Monster's Mercy

by William D. Arand

  Your skill in Instruction has increased (24)

  Your skill in The Elemental Way has increased (43)

  Rene huffed with a smile at the collected ranks of his orphans.

  “Go wash up, get your breakfast, and make sure you get your rooms prepped. We’ll have our instructors arriving today, and your educations will begin soon. Your very short vacation is quickly running out.” Rene made a shooing motion with his hands towards the big courtyard door that led back to the main room.

  Every child had been assigned a “sibling” and a room. Male to male and female to female. Older to younger.

  There’d only been one extra male. Which meant the oldest boy got two younger “siblings.”

  Rene clapped his hands together and wrung them against each other as he approached his crew.

  “Good morning, everyone,” Rene said, nodding his head to them.

  “Will you teach me, too?” Lori said, stepping in close to him and looking up at his face.

  “Sure, just be here early in the morning. I figure classes will start next week. More than likely, they’ll start right after breakfast. I hadn’t planned on teaching, but we’ll see how it goes. I’ll know more about the curriculum when the teachers arrive,” Rene admitted.

  As he spoke he noted their reactions spanned from puzzled to confused.

  We didn’t tell them of our plans. They were only around for a short period yesterday and we were busy.

  Realizing his mistake, he opened his mouth to correct it.

  Only to have Alana hold up a hand.

  “I take it you’ve hired a staff to not only clean the grounds, but provide an education for your charges. This seems like a normal course of action for an orphanage,” Alana said.

  Bill nodded his head once at that, his eyes looking over the courtyard.

  “Do you plan on hiring trade skill teachers?” asked the blacksmith.

  “That’s… actually a really good idea,” Odelia responded for him. “You should hire people to do that.”

  “He’d likely only be able to hire journeymen who are attempting to test for a master’s license. They’re required to teach,” Alana said.

  “Hah, I’m actually a journeyman bard. I couldn’t really get a gig that paid well enough, steady enough, which is why you found me where you did,” Caleb conceded.

  Rene couldn’t deny the idea was sound. An education was a fine thing, provided you could include real-world job skills.

  An education doesn’t guarantee a stable life; remember those children with thousands in debt and only strife?

  Nodding, Rene chewed on that mentally.

  “I can put you in touch with other journeymen,” Bill offered, looking at Rene.

  “Can you? I’d appreciate that. Let’s try to hit the main professions that would be open to my wards.

  “Military, farming, hunting, carpentry. Crafting, of course, but that’s a myriad of possibilities. Stick to material rather than the specifics. Blacksmithing, leather working, tailoring. I’m open to suggestions otherwise.

  “I’d be willing to hire you on as an instructor. If not you, could you recommend another?”

  Hire Bill and Caleb. I’ve already arranged the rest. They’ll arrive tonight.

  Rene managed to somehow control his reaction to the text that filled his log in the corner of his vision.

  He watches.

  The Watcher.

  “On second thought, I’d rather hire you and Caleb only, Bill. I think I might have already filled a number of these positions. I probably should have paid more attention to the hiring missives I signed my name to,” Rene said with a dismissive hand.

  Odelia clapped her hands together with a soft laugh. “I can teach them etiquette! You don’t need to pay me. I’m still working off my debt to you.”

  “I wouldn’t mind managing your library. You’d have to meet the pay I have currently and provide me with room and board,” Alana said, a smile quirking her lips.

  “Fine. Sounds like I need an accountant. Or an administrative assistant,” Rene complained.

  “I can fill that role in addition to my librarian duties,” Alana offered.

  “Alright, please bill me accordingly for your services as my assistant as well then. We’ll go over the finances we have at my disposal later.”

  “Will you be drawing on your father’s accounts at all?” Odelia asked.

  Bill and Caleb both looked baffled at that.

  “His father?” Caleb asked.

  Alana looked at Odelia as if she were dense.

  At that moment, the noblewoman looked at a loss. “Ah…”

  Rene decided it wasn’t something he could or even should hide.

  “You’ve heard my last name, yes?” Rene asked.

  Both men nodded, as did Lori.

  “My father is Clement Anatolis. Of Laetus. Most notably, owner of Laetus Lending.”

  Bill’s eyes rounded as Caleb’s mouth fell open.

  Lori shook her head a little. “I don’t understand.”

  Rene grinned and patted Lori on the top of her head. “My father has a lot of money. That’s all.”

  “Oh. Okay. Can I have a room here?” Lori asked.

  Rene laughed and held up his hands. “That’s between you and your parents. I won’t say no, if they agree. Though I doubt they’ll be happy about you wanting a room at an orphanage.”

  “Wait, what’d you name it?” Caleb asked suddenly.

  “Name what, the orphanage?”

  “Yeah,” Caleb said.

  “I didn’t,” Rene admitted.

  Odelia sighed and pressed her hands to her eyes.

  Alana shook her head disappointedly.

  “Bill, I’ll commission a name plaque from you once Alan and I figure out a name for the place. With as little time as we have, it probably won’t be great, but it’ll have to do. Preferably, before the faculty arrives,” Odelia said between her fingers.

