As Fin strolled into the brothel from the storm that rumbled outside, he did his best to wipe his feet on the worn rug in front of the door. Not that it was doing much good when the rest of him was dripping wet. He had to admit however, that mage Lee was having a worse time of it with his heavy robes being weighed down from gallons of water. Unlike Fin though, he had the magical means to dry himself upon stepping into the brothel. He did not offer the redhead the same courtesy, and even shot the witch a ‘that’s what you get’, expression.

Fin rolled his eyes at the pettiness and set his sights around the room.

Almost immediately, his gaze landed on Elizabeth Nonata racing down the steps from the second floor loudly declaring “Nononononononono," with her forest green dress hiked up to allow her a faster descent.

Rounding on them from across the room as soon as her foot touched the ground, she immediately snapped her fingers, and three beefy men Fin didn’t recognize from his previous visit stepped forward.

“These two are not allowed on the premises. They bring nothing but trouble.” Elizabeth Nonata folded her arms over her chest and scowled at the pair darkly.

Mage Lee stepped forward, his expression somber. “Ms. Nonata, I am afraid we are here on his majesty’s orders. He sent us instead of the Knights to give you the chance to do the right thing. We both know how the law’s presence in this establishment doesn’t benefit you or Madame Mathilda.”

The assistant didn’t say a word as she brandished a finger over their shoulders towards the dark drenched street through the open doorway.

“Then I will deal with the Knights. The two of you caused enough setbacks during your last visit.”

“Ms. Nonata, I had wanted to take a more subtle approach than my companion here,” Fin shot Lee an irritated side glance. “We just need to speak with Sandy. If the involvement of your brothel and her treason is surface level, you will be looked upon more favorably.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and moved her hands to her hips. “I fired that wench. I can’t afford the type of unsavory business she brings, can I?” There was an accusatory glint in her eyes.

“Where did she go?” Mage Lee demanded urgently.

“It is not my business to know. You might go pester some of the other brothels. Now, leave. Also, you, the one making a pond of my entrance. If your name is Fin, tell your ‘friend’ to stop harassing my staff for your whereabouts.”

“What friend?” Fin asked, alarmed.

“A lowly looking chap- named Red, I think. You are clearly not the lowly rank I initially judged you to be given those clothes, so perhaps he is a manservant you dismissed.”

Mage Lee’s expression was incredibly smug as Fin shifted at the remark pertaining to his attire.

“What did Red want?”

“I don’t know, nor do I care, out,” Elizabeth repeated pointing over their shoulders and two of the large men moved forward, while the third one went and stood beside the woman commanding them.

Fin took another step into the room, and blocked Lee from view, as though protecting the elder.

“That is the wrong direction.” Elizabeth’s deep green eyes flashed.

“Funny, I’m usually quite good with directions.”

“Most men think they are until they get married. Which is why this business is so successful. Get. Out.”

“Ms. Nonata I am quite certain you know where Sandy is, and we would like to discuss how severe this matter is, because despite us mentioning treason you don’t seem to be concerned.”

“Oh please, the both of you are con artists. You probably commissioned Knights to pose as Viscountess Jenoure’s men as a backup plan. I would be happy to send her an urgent missive informing her that such a bold imposter is here in my grasp.”

Fin let out a long breath before fixing the woman with a weary gaze.

“If you do, I can guarantee she will be annoyed with me, but you… she might be a little more aggravated with. I don’t recommend being the focus of that kind of attention from Lady Jenoure.”

“Glad to see you know her so well,” Lee muttered ruthlessly behind the redhead.

“Ms. Nonata, you know that I am the Royal Court Mage to his majesty, I can credit this man’s story.”

“At this rate, Lee, it is more likely that the staff you like to show off is fixed with a glass crystal rather than a true mage’s. It seems the far likelier story considering you have not once presented any official documents or seal indicating your status.”

At this, Fin turned around and stared incredulously at the mage.

“I haven’t been so incensed in years! Of course I am a real mage!” Lee shook his staff at the redhead as though that would prove the woman wrong.

Fin clenched his fist at his side, but continued his direct gaze at Elizabeth Nonata while staying tensed in the event that one of the two guards nearing him would pounce. “Perhaps we should go back and return with your official seal, Lee. She has a point,” he remarked flatly.

