The next day I wake sometime after noon but before dark, which I only know after I leave my dome and come down for a cup of coffee (I may be Undead but I feel less so after a good cup of coffee or a warm human slurpee). My coffee though was not so good. Had I taken that as a sign, I would have gone back to bed. In hind sight, I should have.

Zabolight is of course gone, but through the slight bond I have with her I know she is still in town. I hope to 'catch' her later.

First challenge of the day, I went down stairs and found the 'homeless shelter' almost completely empty. Tents and all, just gone. Given the itinerate nature of these people that is not all that uncommon so while a little sad that the food left I am not too surprised. It's only when I get to the bottom floor and try to leave that I find a real problem. The door is sealed or blocked from the outside.

I have to go back to the 3rd floor, out a narrow window (arrow slot) there then down the outside to find what is going on. What I find is a group of six heavily muscled men outside my door. They have bricked up the entrance and push anyone who tries to come close away. Myself included.

"Who the Hell are you people and what do you think you're doing ?" I demand of them.

Big dark haired bruiser, "We don't answer to you. But we are sealing this damn place up and keeping you rift raft out. You're not welcome here."

I put my hands on my hips, "I OWN this place, as of yesterday. I got it from Lady Patrick and got the paperwork to prove it."

They sneer, "We heard that Gregory is dead so it falls to us to make sure No one uses it."

"It Belongs to me, and I KILLED Gregory, if you do not stop this nonsense I will kill you to."

One draws a heavy sword and swings it at me. I just calmly catch his arm, break it, take his sword and use it to kill 3 of his friends in a very fast and terrifying way.

Then I turn to the one who attacked and the 2 bricklayers, "Your choice, leave or die." I state in a flat tone. The brick layers run away leaving their tools behind. The one with the broken arm swears, "You have not heard the end of this Witch, We of the Brotherhood know how to deal with your kind."

I remove his head with a back swing, "I know how to deal with your kind to, been doing it for thousands of years." I inform his corpse. I then set about unsealing my door. Pulling down all the stones. Though looking at them I realize they are the same sort as the tower was made of originally.

I hear a noise behind me and turn and see the three squatters I talked to originally, "Oh hello boys. Sorry about the mess."

They look things over and nod, "That is ok miss. We heard what you said and it fits with the rumors we have heard today. Some of Lady Patrick's boys have been around the market and they were letting everyone know that the towers are all under a new owner and that Gregory went off and got himself killed.

Those guys are from a group that calls themselves the Brotherhood of the Silver Fist. There is around 20 of them and all are like these 4. Big, strong and mean. They would love nothing more than to take over the town but till day before yesterday the gang leaders kept them in check. Then that stupid bitch came and tried to take over and in doing so, well now the minor gangs like them are trying to throw their weight around. The dock and the Merchants quarter are so far the only stable areas." the smartest of the 3 informs me. I look him over and note his left leg is missing from the knee down, but his clothing is a little better quality than his companions.

"So what was the point of having my new door bricked over ?" I ask as I carefully pull down the poorly made concreted blocks. (The blocks are good stone, it's the concrete that is crap)

The spokesman nods, "Well mistress they don't much care for people like us. Those too poor to live in the shanty town where they have dominion. Those of us who moved in here, we could defend it you see. Kept their kind out for the most part. Which meant we were not paying them protection money to keep our houses or tents from getting busted up. This morning they showed up in force with those masons being brought in at sword point. They forced us all out then had them start sealing up the door so no one could come in or out anymore. They don't care if you own it or not. They heard you was a woman, so they decided to bully you in to compliance. What none of them understood is you're not a mortal woman. Mam, don't try to deny it, we have seen you shifting from solid to ghost and your eyes were glowing with that cold red light when you spoke to us before."

I bite my lips, "oh" I say quietly.

Grumpy grins, "We don't mind that your some kind of vampire. We see Lots of your kind as we seem to be on the bottom of the food chain to. Poor people get used and abused by everyone. Don't like it, but get used to it."

I nod and sigh, "Been poor, did not like it, so when I got a chance not to be poor I took it. Even if it did mean eating people." I sigh, "Well in truth I won most of my money a long time ago and then made some very good investments."

"Anyway, I don't mind you all living here. I like the company to tell the truth. As long as you don't mind me and my weirdness." I shrug.

