Fluid - 48

The morning is a rush of activity preparing for the evening feast. Ellother and I purchase extra materials from stores to distribute some coins rather than me simply creating more. Irene and some ladies I’ve seen at the Temple services join the gathering.

Ellother breaks the ice when she rolls up her sleeves and joins me in helping a group of village women knead the dough. Some ladies I’d seen salt harvesting come into the square, and I occasionally catch one of Selene's granddaughters looking my way. Androkles’s ancestry is clearer in her than many others; not only the jet black hair but the angularity in her features and alabaster skin hints at an Isil heritage.

I’ve learned many locals only eat two meals daily but get the ladies to take a noon break and chat. From them, I get a list of the cuts of meat they’ll need to complete the various dishes in progress.

As I move between groups, Selene’s granddaughter heads my way with Irene at her side.

Irene gives a wave and gestures between the lady and me. “Delphine would like a chance to speak with you, Gail. She wasn’t sure about introducing herself. Maybe she thought you’d bite.”

Half-embarrassed, Delphine laughs, making a cute dimple appear on her left cheek. “I wanted to talk about the new salt harvesting and houses. My grandmother is furious—I think she’s gone off to demand the Guild Master expel you from the village. I don’t see that happening after the last one clashed with you, and now he’s gone.”

Motioning to a building’s awning, I sit on the ground in its shade. “What would you like to know?”

“Enough so I can work to talk others into taking your offer,” says Delphine. “Selene threatened to kick us out if we handled so much as a single tray more than we’d normally harvest.”

“Did she get the warning I gave Georgius?” I ask.

“She did and told him to ignore you,” advises Delphine. “She has inherited a part share in the inn and controls the families’ houses.”

“Let me guess, she’s also telling people I’m only a Bard dragging others into trouble?”

Delphine nods sharply, the loose hair framing her face bouncing vigorously. “Yes, you said your aunt made the place in the tower. Selene said it shows you’re a privileged child with no power. You likely also had a device from her that saved Nikias and built your halls. That anyone can see whatever device you used has warped him.”

Snorting in disgust, Irene’s eyes bulged in outrage. “Lady Hestia herself spoke to me and spoke kindly about Gail.”

“That has Selene saying that bards are known for illusions and deception,” advises Delphine, with a grumble of embarrassment. Her words ring with the same truth encapsulating the rest of her reports.

Irene goes to protest again, but I’m laughing so hard the sound echoes in the suddenly silent square, and she waits for me to calm down.

“Alright, I’ll have to alter my presentation this afternoon. Though it will be nothing that could physically hurt them,” I offer reassuringly.

“My grandmother has too much influence on some people. Now she’s on the village council they seem to think she must be right,” huffs Delphine. “I’m sure Propappoús was just trying not to play favourites and passed it to the eldest, but I wish he’d picked someone else.”

Androkles seems to have more family drama than I had expected when first meeting him—even after working with him, he’s always so relaxed. Yet it’s his straightforward nature that gives me an idea.

“Irene, could you cast a ‘Zone of Truth’ for me during this afternoon’s show?” I ask.

Irene nods. “It’s among the blessings I can cast. Do you plan to make her confess her lies?”

Giving a wink, I tap my chest. “No, the Blessing is for me, so she can’t deny I’m telling the truth. I need the zone version because I’ll get her to test it is affecting us both.”

“I think you’re underestimating her ability to deny something,” Delphine warns.

“I’ll have to ensure others hear how things played out, and it will be easier with Hestia’s Blessing showing her support,” I say, giving her a nod of thanks. “What is it you’d like to achieve?”

Delphine straightens. “I want out of her house.”

Her song is firm in resolve, but there is one curiosity I’m almost hesitant to address. “That’ll be easy to achieve, but then you’ll have to work to support yourself fully. It's fine if you tell me to mind my business, but why don’t you have any classes?”

Irene looks at Delphine in surprise, but she doesn’t flinch. “I don’t like any of the options I’ve ever got in my Class visions.”

Nodding my understanding causes her to blink. “I had so many Class vision options I rejected, doing things I qualified for but disliked.”

