Second Day of August, In the Year of the Empire 6777

Without needing to sleep and eat just yet, I was able to study all the new books I picked up while waiting to leave for the viscounty. Taking many notes as I learned new things.

I did check on Cari and the knights. Everything was coming together. The soldiers were taking down the old stables today with a lot of banging things and shouting good-naturedly at each other. I told Cari to lay in a good dinner for all of them with a small keg of beer. I did not want them unable to travel tomorrow.

Cari sent my letter to Sienna for me. I included a note excusing her from school to visit her parents tonight and to leave the school for other training temporary. I told her that she should be here at the mansion at sunrise tomorrow if she had permission from her parents.

All-day long, I forced myself to ignore the attic muttering, 'just give it time' to myself.

The bank ledgers had intrigued me a great deal. If I had copies of my notebooks stored somewhere, I would always have another copy if something happened to the original. That many books were the only downfall of the idea.

What I want is a bag of holding inside a book so that it would have a nearly unlimited number of pages. I could just copy every book, tome, or grimoire, I want into the 'Endless Book.' Then I'd always have access to anything in my portable library.

But no, that is not the best idea. I do not like to copy or make notes of things that are speculation. I only want the information of fact or valid theories in my Endless Book. I'd need to be able to update it, move pages, insert, and remove pages.

With the proper ritual, I could combine an enormous bag filled with thousands and thousands of perfectly cut high-quality blank sheets of paper with a pair of ledger type books. Add a copy of how to organize a library accurately to the ritual, and perhaps the Endless Book would do that work for me too? Speaking of ledgers, I wonder if I could use the Endless Book to absorb all my copies of ledgers and still work as the bank intended.

Or just copy nearby books? Now that would be a feat. Walk into the College Library and just copy hundreds of thousands of books. I get a chill thinking about how wonderful that would be.

An extremely complicated ritual like this would need a massive amount of mana to make it work and a lot of costly items. What kind of book can become an Endless Book? A tome made from dragon skin or some such?

Such a book would also need protections of all kinds so that it is not easily lost. Water, fire, bugs, maybe even attacks from weapons and magic? Never able to leave me?

Deciding to dedicate one of my new books to this project, I record all these thoughts and questions that will need answers in time.

Hearing the soldiers singing loudly, I go to look and see that they have a large bonfire going and are enjoying the meal and beer Cari has put together for them. The old stables are entirely down, and it's early enough that the men will recover in time. Getting started at daylight should be possible.

I wonder if Sienna will be able to go. Speaking of which, I need to create a primer of runes and rituals for her. Returning to my study to get started on the introduction, I lock myself in for the night to get the primer done.

Third-Day of August, In the Year of the Empire 6777

By morning I have completed the primer for Sienna and even made a copy for myself.

It's before dawn yet, and I can hear the soldiers getting ready to go. Taking a moment, I climb the ladder climb into the attic again. "Yes!"

The Dragon's Tongue near the center of the bowl has grown the most, being around six centimeters tall. The sprouts on the edges of the jar look to have only jumped one more centimeter in height. Those sprouts closer to the rune have received more mana. Then I realize why. The rune is just beneath the center of the jar, and the cone surface there is not significant. I need a stand to raise them higher into the funnel of mana.

I quickly go down to where the carpenters were working and take a few boards. Cobbling them together quickly, I make a half-meter tall stand and take it to the attic. Hopefully, it will not break apart. More of them should be affected by the rune by placing the plants upon the short stool where they will get more mana.

By the time I get back, there should be a small crop to harvest. Might I even move the rune to the floor of the study to have a larger growing area? Or somehow diffuse the mana throughout the attic?

Locking up my tower study, I head down to the main level to check on everyone's progress.

I get a report from one of the knights that they are just about ready when Cari brings Sienna to the back of the mansion.

I'm happy to see her, "Good morning Sienna."

"Hello." Eyes wide at the number of men getting ready to go, she asks. "Wow, what is going on back here?"

"Sienna, this is Knight Mayer. He oversees security here at the mansion and will be protecting us on our trip to the Barony of Perrin. These men will take up station there provide its safety for the barony."

"Knight Mayer, may I present Student Mage Sienna Green. Daughter of the owners of the Magic Emporium and my student during this trip."

The knight bowed his head to her. "It is an honor to be your protection on this journey Mage Sienna."

Sienna grinned. "Thanks!"

A soldier approached, "Sir, everything is ready."

"Sienna, let's get in the carriage before they leave without us," I say with a grin and lead the way.

The riders mount up as we climb into the carriage. Mayer and the rest of his squad take the lead before my carriage.

Sienna and I are the only passengers in the carriage, and everything we need is the magical bags we have, so there is no luggage. The stablemaster is driving my 'city carriage' from the mansion.

Following us is a large wagon. It's full of supplies and gear under an enormous tarp. Driving the supply wagon are the Weapons Master and Quartermaster.

Behind them are another fifty-four mounted riders that will fill out the complement at my barony. They include two more knights and five more esquires.

