Len rubbed his eyes, they’d started to become blurry a long time ago. He squinted around the stables. They’d been empty for years, carriages sent over to collect Lady Lilah.

The sound of metal on metal rang out through the place. The stalls had been turned into workspaces, those that knew how to work with metal and others who carved wood through the day applied chisel to sword, shield, armor and metal blanks.

Lilah had been able to get steel for Rick who’d used spell, anvil and hammer to create thick blank sheets.

Len had created almost a factory line to completed sound talismans and enchant the weapons and armor that passed through, with him just adding in a few hidden touches to make it all function.

Once the first group of wounded veterans were healed up. Everett had brought more throughout the day, gates were opened, wounds were healed, bodies tempered and chickens slaughtered.

They’d raised a force of fighters at level five, with their overall body rating of at least ten.

With a body of level ten they could lift three hundred and fifty kilos easily.

Those with more injuries had higher tempering.

Rick said Adrian got his body to fifteen.

Len chuckled to himself, he’d go from one of the weakest to strongest.

Harold, placed a crate on his desk. The man was stoutly built, with brown hair and beard. His clothes hardy and his hands calloused from wood working.

“We can do this tomorrow sir,” He said.

“Tomorrow they’ll be put to use,” Len picked out a sound talisman from inside the crate, he added the hidden parts of the enchantment, threading mana throughout it to activate it. He ran a thumb over the tumblers that would allow one to pick different talisman signatures.

He handed it to Harold who transferred it into another crate. The man showed himself capable in his trade and with leading others.

“Your people have done good work,” Len said.

“Just a bit of carving,” Harold said. “I’ve never heard of anything like this. Well, I heard that there were things you could get in Eskon that allowed people to communicate over distance and that there were officers that had it. Seemed like a tall tale, but here’s the proof.” He took another that Len had finished.

“There’s plenty of other applications for enchantments. Those that create flame and heat, others that draw water from the very air. Others that can turn even barren desert into farmland.” Len said.

“Really?” Harold asked.

“Really.” Len handed him another sound talisman.

“Huh,” Harold held it studying it before putting it away.

“Would you like to learn?” Len asked.

“I’d love to,” Harold grinned. “I’m getting a bit older in my craft, but I can still learn!”

“Even from me?”

“What does it matter one’s age? Met plenty of older men that had less sense than a teenager, and teenagers with more sense than withered old men!” Harold chuckled.

“Ain’t that the way of it,” Len handed him the last sound talisman.

“I’ll get these out to the lads,” Harold said, grabbing onto the crate’s handles.

“Thanks Harold.”

Len looked over the stables. At the peak of his power he could’ve done this all himself. Those thoughts led to Dennis becoming god-emperor.

***

“You wanted to see me grandma?” Rick asked as he closed the door to her sitting room.

Lilah closed a book on her desk, turning fully around. “Yes,” She waved to the couches. Rick took a seat as she lowered herself opposite.

Already the signs of tempering and cultivation showed, there was a strength to her movements. She was a completely different woman from the one he’d seen upon first arrival.

“Here are your tickets,” She said and handed them over. “It is your sister’s last fight, shouldn’t she see her brother in the seats?”

Rick grimaced and took them. Lilah smiled at him. “You think the guards are ready?”

“We healed up those that you sent to us and trained up those that were in good health. There’s no going back on the contract’s they signed, they’re loyal.”

“You sound very sure.”

“Those contracts bind with the magic in your body. If you turn back on them then they will enact out what was in the contract. If they betray us then they’ll die,” Rick said.

“You say it so simply.”

“Don’t make promises that you can’t keep,” Rick shrugged.

“It will still take me time to reconcile you with the Rick that I know,” Lilah said.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

“I hope we have more time this apocalypse.”

“Go to the tavern Rusted Spigot and order the Siren’s Call drink. A man will contact you there.”

“Who are they?”

“They’re someone with information on Eskon and what’s happening beyond our borders,” Lilah said.

“Won’t matter all that long. The royal family will run into their own issues shortly,” Rick said.

“What do you mean?”

“The king is about to fall into poor health. He has been working to keep leashes on the people with the nobles. Though he’s let their leashes become too light. They’re looking to expand more. It won’t be long until the younger generation start fighting one another behind closed doors and then out in the open to bring about the collapse of the kingdom.”

“It sounds rote to you. This is powerful information,” Lilah said.

Rick waved it off. “It was information decades ago. The Hunter’s Bureau were manipulating all the sides. Looking to increase their hold over the nation. The King didn’t do anything that would help us. While they’re all distracted by that we can build up Goran. Stay out of their sights, on the periphery as we gain true strength.”

Lilah blinked and watched him. “You’re talking about the fall of Plynthia.”

“Yes,” Rick frowned. “Do you think that it’s the only nation that falls? I’ve already said that the largest group that survives are cities, not nations.”

“We swore to defend this nation,” Lilah sat upright.

“You did, I didn’t. I will fight to defend my family, this nation, its going to tear itself apart. The nobles will do all the work before we have to ever step in. So, Rusted Spigot, Sirens Call, spy shit, when?”

Lilah took sometime before she responded. “Tonight. Tell him the weather is fair though the winds look stormy.”

“Alright, well I can work on some more weapons before then, catch you later Grandma!” He turned about and headed out the door.

***

The Rusted Spigot was a lively bar. There was a bar on the right side as one walked in, at the back there was a band in full swing.

There were seats along the left wall and taking up the space between it and the bar. Revellers had spread outside of the bar, sitting at tables. Money was exchanged at the bar quickly.

