I waited for the stragglers to leave before approaching Siam after he finished today's lecture. There were a few cultivators that had approached him asking additional questions. I took note of those people who had real questions and those simply trying to curry favor. I found it interesting that more young men than women seemed to be guilty of that type of behavior.

Maybe they believed Siam would be able to help them gain a higher position within the Dojo? I hadn't established a hierarchy yet, but they had to think one would exist soon. There was no actual structure in place for the new disciples to work under or Elders to turn to for advice—something I would need to correct.

That would have to be addressed now that the Dojo would be completed within the next day or so. I needed people in place when I allowed the new cultivators to take up residence. Siam would be appointed as an Elder in charge of Beast Hall, and I had people in mind to head Herbalism, Arrays, and Alchemy. But that still left some key positions left to be filled.

I would have to make another pass through the Sect to see if some of those positions could be filled. Now that the people that had already accepted my offer had communicated with friends back in the Sect that had refused, perhaps some might have had a change of mind and were willing to take a risk.

"Baroness," Siam greeted me as he leaped and landed near me, approaching the unobtrusive position I had claimed while waiting for him to finish.

I was standing on the roof of the new building that would become the Dojos version of Tamer Hall. I had completed a thorough inspection with my perception as I'd waited and was pleasantly surprised with what had been accomplished.

The Hall had been built and divided into segments. The front entry had been divided between two areas. The first was a reception area where people could bring animals to be treated, the other side a place where medicines and specialty feed could be purchased.

The back half was arranged like a veterinary ward. A place where surgeries could be performed, sick animals could be treated, and wounded animals could recuperate from wounds. The top floor had been arranged as a nursery, a place where bonded could give birth and where the newborn could be protected until old enough to venture outside or selected by a cultivator for bonding.

There was a basement that would serve for storage and as a warehouse—a place where spatial arrays had been placed to hold large amounts of fresh meat and feedstock. There was also an area where Beast Tamers could experiment with the different types of food available to create specialized diets tailored to their bond.

The entire building had arrays in place that folded space, allowing the inside to be larger than it appeared and entrances to expand in size to allow the larger breed of bonded to have access to the hospital and recuperative area.

"The building appears ready," I replied to Siam's greeting. "When would you like me to deliver the animals I have available for bonding?"

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"All of them are flying-type beasts?" He asked, ensuring my intention to create a corps of messenger Beast Tamers hadn't changed.

"Pluton's chicks, a herd of Peryton, and a few Ogygoptynx," I answered, listing the animals Storm and I had collected during our excursions and were safely ensconced inside the torc.

"Some of them are getting old enough that they will soon make their first flight soon. I was hoping the nursery will serve as a place to house them while keeping any from escaping until bonded. Unless you think releasing them somewhere else would be better?"

"The nursery will work for now," he assured me. "We don't have staff in place to release them outside yet. Something we need to fix quickly. The Peryton will do better outside, the fields more suited to their temperament and need to graze, but that will have to wait until the novice disciples have been assigned duties."

"I'll see the animals housed in the nursery later tonight," I said, happy to know we were progressing, "decide how you want the novices' duties distributed and have them begin their new duties in the morning."

I could have released the animals now, but I was still keeping the torc and the advantage it gave me a secret. I wasn't sure I would ever allow anyone to know about its properties, certainly not without first extracting a cultivator's oath.

"I will chat with Zui later to make sure meat and fodder have been ordered and will be stocked."

"She's already taken care of that," Siam said, boasting proudly, "as well as procured food for the cafeterias. I think she mentioned something about creating a tier system for meals. A way for each novice to purchase meals prepared by a Spirit Chef using contribution points. The higher the tier, the more Qi infused meals that can be purchased."

I was beginning to think that Zui might have been the real find between the young couple. Siam would do well as head of Tamer Hall, but Zui was going to be instrumental in running the logistics in every area of the Dojo.

I was going to need to think of a way to reward those cultivators that contributed toward the House as much as this couple had. They would be made Elders, there was no doubt about that, but I needed to think of something material to reward those who went above and beyond.

"I know we've spoken about the Roc chicks, and I've asked you to consider who among the novices might be a good fit, but I want to expand on that. Please consider the people I recently recruited from Four Element Sect too.

"Include Zui in that consideration. I'm not sure if she has a bonded companion, but if she doesn't, it might make sense to award her one of the Rocs. That way, she will have a method for transportation if she needs to visit any of the other towns in my territory or make a trip back to the Sect.

"Consider what each cultivator is contributing to the House, as well as any potential contribution they might make if they are paired with a strong companion."

"Won’t there be squabbles and jealousy if I put Zui’s name forward for consideration?” Siam asked, concerned that Zui might take the brunt of any dissatisfaction that choice might make.

“Siam, I make the decisions,” I enunciated, each word distinct, my intent clear. “Those who have an issue with how I distribute the House’s resources will find themselves quickly disabused of any notion that favoritism is a factor in my decision.

“Misogyny, elitism, or a person’s bloodline will never be allowed to instigate or incite anger or jealousy or be used as a means for gain or promotion. I have had to deal with factionalism in two guilds. I won’t allow it to fester in my House.

“I will do what I believe is best for the House. I will lay the foundation for a House that will survive and endure when I am long gone. And that means I need to use the most talented people I can. People are the building blocks of any successful organization.”