Miss Monto is forward about her illegal activities

Miss Monto is already there when Emid arrives, sitting outdoors, enjoying a drink in the warm evening air. She was wearing more common clothes than she normally does at the castle, but he is too. However, her clothes are tight and revealing. Her shirt is cut lower, showing more cleavage than he has ever seen her show. Her pants are tight. Normally common clothes are thin but a little due to the demands of physical labor. Emid had seen her in the town on a few occasions during festivals or on a day off from school. At festivals, she always dressed well and one would assume she had a noble patron. At the market, she always wore loose clothes like the other commoners.

While Emid was admiring her, an elf with a cart carrying a barrel of beer to the bar bumps into him. The elf just grunts and scowls. The divide between elves and common humans was less pronounced and elicited less deference than in the castle or noble manors. That didn’t mean laborers and elves refrained from brawls occasionally. Emid hurried out of the way. He figured elves were just folks trying to get a fair wage and being cheated worse than everyone else more often than not. He grinned to himself. He sounded like when Sari got to ranting in the library as long as she was out of earshot of her mother or Miss Perinoup. Miss Monto spotted him standing around grinning to himself like a fool and waved him over.

He went and started to greet her.

Emid: You look…

Monto: Sit down silly. You don’t have to stand to address me, you are no longer my student.

Emid: Oh, ok. Sorry.

Monto: I didn’t mean for that to put you on the defensive, I just meant we can speak as peers now.

Emid: You always told us that respect for our elders was a cornerstone of healthy society.

Monto: Indeed, and that is partially true, but you are a bright student and I’m sure will soon be proficient at your craft as I am at mine. Look around and see how much age matters.

Emid: Yes, I know, but..

Monto: That is for the castle. Here we are equals.

Emid: …

Monto: let’s get you a drink. Hey Mok, get my friend a drink of his choice. What would you like Emid?

Emid: I would like a beer. Thank you Mok.

Emid unlatched his coin pouch. He had added several while changing before leaving the castle.

Mok: Money from Monto and her friends are no good here.

Mok hurried away. Emid was confused. Was that an insult? He had come here several times and Mok never turned down coin. He looked at Miss Monto. She was casually looking at him, waiting for his response.

Emid: What was? That was abnormal.

Monto: Can I share a secret with you Emid?

Emid: Of course. My lips are sealed.

Monto: The barkeep is my cousin. I was teaching his kids basic subjects and it grew so now I have a proper night school for some of the commoners kids twice a week.

Emid: But…

Monto: I know how the church and the nobility would react.

Emid: What about the royals?

Monto: The queen thinks her peasantry is already behind other nations and it hurts conscription and trade. She has not been shy about stating this. I’m sure she would intervene if the king were to be upset. Besides, you know her daughters. They have had strict training and are elite in their areas, how would some peasants learning to read a little literature and do arithmetic challenge their status?

Emid: Miss Monto, I never knew you were such a community activist.

Monto: You can just call me Monto. I am not. I just think folks should have their best shot. I don’t teach at the castle because of the church’s education program. I also studied at night in a class, so I want to pass that opportunity along.

Emid: What about your husband? Is he not upset you spend your limited free time teaching children instead of tending to the home?

Monto: He is upset from time to time. But he is seldom around. Merchants tend to be sensitive, but he is seldom home.

Emid: Oh, so he goes to Nantia often?

Monto: Mostly he goes to Finfar and the Northern Isles. But Nantia is a great place to get a boat to Finfar.

Emid: That makes sense. So what do you do on your other nights?

Monto: Come here or sleep, but mostly sleep.

Emid: So you don’t often take your former students to pubs to fill your evening schedule?

Monto: I knew you would loosen up sooner or later.

Mok arrives at the table and puts the beer down.

Mok: Monto, what’ll you have next?

Monto: I will also have a beer.

Mok: Oh, not wine or vodka?

Monto: Do I need to clean your ears out?

Now this was the Monto that Emid knew. She wouldn’t take anyone from anyone. Even the parents of noble children had trouble intimidating her.

Monto: Mok is so silly sometimes but his children are a real pleasure to teach.

Emid: Are you sad your husband is away often?

Monto: We don’t have kids and he thinks he knows… Sorry. I am fine with his business trips. We live well for folks of common birth. We don’t live in the castle, but I think only your family and servants live there and I wouldn’t want to be a castle servant.

Emid: The blacksmith and the elf live there also. I think his apprentice moved in but I don’t know if she lives there.

Monto: That’s right. I always forget about them. Do you go there often?

Emid: Well, I’m a court guard apprentice, so I suppose I will be sent on many menial errands.

Monto: How do you like being in the court guard?

Emid notices Monto extends her hand towards him and rests it on the table.