“At least you found classes you liked. Not that classes matter in the work I do. My work improves, so I don’t see the need to lock my life into a box to scrape salt slightly faster or fish better,” declares Delphine; her jaw tightens so fiercely it causes the muscles to bunch.

“Have you ever tried gaining affinities?” I ask.

“Do I look like I have the coin to pay a Wizard for that?” asks Delphine with a laugh, tugging at the homespun cloth of her blouse. “Plus, wizards go out adventuring, and I’m not interested in sticking my head into a monster’s mouth. Life is dangerous enough as it is without seeking it out.”

“Not all wizards are the adventuring types,” I advise before catching the edge of her frustration. “But let’s discuss that another time. What do you want to know about my plans?”

“Where are you planning to set up the salt harvesting?”

Creating an illusion to hide our discussion, I present her with the same images and information I’d given Esdras and Alfarr. Taking in the automated scrapers helping empty the trays, Delphine whistles softly. When I add four houses beside them modelled on the layout of Zosime’s place, she whistles again and grins.

“If we’re just bagging salt, we’d produce wagon loads daily. Who could use it all?”

“We’ll sell an amount locally, slowly increasing sales to local merchants, but sell the majority to the dwarves. Ellother checked the local prices against theirs and they pay more and have a larger market—they use it for other things besides salting food. But I want to keep the local trade going so merchants will keep the villages and farms connected.”

“Oh!” says Delphine, and I see her catch my meaning without needing to repeat the explanation Grand Master Hasusar had needed to give me. “Yeah, we’ve been slowly getting more isolated for years, it would be good to give them more reasons to visit. Are you going to position houses right beside the trays? Or will you space them to allow for growth?”

“I’ll create another wall further east beyond the trays. The initial houses will be close to the east gate instead of near the trays. I’ll also be hiring Yianni to construct some more.”

“I’ve so many questions, though I guess the next concern would be about guarding the wall?” asks Delphine, though she doesn’t sound worried.

“There are still some things to work out, but I can add defences like the towers at Sanctuary. I’d also connect the additional wall to the walkway of the existing one to let the patrols move along it,” I explain. “And hire additional guards, as the patrols might be too thin.”

Delphine giggles and only explains when she gets puzzled looks from Irene and me. “Those towers sound intriguing. I heard the other day an adventurer got knocked on his arse trying to come near your place. If you set them up the same way, he might get bounced between towers”.

“You’re more concerned about the adventurers than monsters?”

“Sometimes the ones that show up claiming to protect us from the monsters are little better,” advises Delphine. “Thank you for explaining your plans. Can I pass that information on to the others, or do you want me to hold off?”

“I’d prefer you explain after Selene heads to tomorrow's council meeting. Though if they’re persistent, it’s fine to provide the information earlier rather than upset anyone,” I reply.

Delphine shakes her head. “Those houses have more space than we do now, so with Yianni building more, that’s great. I’ll let people know you have solid plans for what you’re doing, both harvesting and housing. If they don’t get on board based on that, they can get a smaller share if they join late. Based on those scrapers, you could also do the bagging magically, couldn’t you?”

“I’d like people keeping an eye on the trays—it can rule out problems. Plus, would anyone feel like they’ve earned anything if I do it all with magic?”

Laughing, Delphine hops up and extends her hand. “It will be good working with you, Gail.”

Shaking her hand, I let the illusions drop. “Likewise.”

When Delphine heads off to talk to her relatives, I give Irene a grin. “Should I warn Zenon that I expect him at the show? I already sent Georgius a message and told Selene in person.”

“No point telling him; he won’t come unless you drag him,” states Irene.

It’s only an hour after noon when one of the older ladies asks when they can expect to cook the meat. Taking that as my cue to start, I send some messages off and head for the north gate with Irene. Seeing us leave, Delphine and a couple of the other younger relatives move to follow us with a spring in their steps. Others in the square follow and, already warned that I’d be doing some butchering, they leave the younger children with minders. The teenage messengers I’d paid for the day go around letting people know, and more join the procession for the show. The ground is no longer rain dampened, so the parade doesn’t churn it into mud.

