I awoke at dawn, the sound of a teacup clanking onto the barrel nearby as pleasant a sound as the smell of it. The morning meal was another helping of oatmeal, plain and with no sausage this time. I carried it down with me, sipping the tea as I went, to join Walker and Lilly at the table on the first floor.

“Master,” they both greeted me. The tension I saw from yesterday was gone, so the fear of the beastwave must have been the cause.

“Good morning,” I returned the greeting, “Walker, today will be a busy day for you. How were your scores in ice magic?”

He paused, straightened in his seat, and then spoke, “Not my best element, master. I believe I scored average among my class, though.”

I nodded. I couldn’t expect excellence in every subject, after all. “Did you learn the skill [Ice Manipulation]?”

“I did,” he answered.

“Good. I’ll have you supervising the work. Mena,” I called the woman. She’d been by the fireplace, dishing up a bowl.

“Yeah, boss?” She asked as she hustled over, the half-filled bowl in hand.

“Get the other two. There’s no need for them to stand watch at the moment.”

She sat her bowl down on the table and hustled up the stairs. While she lacked the discipline I love to see in guards, I couldn’t fault her enthusiasm.

Soon enough, Walker, three guards, and I were standing outside the door to my tower. To everyone else, the sight was a shock. Burnt and battered dead beasts were strewn across the path and along the wall. The pile of bodies in the center still steamed, even though it was not aflame. Parts of legs or heads or other pieces of their bodies were floating in the waters like an ill-made soup. To my left, Walker vomited his breakfast.

I used [Earth Manipulation] to create a staircase down the side of the moat wall closest to the tower, the additional stone I added made it so the steps weren’t as slippery as compacted mud would have been.

“Walker, you will be using your [Ice Manipulation] to freeze the bodies here in the moat,” I said, as I gestured towards the pile. “Meanwhile, you all will be responsible for bringing any other carcasses down here for him to freeze as well.”

When I looked back up the stairs at the four, I notice reluctance heavy on their faces. I couldn’t blame them. This wasn’t anyone’s ideal of pleasant work.

“Well?” I asked as I walked back up the staircase.

“Yes, master.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Yeah, boss.”

Every single voice had a small hint of despair.

I called back as I reached the door to the tower, “Oh, and Assistant Walker?”

“Yes, master?”

“If any of the other three aren’t working hard enough for your liking, you may practice your [Ice Manipulation] on them as well,” I called, a smile on my face.

Inside, the two [Bandits] were tussling on the floor of their cell. Lilly stood by the fireplace, watching with a surprised look on her face, one hand over her mouth. I raised an eyebrow at her.

“The one, not Mr. Fenn, he starting saying some things. Some really horrible things. To me. Mr. Fenn stood up for me and then they started fighting,” she explained, her eyes drawn back to the two men.

I watched them struggle for a few minutes. It wasn’t something I hadn’t seen before, but the knocked-over chamberpot did add a certain nuance to it. I couldn’t help but think of pigs rolling in filth. Mirm was the smaller of the two, but he seemed better prepared to fight. The larger man, Stalt, had his arms around Mirm in a bear hug, but Mirm rocked back and forth and was getting punches in on the man’s side.

“Lilly, this isn’t a sight for a young maiden to view. Perhaps you can carry some of the food supplies downstairs for me?” I asked. She nodded in response but didn’t move until I nudged her shoulder.

It was a few more minutes of struggling until the two men started to run out of energy. Stalt, let go of his hold and sitting up in the air. He raised up, his hands together in one fist, ready to bring it down. The nobleborn seemed prepared for that and jabbed a fist right into the other man’s throat. Stalt fell to his side, curling up. Coughing and sputtering. This seemed to decide the fight, and soon Mirm was up laying repeated kicks into the man.

“You. Are. Nothing. Without. Me.” Mirm was spouting nonsense to the man with each kick. Then, even he ran out of energy and fell back on his rear.

I slowly clapped my hands. A mockery of real applause. Both men turned their glares to me, though Stalt didn’t rise from his fetal position. “Perhaps I have been too lenient. I showed mercy when few, if any, would. Yet this is my thanks?”

I let my hands gesture to the nightsoil that had splattered all over their cage. “Maybe, I should just let you go?”

