As Milo relaxed and napped, Shadowport was in chaos above him. It was not the chaos that would have happened if a giant crystalline monster had cracked the earth and brought down the cavern roof, but it was still not in good shape.

The rich had fled first. Those with their own airships or sea-going vessels had taken trusted retainers and portable wealth. Also, the best food and wine, since long voyages could be tedious. They left behind many retainers who had served them for years, and mercenary guards who wondered about getting paid. Both mercenaries and retainers took matters into their own hands, correcting the oversight of their employers departing without settling accounts. Some worked diligently to strip the estates and mansions, selling everything that wasn't nailed down. Others decided that if they were going to die to some huge monster they might as well drink the wine cellars dry.

Some of those left behind can be forgiven for growing angry. Some of the retainers had expected to be rewarded for years of loyal service with a berth on a ship as their master sailed away. Left behind, they felt betrayed. Careless fires were started in more than one palatial hanging castle, dropping burning debris on the city below.

Luckily, it seemed arson wasn't popular, even in vindictive lackeys. And some decided that they wanted to stay but as the new Master of the house. Those with burly friends invited them to come stay for an extended visit. It wasn't long after the richest citizens had fled that many of the hanging palaces and wealthy estates had changes of ownership. Gangs joined with mercenaries under strong leaders and new territory was staked out. Half the hanging palaces were taken over, and half were looted of everything of value. There would be fights if the old owners returned. That was just to be expected.

Below in the city, everyone was busy fleeing, busy guarding their homes, or busy looting. As people fled, gangs and looters moved through buildings, stealing what they could. Even in these perilous times, there were people ready to buy. Shadowport was home to many pirates, smugglers, and outcasts from the empire. Taking advantage of chaos was second nature to them.

The gangs and thieves had no place to store this windfall of loot, so they gladly took a little coin from the fences and merchants (not much difference between them, actually.) Many a fortune was made by those with the guts to stick around, the coin to buy up what they could, and the swords to protect their warehouses.

Fights started, ranging from small skirmishes in alleyways to battles with dozens of combatants fighting over warehouses stuffed with goods. The fighting was worst in the warehouse district by the docks. That was where the first fire started as the building far above turned into an inferno and started raining pieces of itself down on a warehouse filled with textiles.

Fires were a nightmare for Shadowport. The buildings were mostly of dry wood that burned fiercely. In other cities, a Storm Mage would bring rain to smother the flames. It was hard to do that when the sky was made of stone. Several large warehouses and a swath of the shanty town near the docks burned to the ground before the fires could be cut off and dealt with. Only one Sea Mage had stayed behind, not wanting to abandon his extended family. Every other mage that could bend waves and wind to his will had departed on a ship and paid handsome sums for their services. Tobias had been born a fisherman's son, and he wasn't leaving the city. It was the large waves that he conjured from the bay that finally smothered the flames. Ironically, he couldn't save the block of homes where his family had lived.

Sitting near the charred remains of his father's house, his mana exhausted and his spirits low, he didn't notice the gang of ruffians until they surrounded him. One nudged his boot. "Hey, wake up. Are you the Sea Mage that did this? Boss needs to know!"

Tobias looked down at his soot-blackened blue robe, trimmed with a design of white waves. There was certainly no chance of denying it. "Yes. The other mages left, using Mage Winds to speed the boats out of the harbor, I'm the only Sea Mage left. Don't expect much out of me. I won't have mana to fight another fire for at least a day."

The gang's leader just nodded. "The boss wants to make sure you're ready to go, and that no one bothers you. Well, besides us. I'm leaving a few of the boys for your protection along with some mana potions to get you back on your feet."

A leather satchel was handed to him. Inside was an assortment of mana potions in various sizes. More than enough to restore his mana several times over. "Boss Squint wants you ready to go if needed." Taking that as a hint, Tobias began drinking one of the largest of potions.

"Oh, and Squint wants to know if you need anything. Sandwiches? Wine? He said to just ask and you should tell us."

Tobias laughed and pointed at the charred remains of his old home where four generations of his family had once lived. They were currently huddling in the church while his father and brothers guarded their ship. Without a home, they couldn't take the chance of losing their livelihood as well. Tired to his bones, and amused at the idea of a gang of thugs running to find him a sandwich, he pointed at the rubble and asked "Can you get me a new house? That's where my family used to live."

Several of the gang started talking, and finally, the leader laughed at some joke. "Yeah, as a matter of fact, we know of a vacant house. See that nice little villa over there with the white stucco and high fence? That's yours now. The boys will help you move in and get your family down here."

Tobias was puzzled, to say the least. "That villa belongs to a merchant, Kanelos Villdran. I think he'll object."

More laughter from the gang. "Not without his head he won't. Squint warned him about looting from across the bridge. Now his head is on a pike. Squint says he's tired of people not listening to him. Lots of new rules. Mostly 'quit looting, quit buying stolen loot, and don't make him come talk to you."

Tobias stood and dusted off his robe as best he could. "Well, I don't want to disappoint Boss Squint. If he says that's my house, I'm going to listen." All the Kulags nodded at the wisdom of that statement. "And I'll be ready to help out wherever he needs me."

