Chapter 8

Jason opened his eyes to the sound of Peyton snoring loudly. They were currently sleeping in the attic of the house when the big party was finished, after the discussion with Tilda, Jason went up to Peyton, and much to the latter’s grumbling, created a bed to sleep on. Well, he actually created a hammock because he always wanted to sleep in one of those and the two drifted off to sleep.

The next morning was signaled by the cry of a rooster. Jason who was already up, watched Peyton, from the comfort of his hammock, with interested eyes as Peyton turned, yawned, got up from the straw mattress, scratched his bum, and walked down the stairs. Only then did Jason hear,

“Holy shit! We’re rich!”

Jason chuckled as Peyton rushed up the stairs at full speed before staring at Jason,

“Thank god, I thought I was dreaming!”

Suddenly a racket could be heard from downstairs.

“Shut up Peyt! We’re trying to sleep!”

But Peyton was having none of it as he rushed down whooping like a schoolboy on Friday.

“Everyone get up! It’s a new day and we have things to do!”

Much groaning and grumbling later, Gwandere, Ilios and Nasha all walked out of their rooms, their hair a mess and their eyes screaming bloody murder.

“We know you twit! But that doesn’t mean we have to lose sleep over it!” growled Ilios.

Just then Tilda burst through the door with two bags in each hand,

“Get up girls! It’s time to make breakfast!”

Nasha groaned “We’re up already Ma.”

“Good, then go clean up and come to the kitchen, we’ve got things to do!”

Even though the girls didn’t seem happy, they quickly got washed and soon the house was a hurricane of activity. A hurricane with Tilda in the middle.

“Stir it properly! You call that cutting? What are you doing with the eggs!” she shouted commands like a sergeant with a stick up his bum.

Even Jason wasn’t spared from the onslaught as he had to cut up all sorts of vegetables, from ones he recognized, to ones he didn’t, to some that even glowed!

But soon the storm passed and everyone was sitting at the table with a mountain of food. Sausages, eggs, vegetables of all sorts, and even some bread. But Tilda brought that from the bakery.

“Well? Let’s dig in!” Tilda shouted.

And they did, everything was picked clean, not a single scrap of food was left on the table, after the feast everyone sat back with a satisfied sigh.

“Alright,” Tilda said “Here’s the plan for today. You girls pack up the house, move everything that isn’t nailed down to out here, Peyt you too, no one should have to clean up your room after you, Jason and I will go and talk with the local Barrister and see what’s on offer around the city.”

“But Ma! You said I could come along as well!” Peyton whined

“I changed my mind. Now go and get ready.” Tilda replied.

When everyone was gone Tilda grabbed the bag of gold from behind her chair and headed towards the door, motioning Jason to follow her.

As they left the house Jason could see workers already going about their business, shops were running at full swing, congestions were everywhere and the church bells were already dinging nine past.

“Follow me, we’ll have to go quite far into the city to find Brokers dealing with high end housing.” Tilda said.

They threaded through the throngs of the public, going past tanneries, slaughterhouses, warehouses, guild halls, boarding houses, fountains, you name it and it was there. The architecture was quite unique as there seemed to be a renaissance feel to the place that was often interrupted by streets straight out of the industrial revolution. Jason even spotted a square with lights that resembled lamp posts.

And the people were amazing, every culture you could possibly imagine was scattered throughout the city, from Turkish coffee houses to Wild West saloons. Jason spotted a man walking around with claymore and red hair while an American Indian seeming tribesman with a head dress bigger than his entire body was kissing a blond chick with two axes strapped to each side. And there weren’t only humans, the two other races that Jason noticed were the elves and dwarfs, however he noticed something else as well.

“What are those?” Jason pointed towards a giant tree buying a plant pot from a dwarf vendor in what looked like an apothecary.

“Oh those? They could be nature elementals, or a mage who shapeshifted, but they might be Ents.” Tilda replied.

“Ents? As in tree people?”

“Yep, elves love them.” Tilda said, shrugging it off.

Ent’s weren’t the strangest thing either. There were elementals like Sylphs and Undines, even small salamanders seemed to have integrated into the society, heating up forges and ovens. And Gnomes, Jason thought that the jolly little people would be the welcoming kind. But he was wrong, he didn’t see a single gnome that wasn’t bickering, fighting or just seemingly in a bad mood.

“Why are they all so angry?” Jason asked.

