Kaden waited with Mistress Scylla for Sara to emerge from the room portal. Sara had changed, wearing a magnificent green dress with a pattern that matched the scales on her Horror’s pseudopods. The back of the dress rose between her shoulders and around her neck, and the front rose up to meet them, leaving her shoulders bare.
“You look fantastic. Like a city Councilwoman. I look like I’m about to bash a mana rat.” Kade offered her a hand.
Sara’s pale cheeks turned red as she accepted it and they followed Mistress Scylla out of the grand tree and across to a building which had once been an aquarium. Now, some tanks held fish that would feed aquatic beasts, and a central pool large enough to house a [Kraken]. And near the pool, a round wooden table waited with plates.
And people. Two men and a woman waited. [Identity] activated and malfunctioned immediately, meaning they were the same level at least as Mistress Scylla. Centurions or well past.
Sara’s gate hitched, and she halted. “What is he doing here?”
She would need to help Kaden understand which “Him” since Kaden’s [Identify] seemed eternally broken.
Mistress Scylla smoothly covered for the pause. “Sara Scylla, Kaden Birch, I’d like to introduce you to the other three investors in BirchHaven. Melanie Kovor, Senior Alchemist.” The woman stood. Her gray hair was missing large patches, and one eye didn’t focus—it moved off on its own, the pupil widening and shrinking. She offered Kaden a firm handshake, and a bow to Sara. “I’ve done my research. Your common-law wife is an Alchemist by profession. Miss Scylla has a reputation among Centurions as a shrewd negotiator. And you, a [Beast Master?] Such an ancient, archaic class. And yet, it’s serving you well.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” Kaden imitated her bow—and realized from the slight smile he’d gotten something wrong. “Did I not bow deep enough?”
“Madam Kovor is from the Embrian Alcove. Men are greeted with a handshake, women bow to each other,” Mistress Scylla said. “The diamond point lapel is a solid indicator, though never perfect.”
“Think nothing of it,” Madam Kovor said. “Now, Mal—
“Ignus Malachor,” The Mage said. “I won’t lie, you have an uncanny habit of coming up with the damndest loot. That unfortunate incident with the [Storm Condor] feathers. Then we begin looking at who’s fulfulling quests. And the rumors in the [Crafting] Commune is that someone has a second set. Investing in this venture is a way of developing relationships. The business plan is solid, and of course management is impecable.”
Which only left the remaining man, short and thin with fingers that were just a hair too long, and a shiny bald spot with bushy black hair and eyes that reminded Kaden far too much of the [FalCrow]. Given how Sara was practically ready to combust, this was the ‘he’ in question. “[Flavius Marcus], head of the [Thieve’s Guild].”
Now Kaden understood Sara’s reaction. “I may need a moment to confer with my business partner. Sara?”
“I didn’t know. Mom said she’d arranged all three with Council Approval—”
“What does the council’s approval matter for our business venture?” Kaden growled.
Flavius—if he was bothered at all—didn’t show it. “Why indeed? Money. Thieves are more honest bankers, and there’s going to be a great deal of money involved in this plan of yours. I’m guessing having Verona leave the modifications intact was Jackie’s idea.”
“Sara, actually.” Mistress Scylla tipped her head to her daughter. “In fact, most of this was her idea. There was actually talk of a petting zoo.”
Kaden grasped that he stood to make a great deal of money. What he didn’t grasp was why these three were involved at all. “I authorized Sara to run the remodel and resulting business. Which still doesn’t explain why we needed to scale up instead of starting small.”
“When up is only a matter of gold, and solves a key problem you’re not considering, up makes sense.” Mistress Scylla spoke carefully. “You’ve never had to contemplate this problem, but now we should discuss this. There’s very little question your plan will succeed. You control access to FangWood. You own BirchHaven. Centurions will—and are—lining up to book even though we’re not open.”
“All of that sounds great.” Kaden looked to Sara, who had far more patience and experience negotiating issues like this.
Sara’s expression said she anticipated this. “It’s about power. Or money, which can buy power. It’s easy to see BirchHaven becoming a core part of Verona’s economy. Having Centurions—even visiting ones—present makes the city safer. And such a venture wouldn’t happen without a Centurion in charge normally.”
But Verona had desperately needed barracks for City Knights, giving him the old zoo, and the old zoo to house refugees, funding much of the renovation. FangWood—that was his parent’s gift to him, his inheritance. “So getting investment partners is as much about putting someone they trust in charge as money?”
Falvius’s laugher echoed out. “Oh, there’s plenty of gold flowing, too, but yes. The City Council would normally have offered you a minor council spot—”
“Oh, hell no,” Kaden said. “I’ll sooner diddle a Demon’s Daughter than take a council spot. Unless Sara wants it. Or Eve. Actually, Eve would probably love it.”
“How close is this ‘Eve’ to second tier?” Ignus asked. “Second tier, I could tell you all the advantages in having a minor council member in your party. We should start the work to arrange that now.”
