Inflame (The Completionist Chronicles Book 6), Dakota Krout [free novels to read TXT] 📗

fail. Did she mean she was going to point out my mistakes? Was this an attack or a learning opportunity? The Elf destroyed my ritual so easily… so did Cleo. I need to find a way to shield my rituals from getting damaged? Is that the lesson to be learned?”

“Either way, I think I’m becoming more of a dog person.” He pondered on that as his Neutrality Aura cleaned the blood and dust from his clothes. Joe shook himself out of the fugue and started toward McPoundy’s, thinking about the mana battery he needed to replicate, and one other, very important lesson.

“Don’t forget to feed the cat.”

Chapter Forty-Nine

As pristine as ever, the human walked into the forge and smiled at all of the Dwarves that were eyeing him with ill intent even while smiling back at him. One of the bearded males walked forward, fairly beaming with hospitality. “Welcome back, Joe! I have been looking forward to the opportunity of explaining the importance of patience during personal growth. Just as the rest of us have worked hard to be able to study at this place, I am certain that learning to flex your patience muscle will-”

“Step aside,” Joe ordered frostily, even as his Dwarven-society-demanded happy smile stayed in place. “I am invoking the right of Candidacy to hire Grandmaster McPoundy.”

There was a collective inhalation of breath, and the angry undertones turned to pure glee as the people in the room started to laugh. The Dwarf that had stepped forward smiled happily, “I am sorry to inform you that you have just lost all chance at a high rank. You see, without being able to impact at least three major forts with the work you demand from a Grandmaster, there is no chance that the reputation you earn will ever balance against the cost you incur.”

Joe’s expression soured; that was information he hadn’t been given in advance. “I’ll-”

The Grandmaster stepped out of his private forge with flames in his eyes. Literally. It seemed as if he had a spell of some sort that allowed him to superheat things by staring at them. “Who dares invoke Candidacy on me? I’ll make sure you’re busted down to private! You… Joe.”

The Dwarf sighed and gestured for Joe to join him, much to the ‘hidden’ pleasure of the Dwarves in the forge. Joe stepped into the pocket of dilated space and closed the door behind him. McPoundy was already shaking his head, “Someone got you real good. There’s no way this won’t go on your record, Candidate. What do you need?”

Joe had never heard such displeasure in this Dwarf’s tone. It seemed he really didn’t like getting ordered around. The human pulled out his new mana battery and handed it over. “I can make these, all the way up to Expert Cores as the base, and automate the process. Takes a couple hours per battery. I even made a spare leaflet that I can hand over to you so that you can start getting enchanters to perfect the design and start making them, though that will take a lot longer than how I do it.”

McPoundy took the battery and inspected it, grunting a question at him after a long moment. “Why the abyss did you bother wasting all your time doing other things? If you would have started these when you became a Candidate, we’d already be upgrading the entire automaton corps. You make a reusable Core enchanter for each fort, just one each, and you’ll max out your Candidacy card. Abyssal fool.”

Joe felt his heart sink at those words. Had everything been a waste…? No. “If I knew that when we got started, I wouldn’t have found the invasion point at Gramma’s Shoe. I wouldn’t-”

“I don’t care about your harrowing adventures. Results are the only thing that matters in a Meritocracy.” McPoundy was clearly in a bad mood. “What do you need from me? I just spent the morning getting orders from the council, and I’ve been delegating those all day so I could do what I need to do.”

The Reductionist didn’t hesitate. “I need to get more of these made. That means I need to make permanent rings, and I also recently found that I need to start doing a better job of protecting the rituals I make. I need advice, training, and plans for making my rituals safe from interference.”

“No.”

“Then I’m going to need… no? What do you mean ‘no’?” Joe’s words sputtered to a stop as the smith shook his head. McPoundy put his hand on Joe’s shoulder, and started guiding him toward the exit.

“I have orders directly from the council. The edicts of the rulers of the nation supersede the request of a Candidate.” McPoundy stopped and hesitated, seeming to come to a decision. “I can offer you the services of a Journeyman; they will make for an excellent trainer at this stage of forging. I, however, am of far too great of use to the kingdom right now.”

“But… the Cores? Upgrading the Legion?” Joe sputtered, unable to process what was happening. Wasn’t this Candidate thing supposed to be an immutable law or something? “We had a deal that you would train me up till I was a Master!”

“I will train you, I can’t right now. As to the batteries, how long will it take to make one of these engravers? How long to engrave? How many can be done in the next few days, when the nation marches to war?” McPoundy’s voice was a hammer slamming down on Joe’s attempts to make rapid progress. “How will they recharge once they have lost their mana? That will take a specialized support unit, unless you have an option. Who will train them; how long will that take?”

Reading Joe’s crestfallen expression, McPoundy relented slightly. “It’s a good idea, but you are offering a long-term solution. We need something that can impact the war in only a few days. Let me introduce you to-”

“No…” Joe shook his head before McPoundy could offer