34. Finishing Up

"I am packed and ready Baron. Let me get my bag and I will be ready to go."

"Of course. Take your time." As Rachael disappeared into the building Novum wandered around a little and found a small window in the back corner. As he got closer he realized that it was a shop. He quickly made his way to the window and started looking at the stuff he could see. The young clerk was a little flustered at his position since most people that came to him were other priests about to leave on their journey's.

Novum saw a few that were covered in dust. "What are those three in the back that are covered in dust?"

"My Lord those are one for walking on water, one for breathing water, and the last is a potion of tongues that lets you communicate more freely."

"Outstanding I will take all of them as well as some of ones that remove status effects like paralysis, fear and stuff like that. I also want, oh you only have twenty of them. Half of you medium level healing potions and half of your high level healing potions."

"Baron please give me a few moments I am not authorized to make sales this big. We can only handle the ones well lets just say that you are well over the range that I am authorized. I will be right back."

"Rules are rules. You go and do what you need to do."

The man went to the office in the back and the old priest looked up at him with narrowed eyes. "What is it?"

"There is a young Baron here who is way over the limit for what I am authorized. I need you to come and deal with him. The amount it just yeah."

"How much over?"

"About five times the amount."

"You came and bothered me over five gold. Just take care of him."

"My pardon sir not five gold five times the amount that I am authorized."

The old man jumped to his feet in shock and then practically ran over the young man on his way to the counter. "Many pardons Baron." The man looked at the counter and his mouth almost fell open. "I will take care of this right away." About that time Rachael walked up behind Novum. He pointed to the young man. "You take care of her."

"I don't need anything the Baron has offered to take me to my church in his town. He is friends with my fiancé."

The older priest looked at him again. He had assumed that this man was just throwing money around because he could but after hearing that it did not feel right. "Tell you what since you are escorting our sister I will knock something off the price." He muttered a few things as he made notes on the paper and Novum saw the real price and the price the man gave him. He paid the man for the items and then dropped the difference in the poor box on his way out. He heard a ping and assumed it had something to do with his reputation and ignored it for now.

"Rachael, I have a few more errands to run. I can take you by the inn and get you a room or you can tag along."

"I will go ahead and follow you. If that is okay?"

"Of course." Novum was about to head to try and find Rurik when another thought crossed his mind. He still had more funds than he really needed and he also had some magic items to get rid of so he started with the legal building he visited before. He went to the general information desk. "Who do I talk to about buying property in the area that is considered wild lands?"

"Which area?"

"Three Mines area."

The man looked down at a list and after a few minutes he found what he was looking for. "Go straight back and take the second right. It will be the last room in that hall."

"Thank you very much." Novum headed that was with Rachael right behind him. Following their instructions they ended up outside of an office that did not look used. Novum knocked on the door and an old man jerked awake. "Good afternoon sir. I was told that you deal with the property around Three Mines."

"Three Mines, Three Mines, oh yes. Sorry I haven't had anyone ask about that area in years." He pulled out a map of the region that concentrated on the area around Novum's house. "Now let's see. As far as marked parcels there are a few north of the village. Yes several years ago a young man came in and requested an area north of there marked for sale. He only wanted the two parcels but we had our guys do most of the area since it was more cost efficient that way."

"Well I recently purchased those two parcels and was wondering about some more in the area. Could you show me the prices on each?"

The old man looked at Novum again and then he saw the crest on his chest. "Baron I apologize for my rudeness. I was so surprised by your arrival that I did not use the proper etiquette."

"It is fine."

"Oh okay. So would you like to use you title to claim the parcels now?"

"Wait what are you talking about?"

"Well as a Baron you are entitled to two parcels of land in the Duke's region that have been marked and not sold in more than five years. And if you are willing to work with me and forgive my rudeness I can get you two more parcels for cheap. You see as administrator over the area I have the same rights as a noble. Well close. I get two at a very reduced cost. I can buy my two and then sell them to you for cast plus a little bit. That would be four parcels for almost nothing."

"I am very interested in that and honestly I have not been a Baron long and had not even noticed what you are calling rudeness so it is already not only forgiven but also forgotten."

"Such a generous young noble. Did you happen to bring your coin with you?" Novum pulled out his coin and once it hit the map he saw it react with his coin and the four corners of his property started to glow and lines appeared between them. "Okay now lets see." The old man pulled out a wooden case and puled the coins out one by one. He touched each to the map and those areas did the same as before but the property was outlined in a different color.

Novum got really excited when one of the coins touched the table and the lake that he was not aware of lit up. "How many parcels does it take to cover the lake?"

The man looked at the coin and the number three was etched in the top but it was followed by the letter P. "Oh I see. It is three parcels but they are listed as premium status. So that means one parcel is the same price as three regular parcels. And that also means that all three have to be sold together since that are all on one coin."

"Okay that is good to know. So I have a couple more questions. If I could get a sealed writ from a noble claiming the land and then selling it to me would you accept that?"

"As long as the writ is sealed I would have no reason not too. Provided that they have not claimed any other land already."

"How long will you be here today?"

"I will not be leaving early if that is what you mean. This office may not be busy but I do not shirk my duties."

"Outstanding. I will be back soon. Rachael there has been a slight change of plans but you are still more than welcome to tag along or you can wait in the park out front. It is a nice day and I will be coming back here."

"I think I will get a coffee and sit in the park and wait if it does not offend you Baron."

