Derek and I watched as the rest of his lieutenants left the temple. Most with clear fear etched across their faces. But as designed, they were directed at Derek; I was but the dog he had on a leash.
"Excellent work. May I assume that so long as the ring is near a fire, the air will work?" He asked, still standing near the dais.
I nodded, "Yes, though it works regardless, just significantly weaker without a source of warmth. The maximum distance between the two objects is roughly 450 paces. Any more than that, and it will cease to function entirely, and I will have to fix it. I've included a note inside the box explaining how it works."
Derek hummed as he thought, "Good enough, the client will be pleased. What else can you make?"
I shrugged, "Cook tops that create magical fire, magical ovens, ice boxes. It would be more efficient if you ask for something and I simply confirm if I can make it."
He focused on me, "What about weapons?"
"I value my life, Derek. Magical tools people can ignore. But.."
"Agreed, " He said immediately, understanding where he was going.
He focused on me once again, his eyes piercing, "Can you do enchantments?" He asked.
More accurately, he was asking if I could do Transformation of Nature, which I couldn't. I had no clue how that worked, since the Ocularums provided no information.
I shook my head.
"Fair enough. Can you do the magical kettles? I've seen them a few times." He asked.
"Easily, though you'll have to provide the kettles, gold engraving, and embossing are not among my skills. Everything else I can do, and it would use the same metal ring as a source of power."
He nodded, "Let's start with five. I can commission the kettles to be made and delivered to you. Any requirements for its design?
I shook my head, "Make the bottom concave, not flat, that is all."
"Call it 40 silver a pot deal?" He asked.
'That means he probably sells them for over two hundred each, probably more. Either way, he will be taking all the risk.'
"Fifty," I responded.
"Done, I'll have them delivered within the next eight-day."
"Anything new for me?" I asked. He had almost a week and a half.
"I have something coming in near the end of the month. I'll see that it gets to you. Have you been managing your territory? Collections will be expected in the coming weeks. "
I shrugged, "Not entirely sure how to go about recruiting."
Derek didn't care. "Most use childhood friends or family. But not the case for you. A problem for you to solve."
"Very well, until next month," I left after some final delivery details for the teapots were discussed.
'How exactly should I recruit? There were 35 businesses that I was responsible for collecting from. Though it didn't matter since the magical items would serve as tribute. However, it made no sense not to profit. Neither do I want to be bothered with keeping the streets safe and secure. I needed people who could be leveraged but also not spineless idiots.'
I wandered the worst part of the city in the dead of night. It wasn't surprising that a few people tried to approach. Like the men Vin and Mark before, I backed into an alley, they followed, and a quick burst of fire later, they were on the ground. I ended their lives with my dagger, not interested in prolonging the suffering.
Walking through the streets, I continued to consider what to do.
'I don't want people to be too kind, nor do I want emotionless killing machines. I needed a good mix of ruthlessness, with common sense and some goodness in their heart to temper their base desires. I wanted people to fear them and me, not hate. Hatred cannot be controlled.'
~
I returned to Niel’s store the next morning, intending to create a proper energy furnace. A monumental task that I wanted finished before I started collecting. Jenna was manning the counter while Niel was hammering away in the back. He had fallen in love with the simple, magical forge. And his business was benefiting. He was no great master, but the set of knives I ordered would be fit even for a noble's table, if the handles were a bit more decorated. It just goes to show how proper tools can enhance the expression of skill.
"Hello, Jenna," I said cheerfully.
Jenna offered a smile in return, though slightly strained. The shadow of regret clouded her eyes.
"Is your father available for a new project?" I asked.
She seemed disappointed that I didn't come for her. I asked her twice to join me for a meal, and both times she made excuses. Why she showed disappointment now was beyond me.
"He should be finishing up another commission." She said, nodding to the back of the store.
With a wave, I went to the back. Something about watching him work with an item I created was enjoyable.
"Ahhh, Sera," Jenna called to me.
"Yes."
She took a deep breath, "About the other day. Sorry, I left like that. It wasn't right."
I shrugged, "It's alright, Jenna. Don't worry yourself over it." Before I left, Jenna forced out, "Would yuh like to go on another outing?"
"Certainly, but I have too much on my plate. And the project I have planned would take some time.
"Oh, right, Magic and things." Clearly, she had to work up the courage to ask me.
'Probably should keep that branch alive.'
"It's quite a large project; I'll need your help. If you're willing." I gave her my most charming smile.
"Of Course!" She said excitedly. Then joined me in the forge.
~
Neil was hammering away at what looked like a broadsword near completion, dual-edged with a fuller along the length ending at the tip. He used the magic forge with far more skill than I ever could. Sometimes he would only heat a small section of the blade, a tip or an edge, refining its form, with great precision. The dual bellows had long since gone unused.
Then he heated the entire three-foot blade to an orange-yellow color and quenched it in some kind of oil. After a minute, he pulled it out, then closed one eye and examined the length of the blade.
Niel whistled, "Not a warp," he muttered.
Then he pulled out a metal file and ran it across the blade. It slid cleanly.
"Perfect, even hardening," Jenna said to me.
"Mighty fine blade, Neil," I commented.
Neil finally noticed we were watching.
"Aye, let me tell you, this here is my best work. Could ask for double for this quality." Neil said as he stared lovingly at the newly forged blade. "What can I do for you?" He asked.
I smiled mischievously and pulled out my notebook.
"A new project, 20 silver up front." Both their eyes widened at the massive price.
"What is it?" They both asked.
I pulled out a large piece of parchment. It showed an energy furnace 16 feet tall with a two-foot diameter flue. That widened to an almost spherical base with two, foot-wide intake tubes near the bottom, each tilted at an angle. The entire energy furnace was broken into 16 pieces in total.
