67. The Manor House 3

"Looks like the team is sticking together." Novum had a big smile on his face.

Novum nodded to the ladies and headed towards the woods. He needed to make sure that the lumber for the mines was the priority and he just needed to walk. After the last few days of going and going and going he felt that he needed to be doing a little something. He also needed to take a few minutes to himself to clear his head and make sure that everything was the way that he wanted it. This manor was a huge step forward in this life and he wanted to make sure that he was doing it the right way.

Fang came trotting out of the woods with some blood still on his mouth and what appeared to be the hair of a fox on his chest. Obviously squirrels were not going to be enough for him. Novum remembered the organs that he kept put up in his space and pulled out a full liver and tossed it to Fang. Fang snatched it out of the air with a happy yip that sounded like it should have came from a puppy and started eating away. By the time that he made it over to talk to Mike, Fang had devoured the liver and caught back up to him.

"Mike how is everything going?"

Mike pointed at a big pile of the lumber that he had already cut for houses. "That is what is cut for the houses. I am not sure about the change in the order but my job is to cut. We have a few big trees down already and I am going to start marking them for the supports. Baron about the amount of timber it seems a little excessive from my point of view."

"Mike I did not come up with that number. Rurik provided me with what he needed and what size. And when it comes to a dwarf and a mine I am not going to argue with him."

"Oh, well since you put it that way I apologize for the question."

"Mike I have told you to ask any question to keep me from messing something up. This is a big undertaking and I am still not sure that I am doing it right. But I am trying my best."

"Of course Baron."

"Mike I understand that you are a lumberjack but what do you know about different types of trees and the best thing for them?"

"I know absolutely nothing. I just cut the trees that I know make good lumber."

"Damn okay. I need to find someone that is good with the woods."

One of the other lumberjacks spoke up. "Baron, I heard that there is a medicine woman in town that deals in herbs and natural treatments. She might be able to help you with knowledge about trees."

"Thank you. Does she have a name?"

"Everyone calls her the old druid. I am not sure what her name is."

"Then I will go and pay her a visit soon. Thanks." Novum and Fang headed back to the small house to check on everything. Just past the garden he felt the ground start to shake and saw a tower seeming to appear out of nowhere. "That was quicker than I thought Fang. Let's go take a look."

Novum jogged over with Fang at his side. They covered the ground quickly and stood beside Berry and the door of the tower. "Baron, perfect timing. I did not want to go in without you."

"Then let's not wait. This was a lot quicker than I thought it would be, we might be able to get the rest of the house up today and start on the outbuildings tomorrow."

"If they have to move the dirt then it is going to take a few more days to even consider the manor house."

"Oh yeah, completely forgot about that for some reason. I guess I got to excited." He opened the door and the two of them headed to the bypass and were soon on the top floor.

When the walked in Berry gave a deep bow to the figure that was floating at the window. "Master Norvil the tower is up."

"And it was done the right way. You leveled the ground before hand. A lot of people forget about that part. Now that the hard part is over the rest of it should be easy. All of the buildings are enchanted with a earth spell that will move all the dirt where it should be sitting. But with this one the tower is the one that needs to most work."

"So if I set up the manor house at the point right beside the tower and activate it, it will move the earth that is in the way without damage?"

"Of course. Although the dirt that it displaces will still be piled up against the side of the building and need to be moved. That will the case with everything to include the walls. All of the buildings even the wooden ones that look weak are reinforced and can move the dirt. I recommend clearing a place big enough for the buildings that is nice and level and activating them. It will clear everything and keep itself nice and level."

Novum bowed his head. "Thank you Master Norvil. I understand that you do not have any real physical needs but is there anything that you would like?"

"You are very courteous for a noble. In the near future if you could arrange for some musicians to come and play. They could play for you and Berry and I will just be floating here invisible, listening."

"Of course. I will make sure that it happens. It might take me a little while but I will make it happen."

"That would be greatly appreciated. Oh so that is full disclosure, once the tower and the manor are connected I should be able to travel everywhere in the place. I will restrict myself to the tower mostly but on occasion I tend to wander while I think. So with the lich and restrictions gone I will not guarantee that I do not pop up other places."

"That is fine with me. If you find yourself doing that could you become invisible to not scare any staff that would be greatly appreciated."

"Of course I will do my best."

"Master Norvil could you please let me know how to disable the shrinking spell on the room so that I can pull the buildings out it would be greatly appreciated. And also how do I bring out the animals?"

"If you look at the last book on the village you will see a very small series of words at the bottom of the last page. This is the trigger to disenchant the shrinking as well as the one that will reactivate it. The reason that you will need that one is to get the animals out. They have to come out one at a time and use the spell the get big again."

"Thank you Master Norvil. Baron if you would like I can probably get the manor up and functional by sundown and we can start on the rest of the buildings in the morning."

"Thank you Berry let's get the manor up tonight and then I will show you the plan for the area and you can take care of the rest while I handle some things in and around the manor and village."

Both of them bowed to the specter and went down to get the book so that Berry could let them get the building and take it outside. The duo found the book after a little time since they did not put them in order last time they looked through them. They took the time to put them back in order since they might need something from them later. They still had to figure out how to handle the trees as well.

Berry finally canceled the spell and Novum gently stepped in and picked up the manor house. The wall around it did not move and Novum knew that he and Berry would have to read through the manual to take care of it and the wall around the coral as well. This was going to take a while. Once he had the building up he took the few steps to cross the room making sure to avoid any animals and trees and then Berry followed right behind him.

Outside the tower most of the people had come to look and were shocked at the sheer size of the tower that had appeared out of nowhere. When the two of them walked out Novum handed the manor to Berry who was having a little trouble holding it. Erica quickly came forward and helped her out.

"Okay everyone, I am going to need you to move way, way back. I know this is a lot to take in right now but I could really use some patience until things are done here." Novum took off walking and everyone but Erica and Berry were right behind him. Once he was sure that he was far enough away he turned and motioned for everyone to get behind him.

Berry and Erica moved the manor into position and made sure that everything lined up just how it was supposed it. Once they got it close writing on the tower and the manor ensure that everything was right where it needed to be. Berry saw Novum was far enough away. "Erica I need you to stay right with me until this settles out. I am not sure about everything and I want you to be safe."

"Right behind you." Erica even took a hold of her cloak to make sure that there was no doubt about it.

Berry called out the spell that would release the restraints on the building and then ran way pulling Erica behind her. The building started to grow and flashes of magical energy were released as the tower and manor joined back together. The people were all standing there with their mouths open. Finally the building stopped moving and it was the size that Novum remembered.

"Okay for the crew that was leveling for the tower today, tomorrow you are going to be going all around the outside of the building and clear up all the dirt that this building pushed out of the way. Steve you are going to go with Berry and help her out as she puts in a lot of building just like this. The buildings are things that we need around here. Okay everyone a quick heads up, I know that you are excited about something like this but please do not go in the manor yet. There are enchantments and traps and things that need to be taken care of before it is safe. Once it is cleared out everyone will be allowed in. Does everyone understand?"

A few of them answered out loud but most of them simple nodded with their mouths hanging open.