"*And what goals might that be?*" He asked.
"*I would like you and yours assistance in building a city nearby, underground. The paper I asked to be passed to you is only a small bit of the policies that will be implemented in that city. Unfortunately, I am not quite ready to start this project, nor did I bring the schematics to it today. It is a large project that will keep going for a year or better.*" I explained to him.
"*Sounds like good work. Soon as you're able to bring those schematics to us, we'll see what we can get done.*" Alberich said.
"*Yes, I'm hoping to bring a tiger tabaxi with me, next time though. He is of the same mind to want to see such a place exist. I am proud that you like the sound of it.*" I replied.
"*Well, the sound of it is all I've got to go on for the moment.*" Alberich said.
I smiled. "*Thank you for your time.. About the schematics for today, shall we discuss the details?*"
"*Yes. Let's get down to business.*" He looked at the schematics that had been passed along to him. "*For labor and materials, it would come to three hundred sixty gold in total, though we would accept an one third deposit to begin."
I tilted my head, doing some math. "*That"s fair.*" I decided, I paid in full from the money I'd taken from the Mansion. "*I needn't worry bout just the deposit. Dwarves from the Northern Mountains are honorable.*"
"*So young, so wise, with pockets so deep. I'll get the boys going.*" Alberich said.
"*Pleasure doing business.*" I replied, turning to leave.
Snow scooped me up, "Shall we stop by the tavern for lunch, guys?"
"Lunch sounds freaking amazing. I'm bout to eat one of these little shits." Uncle replied.
So we headed to the tavern for lunch. "You're pretty tired, little one. Are you feeling well?" Snow asked.
"I think it's from powering the glyph. I'm fine." I said. Plight excused himself before we entered the tavern, I mentally showed him the way to Bibs' house and asked him to meet use there.
We all sat at the same table, minus Plight, and they ordered some food. Snow ordered for me, she was surprised to learn that I enjoy vegetables. She praised me and petted my hair over it. I didn't think it was that big of a deal. But I also didn't mind the praise.
We chatted and ate our meals. Once we'd finished up, we headed to Bibs' house. I drew a glyph there, while Plight joined us. When it was finished, Snow activated it and we all went through. I called the tower down with the password, and we entered. I pointed out the table to them, not that they needed it since they remembered the memory I shared with them. What I wanted to do here was head to the library. Really, I wanted to share the tower with my family Since the tower had many replenishable resources.
To that end, we headed up the stairs. I pointed out the next floor was a vegetable and herb garden. Next floor a forge floor. Next a sleeping quarters, and then the library, which also had a alchemy room. When the door to the alchemy room was opened for me by Plight, I was surprised to see Jack there.
"Oh, it's Jack." I said. "Hello."
He was quite spooked by the lot of us, "Hello, who are you? Why? Why are you here?" He asked.
"I was showing my family the tower." I answered. "I hadn't expected you to be here."
"That doesn't really explain who all of you are." Jack said.
"I gave Bibs a way to free you from Asmodeus. He's handled it, I suppose he had been very busy, reviving Ashtar and restoring Alexander. I'm Isarial, by the way." I told him.
"So, w-wait.. I'm free, or am I not?" Jack asked.
"You're free. They had him sign a contract before taking Ashtar's soul back from him." I explained.
"So I can leave?" Jack asked.
"Yes. Incidentally, Dad, Jack is very smart and read all the books here. He knows about glyphs, and all sorts of things." I said.
"Oh, is he?" Dad asked.
"Yeah. He's good at alchemy, too. And he knows all about this tower, and how to control the golems." I said. "In the future he had helped me make over a thousand health potions that were used in the war. They saved many people."
"That is indeed a lot of potions." Dad said.
"Hey, Jack, the pretty lady is named Snow Den. She's Alexander's pupil. You remember Alex, don't you?" I asked.
"I do. So you're either a poor or a lucky girl." Jack commented.
"What decides which I am?" Snow asked.
"You're experience." Jack replied.
She raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you shit. That explains nothing."
"I dare not try and explain Alexander." Jack said.
