Yesterday afternoon and this morning I spent doing recordkeeping for my latest experiment. I’d enchanted numbered markers for each of the wolf pits, and needed to annotate those dates and numbers. It wouldn’t do to forget and accidentally breed the beasts incorrectly. Right in the middle of eating lunch, I was informed I had guests. Scout [Rangers]. If it were a delivery of tea flowers, they would have dropped it off with a guard. That they were waiting for me meant it was something more. Still, whatever news they held would wait until after lunch. The lunch wasn’t anything grand, goat sausages wrapped in a leafy green and baked with quarter potatoes. But the side of buttered bread was mouthwatering. The crunchy outside, and steaming soft inside, reminded me of a bakery in Sena City. It closed fifteen years ago. Six generations of bakers, only for the last in the line to gamble it away. A man great at baking, but poor at knowing when to stop betting. When I arrived outside, I found two scouts waiting on me. The first was the young lady that warned me of the last beastwave. She had light brown hair and freckles. Beside her sat her animal companion, a large badger. The other was the man who I met once at the inn in Woodhoot. Short brown hair, and the makings of a future beard. Despite having such a plain forgettable face, I hadn’t forgotten. “Good afternoon,” I greeted them, while Mena opened the gate for me. “Sir,” They greeted me, both with small bows. So, no recognition for previously held rank here. “You come with tidings?” I asked it generally, not really bothering to direct it at either. “Yessir,” the woman responded, but then stopped and looked towards the man for approval. With the Scout's newer uniforms, I wasn’t familiar with what ranking symbols went where. But the look she gave him indicated he held the higher rank. He gave her a tiny, tiny nod. Barely perceptible. She held herself higher and spoke a little more confidently, “Another beast wave approaches, sir. Condors and harpies in the air. Ice foxes and stone beetles on the ground. It’s led by an ancient cave bear, though Baron Llal wounded the beast. I stopped to warn you on my way to warn Woodhoot.” I gave her an approving smile and then turned to the man, “Good. I’d like to say I believe this young lady deserves a commendation. Her early warning and the assistance in the defense of Woodhoot during the last beastwave should warrant such.” The other Scout didn’t seem to think so, with the angry look he gave her. “You stayed to join in the defense?! That’s not our job. We are the eyes and not the arms. We see and—” “Excuse me?” I interrupted his dressing down, using the minor illusion that made my appearance grow in size as I spoke. “Do you not understand what a commendation means? Not only do you ignore my words, but you try to use them against the very person I sought to laud?!” I stared down my nose at the arrogant whelp as I continued, “This woman will receive the commendation I recommended, or I will curse you to only taste the bitterest roots. No matter what you eat. To see all coins as copper. To feel thirsty no matter how much you drink. You have aggrieved me, Scout, and I am not one to be aggrieved.” I had no intention of doing that. I didn’t have the magic to accomplish half of what I’d threatened. That never stopped me from threatening someone with it before, though. “Please, sir, I beg your forgiveness!” He cowered with his hands raised. I cast an illusion spell, one that made a mark on his hand glow for a moment before it faded, “Forgiveness? No. I mark you. Should you fail at the task assigned, so too shall you face my curses.” Truthfully, the mark did nothing, and no curses were used. Well, one curse. But he shouldn’t need sight to tell the difference between copper and gold, anyway. That minor hex would serve as a reminder. I crossed my arms, “Now speak.” He gulped before he spoke, sweat dampening his hair, “Sir, I come with grave news. Assassins were spotted in Lark. We fear they head towards your tower. They already slew three men in Lark and a man in Woodhoot. Creeper in the night the townsfolk are callin’ them.” I raised an eyebrow, “Oh? That is grave news indeed. I’ll need to prepare a proper greeting for them. If that is all, I will attend to my defenses. I expect you both to serve in the protection of Woodhoot before going about your other business.” I turned and let Mena close the gate back, “Mena, gather my assistants and attend me on the roof.” “Right away, boss!” She answered with a sloppy salute before jogging into the tower. Walker was with Meathead and Tond on patrol. In that time, I regretted the hex I placed on the Scout. Sure, in my interactions with him, I found him to be annoying, melodramatic, and rude. Certainly, it was within my authority to reprimand him. Clearly, I had the power to do it. But it felt wrong. As if I had spanked a child one too many times. My regret over my actions served as yet another example of my emotions being at odds with logic. It took an hour before we were all together. Once they arrived, I gave them orders to defend Woodhoot. Three days in the town of Lark if they were successful. Kine was also given the quests to pass to the adventurers’ guild and tasked with collecting any correspondence. Walker was assigned to ensuring that Mena actually returned. Given her personality, I imagined watching over her would prove a good learning experience for him. After they departed, I got to work. Now that I had an official warning from the Scouts, I could increase the strength of my defenses. Spells and guardians that were normally preludes to war would be available to me now. With war on the horizon already, this would be the perfect time to improve without alarming the locals. I couldn’t help but smile.