My two cats take me to my nexr world trilogy plus related stories by D.A. Sanford - HTML preview

Prologue

Justin is laying on his back, on the ground, looking at the stars and reflecting that it has been quiet since Everett is no longer among the living. That is what he is thinking, too quiet. His wife comes over and asks what he is doing.

“Oh, just thinking and winking at the stars. Watch this”

She sees him wink. Now he points to the stars.

“See, they are winking back.”

She can tell when he was thinking. She would get some silly answer or a deeply serious answer. You could never know which would come out unless you knew him as long as she has. Both answers mean serious thoughts.

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“Okay, what is really up and don’t point to the stars. I know when something is troubling you.

Come on out with it or are you going to sit out here like you used to do and just stew. New life, share the burden.”

By now the remainder of the harem has trickled out. Missy is on one side and Beez is on her favorite spot. Lap pillow. Hilda, Christine and Sorra all have lawn chairs.

Hilda stands up and walks up until she has one foot on each side of my head. Before she gets to say anything, I remark.

“Oh, what a heavenly sight.”

“Well maybe after that sight sits on your nose and mouth until you pass out. You’ll tell us what is on your mind. One more joke and the harem will cut you off.”

“I’m sorry Hilda,” Missy says “Can’t do without him.”

“Okay, what I am thinking is that it has been too quiet. Not that we need them but we haven’t even had a quest in a month. Quest may not be the right word, I should say mission.”

You see, my team has retired from taking quests. By orders. We now train the next generation of teams. So far there are now five teams stationed around the country and the crime has almost gone to zero. There are still the monsters that needed to be eradicated. Still some slavers out there needing to be thwarted.

The original team, my team now goes on errands of mercy. I do find it more satisfying but….

Deep down inside, I miss the thrill of the fight. Now the only time I come close is when I go out to hunt game.

When we do go out, there is always an escort. Mainly from our brother clan. The Clan of the Dragon but the other dragon clans help. We are never out of range of a dragon tower. Most villages and even countries have invited the dragons to build their towers in their areas.

It is considered a great honor and a sacred duty to be protecting our family. We are the most secure family out there. Who in their right mind or not in their right mind would ever challenge the dragons to get at us. Don’t even think of doing anything to our children. Retired or not, we will kill.

You may ask why retired? Why the dragon protection? And you may have a lot of other questions. I will give you the same answer I received over time.

“The Watcher will reveal it when it is time.”

Until then, I lay here and wink at the stars. They do wink back.

136

The goblins evolve

It has been a long time since our last encounter with the goblins. Those were the ones that demanded we hand over Beez. We have had some strange reports since then. There seems to be some effort on their end, by some of the males, to improve.

It has been for as long as anyone can remember that the female of the goblins has been the smarter of the species but now that there have been cases, like my own lovely wife, Beez, where they have produced children with humans. The males may look the same as the normal males but have a higher intelligence similar to their human parent.

Some of those grown male children have taken goblin wives. This is how the race is slowly improving in both their home life and their social standings.

It was a slow morning at the manor. We were in a lull of activities and all we were doing was morning workouts.

Beez was the first to notice. There was a small group of goblins at our gate. A mixture of male and females. The strange thing, other than they were better dressed than the average goblin, they carried no weapons and they waited patiently at the gate.

We all stopped and made our way towards them.

A male came forward. We almost thought there was something wrong with our ears. Unlike the neanderthal speech the males usually had.

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“I would like to talk to you about being able to settle within your area. Can we negotiate something?”

Because of the manner in which he talked and the impression he made on me, I invited them to come in and have the hall set up. There are almost twenty of them.

Seeing them seated, I can see that Beez is really looking at them hard. She especially is looking at the males. Then she asks the leader,

“All of you males appear to have human in you. Were your father’s human?”

“Yes, mine was but he will never own up to it. My mother was a love slave present to him from his wife. He got bored with her but when she got pregnant, he threw her away in the woods.

That is what has happened to most of the males here.”

Beez feels for him when she says

“I thank Justin for our twins. He’s a very good father to all his children. How can we help you?”

“We had heard that you and Justin had children. They are accepted by the family and the community. We want that. Life in the goblin community is impossible to tolerate. I have had to fight them off of both my wife and my mother. We want to live in peace. We want jobs and advance a new breed of goblin. A respectable contributor to society in whole.”

I now have heard enough.

“Before we get too far, can I have your name?”

“I’m called Gartok.”

“Thank you Gartok. You say that you want peace, a place to call home and work. I can understand that. If I was to allow you to stay in my territory, do you know that we are clan brothers with the Clan of the Dragons? That makes you, if you settle here, under their king’s jurisdiction. If you commit crimes, you would be judged by him. Are you ready for that Gartok?”

“I will tell you that we will not start any trouble but we will defend ourselves from those who threaten us. In those cases, we will submit to the king’s judgement.”

“Hearing you say that, makes me more at ease. I will say that if we allow you here, I will invite you to train with us in how we defend ourselves. I will say that you have impressed me and my wife Beez with your decorum here. Before we go deeper into this, I want to talk with my team to get their opinion. Wait here please. I’ll have the staff bring in some refreshments.”

We go to the war room.

“What is your opinion, as our goblin expert, Beez?”

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“First of all, their dangles are not showing. They have pants on. Gartok speaks well and shows common sense. That is missing from the pure blood males. His brains are in his head.

He seems very sincere. I would give them a chance.”

“What do you others think?”

One by one, each say the same thing. These are not the usual run of the mill goblins and should be given a chance.

Abigail sums it up.

“I think that they should be given that piece of land across the street. Give them the resources to build homes. Tell them in return, they have to contribute to the defense. They also need to become literate, if they already aren’t. All on a probation basis.”

We rejoin their group.

I ask them to follow me and lead them to the gate. They look dejected, they’re being thrown out or so they thought. I showed them the plot of land.

“Here’s what we offer. We are not giving you a handout. I own this area across from the manor. We will supply you with the material to build homes here. This year we will employ you as hands around the manor but will introduce you to the folks in Beall. Do you have any with the handyman skills?”

A few raise their hands.

“Build your homes well. They need to show your skills. There are always jobs for the resourceful. We will require you to contribute to the defense of the land by scouting. You can hunt the land. I require you to learn to read and write. You want to advance the species, We give you a year to show us your resolve. Can you agree with those terms?”

To say they are stunned is an understatement. To go from the thought of being shown the gate, to having a chance to prove themselves, Gartok asks his group

“What do you say to their offer?”

All accept.

“We have rooms in the manor. Until your homes are ready, you are welcome. In the morning, we will go into Beall to let the chief know that you are now under my protection and arrange what you will need to get started. There may even be jobs open. Day jobs but jobs anyway.

Let’s get you settled. Fed, a good bath and a good night’s sleep will do you well.”

“There are children here so be mindful, but one last thing, there are four women that were subject to a horror that I will not describe so they are of a fragile mind. They respond to the children. Please be aware and respectful of them.”

They are happy and you can see that they are grateful,

139

In the morning, we awake to the sounds and smells of work being done. All around the manor, the staff is being assisted by the female goblins. Looking out the front windows, I see that they have a very large portion of the land already cleared. It looks like they found the cutters and such.

I go out and see that they were all working very hard. They had not found the tools. They were using their hands and knives to do the work.

“Can I have your attention please.”

They stop.

“Would all you follow me.”

I lead them to the tool shed and open it.

“I give you permission to use anything you find in here to clear that land.”

They are in awe. There is everything they need to clear and build. Every tool you could imagine at their disposal.

“Help yourself.”

If they could get that far with their hands.

“After lunch we are all going to Beall. We have enough lumber in stores to get a few houses built. One if you go with a two story. Did all of you have breakfast?”

“We ate our one meal yesterday.” Gartok tells me.

Starvation rations, I will fix that.

“If you are staying here, we eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. We have plenty. So if you want to improve you eat. Let’s go. After breakfast you can use those tools.”

It’s no surprise that a good breakfast leads to a good day. The amount of work they were able to do in the time between breakfast and lunch was phenomenal. It was what would normally take a few days, they had done in a few hours. It was not slip shod, there was a fine quality that showed pride in their work. They will be a good addition. With this effort, they may even be excellent addition to the team. It will give members the ability to take time off.

In Beall, I introduce them.

“I’d like you to meet a group that I trust. They are family, so to speak.”

The chief and villagers know that, when I vouch for someone, it’s a seal of approval. They can count of that person or persons to do what needs to be done and do a quality job.

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“You should see what they did chief. I gave them quite a few acres across from the manor and, in a very short time, they cleared a few acres so far. Cleaned and ready to burn the brush pile.”

A farmer asks me,

“They for hire? I have five acres that I want to plant but it needs to be cleared of brush and saplings. I’ll burn the pile for the ashes.”

I speak for them just to get it going.

“What are you willing to pay and how long?

“A silver a day for each. I would like it done in a five day period.”

“So the offer is five silvers each if it is done by the five days?”

“That’s the offer.”

I talk to them off to the side.

“I think that with the proper tools, you could do it a lot quicker than five days. Gartok, bump it up as a challenge. We have him show it to you. Most likely it’s relatively flat like most of the land around here. I’d be willing to say that you can do those five acres in less than two days.

We’ll see it, then if you feel right about it, tell him that you can finish it in three days. Then make him a bet double or nothing. Cleared in three. He’ll take it. If you don’t make it in three, I’ll cover your wages.”

We ask to see it, it’s flat but a thick brush. Not many saplings. Gartok whispers to me and the others. The then talks to the farmer.

“We’ll take the job. But what would you say to a bet. You said five silver each cleared in five days. You put stakes out on the perimeter. Justin, would it be possible to ask King Draco to look at the stakes and the start condition then when done have him make sure that we did not move them and have cleared the area?”

“I can do that. I’ll even ask him if he can burn the pile. He really hasn’t gotten to burn anything lately.”

Now Gartok goes for the kill.

“Double or nothing, cleared in three days. We don’t do it in three, we still will clear the rest to Draco’s satisfaction?”

The farmer knows it can’t be done in three so he took the bet. Cleared to king Draco’s satisfaction and for free. Money in the bank. They shake hands.

141

Draco comes at our request.

“You are always startling me with your compassion and brilliance. Helping the goblin race to advance but retain some of their, shall we say, competitive, qualities.”

Now in true fashion, he addresses the goblins.

“By living on this land, you are now under both clan’s protection. We uphold a standard of fairness. I will judge your bet. Be it known that I hold honor above all else. If you clear it to the agreed upon standard, I will judge in your favor. If in three days it is not cleared, I will be back at five days to make sure you live up to the agreed terms of the bet. Seeing what you have done with your lot, I would have bet triple or nothing on two days. I may just make a side bet on that. Fifty-fifty if he takes it and you can do it.”

We go and the farmer has marked the four corners. Draco inspects the condition and the markers. There were a large group of villagers there. A bet always can draw a crowd.

Gartok had talked with me and said that they could do that even earlier than the two days. He would do it for Draco.

Draco was making book. Silver for silver on two days. He was making a lot of bets. I could not leave it like that. I yell

“Two to one on 24 hours. Given.”

Even Draco took me up on that to a gold.

Gartok and the farmer agreed that, the next morning at sun rise, the clock would start. Crafty as in a goblin’s nature, he even said that they would burn the brush. Everyone went home.

The one thing that any of us did not know was that my harem said that they would help. The plan was that, as the men cut, the women would pile and Beez would burn. With a crew like that, I should have no problem with my bets.

Next morning they started clearing, much to everyone’s amazement and dismay, they were more than three acres when they broke for a leisurely lunch. An hour before sunset, the last blade of anything was cleared. They even cleared two feet around the perimeter, just in case.

Draco confirms that it has been done to better than agreed. The farmer agrees then says.

“There is more that I need to do. I’ll be sure to hire you.”

Gartok tells the farmer that they showed up with nine males and that is what the silver count should be based on.

Draco tells the crowd, as he is collecting his winnings,

“Because he did not try to inflate the person number for gain, I, King Draco give my endorsement to his group. He is honorable. A leader of a group that can be trusted.”

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He explained later to the group that his endorsement was a guaranty of honor. You can be trusted to do what you say you will do. That said, he made four gold on bets and handed Gartok two gold.

I on the other hand made six gold. One of which was Draco’s. I kept that one and gave them five gold.

“Now you have a good start to your treasury. With what you did today, you will be the hire of choice.”

Sure enough, they started to get all sorts of day jobs. Mostly clearing and cleaning but their employers noticed that they would fix this or that to a better quality. They started to get jobs that were more than cleaning. There was a lot to fix that the villagers did not have the time to do. Soon the word was out that Beall was looking very well kept.

Gartok’s group was getting requests from surrounding villages for work that needed to be done. They now had enough money to be able to purchase the materials to make their homes. Homes that were the envy of many. Well built and even yards that were nice. The normal goblin wallows aren’t there. The houses show pride.

It was a concept that was foreign to the prevalent knowledge. A skilled, smart male goblin.

