by Zack Finley
Lt. Valso attempted to provide information on king's guard recruiting, but the leaders paid little attention. He left several applications and escaped.
Olive and Ramda messaged us the clothing and bedding had been collected and would be separated into packages for each camp by morning. Ramda apologized that one person might not be able to teleport both the goods and a person on the same trip.
We started to slip out of the conference room but were stopped by several of the leaders who wanted to know more about our offer of asylum. Most of the leaders hadn't been aware of our roles in curtailing the raiders. They'd assumed the king's guard we left behind had killed their captors. We had only been visible in a few camps.
This led some of those present to fear we were just slavers by another name. Now they wanted to know what our offer was about.
Once we verified by mental app they now understood their options, we made our excuses and left. I teleported us home the second the door closed behind us.
I was starved, but the cupboard was bare because Argon let the resupply lapse expecting we'd move out today. Argon gave me a shriveled piece of fruit and messaged Tobron for the 'port location of a high-end Klee restaurant.
Once I polished off the fruit, I reached for her hand. The restaurant had a discrete teleport area. The staff handled our sudden arrival in full armor in stride. They seated us at once. Argon told our waiter we were very hungry and to bring appetizers right away. She ordered the entire meal, including a flask of graal.
I was finally full and vowed to eat out more often.
◆◆◆
Chapter 9
Argon was packing for the move when I woke up. I knew this was going to be difficult for her and Allo. I didn't get the impression either one of them needed or would appreciate any helpful comments from me.
I was going to insist on a nice breakfast at the Klee market before any shopping expedition. I wanted to be at full strength before going to Augun to begin project pack mule. I believed resettling Allo was going to take a lot of time, not something I wanted to do before eating breakfast.
I took my chee into the living room where Argon and Allo seemed to have finished their packing. I sat down and waited.
"We have a lot to do today," Argon said.
"As long as it includes a market breakfast, I'm good."
"I think we can fit that in, we have some things we need to buy at the market anyway."
I decided there was no reason to drag this out and just messaged, "Please just tell me what you want to do and in what order. We don't have to move this morning, we can do it after we get done in Augun. You don't want to move Allo then abandon her right away. Heck, we can have lunch at the restaurant in Losan, then head to the Losan Mage Guild and find the name of some ancient armorer. We can then pop back to the Klee market to finish shopping for our new place. I’ll pick up a dinner to go, while you get Allo. Easy peasy."
Argon came over and kissed me.
"Sounds like a plan," she messaged. "Let's go to breakfast."
I only needed one breakfast this morning but I ordered a few cookie-like goodies to go with me, just in case lunch was delayed.
Olive commed Argon and I on the Augun mage net, pleading with us to hurry back. The camp leaders were driving her crazy. She hoped we could move them, pronto. Argon promised we'd be there very soon.
Ramda interrupted and told us King Rufix wanted to see us first. I offered to send Argon, but she said he was insistent about meeting with both of us. Ramda congratulated us on now owning Mad Toffad's Keep.
I suspected the two kings had been talking about us.
We queried Tobron about whether the deal was done and he said he was still signing documents in the chamberlain's office. Every time he thought he was done they found another form to sign. He'd already talked with the mage guild and told them we'd pay something to use the ward until we were ready to replace it with our own. He'd proposed a prorated share of the annual fee, but the guild leadership was still talking it over.
We 'ported straight to Ramda's office. She went in to tell the king we were here, then waved us into his office.
"What do you think the freed slaves will do?" King Rufix asked after completing the niceties.
"I think a significant group will go back to their villages," I said. "Most have missing loved ones they are sure must be safe at home. I would certainly do so in their place."
"I feared as much," he said.
Argon started to add something comforting but realized there was little to be had.
"Our actions will have to be sufficient," the king said, "because I don't have many more moves up my sleeve. The farms closest to Augun have already been planted. As the barges return to the river, I suspect those within easy reach of the river system will be under cultivation, soon. Enterprising groups around Flom have already started rounding up groups of jarma. I have scores of angry farmers in Asme because they are being ordered to plant food not fiber."
The three of us knew one group was lagging behind the others. It was the barnta in the room.
“Do you think the Augun mages will return to help pick up the pieces?" the king asked.
I knew mages represented about one percent of the population, but they played a disproportionate role in the economy.
"I don’t know. There are still some mages in your country, they are just keeping a low profile. If they were all coming back, I expected them to begin reopening their shops and homes. We know some were killed, but I can’t imagine they all were,” I offered.
