Tala, Rane, and the arcane fox, Lisa, were walking through Irondale, discussing the pocket-town.

Lisa, in particular, was giving Tala a searching look, hoping for a satisfying answer to his question. Why was she doing any of this? What was she seeking, here?

Tala shrugged. It was an expected question, and actually one that lay near the heart of a lot that she’d been considering lately. Because of that, it wasn’t a new concept to her, and she had a ready answer, “Why? Well, one reason is simply that I can help, and so I should. On the more selfish side, I am also told that most Paragons need resources with which to Reforge themselves, and the more levels at which those resources are my own, the better.” She gestured around. “It is hard to have resources that are more mine than these.”

The fox shook his head. “On the contrary. As I understand human thinking, without all these people here, there would be no contest. The whole world is yours until someone else says differently. Isn’t that the human view of things?”

Tala chuckled and started walking again. “Some do see it that way, sure. I don’t particularly agree though. I think the best way to explain what I mean is through analogy. So, let me ask you a question. If I own a field, in which grows a lemon tree and across which flows a stream, can I make lemonade?”

“Unsweetened, but yes. Assuming the tree is fruiting, and the water is palatable.”

She smiled at all his caveats but continued regardless. “And that lemonade would be mine?”

“Yes.”

“In how many ways?”

Lisa frowned, then slowly began to nod. “One. Though, you could argue two as you made it into the form you desired.” He gave her a careful look. “This is a very arcane—very conceptual—way of seeing things. Is this how all humans view it? I have not ever looked into gated human Reforging, so I apologize if I am ignorant of the obvious.”

“No need to apologize.” Tala smiled toward the fox. “I am operating on assumption and recommendation, in the knowledge that more will be revealed when I reach Paragon.”

“When? You are certain then?”

“Of course.” Her smile grew almost predatory. “I will advance until I reach the peak or die trying.” Her eyes flicked toward Rane, and she found him already looking her way, a fire in his gaze matching hers. “But that’s off topic. Let me finish my example. Let us say that what I described was one level of ownership for the sake of argument. Now imagine that a boy asks to pick lemons, draw water, and make lemonade. If he gives me a cup, how many ways do I own that cup of lemonade?”

Lisa shrugged, answering easily. “Two. One because it all came from your land—by your will—and one because it was given to you by its creator.”

“Exactly. Now, if he offers to sell it to me?”

“Three. The same two as before, and a final time due to the ownership gained by an equivalent exchange.” He was nodding solidly now. “So you are attempting to deepen the conceptual weight of your ownership of everything within Irondale.”

“Yes and no. I have no desire to take from anyone here. I am seeking to deepen my ownership of that which I need, not everything.”

He shrugged, conceding the point. “And how do unattached children help with that?”

“Well, what if that boy were my own son? Or at least my own ward?”

Lisa tilted his head in thought.

When he didn’t comment, she continued, “Honestly, it probably wouldn’t directly factor in, but I can help them. Because I can, I feel that I should.” She smiled. “They need sheltering, nurturing, and raising. If I can facilitate that? I will be content.”

The arcane man chuckled. “If you keep that up, you’ll be a maternal figure to much of humanity.”

She shrugged again. “If that’s what it takes, so be it.”

Then, they were fully among the buildings. People glanced their way, waving or calling greetings, but otherwise they were largely ignored.

Lisa seemed incredibly shocked by this fact. Even with Tala’s reassurances, he’d obviously expected there to be some sort of reaction to his presence.

He remained a bit on edge, until they came to the first corner, where two streets met in the town. There, on the edge of one building, was a large stone sign with a picture of Lisa with his true fox visage. Below the picture were the words: Guest of Honor visiting today. Be welcoming or be elsewhere.

The fox snorted, Rane chuckled, and Tala sighed. Really?

-I mean, you could have checked it at any point. I know you could see it at any time.-

Yeah, but I trusted that you had it handled, and I didn’t need to check up on you.

-Tala, Tala. You see everything. You can’t honestly tell me this surprises you, can you?-

…fine.

Lisa’s snort turned to a chuckle to match Rane’s as he shook his head. “Surely you don’t have Archive announcement boards?”

“Not at all. We simply rearrange the composition of the rock to display such things at need. Otherwise, they are blank for the citizenry to post their own notices upon them.”

He gave her a long look. “That is quite the level of control.” He grinned widely, showing off his fangs. “I might have added, ‘for a human’ but let us be honest. That is impressive—almost unbelievable—control for anyone.”

She just smiled.

“Another trade secret, then?”

She shrugged. “This is my soulbound space. It is mine to do with as I wish.”

He grunted at that and didn’t press further.

Soon enough, they came to the outdoor cafe that she had been leading them to. A young woman in a flowing, immaculately clean work-dress bowed to them before leading the three to a table off to one side. “Welcome, Mistress Tala, Master Rane, Honored Lisa.”

That caused the fox’s eyebrows to raise, but he didn’t comment.

