Chapter: 587 – Stress and Joy

Tala, Lea, and Lisa spent a bit more than an hour together, and despite Tala’s hesitation, Lisa was a consummate gentleman.

He interacted with Lea very well, slowly adjusting to match, and then slowly drawing her away from her odd mix of precise, clear speech and naivete. Well, he tried to help her with the naivete; he didn’t do anything about her precise speech.

Lea, for her part, was rather grumpy with the fox-kin as he often pressed at the edges of her assumptions.

Ironically, this made Tala consider something that she hadn’t foreseen herself giving even a passing thought.

If we can have an agreement in place to protect Lea…

-Yeah, Lisa would be a fantastic teacher for her.-

That is definitely something worth consideration and discussing with Rane.

As they were wrapping up, Lisa brought up one of the issues that they really did need to discuss. “Mistress Tala, quite a few of my kin are ready to immigrate into Ironhold at your allowance. I had forestalled them in consideration for your recent loss, and your newly arrived joy added to that delay, but I think that if we wish to allow them in, it should be sooner rather than later.”

Tala grunted. “I can see that, yeah. Will they be coming in by way of your receiving anchor? I believe you were constructing such, but I never heard if it was complete.”

“Yes. When I send word, they will fling their homes into the void, following that beacon. As such, they won’t have to build here. As the secondary layers of Ironhold are all but vacant, it should not increase the burden on your authority while also not requiring you—or us—to gather more mass.”

Her eyes narrowed. “So, I’ll be accepting unknown magics and constructs into my home?”

Lea was looking back and forth between the two, clearly trying to follow the conversation, and just as clearly not wanting to be sent away. So she was keeping herself all but silent.

Lisa shrugged. “As soon as it is here, it will become known to you. They will have powerful authority within their homes—just as I do—but you will have the ultimate… sovereignty over all that is here, just as with my own home.”

Tala grunted at that. She did have both perception and control within Lisa’s twisting, labyrinthine home, but she did her best to respect his privacy, just as she did with all the citizens within Ironhold. She also had a hard time understanding many parts of his home, but she wasn’t about to tell him that.

-I keep close tabs. No horrid magics or vile acts can crop up on my watch… does animal torture count?-

What? Yes!

-Oh… Terry’s going to be disappointed…-

Tala sent an unamused sense toward Alat. …You did that on purpose.

-Of course, I did. I haven’t teased you much of late, and I was getting pent up.-

Fine… but do please discourage Terry from being too over the top. I know that certain predators mess with their prey, but he has more sapience now. He should be above his baser instincts.

-I’ll try.- Alat’s tone made her thoughts clear on the likelihood of that attempt succeeding.

Just do what you can. Tala refocused on Lisa. “I do think that the arrival of fully constructed dens is acceptable. Your kin are aware of the rules? As to placement of their homes, you’ve worked out the various connection points with Lyn?”

“Yes on both accounts.”

“Then they may come.”

Lea finally couldn’t contain herself any more. “Hurrah! More furry friends!”

Lisa sighed, glancing at the girl. “I will have to convey the nature of your daughter to them if you plan on having her be able to freely move about Ironhold.”

And I’ll have to do the same for the average citizenry too… Though, we can probably just show an image of her with hair, and explain that she is an honored guest.

-The Talons will need to know the full truth, especially if she’s going to train with them as you’ve been considering.-

Tala nodded, mostly to herself, but she responded to Lisa as well. “Understood. I will trust you to handle that issue?”

He grunted at that. “Very well.”

“Once they are settled in, I would enjoy meeting your kin.”

“Do you wish me to hold out for a certain number for you to meet at once, wait till the influx slows down, or do the introductions in waves at certain intervals?”

“I… It depends on what you have in mind?” She was uncertain.

“I want to meet each of them as soon as possible!” Lea proclaimed.

Tala sighed. “Lea, sweet, please don’t interrupt.”

“But… you weren’t talking.” Lea deflated a bit, seeming somewhat confused.

Tala gave a small smile, patting Lea on the shoulder. “Yes, but you’re interrupting the conversation.”

“Oh! Oh… Okay, mom.” Lea nodded in seeming understanding.

Tala smiled at her daughter and turned back to Lisa. “I think if it will be a quick meeting, then I’m happy to do it for each individual, or each group, as you feel they are settled and ready for the meeting. If it will be a big to-do, I’d probably prefer to do it in larger groups. Please coordinate with Lyn about what you both think would be best, as well as when choosing the exact timing.”

“Very well.” Lisa paused for a moment, clearly contemplating. Then he gave a lower bow. “Mistress Tala, young Lea, it has been a pleasant afternoon. Thank you for the invitation, the tea, and the time.”

The two bowed slightly in return, Lea deeper than Tala. As they all straightened, Tala willed Lisa back to just outside his own front door.

She could have placed him back in his home, but doing so would have strained the polite fiction of the privacy of that place.

Lea let out a long breath and flopped down. “Oh, people are exhausting.”

Tala hid a smile, sitting down in her own chair and grabbing her coffee. “Oh?”

Lea nodded vigorously. “I have to constantly think of how to talk to them without misspeaking, and I have to be careful in how I act, and I have to be quiet when I have to and speak when I have to… It makes me want to sleep.”

Tala let her smile show then. “I know what you mean. I too prefer time to myself.”

“Not with dad?” Lea’s eyes widened in clear uncertainty.

Tala chuckled. “Sometimes. I love your father, and I enjoy being with him most of the time, but occasionally, I just need time to myself.”

“Not me.” Lea shook her head vehemently. “I always want to be with you and dad… and Uncle Terry.” She frowned. “Other people are fine every once in a while.”

“Well, I’m glad you feel that way.”

Lea shifted down in her seat. “It would have been better if he’d let me pet him.”

“Lea… That isn’t appropriate.”

“Why not?” She sat up a bit, clearly interested in the answer. “Uncle Terry lets me pet him.”

Tala’s eye twitched, but she decided to try to keep things on topic. “Well, imagine if a random person came up and started stroking your arm.”

“That’s… odd?”

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“What would you think? What would you do?”

“I guess I’d be confused, and I’d ask them why they were doing that.”

“And if they said ‘because you’re soft?’”

“Well, that’s a lie… I’m quite firm.”

“Fine, then. What if they said that they liked the feel of your arm?”

“I don’t know…” Lea seemed to be genuinely contemplating the possibility.

Tala grimaced slightly. “Well, most people wouldn’t like it. Most people don’t like to be touched randomly. The fact that he told you ‘no’ when you did ask should be sufficient.”

“Fine…”

-Huh… Mistress Jenna is asking to meet you and Lea.-

Tala’s eye twitched, and Lea immediately oriented on her. “Mom?”

“Someone wants to meet you.” She sighed, deciding there was no need to dissemble.

Lea narrowed her gaze, clearly thinking through what she’d seen. “But… you don’t want that?”

“No… I’m okay with it, but… she’s one to push buttons.”

“Well, I’m not a prototype. I have no buttons, exposed or hidden.”

Tala blinked a few times before laughing. “Oh, Lea, no. It means to make someone angry or test their patience by your actions.”

“Oh… why?”

“Why? Why what?”

“Yes, why. Why does it mean that?”

“Well…” Tala frowned. Why does it mean that?

“-I can guess! Imagine if you were following someone around pushing the buttons on their clothing? That would get quite irritating, no?-”

“Oh!” Lea nodded. “I can see that, yes.”

Tala wasn’t quite sure that was the real reason, but it fit well enough, so she decided to leave it be.