Draith
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Chapter 99 - Polite Company
🕑 Added 2025-05-14 14:00:11 +0000 UTCAfter processing Calbern's suggestion to bring in a Pox Knight to do the training for Selvi, I got to move on to the next surprise of our little meeting.
His recommendation that I take Tamrie on as a councilor.
"She will prove a superb addition. Having her on the council would prove that you do not believe those from Spellford’s lower hold are inferior. You chose well," Calbern said, nodding at Tamrie. My assistant was currently talking with Xoth, both of them hunching inward slightly against the chill wind blowing through the valley. It sound like they were talking about the amount of food we'd need for the next wave of refugees. And about how much we'd need to expand our capacities to keep up with the increased demand. Our stores had been buffered with all the monster meat, but it wouldn’t last nearly long enough to get through the Howling season.
"Wouldn't I need a new assistant?" I groused while activating air Shield to keep the chill away, not excited by the idea of holding another round of interviews.
"Not for the moment. It would simply give her the official standing to act in several capacities where she technically doesn't have the authority to do so at the moment," Calbern said, a slight smile tugging at his lips. Unlike everyone else, he didn’t even seem to notice the chill.
"Technically?"
"Your assistant has little regard for her official limits," Calbern replied, his smile full as he chuckled softly. Then his face smoothed out. "Unfortunately, there are some who have taken offense receiving directions from an assistant, especially a former resident of the lower holds."
"Figures," I said, rubbing at my head. "And you think adding her to the council will help with that? Won't it just rile them up?"
"I suspect it will. Yet they will have little recourse if she truly has authority," Calbern replied before nodding towards Xoth. "It will also drive them to the representative who they feel most closely aligns with their interests."
"Xoth, huh," I said, my robe fluttering loudly as a sudden gust of wind swept through. Over near Xoth and Tamrie, I could hear Alister's teeth start chattering. "Think that'll be a problem?"
"Unfortunately, I cannot say. He seems to be of good moral fiber, but his history before coming to Verdant Point has little more substance than a blank tapestry," Calbern replied, his gaze flicking in Xoth’s direction.
"Done good while he's been here," Selvi interjected, her hair flapping wildly. Even as she spoke, she had her head turned into the wind, her eyes closed as she leaned into it. "Think we've got a bite-sized Howl swinging in."
Before I could agree, a sheet of rain appeared a dozen feet in front of us. I was thankful for my air Shield, as the barrier kept me from getting soaked. The others weren't so lucky, though Xoth was quickly shielded by one of his unfurling vines.
We moved the meeting indoors where I used a short duration air Shield to wick most of the water away from those who'd been caught out.
Despite Calbern having been caught with the others, he was dry before I got to him.
While the others still had several things to discuss, I wasn't needed for any of it. It wasn't even official yet and already my council were proving their value. Even Alister was being drawn in by Tamrie and Xoth, getting his advise on the actual numbers.
I tapped Calbern on the shoulder, letting him know I was going to be working on my magic. Drawing out my grimoire, I settled on one of the rough wood logs that served as benches along the side of the shelter. Then I started scribing the first of the spells Keeper had given me, keeping an ear on the meeting.
It didn't take long before everyone split up. Calbern and Selvi left together, making directly towards the Waygate. Not long after, Xoth moved out into the rain, followed by a cursing Alister, who still had his arms wrapped tightly around himself.
"Should really get him a proper coat," I said as I finished the last touches on Keyring.
"On the list," Tamrie said as she plopped down beside me. "So, ser Calbern tell you his idea?"
"About the Vox Knight? Or to put you on the council?" I asked, leaning back and looking towards her.
She was nodding at first, tugging at one of her tangled auburn curls with her pencil. When I mentioned the council, she frowned, her head growing still.
"Think you're ready for it?"
"Don't know that it matters none," Tamrie said with a shrug, running a hand through her messy hair. "Rather not have to be all fancy though, if its all the same to you. No lady Tamrie or none of that."
"No worries on my part. No promises about Calbern though."
She let out a half-sigh, half-chuckle as she tugged her hand free of her hair. "Ser Calbern do like his titles, don't he?"
"He does," I agreed. "Can I tell you something?"
"Course," Tamrie said, staring out at the sheet of rain still falling outside.
"I don't much like titles. I'd rather you called me Perth… or even Perry," I said.
Tamrie didn't say anything, simply letting out a light hum. We sat together in companionable silence for a minute.
"I… do appreciate it, you know," Tamrie said, her gaze still fixed on the falling rain.
"You appreciate that I don't like titles?"
"Not that. You taking me on as your assistant. And now… a councilor," Tamrie said, clasping her upper right fingers with her left hand as she shifted slightly. "It's not often a dreg like me from the lower holds gets the chance to be on top. Figured my only shot at such would be as a bed warmer."
"Well, it's not like you're not earning your keep," I said, bumping her elbow. "And why do I get the feeling you just disrespected yourself with that dreg comment?"
"Ain't nothing but the truth," Tamrie said, tucking her hair back as she glanced towards me. "How much you know bout the holds?"
"Only what I've picked up from you and the other refugees. That there's lower, mid and upper holds. And that there seems to be some amount of separation between them."