Mr. Mirm Fenn, nobleborn [Bandit Lord], seemed appropriate wary of my question.

Stalt, the red-faced bandit with a hulking body on the floor, did not. He immediately flopped to his belly and squirmed towards the stone pillars caging him in, “Yes, yes, m’lord! Please let me go! I swear it to you, the heavens, my own mum I won’t do nothin’ bad no more! Please!”

It was rather pathetic to see the grown man covered in his own filth beg like that. I couldn’t keep the disgusted look from my face.

“Please!” he cried again, louder.

“Very well,” I said calmly. I used my magic to spread apart the stone pillars.

Stalt squirmed through before I was even done, leaving smudges. Without looking back, he dashed toward the door. I hadn’t put the bar back in place, so it flung open against his arm. I didn’t move a muscle as he continued sprinting across the bridge. With a running start, he jumped for the top of the wall, using his foot to push himself higher. His fingertip snagged the top. With a grunt he pulled himself up, throwing a leg over.

He looked back then, a grin on his face. No doubt to gloat or something of that nature. That’s the only reason he saw the fire dart the elemental shot. It hit him dead on. Right in his grinning mouth, the burst of flames lighting his whole head on fire. His body rocked with the force and then slumped. First falling flat again the wall. Then, it slowly tilted back to the tower before rolling over onto the bridge.

I cast a cleaning spell to remove all the filth from the door and the floor before shutting the door. I turned back to face Mirm, who had watched in shock. He was still standing inside the cell, even though there was an opening he could leave from. His hands were lifted right above his shoulder, a symbolic surrender. I did him the favor of casting another cleaning spell on him and the cell before shutting the pillars back. Then I looked him in the eyes. I didn’t say anything, but from the look he returned, I didn’t have to. A warning. A threat. My eyes told him ‘that could be you whenever I want’.

I turned my head when I heard Lilly’s footsteps on the stairs as she came back up. She glanced over, and immediately noticed one of the men was gone, “Where’d the other guy go?”

I furrowed my brows as I answered, “Young lady, are you done moving the food? The cookware? I will be having you cook lunch today, so don’t drag your feet.”

“O-okay!” She answered and darted away to the alcove to gather more of the supplies.

The day passed without anything further of note. I added shelves inside the new pantry and kitchen downstairs when Lilly asked. The three [Bandits] and Walker returned in the evening, but they weren’t hungry for dinner. They hadn’t been hungry for lunch either. They did report on mostly being done with the work. The boars from the beast wave turned out to be Poison Boars, so they were worthless for meat. The wolves and snakes might have been used, if we were desperate for food. But we weren’t.

They continued on in the moat the next day. I even offered the nobleborn the chance to help, though he passed on it. It was midafternoon when Walker called to me that Kine and company returned. At the time, I was looking at the thirteen small topaz gems I owned and considering how many wind elementals I would need.

I communicated peace to my guardian elementals in and around the moat first, before opening the wall. I didn’t see Stalt’s corpse where I’d left it, so I could only assume it was taken care of. Kine sat beside Sten, the driver, on the carriage. The chipper smile on his face fading fast when he saw inside the wall. Sten’s expression turned pale.

“Master, we’ve returned,” he struggled to get the words out.

“Good. A successful defense?” I inquired.

Sten interrupted, “Sir, if I may, I would like to divest my passengers and return to Sena City.”

His passengers didn’t seem ready to wait for permission, though, and soon three [Bandits] and a [Paladin] were stepping out of the carriage. While Adam, the [Paladin], initially stepped out with a smug expression, it fell from his face when he saw the pile of frozen animal corpses.

“I see that your tower bore a heavier assault than Woodhoot,” his eyes scanning over the bloody water and viscera. While I didn’t care for [Paladins] in general and thought the man a self-important stooge, I did have several purposes he could serve for the moment.

So, I answered, “I couldn’t say.”

Then I turned to look at the driver Sten. He was responsible for my ride west, and while I couldn’t recall any extraordinary service he performed in that task, I couldn’t recall a failure either. It would be unfair to keep him here for much longer. “I need to discuss a few things before I can release you from your service. It won’t be much longer.”

