181. Modrica: Tabitha

The Catkin signed on as Co-owners of Elemental Traders. This is the best news yet, as Tāttā is basically doing all the legitimate trading anyway. He is training one of his great-granddaughters as a Merchant. Catkin cubs grow up so fast. She is a bit young for formal training but is tagging along and being useful.

We will be back on the road to Kirghiz next week. The Caravan will take three weeks to get there. A lone rider could do it in a week. The Coach service is twelve days. Wiremu wants to go on ahead, and I want Tāttā to go, as well as the Elemental Traders need a permanent base in Kirghiz. We need a large warehouse for a business centre and a large residential compound near the edge of the city. The residential compound needs a large yard for the bonds. Ideally, we also could do with a small farm outside the city for the bonds to run and less legal business. That will all cost, and Tāttā has the Real Estate Specialisation.

There are no wild lands from here to Kirghiz. It is all farms and towns. I like Beitemark. I can tell I am going to love Kirghiz. I am a city girl. I will finally be able to put some effort into my Racketeering, Thief and Burglar Classes. We are contracted for three months of performances then the contract ends with the Comedic Rhythm. I am pretty sure they will not stay together after that. We make a good team, but their reputations are now made, and I will be changing focus and prepping for heading back to the empire. Longstrider, my old master, won’t recognise me. He arranged for my initial training as a thief, but I don’t owe him shit now. I am looking forward to meeting him again. Maybe I will take over his business.

I sat with Wiremu and discussed Kirghiz. I put an escort contract to the Mercenary Guild and employed Willian Cody to escort Tāttā and his son Appā with Appā’s bond Ṭirākkar and Mutalil with his bond Āṟṟal to Kirghiz. That way, Appā can hopefully complete Wiremu’s training as a Warrior, and Wiremu can finish Appā and Mutalil’s training as Hunters.

Wiremu and I spent a concentrated day where I taught him Slight of Hand and several card games. Wild Bison Bill would be a bit of a gambler, so we spent half the day at the casino. What a burden. Wiremu lost coin. I came away with a tidy profit.

After seeing the three on the road, I only had one pressing issue. Modrica and the military Enlistment. The Military is not bloody Intelligent. Modrica and I waited three hours in a waiting room. I almost asked Modrica to bring Težka in to join us. That would have rearranged this whole space. We were eventually seen by a Lieutenant who did not have the authority to take a shit on his own.

“Yes, Miss Skygge, you are a valued ally.”

“No, Miss Skygge, I am not authorised to issue enlistment exemptions.”

“No, Miss Skygge, the Captain is not available.”

“I am Sorry, Miss Skygge, I am unaware of the circumstances where Major Sione might have issued an Exemption.”

“No, Miss Skygge, the Major is not available.”

“They are only for extenuating circumstances, Miss Skygge.”

“The Kingdom needs all its affinity users, Miss Skygge. We have just lost a powerful user in Lord Otto.”

“Please provide the orders you were operating under Miss Skygge.”

“Yes, Miss Skygge, you are a valued ally.”

“No, Miss Skygge, they are not extenuating circumstances.”

“I am sure military training will provide many benefits, Miss Skygge.”

“No, Miss Skygge, it would be the full five years.”

And finally, “Yes, Miss Skygge, I can defer enlistment until you reach Kirghiz. Miss Modrica must report within two weeks of arriving in the city.”

“Thank you, Miss Skygge. You are a valued ally.”

Modrica and I needed a drink after that. Several drinks. Valued ally, my arse. At least it was deferred, and I can talk to the higher-ups in Kirghiz. Or maybe Modrica will never arrive there. We are picking up the paperwork tomorrow, and I am sure that the obvious loophole will be closed. Unfortunately, I can’t just skip Kirghiz and move straight toward the empire.

Modrica and I made a plan. She is a Master of Unarmed Combat and Blunt Weapons, But she does not have sword, spear or shield Skills. She is a journeyman with an Axe, but Axe and Blunt Weapons are not on the army’s list of basic skills. If we can get those three skills to level 5, we can argue better against basic training. We went to the Mercenary Guild and paid for trainers for our remaining time here to at least get her the skills. I can then practice with the sword with her, Skavt can train her with the Spear and riding, and Najprej and Drugič can practice the shield with her. It will be good for her to learn new skills; she also recognises that.

After her morning and afternoon lessons, we hired a training ring and advertised to pay for sword, spear and shield opponents. It was difficult for her initially. She treated the sword and spear like they were blunt weapons. The Shield was a blunt weapon, and she loved that. She picked up Shield Bash at almost the same time as the Shield Skill. She immediately started working on creating an Earth Shield. It wasn’t as easy as it looked.

Modrica had lots of power in the Physical, Mental and Spiritual, and good Physical Agility, but her Spiritual and Mental Agility was lacking. The low Mental Agility hindered her learning, and the Low Spiritual Agility hindered her precision in her affinity. She was stubborn and kept at it.

When we sparred alone, she showed me what she had learned from Težka. She practised with Claws and the Skills Rend and Crushing Bite. Her Orc tusks seemed to be sharpened and stronger. The more we practised, the less I felt she would fit into the army pattern.

Modrica really struggled with the Sword and Spear, even when Skavt showed her how the spear could be used mounted. What she did pick up from Skavt was the javelin. She already had the Apprentice level Throw Weapons Skill, and Javelins seemed to fit her. Her strength outthrew Skavt, although Skavt was more accurate. Modrica started to try to make earth javelins as well, but they were harder than an earth shield. We stocked up on a lot of Javelins, and the good thing with Težka was that he could carry a lot, and I mean A LOT. We had special saddlebags made for him.

When it came time to leave Beitemark, Modrica still hadn’t learned the Sword Skill. Through dogged perseverance, she had picked up the Spear Skill, although she was not comfortable with it yet. She was more likely to get frustrated and throw it like a javelin. That was effective as well, but not what the army would require.

I would have to be more forceful in Kirghiz when we have more time because, skills aside, Modrica was not a team player, and she did not take well to people telling her what to do. I was almost curious as to who would break first, Modrica or the army. However, I would not do that to her, and Kirghiz needed its army.