Beyond the horizon the last of light caved itself deep, the torches lit a blaze across the full streets of the Varish capital, Bairen the blue eyes Faris, the old merchant in his office, while a noble man faced them seated them
He had on leg wrapped over the other, as if he was in control
"Can't you rethink the idea" said Faris "I mean, taking all the funds out? Noy half nor most?! "
"If you can manage reusing this elsewhere, then I would gladly double them, but I shall not keep a coin of gold in this, place," said the noble man
"I can't just reuse them elsewhere, stuff like these take time, effort, and resources," said the merchant
"that's why I said I am gladly going to double them if needed, as long as you do so before the end of the month," said the noble man
"It is not about the gold" Faris sighed continuing "If I do so, my business inside will crumble under the consequences of such unplanned actions"
"I don't care, take care of it, it's your problem, you're the merchant here not me," said the noble man
"Why are you seeking an escape anyways" said Faris "I don't know of you breaking any laws yet"
"It is not about that, you weren't there, in the party when the king came forth" said the noble man "This nation is doomed. Do you know any sain person that'll fund operations to weaponize children!"
"Was this all that made you think so?" asked Faris finding the excuses ridiculous
"No" said the noble man "It is much worse than that"
He took a moment to breath and gather his thoughts, he leaned forwards, fingers wrapped under on another, hands over his knees
He said "he was no king that I knew of, his rotten back, his deep loud breaths, and worse of all" the noble's eyes widened staring into the ground, just like the other day
"That butler of his, he is the king now"
Faris stared full of confusion, and so did Bairen, the noble man wasn't stopping there
"His crown barley stayed intact, all of a sudden both him and his crown decided to kiss the grounds as a greeting," said the noble man
"His crown fell?! In front of all the nobles" asked Faris
"Almost, the butler stepped forward stopping it from happening," said the noble man
"Who is that butler you keep talking about? "Asked Bairen
"I don't know, and I don't care to do" said the noble man, he looked up straight into Faris's eyes and said "I better have an answer by the end of the week-old man, you wont like the result of ignoring me"
He slammed the door leaving
Silence roamed free, Faris clenched hard on his crutch, deep into his own world
Bairen decided to open up the conversation saying "So? when are we going to redirect the fundings?"
"We are not," replied Faris
"What?! What do you mean do you have another plan in mind?" asked Bairen
"I spent my life roaming this ship, I witnessed the last king's fall, and I shall witness the next one, if time gives me such favour," said the old merchant
"This is no swimming, you know how serious he is, if it is lost anyways why not take it elsewhere"
"Enough!" said the old merchant cutting the boy "You might be talented, but you lack experience. If I do as they please, they will feed on me one after another,"
He took a moment to breath in and said glancing Bairen's way "sometimes you need to stand your ground not following the wave "
"This wave will break you, and everything you stand for" said Bairen
"I am ready, to pay such a price" replied Faris
"And what is your plan, how will you deal with the consequences of such actions" said Faris
"I will try to stand up once more, if I am able to do so" replied Faris
Bairen sighed, opening his eyes back he said "Ok, lets forget about this for the time, at least until we see the other noble's opinion"
"What made you think of the others?" asked Faris
"Well, of course they'd think the same if they were there as well" said Bairen
"Never mind it, I was testing you" said Faris
"Now, what we need to do is to pull out the rotten roots" said Bairen, Faris was confused
"I mean the traitor, the one who cut the lock and leaked our location?" said Faris
"Oh… I forgot about that" said Faris
"What?!" said Bairen
"Don't blame me, since we reached the capital, I did not have second of rest, all the paper work, the long apologetic hand written letter to the king" said Faris "And the long stress following it awaiting an answer"
"That's without counting the sudden increase in taxes, the new laws that my projects had to adapt to all of a sudden"
"You could've handed the paper work over to me" said Bairen "I would have gladly accepted it at any given time"
"I don't know, I just, felt like remembering the past" said Faris staring up at the ceiling "all that bad energy from the market, I had to put It off somehow"
"That is one weird to release stress" replied Bairen "Anyways, if you don't have anything, lets go walk the streets"
"Maybe you'll tell me some old stories, that'll help you out, plus you kept talking about it back at the great market" said Bairen helping him stand up
Faris's personal bodyguard came forth helping as well
"This reminds me of the old days, back when I first met you at the market" said Faris "You had a tiny little Skelton staring me up, you were so cute back then"
"I don't remember clearly at all" said Bairen as they walked towards the door
"Really?" said Faris "I remember you were dying of hunger back then, maybe some food will bring back the memories, I know of a great bakery, there is none like it across the kingdom"
"Let's go then, I really want to eat something with ease this time" replied Bairen as they closed the door behind, leaving the room dark and empty