99. Catching Up

The group was up moving a little earlier that would be normal but Novum was a little excitable and wanted to get back as soon as possible. As they rode the group talked about small things but it seemed like Novum and Theren were avoiding each other so that they did not talk. Novum and the girls made sure to include Evelyn and Abby in their conversations and Theren had a couple of nice conversations with Rurik about forging.

The trip was even a little faster than they would have traveled and the only horse that was perfectly fine was Noctis. Theren was looking at the horse with some interest and was about to ask but thought he should wait until later. They rode up to the manor and Melissa was outside to meet him. "Melissa, this is Theren, Abby and Evelyn. They are all my guests. I need you to get Theren a room a higher in the back tower over looking the woods."

"Of course sir. Lady Abigale, Evelyn would you please come with me. Master Theren I will ensure that a suitable room will be found for you shortly. Baron is there anything special that you would like for dinner?"

"Food wise no. But I would like to do a tasting of some of the ales and wines. Just enough for a few tasting for everyone. Theren and I are going to the study to catch up."

"I will let them know. Also you new shipment of tobacco is in." She gave him a bow of her head and led the two female guests to the rooms that they would be using.

Novum jerked his head and led Theren through the manor to his study. Novum expected Theren to start talking about stuff right away but he was standing there quietly waiting on him to start the conversation. He reached over and flipped the token that would silence around the room.

"I was waiting on that. Did you meet the elder guy before or after you died?"

"I pushed him out of the way of the truck that would not have hit him, apparently. How about you?"

"The place we were eating was being robbed and through a series of what would appear to have been accidents the gunman was going to shoot him but my old habit kicked in and I jumped on the bullet. Based on that it can be assumed that he had it all set up. At least that is what I am assuming."

"That dies sound like something that, that being would do. How active is your system?"

"I get things a few times a day. It is mostly little updates and things that I need to take into account. I used it a lot to build Theren up. What about you?"

"I honestly don't remember the last time that I used the system or it talked to me. It is pretty much my campaign became my life and I make my decisions based on what I know. I am sure that if I needed to ask it something it would respond but as far as things like feats and skill, I think it is only the stuff that I take the time to learn. And my strength has grown a few points over the winter because I spent all my time in the mines making new weapons."

"So, you are saying the better and more natural I become with the world the less that the system will tell me what to do and how to do it. That is good to know."

"How were things right before you took one for the team?"

"How much do you know about the old world?"

"I know that you were doing well with my book and getting stuff rolling there but I have not asked the elder of the system anything about it since I got here. I guess I tried to make it a clean break with the old world."

"Well as a matter of fact I was at the same place as you died and was eating the steak and potato you always ordered as well as your drink. We had just hit a million copies sold. And we were only a few books in. I had an offer on the table to make a TV series out of it as well but it was in the early stages."

"What is going to happen to it?"

"I left it in the hands of a few people, to include a lawyer that I actually trust. There were also quite a few people that were in on it and it is blocked from any of then from taking control and using the franchise for their gain. They can still get reasonably wealthy from it but that is only after the huge amount that is going towards the scholarships and the like."

"A million copies and it was not done yet. That is, just wow. I can't believe that people are enjoying it that much."

"Not only did I get the Goodheart Series published but I also got all of the others one accepted as well. Granted they were a little darker and had a different target audience but they were not the least bit afraid to publish them after you name took off like that."

"Um...how is she?"

"You have been in another world for a year and you are still worried about her. Typical. She was doing good the last time that I saw her. I set her up a small trust off the profits so that she does not have to work anymore if she does not want to but she was still doing a lot of volunteer work when this happened."

"That is great." Novum blew out a long breath at the thought that his wife, well ex-wife, was taken care of. "Speaking of that, can any of your ex-wives get their hands on any of it?"

"Nope. That is the reason that there is a lawyer on staff. I double and triple checked with everything and made sure that all my i's were dotted and my t's all crossed. I mean they are probably going to throw and fit and fight about who gets the small fund I had set aside for me to live on." Theren threw his head back and laughed.

"Let me guess. You figured out a way to divert your funds into a trust for some type of scholarship yourself and made sure that they could not touch it after the insurance."

"Yeah, something like that. I diverted a small part of what I had diverted to me to the kids and grandkids in trust funds and the like but they will be a while before they can activate all of them. And the rest is diverted and even if one of them decides to sue to get the money the chances of them winning is less than a percent. But the best part is that there is a stipulation that will make it almost impossible for a judge to even stop the flow of money out if a suit is filed. The lawyer is a huge fan of yours and also always wanted to write."

The two talked until they were notified that dinner was ready and the two of them went to eat and enjoy a few drinks. Rurik had a few successful batches of ale and he still had a lot of quality wine from the original raid on the tower as they did not drink it very often and then it was in low quantities. There were some great wines in the area so there was no use in using that if it was not a special occasion. Theren's favorite drink of the night was the one batch of honey ale that Rurik could make based on the low quantity of honey in the area.

After dinner the two of them went back to the study and talked most of the night. Then when they got up the next day they talked until it was time for Novum to work and then they were right back at it. They talked about everything that each of them should know about the last year. Theren talked about the accomplishments and successes of their old friends and Novum told him about all the things that he needed to know about the area and the people that he needed to meet first.

Topaz came in late one evening to give a report and was surprised to see Novum being so relaxed in front of someone that she did not know. After a quick introduction Theren gave her the name of the guard captain and it was like she was struck by lightning. "That was the piece I was missing. I knew that he was dirty but I could not figure out how. Now that I know that I can dig up what I need and take care of that in no time. Thanks Theren."

"Glad to be of service." After that no one else bothered them.

"Theren you need to be real careful that you do not let things slip. It had been really hard for me but these last two days have been the hardest. Now you just need to put the old world out of your head."

"Yeah I know it is going to be hard but I mean I would have to be crazy to miss a chance like this."

"I just can't believe that it has been almost a full year that I have been here. Even here my time flies."

The two friends knew that it was time to stop talking about it but little did they know that fate and maybe the elder one was not done with them yet.