As Drake considered his new position and the danger it entailed, he realized there was something else he didn’t understand. Something that continued to bug him about his unique circumstances and divine blood. Not everyone had divine blood, so how did that work?
“Keep in mind I’m an outsider here, Zuri. My world doesn’t have blood pacts, which is why I’m asking these questions. If someone killed me, would they become the new lord?”
“Only if you had not named a successor, and they had divine blood.”
That matched what he already knew from Westin and Lydia. “So if I did name a successor, and I died, the title would go to that person after I died.”
“Correct.”
He’d name Lydia his successor tonight just in case he did end up dying in the next few days. He was still determined to lead this manor himself, but even without the blood pact hanging over them, he didn’t want these people getting stuck with another Lord Dickcheese.
“But what if didn’t name a successor and the person who killed me didn’t have divine blood? Or I just keeled over from a heart attack? What happens then?”
“Your title would return to the capitol,” Zuri said. “The other manor lords would agree upon a successor who would inherit your blood pact.”
So those without divine blood were doubly fucked in this world. No rarities, and no chance to become manor lords. Still, this did improve his odds of survival. If only people with rarities could actually take his title, perhaps normal folks wouldn’t try to kill him.
“So how often does that happen, on average? A normal person killing a manor lord?”
“I could not say, but I can say it is rare. Any warrior who lacked divine blood would also lack a rarity, and all manor lords travel with powerful protectors. So the chances of a person without a rarity defeating your protectors and you is quite low.”
Except Drake didn’t know what his rarity was yet. So until he figured that out, he’d have to trust his battle maids and others to protect him. He didn’t like letting others fight his battles, but he also might have to accept that until he learned why the former lord had traveled all the way to Earth to abduct him. Until he discovered his hidden and powerful “rarity”.
As he mulled all this over, Drake found himself curious just how long Zuri had been doing this. “How long have you served the lords of Gloomwood?”
“Twenty-eight years, lord.” Zuri sounded quite proud. “In that time I have served four Lords Gloomwood with distinction. You will be my fifth, and I intend to serve you well.”
It sounded like manor lords all had a poor life expectancy, which was more bad news for Drake. Though it was dangerously close to asking Zuri’s age, he decided he was curious enough to risk it. “So you became Gloomwood’s mediator as a teenager?”
“I took on the role at sixteen years of age, lord.”
“You must have been some kind of child prodigy.”
“Perhaps. However, I believe my real strength as your mediator is my rarity: recall. Since birth I have been able to recall everything I read, see, or hear with perfect clarity. Moreover, as my rarity has been verified in the royal court, I can also bear witness for events I have personally attended. Not even the noble court questions my recollections.”
Since no one in this land could lie, her testimony would be strong. “Okay, Zuri, you’ve been a huge help. Last question for today. If I, as Lord Gloomwood, wanted to pass my title onto another person without having them kill me for it, how would I do it?”
“The manner is straightforward, but I do have a concern. The method for transferring a lord’s title is secret. Are you comfortable with me revealing such specifics in front of your steward?”
“In front of Lydia? Sure. I trust her.”
“Then as Lord Gloomwood, you would cut open your palm and press it to the palm of your successor, which must also be bleeding. As your blood mingled, you would then say the words ‘I, Lord Gloomwood, wish to grant you possession of my blood pact’.”
“That’s it?”
“That is it, lord.”
“And after I did that, would I still be part of the blood pact?”
“Only if you had sworn yourself to join it before receiving the title. Otherwise, if you wished to serve the new manor lord, you would need to swear to join their blood pact after you made them the new lord.” If Zuri was curious why he was asking this, she didn’t let it show.
So simple. It also sounded like, just like when evil manor lords tortured people into joining them, even a manor lord could be forced to surrender. Still, every manor lord had a powerful rarity and powerful protectors, so they would likely never be in that situation.
Drake could do this. He could save these people. If Westin asked how the title was transferred, Drake could tell him, but... there was no reason to offer specifics. He simply had to tell Westin Lord Dickcheese had surrendered the title before he arrived, and Westin would believe him. Anyone in this world would believe anything he said... except Lydia, now.
“I think that’s all I need to know about noble courts and tithes for today, Zuri. However, there’s something else I need from you before I go.”
She clasped her palms together at her waist and smiled. “Anything, lord.”
“I need a list of the manor staff, as well as all my soldiers, scouts, and anyone else who serves me. If possible, I’d like that list to include their role, their full name, any rarities they possess, and how long they’ve served here.”
“Lord Dickcheese had me keep just such a ledger, lord, and it is entirely up to date. Would you like me to retrieve it for you now?”
