Book 3: Chapter 64: Lords and Ladies
The two noble ladies sat in the drawing room of Bentley Manor. Tourmaline was in her usual disguise as Wreck, wearing a simple set of nondescript brown leather. Opal was dressed in a blue and silver hauberk that set off her white goatee nicely.
A half-eaten platter of snacks lay on the table between them as they chatted.
“I heard about the riot, but I hadn’t heard that they were censured by the guild.” Tourmaline said. “What happened next?”
Opal shook her head. “From what Annie told me, they and Schist are required to hand over all the new brewing techniques they designed for the contest. They’re also required to give an additional 10% of their income to the Guild for the next century as a penalty, and are forbidden from brewing Sacred Brew for the same time frame.”
“... Does that mean they won’t be able to brew at all?” Tourmaline’s face didn’t show a single crack, but her tone betrayed her worry.
Opal grinned. “The Guild also announced that Sacred Brew and ‘beer’ are now considered separate entities. They petitioned for a revision to the Ordinances and it was granted. Only Guild [Brewers] are legally allowed to brew Sacred Brew or sell beer publicly, but amateur brewers may now legally brew beer.”
Tourmaline sat bolt upright. “Is that possible? Is it even possible for amateurs to obtain the necessary ingredients?”
“I have it from a good source that a certain book is currently circulating the market. It teaches how to get the required yeasts, and includes a basic primer on safe variants of pineweed for flavouring.” Opal sighed. “Said source taught me the basics. At length.”
Tourmaline raised an eyebrow. “Now that is certainly news… Is Pete selling the book? So soon? I can’t imagine all the Master Brewers are happy about that.”