Nodding his head, "I am Silas mam. I can read and write and used to be a sailor till I lost the leg in a fire. Was the assistant to the navigator but not good enough at it to keep a job doing that. Mostly these days I read things for those who can't read and work as a scribe. The money is not great but it keeps me fed. Just not enough to do that and keep a roof over my head."

I nod, "Working poor, totally understand. Never pay you enough for all you need." I set down another of the hundred plus pound blocks. "Do any of your know where these blocks came from ?"

The quiet one, "They kicked the apothecary out of her home this morning, then starting pulling down that tower to use its stones."

I sigh and stop working on that. "Ok now I have more reasons to go on a killing spree. I promised I would let the apothecary live in that tower. Any of you willing to play tour guide ?"

Grumpy, in a confused tone, "Mam ?"

Silas, "She wants to know if any of us would be willing to take her to the apothecaries and maybe around to the people who are stealing her home, a block at a time."

I nod, "Yeah that."

Grumpy considers, "You willing to pay ?"

I dig out a local silver coin, "This do ?"

It's out of my hand almost faster than I can move. "Right this way." Grumpy says pleasantly.

I grin, "Let me get my bag, then I will be right with you, um, what is your name ?"

"Gus mam. Most call me Grumpy Gus though. Not sure why."

"Cause you look a bit grumpy probably. It's the way your face sits when you're not making any expression at all." I explain.

He slowly nods, "Like how some people look happy even when they are not." I nod and then leap to the top of the building.

I can still hear them though, Gus to the others, "So you think this is a good idea, living here with her and all ?"

Quiet one, "Safer than the Shanty town or slums. Besides at least here we know she will protect us from those who want this place and I am fine with giving a little blood every once in a while for a safe place to stay."

Silas, "and she is willing to pay us for working for her to. Most would have just offered a copper or two for someone to take them around town. That silver though will get you a couple good meals."

I return, bag over my shoulder, staff in my other hand, "I heard what you were saying." I state with a grin. They look a little shaken, "I don't tend to feed on the people who share my roof except for rare circumstances. Like say really bad weather where going out is not safe. And I do have some idea what jobs are worth it's just what Most people pay and what I pay are in different concepts. I do try and take care of the people who work for me though." I point the staff at the blocks a beam of green light shoots out and the pile shrinks to 80% of its original size. "I love magic." I state happily even as I pick up all the now 20 pound blocks and stuff them in to my magic bag.

Then I turn to Gus, "Ok ready to go when you are."

He grins and the 3 lead the way. The quiet one nods, "I am Pete mam. Common worker, mostly odd jobs. Cleaning, sweeping and occasionally brick laying or construction."

I nod, "Well Met Pete, I am Robina, sometimes called the Shadow among so many other names I have forgotten many of them."

He nods but says no more. I follow and well gawk. I have not really taken the time to look over the town except from a tactical perspective. From what I can see though it's really a good sized town. Closer to 139,000 people live and work in the area, that includes sailors, travelers, farmers, and such. Within the town itself it's probably closer to 136 to 137,000 non-seasonal or permanent residence. Actually I think this qualifies as a city or city state all on its own. Amazing given the whole place is run by a council of criminals, vampires, and who knows what else. No walls to speak of either. Some old sections with buildings attached, rebuilt ruin types, but no protection from raiders or enemy military. But then I don't know what lays beyond the forest either. For all I know it could be miles of swamp or huge mountains or even space. I just don't know and I am not sure whom to ask and get an honest answer.

In most ways it's like lots of medieval towns I have read about. In others completely different as there is no town guard, and each area is run by a gang who police their area's their way. Sometimes with reason but usually by force. My towers are each in a different territory, which is why the Silver Fist bothering them is so worrisome. From what Silas and Gus tell me little wars between the different groups happen from time to time but nothing like this. Silver Fist is a small group but with the problems caused by Jubilee they are making a grab for power. They are not the only ones but they are the ones who gained my ire, so they are the ones who are going to pay for it.

Only other ones to annoy me so far is some punks who tried to charge people to use the main North South road in town, I turned on my power, and shortly had them following me to the Silver Fist area.

I find the Apothecary, a rather pretty if poor looking woman, sitting on a pile of rubble what used to be her home. I look at it, "Ok, so this was a tower ?" I ask lightly. She gives me a look, ignoring the small army of glassy eyed thugs following me.

"Yes it was. It was not much but it was where I lived. The council assured me I could live there till Gregory died. Guess he died."

