Chapter 296: Playing Host
For the first time in a while, Dominic actually had to play the part of the Noble host, as he had both Barons in his home for a somewhat formal visit.
Fortunately, he had Alexis, and she was the consummate professional hostess, making everyone feel comfortable, and moving smoothly through the crowd.
All that Dominic needed to do was to chat with the few people brave enough to come up and talk to him, while waiting for the dinner to begin.
Mostly that meant that two Barons and the Witches.
"So, this is the infamous Millie, is it? Your work on the Manor gardens is a local legend. They say that you turn out the best vegetables anywhere." Billy Bob informed her, testing how she responded.
Millie’s head bobbled happily. "I love gardens. You should see the squash that we harvested this morning, it’s the perfect yellow."
The Baron smiled indulgently as he realized that her mind hadn’t completely recovered from whatever injury she had sustained in the past. He also didn’t miss the protective look that the old gardener was sending their way.
But the answer only got Betty more excited. "Oh, you have yellow squash? We have pumpkins and green skinned squash, but no yellows or butternuts."
Millie handed the other Witch a handful of loose seeds, and Betty winked at her before passing over a small fern plant from her storage, which Millie sniffed, then decided to continue holding.
Then Betty smiled at Dominic. "I see we found some more people. That’s why I came over. The Coven Leader says that they smell like Witch Magic. It doesn’t look like they’re a coven, though."
Dominic nodded. "They were taken from somewhere up near Kinewen, but they’re not a Coven. At least, I don’t think that they were. If they were, then the pair of mages who were holding them prisoner wouldn’t have been able to keep them contained.
If they have some magic, we can get them good jobs in town, though."
They were native residents of Wavemates, so they were most likely part witch or other magic user. Most of the country was.
"Betty, are Witches compatible with Techno Magic? I don’t remember the old Coven of Garden Witches using anything more complex than lights and a magitech stove. We’re going to open a factory in town, making magitech lights, and that will require them to be compatible with making magitech circuits." He asked.
Both Barons waited eagerly for her answer.
It wasn’t a project directly in their barony, but the more that the Duchy made, the less that it would ask of them in the future. That was just how it went when the King came asking for taxes.
They would pass it to the Dukes, who would pay some, then pass the rest down the line, until the Barons had to put the last of the load on the commoners under them.
That way, nobody had to claim responsibility for the suffering of the people. After all, they paid their share, right?
Betty nodded. "Some of us aren’t good with it, because of our magic. But only the more powerful Witches have issues with other sorts of magic. Those ones, they don’t look like they’ve been trained in anything at all, so they’re more likely to be a blank slate that you can teach to be apprentice Techno Wizards without any trouble."
"That will be perfect. The new housing looks like it is getting close to finished as well."
Betty and Millie both nodded at Dominic’s comment.
Baron Keith chuckled. "The woodcutters and the carpenter have been working hard to get floors in the first building today. They’ll be installing the final bits and the magitech in the first building tomorrow, I think. The old men looked pretty pleased with themselves when I stopped in on the way."
"Well, they are ahead of schedule. It will be good to see new buildings in town again. Everything else that we have been moving people into has been renovated housing from before the Dagos Invasion.
We’re almost out of that, though.
How are things going at the Baronies? Are you getting settled in?" Dominic replied.
Baron William smiled. "Yeah, we settled in pretty well. I’ve got one apprentice Techno Wizard in the Barony, and he’s been doing the maintenance on aging systems for us. Other than that, everything has gone smoothly."
Baron Keith, who had arrived with over thirty of his extended family members, sighed and shrugged. "As far as the actual work and housing situation, all is well. The crops are coming up well, and the pantry is full.
However, bringing my mother-in-law might have been a mistake. Leaving that bitter old woman behind in eastern Cygnia would have been a kindness to the rest of the family.
She was the Matriarch of her branch before the men were all lost in the war, and now that her daughter is the Baron’s Wife, she’s gotten the impression that gives her the right to Lord it over the rest of the Family.
It’s been no end of headaches."
Dominic patted him on the shoulder. "That is unfortunate. You can’t even get too strict with her without upsetting your wife. But she will adapt in time."
Baron Keith’s wife came over as they were talking, and approached as he was complaining about her mother.
"She’s not that bad. Don’t go giving the Duke the idea that we can’t handle our affairs." She snapped.
"She went after both my elderly Uncle and a toddler with a whip for ’disrespecting her authority as matriarch’ this week. She’s out of control, and I was hoping the Duke had a way to settle things without public punishment." Baron Keith retorted.
Betty’s eyes literally glowed with excitement. Family drama right in front of her? That wasn’t something that they got in the Coven.
Dominic smiled at the Baroness, hoping to calm the tension. "Sometimes our feelings for our parents give them too much leeway for propriety. Nobody wants hard feelings between family members, but that doesn’t mean letting them run wild.
As with anything else, given the freedom to do as they please, not everyone will pick a path that is best for anyone but themselves. With such a new Barony, it would be a shame if I had to sign the edict when the Baron strips someone in his family of their authority."
That changed the Baroness’ entire mood. Noble rules weren’t Family Law. The Baron could have his mother-in-law exiled to a remote farmhouse and punish anyone who tried to help her move if he wanted.
In fact, that was a fairly common ’retirement plan’ for annoying in laws.