Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Danger In Yellow

I shared a drink with Vice last night at the inn's bar. She helped me sort out the plan for today. We didn't have a sizable fund, so I spent some of the early morning selling a few goods. I wrapped it up once the younger party members woke up around nine. I had left them with some good food I picked out at the market yesterday—just eggs and toast, wrapped nicely for them. I had also asked Jasmine to help Alice get ready once they woke up last night, to which she agreed. I think she called it henchman training or something.

Rune was the first to come out. Vice had picked out clothes for him and Jasmine. He wore casual clothes: a black hoodie with black cargo pants. He yawned as he approached me.

"Morning," he said.

I began packing up my goods, having made a few gold for the road and supplies. I smiled. "Morning, sleepyhead. Are the other two almost ready?"

Rune nodded. "Yeah, they're on their way." Vice had been reading the newspaper nearby, and when she saw Rune, she smiled. Folding her newspaper, she eyed Rune with a mischievous grin.

"Well, look at you, all dressed up and ready for action. I thought you'd still be snoring away in your bed. Did you actually get a full night's sleep?" Vice teased.

Rune frowned. "I'm not a kid. I know this isn't a field trip. I slept like a baby." The bags under his eyes suggested otherwise, but I held off on pointing that out.

I spotted Alice and Jasmine approaching us. Alice had on a carrot T-shirt with a small pink skirt, while Jasmine picked her own clothes—a more gothic style: a black T-shirt with a heart on it and black jeans. The two of them contrasted comically, but despite that, I could tell they were getting along. From what I noticed, Jasmine seemed to be teaching Alice a bit of language. Whether out of boredom or kindness, it was clear she meant well.

Once everything was set to go, we hitched the horses to the caravan. I had made sure to register both siblings with the guild, and with that, we were ready to leave. The departure wasn't anything grand like last time since we all figured we'd be back.

The early morning air was cool, and the sun was just beginning to rise, casting a golden glow over the landscape. The sound of the horses' hooves on the cobblestone streets was rhythmic and comforting, a reminder that we were on the move and making progress.

As we traveled, the cityscape of Goldrose gradually gave way to the open countryside. The fields were lush and green, dotted with wildflowers and small farms. It was a stark contrast to the oppressive atmosphere of the city, and the fresh air was invigorating.

I sat at the front of the caravan, guiding the horses while keeping an eye on the road ahead. Vice sat next to me, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings for any potential threats. Behind us, Jasmine and Alice chatted animatedly, their voices filled with excitement. Rune was quiet, occasionally glancing out at the passing scenery.

The hours passed peacefully, with Vice occasionally making conversation with me. Our destination would be about half a day away, so it'd be around noon once we arrived.

Vice asked as Alice and Jasmine began to take a nap, "What kind of lawyer are you looking for?"

I took a look at the kids. They were sleeping soundly. "Someone who can be a role model for the kids and can be a permanent feature in our party."

Vice lit up again. "For the plan, I get it. But why do you want a lawyer outside of that?"

I explained, "We're in the business of scamming. We need someone who can find loopholes in our plans, dance around the law. We haven't had trouble with the law yet, but the more we scam, the more attention we attract. Plus, we need someone who can forge documents for us."

Vice cocked her head. "Forgery? Isn't that a bit extreme?"

I smirked. "Not at all. Look, we're going to be submitting revenue reports with the merchants guild in the future. What happens when they take a magnifying glass to our sales? Eventually, something won't add up. I'm preparing for that."

Vice spat out her cigarette, her face contemplative. "So you're saying you're ready to break the law?"

I nodded. "I've always been on the edge of the law anyway, but yes, I want to take that step. I've realized something: this world itself is corrupt. Girls like Alice, Jasmine, and Aurora are being turned into slaves every day. To stop that, we're going to have to break more than a few rules."

Vice pointed out, "This is just one city, though. Even if slavery stops here, you can't possibly stop it everywhere."

I rebuked, "No, you're right. That might not be possible, but at the very least, I want to get the ball rolling. Who knows, tip over a couple of dominoes, and you might start opening people's eyes."

Vice snorted. "You're such an idealist. For a guy breaking the law, you sure have morals."

I sighed. "For the past year, I thought I had abandoned my morals, but Alice and everyone have reignited them."

Vice teased, "I really don't want to imagine what you would have become had you never come to Edgefield."

I laughed. "Neither do I. That person isn't someone I'd want to meet."

With that, the last stretch of time came and went. As we approached Ironpike Ridge, the landscape began to change again. The fields and farms gave way to rugged terrain, and the road became narrower and rockier. The ridge itself loomed ahead—a massive, jagged formation of stone and iron that dominated the horizon.

Ironpike Ridge was a mining town, and it showed. The buildings were sturdy but weathered, built to withstand harsh conditions. Smoke rose from the chimneys of the smelters and forges, and the clanging of metal could be heard even from a distance. The air smelled of iron and coal, a stark reminder of the town's lifeblood.

As we pulled into the town, I made my way through the market as usual. It was much smaller than other towns I had been to. A few people were selling goods, but it was mostly food. We parked the caravan near a nearby inn—Stranger's Night Stay. An odd name, but it seemed nice enough. The inn took horses, which was convenient. We didn't have to deal with the hassle of paying for our horses to be taken in. It was also close to the caravan.

I began setting up our stall right away. We could stand to make some money here. Obviously, that wasn't our main objective this time, but I felt like I should make an effort. Vice helped me set up while the kids stretched their legs and explored the area around the inn. As I arranged our goods, I kept an eye out for potential customers and, more importantly, someone who might know a good lawyer.

"Look at this place," Vice said, leaning against the side of the caravan. "Feels like we've stepped back in time. All the smoke and noise, it's like a whole different world."

Rune teased, "It fits your wild west theme."

Vice snorted. "It's not a theme, kid. It's my style."

Jasmine chimed in, "It is rustic, to say the least."

"Yeah," I agreed. "But it's a good place for us to find what we need. Mining towns will have lawyers for sure since it's such a competitive industry." Someone would need to manage the stall and protect it from thieves. I decided on the plan for today.

"Alright, the plan for today is simple," I began. "Jasmine and Alice will stay here with Vice. Vice, look after the stall. If anyone asks for anything, haggle with them a bit, but don't overdo it. Jasmine, can I trust you with Alice? Teach her if you can; her vocabulary is getting better, but her sentences could use work. Rune, you're with me. We're going lawyer hunting."

Vice nodded, already sitting down. "Got it, boss." Jasmine seemed happy; those two have become pretty quick friends.

"I'll do your hair, Alice," Jasmine offered.

Alice smirked happily. "Thank you."

Rune nodded approvingly. "Where to first?"

I reasoned, "It seems like there are some places on the far end of town. Offices we passed by on the way here; they're close to the main gate." With that, we parted from the stall.

Rune added as we walked, "I have a pretty good sense for people. I can usually tell if someone is lying based on their heartbeat. It should help with finding a good lawyer."

That was a pretty useful skill to have. I guess his hearing plays a factor. I praised him. "I've got to start training you to run the stall. You'll be good in sales."

Rune blushed slightly. "I thought Vice was your substitute."

I laughed. "For now, I guess, but I'm afraid she's going to scare away a lot of our customers."

We laughed about the idea of Vice yelling at someone trying to bargain prices, and then we made our way to the spot in question. Wooden business buildings lined the area. I read a few of the signs: The Fox's Den: Legal Solutions and William's Wit: Legal Expertise.

We browsed around a little. I was about to head into The Fox's Den when I heard a loud banging sound.