"Your funeral, Jack, if you agitate her. She isn't reasonable." I said. "Especially about Alex."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend." Jack said.
"Jack is books smart, not people smart." I clarified. I patted Snow's leg, trying to distract her. "Just think of it as a stupid comment by a stupid man."
"Easily done. But I also want to know his meaning." Snow said.
"He's scared of Tilton. Many people are scared of Tilton. He's the Elf that was near Alex while he was playing." I told Snow.
She huffed. "You can stop trying to distract me. I won't break him."
"Full warning, the saying, 'don't shoot the messenger' is a term that Snow takes the opposite to heart." I commented.
"Well, yes. If someone's gonna tell me bad news, they'd better be prepared for repercussions. There's no, 'I'm just doing my job.' Get a different one." Snow replied. Eying Jack still.
I caught onto it this time. She found an easy target. With this realization, I looked at my Dad and pointed. "There's books about naval travel over there."
"Hm. I should go and take a look at this." Dad replied.
"Uncle, there's some martial arts books there." I told him, pointing to the other side. "Some haven't been practiced for quite some time."
"I would love to stay and watch this, but I should go and read these books." Uncle said.
"Plight, there's more advanced herbology books in this row. Would you care to look? Maybe we should look at theology." I said.
"I would enjoy both of those. But maybe we should stick to theology at the moment." Plight replied.
We all walked towards the books we were interested in, leaving Jack cornered in that room by Snow.
"I simply meant that he can be a little fickle." Jack said.
"Fickle? How so?" Snow asked.
"He can go from one idea to the next without finishing anything." Jack said.
"He's an air head." Snow said. "He's apparently a father now. And I'll still punch him."
"And what might you be wanting to punch him for?" Jack asked.
"He left me with the previous Mayor of Dueling Rivers." Snow answered. "Plus he irritates me. Frequently."
"Well, if he irritates you so frequently, I would say go for it." Jack said.
"You're a mousy guy, huh?" Snow noted.
"I've been called worse." Jack replied.
As Snow focused her attention on harassing Jack, Plight and I found a couple of books on religious symbols. He was reviewing the Material Planes book, and I was reviewing one about the Divine realm where most gods live. I fell asleep in while reading, though.
When I woke up, I was in one of the many beds in the sleeping area. Snow was also nearby, reading a book about stars. She noticed I had woke up quickly, and closed the book.
"There you are. Shall we go get the men?" She asked.
"Yeah. Guess so." I answered.
I got up and we went back to the library. Dad and Uncle were still reading. Plight and Jack were discussing theology.
"You can borrow books, you know?" I commented. "They'll just return on their own."
"And how long would it take for them to return?" Das asked.
"They return instantly when they choose to. I had one for two weeks once and Lana had one for three days." I shrugged.
"Sounds like I'll just have to risk it." Dad said.
"Can always return. Jack isn't gonna say no, and he's the closest thing to an owner since Azerime is a tree." I replied.
Snow said, "Trees are flamable." Then she started to grin.
"Yes, they are. Most wizards are quite paranoid." Dad replied.
"You know, could just set Lana before him and tell her 'Lucky' is inside the tree. That could be entertaining." I commented.
"Oh?" Snow said, "Just that?"
"Yeah. Then she'll hack at the Azerime tree and you won't have to lift a finger. She's very stupid." I replied. "There are probably books you haven't read at the Mansions library, Jack. If you want to visit there."
"If I am truly free then there are many places I want to visit. Like the beach." Jack said.
"You should learn to defend yourself first." I recommended. "I could maybe be persuaded into putting you in contact with someone who may build you a beach house."
"You're the little gift that keeps giving, aren't you?" Jack asked.
"In another reality you said I'm like a hero. If I wasn't four, I'd just build the house myself, like I did in the other reality. I'm quite good at designing homes, you see." I informed him. "Besides, I consider you a friend because you helped me with the potions and never treated me poorly, unlike my companions."
"Other realities, hm? It's always been a running theory, but not something I've encountered." Jack said.
