There were groans and mock protests as Harmonia announced to House Franklin that they would be doing drills and weapons training for the next seven days. The plan was to rise at dawn and take over the Academy's practice salon. "Any sword needs sharpening, and it's good to remind a few people that even though most of us are on the road or the high seas, part of the house is always here. Whether they take that as a comfort or a threat is up to them."
Ben welcomed the news; he was enjoying himself and promised himself that he would catch up on sleep someday. For now, he had things to do. Upon learning of Harmonia's plans, he convinced Harmony to show him around the Capital. He had gold to spend, and she helped him find several expensive restaurants where he could spend it. The memory of boiled groats and endless meals of ham, eggs, and muffins faded away under the influence of finer food.
He also insisted on going shopping, insisting that he lacked clothes befitting a Franklin. After looking through various merchants and tailors, he spent half his remaining funds at a tailor called 'The Dashing Blade.' The sign out front showed a tailor fencing against an ogre with a giant needle. Inside he found clothes that would warm the heart of any pirate or musketeer. To his surprise, the tailor was the ogre on the sign. "Greetings, friends. Please step into my house of fine tunics and hats. I recognize immediately two Couriers of discerning taste. Here for some clothes with a bit more dash to them? Something that allows for easy movement in bar brawls while at the same time being suitable for Court in front of either a Duke or the local Magistrate? I have just the things you need!"
Ben allowed himself to be overwhelmed by the large tailor's expertise and diction and soon had three full outfits of fine clothes. After measurements were taken, Cedric offered to do all the necessary alterations and have the clothes delivered to Franklin House. "Always happy to do business with your clan." The ogre had learned long ago that nothing he sold to a Franklin lasted very long. Some outfits he could stitch back to life if it were only a few slashes. But explosions and dragon's breath meant entire new outfits. He did a lot of repeat business with each Franklin who shopped with him.
Conveniently nearby was a large Emporium run by the Kallvek merchant consortium. Ben proclaimed he needed a new razor, socks, and boot polish. Harmony left him to do his mundane shopping while she browsed the wares of a nearby swordsmith. After paying for his purchases, he placed an additional order along with a note to be opened after he left. The young man behind the counter was confused, but the request came with a gold coin, so he smiled and nodded. Afterward, the two roamed the streets enjoying treats from street vendors as Harmony gave Ben a tour of the area around the city's heart. They returned at midnight, and he reluctantly escorted Harmony to her room before looking for Harmonia. "I need advice on my Heritage and Third Tier classes. I'm sure you have some insight into things."
"I have quite a bit. Show me the options you have." She stared at his heritage and class options before giggling and then laughing out loud. "Great balls of fire, the Engine is giving you some interesting ones. I love some of these. I'd hate to see you take them, I like the empire in one piece, but it speaks well of you that you're being tempted to tear it apart, along with several heroic options."
"You mentioned the Engine before. Can you explain better?"
She thought for a moment. "I can't verify this; I wasn't there and had no part in it. But my parents were involved, especially my mother. She loves stories but doesn't love having to write them all. The Engine is designed to create stories for the entire world. It takes small things and ties them together, giving opportunities for bigger things. The more you do and the more stories you make, the more things it will toss your way. But this? This is more than I could have imagined. You can go in so many ways."
"So what is your advice? Which should I take?"
She laughed again. "Any of them. Whatever makes your heart sing, and I don't need to know. Go have fun; I'll try to sweep up the pieces behind you if you break things. I only wanted to see your options because I was curious. This is your story, not mine. And while you live your story, the rest of the family will go live theirs and give the empire a good shaking up; it needs it. Or maybe we'll save it. Stranger things have happened."
Ben left her study in an upbeat mood. He'd felt like he was responsible for moving down a path and finding out what it was. Now he was encouraged to do what he wanted. He was looking forward to a week of training. Some of his skills would hit the max of level ten, and then he'd be ready to move on. But between daily workouts with weapons, sightseeing with Harmony, and late-night sessions in Damien's lab, he wasn't going to get much sleep.
He fixed that by spending some of his Enhancement Points on an option that had opened up after several long rides with little sleep.
Sleepless in Seattle 2 You've learned to get the most from a small nap. An hour of sleep counts as 4 hours for you Upgradeable to Level 3 for 5 Enhancement Points Cost: 2 Enhancement Points
Sleepless in Seattle 3 You've learned to get the most from a small nap. An hour of sleep counts as 8 hours for you. Too many days of 1 hour of sleep will slowly affect you. Upgradeable to Level 4 for 8 Enhancement Points Cost: 5 Enhancement Points
He intended to test it immediately and headed to his lab to work on a project. At 4 in the morning, he took a quick nap, showered, and ate breakfast as the rest of the family came into the dining room, desperate for coffee or tea.
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Harmonia came in and got them moving. They skipped the carriages and walked the short way to the Academy and, like the day before, took over most of the training salon. Harmony scowled at Ben after their first few bouts. "How are you energetic? I can barely move this morning."
