I awoke the next morning to check my dwindling pantry. I just needed two more days till the carrots were ready and I’d be able to buy food. I had enough if I was being meagre, and thankfully, meagre was my default state.
I eyed my jar of candied peaches, but resolved that it’d be for a very stressful day. Right now, a meal of bread and cheese was as good as any for breakfast.
I took my meal outside to sit on the grass and look at my crops, which was interrupted when Ophelia walked out of my basement with her vampire friends. They all smiled at me, but I turned my attention to the fields. Ophelia shook her head and waved them off, before coming to my side and sitting beside me.
“Lady Hart, when was the last time you bathed?”
I turned to face her, still chewing on my bread. “You were there, so then.”
Ophelia’s eyes twitched, but her smile didn’t fade. “Your guests are arriving this afternoon. You haven’t bathed since you got back from Talbotton and that boy has left, and you’ve been wearing the same two dresses for the last thirteen days. Am I safe to assume you haven’t laundered your clothing either?”
I stopped chewing to stare at her. “I don’t think you want me to answer that.”
Ophelia shook her head. “Finish your breakfast, Lady Hart. I’ll see to getting you cleaned.”
I swallowed my bread and watched Ophelia enter my house, then immediately walk out. She took sticks from where I had my workers store them from their last trip to the forest and made a bathtub.
I think she realized I didn’t own soap either.
Forty-five minutes later, I was seated in a tub with Ophelia applying soap and pouring hot water over me again.
Grime and filth pooled in the tub, and more than once Ophelia ordered me to get out so she could replace the water.
She then informed me I really had to train my ability to cook, since not being able to create a simple fire on command was not a good sign of an adventurer.
I shrugged at that, looking at her face. “I don’t want to be an adventurer, I like farming.”
She shook her head and began to apply the mixture to my white hair. “Lady Hart, do you not notice you’re a disaster at… basically everything that isn’t your necromancy?”
I frowned and looked at my fields. “They’re doing quite well!”
Ophelia’s hands produced a comb which began to go through my hair. I leaned into the sensation, feeling my hair detangle once more. “No, they’re not. You skipped steps on your planning and upscaled far too fast. You forgot the logistics part, since it does not appeal to you, and your solution, I assume, was to use more necromancy?”
“Yeah… I’ve been wanting to raise more corpses and make better ones to help me farm.”
Ophelia nodded. “Do you remember the night you broke my collar? You didn’t plan that either, right?”
“No?”
“But when it comes to your domain in necromancy, hunting, experimenting, and, well, being a [Scholar], you excel. If it wasn’t for Ms. Carnwich helping you out, your entire project would have failed with no way to legally claim your fortune.”
I sighed, trying to slide back into the warm water, but Ophelia kept my head steady so she could work through the hair. “Likewise, I am helping you with the crops as long as you need me, even if you didn’t consult me about the localized rain phenomenon.”
“So you are mad!”
Ophelia stopped combing my hair. “Does this look like the work of someone who is upset at you, Lady Hart?”
She didn’t say anything, and I was still trying to puzzle it out.
“It is not,” she finally cleared the air. “You are… eccentric. You seem to spend more time agonizing over silly things like if your friend—who is bathing you—is upset at you, than it is to use a bone dagger to claim a human life, or the impacts of breaking a Thrall’s Collar. You aren’t even concerned about the war with the Silent Path.”
“I mean, that’s just work, I have a farm to run…” I tried to reason.
“And that’s what makes you so strange. The challenge Madeleine and I have been trying to puzzle out, you seem to be treating as a background element that can be solved. But the farmwork here—the ones you have tools to solve—is the one you agonize over for… what reason?”
“I mean, I don’t have the resources to maintain my farm!”
“You could ask me, your humble follower, for 1,000 gold pieces and get the debt over with. You rescued me from my father. You could ask Madeleine, who—while not my preferred broker—is invested in you. Or you could ask that noble-playing-pretend [Druid] for a reward, since you did save his life.”
“...I ca—”
“You won’t, Lady Hart. You enjoy agonizing over these incredibly mundane problems that your allies can solve for you, like the rain happening there. Likewise, you don’t bathe, you worry about offending someone since you tried to do a nice thing that could be interpreted weirdly—Ms. Carnwich told me—and have been focused on your fields, rather than the very real threat of a [Vampyre].”