“Bollocks to that! She knows who I am, I will not stand this insult!”

Sighing, and silently cursing the mage in his mind, Fin turned back to the assistant.

“We need to discuss this matter in private, Ms. Nonata.”

By then, a handful of the women had exited their rooms yawning, and were staring down at the peculiar scene. Many of them had mussed hair and dark makeup smudged under their eyes, but one, still fresh faced and energetic suddenly called out.

“YOU! YOU RAT BASTARD!”

Everyone jumped at the sudden shriek, and when all eyes turned, they saw the young woman in a cream shift and weathered green robe pointing at Fin, her eyes mad with fury.

“You’re the one who tried to end my career!”

“I offered you a better one!” The redhead exclaimed, turning his palms up in puzzled defence when he realized it was Chloe.

“You think I want to slave away in a hot kitchen for half what I make here?!” The woman demanded while gripping the banister that wrapped itself around the entire second floor.

“You intend to do this until you die?” Fin demanded, his hands moving to his hips.

“No, I’ll marry or become a Madame!”

When Fin shook his head, he heard a small snort of disbelief from Elizabeth Nonata and mage Lee. However, the witch glared at the assistant, which effectively silenced her.

“Is that what you peddled to her? Made her believe she had a future in this business?”

“I am not arguing this with you. Out!”

The burly two men surged forward, and reached for Fin’s arms, only for him to turn tightly out of the way at the last second, leaving mage Lee to be seized instead.

The witch then shoved the trio out the entrance back into the pouring rain, and closed the door as they tried to regain their footing. Fin turned back to Elizabeth and continued towards her calmly while the women above them gasped, and began chattering amongst themselves.

The third and final guard present moved to grab Fin, but the redhead managed instead to land a strong uppercut to the guard’s groin.

“Sorry about that,” he whispered as the fellow gagged and recoiled on the floor. The redhead then turned to the assistant who was beginning to look slightly more panicked.

“Ms. Nonata, if any of the women under your protection now, or recently, proves to be in any way connected with thousands of Troivackian soldiers being smuggled into Daxaria, I want you to think about what that would mean for your beloved business,” Fin’s voice was low when he reached Elizabeth who was notably pale and drawing out a small dagger. “Now, if you still have nothing to say to me, I will leave. The Knights will be here by this evening.”

“Suits me just fine! There is nothing of interest here, so we may as well get some paying titled men coming in!”

Shaking his head, Fin slowly turned- making sure to be wary of the knife in Elizabeth’s hand, and walked purposefully back towards the door, that was now already open with mage Lee standing in its frame, glaring daggers at the witch. The two men that had seized the elder lay unconscious in the street.

About to admit defeat and inform the King more drastic measures needed to be taken, Fin glanced up at the prostitutes that stared down whispering behind their hands, and an iron clad resolution suddenly gripped him.

Turning back to the room, the third guard was just beginning to get back to his feet, though it was obvious he was still battling the gut wrenching nausea. Fin placed his hands on his hips and turned his face up to the women.

“If you think this is a lucrative profession, you are wrong. I don’t see a single one of you over the age of twenty-five at the most. Now, if you insist on pursuing this line of work, why not ensure you will be properly cared for?”

“Mr. Ashowan, what in the name of the Gods are you doing?” Mage Lee’s panicked whisper matched Elizabeth Nonata’s expression of dawning horror. Somehow she knew the redhead was about to cause even more trouble…

“Just make sure no one tackles me,” Fin uttered before once again addressing the prostitutes who were growing in their numbers as more and more of them woke up from the commotion.

“What do you mean properly cared for? We’re the best paid prostitutes in the city!” One of the older women called out.

“Does your pay improve the longer you work?” Fin demanded, his volume marginally increasing.

The woman glanced at Chloe and openly scowled. “Nah. It decreases usually when the new youngs come in.”

Fin shot a deadly glance at Elizabeth Nonata who was beginning to lift her dagger again, but froze under the ire of his stare.

“How is that fair? You’ve worked longer, become more experienced, and what actually happens when none of the patrons think you are to their taste?” he insisted, staring directly at the prostitute who seemed all too eager to be listened to.