There were patrons at other tables, but none directly around theirs. They got glances and greetings of various kinds, but they were left to themselves after that initial wave of interactions.

As they settled in, the young woman spoke again. “I’m Honey.” She pointed to her own chest where a small nametag hung. “And I’ll be serving you this morning.”

Lisa seemed to feel that he had to ask, “Honey? That is an unusual name. I can’t say I’ve met another with the same.”

“That’s right.” She smiled proudly, clearly used to similar inquiries. “My parents had a sense of humor. The story is that I came to be in a field of flowers, and they felt themselves busy little bees, so Honey.”

Rane wasn’t drinking anything, but he still managed to sound like he had almost choked.

Honey continued fluidly, politely ignoring their reactions to her anecdote. “But you didn’t come here to talk about the study of names. Do you know what you would like to eat?”

Tala grinned. “A Full Irondalish Breakfast for five, please. We’ll all eat from the spread. For a drink, I’d like coffee.”

Rane lifted his hand to gain her attention, having recovered sufficiently to order, “Whatever juice is fresh this morning for me.”

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“Very good, and for you, Honored Lisa?”

He glanced to the building that held the kitchen, to where the menu was posted for easy reading. “I would love a mimosa in whatever juice is freshest.”

“As you wish. I will return with your drinks shortly, and food should begin to arrive within five minutes or so. Thank you for your custom.”

As the woman departed, Lisa turned to Tala, shifting upon his seat. “This chair is sized properly for me.”

“Of course. It was trivial to bring it into the right place. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.” She’d had a seat designed for him ready, in case he agreed to this very type of visit.

“Ahh, so if I move here, I should not expect such regularly?” He seemed genuinely curious as to her answer.

“I imagine the businesses which you frequent will learn to cater to your different stature, but no, I will not be moving things around for your convenience on a regular basis.”

His lip curled in a slight smile. “That’s a pity, but understandable. Now, how did she know to address me as Honored?”

“Truthfully, I don’t even know if that is the correct title, but I made a guess, and that was the honorific I listed in the initial brief on your potential citizenship. It was a touchpoint for them. They are used to Master and Mistress for Mages, and so having something specific with which to address and honor you helped make you feel more normal, more natural to them.”

“I see. That would stand to reason. But… You made up a brief?”

“Of course. They got to vote on whether or not they wanted you to be allowed citizenship.”

He cocked an eyebrow, and Rane grinned widely. He knew what was coming when Tala fully explained, and he found it entertaining, partially because he had helped her come up with the procedure.

Their drinks arrived just then, so their conversation paused. After they had thanked the young woman and she had turned to go, Lisa seemed to get an idea. “Excuse me, Honey. May I ask you a question?”

Honey turned back. “Of course, sir. That’s part of why I am here.”

Lisa glanced toward Tala, and she shrugged before gesturing for him to go ahead.

“Did you vote on whether or not to allow my citizenship in your fair town?”

The server smiled and nodded happily. “Yes, sir, we did.”

“And it was unanimous I assume?” He sighed, waving a hand dismissively and starting to turn away even as he asked. He clearly assumed that this was set up by Tala for him to inquire after.

He was incorrect.

Honey chuckled, now sounding a little nervous. That caused him to focus back on her as she answered, “Well… no, but it doesn’t need to be. Additionally, none of the objections were substantial, so it was approved.”

That seemed to have taken the fox off-guard. He took a moment to respond, and when he did, it was with a much more contemplative tone, “Thank you for your honesty, Honey.”

“Of course. Let me see if that first course is ready for you.”

As she left, Lisa turned to Tala. He seemed genuinely baffled. “You got their permission before inviting me?”

She shook her head. “Not at all. I did give them the option for voting, though. Had they been against the idea, I would have talked with them and done my best to address any and all concerns, but the voting is more for buy-in and participation than for true decision making on the things that I care about. This is my town, after all.” She hesitated. “Though, there have been a couple of times where it went ways I didn’t expect, and I think things ended up better for it. Regardless, the purpose of the voting generally is so that I don’t have to think of how things should be and impose it upon them. They do the work of coming up with options and then decide as a community. I am only involved when it matters to me, which is rare.”

Lisa nodded slowly. “I can see that being useful. They are self-governing in most things, but where you have made a decision already, the vote highlights trouble spots and leads you to a better outcome in the end.” He gave her a wry smile. “And I assume they don’t know which things you’ve pre-decided?”

“Precisely. That would ruin the whole point. I want their true opinions—true insight into issues I might not have considered—not pandering.”

Honey returned then with a massive tray of various prepared fruits. As she sat an empty bowl down before each of them, she briefly explained. “You have your choice of fruit, then we have unsweetened whipped cream to go over the top, or layered throughout. We also have plain cream if you prefer that form. Many guests like a mixture of the two, cream mixed through with whipped cream on top.”

“Fruit and cream, a wonderful first course.” Lisa beamed at the woman. Somehow, even while displaying his sharp fangs, he made the expression seem both kind and grateful rather than predatory.

