87. The Winter 2

Before another week had passed the snow hit the area and there was little to no movement around the manor. The families of the bandits were smuggled in with no issues and the young man with the cattle decided to sell everything to Novum and also came to work for him. He had also completed his first real work at the smithy. It was a productive week.

Novum was about to head to the mines when Melissa stopped him. "Baron the Duke is coming today so you need to not disappear into the mine."

"But that is not until later today."

"Baron it is not conductive to a professional workplace when you whine like a child. This would also be a great time for you to get caught up with the work that you have been putting on Greg and myself over the last two weeks to make sure that everything is in accordance with your plans."

"Fine I will do it but I won't like it." Novum changed to more formal attire and headed to his office. "Send a runner to Rurik and let him know that I have a dignitary visiting today and that I will be back tomorrow."

"I have already sent one, Baron."

"So, I was doing this if I wanted to or not. Okay. So since that is the case can I get a big breakfast and a pot of coffee while I go over this stuff."

Melissa clapped her hands and two carts were pushed into the room. "Now, Baron if you will turn your attention to the first item. It is the cost of the glass that you wanted us to make or buy."

"It was a little more expensive than I thought but still within reason. We could probably bring the cost down by using the residue of the mines but purchase the first batch and see if the shop has an apprentice on the verge of moving out on his own and see if he wants to come here."

"Sir, might I remind you that there is almost no money left in your coffers right now. You are flat broke until you collect taxes and you told everyone that taxes would not be due until the spring."

Novum pulled out a bag and tossed it to her. "This should reinforce the coffers for the time being."

Melissa opened the bag and was about to comment when she realized that she was not looking at a small pouch of silver but a big pouch of platinum. "I will add this to the coffers and I will also make arrangements to travel to the capitol to break in down into smaller amounts."

"How about building a money changer here. The old man I bought this place from used to do it and I am sure that there are a few of the kids and families that we brought in that are good with coin. It would save us a trip."

"To an extent but for an amount this large the capitol is the only option and you are legally required to do it there and pay the exchange fees."

"Well, I am not to worried about working off the books on occasion but you are right. For now go through the proper procedures and get in changed. It will make things easier. And put a rush on that glass if you can. I would like to have it built for Granny before the snow melts."

"I will see what I can do." The two of them spent the rest of breakfast going over things before others realized that he was not in the mine today and showed up for an audience. It was mid afternoon when Melissa put a stop to all of them so that the two of them and the manor staff could prepare for the Duke's arrival.

At the insistence of the Duke they kept the dinner small and only a handful of people from each group would attend the dinner. Of course what nobility considered small was still over a dozen people on each side. Novum picked the girls as well as the heads of each area. Rurik quickly declined and stay in the mine and Novum was honestly a little jealous.

At the appointed time the magical disturbances could be seen in the air as the portal opened and the mage brought them all through. Novum was not sure who to expect but he was very happy to see the Lyons family was part of the group. It appeared that it was most of the higher level nobles would be attending as part of an introduction gathering.

Novum did not bother to keep the amount or quality of the food restrained in any way. He figured that what they did not eat he would take over to the orphans. Countess Lyons noticed the amount of food and was a little surprised. "Baron Novum, is that not a little over kill?"

"Normally I would agree with you my lady but I have already made arrangements for the orphans to come and have dinner here. And before you ask this is the quality of the food all the time, this is not a come and eat what the nobles eat. Everyone that eats at my table gets the same quality of food." Several of the nobles seemed a little put off by his statement but he ignored them and went about his dinner.

"Baron I received a rather sternly worded letter from the Duke on behalf of Earl Ratcliff a few days ago."

"Did is start with an apology?"

"No."

"Then I do not care about it. I told the envoy that until they made a specific apology to me and my people I would not even entertain them. And then I threw the little weasel out of the manor."

"So, that part was true. I wanted to ask about it."

"I will not be done in by politics and politeness. They were hoping to come in here and try to get an advantage of me trying to be a host to an envoy for the first time and then take something from me. They are slavers and they are after a few of our people and I will not tolerate it and I will not apologize for it."

A few of the nobles were even more shocked at his words. They had used the technique that he had talked about a few times themselves and they were honestly surprised that one as young as him would go to such links to prevent anyone from having an advantage over him.

The duke gave them all a smile. He wanted to make sure that they knew what kind of person Novum was from the start and to also show them that he could not be taken lightly. They would need to keep him and his attitude in mind when it came to any scheming against him and the region.

"And I am not asking you to apologize for it. I just wanted you to be aware that he has actually hinted at attacking your city as a personal vendetta. He is trying to make it so that I will not interfere in the event that he does try something. I informed him that, that is not an acceptable answer and that if he tries it I will support you."

"Thank you Duke. I appreciate it. I hope that he gives up a little sooner than that but if he wants a fight then I will have to take a small crew slip over and give him one."

Most nobles would not think of taking that kind of action in a fight with the exception of the Lyons family. The rest of them were inherited titles while he had earned his through battle. Earl Lyons gave him a smile. "Baron I would like to send a few of my troops to do a joint training event with your soldiers here. My guys are great in the city but I think that some time in the woods would be good from them on the occasions that they have to travel with the family."

"I would be happy to have them. I am already getting them some training from Granny and a few of the locals."

"Granny?"

"Oh, she is a woman who has been here as long as anyone can remember. She is great with all plants and animals and her guidance has done wonders for nature around the manor. She has also put in place areas that hunters and lumberjacks are to avoid at certain times. She had taken a few of the orphans under her wings here in the last few weeks and they are all flourishing. But she knows more about nature and survival than any of my soldiers or the local men. I invited her to attend but she declined the invitation."

One of the other nobles spoke up. "Baron, do you think that it is a good precedent to set allowing your subjects to refuse your invitations. First this Rurik fellow and then Granny as you call her."

"You have not been listening have you. I don't care about that crap. I will treat everyone as a guest when they are here. And as long as they pay their taxes and don't break the law I will not force anyone to do anything. They are as you called them my subjects but I do not own them. They are their own people. And as far as Granny is concerned I was taught to respect my elders and Rurik is my most loyal friend. It was for your protection that I let them decline."

"For my benefit?"

"Well most nobles. Rurik is a top notch fighter and only one or two of here could hold our own against him. And as for Granny I am fairly confident that she could take everyone here without to much trouble. And they are both a lot more blunt than I am with things so I let them decline to protect your noble ideologies."

The man was about to say something else when the Duke held up his hand. "Earl that is enough. You are a guest on another nobles land and how he does business with his subjects is none of your concern. Now I would like to take a tour of the manor if you do not mind."

Novum quickly to his feet. "Of course Duke. Right this way."