March arrived, and the snow finally disappeared. The trees became alive, and the smell of nature that got suffocated for months returned and delighted us all.
As someone who loved snow more than others, I was just as happy as the rest seeing the ground again, the river flowing, the animals returned, and birds singing more and more.
Zephyr was away to escort our new residents who were just a day away. The houses needed some final touches, but we helped with the cleaning, and Carlos's soldiers and maids, stable boys, etc., enjoyed them well enough. Most of the people, including all the soldiers, now worked on the Monroe Company's houses, who put off entertainment until they were settled. With the fifty well-trained soldiers added, it sped up the building exponentially.
We were all extremely excited, waiting on the morning of their arrival. The village had done what it could for them; we just hoped it would show. Food and drinks were set up—enough for an army. Zephyr left them coins and set them up well, but all the same, inside and in front of the tavern were dozens of tables filled with cold and hot foods, and drinks of all kinds.
Outside our backyard, we had some shooting practice.
"I bet they'll be distrustful first," said Mother (Seline).
She appreciated Carlos's caresses while we were finishing up with our training.
"It can't be helped, but they all chose to come. Zeph offered it to them and, believe it or not, about thirty or so stayed behind, knowing what they know," he told us with disbelief.
Carlos, being the only one there that day plus being a long-time resident of Dharma, had a better understanding than anyone else about the life waiting for those who decided to stay. Zephyr told me how inhumane he found the slave markets and how disturbing and despicable it was to own one another in this world. I knew Malai had them but never went there and never wanted to. Zephyr admits it himself: We can't save everyone. Let's save those we're able.
Talking about the city: "I talked to your head maid last night, Isa, and she told me about that killer and the new curfew," I mentioned to Carlos.
"The locals named him Night since people only disappeared then, but yes. Curfews, soldiers roaming the streets, businesses getting ruined, and people losing faith in Mai and his soldiers to catch him."
It sounded so strange. People disappeared, that was normal, but the quality of them and the amount was scary. No coin or protection kept those souls alive.
"If he is such a problem, why doesn't the Lord just ask you to deal with him?"
Carlos turned around and answered Demelza. "He doesn't trust me, or he knows the person," he answered.
""" What? """
With a sad smile, he explained. "I'm not going into details, but he is a depraved man who enjoys all kinds of unsavory things. One of his confidants might be taking his opponents off the map one by one."
That sounded simple enough to be believable.
"Or... he might be absolutely clean of this. That's the thing. No one knows. But, it won't be long before the people's fears reach a boiling point."
"What do you mean?" I asked. At this point, we all just listened to him and enjoyed the rising temperatures.
"It's easy to destabilize a population with fear. The people will take heads eventually if they can't take the killers," he explained how things work in a large society. I could just imagine being afraid to leave your house at night, living in constant fear, and unable to lead a normal life. Yes, people would start looking for someone to blame.
"It matters not," he smiled and pulled my mother in for a big kiss. "We live far removed from those horrors."
He was right, of course. Emet had very skilled defenders, and with the new people, we were pushing almost four hundred residents.
We went inside the house, and Mother joined Miranda, making lunch while we waited with already hungry eyes. Luckily, the wagons filled with supplies came back yesterday. They were late because of the excess security in Malai and the sheer amount of what they brought. Our pantry was filled along with many others, not to mention the tavern that suffered shortages for a few days now.
Ciren helped Granny with a lot of things. With her, she could have her recipes and secrets put on paper for prosperity. She fit right in. Her blonde hair now seemed permanent, and Zephyr was right about mine. My shot improved, and I got my lost confidence back. Now, hitting moving targets wasn't just happening randomly.
"If it goes like this, I bet we have to start more classes," Saam tried his best to arouse his brother's interest.
"Why?" asked Fipna. He didn't sound enthusiastic, but he did talk more and more lately.
"The new residents are coming today. Also, Emet is bound to expand. We should start charging people."
Fipna perked up a little but looked at the three of us.
"It's fine. In fact, we insist," I shared some quick looks with Demelza and Eli. "Right?"
After conforming with them, all that was left was the actual price others could afford. I had an idea.
"We pay. Me and Zephyr. The coin is a disturbing amount, and we have no idea what we do with it. It's pointless," I veered off at the end.
Turns out, bronze, silver, gold... having sex on coins only sounded great in theory. In reality, it was a cold and uncomfortable experience... also a nightmare to gather them.
"So... yeah." I ignored the poking of Demelza, who also tried it, but unlike me, she loved it. "So just tell me, and I'll pay you."
"Very generous, thank you, Lylly. Will... Zephyr be..." He let the words hang there.
"He wanted to bury some and melt some, gave some away. Anyway, most of his ideas are very useless," I said, listing my husband's ideas for the gold.
We had no real ideas about what to spend it on. We both had some, like the great one of mine: to hire professional actors and send for builders from Malai to teach the company so they could put on an even better show. And there was his, of seeing how far we can throw them. I admit, it was fun chucking them away, but... it was altogether wasteful and maybe a little insane. He was lazy to find them all, but it gave me an idea for the children's competitions which we struggled with.
It was The Founder's Keepers. We'd hide some valuable things around the entire village for children to search and find: toys, candies, and why not some coins as well? I hadn't had time to tell anyone since it happened this morning while admiring the now evergreen scenery.
By the time lunch was eaten, Alexander came in.
"They're here. Come, you have to see this. It's like a real army." He said it with an ear-to-ear smile.
It was time. Let's meet our new neighbors.