THE FORTUNIST

26. Lay

“Albeny's past invaders disappeared mysteriously in the Tai. No one knows how or why.”

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From a young age, Lay had been more invested in studying maps than Rayton ever was. As a child, he had memorised the entire layout of Albenarum and Rayton would taunt him that he would never attend the school anyway. They are the highest of nobles. Attending Albenarum as prestigious as it is, is simply below their station.

Now, wouldn't Rayton be glad that he had not succeeded in disheartening him? Lay finds himself navigating the very place Rayton solidly believed they would never set foot in until one of them, presumably Rayton, became king.

Albenarum was never the intention intended. After disguising as a commoner and taking a Dropp Seal on Rayton's advice for precaution, Lay had set for the Port City, Cailis.

He had arrived without hitches. He had also found the restaurant and wondered what was special about the basic looking place bearing such a basic sounding name such as THE HIVE, not CHIVARYZ but he had been able to identify it anyway because part of its address read FORMERLY CHIVARYZ. They had been private booths which he figured one could order, eat, pay and leave without being disturbed— and public tables, which he did not consider suitable to ask the questions he was meaning to ask.

He had impatiently strolled right into the kitchen nearly causing a ruckus as he demanded to see the manager. A middle aged woman with white and black evenly distributed hair led him aside to a private booth. She introduced herself as Meda.

"I was told I could get any information I seek in this restaurant. I know I am in the right place."

Meda had then smiled tightly at him, as if she knew something he didn't know. "Your face certainly does brighten the place," she said shrewdly and tried unsuccessfully to disguise a stink eye.

Lay had frowned. "Do you know me?"

"It depends," she retorted sharply, "the person who told you so has obviously not been in the area for a while."

Lay muses. He remembers clearly of the time when Rayton had disappeared for three days and that had been the last time Rayton ever left the palace, at least to his knowledge. "Thirteen years."

"Oh dear," Meda had winced, "I am sorry but this establishment has changed hands for more than ten years running. It indeed used to be an information hub before the change, but no longer."

"So coming here was a waste of time?"

"You look like a commoner," Meda said, "is your brother a soldier?"

No, my brother is a prince. Lay did himself right to remember at the nick of time that Rayton had indeed gone out disguised as a soldier. But how did this woman know?

"How do you know?" He asked demurely.

Meda rested her weight on the table through her arms and she seemed to look upon him hatefully Lay nearly recoiled. "Your brother is a thief," she hissed, "he bought food he could not pay for, food that could feed the whole province."

"That's… that's uh… unlike," Lay swallowed, "that's unlike him." But what wasn't unlike Rayton at all. The man was simply full of cunning surprises. "Did he tell you I would come?"

"He did in fact. Told me you would ask of one Ciara Mulden."

Lay dipped his head. "I suppose he also knew I'd be paying," he said dryly as he procured his pouch. "How much?"

"Ten thousand Albs in gold."

"Ten thou…," Lay blinked away his exasperation. Resigned, he paid the amount in full. Now, Meda seemed quite amiable again.