Thankfully, for everyone’s sake, the racket doesn’t last. One of the hunters—a beady-eyed man whose jaw trembles like a leaf in a storm—finally shouts his pack into silence. Then he turns to Grayskin, the only one among them who looks like he’s ever seen a thought through to the end.

  “Please, continue,” he says simply. Saints bless him—what a relief to know at least one reasonable soul is steering this chaotic ship.

  “Of course,” I say. “To do so, I’m going to ask Stampede That Shakes the Mountain to join me.”

  The titan of a woman rises, serene yet stern, her presence alone quieting the crowd.

  “When considering the future of my city—” and yes, my city, let’s keep that straight, “—my biggest concern is order. Order must be enforced. Which means I need people I can trust to enforce it.”

  A few hunters flinch. I meet their offended looks with all the warmth they deserve—none. What ground do these idiots think they have to stand on? My little… incident aside, they’ve done nothing to earn confidence since. Saints, I wouldn’t have trusted them with this duty before our disagreement.

  “I’m sure everyone has their opinions,” I continue, “but I’ve been entrusted with this, and my opinion trumps yours. In my experience, I’ve never met a group more principled or delightfully unambiguous than the Temple. They’re straightforward, dedicated, and blessedly immune to the usual nonsense people use to wriggle out of consequences. We’ve got an understanding—the Temple will enforce the law, upon everyone. Equally. Law itself we’ll discuss later, but the gist is simple: follow it, and we’ll get along.

  “Making the city into a Sanctuary isn’t a payment,” I add before anyone gets clever. “They work for crowns like the rest of us—just fewer of them. It’s a decision made for reasons beyond a whim. Shake, enlighten them about the perks of a green city.”

  The stoic woman raises her voice, ensuring it reaches every corner of the room. “Mm. All creatures need nature. It is good for the spirit.”

  “Saints’ blessed asses,” one hunter mutters disdainfully, ignorant of the many enhanced senses in the room.

  Shake ignores him, which is more mercy than he deserves. “Kingdom people rarely care for such things, so I give practical reasons. A green city is pleasant to live in. The air will be clean and sweet. Children will have safe places to play. Pets will run and jump. Trees between homes give privacy. It is not as good as freedom, but much better than your usual standard.”

  Oh, look at that—they’re thinking. Hah.

  “A reason you will all appreciate,” she continues, “is food. Families can forage. Children can hunt small game while parents work.”

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  “There won’t be a shortage anytime soon,” I cut in, noting the nervous faces. “Feeding everyone’s a priority. Still, no one ever complained about too much food. And fresh fruit? Can you imagine not having to pay for such a luxury?”

  A murmur of agreement ripples through the room. Progress.

  “The last reason is less practical,” Shake adds, “but even the crass will appreciate. Nature is beautiful. Who doesn’t want a beautiful city?”

  Silence. Because only an idiot would disagree, and thankfully, no one’s volunteering for that title today.

  “Questions, quickly,” I say.

  Marcella finally speaks—her pleasant voice drawing more than a few sneaky glances. “Won’t all these… green spaces not drastically reduce land for homes and shops? People could end up crammed together.”

  Ah, a Guiness through and through. “Good question,” I say. “Answer’s simple.” I point upward. “We’re building tall. Four stories, several rooms each. One structure can house four dozen families—comfortably.”

  “That’s crazy,” blurts one hunter. When he realizes the room is watching, he fumbles on. “That kind of building’ll collapse and kill everyone.”

  Saints give me patience. “I’m guessing you’ve never seen the palace but have you not seen the Hall? Specifically, the enormous Casting Hall? That’s proof it can be done. I can build them and in a way that’s cost effective. That’s not up for debate. Inspect all you like, but don’t waste breath doubting me—you’ll just look foolish and slow down progress. One more question. Make it good.”

  The crowd hesitates. Marcella steps in again, the brave thing. “This miraculous building method—will it be available for private use?”

  “Nothing miraculous about it,” I say, “and yes. For a price.” If she wants it, she can pay for it. “Now, about upkeep. These lovely gardens and groves aren’t going to trim themselves. Cleaning debris, managing wildlife, all that—it’ll be the Temple’s responsibility. You get the beauty; they handle the dirt. They even volunteered, so be polite and thank them occasionally.”

  Shake nods solemnly. “It is not a duty but a courtesy—the first one owed to what is most deserving.”

  “Wonderful.” Truly, their earnest nature shames us all. “Now, your part: don’t ruin it. That’s all. Enjoy the trees and the pretty flowers but leave them intact. No fires, no axes, and pluck blooms responsibly. Fail that, and the Temple will personally detain you. Enthusiastically.”

  “Yes,” Shake rumbles, glare driving the point home.

  “Mistakes happen,” I offer graciously. “They’ll still cost you. So best make them rare. No questions; it’s all straightforward. Anyone confused can wait for the official announcement—simple language, small words, even children will understand.”

  Despite that, Grayskin raises a hand, face unreadable but with just enough amusement to make him look like a student testing a patient teacher. Bastard. Is he making fun of me? No, this is a good thing.

  “Saints’ shiny… what is it about?” I ask.

  “While I do not doubt the Temple’s commitment,” he says slowly, glancing at Shake’s mountainous form with the care of a man who values breathing, “they are not trained combatants. They should not be expected to fight men like Sin.”

  “I wholeheartedly agree,” I reply. “And that’s exactly what I was getting to before you so politely interrupted.”

  “My apologies.”

  I wave him off. “At least it wasn’t something stupid. You’re right—they’re not soldiers or knights. I recruited them for their morals, not their sword arms. So, if another rebellion happens, the Temple can hire help. Out of their own budget. They’ll have the power to hire brave men like yourself who are eager to defend the city and would like to be paid for their expertise. They can hire masters from the Hall. If necessary, they could raise an army. Which it won’t, because no one in this city is foolish enough to start something they know I can finish.”

  I meet Grayskin’s gaze. “Does that answer your question?”

  He gives a small nod. “Mm.”