Weekly Digest 81- (#248 - #250) (Patreon)

Subordinates

The next day, the mood of the dining hall at breakfast was strangely subdued. Usually, people were quite loud and energetic the day after a holiday, filled with enthusiasm and and making a lot of noise. Today, however, many sat quietly and spoke in low murmurs. Some of them sounded confused.

"Rian, are people sick or something?" Lori said as she checked her notes for her announcement, which were inscribed into a stone tablet. "The Dungeon doesn't sound right."

"That might have something to do with what happened yesterday," Rian said, voice flat.

Lori frowned. "What happened yesterday?" She didn't recall any other incident after she'd dealt with Shanalorre's… surrender? She really couldn't think of a good word to describe it. But after that, the rest of the day had been quiet and peaceful, with no one making noise or dancing, just sitting around gossiping and actually resting. "The rest of the day was quiet and peaceful."

Rian groaned for some reason. "That wasn't quiet and peaceful, that was everyone being shocked and horrified and not sure what had happened!"

"You still haven't said what that was."

Instead of replying, Rian turned and glanced past Umu at Lord something-something-ian and Shanalorre. "See this? This is what you have to look forward to for possibly the rest of your lives. You have only yourselves to blame. At least we knew what we were getting into from traveling with her."

"Noted, Lord Rian," Shanalorre said.

Rian sighed and turned towards Lori. "What happened was a little girl almost committed suicide, which doesn't usually happen and is intrinsically shocking and horrifying, especially to parents of children of a similar age, of which the demesne has many of. However, not everyone saw it, and those that didn't don't believe those who did, because it's too disturbing for them to want it to be real. Some think it wasn't as bad as people are saying, because Shana is well now, so maybe she was just being dramatic."

Lori blinked. "Why are they perturbed, then? She's not their child. And she didn't even manage to succeed. Besides, that disturbance was over in a few moments, and it's not like many actually managed to see it."

"Point of order," Shanalorre said. "I was not committing suicide. Had my intention been to die, it would have been more expeditious to apply the blade to the arteries on my neck. I was showing Binder Lolilyuri my sincerity and giving her the option of how to approach the problem."

"See Rian? She wasn't trying to commit suicide, it was merely a bargaining technique."

Rian stared at them both, looking tired for some reason. Then he turned to Lord Ily-something-something. "Please tell me her aunt still yells at her for doing stupid, childish things. Lie to me if necessary."

"Vyshke still scolds her when she does something wrong," Lord some-three-part-name said.

Rian nodded. "Right, we can leave that part to her then. Back on topic though, just trust me your Bindership. As your lord in charge of dealing with people, everyone in the demesne is torn between finding what happened yesterday disturbing, horrifying, off-putting, and something that will haunt their nightmares for weeks, possibly years. It completely ruined the holiday for everyone."

"Rian, if this is a pretext to declare another holiday—"

"It's not," Rian interrupted her, voice flat. "In fact, no one's probably going to want to hold holidays inside the Dungeon for a long time because of this." He sighed again. "Just… go into this with that in mind, all right? Either people are shocked and horrified, in denial about the thing that has others shocked and horrified, or worst of all, consider it all gossip fodder."

Lori blinked. "What is there to gossip about? The incident was perfectly simple and straightforward."

"People will find a way." Lori had not thought it was possible for Rian's voice to get any flatter, but apparently it was. "Look, I'll handle it, all right? That's what I'm for, after all."

Lori frowned. "Then why bring it up?"

"You asked at the start of this conversation, remember?"

Oh, right, she had, hadn't she? "Ah, yes. Well, could you draw everyone's attention now? I'm ready to make my announcement."

"Yes, your Bindership," Rian said, before standing up. "Excuse me? Everyone? May I have your attention please? Hey!"

Slowly, people stopped what they were doing and turned towards him. It seemed to take longer than usual to Lori. Didn't people usually respond faster when Rian was calling for them? Maybe they were disturbed, if they were less amiable to Rian's manipulations. Eventually, however, they settled down and focused on him.

"Thank you," Rian said, his voice still raised to carry. "Now, before we move on to breakfast, Binder Lori has a few announcements to make. I'm almost entirely certain none of it is about land, so don't ask." The resulting laughter was even weaker than usual. "As to yesterday's events, I think her Bindership will have something to say about that as well. Your Bindership?"

