by Zack Finley
“She isn’t eccentric, she is crazy,” Tobron said.
“I could invite her for chee at HQ,” Inoa mused.
“Chee, my ass. She drinks graal by the bucketful,” blustered Tobron.
“She has been a bit lost since she lost her mate,” Inoa admitted. “But, Marfo is right that this challenge would be something she would love, and she’d be effective at it, too.”
“Her mate died 30 years ago,” Tobron said, but I could tell he knew he was on the losing side of this argument.
“All the more reason for her to begin moving on,” soothed Inoa.
“Great, anyone on the list look like a food supply coordinator?” I asked Inoa.
“Marfo is the family’s best coordinator,” Inoa said. “I know you hope she can manage the economies of three countries and the Duchy, but she will need help.” She turned to Marfo and asked, “Anyone on this list who can help you manage things?”
“I put Ellte into the communications slot,” Marfo said. “She is the best there is. But I don’t have anyone to fill that role.”
“Gera might do well in communications. Argon and I know him from our battles in Augun,” I said.
“What if we moved Ellte in as your second in command and had her start with coordinating the food supply? Once you two get that job organized, she can find someone to run it day-to-day?” Inoa suggested.
“Dinner is ready at HQ,” Ellte sent to everyone in the Keep. I then heard the dinner bell toll in emphasis.
“Let’s do it, I know the communications job is likely chafing her by now,” said Marfo.
“Why don’t you chat with her about adding the food supply coordination to her duties until we can get someone in to take over fully in communications?” Inoa suggested.
“I’ll be right back,” Marfo promised before teleporting out.
Inoa looked at me and shrugged, “She gets that impetuosity from him,” nodding toward Tobron, “not me.”
“Our two youngest are on Marfo’s list,” Inoa said, prodding Tobron in the side.
“Are they now?” Tobron asked.
“Did you recruit them?” Inoa countered.
“Not really, I just suggested they could do worse and that I missed our grandbabies.”
“So, do I,” Inoa said. “I’ll contact them tonight. Hopefully, their mates won’t object to providing an oath of fealty to the duke.”
“Inoa, I hate to ask you but can you take over hiring?” I asked. “It is too critical to be delegated. Hire or transfer anyone you need to help. Let’s talk before you move any of the current key players because we’ll have to backfill them.”
“I understand,” Inoa said. “It is going to get more complicated as we continue to recruit. We need an organization and not just an individual. I may need to warn King Ruton that I’m going to need more time off, but I’ll take this on.”
“Inoa has agreed to head up our personnel recruitment office,” I sent out on the management net. “Coordinate all manpower needs with her.”
My chamberlain looked very pleased with the announcement. I suspected he heartily approved.
Today’s dinner was a spicy stew, accompanied by pracch condiments. There was plenty of fresh fruit, bread, and side dishes to accompany it. There was plenty of chee and today we had several kegs of local brew for those wanting something with their meal.
Argon and I got in line with several of the farmers we’d assisted over the previous two days. They were very pleased with how well the farm expansion was going. Several couldn’t wait to bring their younglings out and asked us about that.
“I think we should spend a few more nights here before bringing the younglings out,” I said. “We still have a few new areas to cleanse, and I’ll feel better when our exterminator gives us the all clear.”
That satisfied them since no one wanted to put the younglings at risk and last night’s jervin swarm was still on everyone’s mind. Even if it felt like it happened weeks ago.
“When do the acolytes think they’ll be back to cleanse the new sites you’ve found?” I sent Argon.
“I sense Avia is displeased with how unprepared the local temple was. I suspect they will be back tomorrow and I expect they will stay until they can give us an all-clear. They have grown in strength and confidence since our first cleansing. I expect they will handle the remaining cleanup quickly. I doubt they will need my help. It will be different when we open the death tunnels, but I see no immediate need to cleanse them.”
“Death tunnels?” I asked.
