Good evening everyone, Welcome back to the Fairy Entails. We received lots of
feedback on our first episode and we very much appreciate it. A lot of
these stories have been things that we thought about for a long time but just
didn't have the outlet, and your feedback means the world to us. Today,
we'll meet a business woman in the city of Durnhallow. While she's grown
accustom of the day to day grind of running that business, that doesn't stop
her from wishing that every once in a while, the world would slow down
just a little bit. Sadly, no matter how much we wish for it,
we can't always get what we want, Ladies and gentlemen. The Madam
written by Brianna Murray. In The Bravels, it was the madam's job to
wake up first and sleep last, or at the very least, That was
how Aaron ran her brothel. She would not have her employees thinking that she
would sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labor without upholding her unto the
bargain. To aid this, Aaron had sheer white curtains in her east facing
bedroom to reflect the light of the window. As soon as the sun rose
so did she. A quick stretch, a change of clothes, and she
moved downstairs to begin lighting fires and tending to whatever was needed for the day,
including breakfast. The honest Harlotte was the name of the brothel Aaron presided
over, a name picked out by her predecessor, and a name that Aaron
ensured that it lived up to. During her stead, only six of the
aforementioned Harlot's actually lived within the building, so only eight breakfasts needed prepping.
Aaron needed a meal, as did her son, Thomas. He was seventeen
now, and he'd been born and raised in Browthels, though he could only
remember the Harlot a good boy, strong, olive skinned like his mother,
and from time to time a second pair of eyes within the walls. On
a busy night when his mother was stretched too thin, she was able to
hear a ruckus from upstairs as bacon sizzled on the open flame of the oven,
signaling that someone had woken. By the time Aaron had plaited the meals,
there were more footsteps, and soon they were moving down the stairs.
Smells delicious, ma'am, a voice said from behind her, as Aaron set
the table soft and kind. Aaron recognized it was Ava's and wasn't at all
surprised by the bright red head when she turned around. Thank you, eat
up, busy night and all that, she said, not attempting to be
curt but always so by accident. Too many things on her mind at once
to prioritize kindness the way that some like Ava could. Will it be pey
ding, Aaron said, briskly, cleaning her hands on her apron. She
was about to sit down to her own meal when a pair of dark eyes
peeked around the door. Aaron, I need to talk to you, the
woman whispered. Alarm bells went off in Aeron's head, but she didn't show
that concern on her face. Instead, she stood and nodded to Ava.
Make sure everyone eats, she delicated, before following Schander to the main room
of the brothel. They stopped in front of the bar. What is it,
it's Beth, Shandry replied. She looked tired. She and Beth shared
a room, and so Aaron could guess right away that the two had likely
stayed up over whatever the issue was. She well, she's sick for the
last day or so, thrown up mostly, but I asked about how things
were going. When was last time. She well, I think we both
realized last night that it might be something worse than the flu. If you
catch my drift, ah was all Aaron said at first, looking to the
stairs. Is she all right? Well, she's terrified. I tried to
explain to her that you aren't like that, but she came from Brightport,
you know how things are over there. It took me hours to convince her
that we should tell you, she said, But you won't kick her out,
will you. You wouldn't do that, Aaron sighed and started to remove
her apron, though there was a soft shake of her head that she hadn't
even meant to do. That was a subtle answer to she Andrew's question.
You go eat, she instructed. Are you sure I could? Yes,
go eat? I can tend to her. How do you girls manage to
forget a monthly potion? Do you know how much extra I pay to have
it that easy for you? Aaron asked in a sharp whisper, part of
her wanting to get the scolding out of her system before seeing Elizabeth. I
swear from now on, I'm going to have you all take it at the
same time. I knew I should have done that in the first place.
