It was three days after the [Paladin] departed in the carriage with his nobleborn captive when my assistants and their [Bandit] subordinates finished with the bodies. In that time, I had sorted the captured beasts so that all the animal types were in different pits. Unbeknownst to me, when the Giant Boar died, whatever kept the animals from their natural tendencies died with it. I lost much of what I captured to their infighting. Still, I came away with more than two hundred beasts combined with the greatest number being wolves and the least being snakes.

I tasked Eni and Tond, the two former [Ranger] classes amongst the [Bandits] with seeing to their food supply when they weren’t serving as a lookout. The water in my moat was clear again. The waters reached ground level, with the elementals jumping about a few feet above that. Frozen carcasses of beasts inside egg-shaped balls of ice bobbed and floated on the water, but I ensured my mist elementals blocked sight of those. The incomplete parts had been stowed in a different place, another pit near the live animals filled with icy water. Eni and Tond used it as a food source for the captive beasts.

I also completed my third floor. Despite my desire for a laboratory immediately, the third floor became a library and study on one side, and a bath on the other. The bath was heated with a first-tier fire elemental using my last tiny ruby and enchanted with a cleaning spell that would keep the waters fresh. Mena did most of the work carrying my sitting chairs to the study, as she was the one indoors most often because I had tasked her with cooking our meals.

I continued the stairs beyond the third floor to a walled roof from which I could watch the sunrise and sit in peace. There was one part of the ceiling covered, mostly to keep rainwater from seeping down the stairs, but also to provide shade to my lookouts. The wall around the rooftop was made with ornately formed pillars of stone at each of the four corners. Inside each, two enchanted topaz gems contained the spellwork for air elementals bound to the tower's defense. Currently, though, they saw to keeping a pleasant breeze blowing.

Presently, I had the bandits ready themselves in front of my tower. After they finished clearing the land they had congregated on the first floor of my tower laughing and talking. It annoyed me that they carried on like they had no duties to perform. It further annoyed me when I realized I had taken it upon myself to be one responsible for assigning those duties.

I felt the [Bandits] accounted themselves well during and after the beastwave, and I was not about to go back on my word to discuss a new beginning with them. But I didn’t need six guards. There simply wasn’t enough for them to do around the tower. Why should I allow them to stand idle? That wasn’t a habit I wanted my assistants to pick up. Enough work for three, maybe. Four was a nice even number. I could always hire more later if needed.

Each of the guards possessed merits and demerits. Mena, for all that she was acceptable as a cook, was the least trustworthy of the group. Eni and Tond were both doing well as lookouts and caretakers for my captive beasts. That they were both [Rangers] presented an opportunity for the two to bring in fresh game, but it also granted them all the skills needed to flee without being caught. Brim and Brom, the two with local family, could serve well in patrolling the roads without suspicion they flee elsewhere, but that also meant that I might have to spend additional consideration to the safety of the villagers of Woodhoot. Then, there was Meathead. The man would eagerly follow any order, regardless of whether it was physically possible. He could also betray me at a moment’s notice without even realizing he did so.

I also needed to consider where I would send the two I dismissed. I could offer them as guards to Guard Captain Untal in Lark, though he might just hang them. I could send them as gladiators to serve in Baron Llals arena, provided someone secured their transport and they didn’t escape along the way. I could slay them myself, but that seemed malicious after offering them a chance at redemption. Ultimately, what swayed me, was the consideration of which of the group would most likely be accepted into service in Lark.

When I stepped out of my tower, I was greeted with a chorus of ‘boss’ and ‘sir’, as the [Bandits] all seemed jumped to stand at attention. Their military background exerting itself. Unsurprisingly, Lilly, Walker and Kine all followed me out, curious about what I was doing.

“Do any of you wish to remain [Bandits]?” I asked, rhetorically. Though, maybe not in Meathead’s case.

When none responded, I nodded my head, “Good. I will offer four of you positions as [Guards] in a moment.” I saw eyes widen in fear and alarm, no doubt wondering if they were the one not to be accepted and what would happen if so.

“Brim and Brom,” I called, “I will send you with Assistant Kine to the town of Lark. There, he will present a letter to the Guard Captain there soliciting him to take you into service. Mena, Eni, Tond, and Meathead, as Alderman in the Barony of Lark, Duchy of Eiston, Kingdom of Sena, I hereby appoint you as [Guards]. You may change your class now.”

I cast an [Analyze] spell to ensure all four did so. While I was expecting it, it was still a disappointment to have to go through the appointment declaration two more times until Meathead got it right. I called on Lilly, Walker, and Kine to follow me to the study when I was done. On a small table in the room, I had scrolls prepared and waiting.

“I would have you three journey to Lark tomorrow to complete some tasks for me. Kine, this is the letter for Guard Captain Untal. Here is a letter for Guildmaster Adam, to be delivered to the adventurers’ guild along with this purse. I’m tasking you with stopping by the City Center to check for any messages. We will discuss your education when you return to address any shortcomings.”

“Walker, this is a list of metalwork and an open order for stone. I’m tasking you with procuring equipment for the guards. I’d prefer my guards not to be dressed as bandits for much longer. I will be assigning you more active duties when you return, including patrolling with the guards. Purchasing cheap armor for them will be a risk unto yourself.”

“Lilly, this is a list of furniture and supplies to purchase. I’m also tasking you with finding and hiring a servant or two for the tower. Also, you will purchase paper and pen. I’ll not have you practice your studies on my good paper.”

“I’m also leaving you with a gold coin each, to spend how you wish. You may work together or separately to complete your tasks and spend any remaining time as you wish. Though Walker and Kine, one of you will be responsible for Lilly at all times. Take no more than five days in the town. With travel, if you haven’t returned in nine days, I will assume you aren’t returning at all. Be prepared to depart in an hours’ time.”

I spoke confidently and clearly, not allowing for any interruptions until I was done. Both Lilly and Walker went off to prepare, leaving me alone with Kine.

“A moment, Master?” he asked. From his tone, it sounded serious. I just looked at him and waited.

“I wanted to know, why me?” his face showed he was uncertain.

“Why you?” I repeated.

“Why did you choose me? Surely you could have found better assistants else? Better educated? More experienced?” He opened his mouth as if to say more but then chose not to.

I considered his question for a few minutes. I could tell him it was chance or fate, or I saw potential greatness in him. All true, but I’ve seen the desire to have some special destiny be the death of many men and women. I could be flippant and answer ‘because I wanted to’. Also true, but that wouldn’t inspire loyalty. There were many answers I could give, but only one that mattered, “Why do you think?”

Kine gazed at the table in silence, before looking up, “I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense. Surely, you knew my party had designs to rob you. You could have killed us all before we even knew what was happening. You could have turned us in. Instead, you built the most beautiful building I ever saw. In an hour. Then you hired me. I’m nobody. Why?”

Honestly, I had already forgotten about his former comrades. They just weren’t important to me. Still, I chuckled, “Kine, you are not them. I’ve warded or enchanted or cursed every item I own. Had they carried on with their plan, it would not have ended well. Continue serving me well, and you will have your own answer to why you are here.”

I left him standing there in his thoughts. I went up to the third floor, intent on staying there until I saw them in the distance. I rubbed my hands with glee as I waited. Soon, very soon, I would be able to conduct some experiments without concern for my students’ mental well-being.