Jeremiah Blight was one of the most dignified people Lee had ever met. He was up there with Regina for ineffableness in his emotions, but he actually showed emotion. Even though the cacophonous welcome wasn’t what Lee had wanted, Jeremiah made it seem like a normal occurrence. It made everything a little easier to handle as he led Lee through the city gates.
Lee spared a glance over his shoulder and watched as Daniel, the boy who had fallen off the towering city walls, reunited with his mother. Jeremiah made organizing the hundreds or thousands of people here seem simple, but Lee knew it was anything but.
Jeremy looked relieved to be home, and Lee couldn’t blame him. He was glad to have somewhere to stay after sitting in a wagon for months on end. He would also get a lot of work done, do a lot of good, and level up while he was here—Oh, and get rich.
The city had the same style of homes as the other towns and villages he had passed through while in Thexis. Half-timbered homes were dotted throughout the city. Some stood several stories tall, and Lee even saw someone peeking through a window shutter from above a store.
The layout was attractive, with several circular roads creating various four-way intersections as they delved deep into the city's heart. Once they reached the middle, a vast, sprawling marketplace was set up, and multiple merchants or shops hawked their wares to any and all who passed them by.
Jeremiah was well-liked; that much wasn’t in doubt. Various sellers offered him a free sample of their food or showcased some of their finer goods to him with a smile and radiating warmth. He returned the smile and politely excused himself to continue leading Lee to where he would be staying. The sellers then noticed Em, who followed along after them. They made themselves scarce pretty quickly after that.
Lee leaned over toward Jeremy and whispered in his ear conspiratorially. “You sure this guy is your dad? Did you take after your mother or something?” He teased.
Jeremy frowned. “I’m quite sure. We look nearly identical.”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Here we are,” Jeremiah said as their small group stopped in front of an enormous four-story building with several different wings. Jeremiah gestured toward the building with a grandiose gesture and continued his introduction. “Truthfully, we weren’t sure if one of the older buildings would suit your needs. So, during the last two weeks, with a generous stipend from the military, we paid our best masons, carpenters, and engineers to build this within our time constraints. It has the bare minimum for what you’ll need to teach, heal, and do business within.”
For the first time, Lee saw a glint of expectation form on Jeremiah’s infallible face. Lee looked at the… mansion in front of him and balked. “This?! You built this for me?! I think you went a little overboard if I’m being honest!”
“I think this is satisfactory. While it may be large, it has been built defensible, and as you make your name, others will flock here for a chance to be healed. Making the trip will be cheaper than paying for healing elsewhere. Also, you are capable of healing things others are not. Accept the gift, Lee.” Regina said as she lazily scanned the building.
“Gift?! I own this?!”
Jeremy took his father aside and whispered into his ear. Jeremiah’s eyes widened minutely, and he gave his son a nod. He cleared his throat. “Think of it as a gesture of gratitude for helping my son and as a form of advanced payment. While I am proud of the state of my city, poverty still exists in some forms. If someone is unable to pay for your services, I ask that you heal them for free for a short time. Don’t forget, you’re also teaching some of my mages how to heal as well. That is worth more than a building.”
The building was made in the same style as the others but was truly magnificent. The entryway alone could easily have five people shoulder to shoulder as they entered the dark wooden double doors. Through a large nearby glass window—no wooden shutters to be had here—Lee could spot several ornate cushioned chairs in a large open lobby. A finely made receptionist desk and several other large doorways led deeper into—His new home and place of work could be seen.
“I don’t know what to say…” Lee muttered.
“Thank you would be ideal.” Jeremiah said with a slight smile. He looked down the finely paved street and nodded toward the hoard of people coming their way. “While I would like to get you all settled in, the people have been waiting eagerly for two weeks. Some of them couldn’t make it to the wall in their condition.” Jeremiah bowed low at a ninety-degree angle. “My citizens are in your care. Thank you for coming.”
Everything was so sudden that Lee didn’t manage to muster a reply. He dumbly nodded as he looked back at the oncoming crowd. “Let’s see what we’re working with…” Lee looked to Jeremy, who had started to head for the doors. “I think spending some time with your father would be better than standing around here while I work. You have some catching up to do, and you can let him know a little more about me. I doubt Meriah did that good of a job considering my welcome…”
Jeremy looked to Regina for permission, who simply nodded once with a forced smile. “As a reward for going above and beyond in the duty of your kingdom in an unexpected manner, you, Jeremy Blight, son of Jeremiah Blight, Lord of Felispar, are hereby released from your service with honors. Fatalina sent the papers down last week.”