People needed to see their work, so Beall has become a tourist location for people trying to get a glimpse of them working.

I wanted to put guards on their houses because of the curious but they built a fence with a gate. At that gate is a male of the community charging admission. Just hearing that male talk normal made some minds to shut down. They were making money and getting jobs.

The word has gotten out and other goblin couples have shown up. Gartok always brings them over to talk to me. It is always explained that, since the community is protected by both clans, they needed to meet the head of the Clan of Martin. All that are brought over have been screened by their own first.

All the residents of their community are taking advantage of the training. It is a surprise to us that they are picking up the skills quicker than normal. They just are not stopping at Beez’s daggers but they also follow Hilda, Chip and the others of my team.

They have taken Beez’s dagger dance but combined it with the swordsmanship skills of Chip, to the point that they have successfully penetrated Chip’s defense a few times. Some of the best are now going out on team quests for the experience.

Some of those team up with a taller partner and make their own version of the high low twin terrors. The best of them are a goblin male and a canid female. Both are married within their own species but off the job the two families are still close.

The word is out. endorsed by both clans, the Martin goblins are top rated for their skills in clearing, repairing and building. They are now in demand. In a short time, they have a thriving business. So much so, that they now have a waiting list for their services.

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I now have ceded the land to them and welcomed them into the Clan of Martin. It was a unanimous vote. What really sinched it up for us was the respect they gave the aunts. They made seats for them to work in their garden areas and other things they needed. The aunts still don’t talk to them but we can tell that they are not afraid of them.

They have also made flower garden boxes for each of the aunt’s balconies so the women can tend to those also. Their women come over all the time with baked goods for each. Those women told the harem that they, while in their old goblin tribes, suffered much and have seen others of the tribe retreat into their minds. Those were thrown out to die. Those goblin women knew that we would be good to them once they heard, then saw how we loved those four women as family.

We are what they were looking for when they first heard of us.

Everett had no boss

Ever since the battle of Everett’s demise, don’t blame me, that’s what it has become known by. Told in tales over a campfire, by many who fought, some who didn’t but claimed to have.

I’ll start again.

144

Ever since the battle of Everett’s demise, we have been waiting for the next event. Waiting for whoever was his boss but maybe he was such a bother that his boss would think that it was a service by removing him. After all he really was a buffoon, a strong one but a simple buffoon.

He was a thorn in everyone’s side with his slave trade and robbery. One thing can be said about him, he did keep the low lives in employment. Their tenure was short because they usually were terminated. I don’t mean the type that you have to go looking for a new job. No, his type were usually put down for the permanent dirt nap.

I have a theory that always proved itself. I call it the vacuum theory. The theory is that if you get rid of something, it creates a vacuum. That vacuum fills itself by sucking something in.

Throw away something that was clutter that should have been thrown out in the first place and you will find that cleared space filled with clutter again. It happens to everyone.

I knew that it was just a matter of time before his boss put someone in charge of his territory.

So it was going to be something big that would announce his arrival. Because of that expectation, I missed the small things that usually are attributed to small time thugs.

There were letters from village chiefs. Some about home burglaries. Some about a rash of pickpockets. Muggings. All low level things that I passed on. They could be handled by the locals in that area. Those that I don’t take, they go in the odd job pile.

I don’t know why it did not register with me but it did with a certain ethereal.

“What is that big pile of correspondence?” Knowing full well what it exactly is.

Like a typical male, thick skin and head. I answer

“Those are the requests for assistance but they are things that the locals need to handle themselves.”

I look at it but only see a large pile.

The Watcher grabs the pile and walks out. I shrug it off figuring that she will be using them for some other purpose. Being frugal, she has been known to bleach the paper to remove the ink so we could reuse it. After all, paper is expensive.

Later in the day, Missy came, grabbed my hand and, with out a word, leads me to the war room. Everyone is in there. The large area map is on the table with piles of letters stacked over different town. I know I’m in trouble. This obviously is a Watcher meeting.

“Now that everyone is here.” Looking at me, the Watcher starts.

“One snowflake drifting down is of no notice but when the north wind blows and those snowflakes gang up, it becomes a blizzard. These are just the minor requests that we let the locals handle, as they should. Each pile here is a request from an area. Notice anything?”

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We all stand and look. There on the map are individual piles that are in the general areas. I look at them and think so? But then I really look. She has written a list of each offence. Pile to pile the list is the same.

Hilda is the first to speak.

“Each letter, individually is nothing but looking at this, I get the feeling that it is organized and they are rotating the locations to disguise the pattern. That way we would not get involved.”

I sit down, dumb founded. “It’s a blizzard. The replacement we expected to be spectacular not minor.”

Beez, my beloved Beez almost hisses at me in exasperation.

“Seeing this, it is not minor. This is spectacular. It is so brilliant as to escape the eyes of you, my dear.”

The Watcher comments to all.

“You do not go out to shovel a few flakes here and a few flakes there. But Justin, that drift was too high to ignore. That is why I took them and shoveled a path. As with that snow drift, I only moved it from one place to another. It really will not go away until it melts.”

I get it. Looking at it in that new light, the vacuum theory came back to mind. Some gang has filled the vacancy that Everett left. They are staying away from the highway robberies and slave trade to throw us off but for how long?

“Information! We need to gather what we need to get the pattern but most criminals will not go far from their comfort zone but will not pee in their own pond. Look at the map. Those piles are in a circle but the center area has no piles.”

As everyone looks at what I pointing at. The only place in the center is Cannerten. Everett’s old headquarters.

“Everyone, take a pile, then put them in date order.” We all do that. Once the last is done I tell them.

“I will start by saying my earliest date. Then the next will say their earliest. After this first round, we will shift positions to set the dates in sequential order.”

We do that and readjust our positions. After that we go around and around. The dates all line up.

“Now place them back on the area that you took them from.”

Once they were put down. From the earliest date to the newest date, the pattern was the same. They were going in a circle and if we are reading it right, we needed to go to the next two villages in the circle.

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“Given that the dates on the letters were when they were written and that there must have been a few that they could not solve before they wrote those letters but the pattern is there.

We need to talk to those villages. I think that Rae, Beez and Abigail should sit it out. Think of the children. Stay here.”

Rae said that she would stay and would watch all the children for us. The other mothers could go. She slips into the Watcher and does say that the day is coming that the harem will not go out. As usual, the Watcher will not elaborate.

We start out to what may be the next area to be hit. We have never been here but they seem to have recognized us. The village is Fair Haven. It is a little larger than Beall. There is some animosity towards us.

The chief comes out.

“It’s about time you came here. Come to visit?”

I hold my tongue.

“We got your letter. What you described was something that you should have been able to take care of yourself. My team does not do local law enforcement. Your letter was placed on the pile that we would not respond to. It was only when one of my team took that pile and sorted into areas that we noticed a pattern. We are here to gather information. I’m sorry but if you are not going to lose that attitude, we have quite a few places more that we need to talk to. I will say that we have found a pattern and that you appear to be the next place to be hit.”

To drive home the point, I motion to the team to mount up.

The news that they may be hit again causes the attitude to go away.

“I’m sorry. It’s just the fact that we now have been victims twice. Once for each of the past two months. Please help us.”

“Do you have a hall that we can gather as many villagers as possible?”

He takes us to their meeting hall. Then tells some of the people milling around to go to the people and have them meet here.

I add, “We really need those who have been robbed here. Tell them that it is important that we talk to them.”

Soon there is most of the town here, I pull over the chief and ask him.

“I don’t want to alarm you, but without looking hard at the man by the store, do you know him?”

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With a quick glance, he tells me that he was here a little while ago but does not live here. I signal Abigail and Missy to come over. Without saying a word to both, I point and grab my wrist then point to the floor. With out so much as a whisper. They disappear. We hear a scream. Then the man is dragged in.

“Take him to the front of the hall and tie him to a chair.”

When I see that it is done.

“Anyone here know this man?”

Two raise their hand.

“How do you know him?”

The first one to answer said that he was passing through and stopped by my house. He asked me if he could get a drink of water and a refill of his canteen. My pump was in the kitchen so i invited him in. He filled his canteen, then I got him a glass for water. We sat in the parlor and talked. He thanked me and left.”

The other person seems shocked. When we asked why, she said that he did the same with her.

Chief tells me that these two were the ones that were burgled. All their valuables were taken.

I have the chief lock him up. After he is taken away I ask.

“Has anyone been visited by him today?”

No one had.

“Scout the surrounding area Abigail, then come back. Hopefully we may have caught a break.”

She goes.

I ask the crowd if they had any such encounter by strangers in town? I get a few answers but not what I expected. They were reports from relatives in neighboring town that they had been robbed and they gave me the village names.

Abigail was gone a long time but came back.

“I found a camp but it was deserted recently. It looked like they left in a hurry.”

I answer that there must have been a second person watching the one we got. When we captured him, the other must have run to tell the others. I asked if she could tell how many.

“You’re not going to like this. Best I could tell, there were around twenty to twenty five.”

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“Where have I seen that number of gang members?” I said sarcastically.

“Got to be a few of Everett’s that we let go to spread the word about doing this in this country.

Left overs that are not going into his old line. We got to get the man to talk.

Sorry folks, it is necessary to talk to that man and see if he will give us some answers. His partners may still be where we can catch them. Would you mind hanging around for a bit?”

With that, we go over to the chief’s office. There he is chained to the wall by his ankle. He is not a happy camper. He sees us and starts in with the rehearsed lines about being innocent, being very influential. I shut him up with one of my several aces.

“I have someone that can clear this up right now.” I say to the man.

“I know that you are able to contact her, Missy. Would you please send her a message for me.”

Without hesitation, she knows who, so there was only the need to ask what I wanted to ask.

“Would you please ask her to have the staff watch the children for a few. I would ask her to come into this room. I need her opinion about this man.”

Missy closes her eyes. She must have told her about what was needed. The Watcher came in a flash of light and smoke, appearing right in front of the man. He fainted. The Watcher picked up a bucket of liquid and doused him with it. It turned out to be a piss bucket. It revived him.

The Watcher looks at him then looks at me with an exasperated look.

“The children and I were playing hide and seek. They made me promise not to disappear. I had to let them catch me. Their first time. They were delighted but it ruined my record. You took me away from that fun, just to have me identify one of Everett’s gang. He cases each place by asking for something like water. Then reports to the people that do the actual robbery. His boss is one of the ones you told to warn others. His boss was Everett’s second.

There are two more of his subordinates besides that one. I’m going back to bake cookies with the children. Want me to bring some?”

“Only if they are sugar cookies that are very dark.”

“Didn’t happen in the old and not happening in the new. I’ll bring some for everyone else. By the way, give this one to Draco. He’ll look good stuffed in his palace.”

With that, she leaves the same way she came. Later on, she brought sugar cookies and there were two that were over cooked. She said that our daughter Mazet made those two purposely because I asked for them. Daddy’s little girl. Beez tells me that Mazet spoils me just like I spoil her.

I give Beez a kiss, “Just like I spoil her mother.”

Beez claims dibs “I need to be spoiled.”

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The idea of being stuffed like a trophy by the dragon king loosened his tongue. He gave up information in exchange for being given over to the royal jail wagon.

“You can rest easy,” I tell the chief, “With this information, they know who we are and that we will be chasing them. They should not be back here again. One thing, is there any abandoned farms around here?”

We were shown a map location for a few and we left the village. I can tell Beez is showing the same feeling that I am getting. Everett had hideouts for his gangs. If they are working this area and being guided by one of his seconds, they would still be using his habits.

The first site was a bust. The building was collapsed into the cellar and the area shows no signs of anyone being there. The second however.

At least, when Everett sent someone to follow us, at the lake there was only a little disruption to the passage. Then it looked like a few deer came through. This looked like a herd of cattle came through.

Beez started to manically giggle to herself. We all heard her say,

“Burn them to ashes then wash them into oblivion.”

Yup, past unresolved memories.

We start hearing drunken people, a lot of drunken people.

I tell them all, especially Beez, we need to take the leader into custody, and a few of the henchmen alive. Beez please get control. She just nods and giggles.

At least this time we don’t need to worry about hostages.

“Plan is that we draw them out in the open. I want the leader and four others. The rest are the ones we need to go through. Chip and Abigail on the right. Christine and Sorra on the left.

Missy, myself and the high low twin terrors, we’ll go down the middle.”

With everyone in place, game on. A little noise and we started. It was a little disappointing to fight against drunks. I yell,

“They are not worth it, knock them out. We’ll sort them later,”

Within minutes, it was over. Only two of the gang died, were cremated and the ashes washed away. Beez has a smile again.

They turned on the leader right away. Told us that the loot from this area was in the house.

Tied up and being used to pull the wagon with their ill gotten gains, we made our way to the village.

150

Timing is everything, we met the jail wagon as it was leaving the village. The chief went over the charges. I told the jailer that there were other villages that these had raided. The proper authorities needed to search for the safe houses. The stolen items may be still there.

