by Char Cam
NINE
"I own a palace," Elsbeth said, dazed. In the end, it had been extremely simple to buy the place. Maglon led them to a blue external ‘ATM’ near the front steps and Elsbeth simply put in her card to be read. It gave her choices of service—buy, discuss property, schedule tour—and Elsbeth chose ‘buy’. An automated voice said, "Thank you. Welcome home Solonaress Lane. A representative will be with you shortly."
Minutes later, two men arrived on a lavishly decorated mobile, complete with curtains for goodness sake, followed by two other mobiles, one with multiple boxes aboard. The passenger of the first mobile sprightly exited his vehicle with a clipboard of papers. He handed them to Elsbeth along with a pack of multi-colored cards. One was actually the door key; of which she then asked for several copies because...upon Elspeth’s request he added six names to the owner’s property title. Despite certain protesters, "You’re the one that should own it. Was your idea.", who duly punched in their cards for inclusion on the owners title when she gave them puppy eyes, the four prospective co-owners present accepted the deal and Ta Daaaa! The palace was theirs. Alvaro and Bliztarf were to be added later. Everyone else now sat on the front steps and contemplated their fortune.
"And I’m rich," Timothy said with relish.
Sonetshea smirked at Timothy, then openly laughed at Elsbeth. "Well you’re the one that said we should buy a palace," she said wryly.
"You own it now, too, Miss Smarty," Elsbeth said, maturely sticking out her tongue. "You’re the one that actually needs it, Miss I Rule the Country."
"You really bought it," Maglon said in awe. He looked around, seeing the possibilities. But it wasn’t his place and he doubted he could afford to build one building, let alone a whole training site. That was, if he could get permission to build his own piece here at all. He had sold his old property to support his family after Milly had stolen his stock and no one would give him credit when she was involved. He sighed. Hopefully, at least, he could rehabilitate the few hunter animals they could rescue. He might at least rebuild his house.
"Okay, the way I see it is this. We need to split responsibilities," Elsbeth stated. "I may have bought it, but there’s a lot to be done. It’s a dump after all." She stood and looked up at the huge entrance. "Everyone pick a bedroom and public room to redecorate any way they see fit. I don’t care if the rooms match, just get it done. There. That’s kinda settled.”
“Too bad we couldn’t just give one wing away,” suggested Cryson. “It’s an awful lot of work.”
“Well why couldn’t we?” demanded Elsbeth. “Surely someone needs some space!”
“The orphanage…” Tindra said considering. “The orphanage needs a place! The city council wants to tear down the building they have to build a tram system.”
“Awesome! Done! We’re giving a wing to the orphans. Everyone in agreement say aye.”
Everyone did so.
“We’ll have to find people to do the work..." Elsbeth said thoughtfully.
"I’ll take care of that," Liolith volunteered. "Give me a few of the Rare cards, some Commons, and a whole lot of Uncommons."
"Uh. Hmmmm," Elsbeth said succinctly.
Liolith smiled gently. "Those boxes in that mobile over there?” The real estate agents had left behind two mobiles; the curtained mobile and the one filled with boxes. “Inside, there are an assortment of payment cards. They’re color coded according to use. There are blues, whites, greens. Lots of greens. You take your Epic card and touch it to your card choice, say 'activate', and the next person who touches that card owns it. It types blood, fingerprints, sweat, and DNA, so no one else is authorized to use that card. The card owner is thereafter your buying representative to the limit of that type of card. Rares, the blues, let the holders buy anything. Uncommons, the greens, lets the holder buy specific types of items that need bought repeatedly. Like saaaay, kitchen supplies. Every day your cook needs eggs. The card assigned for kitchen use is allowed to buy eggs. Or flour, or pasta--“
“Got it.”
“Okay. Commons, the whites, are like for nickel and dime one-time stuff. Like, a repairman tells his job man to buy a quart of two-penny nails. That’s all that card will be allowed to buy. You really should read your card owners manual."
"Yeah," Cryson muttered. "I’ve heard that somewhere."
"There are gray cards too," Liaylaha continued explaining, "but those are like an ATM card. Paychecks are 'direct deposited' into an account and the gray card is used to pay for everything. That way you don’t have to worry about carrying wads of cash on payday and getting robbed. Your accountant just takes the signed time card and ZIP! the pay checks go out automatically."
