76. The Manor House 12

Novum went to the shop and hired several carriages that would fit the all of the kids and then much later than he originally intended he went to meet up with the thieves guild. He walked in and the girl behind the counter activated the rune that locked and sealed the door. "Grandma, he is here."

"It is about time." She came from the back with an angry look on her face. "Thought you were serious about this."

"Don't pretend that you do not know where I was and what I was doing. You knew it before the duke knew it. And you probably found a way to profit from it in the end. Bought something that belonged to a competitor of the baron in the hopes that his shop would go under and there would be less competition."

"You know it is nice to deal with someone with some intelligence but also makes my job a lot harder. You need to be dumb enough to fall for my tricks but smart enough to be able to have a good conversation."

"Not really my thing. I have way to many people believing in me to be the first one. So, what conclusion did your guild come to?"

"That your wine is on a level above and beyond anything that we have ever had before. And we are on board with a guild operating in your town under the rules that you proposed. We also understand your role and the fact that you will be watching us just like we are watching everyone else. Topaz will be an independent operator that has full access and rights to the guild but also has the ability to work outside the network."

"Thank you very much for your assistance in the matter. Also, I understand the way that the world really works so if you need something or to hide someone I will assist to the best of my ability. But anyone that is targeted by the the Lyons family, the duke or higher I will not help with."

"So, you have no issues with going against Earls but the Lyons family is different. That is bold of you but at the same time, I can't think of a Earl outside of the Lyons family that could come close to you. I will send a special bag with Topaz and she will be able to reach out to use for or with information. Of course give the level of the information there will be costs and we will not take anything for free."

"Then it sounds like we have an agreement. Of course I do not expect anything for free. I have one more question and I was wondering if you happened to have any arrays that would let my jump from the city to my village and back the other way. I know that they are not cheap or easy to find but that does not mean that you can't get your hands on one."

"You get me another bottle of that wine and I will get it taken care of."

Novum pulled out a bottle of wine and handed it to her. "Here you go."

"Wait here." She walked to the back but he knew that she was not in the back room but another space and a few minutes later she came out with two separate pieces of paper. "My granddaughter will go with you to where you want to place the first one and then you will have to have a mage on the other end put up the second one and then you should be able to go back and forth."

"Thank you. I have an idea of where I would like to put it if you want to come with me." The girl got up behind the counter and hit the rune that would unlock the door. She made an after you motion and after giving the lady a bow Novum led the way to the house in the city that he owned that Aureus was currently living in.

Before he even knocked on the door it opened up and Aureus was standing there. "Oh, hey Novum. What can I do for you today?"

"Well actually I am planning on putting a teleport array in between the capitol and my manor. But this is the only place that I can safely put one but I also do not want to intrude on you."

"There is a family house in the back. You could put it in there and it will be in a place that has my personal security can keep track of."

"That would be great. I forgot that was even back there. How are things at the house?"

"This house or my parent's house?"

"It sounds like one is good and one is not. So, start with the bad and then go to the good."

"Sorry, dad is being a little controlling. He hates that I want to be out on my own and trying to live my life the way that I want." It appeared that she was about to go on a tangent so he got ready for the long haul.

"Perhaps we should sit down."

"Or you could have the array installed and then we could sit and relax since more than likely this young lady has things that she needs to be doing."

"Actually, I am ecstatic to be out of the shop. Granny does not let me out much."

"Then I know how you feel so lets have lunch." The man in the back of the house gave her a bow of his head and disappeared further into the house. "Novum the biggest issue that I have is that my father wants me to find a guy and settle down and get married. But I have yet to find a guy that does anything for me. They are all physically unappealing. Please don't take this the wrong way but as handsome as you are I am not attracted to you in the least."

"That is fine with me. I think I understand part of the problem. You don't seem to have an attraction to men but what about to women?" Color instantly flooded her cheeks. "So, that is what it is. Why don't you just tell them?"

"The church frowns on it."

"Does the church frown on it or do the men at the top of the church frown on it?"

"What is the difference?"

"One is the words of a god and others are words of men. And I have read the book," technically he wrote the book, "and I can assure you that no where in that book is that an issue."

"Really? I mean they talk about it being bad but they never tell you where in the book it says that it is bad."

"Tell you what, after this array goes in you come and visit me at the manor and you and the ladies at my church can talk about it and look through the book together and after you have done your research then you can talk to them. Or you might find a young lady and get married. Either way stay as long as you would like."

The door to the kitchen opened up and a cart of food came out and they all headed for the dining room. "Send word to my parents that Novum is here and he will come along shortly to meet with Melissa." The man gave her a bow. "That is the young lady that my father wants you to hire as your butler."

"Oh that makes sense. What is your opinion if the girl?"

"If my family did not already have someone picked for me I would have taken her. Although I have absolutely no issues with my staff now and they are all awesome I am just saying that she is more than good enough for me."

"That is a great start." They three of them enjoyed the meal and talked over a few things and enjoyed the quite time. "It is about time to put the array up and then finish up here in the capitol. We do not have a long time until the winter sets in and I need to make sure that the mages at the manor can put it up. If not I still need enough time to come and get Sara here and bring her to the manor for a few days."

"It would be great to get out of the capitol. I have only been outside of the capitol once and it was a short trip to pick up some things and then right back inside."

"If you want come with me this time and install the array at my manor. I will bribe your granny with a bottle of wine."

"You paid for this array with that wine. A few days of work is not worth that."

"Well I have a few other bottles but that is not the point. It is not the work that the bottle is for. It is allowing you to get out and do something that you want to do and that is worth more than any bottle of wine. I don't care how rare or expensive."

"Thank you Baron."

"Novum. You can call me Novum. So, you want to finish up here?"

The trio headed out to the family house and Sara quickly set up the array that Novum had bought. They were just finishing up when they heard a group of people walking towards the house.

"Good afternoon Earl, Lady. We were just finishing up and on our way to see you."

"We heard and figured that it would be nice to get out of the manor and come see you in person. This is Melissa Radford, she is the young lady that I recommend to be your steward." He stepped to the side and indicated a short, heavy girl.

"Greeting Baron Novum. I was informed that you have a noble manor and that you need a steward to assist you. I have been training for a position like this my entire life."