"There you go, Mr. Speckles, Bubbles, Whiskers! Enjoy!" Amelia urged as the pets plopped into the new pond.
Tucked away in carriers on the carts had been a number of family pets, and once all the families were settled, it had been time to find homes for them. The bat, rats, and cave spiders had been easy since they'd live in their owner's own spaces.
The difficulty came from the huge mossy toad, known as Mr. Speckles, and the two cave carp, Bubbles and Whiskers. All of them needed a wet, dark environment, but also access to insects and things for food. So she was happy to have an excuse to make a water feature for them. It was placed in the empty corner of the new 'back' yard, with the smithy, stables, and bathhouse. The feature consisted of a very deep pond, with overhanging rocky sides, and a large boulder with crags and crevices in it. Bert powered the fountain that arced from the top of the big rock and churned the pond below, with a cooling mist wafting off around the feature.
The toad, almost as large as Pancake, immediately took up residence in one of the many damp holes in the rock. The two carp dove down and explored the murky depths of the pool, occasionally coming up near the surface to search for prey.
"Thanks, Miss Amelia!" said Pint.
"Thanks, Miss Amelia!" echoed the twins, Pasi and Lumi.
The three kids were all about the same age and were happy to see their pets in a neat new home. They crowded around and leaned out over the pond, trying to watch.
"Just don't fall in, alright? And remember you have lessons with Lark in a few minutes. You know how disappointed she gets if you're tardy!"
"We'll be there!" answered Lumi, and the boys nodded their half-hearted agreement.
Lark had agreed to teach the language of magic, as she did for Amelia, as well as other general subjects. They'd have to find a professional teacher pretty soon, but for now, the lessons kept the kids out from underfoot.
As did Pancake's magic lessons, which were enthusiastically attended. He had a very permissive attitude to the kind of things he taught. Lark and Briar both were very much 'foundations first' kind of teachers, using the slow and steady method. Build a sturdy base, crawl before you could walk, really understand the theory before practice, that sort of thing. Amelia had despaired of ever learning something cool from them, at least any time before old age set in.
Not so, the goat's teaching style. After a half hour with Pancake, all of his pupils had mastered the [Water Jet] spell. Which, as the goat had pointed out, had many uses. Dousing each other from a distance was the most entertaining, but putting out roaring blazes started with, for example, [Candle Flame], was also an excellent use. Which was why it was the second spell they learned very quickly and with extreme motivation. Bert had been able to repair the smoke and water damage in Pancake's classroom, but it had been a challenge to sneak everyone out to the baths to get all the soot off.
So far it had only been Amelia and some of the children in the classes. Frisket had wanted to come, but she was helping her mother and grandmother organize the print shop. The adults were all busy unpacking, organizing things, or working in the various shops during the day, so Lark and Pancake had promised to also run a class at night once things had settled down a bit. They were also going to organize demonstrations and classes from all those who had skills they'd like to share, so that should be fun.
Amelia waved at the three as she headed towards the smithy, then let loose with a [Water Jet] at Lumi's head. The girl had already rolled out of the way, and Amelia took refuge behind the anvil as return water streams shot her direction.
"Safe! Insides are safe zones!" she called, huddling behind the large wooden plinth the huge anvil was on.
"You know, I'm not sure who is the bad influence on who!" grinned Bellows from his place by the forge.
The goblin had lost no time in starting to churn out tools and implements the newcomers needed. Bert could produce raw ingredients and some basic items with no effort, but there was just something about doing things with your own hands. Amelia could wholeheartedly understand the sentiment. Even after she learned that the paths and Hollow grounds could be maintained automatically, she chose to do the work herself. It really gave a sense of pride and accomplishment.
Besides which, anything Bert created would eventually fade if taken out of the hollow. Depending on the item and how far away it was, things might last from days to just hours. So anything they wanted to last or sell, they made themselves. Interestingly, converting raw material that the core produced into finished goods stopped the fading issue, which was handy.
"How's it going in here? Need anything?" she asked, peeking carefully out towards the pond.
"Fine, fine! Just getting started on some of the gear we'll need to clear out that cavern. Miss Briar's been working on some sorta fungicide that should do the trick, but I'm building some sprayers to apply it. After that, I'll start working on mining gear." The smith responded, unable to suppress the eagerness in his voice.
"Great! Keep up the good work. Thanks for letting me hide here, but I gotta dash!" She said, sprinting from cover and making for the path back to the front of the cottage. She only got sprayed twice and was proud that she landed a few jets of her own in the process.
It was good fun, but Pancake swore it was also good practice. The jets were tricky to aim and took some concentration. Doing that while dodging incoming streams could be a real mental workout. Amelia couldn't wait until he taught them how to throw fireballs and lightning bolts.
She was focused on wringing out one of the sleeves of her hoodie as she rounded the gazebo, and bumped into someone headed in the opposite direction. The path between the gazebo and the garden fence wasn't very wide and was the main thoroughfare from the yard to the rest of the hollow.