Rian nodded towards her, and Lori stood up, turning where she sat and swinging her legs over the bench since there really wasn't much room to stand between the bench and the table. "All right," she said through a binding of airwisps that raised the volume of her voice. "As we established yesterday, Binder Shanalorre has surrendered herself and her demesne to my authority. Normally, this is when I execute her so I can claim her core, but as the only Deadspeaker capable of healing, I have decided to spare her until she is no longer needed."

Across the table, Rian's hand slapped up into his face.

"However, until this happens, Binder Shanalorre is still a Dungeon Binder, and will be treated with the respect she deserves," Lori continued, ignoring her lord's theatrics. "She does not, however, have the authority to issue orders. She is also not to be given any sharp objects of any sort. That means knives, scissors, saws, razors, needles, beast teeth and claws, shards of bone, sharp sticks, and similar. If Binder Shanalorre needs something cut, I expect everyone to offer their assistance—ah, but she has no authority to order you to do it, so it's purely voluntary!"

For some reason, everyone looked confused. Idiots. She'd made everything perfectly clear!

"Starting today, Binder Shanalorre will be stationed at the hospital, where she will be available to consult for healing. If you have any ailments, consult with her there. Because of the integration of River's Fork Demesne into my possession, we will need to increase the expansion of the agricultural land as far as reasonably feasible, as we will need to provide more food for more people." That caused a reaction as people began to mutter. It was understandable, really. They would essentially need to begin supplying food to another demesne.

"Also, if there is anyone here seeking to move to River's Fork Demesne, as its new Dungeon Binder, I hereby accept your transfer," Lori said blandly.

For some reason, Rian started laughing.

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"Rian. Shanalorre." Lori checked her notes. "Yllian. Stay. I need to speak with you all." Breakfast had finished, and while the tables around them were slowly emptying as people left to go do whatever tasks they had ahead of them, Lori had stayed in place.

Shanalorre promptly stood up and walked around the table to sit opposite her, Rian moving out of the way and getting up to go around the table as well.

"No Rian, you stay there," Lori said, pointing to the spot next to Shanalorre.

Rian blinked, and looked at the indicated spot. "Did… I do something to make you mad?"

Lori rolled her eyes. "The situation has changed. Go sit there."

"All right… oh. Oh, I get it. This is the subordinates side of the table now, huh? I guess this means you can finally sit down, Yllian."

"Yes, yes, hurry up, we have much to discus," Lori said impatiently. Once they were seated, she fixed her gaze upon Shanalorre, who stared back evenly. "I am very annoyed with you. Your antics have pressed me into a position I was not yet prepared to take, at a time where we could ill afford to divide our efforts."

"I would apologize, Binder Lolilyuri, but I do not regret my actions," Shanalorre said evenly. "Had I approached you later, or had circumstances resulted in my death at a later date, my…" She paused, visibly remembering and amending her statement. "River's Fork Demesne's food crisis would have been far more advanced, and there would have been far less supplies at hand to act as a buffer while a solution was sought."

Lori was unamused by her reasoning. "I am unamused by your reasoning," she said. "If you had not made saving the population of your demesne from such a crisis a condition of your submission, I am inclined to just leave them all to die." After all, they would not have been her subjects unless they submitted to her, and many of them were idiots that had chosen to leave to avoid exactly that.

"So I presumed, which is why I could not leave your conquest of River's Fork demesne to the chance of my death," Shanalorre said. "While I am a poor Dungeon Binder, lacking as I am in skill and ability, I am not so poor as to shirk my duty to keep those under my care alive by any means possible."

"How commendable," Lori said flatly. "However, do not think that this stratagem of yours has spared you from future work. As my subordinate, you have merely added the people of my demesne in addition to your own in your responsibilities."

Shanalorre inclined her head in acknowledgement. "I understand, Binder Lolilyuri. In that case, may I make a proposal?"

"We are currently in the middle of dealing with the repercussions of you lastproposal. If this aggravates me, you're losing hot water bathing privileges."

