Anji bit her lip and made a show of rearranging her cards as the two spoke.

“I say the old ruin had it coming,” said the barkeep, and Anji’s earlier distaste for the man ebbed a little. “Rolandrian’s legacy will be letting Governors fatten like pigs off our hard work. This tavern has been in my family for six generations, left to me by my father, who would rise out of his grave just to die again if he heard the rates I’m paying—for a place owned outright, mind you.”

Jom huffed a heavy sigh through his nose, but the barkeep rambled on.

“I’ve had next to no custom now everyone is working triple shifts out in the fields. All that strain on the crops—it’ll bleed the ground dry. Anyone of an age to drink is too exhausted to do anything but go straight to bed after work. On top of that, they’re terrified of the new constables—Sun Warden tax collectors in all but name if you ask me. Trussed up in yellow, tacking up their decrees and handing out pamphlets, accusing us of impiety with one hand while they drain our pockets with the other. Last night two of them came in and told me to hang that up.” He dipped his head to the poster over the mantel. “Wouldn’t leave until they were satisfied it couldn’t be ripped down. Then the pictures and words started moving and about scared the whole bar out into the street. Hardly anyone’s been back since.” He glanced out the window again. “All this muster and bluster and maxia, and for what? So they can carve up a little more for themselves when they’ve already got the world.” He snorted. “I’ve got half a mind to pack up and join the Tide.”

“All talk,” said Tela, waving a hand. “That’s as much a revolution as this bar is a brewery.”

“Rumor is it’s growing in strength,” said the barkeep, but his voice trailed off into a mutter.

Tela rolled her eyes. “I’ll join when I’ve got more than mushrooms and potatoes on my plate.”

“King’s dead, isn’t he?” said the barkeep. “It’s a start is all I’m saying.”

“Would’ve gutted the bastard myself if I’d had the chance,” said Jom. “Nine, if the girl were here I’d buy her a drink.”

Anji allowed herself the tiniest smirk and took a sip of her ale.

Tela scoffed, “Of all the taverns in the world, I doubt she’d choose this one. Most the realm couldn’t find us on a—”

Jom pounded his fist on the table, nearly toppling Anji out of her chair. The pile of Celdia rattled and a few discarded cards flipped over to show their stained faces.

“Dammit, boy, you going to bet or not?”