Active binding test: successful.

Change of active binding test: successful.

They had time for one last test before they had to go back for dinner: the longevity test.

Lori was unsure how long she could maintain a connection to the waterwisps from her blood. While it was certainly useful to imbue at a distance outside her demesne, there would be far less practical use—which was not no practical use—if the affinity and connection faded away too quickly. So the final test they were conducting was a test of how long her connection to her blood would last.

This was to be the most expensive test, and therefore Lori had to take special care in the preparation. She dragged earth and stone from her demesne and formed a hut outside the border, which she hoped would be sufficient proof against inquisitive beasts. Inside, she put in two glass bowls of water. One contained the water and blood with which she had been experimenting with, the other contained fresh water and the remaining blood in her syringe. The latter was imbued and left to stand while the former was left as it was. Then the protective hut was sealed to prevent entry.

Then they went home.

Lori's Boat wallowed slightly from all the ropeweed they were carrying, but it wasn't anything the vessel couldn't handle as Lori imbued the water jet and set it for speed, while Rian handled the tiller. Rian had carefully laid the planks with all the notes on top of the pile of ropeweed and he kept glancing at it worriedly, as if afraid it would fall off and get smudged.

"So…" Rian said eventually as they managed to build up speed, heading upriver back to the Dungeon and the settlement around it. "What does this mean? The results of the tests, the experiment… where are you going with this?"

"Depending on the results on the experiment we left behind, I will hopefully be able to imbue my own bindings at distance to some degree," Lori said, one hand on the wire leading to the jets out of habit. She had thought of using blood and wire to expand the area of contact she could effectively have at a distance, but she'd had no wire to attempt it. Best to remember for later. "How long the connection over distance exists and what factors affect it is the question, as is whether the connection is substantially affected by entry into another's demesne. If I maintain my connection even within another's demesne, I might have a semi-viable means of providing the air circulation for the mining proposal. Otherwise it would have required regular maintenance and my going there to imbue it manually. However, I will need your assistance."

"What do you need?" Rian said immediately.

"I need you to find me someone in our demesne capable of designing mechanical systems and understands their construction," Lori said. "Preferably one who understands how to build things using our limited resources. I can envision how to create a binding the can be used to power a mechanism. However, I will need someone with actual experience building such things to ensure it will not break."

Rian frowned, tilting his head. "So… you want to build an air pump?" he said. "Why not just make a… binding? A binding that lets you make air flow and power it with your blood?"

"In case of failure," Lori said. "A mechanical system would be operated manually in the event that a binding runs out of imbuement. A system reliant on a binding means I'll be bothered every time something happens to it."

"Well, when you put it that way…" Rian said.

"Besides, I know blood and waterwisps works, and works at usable levels," Lori said. "I'll need to experiment with working with airwisps, since I'm not sure how efficacious using blood as a conduit to air is."

"Work with what you know," Rian said, nodding. "Well, I don't really know the subject well enough to argue, so I'll trust you know what you're talking about." He tilted his head as he considered something. "Shana said that they had a backup plan in mind for the air circulation. Maybe you can find out what it is and integrate it into whatever you're thinking of building? Maybe they're just reluctant to use it because it would be too labor intensive. If you can provide an alternate means of powering it, that's our commitment fulfilled, right?"

"Something to consider," Lori thoughtfully agreed. "I'll have to see what we have to work with in regards to the mine's established air circulation implements."

"I wish I can tell you, but I forgot to look at the specifics," Rian said. "Though it looked like they had a system of wooden air ducts in place. Probably made by their old binder. I forget the specific dimensions. Sorry."

She waved it away. "We have time. Ensure the safety and structural integrity of the mine will come first. But this is all moot if we have no workers."

"Yeah, about that," Rian sighed. "Lori, I think we might have a problem finding volunteers. Everyone working together worked fine when all the work could be directly be said to benefit everyone in the demesne in some way, but we're sending out people to work somewhere else. Even if they're getting fed and housed, that's not directly beneficial to the demesne, and it's taking people who could have helped improve the demesne directly."

"We'd have metal," Lori pointed out.

"Yes, but that would, at best, be owned by the demesne as a whole or you specifically," Rian said. "Even if we gave them direct equal shares of the metal, what would they do with it? They'd still need to give it to one of the smiths to turn it into something useful, and that means the smith has to be compensated for his work too somehow. I know you've worked before. How would you feel about being asked to work a difficult job in exchange for a place to sleep and eat to keep doing the job, while… while your parents get to reap the benefits of the payment?"

