The Order of the Scythes first contract

Tabitha finds Mort packing his saddlebags, getting ready to leave for Tsar.

"I do believe congratulations are in order, Mortimer." she said, with almost a hint of a smile on her face. Mortimer turns to her wide-eyed

"How did you know? I haven't told anyone yet!"

Tabitha stops, thinking about what she just said, trying to piece together some context. Coming up empty, she reluctantly enquires.

"...what are you talking about?"

Mortimer grins ear to ear.

"I managed to touch my tongue to my elbow!"

She holds back a sigh, trying to get through this with some dignity intact.

"I'm not sure I want to ask... but I will. Why would you do that?"

Mortimer was clearly eager to offer an explanation.

"Killy said that in order to be a good archmage, I need a really strong magic muscle. To exercise it, I have to try to touch my tongue to my elbow. It stretches the right muscle, he says, and you need it to cast good spells like fireball. Now I'm a good archmage, because my magic muscle is strong. Look!"

One sign of good discipline is the ability to suppress nervous ticks. Tabitha has good discipline. She watches Mort try to lick his elbow for a few moments, before interrupting him.

"Killingsworth lied to you Mort, and that achievement isn't worth a congratulations. But forget that. I’m here because I think I've managed to secure our Orders first work contract"

This grabbed Mortimers interest. His tongue disappears, but his elbow still floats up around his face while he says "Ooooh, lets go raid Greznek!"

Tabitha crushes his boyish daydreams the way Kruin crushes diplomacy.

"No Mort. I've been holding talks with Lady Maya. She wishes to hire us for our particular brand of.... aggressive construction. She wants us to form and fortify a beachhead in the city of Tsuen. From there, we'll organise raids, follow them up with work teams, and systematically clear out the city, rebuilding and fortifying as we go."

Mort looks happy, in a crestfallen sort of way.

"I guess I'm not holidaying with Lady Tolah in Tsar after all."

Tabitha shrugs

"No, I thought of that. Lady Maya has agreed to send Falnil and Hilterguarde from the Duskguard to Tsar, freeing up Lady Tolah to join you here. Then the two of you and Crusher can head down to Tsuen, do some reconnaissance and pick a location for a base. I'll send down the Iron Fist with a work crew in a week or two with some plans and perhaps a headband of engineering for Crusher, and you can get things started."

Mort looks like he's just eaten a lemon.

"That fucking horse isn't going to be in charge, is he?"

Tabitha shrugs again.

"Of course he is. Like it or not, he’s third in charge, and you and I already have our hands full. He is a Hellknight after all, and this falls within his purview ”

Mort's mouth is still full of lemon.

“If he gives me lip, I’mma wallop him." That thought seems to placate him somewhat. "This job will make us money, right?”

Tabitha shrugs for the third time.

"We're still in talks, but it looks like Lady Maya will organise reimbursement for our expenses rebuilding the city, plus a percentage on top. It might take a while to ramp things up down there, but it should cover our day to day Castle Grey expenses eventually."

This improves Morts mood.

"Ooohhh, goodie!"

"Here's a draft of the contract. We might still change some minor details, but the meat is there. Look it over if you want"

Mort snorts, taking the contract and stuffing it into a pocket.

"Yeah. Sure. I'll get right on that."

Tabitha almost-smiles again, before tilting her head back towards Greyton.

"Lets head to the Salty Sabaton to celebrate. We'll see if we can get a squad of the Shields together on the way, and we'll hit them with a raid. I could do with a laugh”