“Kine, I will hear your story of the village’s defense over supper. Please take those men and aid Assistant Walker with his duties. If you do not know [Ice Manipulation], have him instruct you. Adam, if you would, there are several things I would like to discuss with you.”

The [Paladin]’s eyes never stopped trying to take in the carnage as he followed, but the gaze seemed more measured and calculating than his first look. It did change to suspicion and his body tensed when I led him downstairs to the dining table and chairs there, asking Lilly to prepare some tea. I’m certain the pattering noises of the lizard-shaped fire elemental in my fireplace didn’t help. I didn’t say anything until we were both seated and a cup of steaming tea is in front of us.

“Do you know the name of the man who commands the Scouts?” I began.

When he shook his head no, I let out a soft sigh, “It is difficult to discuss a man when you don’t know his name. Part of the reason he does so, no doubt. I’m certain that he came to you with suspicions of my activities and purpose here.”

While Adam didn’t answer in words, his face did. Which was enough for me.

“Did you know that it is common among wizards in Sena City to steal each other’s research and claim credit? It is.” I asked and answered, knowing his truth-telling ability would parse that it was common practice. Not that it affected me, as I could only think of two or three magic users in all the five kingdoms that could break through my wards, and even then, I would know they did. But it did give him another reason for my presence that wasn’t summoning hellspawn.

Again, he didn’t answer, but he did seem to consider it. I could tell he wasn’t convinced, however. Seeing this, I sighed again, “Show me the holy symbol of your god.”

“Why?” He asked, but he did pull a pendent out from underneath his armor. Four interconnected circles. Bi, the god of strength and valor. His idol being a proud bull.

I noted the details and then placed my hand on the wall beside us. Using [Earth Manipulation], I created the same image into the wall more precisely than any stonecutter could. It flashed with unmistakable divine light when I was finished, and then remained inert. The human gods never bothered me. I’d seen enough of their powers during my lifetime to recognize the benefit. I just never felt an attachment to any. I wasn’t fully human. And I didn’t want their power or protection. A power granted could be taken away, so better to hold my own. That didn’t mean I didn’t find them useful, at times.

“Now, you will forever know that no evil is committed here,” It annoyed me to mar the inside of my tower with such a thing, but when Adam returned to town with this tiding, he’d forever sing my praises. It wasn’t a hasty decision, either. I’d considered it the last few days.

While I could certainly destroy Lark in a fit of outrage, where would I buy chickens from? Killing either the Baroness or the Scout Commander would only make the crown take notice. I’ve seen more than one arrogant wizard discover that the nobility still held weapons from the last great war. I certainly didn’t want to fend off something that could demolish a seafolk city.

Not that I imagined Baroness Lark to possess such an artifact. But I knew that Duke Eiston did. What did that leave me? I could curse them, even if it wasn’t my specialty. But I didn’t want to be known for cursing morons. They were already cursed by their stupidity. My favorite option was simply to wait them out. But right now, I was a mysterious new addition to their landscape.

For the next few years, I wanted a liaison, a distraction. Someone to function as a gatekeeper. I knew that if I didn’t create a catspaw, then I’d be fending off Scout ‘gifts’ and noble ‘invitations’ for years. And what better catspaw was there than a man who was a [Paladin] and the guildmaster of the adventurer’s guild? With that kind of local support to my reputation, any attempt to slander me would be laughed at. It would buy me time. With enough time, they might forget I was even here. And the holy symbol? Bah! I’d simply move it into the storeroom after he left.

I watched as his face went through several different emotions, from surprise to disbelief to satisfaction as he watched. He continued to stare at it when I pulled my hand away, as if suspicious that it would change at any moment. I waited for a moment. “Now, if we can begin—”

“Why did you do that?” he asked, incredulously.

“Why would I not? You’ve come to my home under false pretenses to determine if I am performing some unspeakably evil acts, have you not? What more proof would you need to allay your fears?” I met his eyes as I asked.

He snorted and gave me a half-smile. “It seems I was wrong about you. I admit I did harbor suspicions. My own; my integrity is not such that can be swayed by rumors.”

I took a sip of my tea to rein in an impulse to verbally spar. Instead, I tilted my head in acceptance of his words. “I thank you for your candor. Now, I would like to begin a partnership. I have several needs here, rare ingredients and the like. I imagine you have a host of eager young adventurers with little experience seeking to escape the mundane.”