"That's called childhood, but I see what you mean," Lori said. "Some kind of specific gain needs to be presented as compensation, but…"

"But we have nothing to offer," Rian sighed. "Even if we paid them in beads, they'd have nowhere to spend it, making it useless and the same as not paying them. And instituting some sort of placeholder for beads to act as money will seriously mess up the social dynamics we have right now, not to mention get people to start thinking in terms of money again, which will get ugly."

"Couldn't we just establish it as an extension of work to support the demesne?" Lori said. "The demesne benefits."

"How?" Rian said. "Working in the mine doesn't benefit them. The demesne getting metal doesn't benefit them unless that metal is clearly used as a net benefit to everyone in the demesne. Even then, human nature will incline them to want it to be a benefit for them specifically."

"They ARE benefiting," Lori said. "They get to stay in an improved demesne—"

She stopped. She tilted her head thoughtfully.

"Lori?" Rian said. "This sudden and abrupt silence is ominous. Talk to me, please."

"Every single person in my demesne save one has not yet paid their taxes," Lori mused.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Rian made a strangled sound.

Lori leaned back and began to think.

"Lori? Your Bindership?"

"Hush," she said absently. "I'm thinking…"

What sounded like a whimper came from Rian.

––––––––––––––––––

Lori was still thinking about it when they got back to the Dungeon and she unloaded her box of glassware and other tools, leaving Rian to handle all the ropeweed he'd brought. In her mind, she could still feel the first bowl of blood of water, the feeling of the imbued binding not dissimilar to the bindings all around her that she had set all over her demesne. It even felt like her distant demesne when she was in River's Fork, if at a much smaller scale.

Of the other bowl, lightly imbued, the feeling was much more faint. Some kind correlation to the amount of imbuement to the affinity, or to the distance? Truthfully, this was a test to see how long she could leave her blood untouched before she could no longer use it. The next test, which she'd conduct tomorrow, would be keeping up an active binding at a distance. After that would be the final test: whether she could maintain the bind and imbue, at a distance, within someone else's demesne.

She was hopeful of that last, since she had learned to Whisper within someone else's demesne, but she wanted to be sure. Truly, the final test would be if she could maintain control while her wisps were in the demesne of someone who was actually capable of Whispering. Hopefully the usual claim principles would still hold then…

After storing her remaining glassware in her room and cleaning her syringe of blood, Lori took a quick bath. The experiments had been hot and humid, and while she had been tempted to set up some bindings for a cool breeze, she had not wanted to worry about possible distraction. Well, it was time to change these clothes anyway…

Getting dressed, Lori came down to dinner a bit later than she usually did. The meal was in progress as people conversed, played games, sighed about the day's work, and occasionally actually ate.

Rian was already there with two bowls waiting for her. He seemed to have also taken a bath, given how wet his hair looked. One could not tell by his clothes, which looked exactly the same as what he'd been wearing before, and it was only when she drew close did she note it seemed to be cleaner and less sweaty.

He was also engaged in conversation with Mikon, who was apparently offering to make him a new shirt in restitution for something. Lori didn't really pay attention as she met Rian's eyes and took one of the bowls for herself, beginning to eat.

The subject did remind her though…

"Rian," she said, causing the pink-haired woman to abruptly cut of what she was saying. "The weavers. Have they managed to move into the second level?"

"They finished this morning," Rian said, glancing at the now studiously silent Mikon. "So did the ropers. I'm a little worried about putting them in together, though. It seems to me that putting two groups who use the same raw material together is just asking for them to start pettily stealing from each other."

"That would be against my laws," Lori said. Mikon and Umu both studiously ate their food.

"Yes, but that sort of thing has never stopped people before," Rian said.

"Yes, well, please let them know I will not tolerate such things in my Dungeon," Lori said. "Are they still arguing about who gets priority when it comes to ropeweed?"

"I made sure to divide the ropeweed we cut evenly, if that's what you're asking," Rian said.

"It wasn't. I asked if they are still arguing about the matter," Lori said blandly.

"I was able to get them to agree to settle the matter by having one group get their ropeweed from upriver and the other from downriver," Rian said. "Though to that end, I think we need another bit of infrastructure."

Lori sighed. "What now?"

"We need a retting tank," Rian said, and Mikon and Umu both turned to stare at him.

Lori turned the unfamiliar term over in her head. "Does that have to do with your proposal yesterday?"

"No, this is something else," Rian said. "Basically, both the weavers and ropers need more ropeweed fiber. But to get it, they need to rett the stalks to get at the fibers. Well, rett them faster. They've been making do with large water-filled vessels from Gunvi and letting them dry in the sun, but the latter takes a while and the former only lets them rett a small amount of ropeweed. So in the interest of future productivity, I'd like to ask you to consider making them a retting tank. It will increase the amount of fibers that can be retted, meaning there won't be as much fighting between the ropers and weavers, and it will let us begin spinning more thread, and therefore weave more cloth."