“Oh it’s the height difference. You see they are very paranoid, they always think you’re making fun of their height, one funny look and they’d take you down, pronto.” replied Tilda.

Eventually they arrived at a shop that seemed to be made from some weird stone, it was a mash between an apartment block and a mini castle, nevertheless it was hideous.

“Here we are! Bates and Co., the best in the business.” Tilda said.

“Before we go in I’d like to change our appearances.” Jason commented

Tilda blinked “I’m sorry what?”

Jason clicked his hand and suddenly they were both engulfed in white light. When the light faded Tilda looked down to see her previous plain garb turn into a wonderful maroon dress, it had laces everywhere but the clothing was surprisingly appropriate.

“Jason did you do thi-” Tilda abruptly stopped to notice that Jason wasn’t next to her. Instead, a thirty year old man in a dark green waistcoat, his breeches were fine and the sun glistened off the polish from his boots. He sported a beard and mustache with a top hat and a slim walking stick tucked under one arm. This man reeked of wealth.

“Jason? Is that you?” Tilda stared, dumbfounded.

Jason smiled a wonderful smile, his crow feet all but evident below his eyes. Then he said,

“May I take your bag my lady?”

With gracious movements Jason took a suitcase from next to Tilda that appeared next to her.

“I! Wha! Wha! Wha?” blabbered Tilda

“Just go with the flow, you are now a noble with his brother who would like to buy a house.” Said Jason in a soothing tone as he hooked his arm around Tilda’s, and together they stepped inside.

Inside the building the place was alive with activity, people rushed from one end to the other while carrying pieces of parchment under their arms. Desks placed in neat rows were cluttered with paper while workers were furiously scratching away with their quills. Someone could be heard shouting away in the distance.

“May I be of assistance my Lord?” someone asked behind them.

Jason and Tilda turned around to see a portly gentleman looking back at them, he looked round and harmless, and his mannerisms contained the very essence of servitude. He wore thick big glasses and was furiously twisting a piece of rag in his hand, trying to clean his fingers from the ink stains but it was futile.

“My good man! My sister and I have just arrived at the city and we would like to buy a house for our family.” Jason said, his voice changed as he spoke, his accent twisted and the tone became deeper and friendlier. As if you were talking with your favorite boss who just gave you a raise.

“Oh! In that case please follow me. I will direct you to Mr Bates, he handles our clients.” The man waddled of further into the building, followed by Jason and Tilda.

They arrived at a door at the very back of the work area, it was big and wooden, with a golden placard reading

‘MR ALLAN BATES’

The man knocked on the door before a voice as honeyed as a bee’s nest answered “Come in.”

The man opened the door a fraction and humbly said “Mr Bates, there are some clients that would like to meet you.”

“Oh let them in!” Mr Bates said in an enthusiastic manner.

The man nodded and opened the door fully, holding it open for the couple before respectfully closing it behind them and taking his leave.

The office was very much like the Ecluse’s, except this one was much more airy and had plants in it. Bookshelves lined the walls while a fireplace with a landscape painting above it could be seen to the side. The picture depicted a majestic ship cruising through the vast ocean with no land in sight. The middle of the office was like a living room, with couches on each end and a coffee table in the middle with a bunch of apples in a ceramic bowl, behind these couches was a giant glass desk. The desk was designed very much like it was supposed to be made out of wood, with decorations and adornments everywhere, it was very thick as well, so thick that the glass distorted the view, not letting anyone see through into the shelves (also made of glass) built into the desk on the other side.

“Good morning my Lord, my Lady.” Mr Bates spoke up.

Mr Bates could have been only described with one word. Sharp. From the creases of his trousers, to the gaze of his eyes, everything radiated punctuality at its finest. He wasn’t thin, nor fat, he wasn’t old, or young, he was a business man. And a good one at that.

Mr Bates stood up to greet the two and approached them stopping at the couches.

“Please take a seat, make yourself comfortable, we have much to discuss.”

As everyone took a place among the couches Mr Bates started,

“Now are you looking for land or moving into a house?”

“A house, preferably the sooner we move in, the better.” Tilda replied.

“I see, well we have several on offer, may I ask your price range?” Mr Bates inquired.

At this Jason grinned “Money is no issue.”

