After a 10 minute carriage ride through the massive fortress city. They arrive at what appears to be a gated community.
Ornum is just watching his daughter take in the view of the city.
The carriage bumping every now and then on the uneven stone slabs.
After a few minutes it stops in front of a nice Victorian era Mansion with a running water fountain. Taking a right turn into the horseshoe paved brick driveway.
As the carriage pulls in the dozen knights that were with Ornum when he reached the Sea of sand come out along with the several houses staff.
"Is this?" Spiro asks
"Yes, this is our home in the capital. Wait here for 10 mins before following me in invisibly." Ornum says
"What do you mean father?" Spiro asks
"You were able to detect a shadow under invisibility magic, you must be able to do it yourself." Ornum says
'Ah, just have the nanomachines bend light around me and be silent.' Spiro thinks
Spiro nods as the door is opened from the outside.
"Welcome home, your grace." An old butler says
"Oswald, I've been gone only a few days." Ornum says as he steps out of the carriage.
"I still worry about you and your brother. Am I not allowed to worry?" Oswald asks
Ornum chuckles.
Spiro also steps out behind Ornum, nanomachines making an active camouflage cloak.
"Right, well. Could we gather everyone in the main parlor in the house." Ornum says
'House? That's a mansion.' Spiro thinks as she also gets out of the carriage to the door opens by itself to the bewildered eyes of the servants of the house.
"Your grace, the door to the carriage opened by itself." Oswald says
"It did?" Ornum says turning around to look at the door.
"Just ignore it I was working on some magic for an automatic door and I guess it still needs some work." Ornum says
Spiro starts to open and close the carriage door rapidly to Ornums statement. Which gets a good chuckle out of the duke.
===================
All of the servants are gathered in a nice greenroom in the mansion.
"Hello everyone, before we start. I need the knights to sign this contract. While the servants have a different contract, and the kitchen staff have a different one.
"Why the change in contracts sir?" A maid asks
"Because of circumstances that I can reveal once you sign them." Ornum says
Almost all the servants start to line up to do so, many of them trusting the duke with their life.
Several minutes later once everyone has signed the magical contract.
"Right, everyone has signed it Spiro." Ornum says aloud to let his daughter know she can reveal herself now.
There is a slight shimmer in the air as the nanomachines bending the light stop doing so in a flashy manor.
"That's great father." Spiro says with a smile.
'That looks exactly like a younger version of miss Elizabeth with master Ornum's hair. However that's impossible I was there when miss Elizabeth died. He wouldn't have, I've known him since he was a child and Master Ornum never would've attempted dark magic. Though the fact that question is included in the contract is concerning.' Oswald thinks
"Um, your grace. Is she actually your daughter did yo-" A servant says before he suddenly stops speaking.
"You should be able to talk again in 2 days... did none of you read the contract?" Ornum asks slightly disappointed.
Meanwhile Spiro is giggling.
"I told you they would ask something stupid father, why do you think I included that clause." Spiro says the giggle turning into full blown laughter.
'Ah, the new young miss is a prankster.' Oswald things with a smile.
The servants suddenly surround the piece of paper and start reading the contract religiously.
"Do I really have to let her cook in the kitchen whenever she wants your grace?" The chef asks reading his contract.
"Yes." Ornum says
"What is she messes up food and food poisons herself." The chef says
"I resent that. I'm a very good cook." Spiro says
"Right, Oswald why don't you take Spiro to her room." Ornum says
"You just don't know your own mansion do you father? You probably spend to much time at work at the academy." Spiro says
'Can she read minds too?' Ornum thinks
"No I can't." Spiro says as she walks away with Oswald for a tour of the mansion.