I nod, "He crossed the wrong person and quite literally lost his head. By the way, I am your new land lord as assigned by Lady Patrick and what's left of the town council."

She looks at me and shrugs, "Well the Brotherhood of the roving stupidity, thinking my tower held untold hidden wealth in it, tore it down and carted off many of the stones."

I nod, "Yes they were using those stones to try and seal me inside my new home. I killed 4 of them before coming over." I open my bag and remove the stones stacking them to one side.

She smirks, "Those are not from my tower."

I point my staff and POOF, green smoke and they are back to normal size. Her eyes bulge and she makes little mewing sounds.

I grin, "I am a Mage, I do magic. Also a trained alchemist so having you around is good for me as you can get me ingredient's I need easier than I could find them on my own."

She gulps and nods, "Is that what happened to them ?" nodding to the mental midgets.

"No, domination spell. Was easier to work on them than normal, but they are all muscle and few brains so that may have something to do with it." I state calmly.

Gus grins, "You should have seen it. These bruisers walked up and tried to charge us for walking down the road. She zapped them with her staff then took idea's from the crowd of what to do with them. Some of those ideas were a bit disturbing to."

She nods, eyeing me in a speculating way. "Well that is all well I suppose, but it does not rebuild my home."

I finish moving my bricks out then look over what is left of her tower. Pretty much the floor and the bottom row of stones. "So on the rebuild, have any suggestions on a new floor plan ? Extra rooms, levels, etc ?"I ask her.

She gives me a level look, "Sure, two stories, ramp instead of stairs on the inside, How about a nice conical shingled roof to with windows for light and ventilation."

I take out some paper and make a drawing, add in a kitchen in the rear and an area for a garden with an outer wall around it to keep people out of it, "How about this ?"

She gives me a look, "What I really wanted was a safe place to live. What I got was a falling down tower cause that is all they had. I would be happy with a house. Towers attract unhealthy attention around here."

I consider then shrug and set out a design of a stone house.

I come up with 2 designs and using magic create an image of each. She sits up a little straighter as I show them to her, "Which do you prefer ?

This one (Tudor styled house) or this one ? (Short wall built in to a more 'mage' looking place with a short tower next to the entrance, the back looking much like the Tudor style though.)"

She looks them over, "The second one, does the wall go all the way around ?"

I nod, "I was thinking a private garden area for you. Would not be all that large because of the limits of the space I am working with you understand."

She nods, "I like the 2cd one to tell the truth, especially if those are glass windows at the top."

I grin, "I prefer Glassteel given the choice as they are nearly unbreakable. Though they do not open the ones in the side may. She nods, I smile.

Then I use the mindless minions to clear out a space while I draw out a floor plan, where the walls will go and such. As I am working out where to put the walls a man pushes in front of me, "You can't do this. This is My area now." I look up at him, consider then have the minions hall him off, he screams, "I got Friends you know!"

I grin, "I got friends to. So what ?"

I am making sure I got my calculations down when blood rains on my carefully set up sketch. I look up and see 10 'silver fist' bruisers there. I don't even blink, I just wave a hand at them and they are suddenly 14 inches tall. A second wave of my hand and they are 3inches tall. After that I ignore the lot of them.

Margo the Apothecary comes over and stares at them, as do about half the neighborhood they had been bullying and well the screams of tiny men as those they tormented took to trying to stomp them filled the air.

I clean out the mess they made of a minion and get back to work. I also am not bothered by anyone else for the whole time I am there. I do ask about that rude man to Margo, "So who was the fellow who first interrupted ?"

"Rupert Feg, he always wanted to take over a good portion of my place so he could expand his house in to it. I guess he is the ones who sent over those thugs."

Feg, now looking afraid and angry stares at me. I zap him for good measure, but only once, so he is just 1ft tall. "Small man in mind and now body. Now his house should be plenty big enough for him."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

She smirks but tries (and fails) to looked shocked.

Just after nightfall I set off a series of spells, combination of shaping and conjuration spells. In mere minutes the house is built. It's empty of course as I did not put in any furnishings. So I have the minions move in her furniture and remaining belongings, then looking the place over I give her a bed (queen sized with curtains) and some furniture for the bedroom.

"There you go. Rent is a copper a month, for you and only because I am nice." She nods, "I think I can afford that price. Thank you." I nod. "Yours is probably the easiest of the towers I have to fix to tell the truth. They gave me all 3, including the tower of moldering stench which I plan on removing and before you complain about it cause some molds are useful, the down side of the place as a public health hazard outweighs the convenience of the molds. Many of which have been removed by a passing mage."