At the north gate, I spot Phile and Sarah casually chatting to a few men gathered near the gate. While Phile is wearing her leathers, Sarah is showing more skin than anything else. I only recognise the fashion from the ‘shows’ she’s mentally shared from our old lives. A red bikini with a matching loose sash around her waist, not even long enough to qualify as a mini-skirt.

“Your aunt Sarah likes to draw men’s gazes,” comments Irene.

“It’s more that she doesn’t care if they look or not. She’s confident in herself and in her ability to demolish anyone with bad intentions,” I reply.

“Demolish?”

“It sounds more dramatic than killing. Or do crush, pulverise, destroy, purge, and pulp sound better?” I ask. “She likes to ensure she’s got the dominant position in nearly all relationships. Showing she doesn’t care for the dress standards is just another aspect of that.”

“So, not a priestess of Lada?” asks Delphine.

Spotting the glint of amusement in Sarah’s gaze, I give an amused headshake of my own. “The goddess of Love and Beauty, not even close. Sarah worships the Concept of Order, but absolute Order, not what you might see as Order. Flitting social mores don’t come into that picture.”

Those following Delphine whisper among themselves, and I wave to Phile and Sarah.

“I’ve told the watch that you’ll have them under control,” calls Phile.

“Thank you, Phile,” I say and wave at the empty area before the wall. “How much of a show do you think I should put on? As much as Aunt Sarah’s bathing suit?”

My teasing comment gets a snort of amusement from Sarah. “I’m interrupting my beach picnic for this show, so make it worthwhile.”

“When you think you’ve killed something, you want to ensure it's dead,” replies Phile.

“In that case, I’ll use all five of the monsters I found,” I say, and cast the barrier spells. Normally they’re transparent, but I alter the casting enough to tint them to be visible in the sunlight.

My next song has Georgius and Selene appear before the front row, and she immediately starts screaming obscenities at her family members present. Scrying the village forge that I’d only seen in passing, I show Irene the image and she confirms the burly man there, who appeared between tasks, is Zenon. Since I’m not interrupting any work, I also teleport him to us.

“Zenon, did you get my message earlier?” I ask. His eyes bug out, looking at the crowd, but he licks his lips and nods, so I continue. “I don’t know what you’ve got against me, but you’ve been spreading lies. You three stand still and watch. I’ll clarify that I’m not powerless.”

I let the first note out, deliberately sustaining it and letting energy leak so it causes folks' hair to stand on end. Splitting my voice, the flurry of music yanks my targets into place within the cages. The wyverns scramble and flop about, with only a pair of back-clawed feet to stand on and insufficient space to spread their wings. Regardless, they still stab their tails forward. The strikes angle beneath their wings, impacting the barrier and spraying poison from their stingers’ tips. The Lesser Dragon strikes out, teeth snapping towards the crowd as he unleashes a Water Bolt; both impact hard against the barrier and get nowhere.

Though I’m between them, some villagers start to panic until laughter drowns out the initial gasps.

Still laughing, Esdras walks forward from among the crowd clapping in approval. “Four wyverns and a Lesser Dragon, all caged; nicely managed, Lady Gailneth.”

Rolling my eyes, I spare a moment to complain. “Esdras!”

“Protest all you want, Gailneth, but it's foolish not to address one of your strengths respectfully, even without having an official title,” states Esdras. “Since you insist, I’ll stick to Gailneth, but there is a difference between someone being casual and rude.”

“Why are we even here?” snaps Selene, finally directing her attention to me

“I explained to you earlier in front of witnesses that if you didn’t come along, I’d bring you here. You were still at your trays and ignoring the messenger telling you it was time for my show,” I say and continue as she tries to interrupt. “These monsters are my show for you. Some mothers pass on cooking techniques, my mother taught me killing techniques.”

Mother had taught me the theory of where to strike to kill quickly and how to avoid armour and bones. Though her lessons had been for my short swords, the same principles make these songs easier and merciful.

The first notes send shearing force expanding through the creatures’ brains and end their furious assaults on the barrier. Leaving the Dragon’s corpse for now, more notes follow, slipping along the softer tissues, avoiding scales and bones. Selene swallows convulsively at the sight of the wyverns skinned and butchered before her eyes.

