“Gumption,” Red smirked, “I wouldn’t have expected him to have that trait.” She waved a dismissive hand at the cart behind her invitingly. “Help yourself.”
“It does pop up occasionally,” Kitalia said with a nod. “If he did not have that inner fire, so to speak, he would probably still be at that cabin trying to explain his situation to two very brutal and corrupt Rangers. He still believes that justice and right prevails over all.”
“Rangers, eh? That reminds me,” Red said, raising an eyebrow at Kitalia.
Kitalia shook her head warningly, glancing over at Kre. The hungry lad was ignoring the two of them for the most part, making his way to the indicated cart with a focus only on his rumbling stomach. On the cart, he spotted four glass decanters filled with unidentifiable liquids, two trays with sliced meats and cheeses, and a bowl full of apple slices. He shoved a handful of apples slices in his mouth while his hands started to deftly wrap pieces of meat with slices of cheese.
Even though Kre was otherwise distracted, the younger woman shook her head once. “No business now, but rest assured, all is taken care of.”
“I never had any doubt Daisy.”
This time it was Kitalia that snorted. “I do not believe that for a second. Be honest, what were the odds you had on me? Ten to one I would not make it back? Fifteen?”
“Hey,” Red said warningly, “no business now. Your rules.” She turned at looked back at Kre who was still stuffing food directly into his face from the cart.
“Kre, dear,” Red sighed, “there are smaller plates and forks on the bottom part of the cart. There’s no need to eat like an animal. Even the crudest of the fellows upstairs eat with manners.”
“I’ll eat politely like a normal person when you two start treating me and talking to me like I’m a normal person. For starters, I would just appreciate someone telling me what’s going on around here? What kind of place is this that the door doesn’t exist until it does… where pirates and priests gather together to play cards… where you need sentries out in the forest that don’t even tell your guests how to get here safely?”
Red’s eyebrow arched up. “Sentries?”
“Rodi and Roc. They were acting as the unofficial watch of these woods,” Kitalia explained. “I do not believe they present the best first impression of this settlement.”
“I agree,” Red agreed, frowning. “I’ll have some of the boys go round them up tomorrow and remind them not to linger too close. We don’t want unwitting folks to think there’s anything worth seeing around here.” She sighed and rested her forehead against her hand, “Those two will be the death of me, I swear.”
“So, they don’t work for you?” Kre asked.
Red shook her head. “No, no one here works for me. I simply provide a safe place for folks like you to lie low for a bit.”
“Folks like me?”
“Criminals,” she added. “Of if you prefer… refugees from lawful society.”
“But I’m not a criminal,” Kre protested just before he bit off a piece of an apple slice. “I haven’t been convicted yet.”