“None of those louts upstairs do either,” Red laughed. “I don’t charge for the services I provide, though I do ask that my guests help out when necessary and to maintain the sanctity and secrecy of this place. Guests that fail to adhere to a few simple rules like that are asked to leave, such as with Rodi and Roc.” She stood and sauntered over to a cabinet, opened it, and pulled a small jar from among the many on the shelf
“Roc, breaking the rules? I find that difficult to believe.” Kitalia shook her head slowly and then grimaced, “but Rodi? Yes, I can see that of him.”
Red nodded, taking a small scoop of red powder from the jar with a wooden utensil and dumping it into a nearby mug. A long pour of hot water followed. “Rodi was asked to leave for… well, for reasons and, of course, Roc followed. Why he is such a good friend to that wastrel I cannot fathom.” She brought the mug over to Kre and gestured for him to drink it up. “It seems though that even outside of these walls, Rodi is presenting himself as trouble waiting to happen.
“That’s a matter for tomorrow though. Back to the matter at hand,” Red said, smiling again. “You mentioned a good man, a rare thing in this world. Tell me about this innocent man.”
Kre paled again but either the tea was helping, or he was more prepared for the memories of killing his friend. “I knew him as Terry Cootsman, sometimes referred to as Cooter, but never to his face. He was a completely honest man, although it appears that he was hiding a past the whole time he lived in our town.”
Red nodded, preparing her own cup of tea. “I’ve never yet found a person that wasn’t trying to hide something from their past.” She paused and raised her cup towards Kre, “Except maybe you. You seem far too forthcoming with everything.”
“Another, very annoying habit of his,” Kitalia commented wryly, although she did flash Kre a smile as she did so.
“Oh, there’s loads of stuff I won’t go into,” Kre admitted. “But this? All this criminal stuff? I don’t see the harm in it anymore. I mean, I’m pretty much a prisoner walking to my own sentencing, so there’s really not much else that I need to worry about with that.”
“You poor deluded boy,” Red said with a sad look on her face. “You have no idea about how the world works do you? Have you ever left your little town even once in your life? Have you seen the look of desperation on the face of those who lost everything to the corrupt and powerful? Have you looked into their hearts to see them wrest with the decision to steal so that their family can eat, or to stay true to the law but starve?
“The world is full of people that would sooner kill you for the cloak you so vehemently hate, just because it is warm and might save them when the night’s chill comes.”
“That seems like a pretty unlikely scenario, as horrible as it would be,” Kre retorted, suddenly a bit less sure of himself thanks to her words. “Besides, I’m only like a criminal, but I’m not a criminal… not yet at least. I can stay on the main roads and in the cities and towns, thus avoiding many of the dangers of being out in a place like…” He stopped himself suddenly, but not before the gist of his words were carried through.