As the skin and wing membranes lift away, exposing muscle and fat, litres of blood rain from the wounds I’d created to drain the bodies. Since a body so large would take time to drain naturally, I don’t let the blood simply fall away. Separate melodies draw all the blood from the wyverns and spiral it into a bubble beside each corpse while I methodically dismember them.

Once I’m done, I give the trio a bright smile. Aunt Am said it’s unnerving to be happy on some occasions.

“Some things I take my time with, but others-” I say, dramatically clicking my fingers. I let loose a fast trill of music through Silent Song, and the Lesser Dragon’s corpse looks like it explodes. Yet when the rush of music ends, it's as cleanly butchered as the wyverns.

“I deal with quickly. Just because I hadn’t yet reacted to your lies doesn’t mean I’m incapable of doing so.”

The gore-splattered force cages vanish, and the coppery smell of blood fills the air. Ras taught me how to dress kills, and I’ve kept the bladders and intensities intact to avoid spoiling the meat. The wyvern’s sprayed poison doesn’t reach the ground before I transform it into water.

“Can I get help to carry the wyvern meat we’ll cook for dinner?” I ask, even as I create platters and section the meat. “The poison is neutralised.”

The closest villages look wide-eyed at the scores of platters whose forms stabilise from the golden creation light. When volunteers take them up, I’ve soon got them piled with all the cuts of meat those helping had requested. Depositing the rest on new force walls, I keep cutting, slicing, and wrapping the excess for sale in cloth and wax seals.

Esdras takes out a large black cloth, and I can sense the dimensional magic of a Portable Hole.

Seeing my glance at it, Sarah steps forward. “I’ll handle it for you, Esdras,”

And with that, Sarah flies up and starts collecting the blood, organs and meat, each disappearing with a touch. Her mental voice lets us coordinate what to take, and she jokes about the number of men watching her arse.

With the parade headed away carrying the platters of meat for the grills, the main trio for my show seem reluctant to move. Through it all, their eyes remain glued to what some might call a gruesome display.

“Irene, please cast a Zone of Truth for me?”

My request causes silence to spread across those closest. It's a Blessing that is normally only used for dealing with criminals, or in important agreements where neither side has reason to trust the other. The silence settles, spreads further, and the rest of those who remained for the show try to get in position to see what is happening now.

Apparently not averse to a bit of dramatic licence herself, Irene steps forward to stand between me and the trio with her arms spread unnecessarily wide. Empowered by Hestia’s Blessing, the words of the Blessing melt in the listeners' minds, leaving the chant's words unable to be repeated.

“It is done. Hestia’s Blessing shall judge the truth of the words of all present,” Irene says and looks at Selene. “Say something true.”

Selene starts to open her mouth to snap something but glances at the meat Sarah’s still collecting. Licking her lips, the words come out as a whisper. “I never asked to be brought here.”

“Louder, please,” instructs Irene. “So that all might hear that the truth comes out undistorted. Or are you afraid of the truth?”

Irene would have been dead if looks could kill, but Selene repeats her words.

“You lied about me and encouraged others to lie, so I’m your accuser,” I retort. “The Goddess Hestia is judging both our words.”

That gets nods of approval from some of the crowd before I continue.

“The sky is a nice pink right now,” I say, and my words crackle and hiss at the falsehood. “It's not, but that proves the Blessing also affects me, as I willingly submitted. Selene, Georgius, and Zenon, I brought you here so you could see what I can do.”

Looking between them, neither Georgius nor Selene will meet my gaze, but Zenon just looks like he wants to be elsewhere.

“I alone teleported, caged, and killed four wyverns and a Lesser Dragon that died before you this afternoon. I don’t care if anyone argues with me or dislikes me because I’m not always right. I hope people will tell me when I'm wrong, and I’ll listen. However, I care when the lies you’ve deliberately spread about me cause issues with me helping others.”

“Georgius gave me free food and drinks for spreading those tales so they wouldn’t be just from him,” Zenon blurts.

Nothing he said is out of tune, and that brings thoughtful murmurs from onlookers.

“Thank you, Zenon. I noticed your voice didn’t crackle. I’m unhappy that you lied about me, especially without getting to know me first. I had no grudge against you and have work planned that would have given you business. Will you tell something untrue to prove the Blessing affected you, please?”