Jeremy stood stunned and unmoving, so Lee began a slow clap. Kendri joined with a little too much happiness, probably glad to be rid of his traveling companion and friend.
“Congratulations. You’re ten gold richer.” Lee said, causing Regina to scowl in his direction. She begrudgingly stuck a hand into her billowing maid sleeves, and when her hand was removed, ten glittering gold coins were held in her palm. She held them out toward a still stun-locked Jeremy.
Jeremy looked at his father with… fear. “But, the drag—”
“That matter is being dealt with. Come along, let’s not keep Mr. Barnes’ patients waiting.” Jeremy’s mother ran up to him, sobbing with happiness for the second time in a day, and dragged him off. He spared one more glance over his shoulder at Lee but awkwardly left the area with his family.
“That was nice. He’s a decent man.” Lee said as he turned toward the building. Regina didn’t respond, and Kendri stood there while still clapping his heart out.
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“Well, then.” Lee walked up the short stone path toward the entrance to his new… hospital? Home? Clinic? “Let’s see what we’re working with.”
Lee opened the double doors as wide as they allowed and walked in. Inside was a sizable open lobby with fine plank flooring, and standing by the side of the entrance was a line of people. When the doors opened, they all straightened and nervously stared straight ahead as they smothered down their clothes.
“Or who we’re working with?” Lee said aloud as the four people nervously gulped.
Regina strolled into the building and immediately stood by his side. Her sharp gaze rolled down the line of mystery people in his building before she eased and took a step back. “It appears you have some potential employees.”
The person closest to him was a young woman, maybe a few years younger than Lee himself. She had long, free-flowing brunette hair and looked extremely nervous. She wore a white set of what looked to be formal attire—a pair of slacks and a short collared shirt. She even had a tie! The seams consisted of silver thread, and it immediately dawned on him that this was her work clothes. It could have been a coincidence, but there was severe doubt when the other four people wore the same thing.
They appeared to have styled their outfits after his Robes of the Genesis. It was a unique choice, but since he wore the robes almost every day of his new life. It was probably something others had begun to identify him with. Also, it did look pretty stylish.
“Well, hello there,” Lee said as he gazed around the lobby. “It might be slightly rude of me to ask, but who are you four?”
The person at the far end, an older gentleman in his fifties who looked like he would fit in at a bingo hall, took a single step forward as he bowed. “We have been hired for the week to answer any questions, help out in any way, shape, or form, and ease your burdens until you find more suitable employees.”
The man raised and looked at Lee in his eyes, man to man. “My name is Gerald Hephner, and it is my pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Barnes. I am a man of the gods, a follower and worshiper, a guide and a student, and it is my hope that I can help those who find troubles in their lives. Especially when illness or injury is the cause.”
Lee gave him a sincere and genuine smile. “I hope you’re not here because of my eyes.” Lee said as he gave him an exaggerated blink, showcasing his glowing, blessed blue eyes.
Gerald huffed in amusement. “Perish the thought. There is a wing devoted to the gods in this building—One I helped construct. Some people need spiritual guidance in their trying times, and it is my purpose to help them in any way that I can.”
Oh, he liked Gerald very much. While he wasn’t religious in his past, he would have been lying if he said talking to the priests back home never helped. They understood that he wasn’t a believer, but they never stopped trying to comfort him. And here in Pallesia? The gods weren’t just a belief or a ‘maybe.’ They existed with one hundred percent indisputable proof.
“Well, I’m glad to have you.” He said as he gave Gerald a nod of respect. “Now, who else do we have here?”
There was an awkward pause as nobody wanted to step forward. Lee scanned the three remaining members with a raised brow and a rueful smile. “I don’t bite. I’m just a guy. How about you?” Lee finished as he gestured calmly to the woman he first saw.
She jerked with a start and gulped before she took a hesitant step forward. “He—Hera Kross, this is my first re—real job. I am your receptionist for the week, Mr. Lee—I mean, Sir Barnes… Uhh.” She clenched her eyes closed with a grimace.
