Necromancer Dreams of Mechs Chapter 76: Chapter 82

Read chapter 76 of Necromancer Dreams of Mechs by Magic on NovelPedia.

Chapter 76: The Architecture of Nobility “My Lord,” Alric said to me with a nod, falling into step beside me. “Come to deal with the commonfolk now?” I ignored his jab. “Go get Hana and anyone else we have with a trade. I have two thousand souls I have to decide what to do with, and I don’t need them all to be Fleshed Squires or Elites. What I need is industry. I want a castle inside that is all defense, and a small encampment within the walls. We currently have a mobile home plus, but I am looking for a mobile keep .” "A mobile keep, My Lord?" Alric paused mid-strum, his fingers freezing over the strings of his lute. He tilted his head, his brow furrowed in skepticism that only a true Victorian critic could muster. "Forgive my lack of theatrical flourish, but you speak of turning this grand estate—a formidable structure of stone and shadow—into a conveyance? A castle on wheels? Even the grandest narratives of the Arcane do not often feature such... architectural acrobatics." He shook his head, a wry smile fighting its way onto his face as he hurried to catch up. "The thought of a fortified dwelling, complete with battlements and gargoyles, trundling across the countryside at the pace of a steam-powered tractor is certainly novel. Where, pray tell, shall the axles be placed? And the motive force—will it be powered by enchanted oxen, or perhaps a truly colossal application of your necrotic energy?" "However," he conceded, adjusting his cuff, "you have already demonstrated a distressing habit of achieving the impossible, so I shall temper my disbelief with professional curiosity. If we are to become a mobile power, then industry is indeed paramount. A traveling city must be self-sufficient." He gave a sharp, decisive nod. "I shall retrieve Mistress Hana and the others. But what of Lady Seraphine?” I shook my head. “Not this time. She is safer here training the girls with my—” As I reached the grand doors leading back into the estate, a side gate—a narrow, wrought-iron entrance that led to an ivy-choked rear garden that had popped up overnight—creaked open. Seraphine stood framed in the opening, the stark purple light from the tear in the sky above illuminating the rigid set of her shoulders. She wore the emerald gown I’d made for her, but her expression was one of strained disapproval—a mixture of a betrayed wife and a fastidious accountant finding an error in the books. "My Lord," she said, her voice a precise, chilled instrument that cut through Alric’s humming. She did not raise her voice, yet the authority robbed me of any words. "I must inquire if you have truly calculated the optics of this… unilateral departure." She took a slow, deliberate step out of the gateway, allowing the cold light to define the sharp, judgmental lines of her face. "Your first foray into the living world outside these gates—the crucial diplomatic opening for your future kingdom—you choose to make with the ambiance of a casual outing? I was prepared to present you with a full itinerary, detailing trade routes, political factions, and the known movements of the Langreth remnants. I was prepared to ensure that your appearance in Oakhaven commanded respect, if not fear." Her gaze dropped to my attire, and her lip curled. "Instead, I find you ready to depart in… a hoodie , having spent the morning training your newest subjects to crush bunnies, and after having granted your paramour the exclusive solace of your presence last night." Seraphine's voice finally acquired a sharp, undeniable edge, a sound like a sword being drawn from its sheath. "I confess, I find this arrangement profoundly inefficient. You require a shield of steel and diplomacy, My Lord. I am that shield. Lady Ciara is your heart’s desire, and she has had her moment of sentiment. I demand to know why my strategic value is being summarily dismissed in favor of a lone bard and a boy’s fantasy of casual heroism." Well, she had me there. The whole point of having her on my team was to use he