FOREVER KNIGHTS: #15 Insatiable Beasts

WaterRose, Meadow Mountain, Grier Country

SAVAGE JAXSON

Savage was standing still in the shadowed foyer of WaterRose when Sebastian came down the steps.

Gaze on the stairs he wasn’t paying any attention until he glanced up and spotted Savage’s shadowed face and stopped midway down. “Jaxson?”

The Kill Beads in Savage’s hair clinked as he looked up at him. “Nobody calls me that.”

Most don’t even know it. How’d he find out?

RedBayne or the Nauvree. He sussed out.

“What would you have me call you?”

“It’s fine.” Savage would never have admitted it but it was nice to hear his name said without fear.

“What can I help you with?”

“More what I can help you with.”

Bast’s brows knitted in confusion. “Is this about my taverns?”

What taverns?

“Your taverns?”

“You want them.”

Yes. All of them.

“Which ones are we discussing?” Savage was caught off-guard.

“You don’t know?”

Savage glowered. He didn’t like not following a conversation, in the least.

“I own them all.”

Savage shifted slowly. “All in Grier.”

“No, Lad.” Bast said softly as he finished the stairs and rounded the bannister. “All of them in Ardae. You weren’t leaving the purchase requests for me, persay. You were leaving them for all the owners.” Bast said as understanding dawned.

Savage’s face darkened. “Indeed.”

Savage rubbed his jaw thoughtfully before his gaze levelled on Bast. “You won’t sell a single one because you hold all the commerce from them and ensure there’s no rival competitions for your ale or goods by owning them all.”

“Sharp boy.” Bast reared back. Seeing annoyance flick over Savage’s face he apologized. “I meant no insult.”

“That’s a lot of commerce.” Savage remarked. Stepping further into the candlelight near the stair dais. “May I ask what you do with it?”

“There’s people I care for.”

He means all the peasants of Ardae. Savage knew instantly. Thinking of the goods he supplied to them during the holiday.

“Must be a lot of people.”

“It is.” Bast rotated to face him. Body language indicating no fear.

He must be quite dangerous of his own accord to have no instinctual fear of me. Interesting…

“Why do you want that commerce?” Bast queried equally as intrusively.

“Do keep the Blue Lark in good standing.” Savage’s chin lifted consideringly before he added more truthfully. “I want to control all commerce in Ardae.”

“Out of greed?” There was no judgement in Sebastian’s voice. Only question.

“No.”

“Then why?”

“I want to destroy Nial Ocnomad and make Ardae more about the people. The real people then about this neverending war amongst immortals. And power plays. And politics.”

“You don’t think there should be any kings?”

Not what I said.

“On the contrary I think kings are necessary as a governing body. But I don’t think kings and queens only interested in their own self-serving desires are beneficial to anyone.”

Bast blinked slowly. “You are not at all what I’d heard.”

“I never am.” He sighed.

“So how, exactly do you plan to overthrow all these corrupt kings and queens. By gathering commerce and swaying the people. Given enough goods I could control all of Ardae from the Blue Lark.”

“That what you want?”

“Not at all. I want to gain that control then put it in the right hands.”

“And who would that be? I’ve an idea but I’m not wholly certain yet.”