I had the [Wagoneers] begin unloading my furniture and taking it upstairs. The potted flowers carried around and set at the base of my tower, to be planted later. No sense in those men sitting around. I tasked Walker and Kine with pulling up stones and molding it into a wall at the edge of the new clearing around the tower. I would like to say that I tasked Lilly with ensuring my furniture was placed correctly on the second floor, but she took that task on of her own volition. I stretched the stone pillars out to create a small room inside the prison cell, but large enough for five or six people to sit. Chairs from a dining table were pulled inside, and we began interviewing each bandit individually one by one, saving their leader for last.

Beside me, still in his resplendent, shining armor sat [Paladin] Adam. The man had blonde hair and brown eyes, a muscular physique, and a soft, deep voice fit for a hero. He presented himself with a natural charm, the kind that others would say 'that man looks trustworthy' about.

The first of the [Bandits] to be brought to task, unfortunately, was ‘Meathead’. Strangely, my [Analyze] spell confirmed that as his name. The man sat his broad features not displaying a single look of concern. While he had a large, hulking physique and but sat slumped forward.

“Meathead,” I began, “You’ve been charged with banditry, and as the local Alderman I am here to decide your fate.”

“Okay,” he answered.

“Have you murdered, raped, or stolen in the past?”

The big man shrugged, “Dunno. Boss says I’s real good at hittin’ stuff. Good at eatin’, too.”

I glanced at Adam, who shook his head no. Not lying, apparently.

“Seems like he’d make the perfect [Paladin],” I murmured, but the only reaction I got was a glance at me from the corner of Adam's eye.

“Are you pretending to act the way you do?” I asked.

“Nope,” he said cheerfully.

Adam looked at me and shrugged, “He’s been telling the truth, though I don’t know what good it is to know that. Are they all like this?”

“I think he’s the only one. Sent to test the waters, so to speak,” I answered with a half-smile.

I turned back to Meathead, “If I told you that Adam here is your new boss, what would you do?” I followed with a gesture towards the [Paladin].

“I dunno. Do what he says, right?” the man answered.

I tilted my head to give Adam a meaningful look.

“Go wait outside,” Adam told him, and Meathead got up went to stand with the other captives.

The next to come in were two men that looked nearly the same, slim in shape with brown hair and brown eyes. Their hawkish nose reminded me of the villagers at Woodhoot.

“Names?” I asked as I cast [Analyze]. Both were Tier 2, level 54.

“Brim,” one answered, “and if you’re gonna kill one of us, you’ll hafta kill both of us.”

“Brom,” the other answered while nodding in agreement.

“Brom? Any relations to the village of Woodhoot?” If I were to try to use men in the defense of the village, it made sense to send relatives who would likely do so of their own free will anyway.

“We grew up there. Got family,” Brim answered.

"Eleven Broms in Woodhoot, last I was there," Brom added, nodding again.

“You’ve been charged with banditry, and as the local Alderman I am here to decide your fate,” I began again, “I am considering having you executed, however, a new opportunity has presented itself.”

“We’re not going back to the army,” Brom answered vehemently, Brim nodding in agreement.

I waved a hand, “I have no intention of asking you to. Were you deserters?”

They shook their heads and Brim answered, “No. Good soldiers. We followed Commander Fenn in the army, fighting against those northern pigs. Slaver scum.”

“Scum,” Brom agreed both making faces of distaste.

“So how did you become [Bandits]?” I asked. Good soldiers are quickly hired by the various city guards and even poor ones picked up to protect merchant caravans. Only deserters were killed on sight.

The two shared a look. Brom shrugged. Brim sighed and answered, “Commander told us he had land we could have when our enlistment was up. So we followed him out there, but another noble stole it. Legally somehow. It made him mighty angry, so he took up arms against the man, but didn’t win. His brother married into the Lahals south of Eiston and he hired us to rob from Baron Larkley’s territory to raise our levels. Figured once we were strong enough we could go back and finish what we started.”

Brom grimaced, “Doesn’t look like that’s going to happen now.”

“Interesting,” I said but didn’t mean. “Have you murdered, raped, or stolen in the past?”

They both didn’t say anything for a long moment, before first one, then the other nodded. “We killed some folk, merchants, and stole their goods. No women or children. We never raped anyone either,” Brim answered. Though I might have started getting their names confused.

“If I gave you the chance, would you swear to never do so again? To follow my orders? An oath that would burn your very soul?” I asked it, using a tiny bit of illusion magic to darken the room as I spoke.

It sent the two men to shivering like wet children, but they both eventually nodded. I looked at Adam who spoke loud enough for them to hear, “They’re telling the truth.”

I turned back to them, “Good. There’s a beast wave coming. It’ll hit us, and Woodhoot soon. Swear and you can go protect your kin. Return to me afterward and I may yet grant you honest work and a good life. Run and more than your life might be forfeit.”

They both swore, almost happy to do so, and I let them out of the cage. I also cast another illusion, having rings of whispy purple fog appear around their necks, designed to grow brighter the further away from me they traveled. It left Adam and me alone for a moment, and he whispered to me, “I didn’t feel any dark magics from you, were you…”

I just smiled and tapped a finger against the side of my nose.

The next hour was filled with more of the same. Eni and Tond were two sneaky-looking men that were [Rangers] before turning bandit. Gonst was a [Warrior] missing teeth that caused him to have a lisp. He was also missing a finger, but I didn’t ask about that. Mena was the woman, charming, even if it was an act. Stalt, the man with a creepy smile that tried to kill me with a spear, was the only one who lied to us. Everything he said was a lie. He went back into the cell with Mirm Fenn.