Mr Bates merely nodded before going to his shelves and pulling out a book. It was a ledger of sorts, setting down the book on the coffee table he continued “There are several manors along the East Riverside that might suit your tastes. The first one is the Laruse mansion, owned by the Laruse household for generations it has been recently sold to the bank due to some financial problems of in the family. It has five rooms, two master bedrooms, a kitchen and dining room at the bottom floor with a library opening up into a solarium behind the mansion. The land itself comes with a five acre front lawn and the back has a private pier that can be accessed via a servant entrance and solarium. Overall the cost is 50 000 zin’s”

“The next house is a tower made by the mage Reece, who was last seen falling into Mt Usav. The tower has a spiral staircase running through the middle, with each floor as one room, the bottom floor is a general loading zone, with servants quarters and the kitchen above it. After that there seven floors for general use, with a bath house at the top. There is also a basement that was used as a laboratory by the late wizard. The price of the tower is 150 000 zin’s”

“The third and final house is brand new estate, it was built for the Duchess of Mel, a powerful Undine. She was about to move in but unfortunately she was called to the elven lands as an ambassador, the Duchess has since sold the house. The estate itself is an interesting design, with waterways running throughout the entire house, but those can be blocked up for an expense, the estate has a style of architecture similar to the Laruse manor although this one, instead of one building, has three wings that branch in a T shape, as you can see from the schematics here. Due to the Duchess’ love for water the driveway has quite an impressive water fountain at the front as well as one at the back garden. At the end of the house, here at the bottom of the T, the entire wall is made from glass, providing an unparalleled view of the waterfront, pier included of course. The building itself has three floors, with a stairway leading up to them in the foyer. There is the servant’s quarters, with kitchen and storage along the basement off to the left wing. Every bedroom has an ensuite and while the attic and other two basements are completely empty to be used however the master wished. All in all this estate is by far the biggest and most expensive out of the three, being only smaller then the royal palace. The area it is located in also inflames the price, due to being in the heart of the noble district. You can find the estates of the Bellagio and the Montefeltro families next to them. All in all the estate and surrounding land, bear in mind that the house has no furnishings, is 600 000 zin’s.”

Tilda was stunned at the price, they only had around 5000 gold coins!

Jason leaned over and whispered in Tilda’s ear “How much is a zin?”

“Three… three hundred gold coins.” Tilda gulped.

However Jason only clapped his hands and loudly proclaimed “Wonderful! We’ll buy the Duchess’ estate!”

Mr Bate’s who’s expression was quite stony, said “In that case my Lord we’ll need you to pay half the money upfront before we can hand you the keys.

Jason nodded “But of course! Come down to our carriage, we have the money right here. And I hope you don’t mind, but we’ll pay the money up front.”

Only now did Mr Bates show any surprise. “Don’t you not wish to tour the estate first?”

Jason waved his hand “No, no, I’m quite sure it’s adequate now please, let us head to our carriage.”

As Jason headed out the door Tilda whispered to him “We don’t have a carriage with 600 000 zin’s!”

Jason grinned at her but said nothing, they walked out from the crowded office only to find the most spectacular site their eyes ever beheld. A beautiful carriage, in gilded gold stood on the street, it looked fit for a king, with pristine red curtains and wheels with gold rims. The two horses were magnificently groomed and the carriage driver looked clean and smart, with a black over coat and a tricorne hat. The man gave a nod towards the group before going back to surveying their surroundings, one hand resting upon a rifle next to him.

Jason was smiling, Mr Bales was surprised while Tilda was dragging her jaw on the ground as they approached the carriage.

“Fletcher, open the hatch please.” Jason commanded the driver.

Worldlessly, the driver named Fletcher pressed a hidden button under his seat, opening a hidden compartment on the side of the carriage, located under the passenger seats, revealing two giant chests.

“Would you please fetch some workers to carry these inside Mr Bales?”

Mr Bales, who was by now white with shock, hurriedly ran back inside shouting “Morris! Morris! Get over here right now!”

A minute later Mr Bales returned with the man who previously escorted them into the office, along with four burly young men.

Mr Bales snapped “Grab the chests and bring them to my office.” Morris nodded before clicking his fingers, and the young men sprang into action, dragging the chests out into daylight. When the chests were more than halfway out they thumped onto the ground. It took two workers working together to carry one chest inside, all the while wheezing and gasping for air as their backs strained against the massive weight.

“Now then.” Jason said, closing the compartment hatches “Shall we discuss terms?”