Chapter 59: Whole Lot Of Nothing

Chapter 59: Whole Lot Of Nothing

Roxy sidles behind me and starts rubbing my head once the door behind Ivan closes. The guy has... an infuriating combination of boneheadedness and jumping to conclusions, multiplied by his willingness to translate conversation into a fistfight at a moment's notice. At times, I was sorely tempted to just let him start swinging and use it as a pretext to beat the everloving shit out of him. Thankfully, the "crush coal into diamond" trick had given him enough of a pause to at least start with shouting instead of conveying his hasty conclusions with fists. Oh well. In the end, we had settled on following - aside from money, he also gets a copperphone, so that Roxy could talk to her parents once he gets back to Kraina. He also has a bag of uncut diamonds I've crushed out of coal as a present slash bride price. He did not recognize the diamonds, but according to Roxolane, her father definitely will. That should get me some leeway. Besides, if she is remembering right, while Ivan inherited hotheadedness from his dad, his dad is also old enough to know when to crimp the attitude.

"I can't believe everyone is alright." - she mutters softly - "I mean, I have seen Petya being struck down by a saber. To think that all that came of it was a scar... gods, I'm..." Her hands start shaking, and I turn around just in time to pull her on the lap once she starts crying in earnest. Tears of relief, I think. We had some discussion about what to do if her family is not around anymore, to know they're all safe and sound now must be a mountain of worry off her shoulders. So I return the favor of stroking her head and muttering something vaguely supportive as she lets her fears drain out.

"Goodness, I'm going to be visiting families a lot." - I chuckle - "Moon Unit's and yours both cropping up in pretty much same day. Crazy coincidences, huh?" She giggles, wiping her eyes gingerly.

"I'm sure my father will approve of you." - she offers softly - "I mean, I can't even think of anyone else I'd rather be with, you know?"

I lean in and kiss her, offering - "Flatterer. I'm just lucky to be in the right place and time to get you."

___

The rest of the week passes uneventfully... Which, I have to admit, is a load off me. Now, I am quite happy with all the outcomes, but getting things sorted out was more than a little problematic, and I'm glad I can take a few days with nothing but low-key classwork and business management. The restructuring of the trading house proceeds apace, I have mostly weeded out the truly disruptive elements, and while not everyone is thrilled with my decisions, the overall mood in the former Konistan employees is cautiously optimistic. I had an oh so amusing little conversation with the receptionist girl that greeted me prior to my first meeting with Konistan, while at it. Silly bint was convinced I'm going to somehow punish her for uppity attitude. In a way, she is not wrong - I have sent her back to the office with a pamphlet on corporate ethics I would be expecting from everyone under my employ. Which, apparently, was a mercy she did not even dare counting on, if her little breakdown back in the office was of any indication. Amusingly enough, that also improved loyalty over there, mostly due to my treatment being taken as a sign that they're now under "fair but tough" ownership.

In another news, the overseer of carpenters reports to me that my leisure project had been finished, as far as their part in it was concerned. Which brings us to this bright and early Caturday morning.

___

"Girls." - I say, clapping my hands - "We have all worked valiantly through the week, and are richly deserving of some rest and relaxation." It is very much true, by the way. While me and Roxolane had wrangled the business, Lily-Anne and Moon Unit had pitched in with Rafiqa's lessons and as of yesterday, Rafiqa is a fully-accepted student of Academy. Bridgit had valiantly handled food and other domestic issues for all of us.

Selene finally finds some words. Or, rather, word. "How!?" - she croaks, gesturing around vaguely. Ed next to her just stares at me with eyes open so wide I start worrying if there is anything in the on-board apothecary to treat excessive eye drying.

"Vacuum zeppelin." - I tell her, grinning widely - "Magic is so magic, you know." Altimeter bings a hundred fathoms, and I pull the buoyancy slider back until it stops rolling noticeably. We're suspended in the air, well above the city.

"Have fun watching the city for now." - I suggest to them - "Once the novelty wears off, we shall have dinner, alright? Does anyone want a looking glass?"

Hiram blinks at me. Works his jaw visibly. Coughs. Then starts talking - "Are we held aloft by your magical power, lady Gillespie?"

I shake head at him - "Nope. Natural laws. I'm using magic to guide them into the desired result, but it does not require of me to constantly push power into the airship. Even if I stop feeding power to the airship entirely, we're going to smoothly descend about as fast as you go when you take a lazy stroll. So don't worry. We're not going to plummet out of the sky even if I decide to take a nap."

He stares even harder. Coughs again. "...Are... you going to build more airships?" - he finally manages.

I wave my hands vaguely. "Maybe? Not anytime soon. This is my personal yacht, so to speak. It can't lift much more than us and some basic supplies. I mean, if I really tried, it might be possible to fit in another, uh.. eight to ten people, but that's it. Building bigger is possible, but will get profligately expensive pretty quickly." - I tell him - "So don't worry. It might be a fine example of magical craftsmanship at its finest, but hardly an empire-shattering creation on its own."

Ed objects feebly - "...The very idea of taking to air like this... Gods, if you weren't already infamous as the most dangerous magician in the world, that alone would cinch it."

I chuckle - "Well, if it helps you feel better, I prefer peace. I know, I know, my experiences with Sultanate are telling a different story, but... Sultanate is the only country left that considers slavery lawful. That's just plain evil."

Rafiqa suddenly claps her hands. "Well said, lady Gillespie." - she says firmly - "Well said."