Ruyo said to the surviving bandits, "Do any of you know anything about cooking? Sewing? Metalworking?"

"I was a cook on the northern front," said the once-drowned man, a Khyberian by the looks of him. Bowlegged from growing up on horseback, dark-haired and baked by the hot northern sun. "The name is Khulis."

The man with cuts on his face said, "Hastro. I was a farmer. Turned to poaching out west, then moved to the city and took up with Sinna's gang."

The third shrugged. "I'm city-born. One-Eye took me in." He looked fearful for a moment as he added, "But good riddance to him."

Ruyo said, "We can set you up with some tents outside the cave. If there's more trouble, raise an alarm. Besides that you can help with odd jobs like fixing my front door."

Nusina appeared and asked publicly, "And a few burials?"

Ruyo winced. "Yes. For that sort of work I'll offer clean water and bad food, better if you can teach me more about cooking. Run off if you want. But stay a week and I'll give you your weapons back plus some basic trade goods you can sell."

"And the magic?"

"After a week where nobody tries to kill me."

Nusina put in, "Which might mean more than one week, total."

Ruyo ignored her. "But it sounds like Nusina told you there's another requirement for that part."

The ex-farmer fingered the slash marks on his cheek. "You're tougher than you look, and you've got weird powers. May as well sign up with you."

The Khyberian said, "Great Heaven didn't make me strong enough, and these southern cities haven't got gods at all."

The third man simply nodded.

So Ruyo received their worship in the cave. It was just as powerful as any other, but flavored as a simple desire for gain. I do this for you; let's see what I get back. She preferred it to the flat, stale offerings of the scholars who were just there to test a theory, and the leaden feel of a slave following orders. She put on a smile and said, "Bless you all. Now let's see about food, shelter and teaching."

#

The day was peaceful, a welcome change. With the three recruited thugs outside, Nusina and Ruyo had the shrine to themselves again. They detected a trickle of power from the Vissios' shrine and no trouble with the crudely repaired crystal downstairs.

Ruyo sent one of the men off to Sor's Hill to ask about the shrine over there, and to pass along word to Averell about her location. She was a little worried that neither place had sent anyone yet. Meanwhile, the others set up tents of fresh canvas and got Ruyo to show them what carpentry she knew, sharing her tools and free lumber. There was no need to actually chop down trees until someone wanted farmland here.

The Khyberian said, "In our lands to the north, most metals are more plentiful. If you have endless metal, why not a metal door?"

"I don't know how to make enough metal at once, or how to forge it, let alone complex shapes like locks." Those would normally be a skilled smith's work.

"Can you make charcoal instead of wood?"

Ruyo frowned, concentrating, and fiddled with raw mana between her hands. "I don't think so. I might learn to get more variety."

"Give me wood and I can show you a simple charcoal-making pit. You said that whatever skills you learn will help with your magic."

Baris stopped by and called out from a distance, "Is everything all right?"

"We're fine, thank you!"

He approached and saw three low mounds of fresh-turned dirt to one side of the cave's hill. "Are those graves?"

She grimaced. "The trouble's been dealt with. These nice men are here to help train me, keep a lookout, and earn magic."

The men agreed quickly.

Baris looked them over, and removed the hand he'd had on the bow behind him. Instead he brought out a freshly killed rabbit. "I was expecting to share with just one, but we can all have a snack instead."

"Know anything about cooking? I need to learn."

"I had to learn, living on my own. Taught Cydi a thing or two; she's not used to the country life."

So they gathered around a campfire as though it had been a completely intentional meeting. Ruyo looked silly, intent on watching exactly how to clean and roast game and add salt. Educational!

Nusina looked on, keeping her distance from the fire. "Milady, there's something you should be aware of if you're not already. Your combat power is highest within the shrine, both because of the Glittering Foebound Quills and because of your own magic power. Some of what you did that night, you couldn't yet do if you go farther out than right about here."

"Makes sense. So, try to schedule the assassins for when I'm at home. I thought you could disable fire magic, by the way."

"Somewhat. I was busy. And he used the spell from just outside. The men said that was a Khyberian firewand, by the way. He burned it up completely and added what magic he knew."

"I've heard of those. Deadlier version of my self-lighting candle."

"Would you get rid of that thing already? I'll teach you a proper light spell; it's easy."

"All right. But let me pay attention to this cooking now."

Over the meal, Ruyo said, "I can finally teach you basic magic, Baris. Surprised you haven't brought it up yet."

"Cydi's been having fun with that. Whenever you're ready."

It was surprisingly easy to do for him. She watched him practice and said, "That's a start. I expect to improve on it soon."

The robber-guards looked on with jealousy.

#

The next morning, one of the two "guards" hanging around banged on Ruyo's door and woke her. She hurried outside with her clothes askew, and found a rider in dusty clothes. Her new henchmen were unarmed but trying to make him keep his distance...