“Where have you been? I didn’t think Lady Olane’s breasts would take this long. We have to get to brunch soon.” Cid asked abruptly, when Nita entered her rooms, startling her slightly. She frowned at him. He was sprawled out on one of her couches making lovey faces at Elena, who was perched in his lap.

“With your father.” Nita said hoarsely as she passed him. She rummaged around in one of the chests she kept in the corner of her room for a bit, eventually coming up with a clear bottle of amber liquid and a glass.

“What are you doing?” Elena asked as she watched Nita pour herself a drink and down half of it.

“Well, I started with the Count, might as well keep going.” Nita stated, matter of fact.

“Shit, it’s not yet noon, Nita. That bad?” Cid asked worried, moving Elena off his lap and sitting up.

“Where are my girls?” Nita asked looking around, trying to divert Cid’s inquiry.

“One of the maids came to collect them a while ago. I’m sure they will be waiting for us at brunch; father wanted to meet them after all.” Cid said waving it off. “Now, why are you half-cut before noon?”

Nita shot him a look and finished her drink then poured herself another one. “Muskets.” She muttered.

“Muskets? What does that mean? Another thing from your world?” Cid asked.

“I’m sure your father will fill you in.” Nita said shifting through one of the wardrobes and coming up with her leather pants and a blouse. “Elena be a peach and help me out of this dress.”

With Elena’s help Nita quickly changed. “Come on.” She said as she slung her weapons belt over her shoulder then grabbed her bottle, leaving her glass behind. Taking a swig from the bottle she headed out the door. Elena and Cid shared a look then followed her out.

Brunch was held in the family wing, in a private dining room. Corten, Captain Grey, and the rest of the Galloway’s were already there, chatting, when they arrived. They took their seats quietly and were served. Nita put her bottle on the table and tucked in. A short while later Kit, Lilly, and Rebeca came in.

“Please join us.” Carson said gesturing to the empty seats at the table. The three cautiously took their seats and were shortly served. For a while everyone concentrated on eating.

“So, you two had quite the adventure.” The count said eventually, eyeing the 3 slaves.

“Corten, has, no doubt filled you in already.” Cid said with an eyeroll.

“Alright, you’re right. So, tell me Nita, have you put anymore thought into what you want to do with your life? Or are you going to be satisfied running errands for me and guarding Cid? You are nearly 20. Don’t give me that look, you’re wasted as a guard. You know I see you as the daughter I never had.” Carson asked Nita. Carson took in his family with a smile.

“I’m thinking I’ll run a camp brothel, travel around with a big tent and buy and sell flesh.” Nita responded with a cheeky grin and a big swig from her bottle, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “Safer lifestyle then a guard. Everyone loves sex. Hell, I think I could talk the trolls into leaving us alone if we lose the war. Find good guards, fighters as bouncers, and make them pretty for the ladies. Just keep a few more around than necessary.”

“You got it all figured out don’t you.” Carson said studying her closely then nodding to himself with a knowing smile.

“I still don’t know why you didn't take that apprenticeship with that flesh mage in the capital.” Ander said.

“Seriously? What kind of flesh mage doesn't look after themselves? She was what? 300lbs, and five foot?” Nita asked snidely. “I get having excess weight to work on people, because it does burn a lot of energy. But you can take over three quarters of it from your patient, unless they are underfed.”

“She has a point Ander. Burning off weight was one of the first things Nita figured out on her own.” Edward put in, pointing his fork at his brother.

“Sure, it was just an idea.” Ander said defensively.

“How about I lend you the money to start a mercenary company; now that you have your mark. It’s a growth market. With the war on, most of the big companies have been hired by the crown and there is a real need for small extermination crews to deal with interior beast and gob infestation. That’s not even mentioning dungeon and lair subjugation. It also fits your natural talents and interests. You have what 20 potential bindings now?” Carson suggested thoughtfully.

“About 14 left. It would be more, but I used more of my innate for the initial brand and Lilly takes 4 slots now that she’s a mage.” Nita answered hesitantly, groaning internally, with another small swig and a bite of her eggs.

