Joe shrugged, “Are they not a part of the military? Are guards allowed to refuse their duties? Why are you afraid that healers in the guard can reject their duties?”

Toulnaria sighed, “They may not reject their duties, but soon we will have no healers joining the guard at all.”

“Ahh… OK, I understand. Are there no incentives that would bring in healers?”

Toulnaria shrugged, “There is little we can do.”

“Increase their pay?”

“People fear death in the dungeon too much.”

“And yet I see so many in the dungeons.”

“Most view such people as insane or desperate.”

“Is there no pride in guardians or defenders?”

“Why would commoners have pride in the militia?”

Joe paused at that. Right… forgot about that. Nobles have all the benefits, commoners none. All the training and education, along with the pride that goes along with it. Of course commoners are outsiders, so they wouldn’t… they would probably just feel used. That would make… complete sense, so…

“I’m uncertain how to help you with this… dilemma your clan has. I’m uncertain that my suggestions would be useful as I do not know your people.”

“You try to help. That is more than enough.”

Joe smiled, “Well, I’m more than willing to help the city I’m a part of.” Should I give a hint? Or… should I... let’s try? “I obviously have great pride for the city I am a part of.” Is that enough? Will she catch on?

Toulnaria seemed to consider, her eyes searching his face but she did not reply and while she was obviously thinking, Joe wasn’t able to really see if she caught the hint. The conversation moved on after that and they enjoyed small talk until the evening came.

Supper was delicious, although intimate since Joe rather brutally kicked everyone out for supper except for Gwenvair, her mother, and Allanar. Then they all moved into the living room and Joe started to zone out, his exhaustion growing. Nothing unusual happened but an odd moment came half way through the evening when a servant came in rather excitedly.

“Matriarch. I bring news of the city killer. We have completed the harvest.”

The Matriarch looked up, politely nodding but seemed to be a bit annoyed, if Joe had to guess, “Excellent. Store or use as clan needs demand.”

“Excellent. There are two exciting pieces of news that need your advice, Matriarch.”

“Yes?” The Matriarch replied, growing a bit cooler.

“With the harvest of the city killer’s tendons, we foun…”

Joe zoned out, his exhaustion causing his mind to drift and he lost himself in a haze and only noticed the conversation as a low level drone in the background, but then suddenly, the conversation took a hard turn and Joe blinked with some surprise, coming back to awareness. He drifted back up as the Matriarch snapped at the advisor, and the advisor quickly replied with a short explanation, but the Matriarch grew sharper and more annoyed with time. Joe blinked a few times and struggled to catch up on what was happening. As Joe listened to next couple comments, Joe revised his opinion of the woman, shifting her from servant to some kind of minor advisor or manager, as the questions she was asking were a bit more specific with details to ascertain the Matriarchs desires.

The Matriarch grew more and more upset as the advisor spoke. The advisor didn’t seem to notice, speaking with some excitement before the Matriarch finally snapped.

“You may command as you must.”

“But Matriarch, these are new materials and decisi…”

“Then make them, “The Matriarch snapped, interrupting the woman.

The woman paused at that, seemingly only becoming aware of the Matriarch’s ire, but she still attempted to speak, “The materials must be used quickly before their efficacy is wasted by loss to…”

“Then use them.”

“But there is so much to learn and we need to…”

“Advisor! Please. Accomplish the task.”

The advisor grew agitated, uncertain how to respond and didn’t quite wring her hands, but was obvious in her uncertainty. She opened her mouth a few times before finally attempting to do so and before she could even speak, the Matriarch was quite harsh.

“Enough. Speak again and lose all you have. Go.”

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

The advisor’s agitation grew and she dithered for a time but then quickly bowed and fled when the Matriarch’s face grew thunderous in anger and the advisor chose escape.

“Yes, Matriarch. Immediately,” the advisor bowed before fleeing the room.

Joe frowned to see it, almost deciding to interject, but Gwenvair who was sitting in a chair near him reach out a hand and laid it on his arm. Joe glanced down and then knit his eyebrows with some confusion.

Gwenvair nodded softly at him but hinted to him to wait, silencing him and Joe suddenly noticed the entire room had fallen into an uncomfortable silence. Joe glanced around, but the Matriarch simply sat in her chair staring straight ahead at the wall across from her with a stony face. Joe waited for a bit, falling silent for a while and all waited with discomfort until the Matriarch finally sighed and shook her head, turning back to Kilniara to begin speaking again, choosing an odd conversation that took Joe by surprise, but Kilniara responded as if everything was normal and Joe realized they were restarting their conversation before the woman interrupted them. Joe’s frown grew deeper then quickly washed from his face as he realized several people were looking at him so Joe decided to take the hint and ignore all as well.

He turned to Gwenvair and started some small talk with her. Soon, everyone was speaking again and the mood of the room quickly returned to something a bit more comfortable, although Joe was now speaking to Gwenvair despite his exhaustion. He was just about to call it a night, but decided he really wanted to understand what had happened, so he leaned a bit closer to Gwenvair, almost beginning to whisper but Gwenvair quickly shook her head. Joe paused at that, then frowned. Gwenvair nodded, staring at Joe a bit, then smiled.

