While I’m mulling over Leezahna’s recent history, and ultimate destiny, I’m almost shocked to hear Shiz ask quietly, “Lady Kinzul? I’ve already pledged tooth and talon to your Schism, your Hero. I’m not certain how to go about this, if there’s some proper method, but I’d like to officially join the Onyx Dawn. Consider me at your service for saving my sister and her clutch.”
I nearly melt as I sense the pride from Kinzul as she smiles warmly at Shiz, sets a hand upon him, and simply utters, “Then it is so. Welcome, Shiz, Thunderer, to the Order of the Onyx Dawn.”
I can barely contain myself as I prevent myself from literally leaping and shouting in joy about how mercy is worth it. I vibrate intensely at the restraint. I have to remind myself that it’s a dangerous, risky proposition, that will continue to disappoint me in the field, and break my heart, repeatedly. Each heartbreak will occur over and over as I’m forced to slay those that don’t agree, or those that would simply retain evil, tyrannical tendencies. It’s worth it, but it still exacts a cost on my weary heart.
Did Leezahna just scope out Ixey and Zayzi? I rattle my skull. It’s none of my business. It’s their own prerogative to be topless, and her own prerogative to enjoy whatever she enjoys visually. Plus, it could have been looking on in disdain for lack of decorum, or something. Regardless, whatever her preferences are, I’m not entitled to know. We’re not even friends, and even if we were, she wouldn’t be obligated to tell me.
I leave it to Shiz and Kinzul, Luni and Teuila, and Lil and Lucky to help guide the rest of the assembled Onyx Dawn members with the shops. Shiz will be selling things to make money, and they’ll be sorting out what to buy from whomever’s shops. Guiding Leezahna back towards the mass of stockpiled gems, she gulps as she appears abashed. I try to hide my wry smirk while biting my lips. I’m not here to rub her nose in it as it were. I motion towards the craftsworks where Nala is taking stock of all the available tools and stations, and trying her hand at various tasks. Leezahna nods quickly and hauls several baskets while I haul several more manually and telekinetically.
Upon our approach, Nala calls out, “Schism, yes, good, wonderful. Hm, oh this shall do quite more than nicely. I’d been about to ask. Even with the mistakes I’ve been making, cracking facets and so on, this will more than solve the issue. Is the lovely young lass another of yours Schism?”
Frowning more than blushing, I furrow my brow at Nala, while Leezahna looks mortified. Changing the subject quickly, I respond, “Whatever you’re implying, no. I do however have an even better solution to any mistakes involving crystals or gems. It’s literally called the Crystal Healing Wand. It performs a minor mending of cantrip-level power, specifically on gems and small gemlike, or crystalline, structures. Here, catch.”
Nala deftly snatches the wand out of the air, and I realize I probably should have been more cautious than to throw something fragile towards a heavily-armored librarian in thick robes. Rolling my eyes and chuckling to myself, I add, “As far as I’m concerned, it’s all yours, but you could leave it in the craftsworks in case anyone else tries their hand at jewelry or enchantment creations. I think I remember spying another one in someone else’s shop catalogue. Oh, right, thanks to Leezahna here, we have most of what we need, and can view a large portion of the individual unique items available in everyone’s shop catalogues. I’d like you to check out yours sometime today. Speaking of which, I’d like you to check out yours as well Leezahna. If anything sounds like it could help advance the efforts of the Onyx Dawn, please bring it to my attention.”
Mulling it over, I decide to also offer, “As thanks for your efforts, I’d like to offer you each a stipend of a million in currency for today, to last until some point in the future. I’m not sure when I could offer a refresh of the stipend. Anyway, feel free to purchase anything using my personal currency. There’s a small secret stash in the library, under the third shelf, in a small, locked case that’s bolted into the underside of the stacks. The lock’s code is seven, eight, nine, three. I’ll make sure there’s exactly two million in there later this eve. You can either grab your share, and be responsible for keeping track of it, or leave it there and withdraw needed amounts as necessary.”