Her subordinate Dungeon Binder titled her head, clearly considering. "Very well. I propose that instead of being stationed at the hospital, I should instead accompany those sent to fell trees. That group has a higher likelihood of dangerous injury requiring immediate healing lest death by bloodloss occur. Should I accompany them, I can react immediately to any such injuries."

It… was actually a reasonably good idea. "I will consider your request," Lori said. "Either way, you will remain in the hospital until the doctors there all agree you have sufficiently recovered from your little misadventure. For now, we will discuss your demesne's organization so I can consider if and how to integrate structures you've already established." Lori read her notes again. "Yllian. I have decided to allow you to retain your position as Shanalorre's lord in addition to the duties I have already assigned you. In addition to Shanalorre and of course myself, you will also answer to Rian as his subordinate."

"Oh, finally! Thank you!" Rian sighed.

"Given that the last person from your demesne that I made a lord tried to kill a Dungeon Binder, know that any similar insubordination will result in your immediate death by asphyxiation," Lori continued. "For the moment, you are on probation. Rian will assign you work in addition to the duties I have already assigned you. You will not have authority over anyone without Rian's authorization, and should I come to light that you falsely claim such authorization, I will consider that grounds for your death. Should you refuse these terms, then you will be stripped of your position."

"Say yes. Please, say yes!" Rian pleaded, staring at the other man imploringly over Shanalorre's head. "You'll be fine, this is just her Bindership being herself. Please, I need help, and she stillhasn't appointed any other lords or ladies. Even if I have to arrange things ahead of time and account for you needing to stay close to Shanalorre, every job I don't have to do myself will be a big help! Please accept, I'm begging you!"

Yllian gave Rian a look that seemed both disdainful and vaguely sympathetic. Then he glanced down at Shanalorre. She seemed to sense his gaze, because she turned and nodded. He turned towards Lori and bowed his head. "Very well, Great Binder. I accept your terms."

Rian sighed in relief, looking theatrically happy.

Lori ignored him, instead nodding at—she checked her note again—Yllian. Ugh, she was going to have to spend weeks learning his name and face… "I will ratify and retain the rest of your demesne's organizational structure on a case by case basis," she said, turning back to face Shanalorre, "provided they are necessary. Rian, go get your plank so you can take notes."

"I suppose this means I'm telling the coal burners the inspection is postponed again… " Rian muttered as he got up to do just that.

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You Just Want To Eat Our Food

Lori tried to listen as Shanalorre, Rian and… uh… the one whose name she was trying to learn and it was written on her notes, so it was fine if she couldn't really recall it now… discussed River's Fork's organization. With only between fifty and sixty residents—closer to fifty now since Shanalorre and her escorts were in her demesne—they apparently needed less organization than her demesne did, and had less specialization. Unfortunately, when they started mentioning names—as if those were more important for identifying people than, say, what they actually did—her eyes started to glaze, and started ignoring the irrelevant details.

Still, she was able to discern that in addition to Lord Iri-something, River's Fork had a quartermaster in charge of keeping track of their resources—and was apparently unable to keep those resources from being stolen—as well as help assign people to go gathering resources such as wood, fruits, and trying to hunt beasts for meat. They had a few farmers who tended to their fields with the assistance of any able bodies, who were under the authority of an overseer who was himself a farmer.

While they only had two carpenters, many men had experience working with wood from their time in the militia, and so could be assigned to work with the two as needed. The same for the demesne's single blacksmith, who had apparently been working all winter to repair their damaged tools and turn the demesne's refined metal into more tools. Hunting was done on a volunteer basis with no central authority to organize it, only requiring hunters to provide their catch to the quartermaster for cold storage, and while the demesne's inhabitants had also tried to catch seels, it had not been as successfully implemented.

Shanalorre's aunt also held an unofficial position, being the one many of the adults spoke to with their concerns in the belief that she had influence over her niece. From the sound of it, the woman had an almost Rian-like position, though it was clear that Shanalorre only took her words under advisement.

Lori didn't think she'd let the woman keep that position.