I sighed again, trying to pull away. Ophelia let me, since my hair was detangled and cleaned. “I picked you a new dress to wear, Lady Hart. Please take my counsel to heart.”
The dress Ophelia had picked for me was a sparkling blue, the color of glacial ice, or maybe the sky just before a blizzard. The velvet was so heavy and sumptuous it seemed to drink the light in my little hovel, a long way from the two dresses I’d apparently been wearing for the last thirteen days.
I could feel the boning in the bodice just by holding it—this wasn't made for comfort; it was made to force you to stand up straight. A severe, noble cut. A practical, unsubtle reminder from Ophelia about my new “role.”
What really made my skin crawl, in a good way, was the embroidery. It was a crystalline mess of frost patterns, stitched in silver thread that was probably worth more than my entire debt. It was a “witchmark,” a perfect, cold match for my stupid new white hair and the [Cryotheurge] class I was now stuck with. The frost clustered thick at the waist before creeping up the long, narrow sleeves, which ended in sharp, pointed drapes that covered the backs of my hands.
Flora damn it, they looked just like Ophelia’s own claws.
This wasn’t a dress for farming. It was a dress for holding court, or planning a war. A powerful, cold statement from a follower who was clearly tired of her “Mistress” looking like a disaster.
“ASHY!” Jasmine ran at me, wrapping her arms around my waist. “You look gorgeous! When did you get the dress?!”
I softly wrapped my arms around her as the blue… arm drapes? fell around her body.
“Ophelia gave it to me!” I excitedly stated, and immediately stumbled on those heels.
“Careful! I’ll help you walk.”
“Not that I’m annoyed that you’re here, but why are you here?” I finally asked her.
“Oh, with the meeting happening in a few hours, your house isn’t really in shape to host that many people. So, I figured I’d make you a gazebo with a nice table and a lot of chairs.”
“...Thanks?”
“You’re welcome, sis!” she proudly beamed, but I stopped her before she left.
“Hey, Jasmine, do I make a good farmer?”
“Oh, Flora no, you’re awful at it,” she bluntly stated.
“But you’re helping me—”
“—Move the crops? Yeah. But I don’t think you actually, you know, planned anything like Adrian does when he does it? I think you got too excited with figuring out a math problem to actually consider the implications.”
“Then why are you helping me?”
Jasmine looked me up and down. “You’re a [Cryotheurge] that’s… really good at her job! You’re paying me way more than market rate because of what you produce when you aren’t pretending to be a [Farm Girl].”
That deepened my frown. “What does that mean?!”
“Look, Ashy, I love you like my own sister—since you basically are, and that’s a Carnwich promise. But… do you not notice that you get stuck in your own head over the silliest things? Like when you found Cadence’s corpse. How were you more worried about being touched than what to do? It’s like there are two Ashleys!”
I waited for her to continue after she paused, which made her click her tongue.
“There’s the one everyone in town knows. She’s awkward, bad at talking to people, wants to get into a fight with everyone, and seems to not—wait, did you bathe? Ophelia made you bathe! Right, and she can’t make friends without help. That’s where I see your farmer side. You clearly don’t want to be one; you just want to prove your Pa wrong.”
“And the other?”
“It’s the uh… thing you have in your basement side. That side is super, super scary and good at her job. That reminds me! Noel and Adrian told me you’re a doctor now? Would you be able to look at my Ma?”
“You trust me to do that?”
“...Yes? It’s not like I’m asking you to take her to dinner. I imagine when you’re doing your job, you’d be good at it. Though, I should be there so you don’t say something… Ashley-like.”
“You know, Ophelia said the same thing…”
“And I’m sure Madeleine would tell you you’re also being silly, and even Noel. Noel was talking to me about your farm, and doesn’t understand why you didn’t use the gold to make technology to help you with the work. I told him that you wouldn’t consider that, since if there was technology on your farm, you made it—or I made it for you.”
I looked at my heels. “I don’t… really want to be a [Necromancer] though.”
