Getting all the scrap Atal had made from my work together and beginning to melt it down had been a beast of a chore. I was sad to see my work broken, but even sadder to hear that I'd be giving up more of it soon. He'd demanded me to make him another of the ball throwers, and since I'd proved that I could I couldn't well deny him. At least it would be easy enough to do, not like I had to remake the molds or anything.

“Visitors,” announced Chien as he came back from getting water.

“Yeah, Atal said he'd be sending people,” I replied as I set things so they'd be as safe as they could before heading to the front room.

When he'd told me he was sending people I expected one or two to help me with materials or whatever, perhaps another one or two to ask questions. There were five in my front room, and if I was seeing correctly another dozen in the street behind them, the latter group clearly doing something.

The first looked to be one of the ministers from the day previous. He had a bright smile on his face as he turned to speak to me. Other than him was another from the day before, and two men who looked like guards, though in clearly nicer uniforms. The final one irked me the most though, enough that I had to struggle to keep my face neutral.

“Greetings Justin, the Ancestor has sent us to see you and deliver his recompense for your hard work,” the first minister said. “We've also been asked to clear out some of the houses around you, so that you might expand.”

That answered what was going on outside. “Wait, what of the people who live there?” I asked.

“Don't fret, they're being given new homes in another area,” he answered, clearly understanding my hangup. “On your end we thought you might not wish to leave.”

“Thank you, what about?” I began.

“Ah yes, your payment,” he said, motioning to the last of their group.

I recognized her instantly, the serving girl from his palace, the one I'd already turned down. She'd been covered in beads like lights on a Christmas tree, and in her hands were several bars of copper, small but still enough that she seemed to struggle with the weight. The last part was something I actually cared about, seeing as it would help with making things. Her eyes had the look of someone going to their own execution.

“The Ancestor thought you might want an extra pair of hands, and that you'd liked her. If she's not up to your needs return her to the palace and I'm sure he'll find one far more eager to act properly,” he told me.

Yeah, Atal was definitely a psychopath. He was giving me things now to get me to hurry for what he wanted, and not by caring about anyone else. Maybe my neighbors would get nicer homes, but I doubted it, perhaps I could do something? Also what about the girl? Before I could start considering too much on that front the other minister stepped forward.

“While we're here would you mind if we also saw those weapons you used yesterday? Not the copper ones, but the wood. I've several people here who'd be very interested,” he indicated the two guards.

“Very well, this way,” I said, turning and hoping they'd all follow.

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My public workshop wasn't small, but it did have the basic tools I used day-to-day, and the weapons they were interested in were still here. Everyone filed in after me and over to the side. I had the sling they were after leaned against a shelf, and pulled it over to show to them.

“These are simple enough to make that anyone can,” I explained as I passed it to one of the guards, who looked at it curiously. “The only difficult part is the notch here, see how it is angled? That's important.”

Then I mimed loading and the stance for throwing. There was no room for that kind of thing in here, but it would give them an idea. Both looked at me like I was an idiot, then at the minister.

“You're saying he used this to throw a fist sized stone two-hundred paces?” the first asked in disbelief. “And not just using his power?” It seemed he thought I'd used magic.

“Justin, would it be a bother is we borrowed this?” the minister asked a bit nervously.

“You can have it. It's a stick and twine. I can make another with ease,” I told him as I passed it over.

“And the other?” the second guard asked.

Picking that one up as well I tossed a wooden ball into it. As I did so I put up a wall of force on the far wall and turned, using an easy motion to launch the sphere forward with good force. The two guards perked up at that. Did I need to? Not really, but I didn't want them bemoaning my products.

“This one isn't as useful since it can't really throw anything heavier than wood very well,” I explained.

“We'll keep that in mind,” the first of that pair said, eyeing where it'd struck.

“Now, gentlemen, while I would love to sit and talk, as you can see my forge is going.” I pointed over to the flaming construct, the smoke was leaving through a simple chimney, but it was still going hot. “I'm sure our leader wouldn't want his new thrower delayed.”

The two ministers seemed to want to talk, but the guards got the message loud and clear. Within moments all of them were leaving my house. Chien, who'd found somewhere to hide during this whole debacle reappeared.

“She's cute,” he said, motioning to the girl who'd barely moved a muscle.

“Don't you have something better to do?” I asked.

“Not really, no.” I fixed him with a glare for a few seconds before he finally smartened up. “But I can find something...”

“Here, I'll take these,” I said as Chien fled. “Do you have a name?”

“Ida,” she replied.

“Well Ida, I'm sorry for all this. I really didn't want him to send you,” I began.

“Please don't send me back,” she pled in a small voice. I didn't imagine being found wanting by Atal was good based on some of the things I'd seen.

“If you want to stay, you can,” I assured her. “If you don't, we'll figure something out.”

“Okay,”

“For now let's get some of those beads off. You know how to cook?” I desperately needed something to break the ice.

“Um... yes,” seemed my question had thrown her off a bit.

“Good, cause I'm garbage at it.” That wasn't really true, but I wasn't great either. “Food storage is right across the way, if you need anything come ask. Take some time and get dinner ready okay?” It was still morning, but I was floundering.

As she left, still looking at me like I was confusing her I mumbled to myself. “Thanks for irritating all my neighbors and sending me a headache.” Then I looked down at the pile of beads. “Least I've got funding for the next year to go along with it.”

Dinner that night was awkward. Of course Chien decided to join us, just so he could laugh at the situation, and in retrospect I was sure it would be funny. I'd hid in my workshop the whole day, only once or twice having my newest... whatever, come to ask me where things were.

Plates were already being set up when I arrived, and Ida went to take a place standing out of the way as I entered.

“No,” I told her. “Make yourself one and come sit with us.” She did as I told her, but looked like she was waiting for the other shoe to drop the whole time. If this world had hidden camera shows I was sure she'd be looking for them right now.

“This is great,” Chien said, really amused by the whole scene. “It's like watching two toddlers trying to wrestle a fish.”

“Could you not be like this?” I asked.

“No, I can't. Look at her, she's terrified, not knowing that you'd never hurt a hair on her head, and you're just completely lost. This is like the first time we met, only worse, and I'm outside of it.”

“You can tell him off too if you want,” I told her before grabbing for Chien's ear, inspired by my aunt's actions when I'd been young.

“... are you messing with me?” she finally asked. That question made my assistant break off his stream of obscenities from where I was turning my hand and begin to laugh.

“No? Remember what I asked earlier about you staying or not? I meant that, if you want to leave we'll arrange it.”

“I don't have anywhere to go,” she answered, seeming a bit sad.

“If you change your mind, let me know,” I told her before letting go of Chien.

“Justin, you really need to take a joke,” he said, glaring at me a bit as he rubbed his ear. “Anyway girlie, how'd you end up all...” he motioned to her.

The slaves or indentured servants of this world were only kept as such for a certain number of years, shown by hash-marks on their skin. Ida was covered in them, nearly half her body. Something like that was odd, very much so, and not something I'd ever seen in the city.

“Well...” she began, taking a moment to sit back and organize her thoughts.