“So, 19 total? That’s not bad for an extermination company. Most companies start smaller than that. You’re a very strong mage. It’s too bad you’re a fleshy.” Edward added, waving a piece of bacon.

“Leave Lilly with me. She’s too young and untrained for that line of work right now. I’ll pay you…hmm say, 10 crowns for the improvements to Rebeca; she is worth around 35 crowns now and Corten said you agreed to split the profit. She would get more at auction, but I know you’d want her to stay with the family. I'll pay you a crown a year, for the lease of Lilly until she is 18 and I will cover the cost of training her properly as a treatment and disposal necro.” Carson offered.

“Let me buy Rebeca father. Please.” Ander asked unexpectedly.

“Sure... But you are going to explain your reasoning.” Carson said appraising his son. When Ander opened his mouth to elaborate Carson waved him off. “Later.”

“So, in this hypothetical, I’d just be left with Kit? Most of that gold would have to go to Durgon for a runic weapon.” Nita asked.

“No, call it a gift, I called in a favor with master Durgon. I won’t make it into a lesson, if you don’t go expecting handouts in the future; your gold is yours. Though we will need that bar of Mithril you mentioned.” Carson said with a smile.

Nita thought about if for a while, taking another pull from her bottle and pushing her food around on her plate. She knew it was only a matter of time before she would be itching to get out of the keep again and take any excuse to do something other than train and deal with people. With not having to pay for her weapon from Durgon she would have the 2 platinum kings and 5 crowns she had saved for the blade plus 4 crowns and change she had as spending money. That makes 219 crowns plus her share of the tinker’s wagon and the horses less the mithril to buy slaves and supplies and a permit to run a company which was 30 crowns by itself. Maybe keep the horses as her share? Nah there were to many stories of small companies having theirs killed or stolen: better to have a troll or something as a porter. Why the hell am I seriously considering this? More slaves? Really Nita? Maybe if I buy the unwanted ones, or ones that look like they will soon meet a bitter end like Kit. Try to do some good within this broken system. That’s a weak excuse. Though sometimes doing nothing is worse isn’t it? Gah! Wait.

“What’s my share of the tinker’s wagon?” She finally asked aloud, breaking from her spiraling thoughts.

“Corten?” Carson prompted.

Clearing his throat before speaking, Corten looked down at some papers beside his plate. “Well, we have a potential buyer for the entire contents, wagon and 2 horses. The offer was 5 kings, but we will have to deduct the 30 crowns if you remove the mithril bar; it's one of the more valuable items. So that would leave you 2 kings and 35 crowns. keep in mind we are still taking offers. It has only been a day, and the wagon comes with a tinkers license which is worth 2 kings itself.” Corten said.

“What!” Nita spluttered shocked. Her share alone would have let her buy her weapon without the Count’s help. She sat back and really gave it some more consideration. What, did, she want to do with her life. How much harm would she be doing if she was buying people that were already slaves?

“What do you think?” She said looking at Kit.

“Huh?” Kit said baffled. The whole conversation was a little surreal to her. Never had she been privy to such conversations with her previous owners.

“Seriously, it would be just you and me to start and figure this out. Cid is getting married in a year, before heading to the officer's academy in the capital. School was never my favorite thing and I need to do something. While working on fixing Nobles bodies is fun, it’s not what I want to be doing. So how about it, what’s the worst that can happen? We fail and die?” Nita asked warming up to the idea.

“I think you should sober up and think on it with a clear head, but it does fit you.” Captain Grey put in his two bits before Kit could answer.

“Valid point Captain. You should get some rest this afternoon and sober up; I hear you have an eventful evening planned. You will need to be at Master Durgon’s smith when the sun rises in the morning. Now eat something I know how hard it is to keep up you reserves when you’re on the road and you have a job to do later. You’re going to need the energy.” Carson said pointing at Nita’s largely untouched plate.

“Fine.” Nita grumbled shoveling cold eggs into her mouth.