84. The Manor House Final (1)

Novum walked around and checked on a few things and made sure that Sara had everything that she needed. He set her up to work in the secured room in the tower where the spirit was the guard and could notify him if something was wrong. He could see that she could sense the spirit and knew that her power was a lot more than her family gave her credit for. She was quick and efficient with her movements. The spirit was right behind Novum.

"Baron can I take this one as an inheritor as well? While her barrier work is rough her ability with spatial and time magic are top notch."

"So, it was not my imagination. Well, that will be up to her but she is also greatly influenced by her grandmother who has raised her since she was young. She will be a lot harder to secure that Berry."

"But I am allowed to at least ask her about it?"

"Yes, you can introduce yourself and talk to her about it. I will introduce you before I leave and then you can talk to her while I am away."

"Thank you, Novum."

Sara finished the set up and ran a small amount of magic through it to test it and the array lit up. She got up and came over to Novum with a concerned look on her face.

"What is wrong Sara? You look a little afraid."

"Are you okay Baron? I heard you whispering to yourself and it sounded like a conversation. I am honestly a little concerned."

"Oh, that. Sara I am fine." He looked at the spirit. "Go ahead." The spirit materialized beside him. "This is my guest. Well technically he is the guy I got the tower from. He is interested in taking you as a student along with Berry. While she is amazing at barriers you are a lot stronger at time and spatial magic and he wants to teach you as well. But I will leave that to him to explain once you send me and my prisoners through the array."

"Oh, it is an intellectual spirit. That makes me feel a lot better. The array is ready when you are. Five should be a good test of the system."

"Thank you Sara. I will go and get the prisoners and be back in just a moment." Novum walked out and found that the guards were back with the wagons. "Oh, damn I almost forgot about them as well." He walked over and saw that the guards were standing beside the wagons waiting on him. The four dead men were in one and the noble was in his carriage as well.

"Baron, we are ready to go when you let us leave."

"Okay then. Have them all step forward one at a time and prick their finger and give me a drop of blood and then they can go on their way. Also make sure that they understand that if they come back to my land the blood link will make their hearts explode."

"I will explain it thoroughly Baron." Without any hesitation he pricked his finger with a small dagger and dripped his blood on the coin. He then brought his men up one at a time and had them all do the same. When all of the guards were finished Novum walked over and took a drop of blood from Baron Ratcliff as well.

"I wish all but one peace and prosperity on your trip." Novum walked over to the wagon. "Baron Ratcliff, I need you to understand that the only reason that you are still breathing is that I need you to deliver a message to your father and any other noble in your area. Three Mines and the surrounding areas are now under my protection. If anyone else tries anything like this I will not even send back bodies, just heads. Am I clear?"

"I understand. I...." he took a deep breath in pain. "I will relay your message, but I can also tell you that I.....understand the nobles in my region and they will not take kindly to this."

"I don't care how they take it. Also make sure that they know that slavery of any type is not permitted in my area. Any slave that enters my area will have all magic binds on them broken. That way no one thinks of sending slave fodder at me is a good idea."

"You, you can't do that!"

"My land, my rules." Without another word he stepped back from the carriage and shut the door. The guard that was left took that as a sign and put the caravan in motion.

"Can you do that?" The voice seemed to come from out of nowhere and Novum almost jumped out of his skin.

"Melissa. Damn you are quiet. I am not sure yet but he does not need to know that. I am going to invest some time and energy into the coins over the winter and see if I can find a way to do it like the blood curse."

"And since he is an idiot it will be a lot easier for him to freak out and spread the rumor about it and then the slaves will hear about it and flee to here for safety. That is brilliant, sir."

"Thank you Melissa. Could you have the prisoners brought to the tower so that I can head to the capitol to talk to the Duke?"

"Of course sir." She gave him a bow of her head and then walked away.

"I can't believe that she is that quiet. I am going to have to pay more attention from now on. I think she might be quieter than Topaz." He spoke to himself in a whisper as he headed for the tower.

When he got there the four prisoners were bound and waiting for him. Sara saw him coming and walked away from the spirit. He gave her a nod and the array lit up and they five of them walked through it. They appeared in the secure room on the other end with no issues. Novum was amazed at the speed and ease of the travel.

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Sara was a little nervous with the power that she could feel from the intellectual spirit beside her.

The spirit sensed her unease. "Greetings Sara. May I call you Sara?"

"Of course."

"Thank you. My name is Dordrest Norvil and at one time I was a mage of some renown."

"Wait, the Mage Norvil, who disappeared about a hundred years ago after promising to change the way that the world does everything? Known for his ability to master time and space to the point that not even kings would dare to offend him?"

"Was I known for that? I mean I did master time and space and I did make that promise. So that means that you have heard of me?"

"I have two of your early works that I snuck out of my grandmothers book case. I think she let me take them but that is not important. If not for your clear and concise teaching I would not be half as strong as I am now."

"You thought they were clear and concise?"

"Yes, sir. I thought it was brilliantly done."

"Yes, well you are probably the only one. You see that was written to weed out the wheat from the chaff as they say. You saw the hidden within the writing and that is why you were able to learn it. Most mages could not learn anything from those books."

"Wait what?"

"They were a test to find someone that could learn from me and really become a master of time and space. While I am a little more diverse than that you are amazing at those things. If you are willing to come and be my student along with Mage Berry I will teach you things most mages only dream of."

"I will have to fight with my grandmother but I will come and learn from you Master Norvil. When the Baron comes back I will use the portal to move back and forth and convince her. Even if I have to run away I will be back to learn from you."

"I am not sure that running away is the right answer but I am sure that the Baron can help you along if you need him."

It was about that time that the door opened and Novum walked in to meet with the prisoners and head for the capitol. "I will be back in a few minutes master Norvil."

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Novum led the men out of the house and towards the Duke, the four men were really starting to freak out now that they were in the capitol. They knew that there was almost no chance of them every making it out of this city now that they were here. They all thought about resisting but they had seen Novum's power and knew that they even the four of them could do nothing about it.

Novum led them to the gate and the guard that was there was surprised that Novum was back so soon and this time with prisoners.

"I need to see the Duke."