, a common whore until recently. Though that still remained to be seen. She had no idea what was to become of her. She was only good for one thing and that was in bed. "I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemies, despite they were the reason I ended up there."
She drained her cup, wanting to escape this conversation. If she wasn't careful and steered the conversation elsewhere, she might reveal something. She hadn't had the chance to speak about herself about her past in a very long time. No one was interested in what put a girl in a brothel or their life before it. They were only interested that she was in one and that they wanted to be between her legs.
"If there's nothing else to talk about, I think I'm going to go enjoy myself by the fire. I don't sleep well at night. I'm usually busy working." She pushed back from the bench and stood up.

Lear nodded, his face sympathetic. "… It is indeed an awful fate."
He watched her as she got up. "I mean, I'm sure there's plenty to talk about. You always seem to have something to say." He stood after her. "But, if you're ready to be done, I'll bid you goodnight." He didn't comment on the working comment, not wanting to dredge more up for her. He gave a small smile and left the meeting tent, heading for the Prince's tent.

~~~~
It was long into the night when the Prince came stalking back into camp. He made straight for his tent, and burst through the flap, furious. "Lear! When does that next squad get here?"
Lear looked up from the makeshift desk he was working at. "Tomorrow morning, around breakfast, why?"
Romulus was enraged. "I have need of them." He lowered his voice, not wanting to wake the entire camp, but he could definitely be heard from the fire Elia was still sitting by.
Lear stood. If Romulus was ready to march on the city, that couldn't be good. "What did you find?"
The Prince was quiet for a moment, pacing. "The entire city runs on trafficking. It's an absolute cess pit. Mind altering drugs trafficked in to be used on innocent girls and boys, who are then trafficked out, to be traded for favors and benefits, which fuels the whole thing." He snarled. "I was offered literal children, Lear. They make Lily look like a sophisticated adult!"
Lear nodded slowly. "We're going to need to add more tents, aren't we?"
Romulus growled. "At the very least! More likely I'll need to send a message back to the palace to get someone out here to help us relocate these children. Begin putting APB's out on them, find out if they have parents, families, responsible adults in their life. Find them new homes if not." He kept his back turned to the door, thinking.

Elia sat on a long in front of the fire. It was uncomfortable to sit on, the fire was almost too hot, burning her skin, yet she didn't move. Sleep wouldn't come to her. She was restless, unsure what to do. She knew she needed to speak to the prince, but seeing him storm him, perhaps it wasn't the best idea. She could always try to charm a guard for a little rustle in bed. A good workout could always help her sleep.
She was about to get up and find Alak when she heard the prince through his tent. It wasn't as if he was surrounded by walls. It was fabric. Thick fabric but sound could escape easily. She moved closer to hear correctly.
She felt her heart tighten and her bones stiffen. It wasn't the first time she had heard of such drugs or seen its uses. She remembered traders came to Madame Rosette attempting to sell her some, using some poor girl to show the effects. The Madame refused, stating our patrons like us willing. Well, most of them anyway. The Madame didn't tolerate patrons forcing themselves on others, one of the few things she did right as a madame.
She couldn't imagine what those poor children were going through, what they were forced to suffer. At least the Madame didn't expect her girls to perform until their bleeding and the boys were about the same age of thirteen. It was still sickening to see men request the younger ones, but at least it was better than a child before their first decade.

Lear was quiet a moment. "Romulus, you-"
"If you say I can't save everyone, I'll toss you straight out that tent flap." Romulus interjected. "You of all people know that not only can I do better than most, but it is my whole point in being here." He turned to look at his friend. "The vacationing prince, visiting bars and brothels and getting drunk and laid and betting on fights and renting out whole arenas and doing other silly, extravagant things." He stepped closer to Lear. "But you know, Lear. You know what I'm doing."
Lear nodded, his voice softening. "Yes, I do, Romulus. And I know why, no matter what your father thinks."
Romulus scoffed. "Ah, yes, the King, with his scheming and his planning. Well, I'm doing some scheming of my own, and this is how it comes out." He went to his desk, a portable, collapsible one that fit easily into his saddlebags. He jabbed a map. "There's a clearing on the other side of the city, an old logging area. We build a gallows, and begin executing crooked politicians and business owners."
Lear started to protest. "But-"
"No, Lear." Romulus wasn't budging. "We clean out Calegon. I was hoping to do it quietly, like mentioning you've got something in your teeth. Instead, we're going to do it openly, like cleaning out a festering wound." He snarled. "The Venians causing problems will be hanged, no pomp, no fanfare. The Haradrim, on the other hand, will be branded, whipped, and then beheaded. They ought to know better, so they die worse."