“I know, Ashy! No one thinks you do. Everyone just knows you’re good at it, which is why they’re happy to have you around. You’re like… Oh! You’re like a queen bee. You’re in charge of the nest, but you’re just laying eggs and maintaining something that’s important, but you yourself aren’t a threat. You’re just really worried about the farm, since if you ever looked away, you’d be incredibly scary.”
“I wouldn’t hurt you though, Jazz?”
“I don’t think you would! But… I mean… didn’t you get through an entire goblin tribe and are now able to summon a high-end bone golem to fight for you? And you never once summoned it to help on the farm since you don’t like the fact you didn’t make it yourself?”
I completely forgot I could summon that thing. I also never named it.
Jasmine caught the surprise on my face. “Like I said, terrible farmer, super good [Cryotheurge]. We’re all happy to help you out since you’re really, really… nice? I kind of wish Elias was like you, but I’m enjoying my freedom and the payment Ophelia gave me to be your friend.”
“Hey!” I shot back, my heart racing.
“I’m teasing! Just teasin’. Elora’s Laces, you are so easy to throw off-kelter. I love ya, sis. Now where do you want this gazebo?”
Noel handed me a jar of candied peaches. “Inquisitor Skye said this was your favourite, and you would appreciate the gesture.”
I immediately snatched it, again causing me to stumble over these damn heels. Noel caught me and lifted me upright. “Have you not walked in heels, Lady Hart?”
“Nah, this is my first pretty dress,” I admitted, trying to open the jar with my frail arms. Noel sighed, took the jar back from me, and opened it. He did not return it to me.
“And you’re going to eat candied peaches straight from the jar while wearing it?”
“Yeah! Wait—now that you mention it, that sounds silly. I’d ruin the dress.”
“You think?” He beckoned over Ophelia, who went to help Jasmine with the gazebo. “Would you mind getting your Lady a bowl and an eating utensil, Lady Hawthorne?”
“Of course, Lord Birchi—”
Noel cut her off. “Noel is fine.”
“Suit yourself, Lord Noel,” Ophelia responded, giving him a curtsy. She returned with a new bowl. “Do not curse this one.”
“That was one time!” I shouted back, but Ophelia had already returned to Jasmine.
Noel poured the candied peaches into the bowl and then looked at me. “Take a seat, Lady Hart. I wanted to talk to you about a personal matter.”
“Sure, Noel. Are you also going to tell me I’m a terrible farmer?”
“You are, but no, I wasn’t going to tell you that. I just figured that was your ‘nutter’ personality everyone talks about.”
“Everyone knows about that?!” I tried saying calmly, but it seemed like I shouted.
“I assume you had either of them tell you you’re a terrible [Farmer], and a scarily competent [Necromancer]?”
“Both, actually.”
Noel nodded, then took the fork Ophelia provided and pierced one of those candied slices. He lifted it up, and then looked at my dress. “Take a napkin, Lady Hart. Place it around the fork, and another to cover your hand. Lean forward, and bite.”
“I know how to ea—”
“No you do not,” he interrupted, clearly talking about the last dinner I had with him, Adrian, and Melissa.
I took the fork, and Noel sat back. “So, my house is the Birchigolds. I am Lord Birchigold”
I chewed on the candied peach and looked him over. He did have the same blonde hair and a very similar face, but he was taller, far more muscular, and had an aversion for pretty clothing. “No, you are not. He’s smaller than you are. And he keeps his hair better. You do look like him though.”
“...I am Cornelius’ younger brother,” he said, rubbing his nose.
“Oh. What are you doing here?”
“I’ll… get to that. You must be thinking: why am I, a druid, helping you?”
“Not really. I figured you wanted to kill Bazerie like Madeleine and Ophelia do. And I kind of saved your life?”
Noel’s eyes went wide and he pursed his lips, shaking his head in what I assumed was light frustration.
“So, moving on from that inanity… what you do isn’t even unheard of in the natural world. I would see necromancy as very similar to the [Fungimancers] who have learned how to properly use the cordyceps parasite.”
“What?” I asked, skewering another piece of candied peach. The juice splashed out, but luckily, I moved my sleeve away just in time. Noel groaned.