Most of the gang moved off to sort out other problems. Four large Kulags escorted Tobias to his new Villa. The white stucco was stained with soot from the fires, but otherwise in good shape. Tobias decided to pick out his room before the rest of the family arrived. That only seemed fair. He was too tired to question the strangeness of the situation. After washing up in the tiled bathroom off of his bedroom, he lay down on the large bed and napped, waking refreshed. Another mana potion restored him to full. He saw that another fire had started nearby, a small house was burning and would quickly spread if nothing was done. He pointed at the fire and said, "I'm sure Boss Squint would want me to take care of that." The Kulags nodded. Two escorted him to the fire, and two stayed to guard the house.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

This fire was further from the bay. His conjured waves had less water in them when they arrived, but the area they traveled over was wet and would resist flames from the sparks dropping from overhead. He fought the fire for an hour before it was contained, and then moved to the next. Drinking so many potions was starting to affect him. His eyes were burning and his muscles aching. Seeing his fatigue, the Kulags carried him to the next fire. He wasn't sure he would be able to keep going, even with their help. To his utter surprise, two more of the gang came running up. "Boss says you're doing a great job. He just made you an honorary Kulag and said to give you these, they might help."

Tobias was handed a small pouch. The pouch contained a matched set of Rings of the Sage, granting +2 WIS each, and a Collar of Regal Appearance that increased his Charisma by +3 and his mana by +100. He quickly put them on, not questioning where they came from. As soon as he finished, he was handed potions to restore his stamina and health. The burn in his muscles eased and he got to work.

It was a very, very long day. He returned to his new home, tossed his new Staff of Eldritch Might into the corner, and slumped into a chair. Dinner was waiting for him, consisting of several bottles of alcohol, three apples, and a loaf of stale bread. He ate the bread and apples and fell asleep after half a bottle of wine. His bodyguards helped him finish the rest. Early the next morning he was woken by someone shaking his shoulder. He'd been put into his bed, for which he was grateful. Less so to find that he wasn't wearing any clothes. His bodyguards explained that Squint had come by and dropped off something to wear while he had his other clothes cleaned. "Boss wants to make sure you look good on the job. Everyone knows you work for him now." His new Robe of the Sea Master was dropped across a chair and a pair of Boots of Indomitable Stamina +4 were on the floor. Not knowing what to say, he got dressed, ate the salted mackerel on the table for a quick breakfast, and was escorted through the pre-dawn gloom to where yet another fire was lighting up the cavern.

Later the next day, he sat on his veranda, praying that nothing else blew up. To his amazement, things remained quiet, except for some commotion down at the docks when a large airship came in fast and hard. Nothing was burning so he didn't worry about it. His mother and grandmother came down from the church along with his brothers, sisters, cousins, and many children he didn't think he was related to.

His grandmother hugged him and made a fuss. "Such a good boy. Finding us all a nice new house? Your friends told us where to find you and are helping us move here. Not that we have much left. Oh, and looking so handsome in that new robe! It makes up for most of your beard being singed. You know, I have a friend with a daughter who is just your age. I'll invite her to dinner this week. The family will want to show off our mighty Wizard and new house."

Tobias got himself free of his grandmother's arms just as two aunts came rushing into the room. "Come look. Come look! The kitchen is huge! And Tobias's friend left all the copper pans and cooking oil for us."

His mother was the next family member to find him, she pulled him into another room. "I'm not ungrateful, but what debt does the family now owe? I don't for a minute think that Kanelos is letting you use his estate for free."

Tobias wondered what stories they had been told. "I don't think he had much choice. Squint caught him breaking rules and looting. He...uh...won't be back. Ever."

His mother pondered that. "I see. And in return, you work for this Squint now? Is he a good man or an evil man?"

Tobias answered truthfully. "I have no clue. I don't even know if he knows what he is. He gave us a house that belonged to a man he killed for looting our neighbors. He gives me gifts that I could never afford so I can keep the city from burning. I'm the only water mage if another fire breaks out. He wants me resting and ready to deal with it, and not worried about where my family is sleeping. I think that he's just a man trying to do what he can. Maybe a little crazy from what I've heard. But right now, so am I. So I'll keep doing what I can too. And if that gets us a house. I'm ok with that."

She nodded. That seemed fair enough for her. No one in Shadowport believed that life was Black or White. They all lived in the shadows. "Our family will take this gift. And there is room here for more people. Three more small cottages surround the gardens and a warehouse that we can use to house people. Can we offer the use of 'your house' to other families? Many don't have a roof over their heads. The church is full and food is getting scarce."

Tobias was pretty sure a lot of other families were already here, based on the number of children already exploring the rooms and setting up bedding in the courtyard. "Of course, mother. They are our neighbors and friends. But..." He paused, knowing that if he didn't say something now, he'd have six of his cousins stealing his bed.

"...I need my own room. Just me. I'm going to need my rest and I don't want people getting into...uh, my Wizard stuff."

His mother nodded, "You are the master of the house now, you need your own room. I'll keep people out of it."

Tobias sighed in relief.

"After all, you'll be getting married soon. Your grandmother has been mentioning a girl she knows..."

She would have said more, but Tobias heard his name being yelled from downstairs, and from a window he could see the glow of flames from several blocks over. He raced downstairs to find the Kulag lord sitting in his new living room, his grandmother forcing a plate of food on him. Squint caught his eye, and motioned to the door, setting his plate on the floor where the cats licked it clean in seconds.

"Thanks for the grub. We'll be back after we put out some fires and catch a few looters. Busy days. Are you ready to go, Tobias? I need my trusty Wizard friend."

Tobias smiled weakly and nodded. He followed Squint out the door and they raced to where flames were just starting to lick up the side of a warehouse. People were fighting out front. Tobias called the waves, and the waves came, drenching the warehouse and knocking over half the combatants. The fire had spread to the next building and he called for more waves, ignoring the blood flowing near him as Squint waded into the fight.