After loading the prisoners in, I stepped over to the cage. Looked the leader in the eyes, then said.

“I recognize you as one of the ones we told to spread the word and leave. I told you that if we saw each other again you would regret it. You will wish, over the next year or so of your short life that a criminal slave has, that we killed you. This is better. Think, if you hadn’t been drunk, you would be dead. Dead would have been more merciful.”

The jail wagon drives off. I tell the chief to get those two that were robbed. They come and I show them the loot.

“Please remember the others that were robbed. I ask you to only point out what you see of yours.”

They find that most of what they lost was here. Some of it was missing. Cups, plates and such.

I had to tell them that they were drunk and there was a lot of broken stuff. I give them the location.

“If you want, you can go there. You may find some of what you are missing.

If you can find enough pieces, you could glue them together for display.”

I ask the chief to check with neighboring villages to have the unbroken remainder returned to their rightful owners.

After checking the remainder of the areas we received letters from. We checked and found the safe houses. They showed that it was the same group. Now for the remainder, we invited the village chiefs and a few towns people to come with us with a wagon. Each place had what they stole. Everetts brightest. They robbed but did not setup a fence to handle all the loot.

The team said the same thing, Everett was the top boss. These idiots proved it. Imagin, setting up the rotating pattern was smart but that was the limits of their leader’s ability. No one to sell the loot to.

It was fun but now back to the manor. I hope Mazet will make me some more of those sugar cookies. I love the caramel taste of the overdone sugar cookies.

151

The watcher has not retired

The five men that originally were trouble makers are now adults. The watcher is now looking at the five. She is sitting with Beez and whispering and pointing. The five are now proficient enough to teach beginners. It is a mixed class.

The watcher is pointing to one of the females, whispers, then point to the leader of the five that, as a trouble maker made fun of the wives. The one that the watcher is pointing to is a late teen felid. Kinda looks close to what Missy looks like but has white on the face and paws.

We would call her type a tuxedo.

She has been noticed by the two. She cannot take her eyes off that leader. The big thing is he cannot look away fast enough. The watcher sends Beez over to her and brings her back.

They talk and it is noticeable that after just a few comments, the felid has her hands to her face and looks like she is blushing.

One by one they fall under the scrutiny of the Watcher. One by one certain women are noticed and called over. One by one the men fall victim to the oldest attack. Female wiles are the ultimate opponent that no man can overcome. Especially when the Watcher is involved.

I talk from experience. In the old world, I was nineteen when my younger sister came and asked me for a ride to a parade. It was only a five minute walk but she insisted that I drive her there. I parked and she ran off. Since I was there, I decided to watch the event. Soon my sister came over to me and introduced me to her friend. She told me that the girl wanted to ask me a question. The question was that she wanted me to use my car, which she described as a station wagon, on a church paper drive. I said yes. My sister asked me to take the girl home. Which I did. A year after my wife died, I was writing how we met when it suddenly occurred to me, how did she know what I drove? I asked my sister and found out that I was ambushed by two teen age girls that day at the parade. I said it before and will always say it men are slow and easy targets for women.

If we thought she had retired after she revealed herself, we would be wrong. Now that she is here, It seems that quite a few people know of her. Now we know what she is doing when we see the not so occasional times that we find that we cannot find her.

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She is out helping others in need with one exception, she is no longer guiding in the background. That’s why I’m not surprised when the climate is changing in the classes that the five men are teaching.

It’s the beginning of spring, more than the flowers blossom. By the time the summer camp starts, all five are married. Now the fun. They are invited to, as couples attend the male portion of the summer but the men leave for the female portion with the exception of Chip and I.

The land had been developed. The lake now has a lodge, not for the trainees but for the staff.

There are two cottages. One for Chip and one for me. Both are large. Rooms for the children but both adult bedrooms are completely sound proof.

The lake front has improved. The hot spring area now has a large enclosed area that will fit my harem so it will hold quite a few tired campers. There is a dock with a boat house. We have row boats and a few sail boats. There is a buoyed area for swimming. The depth is such that someone struggling can touch bottom and launch towards the shore. All that swim must pass a test to show that they are safe enough to be within that area.

The campers are just that, campers. This is after all a survival training camp. What the first five went through, these experiences have become famous. They are now warned about the dagger demonstration and now don’t need to be told to stay still. It’s a matter of pride to be able to say that they came about as close to death and lived as that they can’t be afraid of anything else.

Once the male section of the summer camp is over the five men go back to the manor and handle the minor quests. If something comes up that they feel is beyond their capabilities, they send a female to inform Chip and myself.

I say right now that the reason we send the five back to the manor and we stay is just the fact that we do not want to have the rifts that could happen between young married men and their wives if a young unattached female makes eyes at them. Sending them back to the manor is a vital survival lesson.

If a female makes eyes at Chip and I, our women just shrug and say that they will discuss caution to the young ladies. A lesson on the consequences of trying to poach game on someone else’s land.

When it is the male side of the summer. Our wives know that we trust them to not destroy the male’s ego, completely. There have been fools that have made advances and have been given a chance.

“If you can beat me, you can have me.” And them the male goes down in flames. They walk away, bruised, battered but their ego has not been totally destroyed. This only goes for the harem wives and Abigail not the new wives. We don’t tolerate those advances. Usually, a trip hunting produces an apology.

153

The Watcher makes a powerful hunting guide. What is only a short time for us, is a long time to them that is made even longer by the after thoughts of the experience. She still is ethereal.

I never want to go on one of those hunting trips.

We include those goblins that want to go on the summer camp. All of them are in great demand. They are now famous for the work they do. Even their women are given their free choice. They, with the exception of the daycare staff, all have extra jobs.

You heard it right. On the recommendation of the Watcher and the endorsement of Draco, even Beall women bring their very young to be watched at the day care. A few of them are contemplating opening a day care for the elderly. Christine is teaching them how to care for the old folks

The ones that work in the skills, now set aside those weeks for training. Keeping to the strict rules of the separation of the sex’s. They are formidable fighters. Unlike the pure bloods that just use clubs, these ones are proficient in all types of weapons. Some even carry clubs to fool an opponent.

The Watcher is very proud of them and we find that a lot of the new goblins will say that the Watcher told them to come. Those would invariably have the Watcher show up when they are brought to me to introduce them. I did not need to interrogate them any further. With the Watcher, it was only a meet and greet.

She has been working behind the scene but always for the good of the Clan of Martin. She continues to steer us in the direction we need to go in, whether we want to go in that direction or not. As I said many of times, if I want to go in a different direction, the total harem gangs up on me and shows me the error of my ways.

One final thing, all our children love her, she will play games, make and bake things with them. I also think that she has given them a collective sight. They are now an army.

Whenever someone is feeling sad, they know it and that person gets a few or all attacking them with hugs., They will engage that person in some group tasks. You can never keep a good funk going with them around.

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The children’s army

So far, of the team, only Abigail, Beez and the Watcher have had children. The staff also have had children. As far as everyone is concerned all are ours. Right now, there is a total of twenty five at the manor.

Yes, at times it is chaos. Kids will be kids but one thing is clear, they have grown up in an environment that family protects family. They see all the training that is going on. They see people coming to ask for help and the family does just that help.

One thing, from the time that they were allowed to toddle around the yard, all the children have gravitated to the four women that we rescued. They know that those women don’t talk but it was not uncommon for those let out for the first time to lay down next to those women or lean against them. For some reason, those women seem to relax somewhat. The women will on those occasions, will rub the sleeping child’s arm or head.

Sadness and strife cannot exist with them around. As I said before, I smell the Watcher’s hand in it. For all to be able to sense it is too coincidental.

Like any group, there are always standouts.

There must be a caveat placed here. All the children are more aware of a sense of justice.

They are all outstanding. The older one’s act as the defenders and the younger are the healers. All are as courageous as each.

The two leaders are Abigail’s first born kitten, Rachael, who is now nine years old, is the top leader and her partner is Beez’s first born goblin, Mazet, she is now eight years old. Both lead but each have their expertise.

Rachael is the bravest. She will stand up to any person who is bothering the family. She reminds me of a video that I saw in the old world. It was of a large black bear that was wandering into a yard. There was a small tiger striped cat looking at it. The cat was arched and puffed up. You could tell it was hissing at the bear. All of a sudden, the cat charged the bear. The bear turned tail and ran as that small cat chased it down the dirt road. That is Racheal. Fierce.

Mazet is the brains of the two. She will stand up to the foe also but all the time, she is figuring what is the right move. She can be seen looking at someone holding her stick but she will have a hand behind directing the others to a better advantage.

The combination of the two makes me feel that they are going to lead the army to greatness.

155

The best time is watching these children interacting with the Watcher. They think of all the harem and staff women as their mothers, they all know who their birth mother is. There is something about the Watcher. I can say that they all like mom Rae but when she takes on the Watcher persona, she always attracts them. The only thing is that they do warn her that when they play hide and seek, she cannot disappear. When she is it, no using her special sight to find them.

They are normal children. They love to play but a lot of time they play alone, or in small groups. To outsiders, they may seem like there are cliques but when you watch you see that they will gravitate towards any of them that looks lonely and get them involved.

When we go to the lake is when they really become normal children. Running rampant but always remembering the boundaries. No going into the woods and the lake without an adult with them.

They do go into the woods with mom Abigail and the Watcher for expeditions. A trek to see if they can spot the wild things. They may know but the dangerous things have been taken care of by the other mothers before the journey. It mainly is to placate the urge to wander. Abigail always hears things and signals them to be cautious. For some reason, the Watcher had slipped out of view at the same time. It is an adventure.

That is the same for the lake. We have taught all to swim but like most children, they all advance at their own rate. That is why the markers are brought in so they all can touch the bottom.

For the most part, the lake is for fun. The meadow area is very large. Far more than the manor. It really is an area where they can run wild. They have gone wild over a game that was introduced to them.

Kickball. We made them a field with bases and a rollers area. For the younger ones, a mother is the roller and they run the bases. The older ones will break into two teams but each game they will remix teams. Rivalry during the game but afterwards again friends.

Above all, they are united in helping the family for now, but all talk about the day they will be able to go on real missions of justice. They know they need formal training and need to grow.

Even at their age, they also say that they need the healers to grow so that they can become defenders and the new borne can grow to be healers. That way, the home will be protected.

The matriarch

156

Ever since the wedding confirmation of Justin and Sorra, the matriarch has had thoughts that she had put away a long time ago. She at one time wanted what she saw but when she accepted the mantle of matriarch, she buried those feelings. She had to be indifferent to the act. BUT.

That man!

In dragon to human years, she only would be the equivalent of mid thirties. Still in her prime at only 300 years.

She has found herself visiting their manor, to check on Sorra’s integration into the harem.

Sometimes it takes months. They are so kind to her that they have given her, her own room.

Those long-quashed feelings have, with the speed of a look at that man, burst forth It has been a long time, since her ascension to the matriarch, that was her name, that was what everyone called her. After the first visit, Justin did something that would have been called an insult by some of the dragons if there were others around.

“Madam,” Justin asks, “It is cumbersome to all ways calling you by your title. Would it be an affront to call you by name?”

“No,” she is swamped with emotions but almost fainted when he asks

“Then may I ask, what is your name?”

“Martha.”

“Martha, how would you like to go with us? We are going to Beall for some light shopping. My wives don’t know the meaning of light so be prepared. They’ll drag you to their favorite shop.

The dressmaker. I’m sure that you’ll be made over. Not that you need it. You are very beautiful as you are.”

He is just flattering me, or is he? With what she has seen of him, the one thing he has is that he feels that he does not have to flatter. He tells the truth. Has she forgotten how to take a personal complement? That man, these feelings. Why do I want to be with him? It can’t be that.

There is one of his wives that is always talking to me. She is always asking me about my feelings. She looks like she is the older of the group. When I asked, she said she was thirty.

She would not elaborate but she seems like she is the sage of the group.

“I just know things.”

When I asked how she knew that Sorra would fit.

“I can only say that I just knew she was a perfect fit”

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It was then that I remembered that she was not there for the marriage but she knew every aspect of it including what went on behind those closed doors where it was only the couple, Missy and myself.

She then almost knocked me to the floor

“You’re going to fit in very well.”

Then turned and walked to the other wives. They looked at me and smiled. One by one they came over to me and talked to me like a sister. I really feel welcome here.

There is only one problem with the manor. It is older and sound proofing in the country is not a necessity. Or so they thought. I have watched every one of his wives run off hand in hand with Justin into that room. Believe me, no sound proofing. There are times at night, the harem sleeps together or rather, they occupy the same bed at night.

Witnessing the act many times over, it cannot compare to listening to hours of raucous raw and romantic sex. It is taking its toll. One thing that is not known, outside the order, is the most important qualification for becoming the matriarch is that you must be a virgin and remain so.

To witness consummation after consummation, envy must be beaten down into a permanent locked box.