He disarmed her for the third time in a row. "Clean living and good eating. If things work out, I'll share the secret with you later today."
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Theodore Kallvek had noticed the two Couriers enter the emporium and done his best to separate them from their money. The lady wasn't shopping and insisted he focus on her gentleman. This was a man who appreciated clothes. Within twenty minutes, Theodore has sold him over a hundred gold pieces of goods and promised to have them tailored to his measurements and delivered to Franklin House. Theodore looked at the signature: Benjamin Franklin the 7th. This man was from the main line of the family; no wonder he had gold to spend.
Almost as an afterthought, Benjamin slid a stack of ten gold pieces and a small note to him. "If you don't mind, I need a favor. But not until after I leave." He turned, gathered up his companion, and left the emporium. Theodore opened the note and scratched his head. This was above his level. He went in search of his father. He'd know how to handle this. To his dismay, his father's solution was to write up an order and send him off to the teleportation hub in the middle of the night. He was excited and scared. Sedgewick was a long way from civilization and strange stories about what lived there were told.
The argument with the mage on duty lasted for ten minutes and ended when the Senior mage looked at his paperwork and grudgingly allowed the transfer to take place. Like it or not, breaking an agreement with a major merchant house wasn't something to do lightly. Theodore arrived at Rowan Keep, dismayed that Sedgewick was ten miles away, down a dark road infested with vicious beasts. To his surprise, the decurion who gave him directions detailed four soldiers to escort him by horse to the village. They told jokes and stories as they traveled and planned to get an early breakfast at the tavern before heading back with a load of supplies. Theodor found himself in the village an hour later, sitting in a tavern and eating with them. The family's store had been dark this close to dawn, and he had despaired at trying to wake the household. A large breakfast and some hot, mulled cider gave him back his energy, and he was knocking politely on the door at six in the morning as the clocktower called out the new day.
His aunt, once removed, answered the door. "Theodore? What brings you here." He handed her the list. "A special order."
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At lunch break the next day, students of the Academy and a gaggle of tired Franklins headed to the fare being put out on the tables. Hours of weapons practice had left them exhausted and hungry, and they still had half of a day to go. The active Couriers were in much better shape than the rest. Many joked about spending too much time on a desk rather than a ship or a horse. While there were groans and complaints, the general attitude was good. The world didn't give you time to get in shape when something horrible reared its head.
Lunch was interrupted by a delivery. Ben saw the young man he'd dealt with the day before scanning the room and waved him over. "Splendid, set the barrels right here, and I'll handle the rest." Ben signed for the delivery and slipped the merchants a good-sized tip for such fast delivery. A very tired Theodor Kallvek bowed low to him and went home to get some sleep.
Ben examined the two barrels. One was cool, with moisture gathering on the outside, and the other warm to the touch, with a bit of steam rising from it. Several curious family members gathered around him as he set the barrel of wine on a trestle and tapped it. He hammered in the bung and began pouring mugs of shimmering apple wine. "Try some of this, but only a glass at a time. Very potent. You should feel free to eat the sausages as many as you like." With that, he pulled the wooden top of the barrel off. The smoky smell of cured sausages filled the room as a cloud of smoke and flame headed up toward the ceiling. "Ah, Ozzy much have sent a fresh barrel. Still a little heat in them."
Harmonia examined the barrels of Apple Kick-Ass and Sedgewick Sausage. "Where the hell did you get this? It will certainly put some energy back into them. Maybe too much! I'll have to work them harder."
Ben winked at her. "Just some food from home. Local recipes, but I feel they'll become popular in many places quite soon." The sound of flashing steel resumed quickly as the food and drink reinvigorated the fifty people practicing. As the sound rose and the smell of the sausage filtered into the rest of the Academy, more and more of the college found an excuse to watch the practice and try the imported food of Sedgewick.
Two concerned-looking Paladins came running down the stairs, claiming to have smelled an infestation of dark mana. They glared at the sausages suspiciously. Before they could make much fuss, Inquisitor Diego appeared with Sir Reeves. The old Inquisitor filled his plate and mug. "Generous as always, Benjamin. I had just been telling Sir Reeves how your village is ridding the north of evil by unique methods, and here you are, providing a wonderful luncheon. This is a nice pairing: Smoke and darkness-infused sausage coupled with the refreshing taste of radiant fae wine. And am I detecting a bit of wild magic? Delightful." The senior Paladin gave a look to the two juniors, who took the hint and grabbed a plate of food.
Sir Reeves wasn't shy about taking a full plate and a large mug himself. Afterward eating his fill, he gave Ben a thorough workout, showing him several pointers while beating him black and blue with a blunted wooden sword. He quietly inquired about the origin of the food and tasked Ben with talking to the Academy quartermaster to place a large order. Theodor had just woken up and entered the emporium for a shift when Ben arrived with a larger order for the next day.