“There is a strong surge of anti-mage sentiment in Augun that may keep them away,” Argon said. “Most mage families have bolt holes prepared for emergencies. Some may have quietly emigrated to Losan or Klee. They may have also gone much farther afield.”
“I know the lack of mages will pull down your economy. There are a lot of things you can still do--even if the Augun mages stay away," I countered. "Enlist any able-bodied person willing to work in a kind of Augun civilian corps. In exchange for food and a tiny stipend give them tools and materials to rebuild destruction caused by the raiders.
"Some could be attached as auxiliaries to units of the king's guard, helping with duties not requiring a trained soldier. Some could even carry public mail between the three cities, a type of basas express. Stage basas and riders in key spots along the river roads. This service will reduce how long it takes to distribute information and messages across the kingdom. Once it is ready to go, issue a proclamation describing the new service. I expect your mail offices will be overwhelmed with the demand. It should help bring your nation back together."
King Rufix called Ramda in and had me repeat the suggested actions so she could document them. He asked her to apprise Olive of this new option for the ex-slaves, then urged me to continue.
"Offer the Klee Mage Guild a short-term franchise to service Augun magical appliances not under new contract for service by local mages. I’m sure Klee has plenty of apprentices willing to come to Augun every few days to take care of business, for a fee of course.
"You can advise residents unable to find a local mage service within 10 days to apply for assistance. After that time contract Klee mages to take care of them for the duration of the emergency proclamation."
I added, "Look at the other services mages supply within your country and outsource these in the same way. Even if it doesn't prompt the Augun mages to return, at least your essential services will be restored."
Ramda scribbled as I talked. It seemed my ideas sparked quite a few of her own.
"You need to meet with whatever civic and business leaders remain. Tell people what is happening and listen to their concerns. Solicit their solutions. Ask them to be part of the rebuilding of Augun, to pull together to end the emergency," I said.
"How do I find these new business leaders?" the king asked.
"Issue a proclamation inviting business leaders to attend a town hall meeting and let in any who come. In time you'll recognize the
actual leaders and some of the old players will either return or you will know they perished. Either way, you should have the start of a new business council and another way to keep the public informed. Don't limit these meetings to Augun, have at least one in Flom and Asme as well."
"And I thought my only next move was to arrest hoarders and confiscate food supplies," the king said.
"It may come to that, but if you can restore confidence even if you need to impose these penalties, you should have most of your subjects' support. If they see hoarders as greedy and unpatriotic, they will help police such antisocial behavior."
"I'm worried about your younglings," said Argon. "Many have been orphaned. Your orphanages are already overflowing. Offer food subsidies to any family willing to foster an orphan. Your king's guard in Flom and Asme can act as your agents there. I'm sure the Augun orphanages would be happy to help."
"You should empty your prisons," I added. "You don't have the resources to feed freeloaders. Execute those who've committed capital crimes. Your wardens should be able to separate the career criminals from those who could be productive. Give the productive group a chance to enlist in the civilian corps.
"Whoever is left in prison should be considered hardcore and assigned to hard labor crews for the duration of the emergency. They can load and unload barges, remove the rubble from the keep, do some of the heavy clearing work for the civilian corps and king's guard. I'm sure you can find a way to make sure they can be identified as escapees. Consider escape from a work gang or failure to follow an order by their guards to be a capital crime. You can even offer a bounty for their return to be executed," I was getting on a roll.
"To offset the power you are giving the king's guard, you need to make abuse under color of authority a capital crime. The public, as well as those acting in your name, must see you are serious about this. Competent people must be assigned to investigate complaints against your people and to deliver swift visible judgment."
"You should consider food assistance for only the very young, the very old and the disabled," said Argon, shifting topics. "Many of these won't want a handout. Whoever you appoint to head up the civilian corps should be creative enough to find ways for everyone, including your most vulnerable, to contribute to ending the emergency."
"Your nation will be so much stronger because your people will know they helped each other resolve this emergency. They will have a commitment to common service. Once you survive the current crisis that should provide your kingdom with benefits for generations," I finished Argon's thoughts.
"Anything else?" asked the king.
"Get help for Lt. Valso," I offered.
"Explain."
"You can't have a lieutenant running the king's guard. Promote him or find some retired officer to run it. You need a lot more officers and sergeants. The needs are too great to be handled by three lieutenants and a few sergeants. Whoever is in charge needs to identify capable people and promote them to fill needed roles. It wouldn't have been so bad if they had just eliminated the officers, but they killed the sergeants who hold every army together," I said.
"If you bring in some retirees, make sure they are flexible enough to contribute. This new king's guard is writing new rules and facing new challenges. Recruiting standards and training are different for an army facing annihilation than it is for one simply standing guard. Anyone brought in to help lead should bolster what is working, streamline the logistics and simplify the command structure, not complicate it."
