There were scores of old journals and papers to scour over and Veximarl had the joy of going through them all. Literal joy. He actually treasured this type of work. With Trewarne gone and Moontear being busy with missions, Lady Till had asked that he teach the basic survival classes. He had hundreds of resources available, weeks to prepare, and the tutelage of Sir Grimhawk and his forty years of experience at the barracks.

Of course, nothing was more valuable than his own experiences. There was plenty to be taught about herbalism. He could even match up his lessons with Lady Blu’s, so there was a sense of harmony between classes. There was still the fact that he wasn’t completely excused from upcoming missions or his captain duties, but he still relished in the thought of a challenge.

While Chickadee begun to work on new projects with the forgemaster, Zaniyah was going to be sent off with Macestar Squad. They were heading towards the southwest end of Duke Sickleson's land, and would be staying at an abbey in Baron Whipple’s lands.

Their mission was to buy up supplies needed by the barracks, but the abbey did house an orphanage. Most of the abbey’s profits came from the production of cheese and wine. They even had their own dairy farm. There would be plenty of them to do over the coming weeks, whether it was as simple as playing with children, or as complicated as what it took to keep an abbey running.

For Alton, after he returned from his trip to Carapace, he would be working as Lady Till's assistant. The barracks itself was essentially a baronry that also consisted of the new mage town and Tilrey. Though the mages were arguing that it should be a proper baronry with an elementalist baron, while the barracks would be its own entity. That was a decision for Duke Sickleson to make, but in the meantime, Lady Till was stuck dealing with them.

Part of Till's job was to receive a list of concerns from the mayor of Tilrey. If there were any disputes that the town guard couldn't handle, he would seek out her advice. The majority of first year missions had to do with dealing with problems in Tilrey.

Although Alton wasn't looking forward to it, at least he wasn’t being sent off somewhere unknown and have to deal with a lot of new people at once. The major benefit was that he’ll have plenty of time to hang out with Gideon. Though, he would never admit that he enjoyed hanging around his adoptive younger brother.

Sybil, although annoyed about her mission, traveled to Baron Rockender’s estate. His baronry had three towns and focused wheat farming as well as mining operations in the nearby mountains. This place bordered both the Crimson Range and the Clay Region, tucked away in the far south east corner of the Gilded Region.

Baron Rockender was going to be married. This was an arranged marriage, where neither the bride or groom had met each other. Due to this, there were a few weeks of introductions and customs they needed to follow before they could be wed. All in all, it could take up to six weeks for them to return. Six long and terrible weeks.

Duxton would be handling the majority of the baron’s duties. Sybil and Shaw were to tend to Rockender’s office within Blackmount. She would be studying the process of running the baronry as well as dealing with any tasks that needed a physical presence. For the prince’s safety, he would idle about inside a mansion and order Sybil about.

“What a lovely family outing this is going to be,” muttered Duxton.

Every time Sybil saw Duxton's horse, she was surprised by how plain it was. Shaw had a regal looking guard vanner, like Alton and Zaniyah, but Duxton’s personal steed was medium sized brown thing that she had mistaken for as a pony belonging to the barracks. She was a polite and sociable mare who would often make noises whenever someone walked into the stables because she wanted her neck scratched. Friendly to everyone and liked by all. Duxton’s opposite in nearly every way.

“I’ve changed my mind,” muttered Sybil. “I’m going back.” She gently tugged on the reins to turn Oyster around.

Duxton made a clicking noise with his tongue and Oyster turned the other way. He obediently trotted over to where the prince was holding out a carrot and took it from his hand. As soon as that one was gone, Duxton pulled out another and started to lead the horse along. Sybil gave a firm tug, but her horse completely ignored her commands. She then started to look at the ground, wondering if it would be safe for her to jump.

“You shouldn't dare to dismount a moving horse. It's quite dangerous.” Duxton tapped his feet against his horse's sides and his mare took off running.

A spree of curse words escapes Sybil's mouth as her horse happily ran behind Duxton’s. She had been actively trying to train Oyster properly and improve their relationship. But since he had learned how to break out of the stables, he’d sneaking to the kitchen for vegetables. Oyster had been looking a little plump as a result, which meant that Sybil had to take him out riding more often.