From the sound of it, some people had also been hoarding food for far longer than this winter, collecting fruits from the dome's trees and keeping most of it in their homes instead of surrendering it to the quarter master for drying and storage. They had tried to keep back meat as well, but the lack of salt early on had led to some families falling ill from improperly preserved meat, and so most of the meat usually reached the demesne's cold room that Lori's payments of ice had managed to make feasible. When River's Fork had gotten access to salt, Shanalorre had managed to prevent a reversion of events by keeping the salt closely guarded, which had mostly prevented people from stealing it and using it to preserve food only for themselves.

The more Lori heard, the more she just wanted to leave those idiots to their own devices so they'd die out on their own. It was only a small fraction of the people in River's Fork, usually those who had left her demesne, but they were clearly having a deleterious effect on morale and discipline, as they couldn't be harshly punished without severely affecting the demesne's available manpower—

"You're a healer. Why not just break their bones, allow them to experience agony, and then heal them?" Lori interrupted.

"Because the doctors refused to be complicit in such a thing," Shanalorre said, turning to face her to explain, "and while the one meaning I am capable of is able to mend broken bones, it does not align bones together. Without properly aligning broken limbs, healing in such a state would result in permanent disfigurement."

"So beat them until they're bruised, don't break any bones, let them suffer, and thenheal them," Lori pointed out.

"It was suggested," Shanalorre said, "but failed because no one was willing to be the demesne's designated torturer."

"Disciplinarian," Lori corrected. "If it's for your own good, it's not torture, it's discipline, not matter how terrible and seemingly unreasonable it is."

Rian gave her a flat look. "Something your parents said?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

Shanalorre stared at Lori for a moment. "Regardless, at the time I decided that such measures were not necessary. By late summer we had managed to impose an acceptable level of discipline on the rebelliously insubordinate, curbing their behavior. However, during the winter the relative isolation people experienced due to having to remain indoors, aside from their going to the quartermaster for supplies and gathering wood for the use of themselves and the blacksmith, allowed enforcement of discipline to lapse. And unfortunately, militia with too much time on their hands are known to allow such lapses, beginning the slow misappropriation of food supplies."

Lord something-iyan actually looked uncomfortable. "I had intended to deal with the matter before spring properly began, and had been taking measures to curb it," he said hurriedly, "but because circumstances led to our being detained here, the situation has no doubt managed to progress."

Lori frowned. "So you don't actually know if your demesne is going to be lacking in food supplies?"

"According to the last inspection and audit by our quartermaster, the supplies we had at the time would just barely allow us to last until the harvest," Shanalorre said. "However, that was at the time we were last in our… in River's Fork demesne. Before we left, one of the children confided to me that he saw someone sneaking into the supply depot. If that behavior had continued unchecked up to now, the supplies would obviously be more depleted."

Lori nodded. She already knew that from Rian. "Should I deem it necessary," she said, giving Shanalorre a flat stare. "I will be breaking some bones and you will be healing them. Such short-sightedness in the face of survival cannot continue. If those idiots are going to be my responsibility, they will learn proper behavior. Our agreement was that I will keep your people from starving to death. There were no specifications as to their well-being beyond that."

"As your lord in charge of dealing with people, it's my job to tell you that arbitrary corporal punishment like that is a bad idea," Rian interrupted whatever reply Shanalorre would have made. "Terrible for morale, not as good for discipline as you think, and will probably just make things worse."

Lori turned and glared at her lord. Her first lord? She technically had a second—technically her third—right now. "Taking from supplies like that is clearly theft, and a punishable offense. Beating them until their bones break clearly falls under the established punishment of public humiliation and flogging. And how can teaching them that actions have consequences notinstill discipline?"

"Because this sort of violent response on your part is exactly the sort of thing they were afraid of enough to move to another demesne for. If these people were the sort to let themselves just be browbeaten into compliance by authority, they wouldn't have left their old demesnes to come to this continent, or left our demesne to more to Shanalorre's when they had the chance. While I agree that they need to be straightened out, that's also my job. Whatever offenses they might have committed, it was under Shanalorre's reign, not yours." He glanced at the other Dungeon Binder, looking almost apologetic. "Given that they have not been punished by her, nor has any action really been taken against them, their actions are, by implication, not a punishable offense."

Shanalorre tilted her head thoughtfully. "I… cannot deny that logic. While River's Fork's legal framework is based on militia law, it is true that their actions contrary to it have not been prosecuted as assiduously as should have been the case, to the demesne's detriment. By allowing them to continue their actions while I prioritized other matters, I have likely led to this very breakdown of discipline."