She moved to the stairs with a briskness that made her skirt flutter, grasping
the rail slightly to aid her knees in the journey. The girl's rooms were
toward the back of the building, where Aaron's room was. The ones in
the front were for paying customers. Once to the wooden door that led to
the double bedroom, she gave a brisk knock. Elizabeth, I'm coming in,
she warned softly, before opening the door. The young escort was sitting
on the bed, still in her nightgown, her long brown hair tied back
into a loose, messy braid, and her flesh paler than usual. She
was usually the bubbly sort when she wasn't working, all smiles and bouncing about,
and then when the night came she played at being a stern and domineering
type for the clients. Now she was sick, tired, and frightened.
Aaron felt a tug at her heart, as if it were pulling her back
to a time when she was the quivering leaf in the bed, afraid of
the choices she would have to make that seemed so much bigger than her at
the time. Oh love, she tisked, moving over to the young woman's
bed and reaching for her hand. Stop quaking. I'm sorry, ma'am,
I'm so sorry I took the potion. I know I did, but I
think my days were scrambled up after Bruman's Day and I was off by a
week. That quickly whispered, refusing to meet Aaron's eyes. I was so
stupid. I don't know how, Aaron shuster, moving one hand to work
back and tracing calming circles with her palm. Of course, it was Brewman's
Day. They'd had such a large party that night, and some of the
Harlots had gotten so drunk that Aaron had decided to close shop the following day.
You aren't the first, you won't be the last. Look at Thomas,
she said. I would not be here if not for a madam who
made certain concessions that seemed to floor the other woman, and she blinked,
taking a sharp inhale that seemed to be her first real breath in hours,
her shoulders slumping. Here's what I want you to do. Go eat,
take a bath, and dress, and then, when you feel more yourself,
start thinking about what you like to do, Aaron said, try to
consider it as best you can, and then I want you and Chandra to
go down to the clerics and ask for confirmation. Shouldn't I do that first?
You can, but I think it would be better for you to take
some time first. If it turns out to be a false alarm or too
much alcohol, then you just had a morning bath and a walk. If
you're with child, then you have a plan and it won't be so frightening.
There was a beat of silence, and then Beth spoke up again.
Thank you, thank you so much. Do you have any questions about your
options? Another beat of silence. So either way, you can stay for
as long as you'd like, so long as you're still willing to work.
There's always something to be done, not just horring, Aaron said softly.
Then she smiled, though you be surprised. I may double for at least
four months. When I was with Thomas, a very eccentric Robe was quite
taken with me. They earned a chuckle from Beth, a tight laugh,
almost as if in spite of Beth's efforts to keep it bottled up. Once
it came, a genuine smile crossed her face, and she nodded, thank
you, ma'am. I can't tell you how much this means to me.
I'm glad. Just let me know what the clerics say, Aaron said,
patting Beth's hand and standing up. She was glad to have the most exciting
part of her day out of the way. How did the saying go,
start your day with a spoonful of syrup, and the rest of the day
will go down like sweetened water. The other hollarts began to trickle in after
lunch, along with a few patrons here and there who wanted some quick afternoon
fun. Things really began to pick up just around sunset, when more and
more patrons began to flutter in. Aaron had to confess that she missed the
old days. Everyone in Darnhallow looked the same now, with only travelers coming
in and offering up any variety, more so than the customer. However,
she missed the girl she had to say goodbye to, and they fled from
the town because it was too dangerous for them. A drow that moved west
to a brothel in bright Port, her friend had told her would be friendly
to her kind. An health girl who had gone back to the Evergreen after
being spit on by someone who, in her words, hadn't even had the
decency to pay her first. Aaron had done all she could to protect them
within her walls, but she couldn't stop the prejudice that stemmed from overwatch from
hurting them, and they were living their lives outside. Now. She only
had two non humans in her brothel, Tera, who was a tie fling,
and a half elf Cora, and Aaron wasn't certain how long they'd be
sticking things out. Aaron considered herself quite bold. She didn't fear the dark
nor the ire of a patron. She may have only been a human,
but she had tricks and a dagger upper sleeve. The vitriol and hate that
spewed from some of the inhabitants of Dernhollow was almost too much for even her
to bear. All of this came to mind as she watched poor Chandra leading
Merle to a table to fetch him a drink. Dirty, disgusting Merle and
his gang of slavers. They had the most money in the city, which
meant that Aaron couldn't turn them away unless they broke her rules, which they
were careful not to do. But they tested how close they could get every
day. She suspected that Merle himself was the most accountable for her losing all
of her non human escorts, but she couldn't prove as much so. Of
course, when a young minotaur entered the building, Aaron was on high alert,
keeping an eye on Merle while she cleaned up, chatted with patrons,
and collected payments. The fact that Merle didn't immediately start swearing at the minotaur
gave her some hope that things would be all right, especially when quite a
few of her harlot seemed more than eager to surround the bulky furred customer.