All in all, it took two hours instead of one. The [Wagoneers] were finished before we were, the news of a beast wave having spread among them to good effect. Leaving the two remaining bandits inside the cell, I called Brim and Brom and Meathead to go with the [Paladin] and the [Ranger] to ride in the carriage, dispelling their illusionary collars. I didn’t feel comfortable with sending the former [Rangers] along with a current one, and I didn’t trust the other two as much, despite their oaths.

I sent Kine with the [Wagoneers], riding in the first wagon so that he could cast illumination spells if it grew too dark on the road to Woodhoot. Also, because he had diligently remained at the tower while we were gone, and I suspected he would enjoy some time away. After all the commotion of wagons and moving furniture and sorting bandits, I felt relieved when the group departed. The remaining bandits stuck close by the firepit in the center of the room, each occasionally glancing at the collars they all wore.

Seeing they were staying where they were at and that Walker was still working on the crude wall outside, I took the time to check in on Lilly only to find her napping on one of the beds. Honestly, I was a little jealous, but I was glad it was the spare bed she chose. The furniture had been arranged so that there were four beds against the far wall, opposite of the staircases. My chests and wardrobes had been placed between them to make makeshift walls. Crates filled with my books and magical supplies took up a good portion of the center of the room, making it feel crowded and a narrow path led between those crates to get to the beds. A single couch of undeniable quality placed carefully against the wall between the staircases, ready for use. I warded the way to the third floor to prepare for what was to come.

Going back down to the first floor, I saw the four bandits just quietly watching me. I considered what to do for a long while. I didn’t think they would attack me or try to run, not with that glowing collar around their necks. But I wouldn’t put it past them to try and hold Lilly hostage to ransom their freedom. Without speaking, I called the two former [Rangers], Eni and Todd, to me, and motioned for them to follow, and led them to the third floor.

“I want you two on lookout. Take shifts. If you see a sign of the beast wave incoming, call for me. Don’t leave your post,” I ordered them like I was still a warmage, surprised and happy when they snapped to attention and saluted seemingly by habit. I saluted back, and then went back to the second floor. There, I sealed most of the way to the third but left enough room to hear them shouting to us below.

Back downstairs, I found myself at a loss for what to do. Not that there weren’t things I’d like to do. I’d like to step outside and see to the fortifications. But I didn’t want to leave Lilly alone in the tower with bandits. I could wake her, but she looked peaceful in her sleep. I’d like to fix the second floor into a series of bedrooms so I could have my privacy. I’d like to grow the tower so that my third floor could become my library and research room. I’d like to restart all the projects I stopped for this move. I would like to turn the fourth floor into something like a park, where I could sit and gather some peace as I looked out over the lands. There were all those and much more. Now just wasn’t the time.

Instead, I gathered my mana and drew stone from the foundation. The foundation went at least ten yards down in solid stone, but I only tested how much was there to ensure the tower was stable. I could feel that it went much further, but I didn’t spend the time to check. Instead, I gathered stone from the floor around the room—not much, just an inch or so—and pulled it towards the firepit. The firepit left behind by my assistants was a sloppy round circle of stone about the size of a… no. It was exactly the size of a well. I let the minor annoyance flow through me. Instead, I expanded the firepit out so that it was six feet across instead of three, and raised the walls around it up until they touched the ceiling, leaving an opening in the front like a kiln. I would open the ceiling and continue it further in the future, but, for now, I didn’t want to risk the chance of a crate falling.

Next, I took time and etched a repeating geometric shape around the outside of the kiln. The stone was only a handspan thick, so the etching was only a fingertip deep. I took a breath and looked. I recalled the shining copper on the lip of the Baroness’s dais and liked that look. Later, I would have a merchant deliver a small cartful so that I could fill the etched design. Looking to my side, all the [Bandits] were simply watching me in silence. While I had long since grown used to such things, I wondered if I could think of something productive for them to do. I shook my head. I’d set them to fixing dinner when I finished with the oven. Inside the oven, I concentrated on stretching out a stone rack. Finally, I was satisfied. I’d go back and complete it later, but this was a good start.

Now, for the real magic. First, I cast a flame spell, nothing big, the fire being maybe the size of a fist at its base, and then I threw it into the oven so it landed in the bottom close to the center. Next, I reached into my pocket, and into the bag of holding inside, to pull out a small ruby. It was well-cut, yet only the size of an eyeball. I considered tossing it back for a normal one the size of my fist, but I didn’t need anything larger for this. I closed my eyes and began chanting the words of a spell of summoning. First, beseeching the King of Flames to grant me one of his kin by projecting my mind through the gem. Then sending my desire for a being to serve in the oven. To warm the tower air when I desired it. To heat and cook food placed within. To heat or burn or melt parts needed for my experiments. To serve me faithfully. A summoning contract made without words but thoughts instead.

Answering my call, the little flame in the oven opened its eyes and uncurled. The form of a small lizard perked its head up at me. The innocent-looking creature, no more than a baby of the elementals of old. For all its size and shape, though, it was a tier two power. And its only real desire was to grow into a larger flame, burning anything in its path. This is why I bound it to the ruby, using words of power my audience couldn’t understand. As the ruby grew hot in my hand, I tossed it into the fireplace, the oven, and used my [Earth Manipulation] to mold it into the floor so that only the very tip arose.

Satisfied, I nodded my head. Smokeless fire. No worry of death from bad air. The elemental burned natural mana now, mana it absorbed through the ruby. And burnt mana was just another form of mana, joining seamlessly back in on itself. I turned to the two [Bandits] remaining downstairs that weren’t still trapped in the cell, “You should start cooking dinner now.”

I didn’t even wait for their acknowledgment that they understood the order before casting a cleaning spell on them.