  The blacksmith nodded at that.

  “In other news, I haven’t been able to find anything about that kidnapping ring you wanted me to look into,” Caleb apologized.

  “Nothing?” Rene asked.

  “Not a thing. Which is strange in and of itself, really.” Caleb scratched at his head. “Not even a rumor, even though there were some going around before you asked me to look into it. Now no one will say anything about it. Something happened. Something big.”

  Rene grunted at that, and folded his arms over his chest. “I’m stepping up my plans. I’m going to be targeting the top three guilds. I need you to get me as much info as you can. Backers, finances, actions, everything. I’d like to be able to make an attempt on one of them in the next week or two.”

  Everyone nodded at that.

  He wouldn’t share with them the extent of his plans. He couldn’t. Not yet, at least.

  The best way to solve the problems for the children of Felicie’s streets, was not to just destroy the guilds, but to run them. Run them all, like a godfather sitting on top of a mafia.

  Then we set the rules and limitations; we’ll use it as a tool to build the foundations.

  Burn them all from within.

  “Sure, sure. No worries, we can get something together.” Caleb shrugged. He didn’t seem concerned in the least.

  Alana tilted her head to the side, watching him with those eyes of hers.

  Odelia gave him a bright smile.

  “Certainly,” she said.

  Bill nodded once.

  Lori jumped up and down excitedly.

  ***

  A few hours before sunset, Rene was called to the front gate by one of the groundskeepers he’d hired.

  Standing outside the gate were a dozen individuals. All different ages, genders, and ethnicities.

  Many had suitcases or trunks with them. More than likely everything they wanted to bring with them while working.

  Rene noted that a few had nothing but the clothes on their backs.

  Opening the gate, he
stepped up to the group of people.

  “Greetings to you, one and all. I formally welcome you to Redemption House. I am Rene Anatolis, of Laetus. Before anyone asks, my father is Clement Anatolis, owner and manager of Laetus Lending.

  “Laetus Lending plans on opening for business here in Felicie. Part of our duty is to put back into a community we are working in; we’ve thus opened this orphanage. My expectations for you, one and all, are very simple.”

  Rene paused a moment to make sure everyone was listening.

  “Treat the children with respect, treat each other with respect, and realize that everyone here is working to better themselves and each other,” he said with some steel to his voice. “I’ll not tolerate anyone who can’t ascribe to that. Employee, staff, student, or otherwise.”

  Nods and smiles were all he got from them to that statement.

  I think our benefactor hand-picked them specifically for us.

  Though I’d punch him in the dick, I’d beg for his forgiveness as I did it.

  “With that being said, let us commence with our personal introductions. Create a line, and I’ll provide you with your room key, after I get your name. I look forward to working with you all,” Rene said, and he stepped partially to the side of the person closest to him.

  “Name and subject?” Rene prompted, smiling at the elderly woman.

  “Janet Fin. Life studies and medicine. Practical application, of course,” said the gray-haired woman.

  “A pleasure, madam. Here is your key to your classroom and office. They’re located on the first floor of the school: yours is labeled three-A. Your key for your personal apartment. This is also on the ground floor and is simply number two,” Rene said, extending the two keys to the woman.

  If it were possible, an even brighter smile crossed the teacher’s face and she entered the grounds.

  The line formed up behind Mrs. Fin and began to work its way past Rene. He accepted their names, handed out keys, and generally enjoyed the experience.

  “Metzger, Dieter, Lieutenant,” stated a grizzled, middle-aged man, third to last in line.

  He had a serious air to him, his dark hair shot with gray and his face a crisscross of wrinkles and scars. He had the look of stringy old beef. A man that had probably buried a fair share of people who’d underestimated him. “Military theory, strategy, tactics, organization.”

  The fact that he was only a lieutenant and as old as he looked was interesting. It meant he’d either been promoted up through the ranks, or had seriously pissed off his superiors.

  Rene hoped for the prior, rather than the latter. A fighting man who’d made good would have a lot more to teach.

  “Greetings, Lieutenant Metzger. Your classroom key, office key, and personal apartment. I’m not sure the extent of your curriculum, but we have a blacksmith on retainer. Please don’t hesitate to have him fabricate whatever you have need of,” Rene said seriously, handing over the keys.

  The lieutenant nodded at that. Then he hesitated, as if unsure how to continue.

  “Speak freely, Lieutenant,” Rene said with a grin. “I have nothing but respect for those who serve. More so for those who can speak plainly.”

  Grunting at that, the lieutenant gave him a small grin.

  “Right. These kids, street kids?” asked the old soldier.

  “That’s right. I don’t want them to end up as fodder. Either dying in the streets or being ground up in military service. Better to prepare them now and give them the best chance,” Rene said. He wondered where the soldier was going with this.

  Lieutenant Metzger grunted again, as if it were a second language to him. He walked towards the buildings without another word, and Rene was left with only his thoughts on the man.

  Next, came two young women. They looked to be in their mid-twenties and they were identical twins. They were the last to be admitted and he had to wonder if they had done it on purpose.