They must have been a start for variety as she was, and judging by
the looks on their faces, the minotaur was a charming sort. One of
the girls even went upstairs to fetch Beth, who came down and seemed to
enjoy the odd stranger and playing her usual part in the evening. Aaron had
told her she didn't have to work, but if she was enjoying herself,
that was all that mattered. The evening wore on as it usually did.
There were small hiccups here and there. A man asked for something in the
bedroom that the woman he'd brought there refused. The details were blissfully omitted when
Aaron heard of it, but it caused a bit of a kerfuffle before one
of the others stepped in to satiate his Once there was one peekaboo from a
young lady who seemed too shy to stick around. Aaron hadn't even been able
to tell if she'd been looking for work or pleasure before she'd scurried off.
Later on, she had sent Thomas out to send away a few boys who
were trying to look in through the windows. It seemed like things were beginning
to calm down and business was good, and then there was screaming and everything
went to hell. Aaron didn't know who started it. She'd been in the
back hall collecting money from Ka when the screaming started. It was one of
the girls, and then many of them, and Aaron lifted her skirts and
ran back to the main room. There was a man hanging from the rafters,
and the minotaur was on his feet, a huge axe in hand.
Merra was holding the rope that hung the stranger, who Aaron figured must have
been in the party with the minotaur. It didn't matter. None of it
mattered as much as getting all the girls to safety. It was easily done
in the main room, as they all had sense enough to flee when there
was any sort of combat. Aaron stood at the top of the stairs,
dagger in hand. A man brushed past her, and she was distracted enough
from the chill he emanated to let him buy. Two other non human customers
followed. Aaron paid them no mind, focusing entirely on keeping hers out of
the path of danger. She managed to stop Eva at the banister, nodding
to the chaos below. Stay here, love, she whispered in a tight
voice, unless we need to high tail it to the door. Do you
understand. Ava nodded, and Aaron pressed the dagger into the young woman's hands.
The sheriff is here, Eva managed to say, drawing the Madam's eyes
over the banister. And then there was fire, sudden and hot, bursting
across the room. Aaron's breath caught in her chest as she felt the heat
rushed toward her. The scent of burning wood and cloth filled the air in
an instant Get downstairs, get out of here now, she cried to Eva.
Ma'am, Eva cry but Aaron was already off, knocking on doors and
screaming at the occupants to get dressed and get out. She moved as fast
as her tired legs could carry her. She tripped once or twice in her
hurry, but that only barely managed to slow her down as she gathered everyone
she could and led them out of the building. It was only when her
son grabbed her wrist that she allowed herself to be half carried out of the
home. You've done all you can, he said in a low, rough
voice. We need to get out. Glass shattered from the flames and smoke
choked them both, but Thomas was a strong young man, and he managed
to get both of them down the stairs, even as they seemed to burn
beneath their feet. Once outside, Aaron stumbled once more, falling to her
hands and knees in front of the burning horehouse. When she managed to raise
her head, she saw her girls huddled together at the side of the road.