Apparently that work was all for nothing as she was dragged on a mission she knew she would hate. Duxton had apparently been planning something like this for awhile. Whenever she changed how Oyster was locked up, he was the one that went through the effort of loosening the them for Oyster and giving him treats whenever he escaped. Watching Sybil chase the stallion around the courtyard had become an amusing pastime.

It was only when the barracks were far out of sight did Duxton began to slow down. They waited patiently for Shaw and the wagon to appear. The prince grinned widely at the paladin. It didn’t matter if Shaw approved or not. He was having fun.

Sybil's voice was sore from her yelling at him. “This is a kidnapping!” Her horse was still happily following the prince. Even if it was dangerous, she had half a mind to roll off and take her chances.

Duxton ignored her complaints. “We’ll be in a village by dinnertime. You can voice your displeasures there but don’t you think it is about time for you to have a vacation? Hiking on the mountain trails, camping by a lake, or lavishing in the beauty of starlight. Shaw? What do you think?”

“I believe that Sybil should be allowed to return and-,” Shaw dodged a carrot that was thrown at his head, “request for a change of mission.” Sybil let out a yelp as Oyster ran off to fetch the thrown vegetable.

“I doubt that I’ll get much of an opportunity to see her much. Worry not over my behavior.” Duxton steered his horse towards where Sybil had run off to. “I'll go over the mission briefing in detail once we make camp.”

Partly because of the promise of bread, and mostly because Lady Till had ordered her, Sybil continued with the mission. She vowed to turn tail and run back to Braytons the moment trouble appeared and Shaw seemed willing to escort her back if the prince gave her problems. But, in order for them to reach the baronry by lunchtime tomorrow, they had to travel late into the night. It was close to midnight by the time they reached the inn.

Which, unfortunately, only had one room open. Many travelers were making their way south in order to avoid tainted beasts. Inns had become flooded as a result, and the room they were given didn’t even have furniture in it. Sybil set her bedroll in a corner and used her saddlebags as a makeshift fort around her. Much to Duxton's complaints, Shaw set his space near Sybil as extra insurance.

Duxton sat on the floor and handed them each a paper that detailed their duties. He would manage the barony’s finances as well write to Duke Sickleson whenever it was needed. Shaw would act as Sybil’s guard whenever she headed out.

Sybil would spend a few days at the estate to learn as much as she could before she worked as the face of their operation. She was to head into Blackmount thrice a week to handle affairs at the baron’s office. When she wasn’t at the office, she was to handle the estate’s affairs such as planning the daily meals and keeping the servants in check. She would also handle Satyrday dinner, where the estate hosted prominent members from each of the three towns.

Since they were young and inexperienced, it was unlikely anyone would trust them to do anything at all. The baron’s aides would likely do all of the work for them, thus their actual job was to be polite and not step on any toes. Showing up and suddenly flipping everything on its head was the last thing they needed to do. It was more than likely that they'll be bored the entire time there.

Still, Sybil wasn't happy about this arrangement. “I know that you’re claiming that I’ll be working, but I’m worried that you’ll force me to play housewife whenever I’m around.”

From what she understood about outlanders, this was what all of the noble wives did. Plan meals, make sure the servants kept the house clean, and take long strolls in the garden all while complaining about how difficult their lives were while others did all the real work.

“Yes. In this situation, I am the baron and you are the baroness,” remarked Duxton.

Shaw interrupted before Sybil had a chance to injure Duxton. “You would be taking on two halves of the same job. This is simply a basic outline of our tasks. We will have a better idea of what we should be doing once we get there and you will be given more dignified responsibilities once we understand what they are expecting of us.”

Perhaps Sybil should storm in and flip over everything. She should make dozens upon dozens of tiny changes here and there until the estate threatened to riot. Then Duxton would be forced to send her home and she’ll probably get plenty of bread to take back with her. Duxton was the prince. He had a reputation to maintain and he wouldn’t let some girl threaten that. Sybil’s face became blank as she slowly nodded her head. For now she would play things calmly before turning on the spoiled rich girl attitude.