“Yes, I understand why the guard entombed the tunnels instead of cleansing them, but that level of malevolence is corrosive. It will get stronger as it senses life growing around it. Avia’s current temple can’t hope to cleanse such evil. So, they will need to build up their strength for the final cleanup,” sent Argon, as she nonchalantly dished food onto her plate and tray.
The thought of another lich lord or worse fuming under my feet nearly put me off my food. Nearly.
Cleon came in with several of his Duchy guards. Clive and Loma came in together. I checked the assignment list and noted Clive and his crew were restoring the palace. They were also on-call for any other Keep building project. I added visiting them to my to-do list.
I had a lot to talk with Loma about, but most of it was not suitable for a mixed audience.
I was pleased to see Alba and Jord teleport in together. Cleon spotted Alba and came over to greet her. Alba must have already eaten because she headed towards our table, greeting former patients as she came. Cleon returned to his teammates.
Jord didn’t hesitate, he walked directly to our table and sat beside Inoa. She patted him on the hand and spoke a few words. He nodded and walked over to the beverage area. He looked torn between chee and brew, eventually choosing brew. By the time he returned to Inoa, he seemed more confident.
Alba hugged Tobron and Argon, nodded to Inoa and sat beside me. “I’m glad we didn’t have any serious casualties from those jervins,” Alba said. “Too many stings can be life-threatening.”
“Tobron, how is the jervin resettlement going,” I asked, raising my voice slightly to be heard over the din.
“Well, very well, my boy,” Tobron boomed in his normal voice. “The main body has reached the new nest site, and they are digging like mad.”
“Has Ronar found any other areas of concern?” I asked, even as the conversations around me dissipated.
“His fellows have filled the jervins’ nest area with a special slurry. They will be back in the morning to top it off and turn it to stone. I do not think he was happy to be so closely monitored. It only took a mild reminder that he missed the huge nest the first time, to stop him from protesting anymore. Argon has a few areas targeted for spiritual attention but other than that he hasn’t found an active nest. Apparently, 50 years without rain really discouraged the vermin. He did find some abandoned nests which will be fixed tomorrow. He has also agreed to provide a glappner specialist to accompany any Duchy personnel cleaning out closed warehouses. For a fee, of course,” Tobron added.
This was good news, up to now Ronar had insisted he could not afford to assign us a full-time glappner killer. This meant Argon, and I were finally off glappner duty.
Cleon slipped into the seat beside Alba. Clive and Loma were sitting beside him. All we were missing was Capt. Malek and Marfo.
“Cleon, what has been keeping the guard busy?” Tobron asked in his official chamberlain voice.
“We’ve been helping out wherever we can,” Cleon replied around his food. “We have about a third of the force in Klee, split between HQ and the warehouse. Here we’ve mainly been helping to unload ships and move goods around. I’ve posted an armed man at the three ‘port locations. We’ve been working out tonight’s protection assignments.”
Cleon paused to swallow. “Tonight, we want everyone but the Duchy guard to get a full night’s rest. Several of the guards are resting now, and we will patrol the building in shifts. The gua
rds will patrol in teams of two, to avoid last night’s failure.”
“Have you had time to conduct an after-action assessment?” I asked.
“We have a preliminary timeline that suggests the first two guards went down right away, likely from the sleep gas the jervins flooded the first floor with. It took way too long for any follow-up. That is how we were knee deep before the rest of us knew something was wrong. We now have the communications hub prodding the patrol if they’ve made no report in 15 minutes. If the hub gets no answer, they will alert the whole force. We think that change and doubling up the patrols should provide better preparedness,” Cleon said.
“Tobron, let’s make sure everyone in the Keep understands what went wrong last night and what we are doing to prevent something like this from happening again,” I said. I didn’t want anyone thinking we were covering up a problem.
“My leaders have been working closely with Ronar’s specialists. They have been a lot more forthcoming since this happened. I think they just thought we were paranoid now I think they actually believe something is after us,” Cleon said.
