Ruan and the first of Verdan’s patients for waiting at the entrance to the mansion when Verdan arrived.

“Boss, this is Nikau. He’s one of the most experienced of the people we have coming for healing, and I think he’ll be a good fit for a command role once our numbers are up.”

Nikau was a solidly build man with bronzed skin, greying hair that complemented his pale eyes and a mangled right arm. As he drew closer, though, Verdan saw that one of his eyes was actually a milky white, rather than pale grey and there was an old but deep burn on that side of his face.

“Good to meet you, Nikau,” Verdan said, reaching out to clasp the man’s left hand with a nod. “I’ve been more than satisfied with you in charge of my guard so far, Ruan. Why the change?”

“Well, when there’s just a handful of us, I’ve been able to manage just fine. With so many newcomers, though, you need someone more experienced with that side of things. If I’m honest, I don’t particularly want to manage that many people, either.”

“I see,” Verdan said slowly, considering his options. “Alright, thank you for letting me know, Ruan.”

“If I may,” Nikau said in a melodious baritone that had a trace of the same accent as Kai. “Ruan and I have worked well in the past, and he approached me specifically with this in mind. He’s good at running things on a squad basis, but managing several squads is a different beast altogether.”

“I see, and what about you? What are your qualifications?” Verdan asked before hurriedly adding. “Either way, I will heal you today. So please, be honest.”

“A good addendum,” Nikau said approvingly. “As for my experience, I have run everything from small escorts of a dozen guards up to monster hunting expeditions and setting up fortified camps in the wild. That last one had me in command of around five hundred fighters from assorted guards and mercenary groups.”

Verdan nodded, impressed despite himself. “So, with the provision that I’m healing you either way, why work for me?”

Nikau smiled slightly and tapped his mangled arm against his blind eye. “In my last position, we were attacked by acid-spitting monsters. The Sorcerers meant to be protecting us abandoned the site almost immediately, and though I got the workers out, my people paid the price.”

“So you’re looking for vengeance on those Sorcerers?”

“Oh no, that has been taken care of,” Nikau said with a brief, wolfish smile. “I have had a few positions since then, mainly in an administrative role. I’ve been keeping abreast of your actions, however, and I can tell you’re cut from a different cloth than most Sorcerers. Ruan’s offer simply gave me a way to assist you directly.”

Verdan was a little surprised by how open the other man was being, but he also respected that. Then again, if Nikau had been keeping up with his actions, he likely knew that Verdan preferred to be open about things.

“What is your opinion about working with other races?”

“I’m open to it. While I’ve had little experience of it, I saw what the Fwyn did when the Sects attacked the city.”

“I see,” Verdan said, drumming his fingers on his staff in thought. “Okay. We’ll go ahead with you taking the command role. Given what we’re going into, call yourself a Captain. Otherwise, the Sects will just ignore you.”

The news about the Cyth Host and the city’s response was an open secret by this point, so Verdan didn’t bother confirming what Nikau knew. The basics were all that mattered, for the moment.

“Thank you, Wizard Blacke,” Nikau said, giving Verdan a shallow bow. “If you don’t mind, though, I am keen to proceed with the healing.”

“Of course, please come this way,” Verdan said, heading into the mansion. “Ruan, send the others through as they arrive. I’ll have a short interview with each person, and then we’ll do a full brief tomorrow.”

Ruan nodded and started back to the gates to keep watch for the next patient, while Verdan led Nikau through to the room he’d prepared.

“Alright, take a seat and let’s see what we can do.”

-**-

The rest of the day, and the following day, was taken up by an endless series of assessments and healings.

Verdan spoke to each person briefly before the healing began, getting an idea of who they were and if they would fit well with his plans and the others joining his guards.

Thankfully, Ruan had done a good job in screening the potentials and Verdan didn’t turn away a single person after he’d healed them.

A few of the prospective guards knew of others who’d be a good fit, but hadn’t been on Ruan’s list for one reason or another.

Adding those extra few in brought Verdan from the four he had now up to thirty total. A significant jump, and one that Adrienne wasn’t too pleased about.

Henry was already cooking for a large number of people, and adding another couple of dozen to that count was too much.

Help arrived in the form of a pair of Kranjir cooks Sinead had sent at Dirk’s request, giving the overworked Henry a chance to breathe.

Verdan finished the day with a full briefing to his new recruits, before putting Nikau in charge, with Ruan as his second-in-command.

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Nikau, now fully healed, immediately took charge in detailing shifts and assignments, mixing in the newcomers with the current guards.

Leaving them to it, Verdan took a walk down to Elliot’s forge, checking the Aether inside the piece of crystal and its matching section of wood as he did.

Both were as full as they could be after a day of charging, but the crystal held at least ten times more than the wood. With several of those crystals, he could actually cast a basic spell, which was impressive.

Verdan’s staff had an Aether gathering construct attached to it, which helped him defray some of his costs each day, but these Sigils were a much better idea.

For one, they wouldn’t need some of the gathered Aether to keep working. They also would survive being struck by magic, unlike the construct.

“Verdan, what can I do for you?” Elliot looked up from his forge as Verdan walked in, his hands shaping a glowing hot ingot of metal.

“I was hoping you could make a new staff for me.”

“Oh, is there a problem with your current one?” Elliot asked, looking a little disappointed that his work hadn’t held up.

“No, no, it works perfectly, but I’ve come across some new techniques that could let me make something entirely new. For that matter, do you recognise this kind of crystal?” Verdan asked, pulling the Sigil-covered crystal out and showing it to the Idrisyr.

“Impressive clarity, and such vibrant colours as well,” Elliot said, turning the crystal over in his hands. “I’ve seen these before, but they’re rare. Very rare, in fact. I’ve never seen one with etchings like this, though. What are they?”