Gwenvair whispered softly, “Tired?”

Joe narrowed his eyes, then nodded, understanding. Joe sighed deeply and turned to all the others, drawing everyone’s attention as he played up his exhaustion.

“I apologize, but I am exhausted. I really need to sleep.”

Toulnaria bowed her head, offering him a good evening, “Sleep well, eccentric.”

Kilniara smiled, “We’ll come soon. We’re just going to stay up a little more.”

“Me, too!” Garnedell quickly called out with Zilnek agreeing.

Gwenvair nodded, “Good night, Joe. Sleep well. The party tomorrow will be quite extensive.”

Joe stopped, staring back, “Party? What party?”

Gwenvair smiled, “Tidesend.”

“Tide’s end? Uh… what was today?”

Gwenvair chuckled, “An enjoyable get together amongst friends and family?”

“And tomorrow is a party?”

“The beginning of the Tidesend festival.”

Joe stared, some worry coming through, “Do I want to know how long the festival is?”

“Three days?” Gwenvair replied, “Is three days too long?”

Joe chuckled and shook his head, “A three day party! I’m really going to need my sleep!”

Joe stood and Gwenvair stood with him, walking by his side, “May I speak with you, Joe?”

Joe hid his grin and relief but nodded with agreement, “Certainly.”

Joe and Gwenvair headed out down the hallway towards Joe’s room and he paused at the door, but Gwenvair looked back at the living room before nodding towards his door and Joe raised an eyebrow with some surprise but opened the door and led the way in, although he did leave the door open about half way.

Gwenvair noticed and grinned, nodding with appreciation to Joe before beginning, “You have questions?”

Joe nodded, “What happened?”

Gwenvair cocked her head, her eyebrows knitting in some surprise and Joe noticed but Gwenvair replied too quickly, “What do you mean?”

Joe paused at that, “What did you think I needed to speak about?”

Gwenvair replied quickly, “I thought you wished an apology.”

Joe blinked at that, surprised, “No? Why would I need an apology.”

That threw Gwenvair off a bit, surprised, “You… truly?”

“Yeah, truly. No apology. I was surprised that your mother was so harsh with her.”

Gwenvair grew even more confused by that, “She acted poorly.”

“The advisor?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

Gwenvair thought deeply on that, “She bothered my mother.”

“But …” Joe trailed off, sighing softly before growing concerned. He was deeply exhausted and still at the end of his rope emotionally from the almost week long fight. He breathed a few times then decided to at least learn more.

“She should have been able to accomplish the task on her own?”

“Yes.”

“But… city killers are pretty unique and new. Wouldn’t it be wise to make sure with something so unique?”

“My mother already spoke of her desires.”

“On the city killer?”

Gwenvair fell silent at that but then shrugged, “The advisor’s job is to support my mother.”

Joe frowned, “Not annoy her.”

“Exactly. You understand,” Gwenvair replied with a grin.

Joe nodded, smiling as he bid her farewell, “Thank you for explaining. Have a good night.”

Joe led her to the door and waved as she left before closing the door and frowning deeply. Right… that’s… Joe wasn’t exactly happy with what he’d seen, growing concerned with what Garnedell and the others might not be speaking to him about. He didn’t think on it long, exhaustion thieving his consciousness from him almost immediately after he laid down, although he did get a small bit of skill practice in.

* * *

Joe woke the next morning peacefully, his wakening the soft rising from nothingness to awareness. However, when he did become aware, monster sense abruptly radiated out to become aware of the surroundings. The empty response calmed him and he took in the room. The room was bright with the light of the weak sun and the brilliance from the reflected gas giant overhead. He sighed in soft exhilaration and then paused himself from stretching when he felt the weight of Kilniara resting against him. He took the time to glance around the room and startled slightly. Right… staying in the clan castle… inner city thing. Joe took another deep breath and then yawned deeply right after before settling down and beginning his magic practice once again. Kilniara immediately noticed as he was yawning and lifted her head to stare at him.

“Morning.”

“Morning back. How long have you been awake?”

Kilniara smiled softly, “Long time. You were exhausted.”

Joe chuckled, “Yeah. I slept in?”

Kilniara nodded, “Not too long, but Garnedell and my brother are probably getting antsy to join Tidesend.”

Joe smiled, “Maybe they can wait a little longer.”

Kilniara snuggled into him with a smile, “Maybe.”

Joe returned to his magic practice again, but only spent maybe about a half an hour, not wanting to bother the others too much. Kilniara stayed by him, doing her own practice as well, but otherwise joined him silently. They rested well in that time, and Joe was able to do a little bit of his own mana emissions, although he stopped quickly after only a few minutes when he began feeling uncomfortable twinges again. He turned to his mana points instead, and went through only one cycle of point manipulation and only emitted half the mana, not wanting to drain his mana points completely at the beginning of the day. He did wisely do his mana point emissions at the beginning to allow them time to recharge while he was doing his mana point manipulation. Once done, he set his mana points to revolving around him just as he’d done in the fight with the shadow monster only just yesterday. Eye’s in the back of my head… wish I’d thought of this before, but…