"Well, the mid holds aren't really… everyone goes there. Almost no one lives there though," Tamrie explained, shaking her head. "There's a few folk, course. And lots of travellers lay their heads there. But most of us, we live in the lower or upper holds."
"More people in the lower holds, I imagine?"
Tamrie blinked at me, then burst into laughter. "That'd be right awful, it would. No, most folk live in the upper holds. Be mighty hard to keep the fish farms full if we were packed tight as they are up top."
"Huh," I grunted out.
"Those farms do mean it smells like fish though. Miss that," Tamrie said, sighing. “Never thought I’d miss the smell of fish, sure as anything. Not so bad here, close to the salt, but back in Tetherfall… you ever feel like the air's empty?"
"I… have not, no," I replied. "Is that what Tetherfall feels like?"
Tamrie shrugged. "Sometimes. Most times I'm too busy, but sometimes I'll breath in and it'll just… feel less."
"Might be the height. Tetherfall is a lot higher up than we are here. Means the air's thinner."
"Oh. Like going to the upper holds," Tamrie said, nodding. "Could be."
We remained silent for another minute as the rain came down. A lot of rain. At least the cisterns would be full, though I was worried about the shelters. One of the things Vetrov had been working to fix was drainage. If we got too much rain, there was a good chance a lot of things were going to slide.
“You ever feel like you left your whole world behind?” Tamrie asked, breaking me out of my thoughts as she shifted on the log-bench beside me.
“I… yeah, definitely,” I said, chuckling. “I know that feeling very well.”
“Right. Came all the way from the Hundred Kingdoms, you did,” Tamrie said, nodding to herself as she looked over. “With that hair, you’d think I’d have no chance to forget, but here I am.”
“Black hair’s not common in Spellford?”
“Not on a rounder,” she said, tapping her ears. “Elves have all sorts. Even seen this bright pink hair on a few. Natural as anything, or so they say. Personally, I think they’ve got a bit of Hydra-blood mixed in a few years back.”
“Don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone call me a rounder before,” I said, unable to keep from feeling my own ears.
“Ah, my apologies. Not a thing I should be saying in polite company,” Tamrie said, her pale cheeks taking on a pink tinge.
“It’s fine. Not like I’m that polite.”
Tamrie rolled her eyes. “If the Magus Dominus ain’t polite company, not sure there’s any to be found on the Point.”
“What about Xoth? He seems rather polite,” I said, though I was chuckling softly.
“True ‘nuff,” Tamrie grunted out. “You figure you wiggle the stick up his backside, his head’d bob along?”
There was nothing soft about my laugh at that. “Now that’s something you shouldn’t say in polite company.”
Tamrie smiled, then shook her head. “He’s a good sort, just a bit stiff. Certainly seen worse.”
“Yeah. I think he’s starting to grow on me,” I agreed.
“Like rock-moss,” Tamrie said, nodding. Again, we spent a few moments in shared silence as we listened to the rain. “What do you miss most?”
I took a moment to think about it. If it was Earth… well, there wasn’t much I missed from Earth. Maybe pizza? But I didn’t miss it that much.
And if I was thinking of things from Ro’an that I missed…
“Nexxa,” I said softly.
“What’s a Nexxa? That some sort of fancy net?” Tamrie asked, shifting on the log to look over at me.
“Ha! No. Nexxa’s… she’s my sister,” I said, giving her a little half-smile. “And I didn’t really leave her behind. She’s actually in the Frigid Peaks too. Just… a long way to the west. Anyway, how about you? What do you miss?”
“Ah,” Tamrie said, nodding. “Well, that’s something at least. I miss the kelpies.”
“Kelpies, is that some sort of fish?”
“No. Well, kinda. It’s a type of pie. Kelp pie. Good for eating on the run, though I like to eat em all the time,” Tamrie said, holding her hands up, cupping them together to indicate a small round shape about four inches across. “Nice and salty.”
“I’ll have to try one sometime. I’m sure we can get the ingredients easy enough.”
“More’n like,” Tamrie agreed. Then she let out a sigh, seeming to deflate as she sank into the bench. “Master Temill used to berate me for it. Said it’d be the death of me, eating nothing but kelpies.”
“That’s the librarian who trained you, right?”
“Aye. More than trained me. Practically raised me. Took me in when my parents got mulched in the farms,” Tamrie said, a small smile on her face. “Kept me out of the pens, sure enough. Couldn’t get the pens out of me, much as she tried.”
“The pens?”
“It’s where those without family end up in Spellford. Heard they used to be nice, back in the day. And maybe the ones in the upper holds still are, but lately… well, let’s just say it’s safer coming out to the Frigid Peaks than staying in the pens.”
“Guess that’s just another reason we’re getting so many people.”
Tamrie nodded again.
This time as we sat silently together, the rain stopped, gone as suddenly as it’d arrived.
"Spose we best get back to it," Tamrie said, pushing to her feet.
"I'll have you know, I was working before you joined me," I said, following her example.
"No chance you were fiddling with a spell for the sake of it," Tamrie said with a smile.
"I mean, they'll be useful," I said, finding myself blushing for some reason.
"Sure as the storms sweep in from the east," Tamrie replied, nodding as she moved to the entrance. She paused, turning to look back at me. "Well, what you waiting on, Perry?"
I couldn't help the smile as I pushed to my feet.