Watching Justin and Sorra, not only did the lock give way, it shattered. Never to be able to be used again

Coming here to the manor as much as I have, this environment is addictive. It is peaceful and they can defend that peace. No, it is not an oxymoron. The way that crazily sane felid Missy puts it.

“If you threaten our peace, we attack, you die. Simple”

Even the staff trains. They are able to mobilize when needed. All this preparation is why they are at peace.

You do not mess with the Clan of Martin. They are aligned as brothers to the Clan of the Dragon. This force shown extreme valor when Everett Ratten tried to attack. His gang along with himself were destroyed. All died with the exceptions of a few that were left alive to spread the word. Justin was the one that killed Everett.

All these things at just basic to one thing, he protects his family’s peace. As I said, this environment of peace through strength but not unrestrained strength. This is why his manor is peace. That peace also promotes their loving environment.

What I need to do is sit alone and think. I what I am feeling is real, not envy, then I need to decide whether to give in and lose my position or stick to my order. I need to think about it.

Think very hard.

158

I am in turmoil. Never have I been in this position. Remaining a virgin was relatively easy.

There was never a male that I was attracted to in that way.

Until now. I am in such a deep trance that even the children have come up to me.

The children of the manor have grown up in an environment of people constantly training.

Each morning, they see this and try their best to imitate what they see. Their parents let them try but stop short of letting them use actual weapons. They have sturdy sticks and have been told not to hit each other. The children five and under still try to participate but the attention span.

The children, ages six to eight, act as the protectors. They have the sticks. The younger ones, they are the huggers. When there is a stand off, they all have the sense that you protect the family.

The oldest two Mazet and Rachael are the leaders but Rachael is the oldest. She is Abigails kitten.

I have kittens in my lap snuggling as tight as they can. Human, goblin felid, they don’t care. If they see someone that needs comfort, they do a group assault hug. I am so caught up in the majestic example of caring that I did not notice the approach of other adults.

The harem leader had seen my dilemma and sent Sorra to find and bring back my predecessor. She also had her predecessor. Later, the older harem wife said she knew where they were and sent Sorra with a message.

My predecessor taps my shoulder then asks the children if they could borrow me. Leave it to those wonderful children. The kitten leader Rachael says,

“You can talk to her but she is ours, don’t hurt her.”

And she gives them a very serious look with her hands on her hips.

“We will be watching you. We need to help our aunts but we will be watching.”

The three of us have a hard time not laughing as we watch a small army march off to their aunts. Those aunts are the ones adopted by the harem. That army has at least three watching us all the time we talked. When we moved to the shade, the lookouts move to a position where they could signal the others.

My predecessor looked at me,

“You are loved and accepted.”

“I know” as I look at my protectors and wave. They wave back but stay at their posts.

The two sit facing those children.

159

“You are in love, aren’t you? You’re first one. It is something we all have faced.”

“I’ve never felt this way before. I like that feeling but I know that I have a sacred responsibility to the clan.”

Her predecessor asks,

“Are you the matriarch?”

“Yes”

Now a very poignant question by her.

“Are we dead?”

Pointing to her successor and herself.

For almost the first time in my life, I am stunned to silence. She continues but the lookouts start to move but I wave to them and smile. They look at me but do not go back to their positions.

She continues

“It is common to the office. We both felt it and now I will tell you the secret we found out by only a few more question. Who trained you then told the order that you could take the office.”

Before I could answer, she pointed to my predecessor.

“Who certified her?” and my predecessor points to her.

“Who is going to certify your successor?”

“Me”

“The clan is not so ignorant that it does not recognize that we change. I now have a grown son who was one of the archer heroes of the battle of Everett’s demise. He is married and I have a granddaughter.”

My predecessor then talks

“I also had an archer in that battle. He along with her son descended and took up the sword.

His sword is in a place of honor in our dwelling. He is now wanting to get married. Is your next capable of doing the office? Or will you do the confirmation?”

The older now says

160

“Like you, we were both virgins. Like you, we took the office seriously and like you, we came to the point that we were in the same conflict as you. So will your successor. When it’s her time to question, you will also have to talk to her.”

I break down in tears and immediately the army comes running to me and the angry looks were concentrated on the two.

“What did you do to her?!” Rachael demanded as the rest climbed over me and placed themselves between me and the two.

“I am having tears of joy, my protectors. They helped me make a decision. Thank you my children.”

With the commotion of the children the other adults came running over.

The older wife steps in front of the adults.

“This is a happy time. A crisis has been solved and Martha’s mind is at peace. It is time to celebrate.”

Much to my surprise, my predecessor’s bow and say at the same time.

“The watcher has spoken.”

I see Justin shaking his head as the harem joins the now laughing children in that hug. I see Justin look at his wife and she nods. I wonder what that means but I have made my decision.

“Would you help me do the training of my successor?”

I ask the two. They gladly accepted.

The process will take around six months with gathering the necessary testimony and purification ceremonies. It takes three to certify the next but I will make a change before I announce the beginning of the transition to my successor.

“With the two here and Sorra, I have enough to make a decree. It is now and forever an insult to address the office holder as just ‘the matriarch’. From this point on you must address me as

‘The matriarch Martha’. My successor will have her name after the title.”

The three say

“Yes Matriarch Martha.”

Now Justin speaks

“The clan of Martin acknowledges this decree.”

Missy steps up with her formal look

161

“It also is acknowledged by the watcher.”

Now the children’s leader announces

“You have a room here. When you are done, we have decided we want you to live with us.”

The harem and Abigail voice their agreement. Justin then says

“Will you do us the honor in making this your permanent home?”

As I am crying again, I answer,

“If you would have me.”

One of the adopted women

My wonderful harem they can be ruthless when needed but more times than I can recall, they are very sympathetic and compassionate.

After the rescue of the tortured women, there were a few women that never regained their right minds so we could not find their people. The harem adopted them and have sheltered them since.

Our children see them as aunts. Not so surprisingly, they are very supportive and protective of them. The women barely speak but the children bring them out a little. It is a common sight to see them helping their aunts weed the garden. Those little ones are marvels.

The children, in their own understanding have even named their aunts after the flowers that the women tended to gravitate to and now we have been using those names also.

We have aunt Violet, aunt Daisy, aunt Iris and aunt Rose. We can now call them by those names and they respond. Especially for meals, the children will go up to them and, taking their hand or hem of their dress, for the smaller ones,

162

“Time to eat aunt Rose”

The others would say the same to the other women. The women now recognize and respond to a call out the to them but you had to be specific otherwise they would not respond.

The children do not know what happened to those women and as far as we are concerned, they never need to know until they are adults and ask.

Sometimes the women will seem in distress and freeze with a horror look. The children notice and that woman gets the group hug treatment. I can’t figure out how they know but even if they are not in sight of the women, they come to the rescue the moment one is in distress.

With that group, even if the cause is a bee flying to a flower, they will protect their aunts.

It has been quite a few years since the rescue. From time to time, some of the other rescued women and their families would visit us. Each and every time it was like they were visiting gods and each and every time we dispelled that awe.

They would go to those four and tell them of their recovery and families while helping them weed. Most of the rescued come to check up on those four.

Chip and I came back from Beall one day to find a man yelling at my wives as Hilda is literally throwing him off the property.

We immediately jump into the fray.

“What do you think you are doing trespassing on my property?”

“I want my wife. You are holding her hostage!”

He points to Rose.

I could guess because there is an army alert, ready to defend Rose. All of the children are between the aunts and that man. The only thing missing is armor. As I look at them. I mention to my harem that we need to get them some costume armor. The wives agree.

“This needs to be discussed in my office, not here.”

Usually, it is Chip that brings the person to the office but this time, since she already has a grip on him,

“Hilda, would you please escort this man to the office, but he can walk. You don’t need to suspend him by his collar. He can walk.”

In the office, it’s crowded, I need a bigger office or less people, I look at the man.

“In a civilized manner, please explain what exactly is the claim you are making on one of my women.”

163

The harem knows that since the arrangement with them at the wedding in Beall, I married the harem. The harem could bring in others and marry them to the harem. Subsequently they would be married to me. In this case, the harem adopted them so you could look at it like they were my wives or children. So I was not wrong when I said that she was one of my women.

“She is my wife, I gave up on trying to find her but then I heard that you were holding some hostage.”

“First of all, they are not being held hostage. They have been through a horrible ordeal at the hands of a sadist. They have never returned even close to being normal. Not being able to take care of them selves or tell us who they are, my harem has formally adopted them. That makes them my family.”

“She is my wife, my property!”

“If you don’t want to be eliminated, DON’T YOU EVER REFERE TO HER AS PROPERTY

AGAIN. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME.”

The women and Chip at looking like they want to throw him out right now.

“Beez, I know you want to but please put your daggers away. Now I will take you to see Rose, that is what we call her. You will not speak in anything other than a calm tone. I want to see her reaction. Do you understand me?”

I get a yes. With that, we go back into the yard where we still see the army. I am getting those costumes.

Calmly we walk up to her and at a respectful distance I say

“Rose, we have someone here that wants to talk with you.”

She stands as he opens his mouth and forcefully shouts

“Rita”

She crumbles into a fetal position and is utterly screaming in terror. She is immediately surrounded by her army and while some hug, the older ones now have sticks that they are pointing at him.

The oldest kitten, Rachael, comes forward and tells him

“You get out of here right now or else”

She has a fierce snarl on her that shows her fangs and the hair is straight out. The only sound that you could hear was the buttons popping off of Chips shirt and Abigail steps beside her daughter and says,

“You better listen to her. What she does not chew up I will”

164

Abigail looks at the brave child and prompts her to show her claws. The others follow suit.

“I guess that I’ve seen enough. She does not want to talk and you don’t want to tangle. You, Chip, and I will go back to the office. Missy will represent the women.”

He knows that he has no choice.

Back in the office, his nerve starts to come back.

“What did you do to my wife, I demand to know!”

“We rescued her” Missy is angry, “I’m sorry Justin for what I am going to say”

She looks back at him. “That woman had only stumps for hands. All her fingers were cut off.

Her stomach was partially skinned and her intestines were exposed. She had missing toes.

She was the one that was closest to death.”

He interrupts “I had nothing to do with that.”

“SHUT THE FUCK UP. I’M STILL SPEAKING, ASSHOLE”

Missy is one step below the tornado.

I let her continue but with the warning

“You make a mess in here, you’ll be the one to clean it up.”

“Gladly”

“Then finish what you were telling him.”

“That woman went to hell and for the grace of God, we got to her in time. Our sister is the greatest healer and was able to cast a spell that healed her body. It could not heal her mind.

You saw those children. They are the ones that did the most for her mental health. She still barely functions but, with their help. She can function. She does not interact with the adults but those children. You saw them. Have you ever seen the results of someone who messed with a hornet’s nest. Those children are hornets. I’m done with this…fool”

“I want you to give all your contacts that live near you. If you moved, where did you live while married to her and most important any relative of hers. If you don’t provide this information, as the land owner of this manor and the highest rank in this area outside of the capitol. I will arrest you and bring you to the royal court for trial as a criminal. Now that you understand.

Chip get all that information.”

I get up to leave and he starts to open his mouth.

“I have a lawyer that will see to this.”

165

Chip tells him that he now will need to furnish that information on top of what I requested.

I tell Chip

“I want to review the information before we have Hilda throw him off the property again.”

My property. My daughter with Beez, Mazet, has the right name for his type, she would call him a poophead.”

Going back outside, I can see that the children have calmed Rose down by asking if this or that is a weed while others are attached to her and hugging.

I walk up to her squat down and asked her if she was okay. Usually all we get is a nod. What happened put me on the ground.

“He sold me”

Even the children were stunned. It was Christine that was the first.

“Did that man sell you?”

“He sold me.”

That is all I needed to hear. I run back to the office to find that the man told Chip that he was leaving and we would hear from his lawyer. And he has left the manor. I yell

“Sorra” and she is right there. She heard Rose talk

.

“That son of a bitch just left. Grab him but do not bring him back here. Take him to your father to hold him until I get there. Have him arrange for the matriarch Matha to be there. Fill him in on what happened. You stay there. Tell him that both the Watcher and I will come there with great speed.”

Sorra goes supersonic. I come out of the manor and there were two horses and provisions waiting there with a smiling felid standing there. Rae was nowhere to be seen.

Missy says the Watcher does not like to ride. She in all probability is there right now.

Rae, as the watcher keeps in the background but retains her watcher status and abilities. By changing back to the ethereal mode, she can be anywhere in a blink. Handy. but that still means I ride.

“Who’s the other horse for?”

At that Christine comes out with her travel bag.

“You’re going?”

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“Who else can better testify as to Rose’s condition then and now?”

“I guess we ride”

We stopped for breaks to rest the horses but pushed on in a few hours. We made good time when we saw Draco’s home come into view. The two of us were greeted by Draco and Rae.

She had to say.

” What took you so long?” .

Ignoring that, I greet Draco and ask how is the guest faring? I was told that they have given him a loose robe because he is now incontinent.