“That’d be great, Zuri. Grab it for me, would you?”
Zuri looked to a corner of the room. She just stared at it. Drake was tempted to ask what she was doing, but it looked like interrupting her would be a poor idea.
A book in a pile halfway across the room slipped out of its pile of its own accord. The other books tumbled as the first book zipped across the room. Zuri caught the hurtling book neatly in one hand, flipped it open with practiced grace, and paged through with one extended finger until she came to a page that satisfied her.
She walked over, heels clicking, and presented him the book page first. “The current roster starts on this page, lord, and stretches across the next four. It also includes many standards and procedures for the manor’s organization and day-to-day operations, if you wish to learn more about our operations.”
“Sure.” He was still trying to figure out how she’d made a book fly across the room, but this was a magic world. He’d probably look stupid if he asked. He took the book.
“We also have records including lists of staff who once worked here but work here no longer. I can retrieve those tomes if you wish.”
“Just this tome is fine for now.” Drake checked the page number of the tome she presented—24—and decided to test her rarity. “Have you read this tome before?”
“Cover to cover, lord.”
“Quote me the second sentence of the third paragraph on page 12.”
With the book still facing him and open, her eyelids fluttered. A moment later, she opened her eyes. “This decision must be unanimous.”
He took the book she offered and flipped back through it until he found page twelve. As he skimmed that page, he realized it seemed to be a list of rules and procedures for the manor.
“If, after the death of a steward, the lord chooses not to name a new steward, all battle maids must take a vote to choose a successor. This decision must be unanimous. If not, each candidate may choose to prove themselves in battle against all others.
The victor is then named steward.”
He glanced at Lydia, who cocked one eyebrow curiously. Then, he looked back to Zuri. “Thanks for this. I’ve taken up enough of your time. I’ll let you know if I need anything else.”
“Please, lord, visit me any time you wish, day or night. I live to serve you.”
Her eagerness was starting to creep him out. Was she trying to... seduce him, or something? Why? She was attractive enough, so she must be able to find a man her own age.
He forced a smile and glanced at Lydia. “We should get going.”
Lydia offered Zuri a nod and took two steps back, then turned to lead him to the doors. Once she opened one, Drake hurried out. Lydia closed the doors behind them. If she’d picked up anything weird from Zuri, she didn’t comment on it.
“Okay,” Drake said. “I’m fairly certain, now, that I can negotiate with Westin and save the manor. It would also be better if I don’t tell you exactly how I plan to do it.”
She nodded in visible relief. “If you intend to use your... unique skill... it is better I not know many specifics. That is how most manor lords operate.”
“Plausible deniability?”
“That is an interesting yet accurate way to put it.”
Drake chuckled. “A classic from my world. But first, we need to catch up to Westin.”
“The vero should be able to find him again with ease. I doubt the Proudglade knights have managed to exit the woods. We can then overpower them.”
“We’re just going out there to talk with him, Lydia. I gave those knights my word that I would allow them to return to Proudglade Manor with Westin and not interfere, remember? So if we stop them and capture Westin again, they’ll know I can do what only I can do. So how soon do we need to leave if we want to catch up with him?”
She hesitated. “Do you have to leave the manor and speak to him in person?”
“I do. It’s the only way this works. That worries you?”
“It does. Your rarity has not yet manifested. As you are now, any Proudglade knight could easily murder you.”
“Staying here is also dangerous, since this place will be razed at some point soon. I’m also the only one who can negotiate this particular treaty with Westin, and you and the others can protect me from his knights if it comes to a fight. So can you get me to him?”
She pressed her lips together. “It feels so odd to have a choice.”
He grinned at her perplexed expression. “It is great, though, isn’t it?”
“If you insist this is the only way to save the manor, Emily and I should travel with you, along with Sachi, one of our manor’s best archers and scouts. Adding zarovians to our party would give us strength, but they will rob us of the speed to catch Lord Westin before he exits the woods. So just us, Sachi, and some vero.”
“Sounds good. I’ll leave the manor with the folks you suggested, and we’ll all catch up with Westin so I can talk some sense into him. How far is Proudglade Manor from here?”
“At least a week of travel on horseback. Longer on foot. If we leave tonight and travel as I’ve suggested, we should have no trouble catching up with walking knights in full armor. Even if we leave under cover of night, which I suggest, we will reach them before they exit the woods.”
“So we’ve got time, but we shouldn’t waste it.”
“We have time to prepare, and it will take time for the vero, once recalled, to return.” Lydia looked him up and down. “So if you wish, before we travel, you could... freshen up.”