She narrows her eyes, "You."

I nod, "Me yes, before they gave me title to the place really. The smell was too much for me. I had to do it. I have a very sensitive sense of smell."

She nods, "I understand. Summer time people around it tend to get sick allot. I suspect it's from a combination of factors."

I nod in agreement, "Yes. Well it's been interesting, feel free to rearrange the placement of things and if you need anything else, ask, I may know where to get it. or not " I add as I see a small group of Thralls in armor and Abigale on a horse headed our way, "Ah council representatives. iyiyiyi"

Margo turns and sighs to, "Great Aunt Abigale, thinks I don't know who she is and I let her." she quietly informs me.

Abigale is staring at the new building, mouth open, "what happened here ?"

Margo states, "It's been a long strange day. First some gang shows up, kicks me out and then tears down my tower. Then they harass me about some supposed treasure, like if I had a treasure I would be living in a falling down tower. Then this mage shows up, informs me the council gave her control of the towers."

Abigale nods and looks at me I shrug, "Well the tower was gone, so I built a new structure in its place. Used a lot of the same stones that were part of the original tower to. Added some stuff via magic. Oh and most of that gang are dead or in hiding."

Gus crows, "She shrank them down till they are the size of rats, small ones at that."

She slowly nods. "I see. And they um, thugs ?" she nods to the glass eyed group.

"Mind Dominated actually, little spell should wear off in a few more hours. Or not. Not sure, these guys have very weak wills." I state while looking at them.

"I was not thinking you would change the tower so dramatically." she says staring at it.

I shrug, "The base and door area is all that was left of the old tower when I got here, so I kept it when rebuilding the place. The walled area is so she can have a garden for ingredients and such to."

Margo nods, "The window boxes I had before were ok, but this will give me a chance to have a proper herb garden. And you did sign over the tower and lands connected to it to her right ?"

Abigale nods, "Yes we did. Just, changing it so much."

I sigh, "Change is inevitable and good for continued growth. Also this place has style and charm to it. Much better than a simple guard tower. Look at it from a Toreador's perspective."

Abigale closes her eyes for a long bit then looks it over again. "Needs some tree's around the wall."

I nod, "I can do that. Fruit, nut or what kinds would you like ?"

Margo thinks about it, "Apple, Green apples. I love them in pies and such but they are hard to get locally. They used to grow locally but some people stripped them of the fruit then cut them down for their wood. Idiots."

I nod, "Know the type." I head inside then out the back door and in to the bare earth garden. I look it over and shake my head, "Needs some work before anything can be planted here. Know any druids ?"

She shakes her head, "No. Just the temple of the brothers."

I nod, "They are doomed, Dreth has a temple underneath theirs and has been having human sacrifices done down there. I got the land grants as I freed over 100 mages from his insane grip. Trying to take over all magic using childrens rhymes and runes none of them understand the meaning of. Pure insane stupidity."

Margo looks confused, "Childrens rhymes ?"

I nod, "The Hammer and Anvil song and dance to be precise. Was a tune created long ago that was made by smiths to teach children about smithing and make it fun. I know the song but I can't translate it in a way that keeps the beat in the correct tempo. In its own language it makes sense, in any other it does not."

Margo digs out a book and shows me the runes, "These ? I had another book of old runes but it was stolen some time ago. This was the original copy however."

I read it over and grin, "A collection of childrens songs by Riven Stoneforge. He was a wonderful musician I helped him write a marching song based on an old human one. The human one went 'Oh We Oh, OH We OH.' over and over in a certain way. He added in a stomping march and a drum to it that made it easier to keep the beat of it and then they added words to the oh we on parts to ease the feet and strengthen the soul."

Thrall soldier, "That song is still used today actually. Helps with getting the men in the proper mood for battle and that stanza is easy to remember and add on to."

I smile and nod, "Why it was so popular. That and the 'I don't know but I been Told' ones." the soldiers all nod and grin.

Margo looks confused, "So these are not magical runes ?"

I shake my head, "Nope, those are Dethic runes. The Dethic language was mostly used by stone masons and smiths in the middle ages of bronze and iron."

She sits down, "For years I have been telling people these were magical runes. I feel so stupid now."