"According to Archimedes, when reality hopping 'when' is easily controlled, but not 'where'. He does it all the time. His shock about me being in the other reality makes me believe that two of an individual aren't supposed to be in the same reality." I said.
"I need to speak with Archimedes. I'd always assumed that two people in the same reality that are the same people would always kill each other, fuse or the reality would right itself and kill the other." Jack said.
"Maybe that didn't happen because of the mystery gods' blessing?" I suggested. "Or maybe it's because the person with my identity was a woman?"
"All possible." Jack replied.
I shrugged. "I'm not worried about it, because I'm where I want to be, now. It was tough to decide to come back, but I was worried Dad would miss me. I knwe Uncle would." I grinned.
"Cocky little thing, aren't ya?" Uncle asked.
"Nope. If I needed help, I used to ask for your help, and if you asked why I thought you would help, I'd jokingly say, 'because you love me.' And last time you said, 'you're lucky you're right.'" I told him.
"It's easy to love the nephews. You're not directly in charge of them." Uncle said.
I knew Uncle was a great and adoring father, himself. But now wasn't the time for that. His future wife was only a little older than me. Then I thought of Jaime and Eirwyn. "I suppose I can agree with that."
"Good. It's undeniable logic." Uncle said.
Dad collected a few books to take with us, as did Plight. Snow and Uncle weren't interested in bringing any home. Jack left with us, as we temporarily returned to the mansion, since Dad was going to set up the office doors. Alex and his family were still there when we arrived.
Sienna ran at us and lifted me up, huggling me like an unwilling doll. ":Amilë, Ada! Look, the baby is back with the Leonin.:"
Alexion approached, watching us, seeing if I was gonna bully his sister or not. She was back to her greenish features.
":Yeah, well, hello Sienna. Put me down, please.:" I said.
She set me down and looked at Plight. ":Are you his Adar?:"
"I'm sorry, what?" Plight asked.
She blinked. Her common wasn't very good. She started thinking bout the words needed to speak to him. So, I mentally translated for Plight.
"She asked if you are his Dad." Alex translated aloud.
"No, no I'm not. That would be him. James." Plight said.
So I walked over to James and pointed up at him. ":Atanya.:" My dad.
She said, ":Are you siblings?:"
I translated in Plight's head, aloud I said, "Sienna, try 'Are you siblings'."
"Are you.. siblings?" She repeated carefully.
":No, they are not. Plight is more of a guard and a student.:" Dad explained to her. I translated that for Plight, too.
":Oh, they look like they could be twins like me and Exi if one was younger or the other older.:" Sienna chatted to Dad. Then to me, ":You must be a very smart baby.:"
":My name is Isarial, Sienna. If you don't want to use it then call me Ari, Ok?:" I said to her. Then I introduced my family and friends to Sienna and her family.
Sienna took my hand and said, ":Let's play! Exi, too.:"
":OK, ok.:" I sighed. The house spirit appeared then, to also play.
Sienna squeeled with delight to see the spirit, ":You look like Salamander! So cute!:"
I was whisked away by the twins and spirit, brought outside, then. Though, I asked Plight to show Jack the library as we went. Since I hadn't shown any disdain for them they'd warmed up to me quickly. This meant she was trying to befriend me.
Her only friends are her brother and spirits at the moment, so it was a new to her, having a living and non siblings friend. I spotted Snow and Alex in a window as we played. They'd positioned themselves to protectively watch us from the house. I was sure they'd probably be having a good chat while Dad installed his and Uncle's doors.
We'd be going home soon, most likely. The twins were oblivious to being watched. When they decided to go to the water feature, I went with them after looking at them in window and pointing. We headed over, and Sienna splashed us.
":This place feels like home.:" Sienna informed me.
":Does it? The spirit said it's a Fey area.:" I told her.
":Yup. Master is so very right.:" The spirit chimed.
":What are you gonna name the spirit?:" Sienna asked me.
The spirit perked up, staring at me. ":I'm not sure. I'm not good at naming.:" I replied.
":Maybe something fire related?:" Alexion suggested.
":Like Alinta?:" I asked.
":That's a pretty name.:" Sienna squeeled.