Some ran forward to help her, but Aaron shook her head. Count
She managed to say through her coughing fit her voice, row off from the
smoke, I need a count. There was another crash, more people still
running from the building. She heard another flash of fire behind her and winced,
but did not allow herself to look back at the honest Harlotte. Not
yet. It was already too painful, seeing the orange flashes across the faces
of her girls and the reflection of fire in their eyes, a lifetime of
work and memories turning to ash. When she was on her feet, Thomas
rubbed her back, but that was the only solace she would allow. She
kept her hands from shaking by wrapping them tightly around her own shoulders, her
face stern as the girls checked over one another. Finally, after a still
silence of realization, Ava stepped forward. Chandra, Emily, and Tara.
They aren't here, she said, looking down. Were any of them out
of the house, Toma asked Ava gult. No one saw Tara go upstairs,
so maybe, but if she were in town, she would have come
here when the fire started. Aaron finished wiping her face with her sleeve,
ignoring the slight trace of moisture on her cheeks that had developed after the heat
stopped whisking a way. The silence returned for a moment, and Aaron gave
herself a few moments to grieve before she finally turned toward the inferno that was
her home. Thomas, you and Ava, gather as many buckets as you
can find, she said. Everyone else, line up, get as close
to the wells as you can, and we'll start to put it out.
They were not alone in the endeavor. As they began to enact their plan.
Travelers and townsfolk alike joined them. Though Aaron didn't see hide nor hair
of the minotaur, or his ilk or merl for that matter, she cursed
them all under her breaths. They attempted to quell the flames. It took
nearly two hours for the Harlot's charred, smoked skeleton to be revealed. The
morning sun only highlighted the devastation. They found six skeletons in the wreckage.
It painted a picture, two huddled together in the dust, another three across
the way, one that may have jumped out of the second story window in
their frenzy. It was impossible to tell who was who, though some had
their guesses. They gathered the pieces to bury, all in a dreary silence,
with only sniffles and whimpers to be heard as the girls searched for any
surviving pieces of their lives in the brothel, a bit of jewelry, the
remains of a hair brush, anything that could be salvaged. She mapped out
the rubble to find her own bedroom. Aaron was approached by Hazel. We've
got two of the inns. Two agreedle end their rooms for now. Some
of the Harlots have extra rooms in their homes too, she informed. Standing
near a blackened wall that only reached her hip, Aaron was nudging a pile
of scorched wood with her boots, no longer hopeful enough to look for anything
in particular, and a charity has already been formed to help the rebuilding effort.
Her voice was soft and careful. Aaron bent down, fetching a pair
of stained shoes that hadn't burned away entirely. Thank you, she said,
softly, swallowing her pride. I'll repay their kindness once we're up and running
again. Are you going to be all right? Aaron took a deep breath,
looking behind her to the dozen or so girls. I will be.
I need to be too many depend on this place for me to let it
die here, she said, I've been working here for nearly two dozen years,
in some way or another. This may be the worst shape the building's
ever been in, but we'll make do. Thanks for your kindness, Hazel.
She kept her tone matter of fact as she dusted the bottom of her
dress, nearly tumbling over. At that, I'll start leading the girls to
their beds. You should think about getting some sleep too. I will after
they've all left and there's not so much work to be done in the brothels.
It's a madam's job to wake up first and sleep last, or at
the very least. That was how Aaron ran her brothel, even when it's
crumbled, walls and skeletons set respectfully aside, that rule stayed in place.
That was her under the bargain. We hope you enjoyed the day's story.
If you enjoy what we do, consider backing us on Patreon. It helps
us immeasurably and allows us to continue working on things like this. Next time,
we'll meet a young lord just out of his teenage years, who sadly
suffers a disfiguring accident. While finding a way to recoup in this terrible injury
and being embarrassed of his newfound appearance, he still has to struggle with the
responsibility placed upon his young shoulders. That's next time on the Fairy Entails.
But until then, dear listeners keep the fire lit for us