James takes a deep breath knowing what to expect when he opens his front door. A group of four young adventurers were on his doorstep with Howard sitting on his seat winded. The neighborhood kids were one thing to deal with. Trained and experienced fighters were another. “ You all right Howard?” Howard waves still trying to breathe and James takes his oversize hammer from the doorstop. “ Alright what ridiculous thing you want for what pointless reason I do not care about?” After the initial pause of surprise the leader of the group. An average looking soldier took out a note. “ Is it to hurt something, break threw something or in general make things doable because I am the only one to give you the means to do it? Speak man. I am busy. I got a meeting with the queen at in an hour.” James notices his reputation as a hard ass was known to them. “ Well we were told you could make us lanterns that would not go out due to the wind and do not use magic.” Howard sighs and sets the hammer down. The board he did bent easily to the weight as designed, making them think it much heavier than it actually is. “ All right first I need twenty iron ore, five copper ore and ten thunder crystals. After you get that I will need a week to make it and a surcharge of.” He pauses a moment them smiles slightly. “ Lets say sixty thousand. I got to likely put some of my regular client work on hold for this. So I will have to give them a discount.” The heros look at one another worried. “ But we have a royal writ!” James takes the hammer and slams the business end against the wall of his shop where there was a sign. “ Big deal, unless the queen herself is paying for it, which I doubt, you got to follow the house rules.” They all look at the sign. Which read, ' One: all items, objects or otherwise things considered property of the master is protected by the master. If damaged or stolen the individuals or individuals responsibly are subject to the master's judgment and wrath. So approved and decreed by royal and holy oath. Two: all bartering done by the master is final and is considered an absolute. Renegotiation for prices is done at the discretion of the master. So approved in decree by royal and holy oath. Three: all quest items, side or otherwise, for modification or repair, can not be done here. Four: I do not buy or sell weapons, armor or items to those who beat up my security knight.' The heros take a few minutes to read that and the sorceress moves forward. “ According to that you can't sell us the lantern then.” James rubs the back of his head. “ Not exactly. You are to gather the material for me to make the lantern. I in tern am paid for services of making the lantern out of that said materials.” They all back away obvious lacking the material and funds as James sets the hammer inside the doorway and closes the door. “ Howard tell the young people where the mine is when you feel ready. I still got that meeting.” Howard waves to him again still catching his breath as James puts his thumb and forefinger to his lips and blows a loud whistle. From around back came a young adult wryven that lands on the road with a thud. The big man of the group shivers amazed. “ I think I peed a little, he is as cool as the stories say he is.”

James held on for dear life as his wryvern took to the air with him on his back. Jeffry did not mind he rode bare back either. It was for long trips you needed a saddle for both the comfort and well being of both the rider and mount. After they land at the stable James goes into his pocket and takes out a piece of hard candy for the wryvern. He so enjoys the treats James discovered. After one of the stable boys led him to the range for him to mingle with the other wryverns and James to discuss some business with the stable master. It use to take James hours to climb all the steps and navigate the corridors of the lower levels of the fortress home of the queen but with Jeffry that trip is reduced to a few minute flight and a few hundred seedz expense. Apparently the wryvern riders do not mind him either sense he was from one of their stock. It was told by the red horn on Jeffry's nose. He was one of the higher breeds sons. The story James was told is that one day one of the new stable boys left the 'hen house' gate open for all the 'roosters' to get in after collecting the days eggs. It took the entirety of the wryvern riders and keepers to get everything in order after that. Jeffry's quality of stock is a combination of the prized hen and alpha of the steeds. Of course there was no way to know for sure short of something along the lines of a dna test. Which did not exist in this world. James considers Jeffry content with his life. Considering most would have just cooked him up in his shell and made him the main course for dinner instead of a pet.

After the wryvern stable was a hall that lead to the front gate where horses were stabled for the contingent of knights of the court. He did not like walking by there as there was a tendency of horse crap being anywhere you walked. He recalls the first time he walked threw there and he slipped on a wet pool of fresh waste and landed face first. The memory made James shake a moment as he made sure he had something to grab within arms reach as he moved past the stable. Further inside the fortress were a few checkpoints before you start entering the social circles. Usually starting with common folk with business in the fortress or those that work there. Such as the cooks and maids. After then was the common foot soldiers. The general guards and sentries. Both groups pointed to James as he passed and waved to him. While not knowing many of their names he waved back politely. Both enjoy the contraptions he been making for the castle than the actual queen does. Especially the lights and cooking devices. After the soldiers were the trades masters. Normally he would be here more often. But it was basically one giant cock fight to him at times. It seemed more people wanted to just one up the competition. Someone would make a war wagon, next moment someone builds a battering ram after that a catapult. It was just one big headache for him. Every time he passes threw some new young face wants to apprentice under him as well. This time he slipped threw the crowd unnoticed to the next area.

