Godless and Faithless 2 Ch 5

A ghostly warm glow came from all directions in the room as Axel sat waiting for Grace to finish her work.

The hospitality god’s blessing on the brothel provided numerous small benefits. It allowed warm water to run throughout the building, providing warmth without the need for a pumping system. It also sourced light that appeared to originate from nothing and with only a simple thought to activate it.

Frankly, the blessing even this petty god, so weak as to not have a name, provided was a marvel even to Axel, who came from a modern world with advanced technology.

Grace had informed him that combined with the skills of the other whores they were able to provide special services and comforts to rival those of the larger cities.

This advantage was one of the real reasons for the profitability of the brothel. The sexy women offering pleasure was just a way to draw customers in.

None of that was why he came to see Grace. The events of the previous days had a greater effect on him than he wanted anyone to let on. He’d sparred with the little Coalition soldier Ava for days and learned much about her and saw why her helplessness grated on her bones with such tenacity.

All that training and potential for the future possibly snuffed out because of men with loose morals under the command of a traitor. Axel would have been pissed too.

Making matters worse, the three armies’ unity had grown worse. The Coalition wished to save face and refused to acknowledge any responsibility for the disaster. A visit from an esteemed commander made them sweat with the shame of their losses. It made them eager to play up their own roles in ending the battle.

Axel already regretted giving them the credit for the victory.

The militia suffered from a weak morale. Their spirits were at a soaring height after winning the battle against the Inimi. The defeat by a horde of kobolds made them reconsider their worth as soldiers.

Some went home. Others took to infighting.

The power struggles for leadership again renewed and a new face popped up every day claiming leadership of their forces. Axel’s original structure of the militia had crumbled away.

Then there were the newly minted forces of Alta. A supposedly competent general led them but few had seen him or even knew his name. Even his whereabouts during the battle was a mystery. Hardly an example to show other countries the supposed might of Alta.

All this, combined with crime and poverty in full view on the formerly welcoming streets of Ridgehill led to an atmosphere smoking with fear.

The armies had to take action; instead, paralysis reigned. The councilors met daily to discuss solutions and ended their meetings frustrated and forlorn.

He shook off his musings and looked to Grace Harman, her nose deep in her ledger. Gone was the host of a whorehouse whose clothing was designed to please the male eye with its generous helping of cleavage and tightness around the waist.

Now Axel saw her for what she truly was, a frumpy old businesswoman. Her eyes were tired and her hair in a neat bun with a face showing her age. Though, she still had quite a healthy figure and bust.

At his attentions, Grace’s lips turned up slightly causing Axel to break out in a furious blush.

He wanted to interrupt but was curious at the work Grace did to keep the place running. As he now knew, her leadership of the brothel included more than owning a place that let the opposite genders grind into each other.

It required health checkups for the workers to keep them free of illness. Pregnancy tests were routine and required. Grace had herbs given out in large amounts to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Tailors designed, replaced, and repaired an ever-growing supply of clothes to suit the assets of each lovely whore to entice the clients.

Peeking at the paper, Axel saw she even had a graph that provided an image of each whore’s strength and weakness. Grace took pimping to the next level. Madam and Councilwoman Grace Harman continued to prove his choice to work with her correct every day.

Grace closed her ledger and gave him her full attention. “Forgive me Axel, I said I would only be a minute and look, it is almost night.” She looked to the wall as if staring outside, though the office had no windows.

“Not a problem Grace. Business is business. It gave me time to think.”

“Good. What is it you wished to speak with me about? Are you finally going to partake in all my brothel has to offer?”

“No, I wanted to talk about—well, it’s a bit sensitive.”

She sighed, seemingly knowing what he meant. “Yes, of course, I apologize wholeheartedly. Rayner gave me the details after our talk and you made the best choice you could at the time. I am no warrior and in no place to judge your actions in a chaotic battle.”

It took a beat for Axel to figure out what she was on about. Then he remembered when she implied he was a coward for leaving the camp followers behind to be slaughtered.

She may have been right, but It wasn’t why he came here. “Grace I’m here to talk about sexual culture, specifically…assault.”

Her eyes lit up when he mentioned sexual culture then frowned at the mention of assault. “I am a student of sexual history and can tell you much about sexual culture. When you say assault, you mean the use of force, correct?” He nodded, uncomfortable. “Has anyone been hurting my girls?” she said in a heated tone.

“No, no.” Axel waved his hands. “It’s this girl I met, well, I met her a while ago but only got to know her now. She was captured by the bandits and escaped with our help before anything happened to her. But other men and women seemed to have dissuaded the bandits.”

Axel had gotten pretty good at ignoring the horrors of the war, but he had to confront it now to move forward. “She got me thinking about how this part of the world views sex. Rayner had an orgy with random virgins and it all seems so odd. I don’t know what the rules are.”

He could not say this part of the world was a new one entirely. Fortunately, Grace had gotten used to his cryptic asides to where he and Rayner came from.

“Ah, I’m aware of the situation you are talking about. It is simple. Sex is seen as a form of worship. Some people have complicated rituals to praise their gods. Others light a simple fire. But sex is the most popular.” Pausing she added with a grin, “For obvious reasons.”

“But why all that when the gods only need EXP?”

“The rituals are a middle man, so to speak.