“Matriarch Matha” I say as she comes into view. “I am pleased to see you again. You must have been near to get here so quickly”

“I was here already, training my successor. She is inside studying but she will be in the trial of that man. How is Rose? I will be there after this is over.”

Christiine likes her so she asks, formally of course,

“If that is your intension, would you please do us the honor of traveling with us?”

She comes over and hugs Christine.

“How can I refuse someone who’s a sister.”

We go inside and sit in the great hall. We are sitting on the same side in a row. Draco is in the middle seat. To his right is the Watcher, then me. On his left is the matriarch Matha and her successor.

We were facing that man. He was dressed and trying to be innocent. He comes off weak but arrogant.

Before we can say anything

“I demand to be released. She’s my wife, my property.”

And with that Draco orders him to be gagged.

“When we need an answer from you, we will remove that gag. You are in the royal court of the Clan of the Dragon. I am the king and this is my kingdom. A charge has been made against you of selling a sentient being into slavery that resulted in both physical and mental injuries of which her mental injury may never heal.

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The charge is being brought by the head of the Clan of Martin. He has asked the Clan of the Dragon to adjudicate this matter. Since the clans are related, his area comes under my kingdom’s jurisdiction.”

“I require Justin Martin to stand before the board.”

With that, I get up and stand before him.

“Justin Martin, leader of the Clan of Martin, before the Matriarch Matha and the Watcher will you uphold your honor and tell only the truth?”

“I swear on both my honor and my life that I will speak only the truth.”

“Please explain to us how you came to know this person that we recognize as Rose.”

I tell them of the goblin quest and the question that we raised about the fate of the missing women. How Chip heard rumors about a sadistic man. How we raided his mansion only to find him in the process of torture of the most foul kind. Then I say that Christine can explain what it was like and what she had to do. I yield the floor to Christine.

She again goes into the graphic details of what she saw and what she had to do for the physical. Then she said that the four worst were lost in their minds. Her testimony turned the stomach of all that were at the table.

Then something that we did not expect. Martha said that she wanted to state what she had seen at the manor.

“Those four women were named by their biggest caregivers. The children of the manor. They had done the most to make those four welcomed and feel as part of the family. They give those ladies more attention and help than any adult could have. I could tell that, in their own way, those women love those children as a grandmother loves her grandchildren.”

She goes back to her seat.

Now Draco asks about the encounter at the manor.

I tell him that I came home to find him being thrown off the grounds by Hilda.

Draco says to the man.

“I will now have them remove the gag. Will you answer to the questions I will be asking?”

He nods yes and the gag is removed.

Draco asks “Were you being physically evicted from your trespassing?”

“Yes. That Amazon was too rough.”

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“I asked a yes or no question. Any further outbursts and the gag will be placed back.

“Justin Martin you may proceed.”

I tell him that we took the matter into my office and the man agreed to quietly talk to Rose.

Which he agreed to.

“Did you agree to that? Yes or no.”

“Yes”

I would like to call my wife Sorra to testify to what she saw when we brought him to Rose.

Sorra was brought in and she said that he actually was loud with her and she was totally frightened. That she curled up in a ball. Sorra said that she, Sorra had never heard the woman utter a word. The children surrounded her and the older of the group Rachael, took up sticks and the kittens with their claws confronted him. When Justin asked if she was okay.

Rose said twice “He sold me”

The watcher has been nodding yes to all this testimony. Martha is openly weeping as she exclaims

“You did that to her. You are the cause of her suffering.”

I finish with the fact that I had him give my assistant the charge to have him get contacts to verify his claim, he ran out of the office.

Draco is really starting to boil.

“Did you sell her?”

I stop Draco from finishing.

“Please excuse me King Draco. Something just occurred to me. We have been going under the assumption that he really is the husband. Everett did not hire the sharpest knifes in the drawer. I think that we need to look at Rose’s statement, he sold me. What would you think if I was to propose that he is not the husband but a broker for the late Everett Ratten? Now the statement is more logical.”

Draco looks at him and you could tell that what I said rang true.

In his dragon voice that shakes you to the core.

“Is that true!” he bellowed but got no answer.

The man passed out.

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“King Draco, I ask that your most skilled people have a talk with him, when he wakes. I don’t care what deal you make. We need him to talk and see if we can recover more of those who were victims of Everett.”

Just in case he was faking fainting, I tell Draco in the most direct round about way I could think of.

“I will agree on the same deal I asked you to give Everett if he had beaten me on that field.”

I knew he would catch on. He tells me.

“I will let him leave the field if he tells all.”

On that queue, the man started to show signs of coming around.

Draco had him taken away but not before he asked both the Watcher and Matriarch Matha what they felt on the idea that he is a slave broker. They both state that they feel that he is just that. Guilty.

He then looks at me and says that I had completed my oath with courage and honor.

I tell him,

“The honor goes to those children, who despite size and age showed warrior’s courage and a healer’s kindness”

“In a week” King Draco announces “The Clan of the Dragon will be at your manor to award those who defended and comforted Rose. As far as the man in front of us, we find him to be a slaver and as such he is subject to death. It can be modified is he will name his customers”

With that he was led away. I thanked everyone but excused myself and Christine because I felt that we needed to get back and start to prepare for the visit. I look around and see a certain someone is already gone and can see that Sorra is leaving.

Even the Matriarch Matha and her successor are going in to get ready. Draco smiles and tells me that he will have news one way or another by the time he comes to the manor.

It was a pleasant trip back to the manor. We stopped for the night along the way. I tried to keep Christine quiet but the smile on Martha’s face said it all.

We make it back in time to see the dress maker adjusting the little dresses and suits. It is bedlam with the exception of Rose. She is in the garden. I always make noise whenever I approach the four. She sees me so I put my hand out to touch her. This time she reaches out touches my hand, smiles then returns to her weeding.

Rachael, the brave comes over to show her the new dress but starts to kneel to help. But Rose stops her and utters “change your dress.”

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Racheal rushed by all of the people coming over to see why I collapsed to the ground. As she passes the group she tells her mom that Rose told her to change as she tried to help weed.

Did someone hit a pause button on the group.

They watched her stripping off the dress as she ran and then came out in her under ware to help. Abigail took hold and put her in her garden outfit. These kids. There may just be some hope after all.

Draco and all the dragons arrived and the ceremony took place. More than a few children had to make a dash to the toilet. When we had them all together, with the four aunts looking on, each one of the defenders got a sash that had the dragon crest with cross swords. Then each one of the comforters got a sash with the dragon crest but with the healer halo on it. Draco declared that now they were decorated members of both clans.

I don’t know who was more proud of that, the children or the parents. I do know that each one of the children showed their four aunts their sash and proudly proclaimed that they would protect the four. Even through the passage of time until the last aunt was laid to rest on the grounds of the manor, they made sure that they were their aunts protectors and their children continued that tradition.

All four did become more verbal but never enough. Eventually three of the four were discovered by their family but that family said that it was a comfort that they were in good hands. They did agree that the manor was the best place for them and visit often. Rose’s family was never found but no matter she was our family.

With the list of people he sold slaves to, we were able to recover most. Some had died, some ran away and unfortunately some were never found. At the end of the celebration, Draco handed me a copy of the list of buyers. One thing, he did let the man go but some vicious winged phantoms tore him apart. His warriors came back bloodied but said that it some game they found wandering.

One other thing we had made for the children was leather armor. Heck with the costume ones. Those grown children have the sash framed. It was set over their leather armor. They became treasured family heirlooms. Inspiring their children’s children to strive for that goal.

.

Usurpers on fame – the counterfeit team

Going through the daily stack of papers and mail. I cannot escape. Chip guards the door. Not to prevent someone from coming in but to prevent me from escaping. I even think he has nailed the window shut. Finally, I made it through the paperwork.

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This is the part I don’t mind. I start reviewing the mail. The team mail is what I look at. Each of the wives receive their own mail. They are popular. Using the old world terms, they each have fan clubs and receive fan mail.

I open a letter from a store in a town that is quite a distance from us. When I look at it, I see that it is a rather large bill that says that we must pay the tab we ran up.

“Chip, look at this.”

He reads then says that we haven’t been in that area for a while.

About that time, some of the wives, including Abigail. They each have letters in their hands.

They tell us that they have received disturbing mail. Each have gotten letters stating that they had run up bills and skipped town. Almost all are from towns and villages north of us. Places where we never visited.

I show them the bill I got.

“Do you get the feeling that we are subject to a group of people passing themselves off as us? They have got to be Everett’s because they are idiots. Left overs. They are giving our address. I think that we need to investigate. We as a team need to visit each of these letter sources and get their information. This way, we can show that we are the real ones and both the complainants and us are victims.

Missy says the children should be okay, as long as we ask the two authorities.

We go to the two, the watcher and matriarch Martha. After explaining the situation to the both, I ask,

“Rae, Martha, how do you feel about watching the children? I feel that the team needs to go.”

Martha tells us that she is more than willing to watch them and the watcher also agrees but Rae steps out of the watcher roll and tells Missy

“You need to put his bank slate in your bag. He’s going to need it but he can be known to misplace things. That’s why I ask you to carry it.”

Missy just says “Yes mam.” And she runs back in.

The children come over and ask where we were going and I tell them that there are bad men out there making trouble and we need to catch them.

Mazet and Rachael seem to be the ring leaders. They whisper to each other, then Rachael declares that, as Mazet runs to tell the others, we will make sure that nothing happens. Then she runs away. We are left wondering what that was about.

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Soon, one after another are spotted walking around the open perimeter. We try not to laugh but also we are so proud of them. So young and so serious. They all had run in, put on their leather armor and sash. Each with their stick weapon were now defenders of the realm.

The mothers, now go over to each and fix the strap mix up’s and praise each. As they lined up for all the mothers to see how responsible they are. They come running over to Rae and Martha.

“We are here to help you secure the manor.” So formal. The only thing they lack is a proper salute. Both of the women hug each of the children, then tell us.

“It looks like we won’t have anything to do. You go knowing we are in safe hands.”

We ride to the furthest town where the store stated that they skipped on the tab. When we get there, we all go in.

The store owner gives us one look.

“If you’re here for a tab, forget it. I got shafted by the last group. I sent them a letter but I never expect any reply. No credit.”

I take out his letter.

“We are here to answer this. This is the first time that we have been here. You were tricked by imposters. You lost money, we lost reputation.”

“Like I believe that. You are in league with them. I’m calling for the town chief.”

“Please do. I can prove my statements. When he gets here, I’ll show you.”

The owner has a clerk run.

While we are waiting, would you describe them for me?”

He said that the group consisted of three felids, two humans, an ogre and a rep.

“As you can see, we are two felids, two humans, a goblin, a dragon newt and an Amazon.”

The town chief comes in and the store owner lays down his accusation that we are accomplishes.

He looks at us and is ready to believe the owner.

I then ask.

“Do you know the king of the Clan of the Dragons, King Draco?”

“Yes I know him.

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”

“Do you feel that he is a man of honor.”

“Of course. He is one of the heroes from the battle of Everett’s demise.”

“The dragon newt is his daughter. Sorra, please tell your father that he is needed once again.

Explain the situation.”

She takes off.

“His kingdom is not far from here so this should only take a few minutes.”

Sure enough, around the span of ten minutes, a booming voice demands,

“Who is treating my clan brother like he is a thief.”

Then he lands in the middle of the street in full dragon form then turns into his humanoid form.

He walks over to me then asks.

“Who is treating you like a common criminal? Is it you, town chief? This man is the leader of the Clan of Martin. He and he alone was the one to kill Everett Ratten. He is a man of integrity.”

There is not a single person in that town that, now, did not know who I was. He continued

“Each one of these women are my daughters whom I would fight to defend even if it cost me my very life.”

Town leader looks at the store owner and tells him something he already knows.

“King Draco is honorable. He knows them so they are not involved other than someone is using them falsely.”

The store owner looks dejected and apologizes to us.

“Would you give me the list of people that wrote you from this town.”

I hold out my hand and Missy gives it to me.

“Would you please have your runner gather these people. Do you have a bank in this town?”

The chief says yes, so I tell him to have those people gather at the bank. Then he guides us to it.

After all the ones gather, they already know that we are the real deal, we get the amount owed to them.

“May I have my slate Missy?’

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She hands it to me and I ask all to come with me.

I hand the teller the slate and press it on his open palm. I then place my palm on the top of the slate.

My information is displayed but only to him. It verifies that I am who I am.

“May I please withdraw seventy-two gold.”

He leaves and in a short while he returns with the coins.

“Please count and when you are satisfied, please sign.”

I count and then sign.

“Thank you for your business.”

And with that we exit the bank and return to the store.

I now ask Draco,

“Honorable King Draco, if you would so grace me, would you please read out the amount owed and then verify that I have counted and it has been received.”

“So be it.” He replied and we went through the complete list. Then he speaks.