I shrug, "Not that uncommon a mistake. Many people think old runes and letters are magical because they are old. Or they get a partial translation and think 'oh this must be magic'. Like that line about strengthening the Soul. It's not the Actual soul, but then mental one. The one that helps people overcome their own limitations. More of poetic license than anything else really."

"I think those poor mages all died because of my mistranslations. That was the book that was taken you see. It had some of my translations in it." Margo slumps.

I pat her back, "No one is perfect. Some of us are less perfect than others. I am certainly not perfect. If you ever became Perfect you would have to leave this world as the world does not let perfect beings live here." I consider, "Does that make any sense ?"

She grins, "Yes and no, but that is alright. I can't dwell on the fact of things outside of my control."

I nod, "Well you can, but it does little good. Never stopped anyone, myself included, though." I end with a grin.

Abigale looks close to a melt-down over the once tower. I think it's slow slide in to rubble as well as the others has something to do with the modern vampire mind set. Me I would rather preserve or improve upon something than let a perfectly good place fall to ruin. I turn to Abigale, "No I can't put it back the way it was before. What is done is done. Besides this is a much better home for Margo than a falling down tower."

She slumps in defeat and nods, "I just don't take sudden changes well is all." she sighs. I nod, "Want sudden change, hang around War priest. They make sudden and violent changes to the land scape all the time. Used to date a Paladin of War many years ago. Lovely person, but a wee too happy to leap in to Any fight that happened by."

I sigh and focus on the now. "I will look through my supplies and see if I have any tree's for you later. I have other things to do yet. Like making sure the rest of those who would annoy me end up small enough to fit in a gnomes pocket."

With that I 'summon' my new mindless minions and head out with my guides to the tower of terminal stink.

Word (and Lots of rumors) is ahead of me. Everything from the truth to my having an army of now undead thugs at my beck and call. In any event, no one challenges us on our trek to the 3rd and most Disgusting tower in the poorest part of town.

A slum would be a few steps Up from this place. Lepers are common as are other diseases, the people here are so poor even the rats don't bother them, though I note several rats on sticks and in pots around here. Lots of pickpockets, but they are so bad at it it's pathetic. Not that any of them even try with me. The glass eyed mob around me is good for that at least.

In the early evening light it looks like a right proper tower. With a conical roof and arrow slits all along its 4 story height and 60ft circumference. There is one door going in, up a flight of wide stone stairs and before a narrow, easily defendable location. It looks like it used to have a portcullis to, but that is long gone to rust and decay. The door however looks as solid as ever.

There are windows right at street level. From them comes the smell of rot and decay. I suspect those were once holding cells or the like. I also suspect that the original decay was of prisoners who died down there a long time ago.

"So this place was what before it became home to the sewer it is now?" I ask Abigale who followed us.

"Offices of the head of the guard, holding cells for new or leaving inmates, armory and watch tower. Sewer is, well if you work your way around you can see where someone built a series of ditches and basically just poor filth and refuse in to some of those windows as no one has been able to breach the doors. Mage locked is suspected as they are not affected by the passing of time."

I do as she says and find 3 such ditches. One of which pours a steady stream of filth and alchemical smelling run off from 'gnome town', a neighborhood a little ways west of the tower. I am informed by one of the thralls that every time someone blocks off these canals of filth, a group of gnomes shows up, and removes the 'clog' and threatens who ever put the clog in place.

I nod, think on it. Then learn from Abigale the area around the tower that is 'mine'. IE I can make legal renovations to. Turns out to be a good sized area really as the tower once sat in the middle of a courtyard. Many of the paving stones that made up that yard are still in place and easily found. (Also turns out a couple of the thralls were guards here back in the day and know about where the line was, which is very helpful.) I use the minions to 'map' the boundary and push away the poor and curious.

Once I have that, I take out some chalk and start drawing a circle. Making notes on where to put in 'gates' for connecting roads and such. I also note several suspicious looking gnomes in the crowd, one of the bolder ones comes right up to me, "What are you doing here woman ?" he ask in a belligerent tone."

"According to the city council, I am the new owners of three towers, this one included. As it is now my responsibility I feel the need to clean it up so I am setting up a rather complex spell to do just that. Get in my way and you will end up tall enough to ride a mouse with ease." I end with an evil grin and red lights visible in the back of my eyes. He does not look all that impressed.

"Block our sewers and you will get dead. Understand me." He states. I look at him even as one of my minions comes up and bashes his brains out then throws his corpse right in to the middle of a group of armed gnomes. I look at them, "I am a War Mage, you are children with sticks, go away or I will lower the gnome population allot." I state to the little punks.