Elsbeth went over to the mobile and opened boxes, grabbing an assortment of cards. She handed them to Liolith saying, "You’re the people person. I heard you volunteer."
Sonetshea rolled her eyes. "Hand me a couple of Rares. I’ll take care of the grounds," she said. Elsbeth obligingly returned to the box and grabbed another assortment. When Sonetshea got them, she took a blue card and set the rest down for the moment. She motioned to Tindra and Maglon. "You two come with me please."
Sonetshea walked them twenty or so yards down the drive, then stopped beside a fence pole. She turned abruptly to the couple and leaned back against the fence. "I don’t know your jobs. I don’t know what you need, how you need it set up, who you need to help you and why you need to do things such and such a way. I’ll learn, maybe, but you need to do things now, not when I’ve learned stuff. So. Here’s my proposal. I’ll be your silent partner. I’ll front you the money you need to get yourselves back in business. Buy whatever stock you want, however much it costs, and build your stable back up. Construct whatever structures you need, put your dream business together any way you want."
Sonetshea could see Maglon wanted to balk, but she held up her hand. She wasn’t done. "I’m just the money front. I’ll have no say in your business at all." That seemed to calm Maglon. "In return,” Maglon tensed, ready for a blow she was sure. She looked at him straight. “In return, my daughter, who happens to be a hunter, gets first buying option for your pets. Buying, not given. The Palace gets one third cut of the take. You keep track of expenses and over a period of years to be determined by you, you buy me out. This is above what needs to be done for the rescued animals. You get and do what you need for them free of any constraints. What say you?" Sonetshea didn’t miss the hope shining in Tindra’s eyes as she looked at her husband. She set a blue card on top of the fence pole as incentive and without looking back said, "You guys talk it over."
Sonetshea ambled over to rejoin the group on the steps, but changed her mind and headed toward the mobiles. "What else has been decided?" she called to her friends as she reached the box loaded mobile. She pulled a random box to her and flipped its lid. It was filled with stacks of neatly bundled blue cards.
"Cryson’s in charge of security," answered Elsbeth.
Sonetshea opened another box and found it contained stacks of green cards, and another even held employee ‘house key’ cards.
"Well that’s a relief," Sonetshea commented. "I’ve no idea what to do about that." Sonetshea began switching cards around until she had an assortment in a box she could take with her. Then she rejoined her friends and added the stack she’d set down earlier to her card collection.
Liaylaha grimaced. "I should have decided on something faster. Now I’ve gotten stuck" Elsbeth glared indignantly. "Um, um, I mean to say I volunteered to work the Society Social Schmoozing Squad."
"Huh. There’s such a thing?" Sonetshea asked skeptically.
"What? You think you can buy a palace and no ones gonna notice?” she asked incredulously. “Especially after you take down a notorious King, or in this case Queen-pin Crime Lady? I don’t think so!" she said dryly. "I’ll take that on. I’m actually pretty good at it, so, yeah, it’s essentially something that suits me. Besides, as Quee,” Cryson heavily cleared his throat, "Kada,” Liaylaha correcte
d hastily, “people are bound to bug you for something.” A thought struck her. "Ooooooooo all those snobs who looked down their noses at my work! Oh this is gonna be fun," she said with an evil grin. "Gimme some of those blue cards." She jumped up and marched to the box-filled mobile and began rummaging through the boxes.
"Egads," Liolith said appalled. "What have we let loose into society?"
“Uh oh. Hide the mobile with the card boxes. Looks like we got company,” Elsbeth said nervously. “Those people wanting something are heading up the drive.”
“Prolly people who heard about the sale of the palace. Our hired help is about to arrive,” Liolith soothed. As the people came closer, it could be seen that most of them carried papers about them. Some even seemed to have great thick files. Several began splitting off from the main group and briefcases soon turned into mini display stands advertising services or wares.
“Right,” said Liolith, “I’ll go sort them out.”
“I believe this is my cue to leave,” Cryson said clearing his throat. “Criminals to catch and all that. Have to go. See ya all later.”
“Wimp, “ Elsbeth said cheekily.
