My pupils returned today, rushing in on two wagons and with frightened looks on their faces. Evidently, the giant bats from the beast wave infested the forest, and more than a hundred now roosted beneath the bridge I built. That the merchant yesterday didn’t mention the beasts lends more credit to my suspicion that he was a fence, likely with a specialized stealth skill.

Among the wagons were several new faces. A blacksmith’s apprentice, come to measure the gate. An older woman and her son, servants seeking employment. A [Ranger] scout, tagging along for the ride with the delivery of tea leaves and, I suspected, a mission to spy on me. Two wagon drivers, who had ridden their beasts hard through the woods and slowly over the bridge.

Kine was the first to approach me, bearing a missive from Baroness Lark, and providing a brief description of the giant bats. Though I wanted to see about the others, I knew I needed to deal with the message first. Not that I wanted to, but if she was attempting to give me an order, then I would be remiss not responding immediately. I could only ask that Kine organize the rest for now. Though my reliance on the man was due to his competence, I would need to shift some to my other assistant soon, so he had an opportunity to grow.

Summer’s Blessings to you as well Lady Olivine Lark of House Lark, Baroness of Eistoni.

I have received your letter, and am indeed in good health. Thank you for your concern.

I also thank you for your consideration in waiving tax fees upon my holding. I am uncertain of your proposition to allow citizens to travel regularly to view my tower as a landmark. While I do understand that it is an unusual new addition to your lands which garners curiosity, I would be remiss not to inform you of the nearby monsters and that unofficial trespassers may be mistaken for bandits and thieves by my magical protections. Please allow me to carefully consider your request and provide an answer on a later date.

With regards to the biannual Ducal Ball, I will regretfully have to decline your invitation. I would not wish to impose on your goodwill. I find myself not ideally suited for such endeavors, lacking the elegance and discernment needed to conduct myself to accord. I hope that this doesn’t give cause to offense.

Likewise, I will be declining your invitation to the Alderman’s Council this fall. Both events fall on times where the constellations’ alignment coincide with the heavenly bodies positioning to reflect magical currents in a manner that require my entire attention. I can send one of my assistants as a representative to receive any news that may affect my holding.

Thank you also for your consideration in informing me of Songmaster Tek’s desire to compose a ballad honoring my contributions to your good lands. I would ask that you communicate to the illustrious bard that the last song written about me was written by none other than Delario the Great. His 43rd epic, to be exact. If Mr. Tek should find himself unwilling to forgo this enterprise, then I can only impress upon you that he would not find the consequences of such action to be at all pleasant.

It is a fair warning that the Kingdom of Sena and that of Mirktal position for war. I personally have no love for the dog slavers of Mirktal, having served in two previous wars and a number of skirmishes against the foe. My experience also gives me the utmost confidence in Sena’s inevitable victory should war come to pass. I fully expect that should draft and conscription be issued that I will continue to be exempt based upon the merits of my prior service.

To answer your questions regarding your heirloom, to my knowledge that type of stone cannot hold an enchantment for any longer than ten years. While I am heartened by your confidence in me to enchant additional jewelry, I would like to remind you that other enchanters charge no less than five hundred gold pieces per enchantment. I can assure you that my expertise is more valuable than a common enchanter.

Cordially,

Nemon Fargus

I had just finished my response when the voices of an argument could be heard coming up the stairs.

“Oh, no. No. No, No, No. I will not be staying,” the nasal voice belonged to a woman, but not one I recognized. That must mean it was the servant Lilly was sent to hire.

“But, Miss Chelsea, this isn’t—” I heard Lilly try to interject.

“Ms. Lilly, there are things in that water. The tower smells of death! I, I saw something move inside the oven. Inside! You said this place was safe, and there were hundreds of monsters just getting here. Don’t try to lie to me, I saw them!” The woman had reached a shrieking point during her litany of complaints.

I stepped down the final stair into the room and saw Walker was about to try to interject, but all fell quiet as they saw me. Everyone except the woman.

“And you! I don’t know what you are doing out here, but you can’t be up to anything good. I saw the pits full of monsters, don’t deny it!” She shook her finger at me.

I gazed at her evenly but said nothing. Instead, I clasped my hands behind my back and waited.

The woman looked to be in her forties, with a thicker body in a servant’s smock and laugh lines around her face. Her brown hair and blue eyes were matched by her son’s who was hiding behind her. Her mouth seemed to be making an imitation of a fish as her eyes widened, realizing what she’d done. Her fury seemed halted into a frozen fear.

“Miss…?” I began.

“Chelsea, milord,” She whispered.

“Miss, Chelsea. Did you not know I was a wizard when you took young Lilly’s invitation?” I kept my voice stern but calm.

