As I, Deckard Crane, ancient sage and witness to countless tales spun by time, do now put quill to paper, a warning of dire prophecies echoes in the air: the cloud of a brewing storm is thick with deceit and betrayal; death is imminent.
As the prophecy goes, in the horizon of our longing to voyage after a plague has put halt to our plans, creatures of cunning lurk, eager to exploit our desperation. Merchants of passage — carriers by air and innkeepers — in their struggle to regain what the pestilence took from them, have resorted to a new deceit. An ancient manuscript refers to these as "Beast Fees".
The unsuspecting traveler would have met this beast, clad in many disguises — tariffs for lodgings, charges for the carriage of belongings, and premiums for the selection of resting places on the journeying vessel. They are typically concealed till the time of sealing a pact, creeping stealthily to the fore as the scroll of terms is about to be signed.
This deception in the merchant's guild, known as the "divestment" to the wise, is an age-old trick. But several charges rose during the plague, as ancient scribblings have found. Mysterious tariffs at inns, typically a handful of coins a day for basic services like hearth-warmth and stable space, are now becoming commonplace; the end is near.
As we wander in the shadow of these prophecies, the question does echo in the silence — Is there a herald amongst us, a beacon of honesty who can challenge these dark practices? Will the mythical hero emerge to counter our forebodings? Ponder, traveler, as your journey continues.
Based on the original article "Watch Out for ‘Junk’ Fees When Booking Travel Online".