Leezahna looks astounded at the number I’ve just tossed her way. I can see her running the math in her head as to how long it would have taken her to earn a million in cash. There’s a spark of fear in her eyes, and a dubious expression crosses her face, wondering if this is some sort of trick, or test. I sigh for a long moment as I ponder how to address her expression.
Thinking it best to work simply, I mention to Leezahna, “This stipend is an advance for your upcoming work as quartermaster. You’re free to use it as you see fit. If you buy something as an experiment, and realize it benefits the Onyx Dawn, and you donate it to them, I’ll replace whatever you spent on it. We’re starting to dwindle in our total paper currency, but I feel like this is a worthwhile investment, for you to be able to get what you want and need to start your life properly, independently.”
Pondering momentarily, I hazard explaining further, “It’s a one-time deal though, okay? It’s not a present, it’s not a gift, but it doesn’t come with strings. It’s me paying you for the responsibilities you’ve agreed to attend to. You earn it, and my trust, by continuing to do well. Please, have a good day, try to enjoy yourself, check out the available catalogues, help out where you can if you’d like. Relax and settle in. I want you to feel safe, and happy in your new home.”
Almost teasing about the glance I’d seen Leeza cast towards Ixey, I point out, “For example, if there’s someone you want to pursue romantically, perhaps take them aside for a conversation, or write them a letter. Veril, our ‘The Red,’ thinks you’re attractive, and is worried that you seem friendless right now. Feel free to talk to him, and try to take it easy on him if he flusters easily.”
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Feeling gross as I realize it sounds like I’m ordering her to romantically pursue someone, I quickly expound, “I’ve no say, or interest, in what you do with your time, except that which you’ve agreed to spend on the tasks I’ve requested of you. In a few days, when we’ve got a handle on the numbers, I’ll be requesting more of your time in order to handle proper distribution. What I mean to say is, take advantage of your free time, before I put you to work a bit more thoroughly. Like I said before, keep track of how long it’s taking you to attend to the responsibilities, and if you feel the amount of time invested per day is too much, come to me, and we’ll discuss your needs, and the possibility of an assistant.”
When Leezahna realizes that I’m just rambling, and don’t actually need her to stay nearby, she edges away, checking visually with me for any signs of retribution at her desire to leave my presence. I simply flash a half smile of acknowledgment her way in order to reassure her that it’s fine. Turning towards Nala once Leezahna has left, I close my eyes and sigh deeply. Rolling my eyes behind closed lids and shaking my head, I resolve to leave all authority behind me as soon as this war is over. I’m not cut out to lead people, or correct others’ behaviors, and so on.
Clucking her tongue, Nala half-chuckles as she responds to my train of thought, “Few are, friend-Reggie. Few are. There are some interesting tools and workstations here. The gear-press intrigues me greatly, as I’ve ideas for little clockworks that might amble about, and perhaps carry tools and the like. It seems it requires either a soft metal, like lead, or something along those lines in order to work, at least with my puny strength. The foot-pedal rotary tool is quite ingenious too, for etching, carving, cutting, drilling and the like, with the assortment of adamantite heads provided.”
Nodding to Nala, I’m worried slightly about the idea of her working with lead, since I don’t know if it’s as toxic to dragonkin as it is to everyone else. I’m not sure if they have veins of lead, or stores of it anywhere. I’m rather hoping they don’t. If Nala got lead poisoning, I don’t think I’d forgive myself for having put her in the position to work with it. Thankfully, Nala seems to have only been conjecturing about the particular metal needed. A soft metal would eventually erode and wear out much more quickly than a harder metal, for clockwork gears anyway. We can use the gear press to make casts, and use the casts to make gears in whatever metal she’d like. We’d been doing something similar on Can’Z’aas, for pipe fittings and so on.