“It’s a fungus that infects ants. To outsiders, it’s a horrifying thing; it takes over their brain, makes them crawl up a leaf, and commit suicide. Many people think parasites are dangerous—and they are. But I am a Son of Danu, which means I represent nature and its balance. Both the good and the bad.”
“Uh-huh…” I chattered.
“...So, you are a cordyceps. Its role, like all parasites, is to manage the dominant species and keep them culled. Without parasites, ants would grow to be too many, and even apex predators would never die. A healthy ecosystem has parasites.”
“Are you calling me a parasite?”
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
“Lovingly, Lady Hart. You are a parasite I see that can be managed in this ecosystem. An invasive parasite, like… a coven of witches making an abomination, or a [Vampyre] enslaving the world, is something I’d have to deal with. But you?”
“Let me guess: my entire goal is farming, and since that’s the case, I’m like some queen bee that’s scarily competent but focused on something minor?”
“Yes! Very astute.” Noel beamed. His smile made me feel warm, so I didn’t mention I stole that line from Jasmine. “You are keeping the criminals here in line. Imagine if Ophelia was working for Bazerie, or worse yet, that goblin you left alive.”
“I mean, you left him alive too..?” I responded, but he waved me off.
“Your goals are so minor that even if you were to succeed, I imagine your criminal underworld—your ‘managing of that ecosystem’—would be solely focused on underworld goods. That is a criminality I am perfectly fine with having. I know your friend, Inquisitor Skye, would not be, so I did not bring it up to him.”
I took another candied peach, but this time, it didn’t make a mess! Progress. “That’s nice. Why are you telling me this?”
Noel again shook his head. “I… was explaining why we were friends and allies, even though I vastly prefer your Inquisitor friend to your coven.”
“Oh. I just thought you needed my help to kill Bazerie?”
“I… do,” he responded, his eyes twitching. “But did you think of what happens after that’s done?”
“You go home?”
“...And leave you behind?”
“Yeah! I’m not doing anything to you.”
“That’s exactly why I’m supporting you and your coven and not getting the inquisition involved,” he said flatly. “Anyways, the reason I’m explaining this to you is because of a sensitive matter.”
“How sensitive? Since I usually tell Ophelia and Jasmine everything.”
“I would prefer them not knowing, if you would be able to.”
“Sure? I’ll do my best.”
“Good, since it would require you under the Physician's Oath.”
“The what now?”
“Do no harm?”
“I’m not planning to?”
“...Didn’t you get a lifetime of experience from Levan on how to be a doctor and a [Chirurgeon]? How do you not know what the oath is?”
“Because I never made it, and I don’t care about it.”
He looked at me with a wide expression. “Okay, let’s assume you made it, and not tell people about something I am coming to you about for medical advice.”
I was about to say—“sounds good, kind of like what Jasmine asked me earlier”—but I realized that I’d be violating whatever oath I was supposed to have made and would make him not trust me.
So I nodded.
“So, the reason I’m here is twofold. I will begin with this: as a druid, I am unable to cure disease. Diseases are part of the natural cycle, and I cannot intervene. However, this leads to the second part. I am an exile from the Birchigold House. And now, these two facts are coming together: I need your help to cure my husband.”
I chewed my peach again. “Okay? Why don’t you go to a cleric then?”
He paled. “The only ones capable of such a thing are the clerics of Amaril and Flora, and they wouldn’t help.”
“But you’re asking me to do so?”
“I understand it’s an imposition that might not be goo—”
“I mean, if it’s about money, I can ask Madeleine to loan you some. I just started out as a doctor, so I might not be the best fit?”
His eyes twitched again. “...Is your issue your experience?”
I tilted my head. “Yes? That is the issue here, right? Besides, if you really wanted to ask for help, I know Addy—er, Adrian—can cure disease. Not Dragonpox though…”
He shook his head. “I can’t ask a Paladin of Amaril for such a thi—”
“Why not? Addy would love to help you out.”
“How… you’re telling me that Inquisitor Skye, a Paladin of Amaril, would help cure my husband?”
“Of course, assuming he could. You should ask him, since I can only do it mundanely.”
He rubbed his head once again. “How about this: you look at him first, and if it’s not something you can care for, I’ll reach out to the Inquisitor?”
