>>5788309You all strode past the big farmhouse and to a smaller, adjoining two-story home. Pearce explained that it was primarily used by workers who served his family, during specific seasons.
“Isn’t summer one of those seasons?” Blanchette asked.
“Well, yeah, but the planting’s done and the folks who were using this place were planters,” Pearce explained. “The other houses are still in sue, I guess.”
“OTHER HOSUES?” Efron balked.
“You’re SURE you’re not rich?” Testa asked.
Pearce just shrugged.
“Who wants to help me roll in the barrels?” he said. “We’ve got some wine and cider bottled, too, of course…”
Some summoned elementals made quick work of this, though Pearce’s sheer bulk and farmboy muscle did nearly as good a job—maybe better—than the small and piddly things which you could currently summon and control. As the evening kicked off, the five of you began to imbibe, and the chatter as you always did on a variety of subjects—best and worst professors, events around Hawksong and the surrounding countryside, plans for your academic futures.
This time, you even ahd something to share for that last part!
“So, like an adventurer…” Testa began. “Or like a field researcher… But you don’t get loot and you don’t get a Tower stipend?”
“Well, I mean… I MIGHT get a stipend,” you countered. “The position’s LIKE a field researcher, just… More self-directed.”
“Right,” she laughed. “I’m sure Hardass Henzler will go for that. ‘Self-directed’.”
You recalled Izirina’s mother, the Archmage, and winced a little.
“Well, who knows what’ll happen?” you asked aloud, and sipped your drink self-consciously.
Not long thereafter, other carriages began to roll in, at which Testa and Efron both grinned.
“About time!” Efron said.
“I take it you invited some other people?” you hazarded.
“Right on the first try!” Testa half-sang, bouncing to her feet and out the door, to swing it wide and open the newcomers. “Can’t have a whole party with only five people!”
Most of those who arrived were students, although a few wore no pointed hat and you did not recognize them—friends of friends, you supposed. Pearce seemed unbothered, though, and it was his—or his family’s—property. The liveliness of the gathering stepped up, with some mages hanging dim and silvery <Mage’s Torches> around the inside and outside of the farmhouse as the sun began to set. Before long, you found yourself beginning to stretch and yawn uncontrollably—your natural rhythm was simply attuned to the sun too keenly.