“I have witnessed that each has received the amount due to them. This money that you have received is not because Justin Martin owes you anything. This is given to up hold the true honor of his team. When these people are caught, each of you must testify if required.”

With that, I thank him for his help in the matter and before he left, I said to that group.

“You have heard the fair words he has spoken. The only additional thing I ask is to have the town chief write a letter stating that we are the true team. I want each of you to sign before the king and then I would ask the king if he would sign and affix his crest”

They do and now I say that we are going to the next location and this letter, with the royal signature and seal will help.

Outside I thank him for his help.

I tell Draco

“Yet another time that you had to come to my rescue. When this is over, I’m going to throw a dragon size steak cook out for you my friend.”

“I’ll look forward to it” as he flies away.

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This scene is repeated for the next few towns but the letter helps identify us as the real team.

In all I paid out one hundred and sixty three gold.

We know that there may be more letters back at the mansion so I say to the group.

“We are near the lake. What do you say to us going there and relaxing. Once we get there, I’ll go to the manor and gather the children along with the two and come back here. The children go wild when they are here. It will be a good time for all. Everyone is on board because each of us relax there.

At the entrance to our land, the gate lock has been broken. The path in more worn than the occasional visit by caretakers. We have them leave the path alone for the growth effect at summer camp.

“Someone’s here!”

Abigail says quietly and as she starts to jump off

“Wait here” and she disappears. The spy is her forte. Only a few minutes later, she reappears.

“Just guess what I saw.” She smirks

“Don’t tell me.” I exclaim.

“Yup, three felids, two humans, an ogre and a rep. They have made quite a mess of the lodge. They are getting drunk right now.”

Now is our turn. We ride up making enough noise that they could not help but notice. We stop within twenty feet of the porch. They have come out and are looking all inflated. Ya, their Everett’s idiots. Haven’t seen them before but they display the bravado.

Their leader yells

“What the hell you doing on my property?”

All of us dismount.

He again threats

“You don’t know who you are dealing with. We are experts in defending our family. You need to leave now or you will be dead.”

I now speak,

“No, it’s you that does not know who you are threatening. I own this property and you have made a mess of it along with your impersonating us.”

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He retorts, “You are the imposters.”

Time to dance.

I nod and the high low twin terrors strike the pose. His group takes out their weapons.

I tell my group.

“Do what you want but leave them alive. Oh, finish with your magic rope tricks”

and I take the coil off my saddle.

Leave it to Missy,

“I want to take the rep. She’s cute.”

“She is not going into the harem.” I insist.

“I know she isn’t but I can have fun anyways.”

Then I let them loose. It was a blur. They really did not have any skills. When my group were done there were three felids, two humans, an ogre and a rep tied up like Christmas presents.

For some reason, all they had was their under ware.

They are quite a sight. I spy their horses and wagon.

Chip hitch up the wagon.

“My ladies, my plan is to take these into Beall where the chief can lock them up for the jail wagon. Then I’ll go and gather up every one and return. I take the letter that Draco signed, proof of what we found.

In Beall, the chief knew what they were.

“You caught them.”

“Of all things, they were squatting at the lodge. They made a big mess. We are cleaning and will be there, but would you send the crew up. There is some damage that needs the pros.”

I’m ready to leave but,

“One last thing” I hand him the receipts.

“I made good those who they stole to the tune of one hundred and sixty three gold. Give that to the driver.

As we are talking, the jail wagon arrives.

“What do you have for the capital today?”

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He points to the wagon and tells him that they are accused of theft by imitating Justin’s team, running up tabs then running out. Justin reimbursed them in the amount of one hundred and sixty three gold.”

The guard laughed

“Yea right. No one does that. Maybe I need to take him also for trying to defraud.”

I step up in his face.

“I am clan brothers with the Clan of the Dragons. I have here a letter signed by King Draco and his seal is affixed. Since we are clan brothers, that makes him my King. You offended my veracity. You no longer need to take them. I will take them before my king for his judgement.

At that time, I will charge the kingdom that you represent with a willful declaration of war.”

The captives don’t even want to think about facing the dragon. They shout that there is actually more that they ran out on. They admitted that freely.

“There you have it by their own mouths and the letter.” The chief says.

Now quaking, the jailer said the he would submit the amount and he wrote in his book that even the criminals confess to the amount. As he is putting them in his cage wagon, I tell the chief, so the jailer could hear.

“We’ll be at the lake for a few weeks. Have my five men bring the gold up to us. They can bring their wives and they get one gold for delivering it to me. Now I have got to get enough steak to satisfy Draco. I promised him a cook out.”

I take the wagon to the manor and let their horses out to our pasture. The staff wants to stay at the manor and use the down time to do some projects. I tell them that they should just relax. The watcher and matriarch Martha want to go.

I tell the children that they are going and that Draco will be visiting. They were excited and insisted that they needed to clean the armor. They wanted him to see them. We made it there in less than a day. The children burst out even before the carriage came to a stop.

Sorra had told her father that we were at the lake and Justin had almost a full cow. He came back with her.

When he landed the children ran into the lodge. Soon they came out for Draco to see them. I felt the watcher’s hand in this. They lined up in two rows with enough space for someone to walk in between.

I have never seen Draco become more serious. He walked the line. A little straightening on each as he talked to each. When he was done, he stood in front of them and told me that he has never seen such a perfect army as this. He addresses them 178

“You are all to be proud. In a few years, when you become young adults, you will start to train with your parents. When that time comes, I would be honored to have you come and train with the dragons.”

He dismisses the troops.

Sorra comes over to her father and me. She is looking shy but I know why.

“Daddy, will you train them as dragons?”

He says that they may not be able to fly but they already show that they will be a force to be reckoned with.

‘But will you be ready to train a young probably head strong dragon newt?”

Men may be thick but that father had such a soft look as she tells him that she is four months.

He looks and sees the slightest bump. He draws her in.

179

The innovation that changed the world

It has been a big bother trying to get on top of the damage that the fake group did to their reputation. The addressing of each that question their validity, trying to prove that it was a false team was like trying to drain a raging river with a teacup. Justin has gone so far as to compensate people for their loss.

After another day of damage control, he’s exhausted. There has got to be a better way of getting the news out, but right now he doesn’t care.

He is dead tired.

Sitting in his favorite chair, his women are being a great comfort. Times like this, there is comfort in massaging his shoulders. Unfortunately, with children around, that’s all that can be done for now. One of his children came running up.

His daughter with Beez, Mazet, climbed up in his lap, holding a paper in her small hand. He hugged her then asked her

“What’s up with my girl?”

She giggles,

“Mommy, Daddy said that I was his girl” with a smile ear to ear.

Justin is now also smiling. The children here lighten his load in many different ways

“I say that because you are my girl. I love all of you.”

Seeing Abigail’s kittens peeping around the corner, he says

“That includes those kittens peeping at me.”

They come running over and join Mazet in his lap.

It’s a large comfort

.

I now asks,

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“Mazet, what is that you have?”

She shows me the paper she is holding and all the adults lean in to see.

There on the paper were scribbled words on it but they were in line and there was her drawing of all the wives and me. At least I think it was us.

Mazet proudly tells me,

“You are trying to explain about those poop heads who said they were you and our mommies.

I made this so you could show them that it wasn’t you.”

Then she read what she wrote.

“These are what Daddy and our Mommies look like. Not like those poop heads.”

I hugged her then said that she was brilliant. She squealed, gave me the paper then ran with the pack trailing behind her.

I hold up her paper.

“For those who don’t know it, that little genius solved my problem.”

Most of the them were giving me the look. Except one of my wives. The one who knows me, both the old and the new.

“Let me explain. There was a thing called a newspaper. It was widely distributed to many households. It covered happenings in the community. Also births marriages and deaths.

Events that were going to happen. I’m going to start one. “

“Isn’t that going to take a long time. To make a book, you need a scribe writing a copy of that book. That’s why there are few public books.”

“I know but our old world newspapers would put out ten to twenty thousand copies, multi-page papers daily.”

They are now looking at him like he was crazy but he asks for a paper and pencil. Once he had them, Justin started to draw. At first they could not understand. He drew a 3d rectangle.

As he is drawing he starts to explain what he is drawing.

“The actual piece will be smaller than I am drawing. Made of metal.” He finishes the basic drawing. Now he is drawing a raised letter on it. As he is doing it, Beez touches his shoulder.

“My dear, that is backwards. Are you okay?”

He puts his hand on hers

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“This is how it has to be. You are looking at it opposite of how it is used. Bear with me”

Now that he is finished, he explains.

“This, inked up and pressed onto a piece of paper will transfer that letter correctly. Now picture a large set of these letters and tray. A person is reading a written page and put those letters into a tray. Then that gets locked down, put into a press. That press rolls ink over that tray. A paper is placed on the press table and the inked tray is then pressed on the paper.”

Beez is hopping in delight. She exclaims

“Replace the paper and you can make as many copies as you want. We could make books for everyone.”

Hilda added

“You could make it so that we could teach reading to everyone.”

Justin adds “With a skilled engraver, you could add pictures. Think of this. A is for apple and a picture of an apple. They would learn to associate that combination of letters with the picture.

With that people learn how to read.”

Abigail very seriously asks

“Wouldn’t it take a long time to make those letters, let alone the cost of paper is out of the range of the average person?”

“That would be true but, as far as the letters, we have someone make molds to cast metal.

We could have thousands cheap. Now as far as the paper, we have to use a different method to make it. Let’s go to Beall. I need to talk with the crafts people. For this trip, I need my inspiration with me. The children can come but I want Mazet to see what she inspired.”

Naturally, all the children wanted a day out to explore Beall. Mostly to see the people and other children. I have told Mazet how proud I was of her and wanted her to accompany me so that she could see her idea being set in motion.

If she got any more excited, she would be bouncing off the ceiling. She told the others that they could go and play but she had important things to do with daddy. That did set off a torrent of why can’t we come with you?

I explained to them that I would make special days for each of them but today is Mazet’s day.

They seemed to accept it.

In Beall, we went directly to the crafters and had the other metal crafters join us there. I showed them the drawing. Talked about the molds and the need for vast quantities of letters.

They started to talk amongst themselves. I can tell that they see that this is one of those moments in history that will be told for generations.

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“I will be funding the research but, hearing you bounce ideas off each other, it sounds like you already know what you need to do. So, I will leave you to it. If you need me, send a runner. I have to talk about paper.”

I look at Mazet, take her hand and ask

“How do you feel knowing that your idea is going to change the world?”

She did not say anything for a bit. Then she answered.

“I’m okay but now I would like to go play with the others.”

I understand. Attentions are short.

“You can go.”

Hilda takes her to the children. She was glad that we were doing something important but the warrior was board also. Her partner and sister Beez were fully engaged in the meetings. This was her field. Sorra, Abigail, Christine and the watcher were with the children.

Next was a local papermaker. He made only small quantities of quality paper. Mostly for the manor’s use. We wanted to give him the opportunity to get in on the ground floor. We watch him go through the process of making his paper. The process will not change but the quality for the newspaper does not need to be that fine.

He explains that the wood pulp is the quality and the reason for the length of the process. We need to come up with something else for pulp.

Missy has been representing the harem but I can tell that she is bored. She is playfully swatting at the floating seeds that are coming through the open windows.

Watching her, a light goes on. I hold up my hand to stop his presentation and look out the window to see that the children have discovered the milk weed pods full of fluff. They are blowing at them, sending the contents floating into the air. The adults are there to fish out those who fall into the inch deep water.

I, in the old world, liked to see how things were made. It was the sight of those floaters that triggered a memory.

“You use wood pulp to make the paper. Is that because it makes a stronger, brighter paper. I ask you if you ever tried to use plant fiber like those milkweeds that the children are playing with?”

“I have,’ he answered, “It was too fragile for good paper and it always was too dark.”

“Can we try to use them again but this time add some starch to the mix.”

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“That would make the strength better but not as good as wood pulp. Then the killer is the deep color. You would need to use white ink.” He told me.

“The strength is only needed for let’s say a month’s duration of handling. Would that be long enough?”

“Up till now, people wanted to have paper that would last for the ages. Plant fiber with a little starch should last a few years of handling, but the color?”

“How about bleaching it?”

“Bleach?” he asks.

Now one of the people that were following us, a woman who I recognized. She is very familiar She is the dress maker.

“We use bleach to brighten the fabric so we can get better colors when we dye it.”

I ask her “Would you be willing to show him the process?”

“Of course.”

“I will pay for both of your times. When can you have a sample of this new process?”

He says “I can have something in a few days.”

“I’ll come back in four days. Enjoy the exploration of a new process”

We spend another few hours in Beall. Missy, being relieved of her harem duties, she and Abigail are both chasing and delightfully capture the floating seeds. The children are having a ball blowing seeds and watching those two catch or try to catch them.

I think that it was more for the delight of the children that they put on that show. I have good wives and good relatives.

Back at the manor, I got to work. I drew the metal working of the press and my wonderfully talented mage was able to conger it up. Soon we had the basic lever press. Mostly made of wood, the gears push out and retract the table. Right now we have an ink bag for spreading the ink on the stamp. All we need now is the type and paper.