“I do. Nearly every youth in town seeks to join the guild at some point or another. There just aren’t enough quests available—I spoke too quickly, forgive me. We have an abundance of quests. They just require a level of skill the local talent does not possess. I’m keeping the details of all quests hidden so the youth can only see quests available to their level. The rest go unanswered, sometimes for years.”

I made a sympathetic face. Feigned, of course. “I may be able to help with that. I found myself in need of stone recently. The baroness claimed she did not have many resources on her lands, but I find it hard to believe stone would be insufficient to quarry this close to the mountains. A quest to find a good deposit and a second to get that information to the greediest merchant in town might…” I trailed off, allowing him to complete the rest.

His brown eyes unfocused as he thought about it. “Finding the right stone would need them to learn about stone and the local area. Finding the ‘greediest’ merchant seems, hmm, but that would require they learn about merchants as well. And I could push different quarries to different merchants, should stone be found. Only the first presents a danger and nothing beyond wild beasts or monsters at that.”

I let him stew with the thought for a few moments more, mostly because I wasn’t sure how fast a thinker he was. Then, I pointed out the obvious, “If any of the local merchants find success in quarrying stone, then it won’t be long until others come to you in search of different resources. Spidersilk for example.”

“You’re right!” His face brightened with the realization.

Of course, I’m right. “I’ll also be sending one of my assistants with ten gold to establish some open requests. Patrolling roadways and the like. I expect guild fees to be waived for this, of course. It will get your adventurers some experience and aid the baroness in the meanwhile. I will also set aside some of the carcasses outside to remain frozen. If you have any adventurers that are too,” paused, searching for the best phrasing, “unsuited to the profession, then I imagine carrying the frozen corpse of a beast from here to Lark should be sufficient to dissuade them. That quest, though, will come out of whatever funds you provide, though the corpses can go to your tanners.”

He seemed to grow happier the more I spoke, then his suspicions returned. “Why do this? Surely keeping roads guarded and youth safe is no ill thing to consider, but I don’t understand.”

“You see this as me helping the town and the barony when I see it as a chore. No different than sweeping the floor. As for your adventurers? The higher level they are the more they can sweep the floor for me. I have no wish to be called upon because no one can put down a rampaging troll. Speaking of which, I do require your assistance with something else.”

I rose from my chair and moved towards the staircase, “You have healing spells or rites?”

“Yes, blessed Bi granted me [Cure Light Wounds],” He proudly announced, as if the minor spell was some sort of achievement.

“Good. I will be sending the Nobleborn Mirm Fenn back with you today, for you to deliver unto the Baroness. She tasked me with ensuring he was delivered but not unharmed.” I glanced back, ensuring Lilly was nowhere around.

“Truly?” The paladin asked. Why he would ask when he was supposedly a truthseer? A turn of phrase, perhaps.

“I mean to take his hand today and have you both depart in the carriage. Will you be able to heal a wound like this?”

“I could heal it at his wrist or elbow, but not his shoulder. Provided the wound was clean.” He answered just as we turned the corner to face the captive. A captive who was suitably disturbed by the conversation.

I cast a simple illusion spell on myself, one that made me seem to grow taller as I spoke. I was already taller than most men at six and a half feet, so this only made it much more obvious. I began speaking in an ominous and official tone, one many wizards have sought to emulate.

“Mr. Mirm Fenn, as Alderman I charge you with banditry and trespass. I task [Paladin] Adam with your delivery to the Baroness, Lady Lark for her judgment. However, I know you are the type of man to seek vengeance on perceived wrongs. Today, I will take your hand as a reminder. Should you seek vengeance against me, I will not show mercy again.”

With a cast of [Flame Blade], a third-tier spell, I created a sword of fire that flew through an upraised hand. A hand that was severed, right at the wrist. He screamed. He held his arm. The [Paladin] chanted. A divine light shone. The wrist healed. A stump remained. All very simple, even the cleaning spell that lifted the blood away like dust. The hand itself, I casually tossed into the fireplace for my elemental to burn away. It was all so quick, that we were done before Lilly, Kine, and Walker arrived to investigate the scream. The [Bandits] didn’t come, having recognized their old leader’s voice.