118 Preparations 2

Novum walked back to the meeting room and grabbed the list that the team had put together while he was gone. Melissa was waiting beside the portal as well. There was a small list that the manor needed filled as well. Luckily he had picked up a few extra storage bags when he was forging a lot. He needed a lot of other things and needed to take a huge amount of things out. If it had not been for that this trip would be a lot more expensive.

When he walked out he hit the symbol on the wall that let Aureus know that he was here. The symbol glowed green right away so he knew that she was in the house. He did not hesitate and walked in the house to meet with he.

"Novum I am surprised that Shannon is not with you."

"She and the rest are making some last minute plans to deal with the Earl. We are leaving tomorrow. That is actually the reason that I am here."

"Go ahead." Aureus was not real sure what he wanted from her but she was more than willing to hear him out.

"The trip is not going to be a short one and I want someone that I can trust sitting in my seat and acting as my proxy. You will work with Melissa and the rest of my people to keep things in line while I am gone."

"What could have you so worried?"

"Other nobles. Both from the next region but this one as well. I am worried they are going to try something political and my people will not be able to do anything about it. You on the other hand are a noble that I trust with this as well as my friend. Not only that but you have your father behind you as a big stick if necessary. I do not think he will be necessary since you are more than capable but some people are just stupid and it takes something like that to keep them in line."

"I see. That is not a bad idea and given the political climate of the region and a few of the really dumb nobles from all the regions one of them might just be stupid enough to try something. And while Melissa and the rest of you people are amazing you are right that they would be limited against a noble."

"So that is a yes?"

She smiled at him as she shook her head. "That is a yes. But you are going to owe me since this is going to be a lot of work and I do not work for free."

"I had no intention of you doing it for free I have just not found the right thing to pay you with. I will find it through and I will make sure that it is worth all of you effort."

"That is what I like to hear. I will get a bag packed and then go give my parents a general idea of what is going on without saying to much. I trust all of my dad's people but that does not mean that they will not say something that someone else might figure out more than is said."

"That is fine. I have quite a bit of shopping to get taken care of. I will swing by this evening on my way back to the manor. If you go early or wait on me or come later is fine. Melissa is more than capable of briefing you on anything that you might need to know. Is there anything that you need for the near future?"

"No I have most if not everything that I might need."

With a nod Novum headed to the temple and provided them with the list that Crystal provided him and the poor acolyte working the counter did not know what to do with such a big list. They had to go and find and elder. The elder saw that it was Novum and quickly told the young people to gather everything up.

"How are you today Baron?"

"I am well. Crystal asked for these things and since I was coming here anyways I agreed."

"That is a lot of potions."

"That is what I thought but then we got to talking about it and given the huge area that the manor now covers to include the lake it is not practical to bring a slightly injured person all the way back to her at the temple. I also think there is some concern that a few of the Earl's men might show up and cause trouble and she wants to be ready."

"Nothing wrong with being ready." Novum heard a whisper in his ear. 'Have a safe trip.'

Novum gave the man a nod of his head and put everything into his bag. He left the gold on the counter and headed for his next stop.

There were only two stops left when Novum walked into the biggest forge in the city and handed the dwarf behind the counter a token that Rurik had given him. The dwarf was a little surprised but did not argue or question the token he simply took him back. The dwarf in charge of the forge was about to tear the head off the dwarf who knocked on his door when they showed him the token he calmed down.

"Come in Baron Novum. I take it that you have something for me from Rurik."

Novum pulled out the sealed letter and handed it to him. The dwarf took it out and read over it and with a slightly shocked look on his face he lit the paper on a candle and threw it into the fireplace behind him. "I see. The clan that he is worried about lost a huge part of their way a long time ago. They so xenophobic that they will only sell to one man and he is as dirty as a deep dwarf. In the event that you are faced with any members of the clan and it looks like things might get violent. There is a slight chance for you and your friends to get out a live. Tell them you want to run the iron gauntlet."

"The iron gauntlet? What is that?"

"It is a test to see if you are worthy of the respect of the clan. It is a series of fights with dwarfs of different power levels. If you last until the tenth and last fight they will let you go and might even call you a friend of the clan. If they call you a friend of the clan they will trade with you. The thing is, if you lose you and your friends will end up as slaves. You will work the mines until you die in a year or so. Most humans can't last longer than that."

"So, it is best to avoid them but if worse comes to worse I can declare an iron gauntlet and that will give us the best chance. I appreciate the time and information that you are providing me. This has been a huge help."

"I hope that you do not have to use it. It will be really bad for Rurik of you do. They will not be gentle or easy on a dwarf from another clan. Especially one as talented as him. So, if you have to do it make sure that you win."

"I will. Thanks for the help." Novum did not wait for anymore warnings and headed for his last stop before he returned to the manor.

When he walked in he was surprised to see the old woman sitting behind the counter. Every other time he had been in here it had been one of the younger generation. "Evening Baron. How are you today?"

Novum looked at her again and saw the lines that showed it was a person under an illusion and before he answered the tip of his sword was at their neck. There was a high pitched squeak and the illusion dissolved and the young clerk was sitting there. "How did you know?"

"The greeting was off and I could see traces of magic use around you. I could not see that it was you or I would not have used the sword. My apologies."

"You are the first person today to notice that I was not her. I guess you are better than the average guy. I will have to pay more attention to how she greets certain people when they come in."

"Is she available?"

"Let me get her." The girl stepped back and called out. A few minutes later the old woman came out of the back.

"So, it is about that time then."

"Yeah, it is about that time."

She reached under the counter and pulled out one of the bags that he had left with her when he ordered a big part of this stuff before the wedding. He did not want anyone to know he was already working on a plan a long time ago. "This is everything that you ordered. I tossed in a few extra since the order was so big. Never know when an extra could come in handy."

"Thanks. Would you happen to have any of these items on hand?"

"Yeah I think I have all of them. Hold on a minute." She went to the back and gathered up the requested items. "This will square the advance you gave me."

"Thanks. I will have my pouch with me." He gave her a wave and headed out the door. Right before the door closed he heard her say 'good luck' in barely more than a whisper.