“Selene is a nice and pleasant person,” states Zenon, and his words warble and crackle. His choice of lie brings laughter from the crowd, and I decide to go easier on him.

When Selene glares at me, I send her and Georgius to where I’d gathered them.

“Did you give the naughty children a time-out?” asks Sarah, raising a questioning brow

“I sent them back home. Frankly, I was tired of looking at the liars,” I explain, and giving a head shake, I fix Zenon with a frown. “Zenon, I’ve heard you don’t have an apprentice. Is that correct?”

“Not enough work,” mutters Zenon.

“Please pick an apprentice; there will be work for you both,” I state, and Zenon coughs in surprise. “Though you don’t get off lying about me without punishment. You’re not invited to the feast tonight, but that exclusion doesn’t include your family. We’ll discuss the rest between us at a later date.”

I send him home and spot Nikias in the crowd. “Can you take a few people to your father please, Nikias? I’ve arranged some drinks for tonight but need them transported to the square. Thank you all for attending today, and I hope you’ll join the feast. As you’ve seen, we’ve plenty of freshly caught meat.”

A few go with him readily, and more young women head to the square while Bion takes a cart filled with parcels of meat to his place. However, the rest of the crowd doesn’t disperse until I complete the parcelling. The reason for some is obvious, watching the young men following Sarah away.

Not unexpectedly, I catch a few nervous glances during the afternoon, but most of the preparation is straightforward. It's all overcome with willing hands or the offer of paying work. Straightforward work and happy fun until Delphine and a score of women from Selene’s family come to the feast with their possessions in parcels. Some children with them look like it’s an exciting outing, but a few are close to tears.

Delphine heads my way with a tight-mouthed expression. Some of her companions spread out and start talking to others, and I can tell from their body language they’re asking for favours. When Delphine gets close, I look at the bundle she’s carrying. “Did she kick you all out?”

“We went back to talk some sense into her. She got told I’d spoken to you before your show, which caused things to devolve into accusations. Anyone that disagreed with her is a traitor to the family and needed to leave,” confirms Delphine. “She insisted that no one should have anything to do with you. We’re going to see where we can guest for now.”

“So the ones that stayed behind are all still hoping to inherit from her?” I ask, and Delphine gives a bitter nod. “Do you want to sleep in the glades within Sanctuary for now? That would give us time to plan out your homes. Or do you want to handle it differently?”

There is a gasp of surprise among the crowd already at the feast.

“You’d open your home to us?” asks Delphine.

“Of course. What else did you expect me to do?” I reply. “I’m sorry my shaking things up got the children involved.”

“A few tears killed no one,” states Delphine, and a little boy moves to peek around from behind her skirt. He has the same jet-black hair as her but with olive-hued skin. “I just wanted to know when you planned to build the homes. We can ask people for places to stay but need to know how long it would be.”

“I insist you guest with me. We can take our time and design homes you all want to live in,” I state. “Some I’ll build immediately; the rest Yianni will construct. I don’t want to take all his paying work away; that wouldn’t be right.”

“Thank you,” murmurs Delphine before she signals the others over.

Crouching, I look the young boy in the eyes and extend my hand; he’s maybe three. “I’m Gail; what’s your name, young man?”

When he grins, it shows the same left check dimple as Delphine. Edging my hand closer prompts him to hide behind Delphine's skirt, drawing laughter from Delphine. “His name is Alexander; it was his father’s name.”

That draws my attention to how few men are in the group and all are young, the eldest nearly at an age to strike out on his own. Is Delphine’s group all widows that were forced to return home? Forced to labour and do chores for a roof over their head. Thinking of all the common chores the elves use magic for, I can’t help but grin.

“How would you all like to learn magic?” I ask and watch their jaws drop. “It’s not just for fighting; many spells exist to make life easier.”

“You will do that?” whispers Delphine in shock.

“I can teach you all,” I agree. “Whether you practise enough to master, that’s up to you. Should I make it so Selene can only tell the truth?”

“She’d only use the truth as a blade to wound,” warns Delphine.

“The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” I murmur and hold back temptation.  “My Mother would be angry that I didn’t allow her the choice, so let's not go there.”