World Sphere - 143 - Not Enough Hours in the Day (Patreon)

Chapter 143 Not Enough Hours in the Day

“Storme, I already bought my first spell!  Talia said she would help me learn it once I awakened, but she was with you.  Now that you are back, can you help me imprint my first spell?” Freya had gone from crying to being excited and talking rapidly.

“Freya, after things settle down.  I am going to talk to Father about you and Mother moving to the Spire.  But yes, I can help you learn your first spell.  What did you choose?”  I said, smiling at my younger sister, who appeared to have grown since I last saw her.

“I thought about it for a long time.  I decided on the cleanliness spell like you.  That way, I can save time by not having to shower.”  She had on a massive grin.  “I even got a copy of Sana Valin’s spellbook for the spell.”

I smiled, “Well, maybe I shouldn’t teach you your first spell then.  I actually know Sana Velin, and she can teach you herself.”

Freya narrowed her eyes suspiciously, “Sana Velin does not live in Skyholme.”

“She is just visiting under an alias.  But it is a secret you can not share with anyone.  Come and let’s talk with mother.”  I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and guided her out of the skyship hangar onto the stairs.

It was still early morning, but Mother had already gone to her shop.  Father was already on the skyship docks as well.  I got the cats into my apartment and went to Mother’s shop.  She rose from her current project and gave me a massive hug.  “Storme, Wynna told us you were back.  Have you seen your father yet?  He was just as worried as everyone.”

I had a number of things, so I got right to it, “I can see him later.  I want you and Freya to move to the Black Spire for the next few weeks.  The news will soon spread, but there is an impending attack from pirates hired by the Bricios.”

“Your father was made aware.”  Mother considered,  “Your father is not leaving his posting, and I will not leave him.  You can take Freya to your wizard’s tower.  Freya, have you told him?”  Mother had a sly smile, telling me she was aware of her awakening. I had kept my own awakening secret for months.

“I did, and he is going to hire the best mage in the Sphere to train me!”  Freya said enthusiastically.

I interrupted, “Secret, remember Freya?” I shook my head in mock disappointment.  “You can pack her things and load them onto the Maelstrom.  I will fly to the Spire tonight after talking with everyone.”

“It is almost mid-day.  We can get a take-out meal from the Shiny Platinum and have lunch with your father,” Mother said hurriedly, seeing she was going to be losing two of her children.

I nodded in understanding, “Agreed.  I will be talking with Remy.  Find me up in the apartments when you are ready.”

I left them and found Remy in his room, working diligently.  “Storme, glad you are back safe.  I found the contracts for the warehouses Isla rented.  All of them together are 70,000 gold to purchase.” He waited for me to look shocked or upset. He tried again, “It looks like they colluded together as all the contracts started the twenty-three-day timer at the same time.  There will also be some additional coin for the paperwork, but that is less than five gold.”  The young man looked like he had aged years in the two weeks I was gone.

I remembered if the owner wanted to end the lease, I had a twenty-three-day buy-out clause and they started the clock ticking eight days ago.   “I will make a trip to Llorth to get the coin.   Some of the weapons should have sold by now, and I can get the gold for the warehouses,” I said confidently.  “How have the delving harvests gone?”

“You took the best members of the team, Storme!  We barely get enough honey for Mera to keep busy.  I wasn’t sure if I should have gone to Gareth and asked for help.”  He must have seen my face, “Don’t worry.  I didn’t.  He is facing his own struggles. He is constantly out of coin.” Remy waited for me to comment, but I didn’t.

Remy continued, “The restaurant has been the heartbeat of the operation.  It is packed open to close, and we hired two more cooks, a baker, and six servers to keep up with patrons. Many of them come to thank the High Mage for his healing of hope you are here to heal them or a loved one.”

“Great, I want all delvers.  Even the temporary one moved to the Spire permanently.  They will commute to delve into the Frost Vault in Aegis City. Mera and Fera will move as well.  Lachlan can continue to work here,” I ordered.

“What about Rippon and me?” Remy asked.

“Rippon is still here?” I asked, confused. The old shipbuilder had built the Maelstrom and had a valuable wood-shaping spell.

“We have been working on the single occupancy skyship—our third iteration. If you have time, I would like you to do the runes,” he replied.

“When I have the time, I will. Move the project to the Black Spire, you can commute to the Shiny Platinum.” I ran through my friends and loved ones. I was sure Callem would take care of Wynna and Ennet. “Is Mia around?” Mia was a friend who had fought me in the pre-Annuals, and I defeated her. She then came to our First Year Academy in Hen’s Hollow seeking Callem’s instruction. I then placed her in charge of my guards at the Shiny Platinum to force out the Miaden guards.

