Chapter 17

Making a Home

I took extra food with me just in case the 'guests' hadn't been well taken care of, and wonder of wonders I was correct. They revealed to us, the next day when we took over guarding them, that they hadn't been. They seemed quite relieved and a little surprised when I handed out the drumsticks, still warm from the kitchens. They gobbled them down as we told them what was happening, and they agreed that as we were heading back to their village, and there were no hard feelings on our end, (which was only partly a lie) they didn't have to be tied up for the way back. Naturally if they tried anything we would respond in kind, and they said they wouldn't there was no point. We weren't a dragon's hoard now were we? No, we were not. So with a casting to get Athame back for the trip we were off.

"Why are you escorting us back?" one of them asked after we had walked only a few minutes.

"Yes, we could easily fly," said another. "Save you the trip. Your reception there will be a bit… chilly."

"Oh, good one!" said the third.

"Don't start with the ice puns just because you think they haven't heard them," said the first. "Sorry about him."

They follow an ice dragon. Of course.

"Wow, talk about the cold shoulder."

"Stop!"

"I see you telling me to stop-"

"Icy, good one," said the second one.

"Don't encourage him!"

"Anyway, to answer your question. It's a long shot, my magic could always be wrong," I told them, "but there is a small chance this will serve to at least reduce tensions between your two people. We have to make the attempt. To do that, we have to be seen escorting you and you can tell your people that while we could have killed you in your assault of the vault, we didn't. Malachite was a bit overzealous, yes, and that resulted in death, but that's not the town's fault. Your leaders told you to assault the place, it didn't work out. The town responds with not killing you. Okay, most of them didn't know you were there. But it has to start somewhere."

"Huh. Well, don't say I didn't warn you. You're on thin ice."

"Stop!"

"Dude, chill."

"Can I punch him? Just a little?"

"Snow joke, just trying to lighten the- hey stop!"

It took much of the day to get there, and we saw four, yes four, guards at the gate that led into the ice dragon's domain. All in white robes, and carrying weapons that looked more like ice than steel. They called us to a halt and demanded to know what our business was.

"These three assaulted the vault of the dragon Alveindros," Malachite told them. "They were captured and in his wisdom and compassion the great dragon has allowed them to return to their lives. In exchange we wish for a diplomat to come with us and begin negotiations to end this cold war."

"Don't you start," grumbled the one driag.

"He's fine again, by the way," Hanz told them. "You can tell your leaders their plot failed, his curse has been broken. He's at full strength and ready to defend the town."

"This true?" the guard asked, looking past the three.

"Well, I don't know about the curse," said the one. "But there was a vault and we got caught. They let us go and now here we are."

"Fine. They can go in. No outsiders allowed in the town."

"What? We came all this way!" Malachite protested.

"And now you can go all the way back," the guard retorted. "Have a safe journey." They totally didn't meant that last part.

He looked to me, and the three driag. "Go on I guess," he told them, when I just shrugged. "But please at least try to tell someone in charge this weird feud is pointless?"

"Can't promise anything," said the third one. He turned to me. "Thanks for the food, and for holding back your friends here. I noticed you didn't want us dead, I'm sure we would have been if you had."

"Quite possibly," I agreed. "We did get the drop on you."

"Yeah. See ya." The guards called for the gate to be opened, but tensed up as the three were met on the other side by even more guards, who led them away.

Wow, they take their security seriously here I guess?

They relaxed a little, as the gate closed again and the shooed us away.

We went back down the path a bit and Malachite turned to me. "Are we just leaving?"

"What are we going to do, press the issue?" I asked him. "How do you see that turning out?"

"I hate to go back empty handed."

"As do I, but we can't antagonize them. They're just doing their job, and if policy is no outsiders, well… I mean look at the difference between the two villages. This one has an entrance on a winding mountain path with a real gate and a number of guards. I mean how many people are coming up here, anyway? Doesn't make sense. But there they are, so they must take their isolation seriously. You want to attack them or something? What would that get us?"

"We're not that 'tupid, are we?" Snarly asked.

"We are not! Such an action would be foolish in the extreme," Hanz agreed. "Can you even imagine if we picked a fight with them? Or were overly rude to them for no reason? I mean they're just doing their jobs."

"I wouldn't have helped, we would be to blame," I mused. "We are the trespassers here."

