Just Rewards

Posted on 28 Apr 2021 @ 9:04pm by Mage Kalian Winter & Warrior Rhiannon Cadash & Rogue Elinowy Ursulas

2,065 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Lore's Labour's Lost
Location: Carta Mining Camp
Timeline: Cloudreach 18th – early morning

OOC: After 'Freedom's Consequences'

After Cainan arrived and described the situation at the topside mining camp, the transfer of workers via the lift began immediately. Although he protested, Kalian had insisted that Martin should ascend with the first group, along with Sofia and the rightful mine owners, to maintain order. Martin finally agreed when Cainan mentioned that he and his elven Grey Warden friend had already notified the Jader Guard and expected them to arrive in the morning.

Kalian had remained at the mine level, working with Elinowy to help the wounded and the weak, whilst Sofia's associate Geoff kept an eye on Roxa's captured guards. Kalian made several attempts to catch the Chantry sister's eye, but not surprisingly, she seemed uncomfortable around him, so he tried not to bother her. Everyone had been up through the night and even those who'd not been injured were exhausted.

For the first time Elinowy was feeling very confined inside the mine. As more and more people were taken tot eh surface, she was having to get closer and closer to Kalian. She prayed the Maker would make some sort of direction known to her. The circle was a life for Mages. They could learn and grow in their studies under the careful eye of the Chantry. As it should be. But at Kalian's age, and that he had learned magic outside the circle, it was unlikely they could do much more for him than keep him confined and possibly docile. He had saved her life and given her this new day. Her future belonged to the Maker, but she was only here because of Kalian. She knew what was right. She knew what she must do.

Just as the sky was beginning to lighten with predawn, Kalian and Elinowy climbed onto the lift, among the last group of people to embark for the surface. He stood right next to the Sister and spoke in a low voice. "Elinowy, I just want you to know that you have a place to stay at the Raven's Roost. Even if…" He swallowed. Although he was confident that if templars came for him he'd simply escape to the forest, that wasn't the life he wanted. "Well, uh, you have to do what you think is right. I understand and so will Tessa."

Elinowy looked for words, they did not come. Kalian and his sister had shown her kindness when she arrived in destitution. The Maker wanted generosity and hospitality from all his children. They lived it. Kalian had to know upon letting her under his roof that she could discover his secret and his life was forfeit. She closed her eyes listening to Kalian. He needed to be part of a circle. Chantry teaching was quite certain on that. But before the time of Andraste, the Maker had given Magic as a gift to mankind, to be used wisely and with restraint. That was the point of the Circle. Even among the occasional circle mage that would visit on tours promoting healing, she had never met one who's motives were so pure. What did the Maker think of such things? The verse of the Chant echoed through her head. Kalian needed correction. There was too much danger to his soul to keep hiding in plain sight. Her head ached with the turmoil of feelings and teachings going through her mind. She looked at Kalian, made momentary contact with his eyes. She smiled grimly. No words.

***** In the Mine Owner's Office *****

While Cainan's city guard friend took command of the mining camp, securing captured guards and organizing help for the workers, Jaslyn stood guard at the mine owners' office.

Apparently, the office had been taken over and occupied by Roxa. Jaslyn kept the door cracked open for relief from the smell of the two dwarves who had obviously been kept in unsanitary conditions. Both had eaten their fill of fresh cheese and bread they found in a cupboard, and opened their safe to find Roxa's stash of coin.

The young dwarf woman, Lirta, paced around the room, peering into cabinets full of books and alternating between expressions of relief that Roxa had left her research mostly untouched, to disgust at the state of their other, few possessions.

Meanwhile the older dwarf, her father Pyrtin sat at the dwarf-sized desk going over the ledgers, occasionally remarking with approval at Roxa's thorough bookkeeping, while also aghast at the supplies for workers Roxa had considered optional. On the corner of the desk sat the large bag of coin, profits Roxa had squeezed from the mine. That bag of wealth was the main reason Jaslyn stood guard.

Pyrtin finally leaned back in the chair and rubbed his eyes.

"What did you find out?" asked Lirta anxiously.

"I think it'll be possible to get the mine back up and running, safely and with a fairly paid workforce, with enough profit to finance your project to find Rousten Thaig," said Pyrtin.

Lirta asked in a horse whisper, "But?"

"Who will work for us now after everything Roxa did here?" Pyrtin sighed. "Most of this gold that Roxa intended to keep for herself rightfully belongs to the workers. We need to begin portioning it out."

Tears ran down Lirta's face, but she wiped them away and straightened. "I'll fetch Sofia. She was our foreman, she should be first. And she can spread the word."

Jaslyn stood aside as Lirta left, and shuddered. One day, more likely than not and sooner than later, Jaslyn would die underground. But just now, she wanted a bath, a good night's sleep, and the tumble Cainan had promised her. And not necessarily in that order.

Rhiannon had gone up with the firts batch of miners when all was set and done. She had sent one of her guards back to her mother to explain what had happened and that she would see if she could salvage a deal with the actual owners of the mine.