"Excuse me! Sorry about that!" she said, reaching out to keep the man from stumbling into the fence.
"Mmrmph!" he responded, still chewing. He had a pastie in one hand and a wooden flagon of ale in the other. The liquid sloshed but somehow managed to stay in the mug, while steam gently wafted out from the pastry where he'd bit into it. He swallowed quickly.
"No problem! Have you tried one of these? They're great! I tell myself I'll walk 'till I burn it all off, but I'm sure that's just wishful thinking!" he gestured with the savory pie, before taking a huge swig from the drinking vessel. "And this ale! Wow!" he smacked his lips.
"I know, right? Have you tried the caramel nut pies? If you ask Tyni nicely, he'll even serve it with ice cream! Divine!" Amelia answered, already craving the dish. She'd been the one to suggest pasties and other "finger food" would probably be popular, and she'd been correct. Tuuka's first batch of beer had almost sold out already, as well, and he was hard at work making more.
Scorper had turned out several dozen of the flagons as soon as he was in the wood shop. Visitors paid a deposit when getting drinks, and got it back if they returned them. If they didn't, then it was a nice souvenir. Amelia had one that the goblin had made especially for her, with decorative carvings of woodland scenes around the outside. She sometimes forgot to drink from it, she got so distracted admiring the intricate images.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
"Really? Well, I know what I'm getting on the way back!" The man waved as he continued on along the path into the woods, eating happily.
Amelia hadn't recognized him, but the Hollow was getting more and more visitors now. It never got crowded, but there were always a few people out and about in the woods or picnicking in the yard. With the new take-out window, people were even coming to the hollow just for food! There were frequently people eating at the tables in the gazebo, or on blankets on the lawn. Amelia found it amusing when some of the secretive inhabitants of the hollow even ghosted in to furtively buy chips, pasties, and booze from Tyni. She politely pretended not to see them.
She was so used to people around that she didn't recognize, she did a double-take when she finally saw someone she knew.
"Bill!" she called.
The balding man with the long white beard looked up from his massive plate of chips, looking slightly guilty.
"Amelia! Hi! We were going to come find you, but we failed to escape the gravitational pull of the café! When did you put that in? And how? I swear the cottage is like three times the size it was last time!"
"No, no, just like maybe twice as big. The tower is about the same size, though. Above ground. There's a lot more underground. It's magic!" she said, wiggling the fingers of both hands to emphasize the point.
Bill blinked at that, then nodded.
"Neat!" he responded, holding the plate of fried potatoes to offer some to Amelia.
She delicately took just one, proud of her self-restraint. She had already had some for breakfast that day. And for lunch. They were a bit of a hazard around here, now, and Tyni kept the oil hot, ready to churn out more.
"Have you met the Baron and Baroness?" he asked, indicating the two people sitting with him. They were all in ordinary street clothes today, and Amelia didn't see anything that hinted at nobility.
"I don't think so! Nice to meet you!"
"Howdy! That's Arabic for 'hello'. I'm Dan!" said the man, winking.
"Uh, Arabic?"
"Just humor him. I'm Ann, his wife. Good beer you guys have here!" said the woman, raising her flagon. She had a slight foam mustache on her lip.
"So why the Baron and Baroness?"
"From our LARP. Force of habit, mostly." Bill smiled.
"Got it. Have you seen the gaming hut? In Alder's glade?"
"Wha? Gaming hut? No! I was just going to ask if you were serious about letting us come here to play, but I guess you are!" replied Bill.
"Yup! I talked to Alder about it, too, and he really wants to join in. Had me trying to describe all the different rule systems and settings I could remember. For hours!" She complained but had loved every second geeking out with the tree.
"That's awesome! We got to chat for a bit before, and he didn't strike me as a gamer. But the more, the merrier!"
"Oh! Oh! Remember I said I had some friends coming? They're here! Tyni, the dwarf that made those chips, is one of them. They're why we needed to expand the cottage, so there'd be room. For all the goblins and dwarves, I mean, not the chips. Although that might be a thing, too. Anyways, it turns out Picker and his mom Quiet used to be real adventurers! And they're willing to guide trips to go see cool stuff in faerie land!"
Bill stopped chewing, half a chip hanging out of his mouth, forgotten. The other two also stared.
"Fuhii und?" He mumbled at the term, then coughed as he choked on his food.
"Did you say, faerie land?" he asked again a few moments later when he could speak clearly. "You mean, there's more than just this place?"
"Yep! Although I only call it that because it makes 'em all wince. The hollow here is partly in a place called Megrim, but there are entrances to other places. I've only been to Whimsy, myself. They have the coolest bazaar, called the Night Market. We'll have to go there when the goblins are ready to take us!"
"Megrim? Whimsy?" asked Dan, skeptically.
"Hey, I didn't name 'em." she retorted.