One raises a weapon, "KILL THE WITCH!" I sigh, gesture and release a held spell. The burning bodies of the flash fried gnomes sends all the rest of the crowd fleeing. Leaving only me, my mind dominated minions and the thralls behind. Abigale gulps and hides behind her larger thralls.

I look about, "Well that gives me a little breathing room, but that kind of stupidity will be back." The thralls all nod. Soldiers every one of them I think.

I send them outside my 'barrier' area and then return to setting up my spells. A few rocks, probably thrown by slings bounce off my defenses but I ignore them as I work, other than to toss one with a burning fuse back to its source. The resulting explosions and screams tell me they have crude explosives.

The first spell I set off is a force wall. Clear and nigh invulnerable. After that I can work in relative peace. Once I got all the calculations done I set about 'casting' my stone spells and end up with a 20ft high 4ft thick wall going all the way around except for 2 places. In those spots I put in my 10ft square iron doors. Though at the 'main entrance' I put in two side by side so I could have a 'wagon door' so to speak. The walls also completely block off those nasty sewers.

Then I set about neutralizing the toxins and acids and such in the alchemical spills. One of which I accidently set on fire. Did not mean to really. Was just an accident. One of my chemicals reacted badly with whatever was in the stuff and FOOM line of fire running right back toward Gnome town and whichever group was trying to use the tower as a waste disposal system. The multicolored explosions a few minutes later were spectacular to watch. I even let the mind dom's free enough to enjoy the show.

One looks up at me on my wall, "They are not going to be happy with you, you know."

I grin at him, "Given they have been trying to kill me for the last few hours, I could care less." he nods.

"Legend says there is a monster locked up in that tower." he tells me. I consider "wonder if it is anyone I know." is my only reaction. "I used to have several monstrous friends in the old days." I hung out with some really questionable people back in the day. Heck I am doing it now if I think about it.

Getting past the door is easy. I use one of my portable pits. Instant 10ft cube of air. The blast of cold foul air and then the giant corpse that falls out shows they were right. Several hundred years ago there had been a monster in there. Now it's a badly mummified and very dead giant. Looks like he had been propped against the door before I removed the door, and it's legs.

I have the minions hall the thing the rest of the way out.

From the looks of the front room a spell was in effect. Did not stop the passing of time but it kept out most of the decay but a smell tells me going in there with a torch or any open flame would be very bad. As in BOOM time if you do.

Good thing I use magical lights and don't need to breath.

I check the time and am mildly surprised it is so late, or early really. I estimate around 3 hours after midnight. I don't like to admit it. But like other vampires I have a really hard time sleeping at night. But come sunrise I get tired. I can stay up, just not as awake. I lean back and crack my spine and neck. As I am contemplating the tower there is an explosion by the wall, near where a sewer once came in. Sighing I go check and sure enough there is a new 2ft hole in my wall.

I look at the gnomes who did it, "Stop that! This is now Private Property and not your personal sewer."

Old gnome, "Once your dead, it will be ours again."

I sigh then pull out the staff and just start blasting them. I really don't care anymore. The little punks have pissed me off. I am impressed that several of them have spells to keep my magic at bay.

I switch tactics. I pull grenades out of the bracelet. They are not magic and as such their defense spells against magic don't work. They blow up good. Especially when one lands in their wagon full of explosives. There is one whole section of this slum that is now several feet deeper than the rest. Blew up a good chunk of their 'sewer' to.

Dawn comes to a part of the town on fire and a standoff between me and the gnomes. I made the walls Thicker by about 8ft around the sewers and added outward curving walls to keep them from climbing over them. The walls are now some 30ft tall to with a 10ft walkway and inner lower wall along the inside with 2 ramps leading to the walk way.

I set the tent up at one place and go in to sleep. Abigale joins me as her thralls set up patrols and force the partially free thugs in to service.

She says to me as she climbs in to one of the curtained beds, "You could have tried negotiations you know."

I humph, "I am doing good not letting my beast off its leash right now. Threatening me, little punks."

"Dear, he thought you mortal and human. I believe he thought you would live a relatively short time as they see things." she states around a yawn.

I sigh, "Maybe, maybe not. Either way they were planning to blow up my walls. Not going to work now. That last spell I cast on the outer walls keeps fire from burning with in 5ft of it all the way around."

She snorts and then is gone. I shortly follow.