Rhi then went about making sure that the miners were comfortable and set with what could be supplied for them. It had taken most of the night and Rhi had taken a small nap before dawn.

She woke and made her way to the office to check on the owners. She came to the door, knocked, then entered when given permission to enter. Stepping in she gave her best warm smile. "Good morning, Lirta, Pyrtin is it?" She gave a nod to the woman standing by the large sack now mostly empty of gold on the desk. "And you as well Jaaslon?" Rhi moved to stand in front of Pyrtin. "Looks like you had a long night. I had seen the books yesterday. Though Roxa was a butch, she knew how to turn a profit. I know that this is probably to early for this but if you are interested in making a deal for cargo. (pause) Or if you might be interested in a possible silent partner?"

"Jaslyn," she corrected affably. She had stood guard as workers entered the mine office in twos and threes and the mine owners distributed long-overdue wages, until finally the queue outside had dwindled to nothing, whilst Pyrtin and Lirta's bag of gold emptied to perhaps a quarter of where they'd started. Jaslyn had been just about to excuse herself and locate Cainan, when the well-armed silver-haired dwarf entered. She decided to stay and observe.

Lirta glared suspiciously at Rhiannon. "If you saw the books then you know Roxa was incompetent at running a real business. All she knew how to do was exploit desperate folk that only wanted a fair day's pay for a fair day's work, and force them into slavery to cut her overhead. That's not a business turning a profit, that's slaving and thievery."

"All this happened because I was foolish enough to accept Roxa's help," said Pyrtin. "Now, we'll be lucky just to employ enough workers to get the mine running at all."

"You are the warrior who killed Roxa, and we're grateful. But you said yourself you were going to make a deal with her," said Lirta. "You haven't even told us your name. How can we trust you?"

Rhi smiled at Jaslyn. "Now that is a name that I will remember. Quite a beautiful one it is." Her smile turn mischievous.

Rhi stood and listened to Lirta as she talked abought Roxa's book keeping. She smiled as the woman went on to explain what she thought of it all. When she was done, and Pyrtin finished, Rhi grinned. A warm and knowing grin. "You are very correct in you assessment of how Roxa was running this place. Also, it is not completely your fault. I have delt with the likes of her before. Words of honey, said at the right time, can make anyone do just about anything."

Rhi moved so that she could better see the two. "As for making a deal with Roxa? Yes I came here with that intent. I had given her a great deal before we stepped down into the mines. Once down there I knew that there was no way I could go through with it. So I played along, hoping she would take us back up and you could go for help. But you all had other plans, and now we are here." Rhi stepped around to the chair, sat down and looked the two dwarves in their eyes, her tone becoming very businesslike. "Trust is something that is earned. I would say that I have earned a little by ridding you of that das'tang." (spits on the floor)

"Here is my proposal. I can supply you with enough to restart the mine, get everyone here a living wage and make sure you have the proper guard. Ones that will be loyal to you and those working here. All I ask for in return, 15% of the profits, starting after the first year. If this goes belly up before hand, then I will do what I can to help the workers find jobs elsewhere. This includes you two as well." She paused for a moment to let it all sink in. And when she had seen it did, she smiled. "Oh, yeah. My name. (grin) Rhiannon Cadash. Co-owner of the Night's Kiss and Rhisha Shipping." Rhi knew that most people might not know the Cadash name. She also knew that most dwarves would.

Pyrtin and Lirta exchanged nervous and hopeful looks. Pyrtin said, "My lady, that is a very generous offer."

Lirta pulled a sheet of paper from a drawer and gestured to the inkwell and pen on the desk. "Would you be willing to put that in writing?"

Jaslyn smiled, pleased that something good would come out of all this. Some of the workers that had previously been abused and enslaved by Roxa could find legitimate work here.

Rhiannon grinned when Jaslyn corrected her name. Her attention went back to Pyrtin and Lirta when the two of them agreed that her offer was generous. When Lirta got out parchment and ink Rhi moved forward to the desk. She took the quill and wrote out the terms, exactly as she had stated them, then signed it. She looked at the two and smiled. "When I get back and talk to my mother. For now, (she pulls out a small bag of gems). This should get you started on proper care, food and drink for you and the workers." She stood to head out the door, stopping before she did. "I will need the names of those who did not survive. Please send them to the Night's Kiss as soon as you have them. The help I promised will be here before tomorrow ends. I will be back me at week to check on and see how you all are doing." Turning she made her way out.

"Thank you, thank you, my Lady!" called Pyrtin and Lirta in unison after Rhiannon. After she left, father and daughter opened the bag of gems, then hugged each other.

Rhisha Shipping, mused Jaslyn. She might look up Rhiannon in Jader, and offer her thanks. Hahren Liriel would be pleased to hear this news, and she'd pass it around in the alienage. "I'll check in on you from time to time. But for now, I'll take my leave."

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