The momentary chuckle this prompted died an ugly death.
“Despite that paranoia, I now think our main threats are outside the Keep ward, not inside. That said, I still recommend everyone sleep with their weapons and armor nearby. And, I think we should get through a few routine nights before bringing our younglings in,” Cleon grimaced.
“We need to assign clearing teams to go in every place and physically mark them as clear before the younglings arrive. You know younglings, they will poke into places none of us ever thought to look. We may need to tag each youngling with partner spells when they first get here, to keep them from going anywhere alone,” Cleon said.
“Excellent progress, fine recommendations,” Tobron boomed. “Cleon take charge of the clearing operation, we will definitely not transfer the younglings until you can certify no baddies are lurking within the Keep boundaries. Inoa will work with you to supply manpower for that project.”
“It sounds like everyone should plan to sleep in their assigned rooms tonight?” asked Tobron.
“We can work with that,” Cleon said. “I’ll coordinate with the militia leaders if I need more patrol manpower.”
No one else had much to share, and the main table started to break up. Argon kissed me when she got up to drop off our trays. She informed me she was leaving to meet with Avia’s acolytes.
Jord was in a serious conversation with Tobron, but I figured if they needed me they knew I was here.
“Steve, Capt. Malek and I are on the Malan, where do you want to meet with us?” Marfo sent.
“Why don’t I join you there?” I sent back. Her only response was a teleport location, which I used.
◆◆◆
Chapter 8
I’d last been on the Malan when we were recruiting Capt. Malek. The changes weren’t huge, but they were noticeable if you looked carefully. The ship was still well maintained, and the crew was still alert. It was odd to see them all in Duchy livery. The ship’s wards were more comprehensive.
A Duchy of Toffad’s Keep flag secured to the tallest mast whipped in the breeze.
I hadn’t realized we had a flag.
A member of the crew greeted me and escorted me to the captain’s cabin.
Malek indicated I should take a seat while he got up to get me a cup of chee. A small platter of desserts, cheese, and fruit was in front of Marfo, so I sat beside her, leaving the head of the table for Malek.
I helped myself to a dessert and thanked Malek for the chee. I didn’t need mental powers to know the two were feeling rebellious.
“Capt. Malek, thanks for inviting me aboard your ship. It is looking great as usual,” I started. “I estimate half the economy on this coast of Jaloa has been crushed. All the market forces which have developed over the past centuries, no longer matter. No system can recover naturally from a blow this severe in a few years. Left alone it could easily take centuries for the economy to return to something approaching equilibrium.” I definitely had their attention.
“I am not capable of watching others suffer without helping. We will help those in Kavil and Ylee we can. I don’t yet know how but we will. We will do something about the raiders and slavers. I don’t know how or when but we will act. Once we learn where to strike the dark sect, we will. But this will not be enough if we cannot keep the three countries left on this coast from sliding into a deep depression. If they do, the dark sect will have won.”
“As much as I respect King Rufix and King Ruton, they will do what is best for their countries, as will King Arvich. They may try to consider the whole region, but that won’t be their core concern. My goal is regional well-being. If we can keep the three countries from adopting an island mentality, we will have a chance. None of the countries are large enough to ignore their neighbors. But I expect them to try.” I drank my chee and reached for another tasty dessert.
“The Duchy is committed to keeping the three remaining economies from plunging into depression. I also want to maintain a viable shipping industry and tighten the bonds between the three kingdoms. I believe this first economic summit is vitally important. Our job is to make sure it isn’t the last one. The kingdoms have been rocked by assassins and worse. They will never be more interested in working together than they are now,” I paused to let that sink in.
“Where do we fit in?” asked Malek.