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Amelia left the trio with Alder. Bill kept dice and some rule printouts in his satchel, so he was prepared any time a game opportunity occurred. Amelia promised to send someone over with food and drink if they didn't emerge in a few hours. She badly wanted to join them, but needed to go to Sandy's.
The print goblins had knocked out a few brochures with information on the Hollow. It had some information and a notional map showing the paths and points of interest, like the café, glades, pond, and some of the scenic locations. There was also a short list of items you could buy from the café and brewery, although they'd held off on touting the other services they were setting up. They'd need the smithy and shops working full bore for the near future, getting ready for working the cavern.
She was also going to deliver the other keg of Tuuka's finest, the last of his first batch. Amelia had asked one to be set aside for Sandy as soon as it was ready, and Bellows and Scorper had made her a trolley to get it to the shop.
Once the cart was loaded, she trundled her way to the front gate. While the path was excellent for walking, it was still a dirt trail, and the cart bounced over the roots and ruts, getting stuck in several places. By the time she made it to the gate, which was not far at all, she was already red and sweating.
Whisper lifted out of her hair and shook herself like a dog, flinging perspiration about. She hovered in front of Amelia's face, glowing in a tone that felt offended.
"Not my fault you're too lazy to fly on your own! That's the risk you take!" Amelia panted as she halted just inside the gate.
A rustle sounded from above. As she looked upwards, a single black feather wafted gently downwards. Beige and Blue, resplendent in their sashes, sat on a branch overhead, Blue picking at his beak with one claw.
She glanced down at the feather as it landed on the ground, then realized there were no ravens around.
"You guys see what happened to the ravens? Pancake thinks they're spies for Mr. Unpronounceable."
Beige whistled a nonchalant tune quietly as she glanced off to one side, not meeting Amelia's eyes. Blue, however, heaved a gargantuan belch, a cloud of black feathers spraying cartoonishly out in front of the tiny creature. He went back to picking his beak industriously as the feathers wafted down.
"Uh-huh. Okay. Riiight. Well, Mr. Unpronounceable wasn't nice at all, so if they were working for him, I guess you have my blessing. Open season on spies and people who kick puppies. And who try to kick goats. And are mean to Sandy. So that means triple-open season on that guy. All right? Just, maybe don't eat 'em all. Drive 'em away or take 'em prisoner, unless you gotta protect yourselves. Okay?"
This time Beige did meet her look. She nudged Blue with her wing, and the look of pure feral glee on the two birds' faces was rather terrifying. Amelia almost considered taking her words back, but what harm could they do? The ravens had been spies, and there wasn't anything else dangerous around. Maybe it would keep them amused. She dismissed the matter from her mind.
She flexed her hands and rolled her neck and shoulders, looking at the trolley. It was a good trolley, very sturdy and well-made. It certainly made the task possible, if not enjoyable.
"What I need is a teleporter. Something to whisk me instantly to Sandy's. Or a magic door, like in The Wandering Inn! That would be useful!"
[Placement mode available. Select a location and establish your domain. Unleash Acquisition. ]
"Wow, Donald! You are getting desperate, aren't you? But I was just talking to myself, anyways. Too bad the village is outside Bert's realm, though, or I'm sure he could make it happen!" She responded faithfully.
[Processing. Processing complete. Annexation possible. Sufficient energy to create a non-contiguous annex with connecting portals.]
"Bert! You dog, you! You could really do that? Or are you just showing off to taunt Donald?"
[Affirmative. Select local portal location.]
"Hah! Okay then! Umm, here would be good, but a pain for future use. How about you put it in the brewery, say set into the back of the stairway, so it's out of the way?"
[Territory claimed. Annexing complete. Portals established.]
"So quick! Wow! Nice work!"
She leaned into the handle of the trolley, starting it back in the direction of the cottage.
"Huh. Maybe I should have warned Tuuka and Sandy first? Eh, they'll be fine with it, I'm sure ..."
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It turned out that Tuuka didn't mind. Sandy, on the other hand, needed a few pints to calm her down, and some extra comforting from Shock. When Bert opened the portal, the one on Sandy's end was opened in her back room. So when Tuuka came wandering out to see what was going on, she had nearly jumped out of her skin. Luckily the screams brought Shock galumphing through, and Tuuka was wise enough to administer some 'medicinal' draughts. By the time Amelia made it back to the cottage and through the portal fifteen minutes later (trolley issues), everything was mostly smoothed over.
"Hello, sweetie! I always wanted to expand the shop, hic, but right into a brewery? Not in my wildest dreams! Not, hic, not complaining, mind you! Mister Tuuka here has been most accommodatin'."
"I'm so sorry, you two! Bert said he could do it, and I just went for it! I hope you guys are both okay?"
Sandy took another pull of her beer and brandy mix, giving a cheery thumbs up. Tuuka did the same, after wiping the powdered cheese from his hand on his apron. He was devouring some crisps he'd opened to go with the 'medicinal' alcohol.
"Great! Well, I have the ale you wanted! And now we can visit easier! Yay!"