“I’ll go to work at one of the other brothels, or become a maid somewhere…”

“For even less pay I’m guessing? Not to mention marriage prospects by then I imagine are difficult,” Fin pointed out loudly as Elizabeth tried to shout over him, only for Lee’s staff to glow briefly, effectively intimidating her once again into silence.

By this time the girls were all beginning to speak amongst themselves worriedly.

“What you all need is stable, better pay, and perhaps a fund you all contribute to for when you are no longer able to work. Or between work.”

“No longer able to work?! That means they will be retired and living off of those still working until they die! It could be fifty years!” Elizabeth called out derisively.

“Or, it could be a fund that helps to offer them options. Education. What if they then had the means to become accountants? Seamstresses? Housekeepers? Or even Physicians?”

“A woman Physician?” one of the younger women called out quietly, her eyes round.

Elizabeth Nonata scoffed.

“My mother is one, and she is currently serving the King,” Fin announced loudly. The news effectively made the assistant grow still, but it was the opposite for the prostitutes. A flurry of excitement broke out amongst the women as they excitedly conversed about a brighter future after their time served.

“Could these… benefits be applied to the rest of us as well?” Fin glanced behind him and saw a reedy bartender leaning forward eagerly from the shadows.

“Yes, it could.”

“What would stop girls from coming in and quitting and just being paid out immediately?” The query came from mage Lee, who seemed genuinely intrigued by the speech.

“The girls would have to meet the standards set by the employer and serve their full term unless injured or sick to the point where they are unable to perform their duties.”

“This is preposterous! Madame Mathilda will never permit this, so the lot of you better stop listening to this menace and get back to your rooms!” Ms. Nonata hissed.

“It isn’t preposterous if you all walk out of here today until your demands are met,” Fin pointed out while turning a slow smile to the assistant who was practically frothing at the mouth.

The room went deathly quiet.

“We’ll be relieved of our positions,” Chloe whispered fearfully.

“Your Godsdamn right you would be, take them out!” Elizabeth was addressing the guard that had by then recovered from the blow Finlay had laid, but the man was listening with too much interest to adhere to her demand.

“Not if you all leave at once. Where is Ms. Nonata going to hire the sheer volume of professionals such as yourselves in a matter of, say, three hours? She will then have wealthy merchants pounding down her door and find that this business is completely empty. Even if she manages to hire some other women, you all have built relationships with these clients. You’ll have become well known to them… what happens when you are all gone?”

Elizabeth’s face was beginning to turn red as she stepped forward with her dagger in hand only for Lee to gently tap his staff against the floor and send the woman back by a couple feet with a block of wind.

For a moment all the women fell silent at having witnessed magic for the first time in their lives, and yet once the shock had faded, they all leaned forward even more eagerly.

“This is entirely within your power, ladies. However, you would all have to leave. Not just some of you. All. You need to unite as one group, because Ms. Nonata and Madame Mathilda are powerful, but not against all of you.” The redhead declared while making sure to make eye contact briefly with every woman present.

Glancing at each other, the first woman who had addressed Fin suddenly pressed her fist to the air.

“Godsdamnit ladies, I don’t care how mad this sounds. For Ms. Nonata to be this scared, there has to be some sense to it! Let’s do it! It isn’t like we have long here anyway!”

The miraculous happened then, and every single prostitute met each other's gazes… and nodded. Like soldiers on a quest, they all promptly returned to their rooms, and exited in proper street clothes.

Elizabeth’s jaw dropped as the girls filed down around her.

“You… I will never hire you back! Any of you! How dare- grab them!” Ms. Nonata addressed her henchman who still stood at her side in a daze. When he turned to face her however, there was a glint in his hazel eyes.

"I always... wanted to become a puppet maker..." He then proceeded to walk away, joining the steady stream of prostitutes, maids, and bartenders.

Giving her a sly, satisfied smile, Fin waited until the last of the women strolled past him before turning to take his own leave.

“I’ll take you to Mathilda but you bring those women back here, now!” Elizabeth boomed forcefully.

Without turning around, Fin pressed his hands in his pockets and smiled at Lee, who was staring at him with a mixture of awe and bewilderment.

“Oh, no, Ms. Nonata. You wanted the Knights to be the ones to interrogate your employer, I have a new goal in mind. Good day.”