Book 2 Chapter 16 (Patreon)

The contractor in charge of the project arrived not long after the workers. He showed Nox and Lillin around the building, updating them on changes from the original plan and sections that needed more work.

The top floor had three bedrooms, two baths, an ample storage room, a study, a lounge, and a kitchen with an attached dining space. Despite the sizeable budget, they kept the furnishings simple. The contractor agreed to hold on to leftover funds for future repairs, extensions, and upgrades. Queen Mercer had left them enough money to add another floor or excavate the ground below for additional basement levels. Nox didn’t see the need for either yet, and the contractor was more than happy to keep funds with the banking guild and pocket the interest.

Meanwhile, the second floor had four midsized rooms with two shared washrooms and six smaller staff rooms that shared a toilet and separate bath. It had a small kitchen, too. The contractor initially planned on making furnishings and comforts minimalist on the floor. Nox insisted otherwise. He personally believed that good accommodation, pay, and working conditions would ensure staff loyalty.

While the contractors worked on the staff floor and the store’s signage, Nox hired a messenger boy to inform the Woodsons of his return. The siblings were eager to move out of the university campus and from under their grandmother’s watchful eye. Dean Woodson, the head of the Department of Dungeon Studies, didn’t come across as a great authoritarian figure, but Nox had no idea how she was behind closed doors. He was brainstorming means to find staff when candidates found him.

“Excuse me?” A man poked his head through the shop door. He wore a grey flat cap and a worn coat of the same color. His clothes were clean, and his facial hair was neatly groomed.

“May I help you?” Nox asked, almost jumping out of his skin. He mentally cursed the contractor and his men. They were supposed to lock the shop door when working on the exterior or eating lunch.

Nox stood behind the shop’s counter, several ledgers, scrolls, and inch-thick contracts in front of him. After exploring the building, he had spent the morning reviewing his liquid assets and those left by Queen Mercer for his business. The numbers appeared high, but he was sure the gold would disappear swiftly once he hired staff and drew up supplier contracts. The city would expect taxes from him in two months' time, too. As a result, he needed a solid staffing budget. After all, a good team would be vital to the business’ fiscal success. Nox no longer had to worry about paying tuition and accommodation fees but had new money problems.

“Hope you don’t mind the interruption, Ser,” the man said. He had a north country accent.

“Ser?” Nox raised an eyebrow.

“The sign outside. I don’t recognize the knight crest, but the flower in the corner is the Edelweiss Barony’s insignia. The workers outside told me you’re the boss. That would make you the knight, would it not?” He paused. “Forgive my boldness, Ser. I didn’t mean to speak above my station.”

“Observant. Now, what is it you need?”

“A job, Ser,” the man replied. “I heard this is to be an apothecary. I worked as a shop assistant in an independent town just south of Baron Edelweiss’ land.”

“Let me guess. Terrastalia or myconids destroyed your home.”

The man nodded. He entered the store and closed the door behind him. Salt and pepper hair peeked out from under his cap. The crow’s feet further reinforced Nox’s estimate of the man’s age—somewhere in his mid-to-late forties.

“I’m afraid you were misinformed,” Nox said. “This is to be an alchemy store. We plan to sell cosmetics for nobility and delving concoctions. Do you have much experience with either?”

“Only with delvers, Ser,” the man answered. “I’m afraid I don’t know much about cosmetics. But I’m a quick learner and a good salesman. My last employer trusted me to tally his ledgers, open and close the shop, and put away deliveries. I’m familiar with the storage of volatile and essence-rich materials.”

“Do you have family?” Nox asked.

The man nodded. “My wife served as the mayor’s housekeeper, and our daughter was a kitchen maid.” He paused for a moment, breaking eye contact. When he continued, he didn’t sound as confident as before. “We had a boy too. He worked in the shop with me. Alvin’s injuries took him during the journey.”

Another head poked through the front door. It was a younger man, and he sounded local. “Are you hiring?”

“I am,” Nox said. “Please wait outside until this gentleman leaves.”

“Alright.” The door closed. Nox rose from behind the counter and peeked through the box windows. A handful of men and women had gathered outside.

“Are you aware that my employees will receive accommodation in addition to their salaries?”

“N-no.” The man stood straighter, regaining his composure. “Accommodation would go a long way. We arrived two weeks ago and have shared a hovel with two other families.”

“I’ll be honest, Mr—I’m afraid I don’t know your name.”

“Allen Tanner, Ser.”

“I’ll be honest, Mr Tanner,” Nox continued. “I was hoping to hire local staff for the shopfront. They’re more likely to know how to deal with my clientele and will have an easier time providing professional and character references than outsiders. However, I’ll consider all candidates. Have your wife and daughter found employment yet?”

Allen shook his head. “Jobs are in short supply, Ser. The few places with open positions don’t offer enough pay to survive. The conditions and hours aren’t accommodating for those willing to take on multiple jobs either.”

“Alright then. It looks like I’ll be interviewing people until sundown. How about you fetch your family? I’ll interview all three of you at once. This place is larger than I expected. We’ll need a housekeeper, and I wouldn’t mind a cook either.”

“Yes, Ser,” Allen stammered. “I’ll fetch them right away. Excuse me, Ser.”

Nox contained his smile as the man bowed twice and backpedaled through the door. A moment later, he spotted Allen sprinting through the window, down the street, and around the corner.

“Lillin!” Nox called. He heard her muffled, unintelligible response echo down the stairs. She had claimed the task of unpacking and arranging their individual living quarters. “I’m interviewing possible hires. Your eyes, nose, and ears would be appreciated.”

Nox had lied to Allen. He didn’t care for references. Lillin’s inhuman senses were better for judging people. She could smell liars and bad habits and knew how to identify tells.