"Exactly. The guards on the other side of the gate would rush to get reinforcements, and pretty soon the whole town would be after us," Malachite decided. "It isn't like the vault, they were just standing there. In fact they were perfectly reasonable, it's their whole job to keep people like us out, did we expect to be welcomed with open arms?"

"Not likely," Hanz said.

"At least nothing happened, we're all safe, and we can get back," I told them. "Catch a boat back to the city and start looking into houses!"

Which is what we did. Valris was disappointed but not surprised to hear we had been turned away like that, saying that perhaps the guard had been increased because they expected a reprisal by Alveindros. We decided that made a lot of sense, more sense than stationing so many guards at the gate normally. Of course tensions may be even higher now, as they may think the return of their people was some kind of trick.

"So you can't win," I remarked. "Anything you do will be seen as some plot to lull them into a false sense of security before you strike."

He sighed. "It's what we've been brought to. I can only hope your actions today will reduce tensions when they realize we are not retaliating. Thank you again, and I wish you a good journey home."

The journey home was uneventful, and we headed back to the inn to get some proper rest. I really do need to buy a teleportation spell. Something that can help us move around quicker, anyway.

The next day I stood in front of a house with a for sale sign on it, one we had gone past many times on our way to and from the western gate of the city. It wasn't in the best of shape, but it was made of stone so I figured I could fix it up fairly easily. It was two stories, had a small yard, but more importantly looked to have a workshop attached to it. The sign listed a contact and where to go, it seemed to be the Mayor's office across town.

Well, on the one hand one wouldn't buy the first horse one saw nor the first cow. So I should probably look for other places in the area to compare them. Yes. That's what a responsible prospective home owner would do. And so I did. A bit of divination magic to guide me led me to another, much nicer looking place a fair walk away from the first. Still in the "craftsman" district so it was of a similar design, it just looked better taken care of. The sign here said I should ask at the bank for more details, and decided maybe the previous owners had gotten into some kind of trouble with the bank and had the place taken away from them.

Better make sure no one will be pounding on the door some evening demanding back taxes or something from people that aren't even there any more…

We had discussed buying versus renting on the way back, and Malachite was of the mind to simply spend the gold we had gotten from our last job rather than trickle it out a little bit at a time as renters. Basically, while he would be sad to see so much money gone to one thing, he hadn't even had the coins a week ago so he would not have time to get used to the idea of having them. In essence, trading the dragon's life for a house, and really wasn't finding the lair the first step of building a treasure hoard? This also made us safer, buying the house outright meant we didn't have to worry about paying the rent on time if we were away on a mission. It would be ours. We could reshape it with my spells if needed, and if we did get something to fix up we could probably sell it for a profit when we ultimately went our separate ways. (Or just pass it on to Snarly so he always had a place to live)

I spent the rest of the morning at the two places, getting information about the two properties, and then part of the early afternoon getting a tour. Naturally I inquired about other properties, but they were either too small, single family homes with not enough bedrooms, or too lavish. These two seemed to be the best fit, and be in our price range. The one place was better kept but both were unfurnished. Rather plain. The first house I had seen still had a lot of garbage kicking around in the workshop area and it all smelled pretty bad, but hopefully cleaning it up would take care of that. It was on the market for about 15 suns, 5 less than we had. We could fix it up and furnish it with the leftover amount easily, especially if what I was thinking could be done. The nicer place had been cleaned out, but it wasn't so much nicer to be worth an extra sun. At least, I didn't think so. I thanked both people for their time and told them I would be in touch.

That night I spread the paperwork on the table in the inn and tried to get the others interested in a discussion about our new potential home. Reaction was… muted.

"I used to live on ta 'treets," Snarly said first. "Anything with a 'oof is a 'tep up."

"I require very little in the way of 'shelter,' Hanz said next. "I do not need a room with a bed like an organic being, simply a place to put anything I do not wish to carry around with me."

"I'm clueless," Malachite said finally. "Whatever you think is best, Orchid. This was your idea and I trust you."

"I just don't want any complaining later," I told them. "We saved up the money for this collectively-"sort of "-so I want you all to be happy about it. If you're sure you don't care that's fine."

"Which one are you thinking?" he asked. "The more expensive one?"