Next to her, Lord something-something—Lori checked her notes again. Yllian—didn't say a thing, but he wore a very parental 'I-told-you-so' expression. Lori probably wouldn't have wanted to hit him more if she didn't find herself agreeing with the sentiment. "That's as may be, but River's Fork is under my authority now."

"Theydon't know that yet," Rian pointed out. "If they knew they were doing something to make you mad, they… well, they might still do it, but they'd be doing it with that in mind."

"Ignorance of my law is no excuse."

"But surely a short transition period to let people be aware of the change in authority so they know to adjust their behavior is only reasonable, right? After all, they should be given the time to find out what laws they're operating under now and adjust their behavior accordingly. Sure, those who used to live here know what those are, but what about the rest? And even for the former, how would they know if you've added any new laws after they left? You didn't but they don't know that yet either."

Lori glared at him, but she supposed he had a point about River's Fork's original residents not being familiar with her laws. "Fine. I'll give the demesne two days to become familiar with my laws and adjust their behavior accordingly. But no more than that."

"I'm sure that should be enough," Rian said. "Though speaking of which, we need to discuss how we're going to break this news to those in River's Fork without, you know, everything breaking out into open violence. Off the top of my head, the people who thought we'd captured Shanalorre will all think we actually have and this is all under duress, general malcontents will be generally malcontent, and people like Shanalorre's uncle will—not unreasonably—think we've been influencing her and question the legitimacy of the news."

"I have confided in my aunt and some of the senior militia that I might surrender the demesne to Binder Lolilyuri for the sake of our survival," Shanalorre said. "Over the winter, it has become an increasingly more palatable option to those I have discussed it with in light of Binder Lolilyuri's capabilities, as opposed to the slow degradation and sudden death of the demesne's residents through increasing public disorder."

"I think you need actual violence in the streets for it to be considered public disorder," Rian said. He glanced at Lori. "Remember what I was telling you about how we can attract people to live in our demesne because we had hot water? This, right here? This is basically recruiting people to live in our demesne because we have hot water."

"It can't be just that," Lori said.

"The stable infrastructure, secure buildings, general morale and secured food supplies were also a factor," Shanalorre admitted.

"So you just want to eat our food," Lori said blandly.

"Yes," Shanalorre said in the same tone. "And live in easier to repair and more convenient buildings like yours. And have a Dungeon that can shelter us against dragons like yours. And be as prosperous as you are. You already rule over most of those who survived the first dragon to pass over River's Fork. This is simply adding the rest. As to announcing the change in authority, I will simply inform them. As I said, all those who previously obeyed me, I shall order to now obey you as their Dungeon Binder, which should suffice. I have had the militia who accompanied me on my trips to assist in childbirth relay their experiences in this place to as many others as possible to help make the idea of being under your authority more desirable. After all, in the same amount of time as River's Fork has existed, you have managed to create a far more stable and comfortable demesne. By any comparison, your rule has been far superior."

Lori smiled smugly at the compliments. They were all true, after all.

"Somehow, I don't it'll be that easy," Rian said. "If people were reasonable, then yeah, that's probably what would happen. But if they were reasonable, you wouldn't have this food crisis in the first place."

Shanalorre blinked. "Ah. I… cannot refute the logic of that."

Rian turned to… Lori checked her notes… Yllian. "In your opinion, how many people are liable to react violently to this change in leadership?"

"Lasponin, for sure," Yllian said immediately. "About a dozen people as well, mostly from the new immigrants. The likely disciplinary cases and thieves, and their families whom they lead or cannot refuse them."

"Who's Lasponin?" Rian asked. Wait, there was a name Rian didn't know?

"My uncle," Shanalorre sighed. "He has been sharply critical of my leadership, sometimes with good reason. However, his arguments are undermined by his insistence that he would make a better leader. I leave disciplining him to my aunt."

"Ah. My condolences on your difficult family situation."

"Thank you."

Lori twitched upon hearing this. Still, it wasn't her prob—wait, yes it was! Now, at least. "Such disrespect will not be allowed to continue," she said. "He will be included in the disciplinary action."

