Chapter 20: And his name is Kaiser
" Good evening, Madam. Still fierce as though you were in your youth. " Lady Amilja smiled it at Madam Butterfly, her eye going to the male hunk laid out unconscious on the floor.
" Ha. Ha. Amilja, you flatter. In my youth I could have bedded five of these for hours — I have not the stamina now. But aged as I am, the old bitch still keeps a few tricks up her sleeve. Or up her panties. Ha. Ha. " Madam Butterfly laughed, brazen.
Amilja laughed with her. " Madam, you have aged like fine surah. Beautiful as ever. The women these days have none of your grace, none of your fire. "
Madam Butterfly, pleased by the flattery, said, " You have grown into a fine merchant, with that silver tongue. Your father taught you well. But be easy — I know what you are thinking. My business is elsewhere. I came only for refreshment. "
Amilja eased at that. " Of course, Madam. Then I will not keep you. And next time you visit, I will make certain to bring in some good virile stock for your refreshment. " She bowed.
Madam Butterfly smirked at the gesture and left through the main gate of the Lustrum.
Amilja watched her go, and her father’s words came back to her. *Madam Butterfly — never displease her, and never grow too close to her either. She is vicious, and she is a sadist. Steer clear of her, tactfully. Flatter her. It is her weakness.*
Outside the Lustrum, Madam Butterfly drew a black hooded cloak over her green apparel and went to the Fellow Mire Inn. She reached the entrance and went in, and past the rowdy drunken commoners, to the innkeeper’s counter.
Reben was at his accounts when he heard his name and looked up.
Madam Butterfly pulled her hood back a little — enough to show her face — and put it up again. Reben came to his feet and began to bow, and caught himself, thinking it would draw suspicion.
" Madam. A pleasure to see you — graceful as ever. Go on up. Anything you need, only order it. "
She nodded and went upstairs.
The upper floor of the Fellow Mire was cut in two. One side, a common dining and drinking area; the other, ten medium rooms for lodging. The food and drink up here ran higher in price and quality than below. It was a floor for nobles, and for anyone who preferred discretion — because the Lustrum offered its brothel openly, but some nobles wanted their faces hidden while they indulged in debauchery and in affairs with commoners’ wives, to keep clear of any repercussion if it came out.
The tables were half-filled, individuals and couples at their food and drink. Madam Butterfly took a table, ordered a glass of surah, drank, and watched the room while she waited.
They all wore hoods to hide their faces — even the couples. But she knew some of them by their voices. *Hypocrites*, she muttered.
A figure in a grey hooded cloak and a black mask came out of one of the rooms into the dining area. It crossed between the tables and came to hers, and sat down across from her.
" Who is it this time? " she asked.
" An adolescent male. Awakened his bloodline only today. Black skin, whitish hair, red markings on the hands and legs. No noble background. Lives here in Redweed. Will join either the Temple of Bellicus or the Temple of Caedis. "
The masked voice went on, flat, as though read from a page.
" If he joins Bellicus, in the capital, your service is not needed — others will deal with him inside the Temple. But if he goes to the Cruentus forest, for the Temple of Caedis, dispose of him there, before he reaches it. Do not kill him in Redweed; it draws attention we do not want. If he is to die here, he dies by accident. "
A pause.
" His name is Kaiser. "
" And where does he live? " Madam Butterfly asked.
" The south-eastern corner of Redweed, against the boundary wall. His is the only house there. He came home today; many of the commoners saw him. When the work is done, bring solid proof. The client was firm on that. "
The masked man stood and went back into his room. Madam Butterfly finished her drink and went down and out of the inn, toward Kei’s house.
*I am in deep trouble.*
Kei had been at the table right behind hers the whole time — in his cheap brown hood, eating — and had heard every word of it.
*I need to run.*