Rick weaved through the people. One stumbled into him. He smacked the hands away, clipped the woman over the back of the head and continued on his way. He wasn’t losing his coin that easily.

She looked around, half stunned as he raised a hand to the bartender.

“You got the Siren’s Call?”

“Oh! Been a good long time since someone’s asked for that, seems you’ve got quite the constitution! That’ll be five coppers!”

That’s quite a bit for a drink. Rick pulled out the coin and put it on the bar. The bartender swept it away and pulled down a murky glass and started to fill it with different liquors.

The color turned to a turquoise blue, a full pint of it.

“Here you are!” The bartender chuckled and slapped it on the bar.

Rick took the glass, raised it up to catch the light. Looks like a terrible morning and a great night. Rick lowered it and took a big gulp.

It was pure alcohol. His body started to heal before it hit his stomach.

“Smooth,” He grinned to the bartender. The man laughed and slapped the table. “Grab a seat once you’re done that, you won’t be able to stand!”

A random man’s arm wrapped around Rick’s shoulders. He about near stabbed him through the ribs out of reaction.

“You’d be a man’s savior if you could get me a drink. Dying of a thirst. The water here is corrupted so it is only the weak beer here that keeps me healthy.”

Rick moved out of the man’s sideways embrace looking him over. A handsome man of middle age, hardened looks, with a brilliant smile a cloak around his shoulders and an instrument case on his back.

His face sweaty as he tried to hide the shivers of drink depravation.

“Water is just fine around these parts,” the bartender growled and slapped a towel on the counter.

The drunk cowed back like a hit dog and turned his smile back on Len. “It doesn’t sit well with my constitution.

“Who are you?” Rick asked.

“A scourge to bars and married husbands,” the bartender said darkly.

“I am but a humble traveling artiste,” the man, put one leg forward and wrapped one arm around his breast, the other reaching for the ceiling. Somehow missing all of the other patrons “Gerald Luthwhaite at your distinguished service.” He rose back up, unsteady on his feet as he paled. That smile still affixed to his face.

Shameless, bold and with his own vices. His movements were graceful with the ‘hitches’ thrown in. Almost natural. As was his complexion.

“One beer for mister Gerald here.” Rick said to the bartender.

“One beer coming up!” The bartender said quickly, eager for the sale. Rick focused on Gerald. “Though questions and time will be the payment.”

The bartender was quickly back with a beer, Rick paid the two coppers and moved off to a vacated table against one of the walls.

Gerald took three long gulps nearly draining his beer as he patted his face with the back of his cuff. “The Sirens Call, only seen that drink a few times.”

“You have information? Grandma is interested.” Rick said.

“Oh, I don’t think I’ve seen any of the older ladies recently.” Gerald chuckled.

“Oh what was it she wanted me to say?” Rick rattled his brain around. “The weather is fair though the winds look stormy.”

“Interesting,” Gerald drank, his eyes darting around the place, he wasn’t nearly as drunk as he affected.

Rick drank from the Siren’s Call, his body was too strong to get drunk off of something like this anymore.

I could be building up a smithy to make Ironclads, or beating—tempering Len, or hell, sleeping. Instead I gotta do this whole spy clandestine shit.

“Well you’re in luck I know a few places to visit!” Gerald finished his beer slapping it down before clapping Rick on the shoulder.

Woah this guy is chummy. Grandma wouldn’t be pissed if I punched him lightly. Right?Seeing as that might throw him through the wall they were sitting next to, Rick was the bigger man and kept drinking instead.

“Follow my lead,” Gerald whispered and stood up. “Come on then!”

Rick downed the rest of the drink. Be a waste to leave it here.Gerald’s eye twitched some as Rick rose up and followed after him. They wandered the streets before moving down an alley.

“So you’re Lilah’s Grandson,” Gerald’s voice sunk into deeper tones, assessing Rick.

“Yeah, so you got the information.”

“There’s a lot and it has been a long time since I was contacted,” Gerald said.

Rick shrugged.

“This way, I have it but there’s a lot of it now.” Gerald led him through the city to a building away from the bustle. He checked something at the door before entering.

Rick could see the weapons hiding about the room as well as the pieces of wood that were set up to alert Gerald if anyone came inside.

Gerald reached under the bed and pulled out several books.

“Nobles are very interested in the rise of the Isendia family and the mercenaries throughout the nation. Tyrus has taken out three lines of credit with different banks and they’re starting to pile up. He has the bankers come into the city quietly. The Hunter’s Bureau has entrenched themselves with nobility and have been hosting parties where they bid to kill beasts.”

“Mana beasts?” Rick raised an eyebrow.

“They call them legendary beasts, whoever kills them becomes stronger and younger on the spot. The nobles love it. They’re purchasing all kinds of goods from them.”

Rick flipped open a book, there were entries listing shipments, others about nobles interactions with one another. Hopefully this will keep Grandma happy.

“Thanks. Grandma might have more for you in the future.” Rick pointed at a nearby towel. “Can I borrow that?”

“Sure,” Gerald grabbed it and tossed it over. “There are a lot of worrying ripples through the kingdom.”

“Glad that is someone else’s problem.” Rick dumped the books into the towel, tied it up and slung it over his shoulder. “Be seeing you Gerald.”

He walked out of the room and into the street, he pressed on the ground, leaving two footprints firming the wind beneath his feet as he jumped across the sky, heading for the Blue Manor once again.

A true Ironclad might be too much, though should look into making some more advanced armor for Len and myself.

Rick hummed to himself as he sped across the sky.