183 Chapter 183

Skana sat in front of Albedo and Illyana, three days had passed since the apparent consumption of the convicted criminal. Bits and pieces of Remedios Custodio were still found amidst the rubble, while the chaos of the sudden attack and the disappearance of the woman set to die at the stake led scores of people to wild speculation, including some of the young nobles who convicted Neia.

The auburn-haired girl scratched her back and leaned against the chair, rocking it back and holding herself at the nearest crate with her foot. "Look, I'm not used to working with or for anyone. I work for myself, always had, just enjoying life, you know… but can I be blunt with you, Albedo?"

The disguised demoness inclined her head and kept a small trace of a smile on her face at the brash way the human spoke to her.

"The blunt truth is I'm bored. Don't get me wrong, the sex is great, and there's still a farmboy unusually loyal to his wife that I haven't been able to play with, but I'm just… bored. There's no point to any of it, rut, harvest, rut, harvest, sometimes the other way, and once a year come out this way, sell off a few things, have some fun, dance, make some extra money, then go back and do the same thing again. You know, it's just plain pointless. Even drinking with the same old people is not as fun as it used to be. One more joke about sheep and I may kill myself." She laughed and held out her hand for Illyana to pass her a big frothing mug.

She inclined her head in politeness in thanks to the elf, who still looked at Skana as if the peasant had a second head whenever she was polite.

"But anyway," she took a deep draught and wiped her mouth, "that crazy stuff with the dragon was…" She hesitated, grasping for a word.

"Terrifying? Scary? Horrifying?" Albedo supplied the words to her that the humans around them used in the aftermath.

Skana's green eyes lit up like emeralds, "The most exciting moment of my entire life! It was like twenty orgasms at once from the best skilled girls' tongues or the most enduring stallion I could ride! If I work for you, will I get more of that?!"

"You might have to practice with your sword a bit, but yes. However…" Albedo leveled a hand at her, "Your loyalty will not go to your Kingdom anymore. It belongs to me."

Skana didn't balk at that, "Pffft," she said and rolled her eyes, "Oh no! I won't be doing what the fat tax collectors say when they come and confiscate most of our goods. Oh no! I won't have to throw myself onto the dick of a fat noble to keep him from meandering into our village and picking out some of our more innocent girls, woe is me whatever shall I do..."

"Are you ever not sarcastic?" Illyana asked suddenly, offended on behalf of her smiling Lady who seemed on the verge of barking out laughter or exploding in anger.

Skana thought it over, tapping her finger against her cheek and looking away, "Sometimes, like when I'm asleep. Look, elf girl, Illyana I mean, I'm a peasant, folk like me don't get a future any better than you get. We pop out kids, scratch the dirt until we get crops, then some big headed so and so who can only get it up when a girl lies to him about how big it is, comes along and takes most of what we make. Yeah our Queen is supposed to be nice and all, but I've never seen her, and she's never done anything for me. I have no reason to say no when Miss Albedo here is offering me the time of my life, money, and maybe… I don't know, something a little bit bigger than dirt scratching and more lewd sheep jokes from pervy old men."

Illyana pursed her lips, silenced by the brash peasant.

Albedo however, had more to say, but before she did, one thing remained crystal clear in her mind, 'This is a thrillseeker, a woman of passions, but no purpose… give her purpose… and I may have a very potent weapon in my hands as far as these lesser creatures go.' All thoughts of sending her for baptism were erased in an instant, the chance of breaking that nature that made her useful was far too great.

Instead Albedo made a different decision, and began by asking her, "What are your remaining clients saying now?"

"About the devouring… or escape… of the prisoner? There are all kinds of rumors. A lot of them lewd ones, like suggesting that she screwed the dragon and made him fall in love with her… there's even an artist who made a bit of money sketching copies of 'what that might look like' and selling them off. Some people think she was eaten, that she was a meal he was being deprived of. Others think she was rescued by the one she rescued first. Me, I think the last part."

"Why?" Albedo asked and Skana took another long drink before answering.

She smacked her lips and said, "Simple, I've never screwed a dragon and can't figure how that would even work, and that's an awful lot of work to come pick up some unwashed meat, so I doubt he would come back all this way to get a snack. So, I think he came and rescued her, not many customers to talk to now though. After that, most of the nobles skedaddled off back to hug mommies skirts, flip up the ones of the maids, and get daddy to tell them how brave they were for existing in the proximity of unexpected danger." All three snorted at the same moment in common contempt.

"So you agree." Skana said, and both Albedo and Illyana nodded.

Skana finished her beer and watched the way Albedo relaxed.

Albedo's smile broadened when they found that common ground. "Tonight, I'm going to properly introduce myself to you, Skana. And when we're done, I'm going to provide you with substantial funds, and you will work in Hoburns, you will run whores, spread rumors, and do everything I say. Do this for me, and all the delights in the world will be yours, and more than that, your fellow peasants will be better off at the end of it."

"There should be gambling too, and drinking." Skana added, and Albedo did a brief double take.

Skana filled in the gap, "Vice makes vice, that's what the priests say, and given how many of them I've gotten to start gambling after getting them to give up celibacy? Oh yes it is very true. You can make a lot of money when you combine drinking, gambling, and sex together. Then I can spread out whatever you want to whomever you want."

The confidence in the whore was almost 'off putting' that she seemed so certain, but as Albedo thought it over, she recalled the way Eight Fingers operated. Hilma was still alive, and asking her about how that business ran, or even sending her to the Holy Kingdom to assist the new local agent seemed like good ideas.

"Fine, I will send you help in order to pull this off, make ready to leave tonight." Albedo answered.

"With the beer?" Skana asked, licking her lips at the remaining barrels behind her new employer.

"With the beer." Albedo answered, and Skana spat in her palm and thrust out her hand in answer. A bright smile on her face matched with it.

"Illyana, you do this part." Albedo said, looking at the hand and entirely too certain about where it had last been.

"My Lady." Illyana answered, spat in her own palm, and grasped that of Skana. To the auburn-haired whore she said, "I look forward to working with you."

Skana winked, "Same. For some reason I can't help but think we'll get along wonderfully."