"It's not against the law to criticize you," Rian said. "If it was, you'd have written it down."

"No, but undermining her authority is surely treason."

"You didn't write that law down either."

She hadn't? No, surely she had! Hadn't she?

Lori frowned, got up, and went to check the list of laws and rights near the door.

She stared at the list inscribed into the stone for a moment.

Then she turned and headed back to the table.

"It's there," she declared as she sat back down. "It falls under 'theft of property' and 'murder', as attempting to take away the Dungeon Binder's demesne is clearly theft and clearly and attempt to murder her."

"Ah. Well, at least wait for him to do it again before you punish him," Rian said. "Shana didn't punish him, so during her reign, by implication… you know."

Lori turned to Shanalorre. "If your uncle attempts to undermine your authority, and by extension mine, he will be punished."

The younger Dungeon Binder nodded. "I will see to it he is warned, Great Binder."

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To Deal With Malcontents

The discussion went on as Rian asked for specifics on the known malcontents. Their names (what did that matter?), their families, their positions and skills, and the things they were known to have done.

"I think I remember some of these people," he mused, looking down at the list he'd made while Lori contemplated between laying her head on the table to nap or simply lying back across the whole bench. She was the only one sitting on her side, after all. "I honestly didn't think they were the type to steal food like that. Senn is Naineb's brother whose family has been taking care of her children since she and her husband were exiled, right?"

"Yes," Shanalorre said as Lori once more wished she had a chair with a back she could lean on. "I initially excused their breaches of rationing in light of that fact. However, they abused the consideration."

"Probably for petty revenge. And this one…" Rian sighed. "I remember him. Is he still going on about how people don't need the Binderarchy?"

"Yes. His rhetoric is that while a Dungeon Binder must exist to create the demesne, there is no reason they must possess supreme authority, and that all should be free to govern themselves. He uses the current state of the demesne as support for his argument that a demesne does not require a supreme authority."

"And these people wanted land when they were here… though unlike some people, they didn't really make as much of a fuss about it…" Rian muttered as Lori tried lying down on the bench, only to find it just narrow enough to be uncomfortable. "And they were pretty well behaved when they lived here. A bit afraid of Lori, but not exactly a problem… what changed?"

"I suspect they are among those who think the demesne won't survive under my leadership and are indulging recklessly as they count down the days," Shanalorre said. She glanced at Lori. "A belief that is not uncommon."

Lori shrugged unapologetically.

"If they do it's sort of unconscionable that they're planning to get their children killed with them instead of just trying to come back here. I've been coming by all winter, and they didn't even so much as try to talk to me about it." Rian sighed. "Well, I'll have to consider all this later. Binder Lori, do you have any thoughts as to what will happen to River's Fork once you've officially taken over there?"

She straightened up from leaning backwards to try and relieve the muscles on her back. "Since this is all conditional on the demesne's core being where I'm told it is, I will be checking that first," Lori said. "Then I'm properly securing it with stone. Afterwards, we will be moving as many of the population here as possible. I am inclined to leave the malcontents there to their own devices and simply come back when they're dead."

"Please don't," Rian and Shanalorre said in chorus. The two looked at each other, and Rian made a gesture of acquiescence.

"We cannot depopulate River's Fork," Shanalorre said. "The trees with meanings to accelerate aspects of their growth need regular maintenance, otherwise they will consume all nourishment available to them and die. While I can imbue the meanings my father made, I cannot replicate them. Well maintained, they will provide a rapid, additional source of food and wood."

"If you just leave people there to their own devices, they'll ruin the place trying to survive," Rian said. "Accelerated or not, River's Fork has reliable access to more fruit trees than we do, which will be a great addition to our diet. In addition, there's the mine. We'll be the ones operating it now, so it's in our interest to have people in River's Fork to work it. While I agree we should move the current population away from there and bring them here to better integrate them with the society we're forming as well as properly impose discipline, River's Fork needs to continue to be populated and functional. It's… uh, I don't know exactly how big it is, but it's an entire area with no Iridescence. Hilly or not, we can use that space."