“That doesn’t matter right now,” Verdan said, fighting to keep his excitement out of his voice. “What is it called? Do you know?”

“It’s called Aethite. A type of crystal known for this kind of clarity, not to mention the vibrant blue and white tracing through it. Its rarity means it has a high price tag, though, in case you wanted any.”

“I see, and if I wanted a staff making with a core of Aethite?”

“Hundreds of gold, maybe even thousands,” Elliot said with a shake of his head. “I don’t even know that there’s enough Aethite on the market to do it. Really, you’ll need to speak with Tobias. He’ll know more.”

“Of course. For now, though, could you design one like I described, with a core of Aethite? If multiple pieces of crystal are needed, they’d be connected with metal fittings.”

Elliot nodded as he placed the still glowing hot ingot to one side. “Of course. Is there anything else you want me working on?”

“That’s all, really. How are the medallions coming?”

“Dirk and Magnus have both been putting time in. We have almost three hundred that are enchanted now, with many yet to be worked on. I’ve used up a good portion of the pewter we can get, though. Anything more will come at a higher cost.”

“How many if they enchant everything you’ve made?”

“Roughly five hundred. We can do more if you need us to, but I think that’s the limit of what the two of them can enchant in this time limit. That includes the ones that Dirk is remaking as well.”

“Good to know. Thank you.”

“Not a problem. Keep me updated on the new staff and I’ll make sure I get a design ready for you for when you try to find the crystals.”

“Thanks, Elliot. I’m going to head back now, but I’ll speak to Tobias in the morning,” Verdan said, bidding the smith goodbye before heading back to the estate.

-**-

The following morning, Verdan took a quick trip down to see Tobias, but unfortunately, the merchant had no Aethite on hand and wasn’t aware of anyone selling any.

It seemed that Elliot had understated the rarity somewhat, which was a shame. A staff with an Aethite core would give Verdan a lot more versatility.

When he’d left for Tobias’s home, Nikau had been running some practice drills to get an understanding of everyone’s skills. By the time Verdan got back several hours later, that organised set of drills had turned into a wrestling tournament.

The cause of the abrupt change took the form of a shirtless Cullan, who was wrestling Tom to a standstill. An impressive feat when Tom was using his Sorcery to aid him.

“Don’t worry, you’ve not missed much,” Pawel said with a laugh from where he was stationed at the gate. “Cullan and Branwen rolled in five minutes after you left, and it went straight to this.”

“Good to know. So where’s Branwen?” Verdan asked.

“Inside with Henry. She brought some food with her as well.”

A cheer went up as Cullan finally hit the ground, an exhausted Tom standing triumphantly above him.

The doors to the workshop opened and a half dozen of the Airta came out carrying benches and a box of bowls, which were set up off to one side from the wrestling.

Branwen followed the benches out with a hefty cauldron of something and paused to laugh at her brother before moving over to where the benches were being arranged.

“Lunch is served. Grab a bowl and get in line!” Branwen called out, planting herself beside the hefty cauldron and smacking a heavy ladle into her palm with a stern look at the assembled guards.

Bowls were handed out and an orderly line was formed as Henry and Adrienne came out with two hefty platters of fresh bread.

Bemused, Verdan joined the queue, ending up just behind Tom, who flashed him a broad grin. “Good timing, Boss. You’ll love this. Branwen is an amazing cook.”

“I look forward to it,” Verdan said, lifting his bowl slightly. “Whose idea was this?”

“Mine,” Cullan said, cutting into the queue to stand next to Verdan. “Branwen mentioned she wanted to come see you, so I suggested we make it into an event.”

“What did she want to talk to me about?” Verdan asked, but Cullan simply shrugged.

“Ask her yourself, though I’d wait until she’s finished serving,” Cullan said with a light chuckle. “She can get a touch stubborn about these things.”

“Considering her two brothers, somehow that doesn’t shock me,” Verdan deadpanned, making Cullan laugh again before nodding over to Nikau.

“By the way, I approve of your new guards. Some good wrestlers among them, and not a one hesitated before trying to take me on, even after I beat the first few.

Verdan eyed Cullan’s imposing musculature, remembering just how strong and brutal the Idrisyr could be. If the new guards would try to take him on bare handed, they would do fine with the Cyth.

They finally reached the front of the queue and Tom stepped forward with a broad grin as Branwen placed three ladles of stew into his bowl and passed him a small woven basket of fresh rolls. “Eat up. You need your strength to keep fighting my brother like that.”

“Thanks, Branwen!” Tom’s eyes were bright as he hurried away with his food, and Verdan stepped forward and held out his bowl, Cullan doing likewise.

“Good to see someone put you in your place, brother,” Branwen said with a smirk as she put a single ladle of stew into each of their bowls. “Are you going to bother putting on some more clothes now?”

“Our progenitor sacrificed greatly so that we could have these physiques,” Cullan said in a grave tone that belied his smirk. “I honour her memory by making sure that this gift is on display.”

Verdan rolled his eyes and took the chunk of bread that Branwen offered him. “Your humility is awe-inspiring, Cullan.”

“Thank you, I try,” Cullan said, flashing Verdan a grin before they both headed over to join Tom.

The Sorcerer was busy making inroads into the thick stew, but even so, Verdan couldn’t help but notice the difference in their portion size and turned to glance at Cullan’s bowl, which was the same as his.

Seeing what Verdan was looking at, Cullan grinned and leaned in close to whisper. “It seems my sister has taken a shine to your friend. Take my advice and stay out of it.”

Verdan looked back to Tom before over at the imposing Branwen and deciding that it was none of his business.