“Sure! But I think you should ask him anyway? Even if it’s just a check if he’s able to cure the disease. I’d ask for you, but I think that’d make things awkward.”
“Danu’s Breath, you are a nutter.”
“Thanks? Was that all though?”
“Tell me, Lady Hart, is your entire goal just to farm better?”
“Well, I need 1,000 gold to pay off my debt.”
“...Do you want me to give you 1,000 gold then?”
“No! I have to earn it myself. Ophelia and Madeleine already tried, and even Adrian did. This is a me thing. Sorry, Noel, I’m sure you’d understand.”
“I absolutely do not. But if you understand why I’m not your enemy, and you are willing to help my husband, I will ignore this.”
“Sure, but you should tell Jasmine at the least. She was enjoying staring at you.”
“...Do you really not see any problem with what I’ve been telling you?”
“I mean, I don’t know what the disease is, so that’s a problem.”
“Danu’s Breath. Alright… please keep everything I’ve told you between us.”
“I think Ophelia already knows that you’re Lord Bi—”
“You’re the only one who did not, Lady Hart.”
“Oh.” I frowned. I don’t know why I didn’t figure that out.
Thankfully, Wizex and Madeleine came together at this point. The sun was setting, and I was sitting in the new gazebo the three of them built. Wizex looked over my crops before raising his hand to greet me.
“Alright, mate?” Wizex asked, his voice a lot more relaxed and harder to understand.
“What? I’m alright, but I’m not your mate.”
“Just a turn of a phrase there, luv.” Wizex responded, coming toward the gazebo and taking a seat.
Madeleine approached me from behind and leaned up to kiss my cheek. “Chérie! It’s been too long, you’ve been holed up here! Good to see you bathed! Quelle belle robe! And you’re not freezing to touch!”
I leaned into Maddy’s affection, before she took a seat. I stopped myself from asking her if I was a terrible farmer. I don’t think my heart could take another one telling me I was bad at my job.
Noel, Jasmine, and Ophelia came from the side to enter too, and the air immediately became tense.
“Good to see you as well, salaud,” Madeleine called Noel. “Pipelette, Souris…” She then turned to Wizex. “I am at a loss. Verte?”
“Luv, you can call me whatever you'd like, aye?” Wizex responded, putting his arms on the table.
Noel rolled his eyes. Ophelia growled, and then immediately shot forward. “So, what are we doing to kill the Blood Witch?”
“That’s the plan, eh? Lookin’ forward to that,” Wizex added.
“Mes amis et ce salaud, we should be considering diplomacy. We won’t be winning this war just by throwing goblins and vampires at it,” Madeleine stated.
“Nonsense, those hummie gitz wouldn’t know what stabbed ‘em. And I’ve seen Lady Long-Teeth ‘ere. Her group of friends would easily take out the rest.”
“That is true. I like you, goblin.” Ophelia smiled.
“And then what? Goblins are weak, and there’s not many vampires, regardless of how powerful our Souris is.”
“ENOUGH!” Noel stated, his deep, booming voice coming down to calm us. “First, everyone take a seat.”
I awkwardly stood up, which caused the rest of the group to look at me. I then took my seat again where I was already sitting. Everyone else filtered in properly.
The table was circular, and starting clockwise from me, it was Jasmine, Noel, Ophelia, Wizex, and Madeleine.
I could feel the hatred in the air, which I’m usually not good at.
“Now,” Noel said, “I assume none of you have ever been in a war room. And no, your greenskin ones don’t count, goblin.”
“‘Ey! Friendly fire, that was uncalled for.” Wizex smiled, grinning mockingly.
“So, how this normally would work,” Noel continued, ignoring Wizex. “We elect one person as the commander, and they tell us their objective. From there, we figure out how to make it happen to lead the war effort.”
Madeleine immediately opened her mouth, but Noel raised his hand.
“I nominate Ashley Hart,” Noel began. “All in favour?”
Everyone raised their hand.
“All opposed?”
I raised my hand.
“Put your hand down, Ashy,” Jasmine ordered.
“Why? I don’t want to be in charge of this.”
“Mistress,” Ophelia began. “In politics, it’s often assumed that the best candidate is the one that everyone is for. However, that is rarely the case; the best person to pick is the one that no one is against.”