Ugh, yes. Ruining perfectly good resources because they were unsupervised idiots was exactly the sort of thing people would do, wouldn't they? It was why she put some many protective measures around her reservoir! "Fine," Lori said begrudgingly. "We will keep River's Fork populated. However, there cannot be a repeat of these circumstances. At the very least, food will no longer be individually rationed out to families and will instead be served on a communal basis. That will at least limit the food expenditures to a sustainable amount. Rian, see to it."

"We'll need to organize people to cook for the entire demesne on a regular basis, the way we do here," Rian said thoughtfully. "It should be easier, since there aren't as much people, but that will still be a big job. At the very least though, it should be able to keep people out of mischief while they adjust to the new order." His fingers tapped on the table as seemingly random. At least, the tapping didn't sound like a tune. "Actually, if we just want to a quick and dirty solution to the food problem, all we need to do is reduce the number of people in River's Fork. Uh, without killing anyone, let's be clear. If we move a family or two here, depending on how much food is left in River's Fork they just might be able to make it until harvest. Not a full relocation, but just enough to reduce the strain on the demesne's resources until we have the proper infrastructure set up to accommodate more."

"That would certainly help," Shanalorre said.

"Though, the most logical people to remove from River's Fork would be the malcontents," Rian said as he turned to look towards Shanalorre and Lord… uh, her lord. "They are, after all, the ones whose actions have been most ruinously affecting the food supply's longevity. So I have to ask… has all this been some kind of ruse to foist them off on us, and then declare your independence from her Bindership's authority?"

Lori blinked, then straightened as she realized what Rian was saying.

"No," Shanalorre said as Lori directed a flat stare at her. "That is not the case. I am a woman of my word. I have submitted to Binder Lolilyuri and am content to remain so until she, for whatever reason, chooses to release me or kill me so she can claim my core once my usefulness expires. Though I cannot fault your reasoning regarding the malcontents, as I also came to such a conclusion."

"Removing the malcontents would certainly help improve morale," Lord someone-or-other said. "We've considered getting rid of them ourselves. However, their families, especially those with children, are of varying degrees of innocent. And even if we wanted to rid ourselves of them, we didn't have the means."

"You could have just killed them," Lori pointed out. Militia killed people all the time, after all.

"Under militia law, while they were certainly guilty of theft, it was not a to a degree worthy of execution," Lord something-something said. "And unless I misread, it is the same by this demesne's laws as well."

"We're getting off topic," Rian interjected. "All right, so you're not just foisting them off on us. I had to ask. It was in my Dungeon Binder's best interest that I at least bring up the possibility."

Lori gave him a flat look, then huffed in annoyance. "Do it sooner," she said.

"I will attempt to increase my paranoia to Binder-approved levels from now on." Good. He knew how important her safety was.

"We understand that you don't completely trust us yet," Shanalorre said. "That is only logical. However, please believe me when I say that we have more to gain from surrender than from deceiving you. Deceiving you merely creates enmity where there is no need, and which we have no capability stand against. I have no intention of being audited again. Consider me disciplined."

Hah. Like Lori would just believe that. Still, Lori acknowledged that lingering on the point would serve no purpose now. Best to pretend she believed it. "Rian, organize the shelter to be ready to house those that will be moved from River's Fork. Tomorrow, I will begin construction of the houses for the petitioners, so that the shelter will be mostly empty by the time we resume contact with my other demesne. The malcontents can be placed there." Her otherdemesne… it felt nice to say out loud. "In addition to the malcontents, Binder Shanalorre's relations will also be moved here." Her uncle was a known malcontent, and so removing him from the place would probably be useful for instilling discipline.

"Um, while I agree with the idea in principle, her uncle is also one of the only two doctors the place has," Rian said.

"You say that like it will be easy," he muttered.

"I… must raise a possible issue. My aunt is one of the authorities of the demesne, charged with maintaining organization, finding and solving possible problems, and maintaining morale. If she is removed, who will be her replacement?"

Lori stared at her. "This despite her husband's incitement?"

"Keeping my uncle reasonably restrained was within the purview of her duties."

Lori considered this. On the one hand, the woman was already a part of an organizational structure in place… on the other, the structure was obviously an incompetent one given the demesne had reached the point that it had. "The state of the demesne shows she was incapable in her position. I see no reason to retain her. They will all be deported here to remove their influence from the area, your uncle especially."