Lori stared at him. "How long have you known this was an issue?" she asked.

"Since we got here and I had a talk with Master Arak and Missus Taji about the ropeweed supply," he said.

"And why should I?" Lori asked. She knew Rian always had good reason, she just wanted to know what it was.

"Retting more ropeweed means more fibers. More fibers mean more fabric and ropes. More fabric means we can repair our clothes, make new ones, and possibly even have sails for the boat to Covehold in case other means of propulsion fail," Rian said. "More ropes means… well, increased productivity all around. Literally any industry or process can find a use for rope to make things do better or go faster. "

She nodded. "All right. Find out what the dimensions need to be, and where best to put it. I'll find time." She bent down to eat.

Rian nodded as well, then made a strangely childish sound of surprise as Umu and Mikon wrapped their arms around him from either side, nearly upsetting his bowl.

"Thank you, Lord Rian!" Umu cried, laying her head on his shoulder.

"N-no, I didn't do anything," Rian protested. "Besides, Binder Lori's the one who's going to do all the work! You should thank her!"

The two women glanced at Lori, who gave them a blank look in turn.

Mikon unwrapped one hand around Rian and performed a seated bow, her head dipping low, and mouthed, "Thank you, your Bindership" at Lori. Lori responded with a nod. Umu smiled and mirrored the bow, but didn't say anything. Lori reciprocated and went back to eating. On the other side of Mikon from Rian, Riz continued her meal, studiously avoiding her gaze.

Rian looked between her, the blonde, the pinkhead, and Lori. "Did I miss something?" he said, sounding confused.

"If you did, you obviously wouldn't know," Lori said.

Rian gave her the look the comment merited, then cleared his throat awkwardly. "Um, Umu, Mikon, I need to eat…?"

Umu sighed, but reluctantly let Rian go, though she sat much closer to him now. Mikon extricated herself with no such theatrics except a smile, then turned to her other side and began to engage Riz in conversation by asking her how work was progressing.

Rian began eating while his hands were free. "No board?" he asked. "I'd have thought you'd want to continue with routine."

"Not tonight," Lori said, and left it at that.

Her meal passed pleasantly uninterrupted, and she was able to just sit and listen to the sounds that had become routine in her demesne. Of people—her people—safe, happy, well fed, and looking forward to a night's rest after a productive day's work.

Lori finished her food, thoroughly cleaning her bowl.

Perhaps it was time to remind them they should be grateful for such things.

"Rian," she said, finally coming to the end of her wire of thought. "I need you to make some announcements."

"I'm listening," he said.

"First, clarify that the deadline for volunteers to come forward is the morning after tomorrow, as we will be departing for River's Fork before noon. No children are eligible to volunteer," she began, causing Rian to nod. "Those who are essential workers are also ineligible. These include primary food providers, the kitchen volunteers, the sawyers, those who have been butchering and preparing the meat that is being brought in, the doctors and medics, those who are the sole practitioners of their trade, and taxpayers."

"Taxpayers? Really?" Rian said.

"I don't want to lose my taxpayer," Lori said blandly.

Rian rolled his eyes.

"Secondly, inform everyone that those who volunteer are eligible for payment, should they wish for it," Lori continued.

On either side of Rian, heads perked up.

"However, as they are now being paid, they and their families will now be required to pay rent on their homes, pay for the food they are eating, the use of the baths, will need to buy soap for themselves, and finally pay their residency taxes." Lori tilted their head. "And there will be other fees, once I think of them."

For some reason, Rian started laughing. He tried to stifle it with a hand, but was unsuccessful.

Lori waited with amused patience.

"R-right," he choked. "Got it. Anything else?"

"Should there be no volunteers on the morning in question, conscription will be practiced," Lori said. "However, I am not unmerciful. Those who are conscripted will be able to avail for the option of being paid."

Rian started snickering again.

"I am going back to my room to make design drafts," Lori said. "Please inform everyone before I leave the room."

"Yes, your Bindership," Rian said.

"And Rian?" She gave her lord a bland stare. "Make sure to convey my words EXACTLY before adding your own post-announcement embellishments."

"Yes, your Bindership," Rian repeated.

Lori nodded and got up to go to her room as Rian stood up and called people's attention for an announcement.

"Taxes," she heard Rian say behind her.

The horrified silence was absolute.

"Good. Now that I have your full attention…"