“Yoooooooou betchaaaa,” he said rubbing her head enough to mess her hair. “I’ll hide the mobile while I’m at it.” Cryson hopped agilely into the vehicle and cautiously drove around the growing crowd. Liolith was quickly organizing the incoming personnel who, through that miraculous of all inventions, the grapevine, had heard the palace had been bought and there could be work. He was soon out of sight.
Elsbeth and Liaylaha escaped into the cavernous depths of the palace. Sonetshea waited as Tindra and Maglon walked back hand in hand to tell her their decision.
"We’ll accept your proposal," Maglon said, seriously.
"Great!" Maglon held out the blue card and Sonetshea touched her Epic to it. “Activate.” The card swirled with holographic information, then settled into its regular mode. Sonetshea took another Rare Card, activated it and handed it to Tindra. Shock widened that lady’s eyes. “What?” Sonetshea asked puzzled. Tindra chuckled breathlessly and accepted the card.
“Okay, with this lot coming,” Sonetshea said pointing to the crowd, “I think we can say good-bye for today regarding those guys coming around for the fight animals. If I’m wrong, and believe it or not, that’s been known to happen, if they do come, contact Cryson immediately. Meanwhile, walk the grounds and plan out your empire anywhere and way you like,” she ordered with a huge grin. “Oh, and you might need these.” She handed the small box of cards she’d made. The Dunlo’s looked at her like she was in need of some Super Therapy Express time.
"What are these?" Tindra asked hesitantly, holding the box like it would bite.
"Well, these two are house keys of course,” she said picking them out of the pile. “You should pick out rooms soon before the good ones are taken. Better yet," she said thoughtfully as Jemiah and Timothy came running up followed by several puppies, "better pick out a suite. He needs a play area for all the new friends he’ll sneak into his room.” She ruffled Jemiah’s hair and he laughed.
Timothy saw the opened palace and raced up the stairs and through the door like a slingshot propelled magnet. Sonetshea had a moment’s concern that they’d never find him again with all those rooms to explore. At least ‘till his tummy wanted filling.
"But, but--"
"What?” Sonetshea grinned mischievously. “You thought you were gonna sleep with the puppies?" She winked at Jemiah and he giggled. "He won’t mind," she said gently punching Jemiah’s shoulder, "but I just can’t see it, myself. Besides, you heard Elsbeth. Everyone is to pick a bedroom and a public room to help her out."
"But she couldn’t have meant us to be included," Tindra insisted.
"Yeeeeees I diiiiiiid," said a singsong voice floating from above. They looked up to see Elsbeth hanging over a balcony. "You guys gotta see this!" she crowed excitedly. "This place is aaaawesoooome!" Through the open front door and from somewhere deep within the palace, a young voice echoed; out a 'Whoop', and yelled. "This is my place!"
Sonetshea grinned down at Jemiah. "What say you Jem? Shall we see what that young rascal has claimed?" He ran ahead as Sonetshea looked back at his parents.
“And the other cards?” Maglon asked with an air of doom.
Sonetshea looked askance at him. “You plan on doing all the work yourself? Mucking stalls, feeding, cleaning, checking animal health? Shouldn’t you have minions for that?” She asked condescendingly. She hooked her arms through those of Tindra and Maglon. “As soon as you two pick your areas,” she said dragging their reluctant bodies inside, “come back down and think about aaaaaall those people over there looking for jobs. There’s got to be an engineer or two in that lot and some carpenters. You can start laying the ground work, if you’ll pardon the pun. Now, off you go. I have to find my own places.” Sonetshea thought the couple looked shell shocked as they walked up the stairs following their son and was tickled with her people management.
Liaylaha came to stand beside Sonetshea. “That was wicked of you,” she grinned.
Sonetshea giggled, then turned to Liaylaha. “It was, wasn’t it? So, what are your plans?”
“Well,” Liaylaha said pensively, “We’ll be receiving invitations, so I’m starting a Social Notifications Only Bureau. That’ll be one of my rooms. I‘ve found a really good one for it.”
Sonetshea nodded her head, trying to look intelligent. “That sounds very important.”
“Oh it is! And one of the first things S. N. O. B. needs is to create a Social Notification Office of Tiresome Yapping.”