Drake belatedly glanced down at his silverweave. “I smell that bad?”
“It is more than understandable, lord. You were held captive in Lord Dickcheese’s dungeon for some time, and fear and stress can cause heavy sweating.”
Zuri hadn’t said anything about his smell, but he doubted she would have. “I also got cut a whole bunch of times. Was Dickcheese’s rarity that he turned into a werewolf?”
“I don’t know what that is, lord.”
“He started growing claws when we fought, and I swear he even sprouted fur. All that was gone by the time I finished stabbing him, though.”
Her eyes widened. “There are rarities that allow people to change forms, but they are usually quite powerful. So... unless your rarity involves being abnormally good with daggers, it is unlikely you could defeat a shifter without powerful weapons.”
Or perhaps Dickcheese had just been a crappy werewolf. Either way, the old bastard’s rarity no longer mattered, because he was dead. And given the old lord had kept these people as slaves and abused more than a few of them, he’d deserved it.
“A shower sounds pretty good right now,” Drake said. “And a healing spell, since I actually would like someone to heal my scratches from the fight. You have showers here?”
“We have multiple bath houses and a single master bath for you, our lord.”
“And you have soap? Please tell me this crazy fantasy world of yours has soap.”
“We have soap, lord.” Lydia now appeared a bit miffed. “I often use it myself.”
“Then I’d like to complete one more task before I freshen up. You said the party we’re going to take out to find Westin will be you, me, Emily, and this Sachi person?”
“That is my suggestion.”
“Then I want to pass on my new decree to both of them before we leave,” Drake said. “I want to free Emily and Sachi before we go. Can we do that without endangering our manor?”
Lydia nodded. “It will be a good test of how the other denizens of the manor will react to your unique... approach to leadership. I am certain Emily will remain with us. Sachi will...” She considered. “I don’t know how she will react. What if she refuses to help us?”
“If she leaves, she leaves. That’s her choice. It has to be her choice.”
“That is the arrangement to which we agreed,” Lydia agreed calmly. “Very well, lord. I will summon Emily, you can present your new decree, and then we will all travel together to the bath. We will heal your wounds, then guard you while you freshen up.”
“And Sachi?”
“She is not in the manor,” Lydia said. “We will speak to her when we depart.”
As Drake considered his new position and the danger it entailed, he realized there was something else he didn’t understand. Something that continued to bug him about his unique circumstances and divine blood. Not everyone had divine blood, so how did that work?
“Keep in mind I’m an outsider here, Zuri. My world doesn’t have blood pacts, which is why I’m asking these questions. If someone killed me, would they become the new lord?”
“Only if you had not named a successor, and they had divine blood.”
That matched what he already knew from Westin and Lydia. “So if I did name a successor, and I died, the title would go to that person after I died.”
“Correct.”
He’d name Lydia his successor tonight just in case he did end up dying in the next few days. He was still determined to lead this manor himself, but even without the blood pact hanging over them, he didn’t want these people getting stuck with another Lord Dickcheese.
“But what if didn’t name a successor and the person who killed me didn’t have divine blood? Or I just keeled over from a heart attack? What happens then?”
“Your title would return to the capitol,” Zuri said. “The other manor lords would agree upon a successor who would inherit your blood pact.”
So those without divine blood were doubly fucked in this world. No rarities, and no chance to become manor lords. Still, this did improve his odds of survival. If only people with rarities could actually take his title, perhaps normal folks wouldn’t try to kill him.
“So how often does that happen, on average? A normal person killing a manor lord?”
“I could not say, but I can say it is rare. Any warrior who lacked divine blood would also lack a rarity, and all manor lords travel with powerful protectors. So the chances of a person without a rarity defeating your protectors and you is quite low.”
Except Drake didn’t know what his rarity was yet. So until he figured that out, he’d have to trust his battle maids and others to protect him. He didn’t like letting others fight his battles, but he also might have to accept that until he learned why the former lord had traveled all the way to Earth to abduct him. Until he discovered his hidden and powerful “rarity”.
As he mulled all this over, Drake found himself curious just how long Zuri had been doing this. “How long have you served the lords of Gloomwood?”
“Twenty-eight years, lord.” Zuri sounded quite proud. “In that time I have served four Lords Gloomwood with distinction. You will be my fifth, and I intend to serve you well.”
It sounded like manor lords all had a poor life expectancy, which was more bad news for Drake. Though it was dangerously close to asking Zuri’s age, he decided he was curious enough to risk it. “So you became Gloomwood’s mediator as a teenager?”