With a gentle smile, Lee gestured for her to continue. “What other work have you done? I assume you’ve had non-real jobs?” He joked.
Hera took a deep breath and looked past Lee as he answered his question. “I’ve done some odds and ends for my family. For some pocket money here and there.”
“And your family. What do they do?” He asked.
She gave a slight crooked smile. “They’re cobblers.”
Lee nodded. “As in, shoes?”
“That’s correct.” A bead of sweat dropped down her forehead.
“Okay then!” Lee smiled and looked at the next person in line.
The man to Hera’s left took a confident step forward and gave Lee a nod of respect. Lee assumed he was a few years older than him, and he looked like he would be popular with the ladies. Wavy, shining brown hair and a well-groomed, short beard highlighted the man's unique orange eyes—a color he had never seen before. “I’m Neil. I’m here to help deliver patients to waiting rooms and get them ready for you. I will gather their information, maladies, and injuries, so you can know what to expect when you arrive to help them.”
Lee nodded; that was a very familiar job. Back on Earth, he had seen many patient transporters or orderly’s doing their jobs, and that would be a welcome addition. His gathering information was more of a nurse's job, but he supposed HIPPA didn’t exist yet in Thexis. Doctor-patient confidentiality wasn’t a thing…
Lee leaned over toward Regina and whispered in her ear, causing Neil to look worried. “Is there doctor-patient confidentiality laws here?”
“No. Would you like there to be? You’d have to let me know what it entails.”
He thought for a moment before shrugging. “Maybe later. It’s fairly complicated.”
Before he could ask the last person to step forward, they promptly did so without him indicating his wants. The woman was in her thirties and looked very professional. Her dirty blond hair was done up in a bun, and she was fairly tall. She was maybe an inch shorter than Lee’s six feet, and she had a presence to her. “Gina Hatsburg, It’s a pleasure. I’m to be your assistant. Anything you need; be it food, items, information or otherwise, I’ll be there.” Her blue eyes glinted in confidence as Lee gave her an appraising look.
“You’re either going to be extremely busy or bored out of your mind. We’ll have to wait and see.” Lee said as he looked back through the open door. “Em, don’t be shy. Get in here. The door is big enough.”
Before she entered, Lee locked onto each of his potential employee’s faces for their reaction. This was the moment when he would see if they would be staying or not. He didn’t care how good they were at their job. If they couldn’t deal with Em, then they could find somewhere else to work. Fear was fine, he wouldn’t begrudge them that. Disgust? That wasn’t going to work.
Em dipped her head as she scuttled forward, taking an experimental step onto the wooden floorboards. Her menacing and metallic form glinted in the artificial lights hung up around the lobby. She gazed around the lobby with her blood-red eyes before she looked at the people lined up before him.
The room was silent for a moment as Lee scanned the faces of those present. After a few seconds, he broke the silence with a stern voice. “You know of me. You know I am a healer. You know that I am in charge, and you probably know that I am here to do more than just heal.”
He let that information simmer for a bit before he continued. “But you do not know me. You do not know what I am like. Yet, here you are.”
Lee walked up to Em and laid a hand on her side as he faced the group. “This is Em, she is also a healer and she will be staying here. You will treat her with the respect you would show anyone else, and if you do not… You can find somewhere else to work. If she asks for help, you will help her. If she wants to be left alone, you will not pester her. If she wants to work here as a healer, she is guaranteed a spot.”
“Now, if this is a deal breaker for any of you, please step forward and be on your way. There will be no punishment, judgment, or otherwise. You will keep your pay for the week, and you’ll be free to go.” He finished.
After a few seconds Lee felt Em tense. He knew that she wanted to slam her legs into the ground, but beneath her was the floor of his new home and place of work, so she held back. Lee finally lost his stern look and smiled warmly. “Well then! I believe it’s time for us to heal some people! Let’s see how you work.”
The crowd from the street were peering into the building from the doors, but Kendri held them back, acting as a body guard.
Lee looked at Gerald and gestured around the building. “Gerald, show me where I should wait while everyone else organizes the patients.” He then looked at Regina. “Regina, what will you be doing?”
“I’ll be by your side. My job isn’t done until Fatalina says so.”
Gerald bowed low once more then swept his arm to one of the doors that led to a separate wing of the building. “Let me show you around while the others get everything in order. It’s going to be a long day.”