Lear nodded slowly. "If you're sure, Romulus. That will upset the entire ecosystem of this county though…"
Romulus nodded, consulting the map. "I know it. We station more guards here than normal, quell the gangs and cartels in place, and put good people in charge. If it takes us a year to rebuild, then it takes us a year."
Lear watched him. "It's never taken a year before."
Romulus looked at him, pausing for a moment. "… You're right, my friend. But… This is bad."

Elia couldn't staunch her curiosity. She looked around to make sure no one was watching her before getting up and approaching the tent. Call her nosy, she won't deny it, but she refuses to be left in the dark any longer, even if that meant she had to snoop. She got close to the tent, almost pressing her ear to the fabric. She didn't want to give herself away but she also didn't want to miss a single thing they said.
It was confusing, his words. What was the king up to the prince wasn't fond of? If she remembered correctly, the prince was only a few years older than her. It was likely he hadn't been a part of the mascara of her family but it also didn't mean he didn't support it. She had very little knowledge of that. The few courtiers that visited her preferred to complain about his brutality or their work.
She hadn't ever met the prince but she had visited his kingdom not just a few weeks before she turned five years of age. She couldn't remember what they were doing there, only that she played with his son and daughters who were of similar ages as she. It was so long ago she was surprised she even remembered that fact.
She sucked in a quiet gasp as they spoke of execution. Elia had witnessed deaths, executions even. The occasional burning of a so-called witch, a murderer. But nothing to this extent, nothing close. They were to be made examples of, these people. And while the guilty wholly deserved death, what of the innocents caught in the crossfire? What of those that had no choice should a loved one be threatened? What if someone was wrongly accused?
There were too many variables in which someone who did not deserve it would end up on a pike.

Romulus had started to say something else, but Lear put a finger to his lips.
The Lieutenant could see a silhouette in the tent wall. A shadow cast by the fire being behind whoever it was.
Romulus turned, and immediately recognized the lovely figure. He moved quickly, out of the tent flap in two steps and staring at Elia.
"Something you need?"
His voice was much more gentle, and he was working very hard to keep the intensity of his feelings under control. Calegon had riled him, but there was no need for that to come out on her, just because she'd been eavesdropping.
Lear shook his head. By this time, he'd recognized the silhouette as well. He had hoped even if Elia could hear them, that she wouldn't choose now to bring her complaints to Romulus.

Elia flushed a bright pink as she was caught. She drew her lip into her mouth. She thought she had been more stealthier than she thought she had been. She clasped her hands behind her back, the movement pushing her chest out. It wasn't then intention but there was only so much she could avoid doing to emphasize her body.
"I heard raised voices. I just wanted to make sure everything was alright and if there was anything I could do to help. You'd be surprised what a man would do for a woman." She wasn't sure they would let her stick around, much less let her help. She was tired of being laughed at and pushed aside. She was tired of being kept out of the loop of her own life.
Even without looking at Lear, she knew now was not the time to talk to the prince about her concerns. He had other things to worry about currently and she would speak him when they were resolved. And if something else came up, she would force her way in and put her foot down. Her grievances were important too. She had questions she needed answers too and she was determined to get them. But now was not the time.

Romulus watched her for a long moment. He considered a few things, and came to a decision.
"We're about to have a lot of very frightened, possibly sick children in our care. The guards will most definitely intimidate them, and you are a much softer welcoming committee. That is how I would ask for your help." He looked her in the eyes, sincerely. "I would not ask you to use yourself to get things from men. You're no longer a whore, and I will not put you back in that position. Besides, you'd be surprised what a man would do for a much stronger man." There was a wry sense of humor there.
Lear piped up. "Elia, you may as well talk to him now. He's here and you're here, and you're not likely to get the chance again for a bit. Things are about to get very busy." Her timing was terrible, but… better now than never.
Romulus raised his eyebrows, before stepping back and inviting her in. "Something you need to talk to me about?"
Lear stood and stepped out, knowing she'd said she wanted this private. "I'm going to check our provisions, see what we can handle without resupply." He glanced at her gently as he walked past.

A smile grew on Elia's face as she realized she wasn't kicked out or sent away. Despite her feelings for the prince, those children did not deserve what was being done to them. She wanted to help them. She would do whatever was necessary.
"Of course. Some of your men could probably take smiling lessons. Their frowning is a bit of a turn-off," she quirked, trying to lighten the situation.
Elia sent a glare Lear's way. She did not need his help talking to the prince nor was she here to distract him. Children were more important than her issues. She could put aside her hatred for the royal family and work alongside him for those poor kids. She could go back to hating them after they were saved.