“I mean, then pick Jasmine?” I immediately tried to rebut.
“Ashy! I don’t have any magic. I’m a civilian doing finances, I don’t have any goals here!”
“Then pick uh, Madeleine?”
Noel spat on the ground. “Didn’t she trick you into making a contract with her?”
Madeleine stared at Noel, crossing her arms.
“No? I willingly chose to do so?” I stated.
“No Child of Danu can enter a contract, Lady Hart. The Wyld spirit in us prevents our contracts from being valid—at least our end.”
“I am not a Child of Danu, salaud.”
“Yeah, yeah. Danu’s domain includes witchery, trickery, and all that fun stuff. And somehow, I, a druid, made a judgement on your ‘Grandmother Willow’. You can call a face of Danu what you want, but you’re a Child of Danu too.”
This caused Madeleine’s frown to deepen, and for the first time since I met her, she seemed genuinely angry. However, I was betrayed!
I stared at Madeleine, my eyes wide. She offered me an apologetic smile. “Sorry, chérie. But to be fair, I had only known you for less than a day, and it was only so you would sell me crops. Did you really think I’d make myself a slave if you somehow fixed this operation?”
I let out a deep breath. “Fine. I’m willing to forgive that. It makes sense.” And it did, at least in my brain.
“Besides that,” Noel continued. “The Darkmire Witch is not leading this coven. I am not dealing with another abomination.”
“Then you lea—”
“No.” Ophelia’s, Noel’s, Madeleine’s, and Wizex’s voices came together.
Jasmine just shook her head, and leaned in.
“Ashley, you should lead since you’re the queen bee. Most of this operation works because of what you’re trying to do—and ultimately, that crazy witch lady is after you.”
I groaned. “So, what do I do then, Noel.”
“What is your current objective, Lady Hart?”
“Uh… in regards to Bazerie?”
“No,” Noel counselled. “That’s what our end state is, but what is your current goal so we can align ourselves around it.”
“I’m… currently having a labour bottleneck at my farm?” I hesitantly added. The group watched me, waiting for me to continue.
“How are you planning to solve that, Ashley?” Jasmine pushed.
“Oh! I need to make a preparation room to make stronger undead. I have to raid a church to steal a holy item and defile it to act as the central crucible, and then I need to train in [Herbology] to make some medicine and ingredients. With the preparation room out of the way, I need bodies.”
That perked everyone up.
“I’ll aid with the church,” Ophelia immediately offered.
“I can help with the plants,” Noel and Madeleine both offered, and they both glared at each other.
“Workforce, eh? Lookin’ for a body? I spotted your zombies on the way here, with that nice, red V. You already makin’ enemies with the Valiant Bandit tribe?” Wizex asked. “I’ll find ‘em so you can convert ‘em, Mistress.”
“The what? Wait, first—hold on. Why are you helping me with my own goals?”
“...Because the brunt of the work to face an organization, [Necromancer], is going to be done through your undead. Likewise, while we are in a time crunch before the Blood Witch ascends, we can’t just go into Flowers-By-The-River and declare war on a faceless entity,” Noel explained.
“Wait, is she a [Blood Witch] or not? I mean, everyone already calls her one,” I asked.
“She is ascending,” Ophelia answered. “I believe everyone already sees her as one, so she has become one. A hero’s identity is the role they take.”
I shook that question off. “Right, but how does helping me become a better [Necromancer] help you deal with Bazerie? Like I get my undead help, but I can just summon a lot of zombies anyway? And both of you are already stronger than me.”
“It doesn’t directly. But if we were to know where you were at, chérie, we can make our own preparations. I imagine you have no interest in city infiltration, battle tactics, or anything boring like that?” Madeleine asked.
“No, not particularly.”
“Those are tasks that must be ordered as well, but if you’re not ready to handle that, there’s no point in getting that information that will change.”
“No, I get that, but I don’—”
“Ashley, you basically said you’re having trouble building an army,” Jasmine interrupted. “They aren’t able to declare a war on an organization—Bazerie herself is one woman, but she has hundreds of people working for her. We’re five people.”
“Five and a goblin, luv,” Wizex interjected.