“Eve is closer than I am,” Sara scoffed. “You have to understand, putting Eve in a position of power anywhere will result in Eve taking over. You think I’m a vicious negotiator? You haven’t seen vicious. I negotiate. She dictates terms.”
Conversation died as the food arrived. Kaden generally thought they ate well.
He no longer thought that.
This was a feast. “What is that meat?” he asked, only realizing afterwards it was through a mouth full.
“Bastion Iguana,” Mistress Scylla said. “It’s terribly gamey, disgusting in normal cases, and what most term ‘foul.’ But prepared by a chef who specializes in game meats, it is a delicacy. Evelyn’s Scorpion with Garlic and Mustard is a featured dish on a menu that will rotate monthly.”
Ignus cleared his throat. “I want you to know, I first heard your names from my grandson. He’s a Earth Mage you hired to make some repairs to a nest of poisonous snakes. Then from my other grandson. He received a poisonous snake in his bath and was so happy to gain a resistance.”
Kaden dipped his head to Sara. “That was her work. She handled the setup, the negotiations. I had a combination of dumb luck and a crazy idea at the right moment.”
Stolen novel; please report.
He didn’t miss Madam Kovor’s humph of disdain. “Look at the records—”
“I’ve read the transcripts. It was you who wanted the nest. I’d say it’s a waste of time but the statistics say otherwise.” She spoke clearly, concisely, as though reading the results of a formula. “And here we have this venture, on a much larger scale, with people who have a lot more money. Failures are common when experimenting. But success is worth the risk.”
“To risk, and reward.” Flavius raised a glass of wine.
Kaden stuck to his water, but toasted.
“Now,” The Thief Master said, “I know Jackie’s too proper to do otherwise, and I know Ignus won’t act until every single moment is right. Sara’s not tier two. So what? She will be, and I say—”
“Not yet,” Mistress Scylla said. “He’s barely level twenty five—”
“And therefore fair game. Oh, did you expect me to wait around until the Summoning Saint came calling? Listen up, both of you. Up until twenty-five, no one cares what an Adventurer does. With a few exceptions. Sometimes, you have a Summoner with a mythic summons. Or a man with a class that hasn’t been seen for a Century, or a ‘healer’ who bleeds people to heal, or a [Shadow Blade] who’s reported to be the Senior Sister’s pet project.”
“Those gather attention,” Madame Kovor said. “So at second tier, the different [Factions] come calling. Some call nicely. Some call with a show of force. I prefer dinner. There’s many, many theories as to how this world should run.”
“The strong rule the weak,” Ignus said. “Those with the most power have the most authority.”
“Or those with the most knowledge—”
“Or gold. Don’t forget gold,” Favius added. “Every [Faction] has there own view and there are more of them than you could meet in a week. But don’t worry, we’re mostly in agreement about what we want from you.”
“Don’t choose,” Mistress Scylla said. “From twenty five to fifty, you can pick up faction Quests. Only a fool chooses a Faction at level twenty five, and that is my advice and our request.”
Flavius coughed. “I wouldn’t be adverse to you choosing Mercari, but even I know that if you don’t get to know your friends and enemies, you won’t be able to to tell the difference. You can expect them to come quickly. Mercari.”
“Iluminati,” Madam Kovor added. “Knowledge is the true wealth, by which even gold is acquired.”
“You aren’t welcome to join my faction,” Mistress Scylla said. “Nor will I discuss it with you. James is high in the Stateri. They believe in balance. The Justari will make contact, but unless your sense of right and wrong is both unshakeable and matches theirs, I doubt they’d accept you.”
“The Sisters are a faction of their own,” Ignus added. “I am but a lower level member of the Poteri, but power is the true power. If I were to advise you, it would be to avoid Theosians unless you have a god or goddess who is favored.”
“There are others I will discuss privately.” Mistress Scylla raised a hand. “I swear before the System I will not seek to influnce them to choose a specific [Faction].”
Jacqueline Scylla has sworn an oath of non-influence as to what [Faction] you choose.
Kaden didn’t like any of the options, or, more specifically, he didn’t feel like he knew enough yet. “Can I change factions?”
“Every five levels,” Flavius said. “But better than joining and changing is running Faction Quests until you’re certain who you want—and don’t want—to work with. In fact, the System will offer you specific quests to work for different factions.”
Madam Kovor looked to the others. “National Factions are wildly profitable and incredibly limiting. You have the ability to move across the world at your desire. Don’t give up that freedom.”
Sara hadn’t spoken, just drinking it in. “What happens at level fifty? Or seventy five? Or a hundred?”
“Fifty, you should choose a Faction,” Mistress Scylla said. “By then you’ll have connections with many, alliances with a few, enemies in several. You’ll know what you’re gaining and trading. At fifty, the System spawns a [Nemesis] meant to keep you from reaching one hundred.”