Time to go to Beall to see what progress has been made. The people there are amazing. Not only does the paper maker have his samples but the metal craft have exceeded expectations.

We met at the same hall that we were married in. There before me was the samples of paper and some molds that have produced samples of type.

Looking at the type. They look almost perfect. I touch on sample on the ink bag then to paper samples. To the amazement of all that looked on, I pressed them on the different papers, then took another letter and added it. Both letters spelled out “HI”

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Now I had people pick each up and look at each. As each picked up the first, I told them that those two letters spelled HI. The samples were numbered so after the crowd looked at each.

The craft people along with the papermaker looked at the results of printing and handling. The ink held up but some of the paper samples didn’t.

“Those were the ones with very little starch. The stiffer ones held up”

“The ink bled on those but still, the letters were readable.”

Now comes my big selling point.

“Can I have your attention please.”

I hold up a paper and ask,

“With a show of hands, how many of you know what this says?”

Almost three quarters hold up their hands. Some even say

“It says HI.”

I say, “Welcome to the beginnings of literacy. For those who did not get it, you will.”

I now turn to the workers.

“What do you think of your work now?”

Between tears of joy and stunned awe, they are realizing that they are a true part of history.

I announce that I have the press ready.

The first papers will be actually for teaching you how to read. Those will be given free to each family on good quality paper. Your children will pick up on it quicker. Learn from them. I will offer to hold classes here to teach you. There are enough of you that can read, help those who can’t.”

“As my five men that were trouble but now are important members of this town said to me.”

“Being able to read and write is needed to be complete. To refuse to learn is up to you but know that, deep down, you will know that you sell yourself short.”

With that ask the crafts people to please work in earnest and that I will pay double the going labor costs as well as the price they put on their works.

On the way back to the manor, I really could not contain myself.

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“Did you see that. With two letters, two little letters, almost the whole village learned.. Yes one word but the fire is lit.”

Paper and type have shown up. The first thing we made was that alphabet book with sentences and carved pictures for each. My mage was able to use her talents to make stamps from what I drew. Much to the watcher’s chagrin, had made a “Dick and Jane” book.

One thing to be noted, our children had the first copies of both. Mazet received the first copy.

No surprise, all the children, with the exception of babes in arms have learned to read but are asking for more books.

The two books were also hits with Beall and they talked. People from other areas were starting to ask for copies. These we sold at cost. It is spreading. We now asked for people to inform us of events

It has been three months from Mazet’s drawing to now but there has been a marked increase for our paper. The literacy of Beall is above average. All can read but not at the same level and or speed. That doesn’t concern any of them. They read.

The surrounding communities are sending us news and events. We have hired locals in each town to send us the news and current events on a per word basis but only after a character check with their town members. No gossiper is accepted.

We publish once a week and charge a copper a paper. Some stores are now carrying the paper. There has been inquiries from stores asking if they could put new things they are trying to sell. We do it for a per word rate. John Bagley was the first and some people came from other villages to purchase those items they saw but found other items that absolutely had to have. His increase in business has led to other’s in this and other towns to do the same.

From reports, reliable sources, the kingdom is taking notice. Others have tried but still cannot figure out how.

Maybe it is time to franchise.

By the way, to this day the paper is called Mazet’s information.

The children find a dog

It’s fall and the leaves are starting to change colors. Soon it will look like the dead gray sticks of winter. This time of year. seems like the world is winding down. We don’t get much snow here but it does get cold so harvest of the gardens is first and foremost due to the approaching first frost.

There are only a few things like apples that will survive. We need food and firewood to survive the long winters. When winter hits we must be inside where it is warm. It takes a special kind to be able to survive the bitter cold winds of winter.

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The children are patrolling the boundary, like they usually do. Mostly small animals that catch their attention. It was mid day when Welden, the son of Beez, spotted movement in the brush.

He looked carefully and saw that it was a small canid.

He talked to her but she would not come out but she also did not run away. Mazet, his older twin sister came over to see what he was looking at. He showed her and said that she would not come out for him. She knelt down and talked softly to the canid. Slowly the child approached until she was in the open.

She appears to be the same age as Mazet. That may have been the reason she could coax her out in the open. She is dirty with clothes that are torn. They hear her stomach rumble so they take her to the manor and see Sorra there.

“Mama Sorra she is lost and hungry. She needs our help.”

They feed her and get her cleaned up with new clothes. Fed, clean and comfortable she falls asleep.

“We’re not going to get anything out of her right now. Why don’t we put her in the room near all the children?” We’ll talk to her when she awakes. She looks too thin. She has not had a good meal in a long time.” Justin commented.

After the adults leave, a few of the children including Mazet climb into bed with her. Even though there is still daylight out. They all sleep until dawn.

When they get up, the children bring their new friend down for breakfast. A large breakfast is placed in front of her but she does not eat even though she looks like she wants to.

Justin tells her to eat up but she says that she already had too much with yesterday’s meal.

She says that she should not eat today or there won’t be any food left for the others.

I tell her, “Don’t worry about that, there is plenty to go around and then some. Please eat until you cannot eat any more.”

She does and is almost desperately protecting the plate as if someone else is going to take it, so I put another plate in front of the first plate and tell her that it is all her’s with that, she relaxes somewhat. Then she finishes the second plate and we can tell she is done as she forces the last mouthful into her.

I say, “My name is Justin. What’s yours?”

“Sophia.”

“Well Sophia how did you get lost? Who can we contact for you?”

Sophia hangs her head,

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“I’m not lost. There were too many mouths to feed with the new litter. I am the only female of the old litter and of no use. Father took me out in the deep woods and left me there with a small bag of bread crusts. He told me to never return.”

With that she started to cry and the army of comforters descend upon her and hug.

Mazet looks at Papa Justin, “We need to take her into the family. Can we go to Beall and adopt her?”

Martha, now that she has stepped down from the position of matriarch, says that she wants to adopt Sophia.

“I want her to be my first child. I have already fallen in love with her.”

Everyone agrees.

Martha tells him that it is a very disrespectful practice that should be outlawed. Taking a child out and casting them out to die.

The wives confirm that this is a practice of some of the species that an unproductive or runt is cast out so the strong and useful can survive. They value the male over the female.

Justin feels its barbaric but must accept that barbaric fact that life can mean nothing to some.

“Don’t ever worry about being thrown out again. Mazet has an extra bed and I don’t think she would mind a roommate.”

Mazet grabs Sophia’s hand and shows her to her new room.

“You’re going to love it here. We even have a vacation house at our own lake.”.

The next day, they all go to Beall. When they go into the chief’s office to register the adoption.

He is told of the details of finding her. The chief does not question it. Justin asks why.

The chief tells Justin that it is a very common occurrence. Some find their way to orphanages but most young ones perish from starvation, exposure or by predators.

“As a matter of fact, we have an orphanage here on the very outskirts of the village. I think that the last time they were actually in town was at your wedding. Otherwise, they are kept around the orphanage.

The harem insists that they see it. They cry at what they find.

The building is in need of major repair. Windows that the glass is broken are boarded up to keep the wind out. Obvious holes in the roof. The list goes on and on and we haven’t gone in yet.

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Beall is by no means a wealthy town. John Bagley, the owner of the general store, brings canned goods and surplus to them. Our five men go hunting for them to have meat but it still is not enough.

The women insist that we become the patrons. I have no objections.

This time it is Martha, “Sophia my darling, I need to go somewhere for a few hours. I’m going to take mama Sorra and we have to visit someone special. Justin please look after our first daughter. There is clan business that needs immediate attention.”

With that she turns into the most attractive dragon I’ve seen. She senses the look and feeling and giggles like a school girl, winks and they fly off.

I turn to the chief,

“I’m buying this entire area. What’s the price the town wants for it?”

“If you are going to do what I think you are going to do, the town cedes this land to you for the use of an orphanage.”

The orphans have come out to see what is happening. They are not ready for winter. Their clothes are thread bare at best.

The watcher takes charge. She nods to Missy and starts towards town. Missy asks the children to follow them and all the women take them into town. There is clothes to buy. The general store is going to get a very large order of supplies needed for them. And a lot more.

As they disappear, I ask the chief and the matron of the orphanage,”

“In all practicality, can this be saved?”

Their expression says it all.

“I want it torn down and rebuilt larger and fit for me or better yet King Draco to stay in.”

The matron asks “Where do we stay until then. That will be almost a year.”

“How does a lakeside resort sound? It even has a hot spring. Plenty of room to play without any distractions other than having a good time. It will be well stocked. Rent free. I’ll even pay for the children to mow and clean. Keep the place up as caretakers. There will also be as many copies of the books that will teach them to read. We are now running a book of basic arithmetic. Those will make it there. I want them to be proud of themselves and education is the way for that. This is not charity, I’m investing in the future.”

She is over joyed,

“Warm, no starvation diet, space to roam and learn to read, write and arithmetic. That will be heaven. When do we go?”

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“As soon as they get back and my clan brothers come.”

The children arrive back. They all look warm and happy.

I speak to them as I hear the sound of wings, a lot of wings.

“Did they bring the whole clan?”

It turns out, they did. Seeing that most of the villagers came running.

“I want all of you to hear this. You are to be congratulated for your support of these children.

This is not a rich town but you gave what you could. What you did was all you could do. Now I have taken possession of all this land and have ordered this building torn down. Wives, would you help them pack up what they have.”

“Draco I am getting to have a habit of needing you but my wife and Martha took off before they could get the bigger picture.”

Draco tells me that he got enough information to require all the dragons to come and see what disregard some have for life and then he looks at the villagers and continues.

“I have also been informed that these people did what they could to help these little ones. I now declare that these little ones are now part of the dragon clan. I have a palace with all the amenities. Justin, I’m going to best you this time. I figure that you have offered the lodge for a temporary home until the new orphanage is built.”

“Chief I am here to say that since these children are Clan of the Dragon, I wish to take them to their permanent home in my kingdom as my children.”

The children come out and have been told by Sorra and Martha about their being made members. They ask

“Are we really going to become members of your dragon family?”

“Do you want to?”

They all said yes

All the dragons now have enclosed saddles for the children to ride in. Martha and Sorra strap them one to a dragon. And they take off with Sorra and Martha. Only Draco stays.

“People of Beall, for your generosity, those ones now have a happy future. Because of that, I now declare that you and your town are forever under the protection of the Clan of the Dragon and the protection of the Clan of Martin our brothers. We ask you to post signs in all directions stating the protection of both Clans. You can settle your own disputes as you see fit but outsiders fall under my kingdom. People reading those signs will know that and steer clear.

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Send a runner to Justin’s manor and we come to your aid Then he addresses me

“Build your new structure. Make it so I could live here. I want to vacation amongst these villagers so make it well.”

With that he flies away.

Everybody cannot believe what just happened they are now under the ultimate protection.

I tell them

“This does come with a price. Live like you have. Be kind, help the next ones to be found. I do ask that you keep looking, winter is coming. Those little ones won’t last long. If you can’t take them in, bring them to the manor. The matron will be living with us until the building is finished.”

Sorra and Martha return.

“You should have seen the looks. Some were scared on the flight. We told them to close their eyes and it would be alright. When they got to the palace, the staff had a large food spread for them to eat. Then they were shown around. They are alright now, some have already gone with the dragon family that carried them but the others went with Draco. They were warm and happy.”

Martha took Sophia’’s hand and we started walking back to the carriages. As we reach them, Sophia ducks behind Martha and grabs hold of her tightly. Martha asks her what is wrong.

“That’s my father. He said that he did not want to see me again.”

As she says that, I see a fat overweight dog man, I won’t insult canids by calling him one.

He turns and sees Sophia and yells at her

“I thought I told you I did not want to see you again!” and he looks like he wants to kill her.

I step in front of him and stop him. That’s not muscle,

“What do you think you are doing. That’s my daughter”

I stop him before he can say another word.

“You threw her out because you did not have enough food to feed the children. I can see the reason, you ate it all.”

The villagers are gathering. “What business is it of yours, she is my daughter.”

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“FUCK YOU FAT BASTARD. YOU GAVE UP THAT TITLE WHEN YOU THREW HER TO THE

WOLVES!

She is my daughter now. You get out of this village and never return.”

The chief steps up and says

“This village is now under the protection of the Clan of the Dragons. See that pretty young lady, that is the retired matriarch of the clan, she is going to be Justin’s seventh wife. See the other pretty young lady, that dragon newt is Justin’s fifth wife she is King Draco’s daughter.

One other thing, sorry Justin, most everybody has figured this out. See that pretty, Justin, how did you get all those pretty woman?” As I was saying that pretty young human is his sixth wife, she is the ethereal known now as the Watcher.”

The watcher speaks,

“He has just come from dumping the entire new litter in the woods. There are four very young babies out there but I have a protective warm barrier around them. I will show you where they are. Sorra, no never mind,”:

The watcher fades out then reappears.