"Gods, this is massive. That's what? A ton of iron." Neil said.
"What is it?" Jenna asked.
"An energy furnace, it's like that,..." I said, pointing to the ring sitting on their furnace. "Just many many times more powerful."
"What are you planning to power?" Jenna asked.
I grinned and pulled out another parchment, "This."
It was a complete design for a shape transformation arcane circle. Instead of simple iron and clay, I intended to pour silver into the negative space created by the casting. The entire thing was 6 feet across with over a hundred runes. The amount of silver it would take would likely end with me having little coin remaining.
"It morphs a substance according to my will. It's not very precise, but simple shapes are easy. I could mold motel metal into a fully accurate sword. A good enough smith could refine the blade into something practical. The gridiron for my stove could be made in less than a minute, and I intended to make these."
I opened another parchment. "Stamps? No, these are the symbols you carve. You plan on stamping them into hot metal instead of casting." Jenna observed.
"Precisely, I can make a much smaller forging circle and only heat a small area, then simply stamp in the symbols I need to make the magic work," I explained.
"This is going to take some time. A week or two, and this much metal, it won't be cheap. thirty or forty silver just in iron alone." Neil said.
"I can manage; the question is. Can we make it?"
Neil took in a deep breath, "Aye, we can."
'I wonder if I can create a circuit that heats a specific kind of metal. Instead of every metal. What would silver be in runes? Something to consider.'
~
"Well, if it isn't my favorite customer," Lily said as I stepped up to the bar. The large woman eyed me with a glint of humor in her eyes. As I sat, she poured a strong brandy into an iron tankard without me asking.
"I've been hearing rumors 'bout you. Whisperings of fire and magic," she said.
I met her eyes and nodded.
"It's true then. Well, what's one of your kind doing in this shite hole?"
"Layin' low. Ain't telling more than that." I said.
"And somehow you got mixed up with Derek. He ain't one to trifle with."
I took a deep draft, enjoying the burn. "I know, but he's smart. Recruited instead of fighting."
Lily sighed, "So, what's he got you doin'?"
"You know, Vin and Mark?" I asked.
She nodded, "Aye, more pigs than men."
"Well, I'm the one running their territory now. Derek’s orders. And trust me, no one is going to complain."
"So, what are ye' here for? We ain't in their territory." Lily asked.
"I need people, a crew, know anyone?"
Lily licked her lips. "What are you looking for in people?"
"Smart, but not too ambitious. Willin' to scrap and maybe take a life. But not too kill-hungry."
Lily was silent, thinking, and then asked, "You care where they're from?"
I shook my head, "Not in the least."
After topping off my drink, she continued, "There's a brother and sister over in dark town. Did a job for me once; came through and caused no trouble. They’re scrappy. Might be willin' to sign up for somethin' more permanent. There are a couple of others, but most mercenaries are kill-hungry and greedy. There are a few others I have in mind, but I think you should start off small and work your way up to a larger crew. "
I nodded and dropped a silver on the counter. "I’ll take your advice. Till next time."
Movement from behind me caught my attention, and I turned to see another young man. No, young woman, her face was softer, but both had shoulder-length red hair. He reminded me of Sim. That was the only reason I didn't instantly turn him to cinders.
'Wait...are they?'
His eyes were cautious, no lust in them or much of anything beyond focus. I turned to the girl, a similar level of focus.
'Not the average thugs, they're a bit smarter. Good'
Both were standing outside the range of my fire if I used wood, armed with simple daggers. I thought back to where I entered the alley.
'No one was there; I was certain. Meaning they must have spotted me and set up this ambush.'
I smiled, appreciating their intelligence. That gave the young man pause.
"Toss yer coin purse to 'er, and you walk out o' this safe." The young man said.
'Young, he's purposely lowering his voice.'
The girl remained silent.
"You two are smarter than most thugs," I noted.
"Stop stallin' you 'ave until the count of twenty." He said.
Both of them took a firm step forward, entering my range.
'That had to be practiced. Intimidation most likely.'
"Are either of you involved with one of the gangs?"
The boy sniffed indignantly.
'No, then. Good. Let's see how they react.'
"I would like to offer you a job. I've been looking for someone like you two."
"Wut?" The girl asked, confused.
"She's just stallin' again. Coin purse, last chance."
'He flashed his pinky, that's the signal to step closer.'
Immediately, they took a step closer to me. 'Only four more paces.'
My face lost any pretense of fear, and I said, "I'm not joking, I am recruiting. I find you two interesting."
I took out my coin purse and tossed it to the girl. Then I turned and met her green eyes, “There's twenty silver in that purse; Quite the bounty. But I offer more than just coin. I offer a way out of this life. Safety, security, comfort, and most importantly, far more coin. If you’re interested, meet me at the Kingfisher at high hour the next eight-day and return every single coin in that purse to me, take even a single bit and we have no deal. Or you can take your bounty and enjoy yourself for however long it lasts. Now, am I free to go?"
'If they didn't let me go, the deal would be pointless, and I would kill them where they stood.'
The young man sheathed his knife, clearly confused by my offer. I turned to see the same expression on the girl's face.
'Definitely the siblings, same eyes, nose, and ears. Looks reasonably well fed, still gaunt but not completely hopeless.'
The girl picked up the coin purse, felt its heft, then looked inside. Her eyes nearly fell out of their sockets. He let me pass, and before I left the alley, I turned to their retreating forms and said, "Remember Kingfisher, high hour, eight-day, every coin. Walk away and enjoy your bounty or take a chance; your choice.”
Two pairs of bright green eyes watched me as I walked into the night.
'I didn't notice their ambush. I need to pay more attention to my surroundings.'