She stepped into the tent, giving Lear a vulgar gesture behind her back, as to avoid being lectured by the prince for flipping off his friend. "I did-I do but it can wait if you have more pressing things to worry about."

Romulus snickered. "Some of my men are scarier when they smile, let me tell you." He held the flap open for her as she entered.
He noted Lear giving a smirk, and figured she'd gestured at him. It seemed about her style.
He stepped back in and moved to his bed. "I do, but maybe this will take my mind off of it for a moment."
The tent was much different than a person might expect from the Crown Prince. It was lit by a few lanterns placed around the room. It was bigger than the other sleepers, but that was because it doubled as a headquarters. There were two cots, one the same as the one in Elia's room, and the other much bigger. The bigger one wasn't better padded or softer, just obviously built to support someone of the Prince's size. The other was Lear's. Their nightstands were the same cut logs, their brass pots to warm the room the same. There were also two desks. One was Lear's, a set of boards nailed across two logs. The other was the Prince's a portable, collapsible piece of furniture that looked like it could fit anywhere. There were two cut logs for seats at the desks. And that was the whole tent. No luxuries, no useless items.
Romulus grabbed a blanket from his bed and folded it, before setting it on the log seat Lear had been sitting on. He offered it to Elia. "What's on your mind?"

Elia looked around the tent, noticing how bare it was. Nothing like a prince should have. The man before her truly was more a warrior than a prince. He needed some color in his life, maybe some art. It needed a feminine touch to the place.
She took the seat that was offered to her, giving a smile of thanks for the blanket for added cushion. She crossed her ankles and placed her clasped hands in her lap. She looked down at the ground, around at the walls, the sad excuse for furniture, before finally settling her eyes on the prince before her. "I need to know what's going to happen to us. No bullshit answers or beating around the bush. I need a direct answer. Because I will take them all and we will go somewhere, anywhere else if you cannot provide a better life for them. One where they're not split up. The life that we've had, there are trauma bonds that have formed and it wouldn't be in your best interest to break that apart."
Her focus was the girls and boys waiting in camp for answers. She would ask about herself later. She couldn't follow the same life they had. She was older than most of them. She couldn't be adopted into a family and she had no desire to get an education. She had no hope that she would end up anywhere other than the streets once again but she would make sure the rest were taken care of and not into someone's harem.

Romulus looked at her for a long moment. He sat behind the desk, somehow fitting it like a glove. "What makes you think anything other than exactly what I've already said would happen?" His voice was even. She was suggesting he was lying to them, and he wasn't. Convincing her would be a job. "And what makes you think I would just let you take them? Where would you possibly go, and how could you possibly provide for them better than I can?" He wasn't being unkind, just clear and rational. Even if his what she'd shown was true, and she had been some form of noble before, she was a poor girl now, and he could do more for them than she could. "Even if I were to let you take them, what makes you think they would go with you, over the chance to not live in poverty anymore?"
The Prince had been making these trips for years, saving people just like this from all over the country. He had done this before, and knew what he was doing. And whether he had Elia's trust or not was immaterial to him, but…
Venomous, indeed.
"I suppose those questions are moot if I answer yours." He tapped the top of the desk. "There are 6 teens and you. Lily and Calvin seem happy together, so they'll be placed in a noble's home, a Venian noble if they prefer. They will be educated and given opportunities, and when they are of age, they will probably marry each other, if they wish. Should they break up, we'll deal with that when it comes. Calvin has already expressed interest in a military position, so he'll likely wind up riding with me, on trips like this." He looked her in the eyes. "They will not be forced to do anything, though. All of that is optional. At their discretion." He leaned forward. "And theirs alone. Neither you nor I will make their decisions for them." Romulus wanted to be clear on that. He wasn't forcing things, and neither would he allow Elia to.
"The other 4 are Kallah, Matrio, Rinow and Calni. They'll all be placed in noble's homes, Venian if they wish, and educated, if they wish. I don't know what the three girls want to do, they were too busy flirting on our evenings to tell me, but Matrio wants to be a teacher. He has expressed interest in teaching Venian history, and we would educate him towards that purpose. I expect the girls will have more defined goals as they get older." He sat back. "But none of them, or you for that matter, will be sold or bought or traded or whored out again. I'm not a trafficker." He bit down on the word, his evening of walking amongst them making him a bit more sensitive to the implication at the moment than he normally would be.
Romulus paused a moment. "As for you… what would you like to do?" He watched her, his gaze gentle. "I have an offer for you, but I have a feeling you would refuse it, so… what do you want out of this, Elia?"