“By Seventy Five, either you’re dead or your Nemesis is.You can leave it until later but it will reach the same tiers you do.” Ignus spoke as though he’d seen it. “Better if you face it at seventy four.”
“One Hundred. There will be time for you to understand the consequences when you reach it. If you reach it,” Madam Kovor said. “At that point, you are battling the next Cataclysm. The way each class does that is different.”
Kaden couldn’t help thinking about Metami. How she’d faced so many cataclysms. How her iteration of the System wasn’t even compatible anymore. Her abilities still worked, but she could barely interface.
“Now that unpleasantry is handled, we relax. We celebrate that soon BirchHaven will welcome its first guests.” Mistress Scylla clapped, and had dessert brought.
“How much gold has this cost?” Kaden had been wondering. And fearing the answer.
“Two hundred, thirty one thousand, four hundred and eighteen so far,” Flavius said. “All of mine legally earned, I’ll point out. Unlike someone here.”
“My gold is legally earned,” Mistress Scylla answered. “Mostly. If I deal in Mana Dust, it is only to maintain my less reputable connections.”
Sara spat out her wine, then choked until her pseudopods began to change to different shades of green and Kaden held her upside down until she stopped choking.
“Are you ok?” He lifted her a bit higher.
“Other than my dress being around my head, fine. Mostly. How in the third Hell did you get [Resist Suffocation?]” Sara clung to him as he set her upright. Then she focused on her mother. “Mana Dust? You deal mana dust? Is that why you warned Kaden that Aurora might have some? Because you sold it to him?”
“Dinner and a show!” Flavius toasted Ignus, while Madame Kovor excused herself politely. “Someone has to. Might as well be someone trustworthy.”
Kaden had seen that look on more than one occasion.
Sara was hundreds of years younger than her mother.
At least a hundred levels lower.
Betting against Sara was always a bad idea. “Sara—”
“No.” Her right pseudopod whipped around, then gently nudged his hand away. “No, I want answers. How could you even think about doing something like that?”
Mistress Scylla kept quiet. “You’re surprised. You’re upset. Now is not the time for such a difficult discussion. Someone has to lure the addicts in. Someone has to be ready to kill them if they get out of control. I’ve been addicted to Mana Dust and broken the addiction. I—”
“No.” Sara stood. “I’m leaving and by leaving, I mean I’m going back to the Holding. Kaden, you should stay. Enjoy what she created. Right now, I’m sick at my stomach and I need space. Even from you.”
Kaden stood and gave her a hug. “You don’t have to go alone.”
“I think I do.”
He turned and bowed to his guests. His investors. “I appreciate the conversation and the information, but Sara isn’t feeling well. I’ll see her home.”
Ignus looked like he had heartburn. “We’ll talk more. While the others are present, I’ll say this; start building contacts now. When you hit fifty you’ll need them worse than you could possibly imagine. Close friends. Enemies you fear. And take Faction Quests from everyone if only to prove you never want to work with them again.”
Sara stalked her way out, and Mistress Scylla followed Kaden. “I won’t ask you understand, yet. I will tell you there is absolutely good reason. Sara will come around. It might take a few decades, but she will.”
Decades. Kaden wasn’t used to thinking in timescales like that. Trella had been gone a few months and it felt like eternity. He could hear her now, poking fun at Madam Kovor. Probably saying it out loud. See her [Shadow Step]ing away to follow Sara. “I’ll be back to see how we’re making progress. Thank you for the lovely dinner. And the advice.”
Kaden turned and ran, because Sara was halfway through the old zoo, passing where the magma tortoises had once roamed. He walked with her in silence as she made her way through the streets of Verona.
“Does she think I’m a child?” Sara asked. “Does she think I couldn’t handle the truth? She always lectured me. Treated me like I’m thirteen. Told me all about how evil it was like I hadn’t seen addicts—and now I know why we saw them.”
They reached the Guild and Sara headed straight for the second floor and the FarPortal.
Then stopped. “You have luxury waiting. Go back, spend the night there. I’ll be in a better mood tomorrow.”
Luxury. Luxury was having friends he could trust. Party members he would bet his life on. “I’ll sleep better in my own bed. Plus, I want to check on my Dungeon.”
“That sounds a great deal like an excuse for you to come with me.” Sara wiped tears from her eyes. “Come with me?”
It had never been a question. He dispatched the [FalCrow] to Ashi so she wouldn’t be wondering and followed Sara through the FarPortal. With anyone but Eve acting as their portal mage, it was smooth and easy.
Kaden summoned Trinity and left Vip with Eve. “Sara. You know what would help you feel better?”
“Not thinking. Not constantly asking myself why I didn’t know. Wine. Sex. Sleep.”
“Or.” He waited for Sara to look his way. “It’s night. There’s monsters. You’re close to tier two. You know what would really make you feel better?”
That, the fierce look of determination, matched the Sara he knew. Her hands balled into fists. “Give me a few minutes to change. It’s like the old days. You. Me. A night full of monsters. That part’s different, but you and me. We’re going hunting.”