I shook my head. "Just the opposite. I can easily fix it up and possibly furnish it at least partly, on my own. Thus, when the time comes for the townspeople to carry us, on their shoulders no less, to our new palace in thanks for saving the town from the Gloom or whatever, we can sell our old place for a profit. It being fixed up, and everything."

"I do like the way you think," he agreed. "Their shoulders, huh?"

"Singing our praises the entire way."

"Whatever you think is best."

"In other news, we checked in with the city guard," Hanz told us, "and Jekserah hasn't been spotted since we ran her out. No rumors of her location at all, and anyone associated with her either isn't talking or has also vanished. So at least she's not here assaulting the place with an undead army, but she's probably planning something. We'll have to get back to looking for the hitherto requested orb if we want that wanderer's help."

I slept on it, visited each house to look around the grounds again, and made my decision. I headed to the Mayor's office with Malachite in tow, but after handing me the sack with the gold in it he backed off.

"I'll just screw something up," he worried. "I know it. And seeing all that money just handed to someone?" He shuddered. "I couldn't take it. You get in there and do what you have to do, I'll wait here."

"Okay..."

The process of buying the place was fairly straightforward. There was a lot of paperwork to sign of course, but not as much as if we were renting the place or trying to get a loan. I would have had to talk to the bank for that beforehand, but there was no need in this case. The man working with me made sure there would be no problems with the city coming after us for money or anything like that. He did want to know things like my source of income and that I knew when taxes were due, their original problem with the previous owners. I told him stonework and bounty hunting, making him look at me pretty funny. I was "disguised" as just myself, without my pointy crystal bits, figuring that was easiest in case I had to come here again as the owner I wouldn't need to try and remember what I looked like. So I just looked like a somewhat frail human woman, not the usual type for either of those professions. (Not enough muscles for stone work, or bounty hunting) But he noted it down on the form. All of this was done in the presence of a lit candle, which he kept an eye on, making sure it didn't flicker. Clearly some kind of truth telling spell. But as I actually do plan to go back into business making stone carvings, and we do make money taking bounties such as the Jekserah case, it's the complete truth.

On my side I pointed out a few thing I had noticed on the tour that would need to be taken care of, and ultimately got the cost down to 14 suns, 5 moons. With that set on the final form I signed it, handed over the sack of gold, and took possession of the deed and keys to the place. I was a homeowner!

As I walked back to the inn (for the last time) to get the others a thought struck me.

My name is on the paperwork. The city doesn't know anything about the others. They just happen to live with me. Does the city expect taxes from them, or just me, the land owner? Probably just me. I'll have to go buy a ledger, make sure I keep track of expenses for the business and the money I take in. Set some aside for tax day. Should I take in some kind of "rent" from them? I wouldn't actually take anything, as they all contributed to the house, but it would save them some money in the long run. City just knows about me. Of course if a city official physically shows up and asks how many people live there I can't exactly lie. Better tell the others to save a bit of their income and maybe help them with keeping track of it. Snarly is just a kid still, right, he wouldn't owe taxes he's basically our… ward?

We collected the others, making me wonder what they did the rest of the time we weren't together. Neither one had said anything about space for working their own trade, was their income only going to be what they made killing bandits and such? I knew Malachite had no trade skills, that much was somewhat painfully obvious, but at least he didn't complain about needing to go out and work doing the jobs we had taken thus far in town. Oh well. Maybe now with space they'll show off their true potential and contribute to the household in- oh no what have I gotten myself into?

They walked around the place and claimed their spots, the two of them promising to get to work while I went to get some raw material. Hanz started making a list of spots I would need to repair and what improvements could be made to the place, while Snarly was looking a bit forlorn to have to get rid of the garbage left by the old owners. I insisted and left with Malachite to put my next plan into action. I had adopted a new disguise before I left the house of course. Buying a house here wouldn't make people stare at me less on the street.

"Good morning!" said Solara, looking up from the counter. "How can I help you?"

No apprentice today? Maybe she's on an errand. Of course this persona wouldn't know she had one, "I've" never been here. "I hope so. I'm looking for a couple of spells, an elemental spell in the sphere of Uranus, and a cleaning spell."

"The guild doesn't allow the selling of anything too destructive," she cautioned me.