In the next area were the knights. For the first time sense he talked to the wryvern stable master he stopped to talk to someone. A large armored knight with a red sword and blue clashing with thunderbolts coming off the impact. James got a bank note and hands it to him. “ This is less than last month.” James shakes his head. “ Can not be helped. Less power core supplies coming in means I make less of them. Someone should tell those that get elemental crystals to get off their asses. Hell send out the rookies if you have to. Be good experience for them. But unless I get elemental crystals I can not make power cores.” The knight growled a little at him as several others gave him looks. Drop hunting was dangerous for everyone involved in them James knew but that is the life they decided to live. James was not going to let them think they were better than him for it. “ Does she have any requests for me? Any repairs needed done?” The knight handed the note to a squire as he growled again. If not for the fact he had his helmet off James would think he was not human. “ She has no need for your meager services. Now away with you.” James gave a sarcastic “ Understood.” and left the way he came. He started moving threw the previous area as an armored knight bumps into him. “ Excuse me.” James said as he caught her shoulder to keep her from falling down. Her face blushed as she looked at him. “ Oh, excuse me as well. I am not from around here and.” She paused looking at the crest. “ Your master James, are you not?” The name caught the ears of many and James grabs her hand and quickly pulls her along to the next area's passage. As soon as he was away from those chasing him he stops to catch his breath. Her face was bright red as he turned back to her. “ Sorry about that. It get harder and harder to keep out of the squabbles and apprentice applicants every time I come to pay my taxes every month. So I am master James. Please James only. So?” She continued to blush as she coughed and regained her composure and takes her hand back and puts it to her chest. “ I am Lady Diana Stien Braxa Certious Nera. I got a letter from my grandfather that said he was living with you.” James became surprised a moment. “ Howard? You're Howard's granddaughter?” She nods and blushes again. “ Yes.” James could see she was flustered and embarrassed about something and James rubs the back of his head and sees the crest on her shoulder. Two banner spears stood side by side. She was not even from a neighboring country. “ Do you want to go see him?” All she can do is nod. James quickly led her back threw the fortress and the hours of navigating the halls and getting threw checks passed rather fast with her along. James got the feeling this was the start of some sort of adventure and felt a migraine emerging.

After the fortress was behind them James walked threw the town. He kept to his business briefly as Diana followed behind him. However it was near dark by the time they got out. On the outskirts James had a leg of beef on his shoulder and a small sack of flour under the other. “ Hey Tom!” James pauses and looks over a fence. “ Oh, hey Tom!” Diana moved to take a look but quickly moved back from the scene of a plant monster ravaging a middle aged woman's lower half. “ Hello, to you as well. Any problems with the heater I made for you all?” Two eyes appear over the clump of flora to look at James. “ It is wonderful Tom. It keeps the room warm enough for us to be together all night long.” James smiles a little and lifts the weight off his shoulder a moment. “ Just remember to keep track of the lights and let me know if there is any problems. I will leave you and the misses to your own.” James starts moving again after the monster gave a pleased “ Later.” and the woman moaned letting her lust control her voice. James noticed Diana walked closer to him than before. When he got to the hill with his place on it Howard was sitting in his chair as always and James went inside leaving the two to talk. Inside Kira was waiting for him. “ Jeffry staying the night.” James smiled a little as she took the leg of beef from him. She puts it on the table to take care of it later. “ The beef from the butcher and the flour is from the bakery. She also promised some bread.” Kira gave a purr of excitement before checking on dinner. “ We have a guest.” Kira checks the soup. “ All right.” James smiled again before deciding to check on them. He goes back out the front door to Diana yelling. “ But grandfather. We want you back!” Howard notices James appearing. “ Well talk about this later.” James rubs the back of his head. “ Sorry, I did not mean to ease. Howard sense you do know her she is free to stay as long as she wants. She can stay in my room tonight sense we got nothing else for her.” Diana interjects. “ I do not want to impose.” James sighs. “ Please, I can tell you been having trouble. I can tell how someone so young could find the, culture, around here a bit much. As my honor as Howard's friend I ask you to stay.” Diana blushed a little. “ You won't do anything, ungentlemanly will you?” James shook his head. “ I will treat you with respect if that is what you are asking.”