176 Having Tea

As Jayde and Maianna strolled down the main street, a young boy ran up to them. Jayde recognized the young boy as the child that ran off to fetch Elder Terrakeep when they first arrived.

"My Ladies," the young child panted. "Elder Terrakeep has invited you to tea at his house."

"Thank you, are my friends with Elder Terrakeep?" asked Jayde.

"Ah no, my lady. There are still walking around the town, they said they would meet you later at the Elder's house," the child answered.

"Hmm, okay. Please led the way to Elder Terrakeep's house."

The young boy bobbed his head, before beckoning Jayde and Maianna to follow him. The young child led Jayde and Maianna to a small whitewashed stone cottage. The house was well tended to with a pretty garden a half wall surrounded the little cottage creating a picturesque picture. The young boy walked over to the wooden gate, unlatching it he indicated for Jayde and Maianna to enter.

As soon as the two entered, Elder Terrakeep opened the front door. Smiling he invited Jayde and Maianna to enter his home.

"You two must be parched," Elder Terrakeep said. "Please join me for tea."

Maianna nodded as she and Jayde followed Elder Terrakeep to a small courtyard. Elder Terrakeep indicated for the two to have a seat while a young woman served them tea. Jayde noticed the young woman had similar eyes to Elder Terrakeep, Jayde assumed she was either Elder Terrakeep's daughter or granddaughter. Since mages could live much longer lives than normal humans, Jayde found it hard to judge their ages.

Elder Terrakeep noticed Jayde looking at the young woman. "Ah excuse my manners Lady Jayde, this is my granddaughter Taera, and that young man is my great grandson Camryn," Elder Terrakeep said indicated the young boy who had led Jayde and Maianna to Elder Terrakeep's house.

Jayde bobbed her head slightly as she gave the two a tiny smile. While Maianna made small talk with Elder Terrakeep, Jayde quietly drank her tea and observed her surroundings.

"I hope your discussion with Master Abilles went well?" Elder Terrakeep asked interrupting Jayde musings.

"Hmm," Jayde said concomitantly.

Just then a knock sounded.

"Ah, that must be your young friends," Elder Terrakeep said as he indicated to Taera to go and fetch them. Shortly Taera returned with Raven, Ash, and Nova in tow.

"Ah, tea!" Nova exclaimed. "Good I am parched," he said sitting down quickly while reaching for one of the small cakes sitting on the tray and stuffing it into his mouth.

Raven sat down next to Nova, elbowing him slightly; she said: "I thought you said you were thirty?"

"Hm im," Nova replied with his mouth full.

Raven gave Nova a scornful look, before smiling apologetically at Elder Terrakeep.

"Don't mind him," Raven said. "We only let him out occasionally."

"What?" Nova asked reaching for another cupcake. Elder Terrakeep gave a small chuckle before picking up his teacup and taking a sip.

"So how was the rest of the town?" Jayde asked turning to look at Raven.

"It's in pretty good shape," Raven answered as she smiled gratefully up at Taera who had just handed her a cup of tea. "Most of the buildings are structurally sound. Nova says they just need new windows and roof repairs and some slight touch up work."

Raven took a sip of her tea before placing her cup on the table. Reaching into her satchel, she removed a sheath of parchments from her bag.

"Here I have written down notes for you," Raven said as she handed over the parchments to Jayde.

"You've worked hard," Jayde said as she took the parchments. "Thank you."

"It was no problem, it was actually quite fun," Raven said waving off Jayde's thanks.

Jayde glanced through the parchments filled with Raven's neat script. Jayde's right eyebrow arched as she took note of the detailed notes that Raven had jotted down. Raven had even drawn a rough sketch of the town for Jayde to have a look at.

Looking at the sketch, Jayde turned to Elder Terrakeep. "Elder Terrakeep do you have a detailed map of Shaihshire?" she asked.

"Ah yes I do, in my study, would you like me to fetch it?"

"Not right now, after tea will be fine," Jayde replied while shaking her head slightly.

"Elder Terrakeep just how many villagers are living in Shaihshire?" Jayde asked.

"Hmm, well including the old folks there are fifty of us."

"I will also need a list of all of the villages, their ages as well as their skills," ordered Jayde.

"Of course," Elder Terrakeep said before he hesitantly asked: "Um, Lady Jayde, if I may be so bold as to ask—what exactly are your plans for Shaihshire?'

Jayde paused to collect her thoughts, glancing toward the baby blue sky. "Creating a new way of life," she finally said. "Or, at least, a better way."

"..." Elder Terrakeep looked nonplussed at Jayde's answer. Creating a new way of life, what the hell kind of response was that, he thought.

Seeing the look on Elder Terrakeep's face, Jayde smiled wanly. "We intend to move our manufacturing to Shaihshire. We will also need to start commercial farms to supply the raw materials that we need."

"Ah, but Lady Jayde that will require much labor, and well, we just don't have the manpower to look after that many slaves," Elder Terrakeep said hesitantly.

"There will be no slaves in Shaihshire," Jayde said resolutely.

Elder Terrakeep's forehead furrowed at Jayde's strong statement.

"But my lady, just how are you going to get the necessary manpower?" he asked.

"Well, we will be buying slaves," Jayde acceded with a shrug. "But they will be allowed to buy their freedom and live and work in Shaihshire as free men and women."

CRASH!

Jayde's head jerked at the sound of breaking porcelain. Looking up she saw that Taera had dropped the teacup that she was holding. Taera was staring at Jayde in disbelief.

"Y..y-ou would free your slaves?" Taera stammered out.

"Naturally," Jayde answered matter-of-factly.

"But why?" Taera asked her voice filled with confusion.

"Because no man or woman should ever be property."

At Jayde's statement, tears filled Taera's eyes.

"Do you really believe that?" Taera whispered brokenly.

At the same time Elder Terrakeep called out: "Child—"

"Of course I believe that. Shaihshire will never have slaves," Jayde said firmly interrupting whatever Elder Terrakeep was going to say.

At Jayde's explicit statement Taera started sobbing. Jayde looked on with confusion as Elder Terrakeep stood up and hurried over to the crying woman, apologizing to Jayde he quietly led the sobbing woman away.

Jayde scratched her head, throwing Raven, Ash, and Nova a confused look. What the hell? Jayde thought.

Raven shrugged looking just as confused as Jayde.

"Her eldest child was born a stone, and was taken away just after she was born, at the same time, it was discovered that her husband was also a stone who had been hidden, he too was taken. Her husband was killed trying to escape." Maianna said quietly.

"Ah, shit that harsh," Nova exclaimed.

Maianna smiled bitterly. "No, that's life," she corrected.

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