  “Daisy and Lilly Billings,” said the twin in front, Lilly according to the tag floating above her. “Headmaster and school nurse.”

  Rene grinned at that, and silently thanked the Watcher. He’d truly provided him with far more than he’d let on.

  “I’m glad to have you both on site. Here is the headmaster’s key,” Rene said, holding it up to the one listed as “Daisy” from the nameplate. “It opens every door on the facility. Here’s your apartment key, as well.”

  The woman blinked a few times, and then took the keys.

  “Lilly, here’s an office and classroom key. I’m not sure you’ll need it in your role, but it never hurts to be prepared. Here’s your apartment key, as well,” Rene explained, holding the keys out.

  Lilly took her keys and cast a speculative eye on him.

  Daisy was the one who spoke up though.

  “As your headmaster, what do you expect of me? You hired me for a job and I intend to do just that,” she said, meeting his eyes directly.

  She fears that our bed will be part of the gig. Fear not, little pretty, we’re not that much of a prig.

  Rene had enough problems dealing with Odelia and Alana. Even with his limited experience, it was clear those two had unspoken designs and thoughts on him. And to his mind, these twins seemed little more than college graduates.

  “I expect you to be the headmaster. Nothing more, nothing less. I’ll not be interfering in your curriculum or plans. I only ask that you use the resources I provide to the best of your ability,” Rene said it clearly and directly. He didn’t want there to be any miscommunication.

  Daisy frowned, and Lilly smiled with a nod of her head.

  “Perfect. I’m glad to be a part of this. Such a grand idea. It’s like a university for children before university,” gushed the school nurse.

  Rene gave her a smile and nodded, sweeping his arm to the building.

  “After you two. I need to lock the gate. We’ll have a staff meeting tomorrow, where I’ll be letting everyone know that I’m little more than a financial backer. I’ll not be stepping into the daily affairs of the school.”

  Both twins picked up their suitcases and headed up the stone walkway to the school.

  Rene trailed along behind, after locking up the gates.

  Redemption House was born.

  Chapter 16

  Moving from one form to another, Rene let his mind wander. To review things in his head.

  Changes would be coming to his newfound pattern. His newfound schedule. New targets with fresh bounties were being assessed and he had money to earn.

  It had been several days since he’d opened Redemption House. Much of the time over that period had been spent in meetings.

  Meetings with everyone in the faculty.

  Through all of that, Rene had kept to his word and remained silent on all things to do with the teaching of the children and the curriculum.

  It only took the first meeting for everyone there to figure out that their boss was indeed Miss Billings. That going to her was in their best interest and going around her would be bad for them.

  The only time he ever ruled in on anything was when it involved finances or resources.

  Blissfully, Rene had almost nothing to do with the operation of the school and its students.

  His concerns were purely monetary.

  And when everything was said and done, all final items purchased and repairs made, he still had eighty gold to his name.

  If he did nothing, Redemption House could remain open for two years. Everyone’s contracts had been paid in advance, which meant he only had to get together the costs to rehire them when those ran out.

  Which really meant all he needed to do was get ahold of his personal account back in Laetus within the next two years.

  He could consider all of this an investment as well. He sincerely believed that, in time, the school could eventually turn a profit, if he did things right.

  A two-year time limit wasn’t going to be a problem either. If anything, it was overly generous.

 
; An armored courier from Felicie could be hired here to travel to Laetus, collect his personal accounts, and travel back to Felicie.

  With the number of sellswords around, it wouldn’t be a hard thing to manage.

  Beyond that, his days had rapidly fallen into a routine.

  Mornings were for training, and he spent his afternoons on any paperwork or documentation he needed to take care of.

  This was almost always done in the company of Alana, who kept him on track. He wasn’t sure what paperwork was needed to keep a school running, and he was glad for her assistance.

  Rene’s mind was all money and violence.

  Other than the drudgery of paperwork, afternoons were spent planning for his bounty hunting work. That’d slowed down considerably after the first guild had been brought in as it had.

  No new bounties had been placed, and it seemed every criminal in the city was trying to lie low. Hoping the Black Hood would move on.

  The evenings of almost every night were when Rene chased skill-ups.

  Skill-ups, and their associated jumps in ability, were becoming his focus.

  He felt an almost overwhelming urge to keep seeking out the next one.

  It was akin to an addiction.

  To the point that he’d been trying to figure out how to get more. To expand. To improve.

  He’d even set time aside deliberately to start into the swordplay manual and had begun reading through it. All for the sake of skill-ups.

  Reading the book had given him nearly the same results that had come from reading The Elemental Way.

  Understanding and knowledge he shouldn’t have, considering he had never swung a sword in his life, came to him as easily as if he’d spent years learning the blade.

  All that work had paid off, as well. He’d progressed his knowledge of The Elemental Way to fifty-nine and his swordplay to twenty-two.

  On top of all that, Rene was successfully working on his other martial arts training.

  Rather than penalize him for doing so, all the skills seemed to grow together and enhance one another. To provide options that hadn’t originally been there.

  Like changing a very simple strike into the bash of a sword hilt and how to work it into a routine.