The Woodson siblings arrived late in the afternoon with several bags and chests. Nox was still in the midst of interviewing people when they arrived. He had a lot to tell the pair and hear about how they had spent their semester break. Unfortunately, he could do little more than wave at them as Lillin helped them with their luggage.

“As you can tell from the seal, Gupta Alchemists vouch for my skills and work ethic,” the latest interviewee said. The woman’s features betrayed her southern continent heritage, and she spoke like a local. “I worked in their Nobles Quarter store for five years, starting at the age of sixteen. They started me off as a porter. Then—”

“What did the porter role involve?” Nox asked.

“They had me washing and polishing vials, labeling freshly bottled concoctions, and storing and transporting them to the shopfront whenever needed. I also swept and mopped the stockrooms and shop before opening and after closing, and whenever needed.”

“You didn’t do the same in the workshop?”

The young woman shook her head. “They had separate staff for that. The Guptas only had trained individuals and apprentices cleaning and maintaining the workshop. Anyway.” The woman fidgeted as she continued, her eyes wandering over the empty shelves behind Nox. “During my third year in their service, they moved me to the main shop floor and trained me as a saleswoman. I learned to deal with delvers and the nobility and also picked up enough alchemical knowledge to upsell products.”

“Did they pay you well?”

“Yes, Mr Ratra. I also received a commission on top of my salary based on sales performance.”

“It sounds like they were decent employers, provided decent compensation and training,” Nox said, scribbling in his notebook. “Why are you leaving them to come join me?”

“I—” The woman fidgeted in her seat, sat straighter, and brushed a loose lock over her right ear. “I need something new—a change. The Guptas were good to me, but I realize there is no room for me to grow and progress. With all of these outsiders flooding the city, I’ve heard rumors of them replacing some of us for cheaper labor.”

“So you’re preparing a backup plan?” Nox asked.

“That’s not it,” she replied, speaking faster. “I’ve heard about your products and recent success. I thought starting at the bottom of a new business might lead to better opportunities.”

“Fair enough,” Nox added to his notes before returning his attention to the woman. Her tight, low-cut blouse left little to the imagination. Her skirt was similarly form-fitting, too. She had come to the interview prepared, well-dressed, and groomed. The scent lingering around her had a certain allure to it, too. He pushed a scrap of paper toward her. “Leave me your address. I’ll look over your reference letter and speak to the Guptas. We’ll be in touch if you’re successful.”

“Thank you, Mr Ratra.” The woman nodded, wrote down

Nox didn’t need to read the letter or Lillin’s input before making his decision. He marked the top left corner of the page with a cross. His instincts urged him not to hire the woman. He suspected the rival alchemists had sent her to spy, steal intellectual property, and sabotage. There was a chance he was wrong, and she wished to leave a bad working environment, but he didn’t want to take the risk.”

After half a dozen more meetings, Nox called it a day. He told the handful still outside the door to return in the morning. They appeared displeased, and a couple begged for a moment of his time, but Nox believed he had done enough good for the day. The contractors had already left for the day. So, Nox locked the front door and rushed upstairs to join his friends.

Caitlin and Alexander had claimed two large bedrooms on the first floor. A shared bathroom connected them. A small army of squirrels scurried around, dusting the rooms and putting away their belongings.

When Nox entered the room, Alexander bowed low. “Thank you for gracing us with your presence, Sir Ratra.” The squirrels lined up and bowed, too. Drawing a tiny yelp from a passing new resident. After Lillin approved Allen and his family, the Tanners returned within the hour with meager belongings. He and his wife claimed one of the two remaining large bedrooms while their daughter settled in the neighboring smaller room. “I’m sorry, Leanna. We didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Mum’s not going to be happy if she has to clean their poop.”

“Don’t worry. They clean up after themselves.”

All the squirrels disappeared in unison. Leanna raised an eyebrow but nodded and moved on, carrying a fat cloth bag into her parents’ washroom. Nox hadn’t thought about laundry and planned on discussing adding a room for it with the contractors the following day.

“I want none of that Sir Ratra nonsense from you lot,” Nox said once Leanna disappeared. “It was a surprise, and I only intend to use the title for its professional benefits.”

“That’s a waste,” Alexander said, grinning. “The city, and especially the university, is full of noble ladies who—”

“Shut up, Alex.” Much to Nox’s surprise, Caitlin pushed past her brother and hugged Nox. Given her otherwise quiet and reserved demeanor, he didn’t expect such gestures from her.  “Shelly told me about what happened with Annabelle. I was sorry to hear it. Hope you’re doing okay.”

“I was down for a few days, but I’m feeling better now,” Nox said. “Thanks, Caitlin. How have the pair of you been?”

“We’re well—”

“I’m a journeyman delver!” Alexander exclaimed, interrupting her sister.

“What?” Nox’s eyes widened. “How? The last time we spoke, you didn’t have your apprentice license.”

“Apprenticing under Professor Wolfheart has its advantages,” Caitlin answered. “We spent the last couple of months training and delving with him. We’re both in the advanced combat course now.” She hesitantly glanced at her brother. “Since you’re now a member short, I was hoping—”

“Of course!” Nox exclaimed. “I wanted the pair of you in our party as soon as we met. You have our approval. I doubt the Beauforts will mind.”

“Shelly already said they’re okay with it as long as you and Lillin don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind as long as you don’t share our secrets with your grandmother,” Lillin added.

“We promise we won’t,” Alexander said, smiling from ear to ear. “You should know, though.” He hesitantly glanced between Nox and Lillin. “If you’re talking about the secret I think you are, she already knows. You can’t really keep such secrets from a druid.”