The World Dragon's Heir

Chapter 600: Briefing

Unfortunately for him, Julio was waiting by the office when Dominic’s group arrived, primed and ready to put him to work.

“Oh, I know you. Accountant Julio from the Castle City branch of the Merchant Guild, correct?” Jenna asked the moment that she saw him.

“Now Castellan Julio of Wistover Manor, Lady Jenna. It’s a pleasure to see you again. What brings you so far from home?”

The old woman’s smile made the Castellan back up a step.

“Oh, His Majesty invited me here to advise on the financial matters of the Duchy. I am looking forward to working very closely with you, starting today.

Now, be a dear and have some tea brought, would you? There are reports to read.”

Julio gave Dominic a pleading look, but Dominic just nodded at Dave, who rumbled a message to get one of the maids in the kitchen to bring them tea.

“Is that stone conduction? What is he saying?” Alistair asked curiously when he felt the vibration through his feet.

“I asked Dave to have tea brought up. There is a guard at the kitchen door, so he can ask the staff to bring up a fresh pot.”

“That is almost a life hack. Nobody else can understand when they do that, but they can spread the message all through the house.” Lord Blackwell realized.

“Not just the house, all the way out to the trolls on patrol on the walls. Both the house and the perimeter are connected to the same bedrock foundation.”

The tea came up with a veiled maid a few seconds later, and the four advisors frowned in unison as they saw them.

“Was this your idea, or Princess Alexis’ idea?” Jenna asked.

“As the lady of the household, the staff answers directly to the Duchess.”

“And are they decorative?” Lord Blackwell asked.

“Certainly. She will happily stand and wait for us to request more tea. That’s a form of decoration, I suppose.”

The old man smiled. “So, they are combat trained, as the old Veiled Maids were?”

“I don’t know the process, but they are being trained to the standards for a Royal Paladin. Not all have completed the training, but the veils make life easier on them.

It reminds the men that they are off limits, and lets them take breaks without causing a commotion.”

Lord Blackwell nodded in satisfaction. That answered the questions that he had wanted to ask. These were proper Veiled Maids, a hidden combat force within the Manor, disguised by the trappings of common servitude, and hidden behind the massive form of the Mountain Trolls so that nobody ever thought to take a second look at them.

If there were too present where other guards were not, they would be noticed.

But the trolls were so large that even a few of them in strategic locations made them omnipresent and impossible to miss.

“Alright, let’s start with the basics. Do you have a map of where all the Titled Nobles have moved, and the rough population estimate for each holding?” Jack Merlot asked, still slurring slightly, but in full business mode.

“Yes, right here. We have numbers for all the refugees that we sent, but it is unknown if any ended up in the wrong spot, or misrepresented their family numbers.

It should be very close, though.”

The old man looked over the map and took out a notepad that he began to scribble shorthand on.

“That’s not bad, it looks like someone put effort into spreading them out in usable numbers. I see that you also made notes of tradesmen that went to each Baron.

Good thinking, that.

Most of the High Nobles don’t think of it, and then wonder why the Barons always complain when it comes time to pay the bills.

I don’t see nearly enough woodcutters, though.”

Dominic shook his head. “Nearly every house in the Duchy has a magitech fireplace, either a legacy item, or sold by our Duchy owned factory at a discount to locals.

That cut out ninety percent of the need for wood, as they can heat and cook without it. Smoking still needs it, and you can’t do much building without fresh lumber or construction magic.

The trades with stars next to them are Sorcerers or Demihumans, by the way. Ones who have magic to help with their trade.”

Alistair smiled. “You have magitech factories? Do you have blueprints for what they are making?”

That was his area of expertise at the Academy, after all.

Dominic took out the plans for the lanterns and fireplaces and passed them to the mage.

“Those are the core of our abilities right now. We simplified them to the point that a short training class was enough to make new workers productive.

They still need magical talent, but we have an Academy now, and soon to be a second one, as the mage tower is still setting up. Once that is finished, we will have teachers for everything from mages to techno wizards to healers and garden witches.”

“Oh? It is good that you have diversified, even if it’s at two separate locations. Too many Academics don’t think beyond their own specialty.

Ironically, I was called here because the King thought that you needed a proper Techno Wizard skilled in theory on your staff. He could not find any outstanding credentials for the Sects that you have here.”

Dominic nodded. “They have a Master Techno Wizard, but he’s a bit of an odd one. Skilled, but eccentric. Still, good enough teachers that they can turn out skilled apprentices.

It will be good to have you here, I am always in need of more Techno wizardry. The devices make everything better, and we’re incorporating them into all aspects of life here.

Things are a little different in Wistover. Our magic is mostly with the Commoners, not the Titled Nobles.

The lads of the Natural Sons’ Regiment make up most of our peerage, and while they’re skilled enough with using magic, not many of them are theorists.”

The old mage laughed. “I know. I taught most of them when they were in the Academy as children.”

“Some of their fathers too.” Jack reminded him.

“Possibly their grandfathers.” Jenna agreed.

“Did I volunteer to be bullied? If we’re going on about age, don’t forget that you lot aren’t immune to criticism.” Alistair complained.

Jenna smiled back at him. “I have no clue what you mean. I am a young woman compared to you.”