":What do you think, then, Alinta?:" I asked the spirit.
":I accept the name Alinta. My name is Alinta.:" It declared. It's body blazed and it grew in size. Bodies are powerful things, and so it was now the same size as Sienna and Alexion now. It's features were more refined and it's hair tidied. ":This is better. Thank you for my name, Alinta, Master.:"
":Thank you for being easily pleased.:" I replied.
After playing some more, Alexion was curious about my ability to fire a bow, so the three of us went back inside with the spirit following us. The dwarves were arriving with supplies anyways.
":Amilissë, I would like to practice bow with Ari and Sienna.:" Alexion said, after politely waiting for conversation to lull.
":You should ask his parents before deciding, Alexion.:" She said, reproachfully.
He lowered his head slightly, then turned to my Dad and said, ":Please pardon my rudeness.. May we practice shooting a bow with Ari?:"
":I have no issue with practicing, but we will be leaving soon.:" Dad answered him.
Alexion smiled, a rare thing to my mind, and turned back to his mother expectantly. She simply manifested both children's bows, and quivers, along with a dummy. "The arrows are blunted. They'll only cause bruising if they shoot each other." Sylvia said. She then looked at us. ":Do not shoot each other.:"
":Yes, Amilë.:" The children answered.
I said, "It would be counterintuitive for me to shoot Alexander's children."
"I very much appreciate you NOT shooting my children." Alexander said.
"You're welcome for letting you meet them before they are twenty." I replied.
Alexion had picked up the dummy. ":Atar, would you like to help us set up the dummy? Dwarves are outside now with working equipment.:"
":You just want to show off your bowmanship to your dad.:" I accused. Alexion's cheeks turned pink.
":I would happily help set this up.:" Alex told his son.
"You'll have to explain that sometime." Sylvia commented.
"Ok, I can do that. The offer for 'as long as you like', doesn't just mean for today, by the way. The positive outcome to your family living here, Sylvia, is your children will no longer be bullied and others just because their father is human." I replied.
Alexion and Sienna half understood what I was saying, but they weren't positive.
"Someone is bullying my kids?" Alex asked.
"Everyone. But in ways that Sylvia can not take action against it. Loopholes, you know? Alexion is more accepted than Sienna, but Alexion gets into fights because of the bullying of his sister." I told him.
Sylvia sighed, "It is true. And he is right."
":Ataryo, are we setting it up?:" Sienna asked, reminding the adults she and Alexion wanted to play.
Sylvia placed her hand on Alex's arm and said, "Go ahead with the children. I will speak with James."
":Alright, Dear. Come along, let's get this set up.:" Alex said.
We were led outside by Alex, and although I was curious about what they were to discuss, I went with the kids. Alex set up the dummy well, and Alexion talked me through how to use a bow. Sienna handed me her bow, and Alexion and I took turns aiming and shooting. It took me three times to be able to hit the target, and my arms quickly began to ache.
Two shots were dead on the center of the target, and after that my arms were too sore to continue. Still, Sienna praised me for my ability to shoot. She and Alexion were quite skilled themselves, with Sienna being the best archer. Which she bragged about. She was super proud of herself for doing better than us boys.
":Wonderful shots, kids. You're naturals.:" Alex said to us.
":Atto, that little baby, Ari did good for his size, right?:" Sienna said.
":Mm. He was better at it than I thought.:" Alexion grossed.
":My arms ache.:" I complained.
":Much like other exercise, it will take time to build up the muscles that pulling the bow will use.:" Alex reminded me.
I pouted anyway. "You try going from fighting dragons to being helpless and see how you feel bout it. I just have to remind myself that I did it to myself."
":Aww, how cute.:" Sienna said, seeing my pout and hugging me. ":Practice makes excellence and excellence becomes perfection.:"
Alex laughed. ":Perfection is the goal that we, as mortals, will never reach. Which is good, because that would be incredibly boring.:"
":That's because you're from the Mundane, Adya. Exi and I are celestials like Amilë, and Amilë is perfect.:" Sienna replied as if it was obvious to anyone. ":Can you hunt, Vader?:"
Alexion had me lift my tired arm and started rubbing it. One at a time. Trying to ease my the ache.