"Enjoy. I will find when I get back." Novum headed towards the Lions manor at a rapid pace. People seemed to move out of his way without him having to say or do anything. The guard at the gate just waved him in and the guard on the door opened it without any hesitation.

Novum was a little surprised when he heard raised voices from the study. "I know that this house is going to brother especially since he will be getting married soon but I need a place as well."

"You will simply live with us until you are married."

"Daddy, I will not. I have not found a man in court or among the regular citizens that I am the least bit interested in. They are all just boring."

"Aureus, baby girl."

"Please don't say I just haven't found the right one. None of them are smart enough to hold a conversation for more than a minute or two until they are looking at my chest. Okay maybe one or two of them but they couldn't fight a training dummy without getting hurt."

"Well sweetie I do not know what to tell you."

Novum knocked on the door. "I apologize for my interruption my Lord but I may be able to help out."

"Novum come on in. I am sorry that you had to overhear our family drama. So what do you mean that you may be able to help?"

Novum pulled out the coin that the Duke had given him. "I am no use for this right now. It would be rude to sell it so quick but it would simply rot away without someone living in it. So Aureus could live there for free. But I would ask for her to handle the general upkeep. But if something major should go wrong send word and I would deal with it."

Novum saw the look on the Earl's face and knew that he had made a mistake. Aureus was grinning from ear to ear and the Lady of the house was trying to hide a smile. It was not a matter of could not but a matter of he did not want to. "I am sorry Lord Lions I overstepped my place."

"No Novum, it is a good solution. That property is close enough to the house that if anything came up it would not be an issue. I." He let out a long sigh. "I guess that I am just not ready for my baby to grow up."

Aureus ran towards her daddy and gave him a huge hug. "I will always be your baby girl you know that."

"Go get your stuff packed and once Novum say it is okay I will get some guards to move your stuff over."

She gave an excited squeal and ran out of the room. She hugged Novum on the way by and whispered in his ear. "Thank you." Then she darted out the door with a couple of other people going to get her stuff packed up.

"Lord and Lady I am honestly really sorry about overstepping my bounds."

Lady Lions gave him a gentle smile. "Honestly it is probably the best option. It is close so that we can help and I am sure that she would have done something drastic if we had not found a good solution."

The Earl looked at him. "But that is not why I think you have come."

"Honestly I was wondering if you had any plans for your two parcels or property as a noble?"

"What?"

"I was just at the property office and was informed that if a parcel of land is marked for five years and no one buys it a noble can get it for free. They are authorized two a year. I am assuming that you did not know since there are no marked properties any where near the city that have not sold in that long."

"I have more land than I know what to do with now. So what do you have in mind?"

"There are some marked parcels north of Three Mines that were marked the same time as the property that I bought. They are now eligible. I was wondering if you would get them for free and then sell them to me cheap. I mean it does kind of cheat the system but it is there so."

"I have no issue with it. I will create and seal a writ right now. Sweetheart would you do one as well?"

"Of course. And I will go and grab the kids as well. That way he can have all four of ours."

"Wait what?"

"Well technically we are all nobles. And as you said each noble can do that. So why not. And honestly please do not take this the wrong way but most people do not want to buy any property in that area."

"So what would you like to trade for the writs?"

"Well I heard from Aureus that the guy that you fought had a couple of nice swords. Would you be willing to trade one of them?" Novum pulled both of them out and put them on the desk. "Oh I like the one on the left."

"Just keep them both sir. I prefer a bigger sword."

"Really?"

"Of course. It saves me a lot of trouble. I was going to take them to a mage and have her check them out but then I would end up staying longer and I need to get back. I bought a lot of livestock and need to get it settled."

"Thank you." He handed Novum the writ and a few moments later the Lady came in with the other three.

"I am sure that you and my husband came to an agreement but I also have a condition with my writ. I want your word that every time you are in the city for more than a day or so you will come and have dinner with us."

"You have my word." She handed him the writs without anything else needed. "I hate to run out but I need to get this finished up. We will be here this evening for dinner." He gave both of them a deep bow of his head and headed for the property office again.

When he came in the second time the old man was alert and waiting on him. Novum handed him four writs. "That was both fast and impressive. With these four writs and your two parcels and my discounted parcels the only marked property is the lake."

"Then I will pay coin for the lake. How much?"

"It is nine parcels at premium prices of 3,000 per parcel. After fees and taxes it will be just under 30,000." Novum pulled out three of the writ he got form the Duke and handed them to the man. "You will have to give me a little bit to get the coins from these reimbursed. Is that okay?"

"Would you be willing to accept what is left as your part of our deal?"

This was almost twice what he was planning on asking for so he quickly agreed. "That is more than I was asking for are you sure?"

"Of course. Oh and one more thing can you put all of this on one coin?"

The man picked up coins one by one and touched them to Novum's original coin. "They are all linked to this coin and I will have all the official paperwork filed for you. Unless you need something else that is all that I need from you."

"That is all I need." Novum stood and offered the man his hand. Once that was done he headed out and found Racheal still sitting and looking around. She saw him come out again and got to her feet and caught up to him. He found Rurik in the market haggling with a dwarf over the cost of some really high end tools. Novum did not get to close and just let him handle it.

"Sir I went ahead and bought another wagon and put it with your first one. The guy complained that you had not paid yet so I took care of that as well. Everything for the smelter, forge and brewing is loaded up and ready to go."

"Outstanding Rurik. Just let me know what I owe you this evening and I will settle up."