Chapter Seventy-Two: Building Relations

I wish I could say that after the baths we all returned to the manor and christened our new home by fucking like rabbits till the sun came up. In reality, after nearly dozing off more than once while I soaked (it was, unfortunately, not a mixed bath, so I bathed alone), we all staggered home and I barely made it to the pallet of bedrolls someone had made while we were out before I passed. The fuck. Out.

I genuinely couldn’t remember the last time I’d slept so hard. When I finally woke up, feeling like I had a mouthful of cotton, rocking a full-body ache, and struggling to remember how to operate my limbs, it took me a minute to realize I was laying on my front. To say I’d always been a paranoid sleeper was an understatement, so being face down was always too vulnerable a position for me to ever be comfortable sleeping in.

Yet, as I groggily managed to open one of my eyes, that was how I woke. I made a rather incoherent grunt of pleasure as fingernails dragged lightly down my back, which was answered by a soft giggle and words that could only be described as gibberish since my brain was still playing catch-up.

Lips pressed to my shoulder, then long, slender fingers brushed my hair out of my face. My one open eye—the other was still a little gunked shut—fixed on Tiana’s smiling face. “Good morning sleepyhead,” she said, laughter rife in her voice.

I tried to formulate a response, but my tongue felt too big for my mouth so all I managed was another grunt. She pressed her fingers more firmly into my muscles and I groaned. “Good lord, Zaren, your knots have knots.” Words continued to fail me as she started massaging my back and shoulders.

“What year is it?” I mumbled, my head falling back down onto the pillow.

She giggled again. “Same year, just about fifteen hours later.” She brushed her lips to my back right between my shoulder blades. “Not sure I’ve ever seen you sleep quite so hard.”

“Not sure I ever have,” I admitted. Then I did the math—something that took entirely too long. “I missed breakfast, then?”

“You missed lunch, love.” Her hands went lower and lower, working magic into my muscles. Every part of me ached like the day after a fight. I felt like I’d pushed every muscle I had too far, and my body was voicing its many, many protests. “We’ve so rarely seen you sleep for more than a handful of hours we all decided to let you rest.”

Fuck, I did not want to get up right now. Especially with Tiana’s fingers undoing weeks of living in fight or flight mode. Unfortunately, I had so much to do and not much time to do it. “Need to get working,” I said, despite my eyes sliding closed again.

When Tiana spoke, I could hear the laughter in her voice. “I took half the girls shopping, then Serena took the other half when she got back. Picked you up some clothes, too. Deetrik’s men have already started. He’s got all hands on deck, and they’ve already fixed up and furnished a dozen rooms with the furniture one of Arianna’s contacts has been dropping off all day.

Cynthia arranged for a delivery of food that should at least last us a week until we can get more, and Friya, Zerali, Sani, and Brinya have been cooking for Deetrik’s and Euribald’s employees as well as the rest of us.”

“Deetrik anticipates the master bedroom being done by the end of the week,” she continued. “Indoor plumbing should be up to snuff in a few days thanks to Caliel’s affinity for water. Euribald brought the proximity wards up to snuff, and we had him transfer it to me and Serena so you could have a chance to sleep. I can loop you back in once you’re up and moving.”

“And I’ve just slept through all this?” I asked, finally regaining enough motor control to rub the gunk out of my eye.

When she spoke next, her voice came from so close to my ear that I had to reposition to give my cock some room to stiffen without being pinned underneath me. “Rhallani designed some simple runes that cast a nice silence bubble when powered up. Apparently she’s gotten another level.”

I lifted my head, pinning her with a look. “And why exactly is Rhallani designing silencing charms?”

She smiled wide. “I can’t go giving away the surprise now, can I? I can’t wait for you to see it. Rhallani’s outdone herself this time.”

“She always seems to.” I rolled onto my side, getting a good look at her. She wore a figure hugging sundress with a low cut, her legs tucked underneath her, and her long waves of hair cascading over a single shoulder. I scooped up one of her hands and pulled her down so she was laying next to me, then grabbed her by the hips and pulled her body flush with mine. Her smile widened and her cheeks colored, moreso when she reached up to trail her fingers along my jaw. “And how are you doing?”

She pressed her forehead to mine and slid her hand around to play with the hair at the nape of my neck. “I’m doing good. For now, at least. Keeping busy certainly helps.”