":Yes, I can hunt. Some would say I'm a little too efficient.:" Alex said.
":What? Are you lying? I've never heard of that.:" I said.
":No, I just simply have to look at that and tell it to die, and it does.:" Alex said.
I looked at him horrified. ":That high level spell. You use that to kill prey animals? What the heck.:"
":It was a joke. Apparently in poor taste. No, I'm just a decent shot with a bow.:" Alex replied.
":I almost got Power Work Killed once. My companion fireballed the dracolich and interrupted the spell. So it was used on Bibs instead.:" I told him.
":Oh my, did it work? I always pictured bibs as an absolute. I could never imagine him being brought down by such a thing.:" Alex replied.
":Yes. It worked. It had been a long fight up to that point. But after ten minutes, he revived and stabbed the lich's calf, causing him to flee.:" I said. ":I'm not worried, though. That fight will go very differently this time. And you won't lose your arm.:"
":I know that my mind is jumbled right now, but what you're saying makes even less since than normal.:" Alex said.
":Than normal is an odd way to say that. You've only met me today, but I've met you three times now. I'm 872 is when my friends and I met you, and in another reality, year 877, I met you with your lady and kids. Now I've met you again and got to help you meet them early.:" I smiled big. ":I'm very glad to have altered this because you're a really good dad.:"
He smiled. ":People seem to forget I've got good ears. Every time you speak near me I've heard you. Your speech doesn't match a 4 year old at all. A time jumper makes alot of since though, I've met a couple in my life so far.: "
":I didn't know that about you. But you were always nice to me, and saved me when you were a bag man. I wanted to repay that.:" I explained. ":I doubt I'll be jumping time, though. I just wanted to go far enough back to make things good for those I could. And I wanted to let my family love me this time. I'm not angry anymore.:"
":Well, that's a noble idea. If it led to me getting back to my family then, I approve of it.:" He laughed.
":Clearly, cause I told you to contact her.:" I grinned. ":And I got to meet Sienna and Alexion here.:"
":You wanted to meet us?:" Alexion asked.
":Yeah, I didn't know if you were born here in this reality or not.:" I said.
Sienna petted my hair then hugged me, ":Aren't you a cute, little and smart baby? Does that mean you want to be friends?:"
I huffed a sigh. ":Yeah. You're lucky I'm not gonna get mad at you.:"
":How would you get mad at me? You're too little.:" Sienna declared.
":That only makes sense to you.:" Alexion and I said. We all laughed at this.
After chatting and laughing a bit more, and the twins shooting the target, and getting Alex to, I said, ":I will probably have Nathan come live in the mansion. He's a good kid. He's nine. His father is terrible, and I believe you'd agree. I just wanted to warn you incase you and Sylvia do decide to live here with the kids. I know you probably have other options.:"
"We are still in the midst of talking about where we will live." Alex said.
":I understand, I won't push. The decor isn't to my taste here at all.. that said, if you both decide to live in here instead of the Fey, but not this mansion, then I can design a house for you. I'm actually talented in such things.:" My face turned red to say so.
"Well, you intrigued the dwarves enough to have them come build, I may have to bring that up the next time we talk." Alex said.
":Oh, that's because I impressed Alberich, and paid them.. You see, I'm going to have a city built nearby. With very different policies than most of this continent.:" I told him. "I can show you mentally."
"Well, that shows interesting. Show me." Alex said.
So I mind linked to him and showed him the city, how it'll look one day, and the additions to the mansion, how they'd look. Then I showed him the basement additions and how Jack's house had looked when we'd finished it, along with a few blueprints. "See?" I asked.
"Yes, that looks quite nice." Alex said.
Shortly after the small conversation, we cleaned up and headed inside. ":Amilë! Guess what! Ari is very good at the bow!:" Sienna announced.
":Very impressive.:" Sylvia said. ":How did you both do?:"
":Better than Atar.:" Alexion said bluntly. ":But Atar wasn't bad.:"
"I.. I.. I usually do better." Alex said.