“I wasn’t counting myself!” Jasmine said, but Wizex shook his head.
“Finances are important. You lot don’ ‘ave a lair or anythin’, but it’s useful. I can see the missus there using bone weaponry for herself and her undead, but unless she’s planning to produce everything herself, you’re going to want legal tender. Don’t count yourself out there, girl.”
Jasmine blushed at the compliment. She then turned back to me. “Think of it like this, Ashley. You have five people, including yourself. Turn off your [Farm Girl] brain and go into that second Ashley and think this through. How would Academic Ashley solve this?”
I closed my eyes and thought.
If I was doing this for myself and not being weirded out by this, what would I think of.
Oh!
I pulled out the Mortis Agrariae and finally began that tab I didn’t really want to make since it wasn’t about farming. Everyone watched me with curiosity, but my head turned them into background noise.
VI. On Underworld Dealings
How to run a Criminal Enterprise.
VI. On Underworld Dealings
How to run a Criminal Enterprise.
I didn’t need hypotheses right now; there wasn’t anything to experiment on.
I read my notes again, and looked at my table.
“Jasmine.”
“Yes! I mean—yes, Mistress Ashley!” she choked out, sitting up straight.
“Don’t do that. I need you to start making the incorporation for the Hart Stop. I know we have a vegetable shortage, but the first crops of carrots will be coming to you in a few days. We need to start legitimizing the front. Take a loan from Madeleine or Noel and buy a small place and get it ready. I’ll begin sending you shipments of normal crops. Make the books clean.”
“Will do—yes!”
“Noel, Madeleine,” I called next.
“Lady Hart,” they acknowledged in unison.
“I don’t care what’s happening between you both. Both of you will escort me to figure out herbs and plants so I can start making medicine for body preparation, and helping the people out. I have to keep my public face clean. However, I need you to both do different things. Madeleine—”
“Yes, chérie?”
“I need you to start infiltrating the Flowers-By-The-River black market and see what it’s like. Who are their clients? Who are their brokers? Why are they working there? What are their cuts? Can we beat it? Most importantly, stay safe.”
“So you are taking my idea..?”
“Not exactly, but I need the information—which goes to you, Noel. I need you to do the same as Madeleine, but from the other end. Can you take Lord Skye with you and begin investigating why no one’s doing anything about Bazerie from the legal angle? Is there anything we can leverage? What’s the climate like?”
“Good plan, even if I’m not too enthused to—”
“Then solve it yourself on your own time.” That shut Noel up, and made Madeleine step back too. “Wizex.”
“Ay, luv?”
“She’s right. Goblins are weak; I handled most of them on my own. I get you’re strong, but I don’t think goblin zombies are going to do well, and frankly, I don’t want to raise your dead.”
“Good choice, missus.”
“So, send them out. I don’t imagine there’s enough bodies in one bandit tribe. Find me as many humanoid places I can take—and stay away from towns. I’m not going to kill commoners.”
“Pity that, but I’ll get you a good idea of the map.”
“Ophelia.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
“Localize the stronger [Night-Things] under your banner. I need you to start up the clientele here as well, so I can sell to you and get a base of power here. This farm is nice, but it’s not capable of supporting your clan. We can’t defile the land again, so I’ll begin research on finding a better solution for you. However, I need you to restart Hawthorne Manor.”
“Yes, Mistress,” Ophelia said, and cracked her neck. “I will enjoy that.”
“Any questions for me then?”
“Any deadlines, ma’am?” Wizex stated.
“Let’s try to get everything solved soon. We don’t have much time for the Ascension, as I understand. I’m thinking before the strawberries grow, so in… twenty-eight days.”
“Almost a month! Plenty of time then,” Wizex leaned back.
“Speak for yourself, I don’t know how I’m going to get enough resources for that,” Ophelia muttered.
“‘Ave you heard of goblin labour, luv? I can aid you there.”
The two began to chat, as Madeleine and Noel continued to stare. I don’t think they’d solve their issues fast, but as long as they could work together, I didn’t care.
Jasmine leaned over to me. “Like I said, terrible farmer, scarily competent necromancer.”
Does the 'two Ashley Personalities' Reveal make sense?