“Buuut…” I prompted.

Her sundress rode up when she hooked a leg over mine. “But, once the shock of being here, with all of you, fades, then…” she trailed off.

“Then I’ll be here. So will everyone else,” I promised.

She dipped her chin, a smile on her face, and nestled into me. “I know I’ve asked before, but… You really aren’t bothered? By how I made my way before?”

“Never.” I rubbed her back. “And you never have to stop asking. I’ll never stop telling you the same thing. If you’re willing to take me after the things I’ve done—the things done to me—then I’ll never judge you on anything you did before me.”

She took a long breath, then let it out slowly. “I knew it was a good idea to wake you early.”

My cock jerked, and considering she was pressed into my front I knew she felt it. “Early, huh?”

Laughing, she pulled back just far enough to lightly smack my chest. “Not early enough to do half the things I want to do to you, so you’d better go find some pants if you want to make it to your meeting with Alianna and her contacts.”

I nodded, but I still kissed her before I pulled away and got to my feet. Her massage had done wonders, but I still winced as I rolled my neck from side to side. I pulled her to her feet and she gestured towards a stack of clothes. “I love the dress,” I said, slipping on underwear, followed by some nicely cut black pants.

She did a little twirl that didn’t make it any easier to tie my pants closed. “I bought it with the spider money. It’s wonderful not having to worry about my outfit making me look appealing to adventurers.”

“Well,” I said, grabbing her hips and pulling her in for a kiss, “it’s definitely appealing to me.”

She beamed. “I like in-town Zaren. He’s much…lighter.”

I chuckled, then went looking for a shirt. Everything fit surprisingly well, and they were of a nicer quality than I was used to. Nothing overly high end, but better than my traveling clothes. “I do better when I’ve got walls and buildings around me,” I said with a shrug. “Open roads, plains, and forests make me think of battlefields. Ambushes.”

“That’s good to know.” Once I’d donned socks and boots and strapped the Jailer’s Blade to my back, she linked her arm in mine and led me out of the room we’d claimed for the night. The difference was apparent immediately, especially when we made it into the main entry hall. Already much of the dust and grime had been taken care of. Most of the windows had been replaced, and the few winged demi-humans under my employ were helping the workers get to the rest. There was much more natural light because of it, and made the room look much bigger.

The floor in the entryway had been replaced with marble and carpet. The old paintings that were either damaged or so faded they weren’t discernible any longer were gone, and demi-humans in matching blue robes were installing what looked like sconces with gems where the torch would have been, carved to imitate flame. A wide variety of burly demi-humans were carrying in a near steady stream of furniture while Elena directed, and when I glanced at the main stairwell I had to laugh.

The area was roped off with signs reading ‘No Zaren’s past this point!’ “Rhallani’s doing?” I guessed.

“Oh yes,” Tiana said, overly serious. “She doesn’t want to risk you getting even a peek, and since we haven’t even started on the second story rooms yet she figures there’s no reason for you to go up.” She guided me between the stairs and into a large dining room. The long tables there were only placeholders, but it was at least a place where people could sit and eat.

And eat they did. A half dozen demi-humans I didn’t recognize chatted while they ate. Employees on some kind of break, I assumed. Iris, Friya, and Zerali were bringing out plates of food with wide smiles, making sure everyone seated got some. My eyes fell on Rhallani, whose nose was buried in a book. While I watched, Safina rolled in with a heaping plate, snagged Rhallani’s journal, held it up high enough that my little Arelim couldn’t reach it, and set the plate in front of Rhallani.

“Safi, come on! I’m close to something!” she protested.

Safina, grinning, tucked the journal in the crook of one of her horns, then pushed down on both of Rhallani’s shoulders. “That’s what you said at breakfast, and again at lunch. You can get back to runebreaking after you’ve polished off the plate.”

Rhallani looked like she wanted to argue, but with Safina looming over her she just suppressed a shiver and started digging in. Tiana just leaned into me. “Safina is good with her. Granted, it helps that she’s got a foot on her and Rhallani’s definitely got a bit of a crush, but she’s a good fit for us.”

“Us, huh?”

Tiana just shrugged. “You don’t find her attractive at all?”