“She is using the Shiny Platinum as her internship. I think she is out front with Kyle, standing guard.” Remy said without thinking.

I took the paperwork that Remy had compiled to review later. Mia was out front in the same silver-gray uniform as the servants at the Black Spire. Of course, she had weapons and light armor on. She smiled at me, and I could see why she was here. There was a long line down the street. The crowd immediately got anxious as well, seeing me. I was a celebrity in some fashion.

I announced, “I will heal those who need healing after talking with my guards!” I wasn’t sure I wanted to take the time, but I was not going to be here very often in the next week, and I wanted news of my return to spread. I set up a privacy screen and talked with Mia, “There is a pirate raid or attack coming. I am moving everyone to the Spire. My parents are staying behind.  Can you station your two best guards in the room across from theirs? And more temporary guards as well. If the attack comes, the Shiny Platinum is close to the skyship docks, so be prepared to defend it. The walls are reinforced stone.”

Mia listened intently and nodded, “It will be done. I should be able to get seven or eight short-term guards.” She didn’t even blink at being left behind to guard my parents.

“Good. I will artifice some artifacts for you and the two guards you add across the hall from my parents. You are a good friend, Mia,” I clasped her shoulder, and she blushed. I would make my father and brother some defensive artifacts as well.

I broke the privacy spell and opened to healing people for free. It was like a chain reaction. People had run to tell others the free healing from the High Mage was back, and soon, I had a long line. I learned some people had been waiting days for me to return. I did the healing in the park next to the Shiny Platinum.

I had torn down the adjacent warehouse after Loriel helped me purchase it. I had just wanted to build a park and put up outdoor eating, but Loriel had plans to allow the Sadian Emerpor a place to build a portal to his capital city of Goldreach. The park was nice, with stone tables and benches among flowering trees.

I worked rapidly through the line, spending as little time as possible on each healing. Some people had requests like new teeth; others just wanted to feel better. My parents and Freya had lunch with me while I worked. It was not how I wanted the lunch to go, but the High Mage of Skyholme was busy. I spent five hours healing before everyone was satisfied. Mia and her guard stood watch in the park the entire time.

After the healing, I invested in the small warehouse I had built at the back. This was supposed to be a favor from Loriel, and I would get a small percentage of the fees with imports coming from the Sadian capital. It was only two stories, and the second floor was all warehouse rooms. The structure was not large, and I found half a dozen Sadian guards camped on the first floor. Two Sadian mages were in the process of constructing the connecting portal. After a brief discussion with them, I learned they were dropped off a week ago. When the portal was complete, they would go back directly to Goldreach.

I left them and walked through the barren stone building. There were offices on the first floor and a barracks room. My communication stone beeped in my pocket. Cilia was contacting me. “Storme, the ship is registered. Do you want it moved to the Spire?”

“We have the Marstom ships occupying the slips there. Never thought the little tower would be so busy. I either should build more cradles or a lake,” I said light-heartedly.

“Sebastian had them moved. They are in the Navy yard with their trade ship. Sebastian is also looking for you. I think he headed to Aegis City in a Harbinger,” Cilia replied.

“Why didn’t you give your grandfather the communication stone?” I asked.

“I offered, but he said his requests needed to be done in person,” she said honestly.

“Thank you for letting me know. I will wait here and move the Sky Wraith to the tower. Have the boy brought to Asger. He is to work the orchards under Wolfsguard supervision. Talk to Isla to get everyone settled in the Spire.” I ended the communication. The Sky Wraith was officially mine, and Rippon was going to have a blast going over the Sky Wraith for damage.

I collected the cats and found Freya on the Maelstrom. She was excited to go. Her spellbook was tucked under her arm. I noted it was a new copy, “Freya, you want to buy used copies of spell books. They are cheaper and usually have the last mage’s notes in them. Also, you could have asked me for my copy.”

“You were not here, Storme,” she said a little aggressively. “Are we leaving now?” She was a little upset at my advice, and I was sure the spellbook cost her much of her savings.

“No, I have to wait and talk with Admiral Sebastian. I am sure he has a long list of things the High Mage needs to do for the benefit of Skyholme and its people,” I said impatiently.

Sebastian took half an hour to arrive, and I assume he had made other stops. I met him on the Maelstrom, just outside the hangar. “Storme, I was hoping to catch you here. I heard you were healing an hour ago and did not want to disturb you.”

“I am headed to the Spire. Do you want to come for the ride?” I asked.

“No, I have business in Aegis City. I came to ask you for a favor,” Sebastian said seriously. I motioned for him to continue. “We have two Harbingers in need of rune refurbishing.”

