The World Dragon's Heir

Chapter 572: Foot In Mouth

The men who were already close called their families forward, and Dominic took out a chair and folding table from his storage cube.

Dave saw that as a cue that they were remaining in place for a while, so he set up a large umbrella, keeping the sun and any chance of rain off the whole group.

Dominic brought out chairs for the others, but only Advisor Trionne chose to sit, while the others remained standing behind him.

If anything happened, they wanted to be on guard.

“Alright, this is how it’s going to go. I will ask you some questions, and you answer to the best of your ability. First off, what is are your names, and where are you from?”

“I’m Nasir, this is my wife Nala and my son James. We’re from west of Thetle in Axbridge.”

“Trade skills or former employment?”

“Labour hand at a goat farm.” “Wife? Is that a job?”

Dominic smiled at the nervous woman. “It is, and not an easy one. Just ask my wife, and she will tell you that it’s not easy to be married to me, and we don’t even have children yet.

What was your reason for choosing to leave? As I understand it, Thetle took heavy damage, but it didn’t flood. They will be rebuilding.”

Nasir nodded. “Indeed they will. However, with the damage and the loss of a quarter of the herd, plus the likelihood of a larger sale to get funds, most of the hands were laid off.”

“Alright. Why did you pick Wistover?”

“The airship Captains were headed here. We were among the last to load, and anywhere that was away from the storm was good enough for me.”

“Alright, if you can wait off to the side, we will lead everyone to the refugee staging area after everyone has finished their questions. Next?”

Another man moved forward with two middle-aged women and a lot of kids.

Alot of kids.

“I am Jacob Shoemaker, this is my wife Annie, and our six boys. Then my sister-in-law, Maria. And those are her two boys and seven girls.”

Maria spoke softly. “We’re also from Thetle, in the city. As his name suggests, Jacob ran a cobbler’s store. My husband was working at the Skiple Royal Academy as a cleaner, but he was killed during an incident half a year ago.

The school didn’t pay any sort of death benefit, as he wasn’t a mage, so I ended up taking the family and moving in with my sister and her husband.”

“If I might say, Sir. It is possible that you couldn’t pull out of your own driveway.”

Jacob’s nervous expression cracked at Dominic’s joke, and he hugged his wife. “It’s the happiest burden possible. I might not have a Royal Commission, or a Military Order, but my work is quality.

Hopefully, there is room for another cobbler in town?”

Dominic nodded. “I suspect that it won’t be a major issue. Shoes wear out, no matter where you are. Skilled trades are welcome anywhere, and if you can take care of your brood on the shop’s income, you’ll be fine.

There are houses on the edge of town that are both a family compound and a storefront in one.

Not in the best of shape, but you might be able to arrange one. I will put it in the notes.

Now, the reason for choosing to leave Thetle?”

“The Skiple Mages caused big trouble when they attacked the city on the way to Dagos. Maria’s status as an immigrant from Skiple didn’t make us popular, so I sold the shop off to try for a new start.”

“Alright, wait with the others. I will have everyone escorted in a large group once the interviews are done.”

Mostly Dominic was looking for hesitation, or the telltale signs of a liar to tell him who he wanted to interrogate more closely. But he likely wouldn’t find it in the first group.

The ones who were chosen to speak for the group usually had at least decent reputations, as the others believed that they wouldn’t get the whole group rejected.

Trionne slid him a note.

[Check the boys to have them enrolled in the Academy. If their father was working at the Skiple Academy, even as a Janitor, he was a mage.]

Which meant that the kids might have inherited his talent with magic.

Dominic nodded, and added it to his notes.

The next man only came forward with a very young woman.

“My name is Marcus Almeley, from Almeley in Skiple. This is my wife, Bea.”

“Almeley from Almeley?” Dominic asked.

“Nephew of the Baron. Almeley was lost to the monster hordes during the recent attacks. My Uncle plans to have the city rebuilt, but it was a good chance for me to leave.”

Dominic noticed that the woman with him was making an odd gesture, with her thumb across her palm, then her fingers wrapped over it.

A half second later, he recognized it as a military signal for hostage, or being in distress.

“Bea, was it?” Dominic asked.

Marcus held her more closely. “That’s right.”

“I have a few questions for you, Bea. I will have to ask you to accompany my men for a moment.”

The woman looked confused as Dominic motioned for Dave to grab her and carry her away. She didn’t kick or scream, simply froze as Dave carried her like a child over to the cargo warehouse and placed her inside.

“I believe your wife might not be who you think that she is. If I am mistaken, she will return in a few hours. Before you leave for the staging area for certain.” Dominic explained.

“Sir, might I stay with her?” Marcus asked nervously.

“Do you perhaps have knowledge of her crimes?” Dominic asked.

“Crimes? What could she have done, she’s only thirteen.”

Marcus froze as he realized what he had said. He had introduced her as his wife, and then declared that she was too young to be wed.

“I believe that you might want to follow Dave off to the side for a moment. We have a few more questions for you.”

The other men were giving him disgusted looks. It wasn’t uncommon for a man with an established career to wed a debutante, but she was still at least three years, more likely five, from her turn to meet high society.

More likely she was one of his family estate’s servants taken as a bride.

Sheriff Nate and the town guard could sort it all out. They were on their way, Dominic could smell the man getting closer from upwind.