“I’m going to try to make this work, but I’m leaving the moment you call me your baroness.” And once Sybil got set back to the barracks, she’d make sure that Lady Till think twice about sending her out on an “important” mission again.

The night passed on without trouble and they arrived at the estate the next day. It was a well maintained property. Despite the buildings themselves being modest, the gardens were immaculate, and there was even a hedge maze towards the rear of the property.

They were greeted by a small group of staff who all wore matching black uniforms. Duxton dismounted his mare and handed off the reins to one of them. “I'm famished. Dear Sybil, will you go to the kitchens and see if they have anything that can be made available? You know my preferences well enough to manage that.”

“Gladly, my lord.”

Hearing her say that sent a shiver of fear up Duxton's spine. He spun on his heel and stared at her suspiciously. “Are you alright? Did you get too much sun? Rather than go to the kitchens, see yourself to a bed and take a rest. ”

Sybil dismounted Oyster and put her hands behind her back. She began to rock back and forth on her heels while smiling in a charming manner. “I'm fine, my lord. I'll arrange a meal for the both of you.” The fact that she was acting so adorable was incredibly unsettling to both Duxton and Shaw.

Turning away from the pair, Sybil’s smile quickly dropped. She asked a maid to escort her to the head butler, or to whoever was in charge of the baron's daily schedule. They would be the most important asset to her plans... But of course there wasn't one. Apparently, the baron’s aide had retired shortly before Baron Rockender left for Fogbloom.

Sybil was introduced to a man named Brom. He had been a member of staff for only for a year and was barely twenty years old. None of the staff available was above the age of twenty-four. Sybil was informed that the rest of the employees had been given large bonuses and asked to leave. This was so that Rockender’s new wife could bring any servants of her own and hire ones that she liked.

“Right...” Sybil gritted her teeth. Being understaffed wasn't an issue to her, but it meant that they had barely anyone around who knew what was going on. “I have a list of requests. Will you write them down for me?”

“Of course, my lady.” Brom fumbled to pull a pencil and a notebook out of his jacket.

“Firstly, call me Sybil. Secondly, ask the staff to only wear their uniforms on Satyrdays.” It was far too hot for any of them to wear those woolen deathtraps. “Thirdly, the prince has requested that he will not eat better than his staff. He wants to make sure they are being fed appropriately and that we aren't wasting money on unnecessary luxuries. After Satyrday dinner, when the guests are gone, the staff are to be rewarded with a good meal.”

Duxton loved unnecessary luxuries. He adored it when food was presented delicately or when a series of courses was used to spin a story. Extravagant was always better. Flower petals were always to be used as a garnish, and what he loved most was the way sauces were splattered across the plate to add color and intrigue.

Sauce was not paint. Sauce should be on food. Having to swab food all over one’s plate just to make sure a bite had enough flavor was an inconvenience. Stab food. Put food in mouth. Sybil couldn’t understand why the rich had to make eating a chore.

Duxton also had a clear outline for how servants presented themselves. They should always appear in uniform, and those uniforms must be muted in color as to not distract from the decor. Another rule was that they should rarely be seen, which is why most estates had secret servant passages.

His last rule was that an environment was not fit for a noble unless it was an absolute feast for the eyes. Every angle should have a new detail that captivates the viewer. Especially if that detail was random chairs. Random chairs that no one could ever sit in should be placed in the most inconvenient of places.

“We must remove all of the paintings and evaluate which ones must be sent off for restoration.” Sybil was walking down the main hall with Brom. “Take all of these chairs and place them into storage. Whatever you do, don’t replace anything. It might be better to leave the walls bare for now so that Lady Rockender has a clean slate to work from.

Oh, and put plain soap in my lord’s bathroom. He hates scented materials.” Duxton loved bath oils, creams, and anything else that made wash time luxurious. “Which reminds me, take care to not leave out any flowers. The scent will irritate him.”

Sybil’s lips spread out into a wide smile as Brom finished writing everything down. Her plan would succeed. In a few day’s time, she’ll be on her way to Carapace with a wagon full of bread. Her treasure hunting days were coming.