Page 109 of To Scale the Emerald Mountain

I cock my head to the side. “Why?”

“We have a much smaller population, far less land, but nearly all of our population has magical abilities and gifts. With our much longer lifespans, we have tended to progress at a slower rate—deeply steeped in tradition. Those traditions easily carry as multiple generations’ life spans overlap one another, at least until the Culling. Our three Kingdoms are seen as separate entities, but we essentially rule together. Our people look out for each other. There is virtually no poverty, crime pales in comparison to some Territories of the Mother Continent.”

Alec clears his throat and picks up his glass of whiskey. Two of his long fingers cradle his cigarette resting on the side of the glass as he takes a drink. “Would you like me to continue?” he asks, and I nod enthusiastically

Alec smiles wide at my encouragement. “Very well. The gifts of the populations on the Mother Continent have been greatly diluted over time. A small fraction of their people has enough magical ability to be considered powerful, and those people take up a fair percentage of the general elite and governing classes. In many Territories, there are as many slums as middle class neighborhoods. There are far fewer affluent neighborhoods than you are used to seeing here. Crime and sickness are rampant in many areas.”

“That’s horrible,” I interrupt rudely.

Alec doesn’t seem to mind and nods his head in agreement.

“It is. Even more so when you see it for yourself. With the absence of magical abilities, the people of the Mother Continent have invented all sorts of machinery to afford luxuries that come to us through our abilities and everyone working together. Where we draw our energy and channel it from the sun, the moon, the earth, their non magical populations mine the physical elements to createenergy they need. Unlike the Queendom of Salhaas, who is very particular about mining their magical elements from the earth, the Territories are shameless in what they take. It is quite dirty.”

Alec watches me and draws on his cigarette, the ember flaring bright as he pulls before putting it out.

I watch him expectantly, waiting for him to continue. I can’t help myself. His voice is so very soothing, wrapping around me like warm honey, and his telling is incredibly interesting.

Alec pauses, as if weighing the words he is about to say. “It can be dangerous in the Territories for anyone, but especially for women with magical backgrounds.”

His words sound ominous, and I ask him to elaborate.

“At one point, it was common for women to be stolen and held captive for breeding. They were usually killed when booming birth rates would slow, as their captors often would not live long enough to see the next boom. The lawmakers of the Territories finally cracked down on the illegal breeding rings when tourism plummeted. The orphans left behind were sent here, to The Capital. Few rings remain but most of those captives still come here when they are freed.”

I gape at him in horror. “That’s barbaric.”

Alec nods at me with agreement. “Desperate people often do barbaric things.”

“And you were a mercenary in this horrible place?” I ask, my words dripping with disbelief and he laughs. The rumbling sound thoroughly warms me.

“I was. For many years.”

“What—someone would just hand you a bag of coin and a name and you’d just go kill them?” I ask with humor.

Alec doesn’t hold a shred of shame as he says, “Essentially, yes.”

“Did you ever kill any innocents?”

“Probably. As I said, desperate people will do barbaric things.”

He smiles at me sadly as I fiddle with my fingers.

“What were you desperate for, Alec?”

Alec’s chest swells when his name leaves my lips, like the sound is pulling back up something that had been trampled down. His eyes rove over me, and one side of his mouth quirks up. “To feel alive.” A fire in his eyes dances as he gazes at me with intention—fully alive.

My chest squeezes. My lungs can’t pull in air. “I should go.” My words are barely discernible.

“I would prefer it if you stayed,” Alec tells me softly, staring at me with desperate and pleading eyes.

“I’m tired, Alec.” Fire burns in my aching chest.

He seems like he wants to argue with me, but he concedes. “Of course.”

Alec stands when I do. As I start collecting my bags, his warm hand closes over mine, pulling my shopping towards himself.

“I can do that,” I begin hastily but he cuts me off.

“I insist.”