This time though the city, we move quickly in the early morning hours. And with a large force, it seems to make people not want to be in the way this time.

Displaying my coat of arms on sixty-four heater shields, the sides of the carriage, and wagon, I imagine we are an impressive sight. At least a tiny bit.

Sienna and I talk about the school, students, instructors, and the library for a time. But once we get outside of the city, there is far less noise.

"Sienna, I have written a 'Runes and Rituals Primer' for you. It's your copy, but I would prefer it not be shared right now. It represents nearly three years of my research, except for a few advanced concepts that I did not include. I want to take the field further before its release to others. I hope you understand."

She took the book from me with a huge grin and was hugging it as she listened to me. She nodded, "I will keep it safe, Instructor Hartson. I promise."

Smiling back at her reaction, I must stay professional. "Thank you. Why don't you start reading and let me know when you have any questions or just want to discuss some point."

With that, she started studying the book intently. While she was doing that, I began to work out how I could flood the entire attic with mana so there would be consistent growth. Sienna stopped to ask questions several times. When she did, I took out my copy of the book and noted what explanations needed updates as we discussed it. As we both focused on these things, we lost track of time. The carriage came to a stop as we were talking about the importance of specific shapes needed in runes.

The door opened with Knight Mayer grinning at us. "We have reached your mansion in the Barony of Perrin, Sir."

"Wonderful, that was a quick trip."

We both put our books away, and Mayer helped Sienna down. When I followed Sienna, I was happy to see a construction crew working on the mansion. It looked like they would have the new roof on soon.

"Thank you, Mayer, please have your men break for lunch and rest the horses. Then meet me in the dining room after lunch." I return Mayer's salute before he leaves.

Turning to Knight Bradley, we trade salutes. "Please take charge of your six squads Knight Commander Bradley and after lunch, bring all of the knights to the dining room. And we'll discuss the status of things around here to decide what to do next."

Knight Commander Bradley looks delighted with his promotion. "Thank you, Sir. I'll make you proud." He saluted me.

Saluting him back, I add, "I know you will, Knight Commander."

"Come on, Sienna. Let's get you some lunch and see how much they have gotten done inside."

"Sure," Sienna said, looking around at everything going on and the mansion with new wood showing here and there on the older portion, while the right side is all new construction due to the fire.

As we reached the door, Milbrey met us. "Hello, Sir. Welcome back."

"Thank you, Mr. Milbrey. Let me introduce Student Mage Sienna Green." Turning to Sienna, "Sienna, this is Mr. Milbrey, the steward for this barony."

Milbrey grinned and offered a warm welcome. "It is good to have you here, Mage Green. Please let us know if you need anything."

Sienna nodded back, "Thank you, Mr. Milbrey. I will."

"Milbrey, Sienna needs some lunch and a room prepared for her."

Nodding to me, he assured her lunch would be ready very soon.

"After lunch, I would like you and the knights to meet with me in the dining room to discuss the next steps to take, please."

He answered with a quick, "Yes, Sir," before leaving the room.

Sienna and I took a quick tour through the mansion. A great deal had been put right during the last week.

Finding that Sienna's lunch was ready when we returned to the dining room, we sat down and continued our discussion of runes while she ate.

In no time, the seven knights join us.

"Thank you for joining us, gentlemen. I received the report that the young esquire you have hired knows where the bandits are camping. And that there were nineteen of them at that time. What would you require to handle them and ensure that none escape?"

Bradley, the new Knight Commander, speaks up. "I suggest we leave a squad here and another squad at the fort site. Knight Mayer has already agreed to stay here. So that would have one platoon of five squads to hunt the bandits. So, of the seventy men here, we would attack with fifty.

"Knight Commander Bradley, take your platoon and crush the bandits. If you believe any of them have important information, bring them here. Kill all of the others. Please check for any other information that they might have. If there are any hostages, do what you can to get them out safely. Get them to their homes or bring them here if they have none. Bring any wounded here as well, as I can offer some treatment."

"Finally, if you need me to go with you as a mage, I will, but I fear I'd hinder you more than help. Just tell me honestly, which you prefer, Sir."

The Commander responded, "Thank you for your trust in us. We have enough men to deal with these criminals safely, Sir."

"Very well, Commander. I wish you great success. Proceed as you will."

Bradley saluted and headed out with the others following him.

I turned to my steward, "We must get crossbows for these men as soon as we can. If we can't find someone to bring in to build them soon, I'll have to start buying them. Other than that, do you have any other need of me until they return?"

My steward shook his head. "No, Sir."

"Very well. I would see the stone house again. Please fetch me the key."

Turning to the remaining knight, "Mayer, we'll need a couple of men to escort us to the meadow behind this mansion."

Milbrey simply handed me a key while Mayer told his esquire, that he and his team were responsible for safety here at the mansion. Mayer's team was ready to escort us in just a few minutes.

I turned to smile at Sienna, "Sienna, let me show you what it's possible to do with a real ritual."