Sonetshea, worked out the acronym and admired Liaylaha’s ingenuity. “But what exactly does one do in S. N. O. O. T. Y.?”
With great dignity and pride, Liaylaha informed her while looking haughty, “I handle the mail.”
Sonetshea waited a beat before she understood that’s all she was getting until her next line. “Oooooooooooh. Yes indeed. I can see how that would be a necessity.”
“Quite right! If someone doesn’t go through the mail and throw--um, um, recycle the various invitations and such sent to such important personages as ourselves, well!” she stomped her foot for effect, “we might end up going to every party we’re invited to! That’s simply exhausting. I just won’t have it!” She looked down her elevated nose and crossed her eyes.
Sonetshea tried hard, she really did, to keep a straight face, but Liaylaha’s indignant attitude was over the top. Laughter refused to be contained and it escaped. “You’re good. You’re really good. I’m sold.”
Liaylaha smirked. “Come on. Let’s find our rooms. They’ll take all the good ones if we don’t hurry.”
The palace really was amazing. It had been kept structurally sound, but the wall paper was peeled and faded next to bright patches where pictures must have hung. A rock waterfall meant to cascade into a wide pebble strewn stream was the focal point of the whole entryway, but it was dry as fresh lava cracked from hardening. Curving up on either side of the fountain were wide free floating stairs that left Sonetshea spell bound. Behind the waterfall, glass doors exited onto a covered patio, which Sonetshea decided she would explore soon, but she really wanted to find a room to call her own.
Yes, yes, the place had a thousand eighty rooms, a couple hundred of which were bedrooms and suites, the estate manager had said, but what if someone picked the room she absolutely fell in love with? She saw that Tindra and Maglon were finally becoming infected with 'room-itis' as well and she waved them on as she flitted along a hallway. Somehow Jem had zeroed in on his friend and the two boys were exuberantly dashing about...somewhere. Elsbeth dashed up to Sonetshea and grabbed her hand.
"You can look at all the rooms, of course, but I found a room that’s perfect for you," she explained shyly. Sonetshea smiled and let herself be led.
It was a ballroom. The dance floor was warped due to ill care, and the carpet had truly ugly pink and purple--flowers...possibly, woven around in circula
r patterns. The ballroom was complete with it’s own kitchen, recessed music section, bathrooms and balcony with full garden access due to the hill it backed up against. She absolutely loved the room. "All right, I'll take it," she grinned magnanimously.
Elsbeth bounced and clapped. "Goodie!" she beamed. "Just a few hundred some odd rooms to go." Suddenly she was nervous.
"Spit it out, young Miss," Sonetshea said severely.
"I wanna sleep here tonight," Elsbeth said in a rush. "I know it’s a wreck, but I really wanna stay here."
"I’ll let you in on a secret," Sonetshea whispered dramatically. "Me too."
Elsbeth laughed and hugged Sonetshea. "I think just a basic bed with linens and one working bathroom will be okay. What dya think?"
"Two bathrooms at least. More if possible," a high-pitched voice insisted. Its owner belonged to a short man. A very short man. With a very pointed chin. Coal black eyes gazed fiercely about and his bowl cut hair flew every which way as he tried to estimate and plan and measure and redecorate the room in lightning quick gazes.
"Found you at last," Liolith declared. "Here, take these," she said handing Elsbeth and Sonetshea stacks of various employment cards. Plus two communication crystals. "You’re gonna need ‘em. This is Master Gorwith, a Gnome engineer. He’s looking the place over before deciding if he wants the job. There’s a line behind him if he doesn’t. Gotta run, people to hire, people to fire, and more people to find more people."
There was a moment of quiet before Sonetshea asked musingly, "Did you feel a draft in here?" She looked around. "I thought for a minute Liolith was here, but I must have been mistaken."
"I'm pretty sure I saw a blur go by. Maybe that was her," Elsbeth said thoughtfully.
Sonetshea read the note that came with the cards, then handed it to Elsbeth. She turned to watch the gnome as he meandered. And watched her. He came to the glass doors where he pretended to mull over the garden.
"Got five uncles. One of ‘em and a cousin does gardens," he said conversationally.
Sonetshea was quiet a moment, then moved next to him and casually leaned against a door, crossing her arms. "Do I have 'sucker' printed across my forehead?"