“I suppose this will do,” Addie says. A shot to the heart. IT WILL DO?!? That’s days and days of my blood, sweat, and tears there on that roll of paper! Well, maybe not blood. That would be dangerous, given who I was makin’ the map for. I don’t say anything, though ‘cause I wanna go get some cake and iced tea. Saki gave me one of her special enchanted ice rocks.
“So now all you need to do is go back and determine which sections replace their furnishings and other supplies and which don’t.”
Say what? “Um, excuse me Addie,” I say politely onnaccounta I’m hoping for leniency, “Did you just say I’m … not done?”
“Almost done. I just need you to see which sections of the Palace automatically replace what we take from them. That way we know where to source the things we’ll need when we leave.”
“Almost … almost done?” I’m having trouble understanding what she just said. “It’ll take a week just to walk through the whole place, let alone do experiments.”
“Then it’s a good thing that we have a couple of months to get ready, then.”
Not a single sign of compromise. Not an iota of empathy. My fate is sealed.
“Aren’t you looking forward to stealing …
Who can argue with that? Silently I take the map back and head out. But I’m still gonna have my iced tea!
Meticulous planning, exhaustive practice, and flawless execution. This has become Addie's favorite aphorism. Like her Vampire catch phrase or something.
So we’re working on tactics. First of all, all that crap you read in those litrpg books is crap. Yes. I know I said crap twice in the same sentence. The first thing we figured out is that there’s no such thing as a front line and a back line when you have a group of less than about ten. Video games are not at all like real life. Not even close.
If your group is five, then you're going to get flanked as soon as you run into a group of more than one enemy. So we had to figure out how we could fit our different abilities into a cohesive whole that worked. And then make a plan for each of the different types of enemies, and different size groups of said enemies. And then think about doing each of those in a dozen different terrain types, etc. It's a bit of pain for the brain, all these possibilities.
And none of us with the right sort of experience to figure it all out. Luckily we have help. Keldan, Veldothian, Big Bad Bill, even Faiella. They’ve all been more than willing to give advice. Lots and lots and lots of advice. Lots and lots. A never-ending stream of advice. Seriously, ever heard of baby steps?
Now we’re here, trying to put it together. Think we’ll be doing this every day from now on. Guess I better learn to like it.
Lady Addie has just finished writing something at the table. She picks up her favorite book and moves to a comfortable armchair, Tara brings her a cup of tea.
I look at her face as she reads and wonder what she’ll say. Well, nothing for it but to ask. I’m beyond nervous. Our future, maybe our lives, depends on the outcome of the next conversation.
I motion Tara over and we both drop down to our knees in front of Addie and bow our heads. I can't see her with my head lowered but I can feel her shock.
"My Lady, may we speak?" I ask her.
Lady Addie recovers from her shock very quickly. "Of course," she says. "You can always speak freely with me."
"Tara and I would like to petition to join your Family. We want to go with you when you leave."
I hear a soft sigh. "Please stand up and sit down on the sofa." We do as she asks, keeping our eyes lowered as we move.
She looks at us for a moment and then says, "I don't really know where to start with my questions. Why don't you just explain what you want and why?"
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Tara starts, "We can't go back to our village. There is nothing for us there, so we moved here to become maids. But being from the country, we haven't been able to find a full-time post with a good family. This job we’re doing now is the longest we've ever had."
I take up the thread, "We've been working for you over eight weeks now. It's been different than anything else we've done as maids. You and your friends are fun and interesting, smart and kind, brave and strong. We want to continue working for you."
"We know there’re other things about you that you keep hidden from us." Tara continues. "But we know that you've done something which’s made you much stronger."
Addie interrupts us, "Can you put a name to it? This thing we’ve done?"
We hesitate, looking sideways at each other. I finally answer. "We’ve heard the words Blood Family" My voice seems small and weak to my ears. For some reason I start trembling. "It has something to do with My Lady's powers."