“I took on the role at sixteen years of age, lord.”
“You must have been some kind of child prodigy.”
“Perhaps. However, I believe my real strength as your mediator is my rarity: recall. Since birth I have been able to recall everything I read, see, or hear with perfect clarity. Moreover, as my rarity has been verified in the royal court, I can also bear witness for events I have personally attended. Not even the noble court questions my recollections.”
Since no one in this land could lie, her testimony would be strong. “Okay, Zuri, you’ve been a huge help. Last question for today. If I, as Lord Gloomwood, wanted to pass my title onto another person without having them kill me for it, how would I do it?”
“The manner is straightforward, but I do have a concern. The method for transferring a lord’s title is secret. Are you comfortable with me revealing such specifics in front of your steward?”
“In front of Lydia? Sure. I trust her.”
“Then as Lord Gloomwood, you would cut open your palm and press it to the palm of your successor, which must also be bleeding. As your blood mingled, you would then say the words ‘I, Lord Gloomwood, wish to grant you possession of my blood pact’.”
“That’s it?”
“That is it, lord.”
“And after I did that, would I still be part of the blood pact?”
“Only if you had sworn yourself to join it before receiving the title. Otherwise, if you wished to serve the new manor lord, you would need to swear to join their blood pact after you made them the new lord.” If Zuri was curious why he was asking this, she didn’t let it show.
So simple. It also sounded like, just like when evil manor lords tortured people into joining them, even a manor lord could be forced to surrender. Still, every manor lord had a powerful rarity and powerful protectors, so they would likely never be in that situation.
Drake could do this. He could save these people. If Westin asked how the title was transferred, Drake could tell him, but... there was no reason to offer specifics. He simply had to tell Westin Lord Dickcheese had surrendered the title before he arrived, and Westin would believe him. Anyone in this world would believe anything he said... except Lydia, now.
“I think that’s all I need to know about noble courts and tithes for today, Zuri. However, there’s something else I need from you before I go.”
She clasped her palms together at her waist and smiled. “Anything, lord.”
“I need a list of the manor staff, as well as all my soldiers, scouts, and anyone else who serves me. If possible, I’d like that list to include their role, their full name, any rarities they possess, and how long they’ve served here.”
“Lord Dickcheese had me keep just such a ledger, lord, and it is entirely up to date. Would you like me to retrieve it for you now?”
“That’d be great, Zuri. Grab it for me, would you?”
Zuri looked to a corner of the room. She just stared at it. Drake was tempted to ask what she was doing, but it looked like interrupting her would be a poor idea.
A book in a pile halfway across the room slipped out of its pile of its own accord. The other books tumbled as the first book zipped across the room. Zuri caught the hurtling book neatly in one hand, flipped it open with practiced grace, and paged through with one extended finger until she came to a page that satisfied her.
She walked over, heels clicking, and presented him the book page first. “The current roster starts on this page, lord, and stretches across the next four. It also includes many standards and procedures for the manor’s organization and day-to-day operations, if you wish to learn more about our operations.”
“Sure.” He was still trying to figure out how she’d made a book fly across the room, but this was a magic world. He’d probably look stupid if he asked. He took the book.
“We also have records including lists of staff who once worked here but work here no longer. I can retrieve those tomes if you wish.”
“Just this tome is fine for now.” Drake checked the page number of the tome she presented—24—and decided to test her rarity. “Have you read this tome before?”
“Cover to cover, lord.”
“Quote me the second sentence of the third paragraph on page 12.”
With the book still facing him and open, her eyelids fluttered. A moment later, she opened her eyes. “This decision must be unanimous.”
He took the book she offered and flipped back through it until he found page twelve. As he skimmed that page, he realized it seemed to be a list of rules and procedures for the manor.
“If, after the death of a steward, the lord chooses not to name a new steward, all battle maids must take a vote to choose a successor. This decision must be unanimous. If not, each candidate may choose to prove themselves in battle against all others.
The victor is then named steward.”
He glanced at Lydia, who cocked one eyebrow curiously. Then, he looked back to Zuri. “Thanks for this. I’ve taken up enough of your time. I’ll let you know if I need anything else.”
“Please, lord, visit me any time you wish, day or night. I live to serve you.”
Her eagerness was starting to creep him out. Was she trying to... seduce him, or something? Why? She was attractive enough, so she must be able to find a man her own age.
He forced a smile and glanced at Lydia. “We should get going.”
Lydia offered Zuri a nod and took two steps back, then turned to lead him to the doors. Once she opened one, Drake hurried out. Lydia closed the doors behind them. If she’d picked up anything weird from Zuri, she didn’t comment on it.