While I watched, she snagged half an apple off a passing plate and put it on top of Rhallani’s pile of food. Rhallani shot her a glare, but she just grinned wide enough to show off those dragon sized fangs of hers and Rhallani folded like a cheap camp chair. Her eyes flicked up, catching me watching. Her grin softened and her eyes dropped to the ground, then she leaned against the table with her arms crossed and her tail swishing.

I knew Rhallani as attracted, and I could very much understand why. I’d never been with anyone quite that much larger than myself, but I didn’t hate the idea. I also found her protective nature rather appealing, but at the same time she’d only just earned her freedom. I didn’t know her that well, and I was willing to bet that if she’d spent most of her life in a collar she didn’t know herself either.

“We’ll see what the future holds,” I said evasively.

Rhallani saw us approaching and tried to stand, but Safina pushed her back down a second time. “Zaren!” Rhallani exclaimed. “I found a shop nearby that sells the stuff I need to make a mold. When we get the chance, I want to see if I can get an imprint of the runes etched on the inside of your sword.”

“Sounds good.” Then I looked at Safina. “Thanks for taking care of her.”

Safina just shrugged, though her cheeks darkened slightly. “It’s the least I can do, honestly. And…” She rubbed the back of her neck. “Still, uh, fighting those dragon instincts, you know? It likes playing caretaker, it seems.”

I was fairly certain Rhallani ate a little faster when she heard that.

“All the same.” I’d barely taken a seat when Iris appeared with a plate of food for both me and Tiana, her tail wagging so hard she could barely walk straight. She wore a simple tunic and pants that not only fit her, but were made for tailed demi-humans. She bowed, smiling wide the whole time, and vanished before I could so much as thank her. Amused, I turned back to Safina. “I’ll see if Alianna has anyone who can help you understand those instincts a little better.”

She relaxed visibly, though her hand remained on the back of Rhallani’s chair. “That would be wonderful,” she said wistfully. “I never know when I’m gonna get blindsided with an impulse.”

“It’s kinda great sometimes, though,” Rhallani said around a mouthful of food. “My stomach grumbled one too many times and all the sudden she was throwing me over her shoulder and stomping to the dining hall,” she said dreamily.

“I wasn’t stomping,” Safina protested weakly. I had to stifle a laugh when she didn’t refute any other part of Rhallani’s story.

The second I swallowed my first bite my own hunger hit me. I was halfway through my plate when Liana came gliding into the room. Like everyone else, she wore new clothes. A tunic and skirt meant to be easy to walk around in. “Alianna and guests have arrived, sir.”

I stood. “See them in, please.”

Alianna entered, her chin held high but a faint pulse of fear betrayed her nervousness. “Lord Zaren. I see you’ve already made quite a bit of progress in restoring your home.”

“I have.” I gestured to the table and her and her acquaintances all took seats.

Liana stepped forward. “Our cooks have been working all day to make sure those working on our home are fed. Would any of you like food or refreshments?”

There were several nods. With a single gesture, Zerali and Friya were bringing in food and drink. While our guests were getting settled, Cynthia joined my side of the table. I sat as well, looking at the group that was a mix of humans and demi-humans.

“I’m just as impressed with their work as you are. Hopefully the manor won’t take long and I can move onto the rest of my properties.”

One of them, a human woman with streaks of gray in her hair, leaned forward. “What exactly do you mean, the rest of your properties?” When Alianna cleared her throat, the woman crossed her arms. “Yolena Larss. I run the Laughing Lark tavern you and yours so graciously visited last night. My family’s run the Lark for six generations, but taxes bled us dry when the quarter went to shit and my late husband left it to your household when he died because everyone figured your family was gone for good. Just trying to figure out if I need to start looking for a new home.”

“Like I told Alianna yesterday, I have no plans to displace anyone immediately,” I told her. “I chose this manor to start with for many reasons, chief among them being I knew it would be empty. Cynthia here, my bookkeeper, will be working up deals so we can keep the various businesses in my properties running as best we can.”

Another human, this one a wiry man with thick glasses, cleared his throat. “Oswald Burke, purveyor of specialty goods. So we will be giving you a cut of the profits, I assume? In addition to paying for our tenancy?”“As I said, Cynthia will handle the specifics,” I said carefully, and she nodded, “but bottom line I want to make sure any businesses currently operating are able to continue doing so. Once we’ve got that much nailed down, we can talk about investments.”

A squat, burly man perked up. “Investments?”