Hm, that reminds me, we could make some pretty wicked traps, and with the right structure, have them be remotely deployable, say from the security center itself, so that no one could accidentally trigger them and get themselves hurt. Against a siege, that could be quite valuable indeed. Rigging up the piping to carry and protect the wires to pass the signal to the traps would be an annoyingly lengthy process for one or two people, but we do have a lot of volunteers, several sets of forgeworks, and a lot of processing stations, on top of the ability to buy more, some of which might even be enchanted. Hm.
Am I about to ask the volunteer Draconiacs to learn to make copper cable, in order to pass electrical signals through non-conductive pipes? Am I attempting to bring Mount Solace into the electrical, and information ages? We’re already in the industrial age basically, with the amount of metallurgical processing we’re capable of doing, and our toes are in the door for the information age and electrical age already. Gnawing on my lip, I glance around. Is it the right thing to do? The entire face of the world could change if the advancements I’m thinking of get spread around over time. The one I least want to spread these advancement to, funnily enough, is Ka’thuul. Terrorzin won’t live long enough to benefit from them.
Gods I must sound so cocky in my head. It’s just that he’s prophesied to die by year’s end. I already don’t like that the Derbrightmine dwarves are in a metallurgical age that has them constructing firearms. The gunpowder age? I guess. I think we could create a gunpowder warren essentially by planting saltpeter, and sulfur. Then it’s just harvesting or burning things for coal, or well, charcoal. Do I want to risk explosives being readily available? No. No I don’t. I wish I could erase knowledge of their existence from my own, and others’ heads. I really, really don’t need an explosives-delivery arms-race occurring.
I’m getting distracted. Focus Reggie. Be in the present. Conferring with Nala, I get her thoughts on several projects, and favors I’d like to request of her, while she makes requests of me for resources and tools. It feels like an equitable exchange, thankfully. Erm, I hope that’s the right word. Anyway. I’ve got a promise to keep—. And miles to go before I sleep? Huh. That sounds familiar. Something about northern climes, cold, something. Snow? No. Frost? Maybe. Erm, right, anyway, on to Ixey and Lil.
Ixeyla is bursting, nearly exploding, with excitement, and Lil is fidgeting nervously, blushing like crazy as he ogles her. I pull them aside as the rest of the Order of the Onyx Dawn continues working on analyzing the shop catalogues and everything else. I need not even ask if Ixeyla is willing to take the more intimate connection this time. Lil’s always willing, but, well, as I said before, Ixey is radiating lust so strongly across her emotional wavelength, even in this muted bond that we share together with Zayzi, that—. Erm, yeah. I’m just glad she’s still wearing pants.
Placing the bond on Lil and Ixey goes smoothly enough, even with Zayzi wandering nearby, standing around shirtlessly, watching with disinterest. Sighing to myself, I try my best to not make a big deal out of it, since they don’t seem to care, and I don’t want to make them feel uncomfortable or give them complexes about their bodies. Zayzi performs their usual bit of leaning oddly up against nearby walls and surfaces, never seeming to get truly comfortable. I wish I could do more for them.
As I let Ixey go, she drags Lil away, and I can hear her hoarse-whispering, “Princess! Let us use your bedroom!” Leeza’s response of course is, “What? Ew, no. Find your own!”
I try to hide my snort of laughter, and mostly fail. Lil, I hope you know what you’re in for buddy. That’s a heck of a lot of woman to handle being with. The fact that she transforms into her dragon form, and Lil into his, leaves me shaking my head all the more certain that Lil’s in over his own. Especially as she drags him away by clamping her teeth gently on his neck, wrestling him into the farthest vault. Phew. Now I’m steaming with blush. I’m pretty certain that they can’t, erm, y’know, but wow.
Zayzi nods nearby and mutters, “Kissing. Eugh. No kissing. ‘Kay?”
Blushing, and trying not to laugh at their expense, I nod in response to Zayzi’s simple request. I’m certainly not expecting explosive passion directed my way from Zayzi or Ixey, or any sort of romance or physical affection. I’m happy to just be their friend.