Everyone wore masks the same as us, identities hidden behind feathers and lace.A barmaid plopped our drinks on the table.I stared at mine for a moment before taking a sip, but Valeris immediately gulped half of his down.
“Why do you come down to this part of the city?”I asked curiously.
He studied me for a moment as if deciding whether or not to answer.His cup landed back on the wood with a thud.“Come and see.”
He pushed his seat back and rose, sauntering over to a table packed with a group of men where he pushed his way onto a stool at the edge.I followed but chose to sit on a nearby bench.Far enough away to not be noticed but close enough to listen.
“Evening, gents.”Valeris slipped into an accent that made him sound as if he was from southern Paravellia.He eased right into their group as if he drank here every night, and the men accepted him without question, drawing him into the conversation as if he were an old friend.
He asked about their businesses, the present farmer about his crops, how the economy was faring in the other corners of the kingdom.Some gave short answers while others were more detailed.Valeris showed a genuine interest in them, in what they had to say.His pompous attitude never once slipped through, and he treated each of them as if they were his equal.The conversation shifted around to other topics, to other speakers, but eventually it lulled.
And then Valeris asked about the king.
“What about the king?I don’t know about you fellows, but sometimes I think he isn’t quite up to the task anymore.”
Silence descended over the once-lively table, the men glancing between one another, their expressions a mix of worry, distress, and anger.Two glanced over their shoulders to make sure the conversation wasn’t overheard.I averted my eyes to avoid suspicion but continued listening.
“Do you get much political news down south?”
I peeked up to see Valeris shake his head.
“We don’t,” he said.“Not out in the country.I like to keep up to date as much as I can when the opportunity arises.”
“Well”—the man wearing a blue mask stroked his blond beard—“I think you’ll find us a table divided on that topic.”
Valeris straightened, his interest piqued.“I will?”
One of the men sighed, leaning in along with the others and speaking in a voice so low I almost couldn’t hear.“Let’s just say some folks haven’t been too keen with the royal family, namely King Zaricor as of late.”
If the criticism offended Valeris, he didn’t show it, and I marveled at his stoicism and ability to keep a straight face.He would have done well in the tower.
“How so?”Valeris asked.
“Well,” the bearded man continued.“For one, taxes tripled about a year ago.Put some of us in the poor house as we couldn’t afford to pay our rent no more.Folks is convinced it was to help pay for the Paravellian Balls.”
“I thought the guests and foreign attendees paid a fee for each invitation,” Valeris said.
Another man shrugged.“They do, a pretty hefty fee, but that’s not enough to cover everything.Probably barely covers the fireworks show we put on the first night.”
Valeris sat back.“I thought everyone loved that show.”
“Oh, we do.”Nods went around the group as everyone agreed.“We do, but I happen to like a roof over my head more.”
“Understandable.”
“Now, don’t get me wrong”—the man lifted his hands in defense—“each Paravellian Ball brings an immense amount of revenue for the local inns and businesses, giving a massive boost to the economy while so many visitors are here, but I can’t say that revenue is enough to justify the extra taxes.”
“And don’t forget that petitions have been closed for nearly a year,” another man interjected.
Valeris’s head shot up.“Petitions?”
He nodded.“I’ve been trying to get my brother out of jail for almost a year, had to join the waiting list.By the time I moved up high enough to appear before the king, they closed petitions.Lots of bad stuff has been happening in the city, increase in crime, theft, and the king has refused to see anyone.I believe the chancellor has agreed to see a few people in his stead, but from what I’ve heard, nothing has ever come of those meetings.”
Valeris’s jaw clenched.“I thought it was law for the king to hold petitions?”
“It is law.”
I frowned.The news seemed to blindside Valeris, but he was a member of the royal family.There was no way he didn’t know.Petitioning the king was the right of every Paravellian.