I nodded. “I’m sure, with the current state of things, that not many businesses in the lower quarter have a lot of extra capital for renovations. I would be more than willing to spend a little capital to help your businesses with whatever is needed. That’s the only circumstance I’d expect any cut of profits at all. Other than that, I only expect enough to make sure the property taxes are able to be paid.”

There was some muttering and grumbling, but most of them seemed somewhat agreeable. One of the demi-humans—a tall violet scaled Dragonling woman—tapped a finger on the table. “Why now? Why have you so suddenly returned?”

I carefully gave her the not-quite-a-lie I’d come up with. “I’ve been away for a long time. I only recently learned of the state of the Elion Kingdom, and let’s just say I’m not very happy with things. The Zaren who fought in the war would be very upset to learn he fought against Grimsbane just for the Guild to abuse its power and the Accords be put into place.”

“So, what?” a stout Dwarf demanded. “You figured you’d show up and save us all?”

I gave him a cold smile. “Actually, I figured I’d come along and tear it all down. I’d like to put people like you in a position to put the pieces back together in a way that isn’t horrible, but that’s more up to you than it is to me.” I looked at them one by one. “I’ll be blunt. The system has been set up for humans to abuse, and I plan to. Just not the way they intended. Not only that, but I have the resources and the know-how to turn things upside down.”

“They set the system up so they could benefit, and I plan to make them regret it. I can’t do it alone, and I’m sure I’ll make no small amount of enemies along the way. If you want to stay out of it and keep your heads down, I won’t blame you. If you want to try and change things?” I lifted my hands, palms up. “Well, I can promise that one way or another I’ll make big enough waves that you’ll be able to get away with more than you usually would, even if you don’t want to help me.”

The tavern keeper, Yolena, grunted. “You’ve got most of us by the balls, one way or another. You could have the city evict us with a wave of your hand, so we hardly have a say in the matter.”

I inclined my head. “I won’t make you false promises or ask for your trust. All I’ll ask is for you to give me a chance to earn that trust.”

The Dragonling woman crossed her arms. “Hypothetically speaking, what exactly is it you need from us? You can force contracts on those in your properties, fair or not.”

“Contacts, for one. I need to know what’s happening in the city. Personnel, for another. Cynthia here is currently doing all the work on her own, for instance. If you know of anyone good with numbers looking for work, I’d be more than willing to pay for their services.”

Another of the demi-humans, a Lycanine man, glanced at Safina and Rhallani and the collars they wore. “So you can indebt them? Not likely, human.”

“There aren’t any reassurances I can make that you’ll believe,” I told him, “but I have no interest in servants who don’t want to be here. Everyone wearing one of my collars wears it by choice. If you have anyone who wants the money, I’m more than happy to pay. Demi-human or otherwise. If you have anyone who needs the protection of a collar, I can offer that as well. You can ask any one of my servants what kind of Patron I am if you’d like.”

More muttering and hushed whispers. “You’ll be looking for servants, then?” The Dragonling asked, curiosity in her gaze.

“I’ll have to before long. I’m sure a visit to the Pens is in my near future.” I made no attempt to keep my contempt for the place from my tone.

But the dwarf was having none of it. “You would support such a place?” he demanded.

“No,” I said evenly, “but I’ll save as many innocent souls from that shithole as I can until I can find a way to get rid of it.”

More than one of them seemed surprised by my answer, but none were unhappy about it. The Dragonling picked up a piece of meat and took a bite. “You’re an interesting man, Zaren Nocht. Your… father… would be proud.” She leaned back and crossed one leg over the other. “You can call me Zephyr. I specialize in people. I can think of a couple promising heads in the quarter that would suit your needs and are desperate enough to take the risk.”

I wasn’t a big fan of her phrasing, but the glint in her eyes told me she planned on that. “I won’t just give anyone a job. Cynthia and Liana both have final say on acquisitions, be it an employee or a servant.”She hummed. “You want to earn goodwill? I think I know a way.” When I urged her to continue, she went on.

“Everyone knows someone who's done a stint in the Pens. Voluntarily or otherwise. You scoop up a few members of key families and give them a good home like you seem to be capable of doing, then you’ll make important friends. If you don’t…” She let the threat hang.

But I grinned. “And let me guess, those names will be interspersed with other less important names?”That seemed to amuse her greatly. “Well, well, you do know what you’re doing.”