“I did. She told me, it’s just…” She trailed off. For some reason, her son nodded his head behind her, as if agreeing with the failed statement.

“You didn’t realize what that would entail, yes? And seeing it all with your own eyes must have been quite a surprise. You are quite brave, I would say,” I said, and gave her a small smile.

“Well, yes, yes I am! I even beat a giant rat to death with a broomstick once, the vermin was out in Mr. Tikley’s garden between me and the door,” she said and began to regale us all with the story of her triumph over a level four beast. When she finished, she shook her head, “But that was that, and this place—I don’t think I can do it, milord.”

“And why is that, Miss Chelsea? You do realize that everything in this tower is at my command?” I gazed evenly again. I found myself wishing I had asked my former servants along, even if they asked for higher pay. If this woman caused more trouble, then I would simply send her back for another.

“Well, even if those things outside are under your control. And the thing in the oven. Why, there’s no water here but for the barrel. I’m told your guards refill it at a spring near a half-mile away. And there’s no place to sleep. I’ll not have myself and my son sleep in the same room as, as, those brutes.” She waved a hand towards Eni, who had just stepped through the door. His surprised expression was only slightly amusing to me, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

The freshwater situation was troubling. I hadn’t thought to ask and just assumed it would be brought to my attention if needed. Which is something a servant would have done, but a guard wouldn’t have. “I have no doubts that your abilities are excellent, Miss Chelsea, but you are not the only servant to be hired. If I can resolve those for you, would you accept employment?”

“Not for two silvers a month, sir,” She said and straightened her back as if she were standing up for the righteous against a hellspawn. Maybe she thought she was.

“What would be fair recompense, then?” I asked, nodding and stroking my beard.

“Eight silvers a month would be acceptable to work in this—this place,” She said, nearly using another word before correcting herself.

I merely nodded. That was less than what I paid Nisto and Hertha, but they seemed more attuned with civilized society than she, “We will have you and your son situated by this evening then. You may begin tomorrow.”

I turned to Walker, who was standing beside the smith’s apprentice, both having witnessed the entire conversation. “Done?”

The man nodded, a muscular young fellow with burn scars along his hands, “Yessir. Measures for the gate and the door. Sir, I don’t think there’s enough iron in Lark to do a whole door. Could do the hinges and the bands, but the door would need to be made o’ wood. Could order some, but it would be months before we have enough. Could do copper. Or bronze.”

That was surprising. I didn’t realize how much the lack of trade was affecting the town. Copper or bronze would be much less sturdy than an iron gate, but I could enchant them to be stronger. I gazed at the door to my tower, the patchwork wood pieces didn’t give the best first impression. Or second, or third, I’d imagine. I looked back at the man, “Bronze will do.”

I turned to look at Eni, my [Ranger] guard who was standing nearby, awaiting a chance to speak.

“Sir, the wagons have been unloaded, but the drivers have questions. No one expected the bats and they’re saying they can’t drive back in that kind of danger. Want one of us to accompany them?”

Was he trying to be sneaky? If I let any of the guards go, they likely wouldn’t return. More than that, I doubted they would be worth much against a swarming enemy like bats. But the drivers did have a good question. It wasn’t fair to them to ask them to drive alone through dangerous grounds, and I didn’t want to put them up for the night.

But it did beg the question – where did the Scout go? I didn’t see Kine, either. I looked to Walker. With his magical talent, defending the wagons and returning shouldn’t pose too much of a risk. Earlier today I was just considering giving him more responsibilities.

“I’ll go, if you want, master!” the eagerness in his voice evident to all. A young man wanting to prove himself. It was admirable, in a naïve way.

I nodded, “Very well. Do not travel at night, and stay no more than two days in town.” I patted him on the shoulder and gave him my correspondence to the baroness for delivery. I also knew that, for a young man, he likely wanted time alone away from his sister. Two days in town should be more than enough. Hopefully, he wouldn’t get himself into trouble. The last thing I wanted at the moment was to owe the baroness a favor. I pointedly ignored Eni’s disappointed face. Doubtlessly, the man would have more opportunities to escape later.

Kine entered through the door as Walker was leaving, each giving the other a look I couldn’t translate. Something between a rivalry and a wariness. Kine dusted his hands off, as if they were dirty, “Finally got rid of the Scout, sir. The man tried to explore your tower on his own, and I had to apply some convincing arguments.”

“Oh?”

“He said he’d put the tea leaves he’s delivering in the kitchen for us and walked right in while I was telling Meathead what to do with the apple barrels. Found him trying to sneak downstairs. By the way, where do those stairs go, master?”

“We can talk about it later, for now, I have a new room for you to construct. We’ll see how much we can push your [Earth Manipulation],” I gave him a meaningful grin.