“Yes, sir. The first of many.”

They each made their requests, and Honey built out their first serving for them before leaving the parts on a long table off to the side so they could have more if they wished.

Lisa eyed that table suspiciously. “That isn’t going to be filled with food… is it?”

Tala grinned. “It is indeed. Don’t worry, the table isn’t that large. It’s barely five feet by two feet.”

Lisa glanced down at himself, obviously taking in his small stature.. “I suppose I should loosen my belt?”

Rane laughed. “That is likely wise. I always have to.”

Tala grinned along with his laughter. “I’ll eat whatever you and Rane don’t.”

He nodded seriously despite his grin. “She and Terry have practically insatiable appetites. I’m sure he’s found something to snack on already.”

-Huh… Terry just sneezed and looked toward the entrance of Walden’s forest… can he tell if someone is talking about him?-

I doubt it. That… would be odd? I don’t think I’ve ever seen Terry sneeze before.

-Oh he does it sometimes, but not often.-

As fascinating as this is…

-By all means, get back to your time with Lisa.-

Thank you.

The rest of breakfast passed without too much fanfare.

After the fruit and cream came a white-cheese quiche, followed by various breakfast meats, and then a spinach salad. The final course was a dark chocolate cake, upon which Tala heaped more berries and cream.

Lisa and Rane followed her lead.

The fox was clearly unaccustomed to such fare, but he didn’t act as if he’d never had the like before.

Once the courses were complete, Honey brought each a glass of water with which to clear their palates, and the meal was finished with a small wafer that tasted like nothing so much as condensed mint extract with a creamy undertone.

The fox pushed back from the table with a pleased groan. “Mistress Tala. This was… absolutely excellent and far, far too much.”

She grinned in return. “It is quite an exquisite way to break the nightly fast, isn’t it?”

“Indeed, but if I ate like this”—he contemplated, then shook his head—”even once a week, I would be too rotund to walk within the year.”

Honey chuckled as she was clearing their dishes. “I will convey your sentiment to the cook. It is always extraordinary to see how much Mistress Tala and master Terry can consume.” She looked to Tala. “Is master Terry doing alright this morning?”

“He is, thank you for asking. He decided to find his breakfast elsewhere.”

Honey smiled. “I’m glad he’s well.”

Lisa spoke into the momentary pause. “If you do speak to the cook, please also convey that it was utterly delightful.”

Her smile widened. “I will. Thank you.”

Tala gathered Lisa’s attention and explained an important point, “Truthfully, this was more the Irondale breakfast with a bent toward my own proclivities. You ate close to a portion and a half, because it was available. They have their sizing very well dialed in for a wonderful experience. I simply wanted you to be able to eat your fill.”

He glared at her a bit, but then chuckled in turn. “Very well. I might be able to eat here every week.”

She grinned in return. “Well, you could also order a different meal. Not all that they serve is this extensive.”

He nodded at the wisdom of her recommendation.

“So, does that mean you’d like to immigrate?”

“I would need a place to set up shop, a building location.”

Tala shrugged. “Once we work out the details, Kit can devour your current building, and place it anywhere in here you so desire.”

Lisa looked tempted, but then he shook his head. “I appreciate the offer, but that building was built to be temporary. Three centuries is hardly any time at all in the grand scheme of things, and it wasn’t worth investing in the design and construction nearly to the extent that I would have liked.” His gaze turned deadly serious, and Tala felt his predator nature leaking through. “I will negotiate very fiercely, and then I will need years to build my home, during which time I will not be interested in doing much else. I can help your reborn Mages, but likely little else.”

“As you wish. You will likely want to speak with Artia. She is the proprietor of an artifact shop here in town.” Tala felt a smile pull at her lips. The woman had already made a fortune selling artifacts in Bandfast on their couple of trips. The ability to buy more esoteric and hard to transport artifacts in a non-waning city had caused the locals to buy her out each time she’d made her wares available. Because of that, she had already expanded her operations considerably.

Lisa sighed and nodded. “I should not have expected that market to be unclaimed. Still I could work with this woman. I have much to offer, and I take little to be happy.” He looked around and laughed. “You must be careful, Mistress Tala. If my kin learn of this place, you may have a flood of fox-kin from all corners of the continent. Especially if you can give them a bit of breathing room from one another. They aren’t the only arcanes who will be interested either—in a good way. I am not speaking of the Major Houses and how they will lust after this haven you have forged.”

She gave him a soft smile of acknowledgement. “I will keep that in mind. Let us consider you a test case.”

He immediately shook his head. “No, Mistress Tala. That is unfair to both them and to me. They should not be judged by me, and I should not be responsible for their future opportunities.”

“Very well, at least from my perspective. But you must realize that those you interact with—both in here and in the cities we visit—will see you as an example of your kin, and they will have their minds shifted accordingly.”

“I suppose you’re right.” He looked a bit sad. “I do wish that could be avoided, but such is likely futile.”

“For now.”

“Yes. For now.”