“Hang on, Zephyr,” the Lycanine man said uncertainly. “That feels like a risk.”

“It does,” I agreed. “I’m not normally one to look a gift horse in the mouth, but…”

She took a swig of whatever drink Friya had brought her and made an appreciative noise. “I’ve never seen my father vouch for anyone, Lord Nocht, yet the way he spoke of you makes me very interested to see what you do with the rope I give you.”

I chuckled. Leave it to Lizard to have a daughter as good at what she does as he was. “Well, when you put it like that, how soon can you get me a list?”

She just wordlessly pulled out a folded sheet of paper and slid it across the table. It came to a stop just in front of me, and I arched a brow. She just shrugged. “I like to come prepared.”

Several of the others at the table looked uncomfortable about the exchange, but if I had to hazard a guess, Zephyr had the reputation to back up her decision. After that, conversation turned towards the details, so I let Cynthia take over. Zephyr slipped out and the other demi-humans followed, but their expressions were more curious than anything else. I knew I hadn’t made any friends, but I’d laid the groundwork. As long as I could put my money where my mouth was, I was fairly sure I could win them over.

Alianna stood when Cynthia started whipping out contracts, and I met her at the door. “A moment?”

She inclined her head with her hands clasped in front of her. “I’ll admit that went better than I thought it would. I still fully expect you to betray us, but there’s a small part of me that hopes I’m wrong.”

“I appreciate your candor.” When I glanced over my shoulder, Safina was watching our conversation closely. “I was wondering if you might help me with something.”

Her fear spiked again, but she quashed it quickly. “If I can.”

“A number of the demi-humans who have found their way into my household, as far as I can tell, are from pure bloodlines. A couple of them are struggling with the instincts that come with that, and I was wondering if you knew of anyone who might specialize in demi-humans.”

She pursed her lips. “I might know of someone who could help.” Her gaze drifted to Safina as well. “Your Half-dragon?”

“Safina is one, yes,” I admitted.

Alianna thought it over for several seconds, then nodded. “I’ll see if I can find someone. Half-dragons are exceptionally rare, especially pure ones, but Amesseria is a big city.”

“That it is. Thank you again for your help. I hope I can prove that hopeful part of you right.”

A ghost of a smile pulled at her lips, but she just inclined her head and took her leave. The humans filed out one by one, all of them with an expression of surprise. It was Yolena who stopped on her way out to talk to me. “My father always said that if a thing was too good to be true, it often was, Lord Nocht. Your bookkeeper’s contract is better than I could have hoped, so you’ll forgive me if I decide to wait for the other shoe to drop.”

“Of course,” I told her, shaking her offered hand. “I plan to pay those in my household, so hopefully I can send plenty of business your way.”

Almost against her will, she cracked a smile. “Don’t tell me that or a part of me might start hoping you’re a shit boss so your people end up needing somewhere to drown their woes.”

“I won’t hold it against you,” I told her.

She took her leave as well, and Cynthia started packing up. My servants swept in to clean away the remnants of the meal and I waved Liana over as I walked to Cynthia’s side. “I’ve got plans tonight, but I’d like to get started on this list before fate steps in and the people we need get poached.”

Cynthia nodded, taking the list. “I needed to stop by and finalize the acquisition of the fourteen demi-humans we acquired on the road anyways.” She read over the list of names, no doubt committing the eight names to memory.

“Take Liana since she’s head servant, that way she can get them settled quicker,” I said.

Liana looked over Cynthia’s shoulder, then nodded. “We should have enough rooms set up, though a few will have to share. It will still be a step up from the Pens.”

“My thoughts exactly,” I said. “I’m sure Serena will want to be there in case any of them were mistreated, and I’d feel better if you took Safina as backup since Rhallani will be with me.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll get it done,” Cynthia promised.

With that finished, I headed to where Safina had finally given Rhallani her journal back. I could tell from the set of her shoulders that my Arelim wasn’t actually seeing the words on the page. I put a hand on her shoulder. “It’s almost time. You ready?”

“Not in the slightest,” she said. “But we can’t wait any longer.”

Safina put her hand on Rhallani’s shoulder. “Your sister will understand when you explain things. If she loves you half as much as you clearly love her, it’ll all work out.”

Rhallani pushed herself to her feet and Safina followed suit. “Right. Let’s go try and convince Xara that getting indebted is the single greatest thing to ever happen to me.”