“Okay,” Drake said. “I’m fairly certain, now, that I can negotiate with Westin and save the manor. It would also be better if I don’t tell you exactly how I plan to do it.”
She nodded in visible relief. “If you intend to use your... unique skill... it is better I not know many specifics. That is how most manor lords operate.”
“Plausible deniability?”
“That is an interesting yet accurate way to put it.”
Drake chuckled. “A classic from my world. But first, we need to catch up to Westin.”
“The vero should be able to find him again with ease. I doubt the Proudglade knights have managed to exit the woods. We can then overpower them.”
“We’re just going out there to talk with him, Lydia. I gave those knights my word that I would allow them to return to Proudglade Manor with Westin and not interfere, remember? So if we stop them and capture Westin again, they’ll know I can do what only I can do. So how soon do we need to leave if we want to catch up with him?”
She hesitated. “Do you have to leave the manor and speak to him in person?”
“I do. It’s the only way this works. That worries you?”
“It does. Your rarity has not yet manifested. As you are now, any Proudglade knight could easily murder you.”
“Staying here is also dangerous, since this place will be razed at some point soon. I’m also the only one who can negotiate this particular treaty with Westin, and you and the others can protect me from his knights if it comes to a fight. So can you get me to him?”
She pressed her lips together. “It feels so odd to have a choice.”
He grinned at her perplexed expression. “It is great, though, isn’t it?”
“If you insist this is the only way to save the manor, Emily and I should travel with you, along with Sachi, one of our manor’s best archers and scouts. Adding zarovians to our party would give us strength, but they will rob us of the speed to catch Lord Westin before he exits the woods. So just us, Sachi, and some vero.”
“Sounds good. I’ll leave the manor with the folks you suggested, and we’ll all catch up with Westin so I can talk some sense into him. How far is Proudglade Manor from here?”
“At least a week of travel on horseback. Longer on foot. If we leave tonight and travel as I’ve suggested, we should have no trouble catching up with walking knights in full armor. Even if we leave under cover of night, which I suggest, we will reach them before they exit the woods.”
“So we’ve got time, but we shouldn’t waste it.”
“We have time to prepare, and it will take time for the vero, once recalled, to return.” Lydia looked him up and down. “So if you wish, before we travel, you could... freshen up.”
Drake belatedly glanced down at his silverweave. “I smell that bad?”
“It is more than understandable, lord. You were held captive in Lord Dickcheese’s dungeon for some time, and fear and stress can cause heavy sweating.”
Zuri hadn’t said anything about his smell, but he doubted she would have. “I also got cut a whole bunch of times. Was Dickcheese’s rarity that he turned into a werewolf?”
“I don’t know what that is, lord.”
“He started growing claws when we fought, and I swear he even sprouted fur. All that was gone by the time I finished stabbing him, though.”
Her eyes widened. “There are rarities that allow people to change forms, but they are usually quite powerful. So... unless your rarity involves being abnormally good with daggers, it is unlikely you could defeat a shifter without powerful weapons.”
Or perhaps Dickcheese had just been a crappy werewolf. Either way, the old bastard’s rarity no longer mattered, because he was dead. And given the old lord had kept these people as slaves and abused more than a few of them, he’d deserved it.
“A shower sounds pretty good right now,” Drake said. “And a healing spell, since I actually would like someone to heal my scratches from the fight. You have showers here?”
“We have multiple bath houses and a single master bath for you, our lord.”
“And you have soap? Please tell me this crazy fantasy world of yours has soap.”
“We have soap, lord.” Lydia now appeared a bit miffed. “I often use it myself.”
“Then I’d like to complete one more task before I freshen up. You said the party we’re going to take out to find Westin will be you, me, Emily, and this Sachi person?”
“That is my suggestion.”
“Then I want to pass on my new decree to both of them before we leave,” Drake said. “I want to free Emily and Sachi before we go. Can we do that without endangering our manor?”
Lydia nodded. “It will be a good test of how the other denizens of the manor will react to your unique... approach to leadership. I am certain Emily will remain with us. Sachi will...” She considered. “I don’t know how she will react. What if she refuses to help us?”
“If she leaves, she leaves. That’s her choice. It has to be her choice.”
“That is the arrangement to which we agreed,” Lydia agreed calmly. “Very well, lord. I will summon Emily, you can present your new decree, and then we will all travel together to the bath. We will heal your wounds, then guard you while you freshen up.”
“And Sachi?”
“She is not in the manor,” Lydia said. “We will speak to her when we depart.”