"Ramda, invite Lt. Valso to join me for lunch," the king said. "Anything else?"
Argon and I agreed those were the burning issues we were aware of.
"We'll message Olive or Ramda if anything else occurs to us."
"I appreciate your candor and your suggestions. They have given me some concrete steps to take now and a host of possibilities to consider for the future," the king said. "I asked to meet with you to discuss how the crown could repay you for your service."
We touched on this with our partners but could think of little Augun could offer. All felt that maintaining a close long-term friendship with the Augun crown would be advantageous for our mission.
Seeing we had no suggestions, the king continued, "I was serious about my offer for you to take over this keep, but I'm told my grandson has made that unnecessary." The king smiled and added, "It shows excellent judgment on his part, something I hope my grandson Marko also has."
Argon was unwilling to let the uncomfortable silence continue. In most ways, she is a much nicer person than I am.
"We had the fortune or misfortune to arrive in Augun and Klee in time to become embroiled in a heinous plot. We do not seek a life of comfort or luxury. We will be staunch allies of those with honor and integrity. We will be fierce foes to those who prey on the innocent. Our friendship is not contingent upon rewards or riches. We are a friend to the people of Augun. All we ask is for you and yours to be a friend to Toffad's Keep," said Argon.
I had considered renaming our keep once the transfer was finalized but no name came to mind. Once Argon said it, I found it felt right. Toffad's Keep. Many in Klee will think we are just as mad as he was thought to be. As far I could tell he was crazy alright, crazy as a fox. We just had to avoid his premature demise.
"You have my friendship and my gratitude. I will make sure Marko comprehends the debt our family and nation owes Toffad's Keep. Once there is more time I will formalize this debt with some type of public award and ceremony." He raised his hand to stop Argon who was about to object.
"We must publicly acknowledge our debts and our alliances," the king continued. "When representatives from Toffad's Keep come to any region of Augun, they will receive full cooperation from any representative of the crown."
We thanked the king and while we were leaving Ramda told us Olive had our group waiting for us in the ballroom.
"Good luck," Ramda messaged. "Olive says they are a pretty pissed off group."
Pissed off described the atmosphere in the ballroom. The shock of what the camp leaders learned yesterday wore off overnight to be replaced by anger.
The prospect of a new civilian corps quieted some of the leaders. Most remained upset they could not return to their own villages and their old way of life. I knew they needed time to adjust. I just hoped they could set aside this natural anguish and move on. If the camp leaders couldn’t do that, I doubted the rest of the ex-captives could. The leaders were skeptical about how bad things were, and they heard it straight from their king. How to convey the few real options to those trapped in the camps was overwhelming most of them. Despite their distress, they were impatient to get back.
"Everyone line up next to the packages designated for your camp," I shouted just as a runner arrived from the king's office with a stack of new proclamations to give each camp leader. I had the runner pass them out while Argon and I read them. They announced the creation of the civilian corps and food subsidies for those taking in orphans. I suspected we would see a few more before day's end.
I wanted to get the transport and deliveries over as soon as possible. Teleporting a person, clothing, and bedding required less force magic than moving a sani-unit. It was just more cumbersome.
After working with one of the leaders I discovered, if the person being teleported held on to all the bundles all I had to do was hold onto the person.
They were still in the line we set earlier. I announced we would begin transporting from the front of the line. I warned we would skip over any who could not demonstrate they had complete control of their bundles. Argon assured them no one would be left behind and any who needed more help would receive it.
As I approached the first person in line, Argon reminded me to check the sani-units. She suspected they had been in constant use since we dropped them off.
She was right.
Olive asked us to brief the king's guard in each camp on the overall situation in Augun. She wanted them to understand they represented the king. His orders to
them were to help and protect those in their camps. She wanted us to emphasize those in the camp were to be treated as citizens and could leave the camp at any time. While they were free to take a weapon, they would be limited to a two-day supply of rations.
Basas, carts and other camp assets would remain with the camp unless authorized by the camp leadership. Whether those leaving would be allowed to return was up to the discretion of the guards and camp leadership based on camp security considerations. The king's guard would each claim one or more of the camp basas for security purposes.
Our return to the camps was anti-climactic. No one wanted to hear what the leaders had to say until everyone got in their clean clothes. The sani-units all required major charging, especially for water magic. The king's guards were on the ball. One remained at our side in each camp before the clothing distribution even began. By the time we visited the last camp, we had the entire process down to about 15 minutes on the ground.