"Oh Heavens, nothing like that!" I assured her. "No, no, something from the conjuration family. I need raw material and rock is just the thing." Well, I say just the thing but wood is probably better. But there's no spell to wish wood into your hand. I would have to buy wood. And wood comes from trees. I won't have trees killed just to make myself something I can just as easily make out of stone.

"That I can do, it's a spell of the first grade. I will caution you however that you should use it outside the city limits. While under the domain of Mars or Neptune to get fire or ice, this spell can and does seem to create something from nothing. Reports are inconclusive for this one, as you tend to get earth or stone that would naturally occur in the area. Meaning it could be pulled from underground, I'm not clear on it but best to take no chances. We don't want the stone under the city to be disturbed, for reasons I'm sure are obvious."

"That's perfectly all right!" I assured her. "I'll go far outside before I use the spell."

"Very well. One moment while I retrieve the scroll. I can also get you the hygiene spell, it's also of the first grade and common enough I'm surprised you don't already have it."

"Thank you."

Having paid for the scrolls with the spells detailed I went to the market and bought a cart sturdy enough to haul stone.

After paying the man looked around, somewhat confused.

"Is the driag going to drag it or what?" he asked. "I can put a sold sign on it if you want to go get your horse."

"You need a horse too?" I asked, as if scandalized. "Why didn't anyone tell me? I thought it moved itself!"

"I figured you knew?"

I laughed. "I'm just kidding around. Hey Malachite you think you could drag it?"

"I'm not dragging it like a horse."

"Sure you are, get hooked up to the harness, I want to see what it looks like! Does it come with a whip or is that separate?"

"Orchid!"

The man was looking at him now, wondering if I was, in fact, serious about this. I used the distraction to cast my ally spell, bringing out Athame. "Here's my horse," I announced. "I just had to find which pocket I left her in. Hook her up."

The man whirled and stared, but clearly my crystalline unicorn summon was not a natural creature and he shook his head. "Magic."

"Yup!" I could just as easily make it move itself with Mercury magic but this at least is a little more 'normal.'

Athame dragged the cart outside of town and in the field twenty minutes away I started studying the spell. It was the easiest type possible to learn and engrave onto my mana core so an hour later I tucked it away and started casting. I drew ambient mana every time, making sure I got the maximum amount of stone, and dozens of castings later I had a cart full of heavy rocks. I put my disguise back on, resummoned Athame who hadn't stuck around and dragged it back to the house. Leaving it for the moment I studied the cleaning spell, and an hour later had that set as well. Then I got to work. Because I could get between 7 and 10kg of stone per casting depending on how well I did gathering ambient mana our furniture would need to be made in pieces, but that was fine. For example the seat of a chair was just a rounded slab with holes in the bottom. The legs of the chairs were just rounded rods, set over the hole and magically sculpted to fit into the slots I had made inside. Doing that four times, then two times on the other side to make the back, and you had a chair. The table could be just a frame I set slabs into, smoothing them and locking them together in the same way. Anything I touched could be cleaned in an instant with the hygiene spell, so both of those got a workout that day and in the end, the place was cleaned and somewhat furnished.

We made several trips, getting enough stone to make everybody a bed frame, a chair, a small table, whatever they wanted. The smaller, leftover bits went into the workshop area to be turned into jewelry and figurines later. Furnishing the place took the rest of the day, we would still of course need to buy mattresses, pillows, cushions for the chairs, and the like. (Malachite maybe didn't mind sitting on a stone chair but I couldn't. Actually Hanz probably didn't care either way as well)

With that we had the beginnings of a real place to live! I would take care of the outside the next day, fix up what I could and maybe replace the fence with something made of stone too. I was pretty exhausted, just from running around and doing way more magic than usual, but at least I could stand there and look at the tangible results of the magic I had done. So little of magic was permanent normally, and many of my spells were support spells for combat. It felt really, really good to use magic constructively again, making things and bringing light to the world instead of just hurt.

If only we didn't have people like Jekserah, researching magic to cause great harm. Just do this sort of thing. Create. Build. That's what magic is there for. Can you really say raising an undead army would bring you more satisfaction than I'm feeling right now, looking at the tables and chairs I made with my magic today? I doubt it.

"Let's go get something to eat and get to bed, I'm exhausted!"

"Nice work," Malachite told me. "Stone furnishings. I bet we could find a friendlier driag village and you would have work for life."

I laughed. "I'll keep it in mind!"