Shanalorre frowned slightly. "What will become of him?"

"That will depend on his actions," Lori said.

Rian coughed loudly for some reason. "Well, I suppose we'll have to move more people there anyway so there's enough to farm the land and work the mine after we move out the malcontents, but people probably won't be willing to go back on a permanent basis until we can significantly improve the available infrastructure. A proper shelter that they'll be safe in should a dragon pass overhead that has water, air, lights and food for one thing. I know River's Fork survived without any casualties last time, but that was probably as much luck as preparation."

"Definitely luck," Lord something—Lori checked her note—Yllian said, actually shuddering. "I could hear those abominations even through the rocks we piled up to block the entrance of the mine, and they could surely hear us. If they had started digging… or if the vent that was letting air into the mine had been blocked, or worse, entered… we'd have all died."

"But you didn't," Lori sighed regretfully.

Rian sighed as well, clearly understanding her annoyance. "We have a resident healer now and that's a good thing," he reminded her. "Now you can ride on as many rocks as you want."

"Please don't," Shanalorre said. "The possibility of you predeceasing me fills me with terror. But to return to our discussion, a proper shelter is the one thing the demesne needs above everything else, Binder Lolilyuri. That is why I was willing to give up so much for you to build one for us. It is still a necessary priority if the demesne is to be maintained."

Lori hummed thoughtfully. "Can we move everyone to this demesne until the construction of the shelter is completed?" That would simplify matters in the event of a dragon, since she doubted they'd have enough time to evacuate people once a dragon had become perceptible to her…

"The people can be moved with no issue," Shanalorre said. "But as I said before, with no one to maintain the plants with meanings that accelerate their growth, they will exhaust the available nourishment in the soil and die."

"What sort of maintenance are we talking about?" Rian said.

"Regular watering and fertilization with latrine waste."

"Ah. The kind of job we wish we can give the malcontents but can't because they wouldn't do it."

Shanalorre nodded. "Unfortunately, it requires reliable and disciplined people, else the maintenance will likely lapse."

"This just makes finding people willing to move there harder," Rian sighed. "Well, either way, it seems to me our first step when we can finally go back there, once we've sufficiently secured her Bindership's authority, is to move the malcontents to this demesne and begin construction on a proper shelter there. One that we can somehow adequately protect from whatever a dragon may through at it. Unless you think there's something I'm missing, your Bindership?"

Lori grimaced but… well, that was indeed the only actionable plan, wasn't it? "I'll inform you if something occurs to me. In the meantime, start finding people to move there. Ones that can be trusted to remain disciplined with minimal supervision."

"Yes, your Bindership."

Lori pushed back her bench and rose. "You two, go to the hospital. Rian, get to work." She had to go get started on building those houses. And then there was the dehydration shed as well, which would have to come after that. Then there were still the inspections…

As Shanalorre and Lord whoever rose to do as she had ordered them, Rian said, "Hold it, Yllian. Now that I have you, I'm putting you to work."

Yllian looked at Rian, face even. "The Great Binder ordered me to remain by the Gr—… uh."

"Keep calling her 'her Bindership' so you don't get the two confused," Rian said. "And I wouldn't dream of stopping you from doing as she ordered you. However, if you're just going to sit around all day in the same room as our little Dungeon Binder, then you might as well be useful. Come with me, we're passing by my house before you go to the hospital. I have the demesne's latest inventory list and I want you to compile it all together to see how much of what we have and how long it's likely to last at the rate we're going through it."

Yllian stiffened, and he turned to Lori. His eyes didn't go wide, and his face was still even, but his stare at her was… emphatic, somehow.

Rian, too, looked at her. "Is that all right, your Bindership?" he said brightly.

Lori waved her hand dismissively. From the light coming through her Dungeon's door, most of the morning was already gone. She'd barely have enough time choosing a building site. "Yes, yes, as long as it doesn't interfere with the duty I set him."

"Wonderful!" Rian grinned. "Come on Yllian. I have a nice, big plank you can write everything down on. Don't get anything smudged, or you'll be writing it all down all over again."

Leaving her lords to their duties, Lori went outside, Rian's theatrically slightly unhinged laughter trailing behind her.