“Not a problem. Bock them at the Spire one at a time, and I will get to them when I can.” I said quickly.

“Thank you, Storme. We also would like you at our defense strategy meetings and to give you an assignment for when the attack initiates,” the old Sebastion said cautiously.

“I do not have time to participate in your meetings, and I need to worry about the Black Spire when the attack comes,” my eyes studied him. As High Mage, I did have the obligation to defend the Black Spire and the Black Spire only with the children evacuated from Skyhold Citadel.

“We are thin, Storme. Very thin. Most of the skyships have green crews. There is a high level of anxiety. The Black Mauraders are a tougher foe than the Sadians. And we have no idea what to expect.” Sebastian admitted. “It is thanks to you we have a warning, but still…”

“Why not ask the Sadians for help?” I asked and was thinking maybe it was better to abandon the floating islands altogether.

“We have. They are sending five skyships. New ships with experienced crews. It was tough for Loriel to ask, and she had to grant trade concessions for the help. She did the same thing with Marstom. Well, not much, as she just agreed to immediately open trade with the Principality. Your Princess is quite aggressive,” the white-haired mage said with a smile.

“She is not my Princess.” I raised my voice some but calmed, “What about the Adventurer’s Guild?  But I already knew his answer.”

“There is not any gold for postings. We are stretched thin,” Sebastian admitted.

“I am leaving in the morning, Sebastian, to travel to Llorth. I will see about aide there.” His worried expression had me put him at ease. “I will not be gone long. I have upgraded the aether crystals on the Maelstrom a day at most.”

“Is it necessary at this time, High Mage?” Sebastian asked cautiously.

“It is. I will collect a fair amount of gold and see if I can find some help against the Black Mauraders as well,” I offered.

“I was supposed to convince you to stay in Skyholme,” he laughed. “Do what you must.  I trust your judgment and know you will not abandon the islands.” Sebastian offered some details on the two Harbingers. They were newer ships, and he just wanted the runes topped off. Neither ship would take long to service and replenish the gold and platinum in the runes.

Sebastian left, and I took the Maelstrom to the Black Spire. I was happy to see the Sky Wraith in the cradle and a number of workers constructing the barracks. Isla had gotten the construction going again. Freya was off the ship with the cats flanking her and Monty, trying to keep them from getting too close. The grounds had come a long way and were manicured and had flowering trees and bushes.

Pakkam approached me in the silvery gray uniform that Isla apparently got everyone from the Shiny Platinum guards to the Spire staff and guards. I could see the theme, silver-gray, to go with the Shiny Platinum.  “Nice clothes,” I told him. The delve team was probably the next group she was going to play dress up for.

“Yes, I talked with Isla to get the adjustments to the next batch. They are not, though. And we need them for your dinner, High Mage.” Pakkam said, fingering his shirt.

My mind clicked, and I remembered that I had given Isla funds to host a dinner on the fourth floor of the Spire for visiting dignitaries. “Is that still happening with everything coming at us?”

“Apparently so. It is going to have some Sadian captains from their Navy ships. And some of ours as well. I wanted to remind you that there are only forty-one of us.” Pakkam said patiently. I nodded and realized my contract required that I have a minimum of fifty guards at the Spire. My lesser restoration was now at level 21, and in two more levels, I would be able to regrow the limbs of Wolfsguard living on my grounds.

“I know. I have six days to add nine more competent guards. Any other Wolfsguard?” he was already shaking his head.

“They are crewing the Wasps. There will be more in time, but we take the duty seriously. This was all we could spare.” He put on a massive wolfish smile, “The females who went into the dungeon are with child.  The dungeon delivered. The Wolfsguard will not die out, Storme. We owe you more than you know. We think we can even shift the bond to another. Well, share it, as erasing it is not possible.”

“Fantastic, Pakkam. I am truly happy.” I pointed at the Sky Wraith. “That ship will be yours to command. Get familiar with it and train a good crew. It has one duty—rescue the children of the Citadel if requested. Plan to move the Wolfsguard villagers into the Spire as well as the farmers.”

He nodded, and I told him my plans, “I am heading to Llorth after I get my sister settled in the Spire.”

“We will be ready…” I stopped him.

“It is a friendly city, and we are just going there and back. I will only be taking Cilia, Leda, Bleiz, and the cats.” I told him as we walked to the Spire.

The grounds were more lively, with Freya running with the animals and Wolfsguard walking in their uniforms. It looked like everyone else was in the Spire. They were celebrating on the first floor. It was good for them to unwind now. There was still a lot of work ahead of us.

I found Isla on the third floor getting one of the suites ready. When I asked her for whom, she said the Princess, of course.