":I believe you Bormah.:" Sienna said, saying 'Father' in Draconic.
"-Thank you, Dear.-" Alex replied in Draconic.
Snow came out of a room near the stairs with a bag. She looked very pleased and said, "Got my treat."
"Ooh, you had some still?" I asked.
Snow nodded. After a a brief conversation, Snow fetched some milk from town and made the hot chocolate for all of us. She made sure to cool it off some for us kids. Shortly after, we all went back to the Hearthry Estate. There wasn't much to do for the rest of the day. Dad went to deal with the book and whatever else he needed to do. Plight had come back with us and Snow was teaching him more about magic.
Uncle went to do.. I don't even know what, so I was left to my own devices. I started drawing in my room. I drew Ivan, Laura, and Breena. Their faces anyways. It would help me find them, I'd have the Silver Shilling owner find them. In exchange for doing some job. I would have him look for Jaden, too. It wouldn't be difficult to find them if it's the Shilling man.
Which reminded me, Dean would be robbing the gold shilling owner and Denoir tonight. I would go see him in the morning and find out if it went without a hitch or not. It most likely will go well, and I'll be able to reap my rewards from the Shilling owner. I'll confess that I orchestrated it, if he's impressed. That will open the way for me to take on jobs.
Not that I needed to anymore. The Mansions treasury was enough to do what I wanted to do for now. Especially since I would get Jaden to pay for the city to be built. Nothing seemed too difficult to me at this moment. I organized my papers for the city into a folder. It'd make it easier when I talk to Jaden. And once I had Jaden, I'd bring him to Alberich.
My plan making was interrupted when Marie came and alerted me to dinner being ready. During dinner Dad told me there was a letter in his office from the Silver Shilling for me. I acknowledged what it was concerning. I wasn't sure if Dad was bothered that I went to the Shilling owner or not. But I explained why. I wanted to claim my status as being a very useful individual.
It had nothing to do with Dad on this front, just if I was useful, more people would seek me for tasks and I'd regrow my network significantly. Especially since I'm not hot tempered anymore. Not that it had ever interfered with my jobs. My dad told me I didn't need to do any of that, but he wouldn't stop me from doing as I pleased as long as I was safe about it.
After dinner we played the word game as a family. And soon after that it was bed time. In the morning, I drew the other glyphs I'd promised. And after breakfast Snow came with Plight and I to the Silver Shilling. I handed him the drawings of the people, and inquired about Jaden. He was in the city, as it turned out. Staying at the Crimson Hoof.
I gave him the glyphs, and he paid me a fraction of what the robbery news would have got me, because he was going to search up those people and invite them to meet with me. That being said, he was very happy with my results and gave me the lute and long distance communication item I'd requested. So, I was also super pleased with out transaction. We parted pleasantly.
For the next part, Snow turned herself and Plight invisible as I went to see Dean and talk to him. Dean was quite pleased to see me. His haul was so great, and he'd kept it so under wraps, that he'd managed to keep a majority of it. He'd had two helpers, but since it was his score, he'd kept 80% and split 20% between the helpers. He gave me 10%, though I almost declined. We weren't friends yet, so that would have put him on guard all over again.
For now, I'd gained his allegiance. I'd work with him more in the future. I left his home and headed to the Crimson Hoof. Snow's spell ran out at that point. Which was fine. She took to carrying me. It didn't even bother me anymore. In fact, I was enjoying it. I hadn't ever been coddled in my life and now Snow is.
We had a seat at a table while waiting for Jaden to come back. We'd asked the owner, he wasn't in at present. Snow decided to start playing on the stage. She attracted many people, easily one of the best early to mid days the Crimson Hoof had ever seen. I was listening to what was going on in the tavern.
Most of it was about Snow. How the Hearthry's were expanding. Curiosity about what that meant, and which of the brother's she belonged to. Not that it mattered. It'd be apparent eventually. She also didn't care about what was being said. She was actively enjoying herself on the stage. So was the audience. Towards the end of her playing Jaden arrived.