Our Lady gives another sigh. "Even what little you already know is dangerous for you. We’re all in danger. Joining us won’t make your life safe or secure."
"Please, My Lady..." Tara says faintly and stops.
We’re all silent for a moment. Then Lady Addie speaks again, "Enough. That is enough for now. I can't go any further without telling you things you shouldn't know. I need to talk to the others about you before taking that step. Don't be afraid. Although we’ve only known you a short time, you have become precious to us." There is power in her words.
"Thank you." I say, eyes still downcast.
"We will talk about this again tomorrow. I’ll send Rio to talk to you if I have questions before then."
Accepting the dismissal, we bow again and return to our duties.
But we're still afraid.
We all get together for supper as usual. Tara and Jane place our plates and then mysteriously disappear. Addie stands at her place. Then she drops a huge bomb on us.
"I’ve been petitioned by Tara and Jane. They want to join our Family." Total silence.
“Did I call it or what?!? Rio ain't got nothin' on me!” I cackle.
Saki starts signing. Of all of us, she is the most practical. Is that possible? The book says there are limits to the number of Family members.
"There are limits," Addie affirms. "Right now I can add at most one more full Family member. Everyone here is what I think of as a full Family member. Or, if you prefer, the inner circle. However, the book mentions another type of Family binding. One that fits the idea of accepting people as vassals or retainers."
How many? There must be limits to this as well.
"There are. I don't know what they are, though. Binding has its root in Spirit energy. So the limits will have something to do with how much energy I have in my Spirit energy pool."
Saki pulls the vampire book out of somewhere and begins leafing through it.
Nix takes up the thread. "It won't be long before we're on the run. Or at least on the move."
Rio adds in, "We also won't be in an economically stable position. If they’re retainers, how will we pay them?
I throw something in, "And will their positions change? If they’re Bound to the Family, will they have the chance to learn and grow? Will they stay maids or can they change their position? Move up?"
"And what if they decide they want to leave the Family later?" Nix again.
"I’ll have to discuss all of that with them before they make a final decision. They can learn and grow. Nothing is set in stone." says Addie.
The book has a lot to say about Vassals. They are Bound to the Family, not to a position. There is also a ritual here for dissolving Bonds.
"Let us set that aside for a moment," says Rio. "I don’t think you’re asking about technical issues right now. How do the rest of you feel about them joining us? Emotionally, I mean."
We all sit there, looking at each other. Finally, I ask, "Is there anyone here who doesn't just love the heck out of those two?"
Nobody volunteers to voice a lack of love. Nix says, "They’re very kind. They worked hard to keep me from getting depressed when we came here. They have consideration for me. They smell nice."
I giggle. When Nix says a girl 'smells nice', that's code for he's got a crush on her. Which we just ignore. Nix thinks any girl who talks to him smells nice. So sweet! I'm gonna make sure he finds the love of his life someday. It’s not like there’s any shortage of candidates right now, either.
"I'll take that as a 'yes'," says Addie. "Anyone else?"
"I like them. I want to keep them. They're cute and fun!" I say.
Saki gives me a look and signs, They're not stray animals! Then she indicates her agreement to Addie.
"That leaves you, Rio."
He has a pensive look on his face. "You all know that I have a...physical...relationship with them. I don't want to have a position of authority over them. That would not be right." He looks away from us.
Addie sighs. "I understand. As the Binder, I will be responsible for the retainers. That doesn't mean that you won't end up in charge of them for specific operations, though. Or one of them might be in charge of you. They will become members of the team."
Rio nods his understanding. "Then I think we’re all agreed. We still have practical issues to deal with, such as pay and protection for them."
Addie looks around at us. "We can solve those issues. All of you are reasonably intelligent. If we work together we can solve any problem."
"Hip hip hooray!" I shout. Everyone joins in and has a good laugh.
In my heart I resolve to punish Addie later. What does she mean 'reasonably intelligent'? I am a super genius! I am the Brainiac! I am Kari, the Tiny Giant, and I am larger than life!