“Chief if you would kindly lock this thing up Draco is sending someone to collect him. He cautions this thing not to wiggle. The dragon is old and his claws have a tendency to lose their grip if his prey wiggles. The king would not want to see you dropped. I’ll now take you to those pups.”

The dog is now lying on the street. They go to check on him but the watcher tells them that he died of a heart attack.

” I’ll take you to the pups. The mother has already fled to her parents with the boys of Sophia’s litter”

As we get ready, Sophia asks me

“Am I your daughter now?”

“You bet you are”

Then she smiles as she takes my hand in her free hand and she walks hand in hand between her new caring mother and father.

We go and retrieve those pups. We have the watcher who gave us the proper formula to make mothers milk and a few of the village woman that still have breast feeding children come to the manor to supplement their needs. They are now part of my family.

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The now sick religion

People come to the manor sometimes to see Christine to have her treat them. They can come but it is her wish that they first go to the healers that she has approved as valid healers. There is the occasional that comes because there is no legitimate healer in their area that can help.

There are some so called healers that are just made-up potions distributers. At best, their potions are no better than what were called, in the old world, sports drinks. The worst were one step below poison. The biggest problem is that some people still don’t know that there is something better out there.

Christine will always help those and then tell them of a true healer closer to their home. For those that are not near one of her endorsed healers, she will agree to see them but will also go out to the area to find the good healers.

On some of those trips, she finds good healers but those charge exorbitant fees for their service. There is nothing that can be done to make them charge less without putting someone in for competition. She has however found that some of those would issue the charge only after the service was performed. Those who could not pay would become money bound slaves to the healer. But they would be then sold off.

Those ones were visited by the team and delivered to the royal court.

When she was starting out, she became bound to the town that paid for her education and, only because of Justin Martin, did she become free of that town and it’s citizens. She ran into them later. They saw her and started to try to take her.

She, in a not so polite way, told them just what she thought of them.

That experience has caused her to have an extremely low tolerance for the hypochondriac who may show up at our door.

Once she determines that someone is a hypochondriac, she tries her best to convince them that there is nothing wrong. That they need to talk to others who can get to the root of mental problems like this. Most of the times, she fails and she lets them go on their way to another healer.

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Occasionally she will hear that combination of words that trigger her like a fuse on a bomb. A really, really short fuse at the words,

“But I’m sick you know.”

Then they cough. Once.

With that, she loses control and the rancor, the maliciousness, the utter distain comes out of her mouth. So much so that we always have one or two of her sisters standing by for those that are not referred to her. The wives can tell right away because they will get a nod from you know who.

Why she doesn’t tell Christine is a mystery but, after she calms down, Christine is always more relaxed. Besides that, she is always gang hugged by the protectors of the realm. They are defenders against anger and healers of sadness.

I cannot figure out why she doesn’t want one of her own.

The thing that is happening is that there are more showing up saying those words. It is almost like some one or some group is now sending them to her. It has become such a regular occurrence that we now can spot them. I mean we because we will be joined by Mazet and Rachael.

Those two will look at them and then will go running yelling

“Alert, Alert” and the protectors will be coming out of the manor in their full dress.

We tell those to go away but most of them now say,

“We need Christine, we are sick you know”

Then they cough.

They all do that. What are we missing?

Even though we should have known, the inevitable happens.

“You have someone that demands to talk with you.” Chip tells me. “He is in your office waiting room.”

I get set in the office and Missy is behind me in her usual spot. Chip opens the door and ushers in the person.

The man is dressed in a blood red hooded robe. The sleeve has fabric dangling from it. On the robe itself there is what seems like a crest of a mask emblazoned over a large flame.

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He sits, even before I ask him to. He lowers his hood. It is the man that hired us to find their healer, Christine. One look at him and I looked at Chip.

Without me asking

“I had your harem distract her and take her to the other side of the estate.”

She will know because he told me that the protectors were on high alert.

I still have not even said anything, when the robed man dabs his nose with the cloth then says in a demanding but sickly tone. Believe me, if you heard it you would know it.

“I’m here to demand you release our saint who you are holding prisoner!”

Then he coughed.

I am literally thrown for a loop.

“I’m holding your saint prisoner? Who is that?”

“Don’t play dumb, heathen. You’re holding Saint Christine hostage and we demand you release her. We need her. We are sick you know.”

Then he coughs.

I am feeling that the flame on his crest is burning within me. I get up, grab the bastard by the robe and drag him out the door, to the gate and threw him over the gate.

“Don’t you ever show your face here again. Demand that I give you my wife. Fuck you. You have but seconds before I sick my army at you.”

I look at the army at the fence, then say to them

“Don’t worry kids, if he shows up again, I’ll let you use him for practice. He wants me to give mommy Christine to him.”

As a group, they are looking at him with a ‘we’re going kill him’ in their eyes. They growl and double grip their sticks. A frightening sight indeed.

I look up and see he is still here.

He says that we have not seen the last of both him and his followers. He coughs and then leaves but not before raising his right hand like he is holding something high.

He walks away and is out of sight when Christine comes running up to the fence. Poor Beez is hanging on to Christine’s waist but her feet could not touch the ground to stop Christine.

“WHERE IS THAT MOTHERFUCKER!”

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“As she rants and is climbing over the gate, Hilda grabs her, hauls her off the ground and then tells everyone

“We need to take this into the war room.”

Then she looks at the dangling Beez and tells her that she can let go.

In the war room, Christine has calmed down enough for Hilda to let go of her.

“What did that bastard want?” she asks.

As calmly as I could say,

“He wanted me to release their saint that I was holding as a prisoner.”

“Prisoner, saint, we have no one held…”

I just look at her

“Noooo” she said shaking her head

“Yessss, Saint Christine, Hilda grab her again.”

This time she tells Christine that if she gets up again that she will just have to tie her up and lash her to that chair. Missy is very distracted.

“That sounds fun. You can do that to me.”

“Let’s try to focus, maybe fun later. Christine, remember those people who showed up and they would routinely cough once. The man who hired us to find you, came back but this time instead of the disheveled look he was in a rich looking robe. Still dabbed the nose, still used the phrase and coughed after saying a point.”

“I will use a word from the old world. It may or may not be used here but it is the best word to describe what I think. I believe that there is now a cult of the sick. The cough is their way of poking you in the chest. Drive home the point. On that robe there was a symbol of a mask on top of a flame. As he left he told us that this was not the last we would see of him”

I purposely hesitated

“or his followers. He is their cult leader. He held up his arm as if he was holding something high.”

Christine is showing horror and anger.

“He’s holding a torch high” she says “He is threatening that we would be purified if you don’t hand me over. We need to find them and eradicate that infestation. You should have let us burn them out when we passed that village years ago.”

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I let her vent until she petered out.

“I came to the same thought about the gesture but he won’t try burning until he has you out of here. Until this is settled, when you leave for a visit to a patient, Hilda and Beez go with you, the remainder of us stay here with a constant watch. We may want to brief the children. They are good at patrolling. We tell them that they are to run to an adult when they spot something.”

The mothers trust those children. They agree. We hear laughter and cheering coming from the other side of the door. That broke the tension. I have Chip and Abigail go to Beall to alert them on what is happening and to watch for the sick cult.

When we come out of the war room, there are the troops in full dress. I have them come into the room that they were never invited into. The war room, those are words that, to them, in-voke a mystical tone. Now they are here.

It’s a good thing that I had those nude paintings taken down from in here. They are now hung in another room down in the cellar.

If you see anything or anyone, you don’t engage. You are to do a tactical withdrawal and meet up with the first adult you see. You are our eyes. I want the oldest ones to walk the boarder but no closer than fifteen feet. The younger ones are on each porch and balconies.”

I used those words because I did not want to discourage them by telling them to run away.

Tactical withdrawal sounds better.

I hand them whistles and tell them to try blowing into them. Some get it right the first time but all get it after a few tries. Soon the air is full of sound.

“Blow these only when you see something. The person that sees is the only one to blow the whistle. If you here that you are to go to the manor. The one blowing also goes to the manor.

Now that Beall is on alert, our manor under the watchful eyes of the army we are ready.

Funny to watch those who are on patrol. Those whistles are on cords but they walk with them in their mouths. Maybe it is for the best. Most of the cords have been chewed thin. Some of them are now losing baby teeth.

One of the first signs were more people in robes showing up at the gate and asking to see the saint. Some would even yell.

“Saint Christine we’re here to rescue you. Use your divine powers to escape. We need you, we are sick you know.”

Most times they don’t get the chance to cough. Beez is there and she chases them off with low level fire balls that scare them but at best would burn the fuzz of the robes. A few times Christine would ask Beez to use full power.

“If you don’t eliminate them, like roaches, they scurry away but keep on coming back.”

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One close call was when someone came running up to the gate and was yelling that there was an injured person up the road.

“They are hurt bad. We did not want to move them.”

Christine started with them but Hilda and Beez went after her. It was then we heard three whistles being sounded. Christine, Beez and Hilda came running back as we all went to the children that blew the alert. We came in the back finding the children formed up away from the boarders and up close to the manor. The three were pointing and the lookouts were saying that there are people with what looks like their sticks held high..

By the time we got to the areas, they had run off but dropped their “sticks” aka unlit torches.

They were going to burn us out.

We needed to act. Time for our resident arial reconnaissance expert.

“We need you to find out where they are.”

Sorra takes to the sky. She now understands that she is just looking to find them and come back. She welcomes it because she is very close to delivering our son or daughter.

“There is a large camp a few miles away. That guy is in front and leading the chant Free the Saint, only the saint can heal us, only the saint can forever cure us.”

She says that they all are chanting that over and over again. Some are even fainting or danc-ing wildly.

This is when I remember the fanatical leaders in the past, Hitler, Jim Jones and many others.

They all have one thing in common. They are very good at building up the emotions of their followers by the tone of their voice and the body gesturing.

Going to a place where we could overlook the scene. It was as described. Yes it is an intense cult feeling.

The sight is mostly women and some men. No children are spotted. Christine looks confused at the sight of so many. She is having mixed emotions.

Even though she wants to, Christine can’t bring herself to kill all of them but she really wants to hurt the cult leader.

I see it and inspiration hits me.

“Let’s fall back a safe distance.”

Now a good distance from them, I say to Christine.

“Accept the roll of saint.”

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“You can’t be serious” She answers me.

“I’m dead serious.” I say, “All are convinced that they are sick. All say that you are their saint.

They are convinced that you are the only one that can heal them so do just that.”

Looking confused, she says, “I tried for those years.”

Remembering some of those old world preachers whipping the parishioners into such a frenzy that when the preacher touched them and said heal, they would collapse at the touch.

So I start to do my own version.

“What did you try, potions. You did not have the light back then. Call them together and tell them to hold hands. It gives them a feeling that they are doing something. Start with a semi elated voice and speed. Then elevate their hopes and dreams with your voice. You are selling them that you can fully cure them forever. Keep raising your voice and their spirits. Hand gestures all the time. Ranging from open hands to the heavens and bringing into fists as if you are grasping their cure.

Once you have whipped them into that frenzy, ask them are you ready to be finally healed.

When they say they are, ask them in a more desperate strong voice if they were ready to be free of their pain. Ask one more time. Then say hold on to someone and be healed. Shout as loud as you can, as loud to cause you to have a sore throat tomorrow, Yell for your freedom then yell and cast area high heal.”

I have been showing her the gestures and the tones of voice. She got so caught up in my presentation that she even almost passed out.

‘We will be close but you need to glide into the camp like you are floating. You are majestic, and you are saying the you are their saint. You’re here to heal the sick. Then get up on the platform. Do a slight bow to the leader.”

She sees the light. I can see the determination in her eyes.

Christine does what I said and you would swear that she really was floating. Once on the platform, she tells the congregation that she indeed is the saint. The leader smiles, he has finally won.

Then she started her speech. She was so full of inspiration and hope that by the time she was asking if they were ready, they were in a permanent state of bliss. Then the grand finale she shouts AREA HIGH HEAL and she casts it. The white light envelopes all of them. All, with the exception of the cult leader, passed out.

When they woke and you could see that they were all changed. They were cheering and saying that they have never felt as healthy. Then the true miracle happened. They took off their robes, threw down their masks and left in various directions after saying good bye to their friends.

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Within a matter of a few short minutes. The area was down to one man in a fine robe with an angry look on his face. He drew a dagger and charged Christine shouting profanities at her.

She defended herself and the man was no longer sick. He was dead.

“I guess he is finally cured.” She said, as Beez cremated the body to ash and washed him away.

Then said let’s go home.

To this day, not a one has been sighted or heard from. The power of the word was the cure for Christine. She now will do the same when one of the many hypochondriac’s still out there come to see her. They all walk away smiling. She has gladly accepted the sore throats. That’s her badge of honor.

The army no longer worries about those type of people. They now take that person’s hand an leads them to Momma Christine as if they were related. I tell you that they watch over us.