“You both know a lot more about the marketplace than I do. I need that insight. I need you to push back when you think I’m off base. I suspect you know more about the underpinnings of trade than any of the experts the kings will bring. If you hear anything, I should take note of, or you have a reaction to, send the other two a private message. Let me be the spokesman. But I need your input and your observations,” I said.
“Why do you feel so strongly about pulling the kingdoms together?” asked Marfo.
“I believe we have a period of uncertainty and possibly worse in front of us. This is the main reason we are committed to creating the Duchy. A much better solution will be to help the three countries develop the strength to get through the bad times. It only took 20 mages to destroy Kavil and Ylee and nearly destroy Augun. They hired pirates and slavers to destroy innocent people. If the three remaining kingdoms fall into economic ruin, it will tear us down as well, and the dark sect will have won,” I said. “Well if that hasn’t depressed you I don’t know what will. Tomorrow, at noon at the Augun ballroom. Let’s wear our full-dress livery tomorrow, I haven’t had a chance to wear mine yet. Let’s hope we have a quiet night.”
I ‘ported to our HQ suite to pick up my livery. “I’m at the suite, do you need me to bring anything?” I sent to Argon.
“Some bedding and our public nightclothes would be nice,” she sent back some pictures to help me choose.
Allo was not in the rooms. Her bowl of food was untouched. I could feel her contented aura in my head, so she was clearly not hungry or in danger.
I commed Loma to find out what she wanted to talk to me about but got a privacy signal back.
No one told me you could do that.
I gathered up my livery and all the items on Argon’s list and traveled to our new suite.
I told the communication’s hub that I was back in the Keep. Argon was still in Klee with Avia’s acolytes. I decided to wander down to the dining hall to get a brew.
The hall was quiet, with most of the peripheral lighting turned down. A few people were sitting around the tables chatting. Most of the sound came from one table that had a vigorous four-handed game in progress involving dice and a lot of shouting. About half the people had chee in front of them, and half were sipping brew.
Everyone had his or her weapon at hand.
I decided not to interrupt their quiet time and carried my brew back to my suite. I slipped off my armor, leaving it within easy reach. I turned on the mage fire to combat the dampness of my under-armor. It was also soothing
to watch as I sipped my brew.
Jaloans drank nearly as much brew as they did chee. Every tavern keeper brewed their own version. It was a mild intoxicant, but it supposedly took a lot to get drunk. I’d avoided it during my early days on Jaloa, mostly because I was confused enough. Once I tried it in the HQ tavern, I liked it. I still wasn’t sure how much I could drink without effect, so I approached it cautiously, especially if combat might be imminent. I suspect it was like beer, but I couldn’t really remember what beer tasted like. Or steak, or whiskey.
I wondered about my team on Earth, whether Bert and Tom were hurt in the blast that sent me here. My main regret was not being able to assure my mom I was okay. It had only been weeks, but that part of my life felt like it was a distant dream. Everything in Jaloa was more intense. The consequence of failure more horrible. Even the villains were more depraved.
I must have nodded off because the next thing I remembered was Argon. She had arranged our bedding in front of the fire and pulled me into her arms. Warm and eager. She comforted me about my lost life and welcomed me to my new one.
No melancholy could last in the face of such love and understanding. She set a slow seductive pace until we both caught fire. The intensity of our lovemaking left no energy for regrets. Argon anchored me in this new world, and I loved her for it.
I woke up to the smell of chee. Argon was dangling a cup just out of reach. I noted it was barely dawn.
“There is much to be done this day,” she said, coming no closer.
Fortunately for the schedule, I needed to pee. I had a pretty good idea I could have enticed Argon back into bed. Chee or no chee.
“I tried to com Loma last night, and she had a privacy screen up. How do you do that?” I asked.
“I didn’t know you could,” Argon answered. “I guess I’ve never had so many people able to com me before. I never needed a privacy screen. Seems a good idea as long as you can get through in an emergency. I’ll check it out, we may all need one and setting up protocols in advance is usually easier than after-the-fact.”
