The World Dragon's Heir

Chapter 526: Dark Skies

Dominic’s opinion that the clear weather would get them some free Nobles to eliminate was looking quite prophetic after another half hour, as more vessels began to approach.

But then the clear skies started to darken, and the winds picked up to a level that was going to tear the anchored paddle ship free of the wall.

“Dominic, start working on more wall. The wind is going to push waves up over what we have, and then we’re at risk for a breach. Add to the whole wall, from the base up, so we don’t end up with a weak spot.”

“Not enough time for that. How about we just reinforce what’s on top of the old wall?”

“Do it. Double the thickness and add another two metres. That should keep most of the water out.”

Lightning began to crackle, lighting up the increasingly dim skies, while the clouds began to give off an eerie green glow.

“Well, that’s new.” Dominic muttered as he worked his way around the estate from the upwind side first.

“I wish I could say the same. Those clouds mark tornados anywhere that I’ve ever seen them.” Amie shouted.

“Wait, that’s not magic? I would have totally taken a giant scale magical effect over tornados.”

Amie laughed at his sour tone as she worked in the opposite direction. They needed all the extra wall that they could get, and they were likely to see waves topping multiple metres over this new addition.

“Gentlemen, if any of you wish to remain on board your vessel, I can almost guarantee that it is going to break free.

The clouds are showing rotation already, and it’s large. I’m guessing it will be a multiple kilometre wide tornado, or multiple smaller ones. With that sort of wave, I don’t know how well your vessel is going to fare.” Amie called.

The men conferred for a moment, then shrugged. “As long as it doesn’t knock the wall in, we’re fine. Being on board isn’t any safer than being in here if we get a tornado hit.

But tied off as it is, if it doesn’t get sucked up, the bumpers should keep the damage minimal.

The boats are usually tied alongside the seawall for major storms.”

The storm overhead was getting worse by the second, and while it wasn’t raining on them, the wind was whipping water off the surface and scouring their faces.

“Everyone inside, latch the storm shutters and seal everything. We will keep the house as intact as possible with magic.” Dominic instructed.

The staff was already started on shuttering everything that had been opened for ventilation, and the house had good thick wooden storm shutters, so Dominic had some hope that it would survive relatively intact.

When the storm got too bad, he would put an [Area Barrier] over everything.

At the level he’d gotten his spell book to, it would hold against most natural winds, as long as it didn’t hurl too many large objects at them. But he didn’t have to make it completely solid, just strong enough to mute the wind to a manageable level.

The storm clouds were spreading, and the last thing Dominic saw before he stepped inside was the entire sky lit up with purple lightning.

“Man, that sky is angry. Looks like you all made it here just in time. The locals will tell you what they need. We’re just guests in their home, until the storm is over.

Ladies, we reinforced the walls, and the pump is running to keep the water saturating the ground from flooding the yard. You might as well make a soup or something for everyone.

I apologize for the additional mouths to feed, but we couldn’t send away such lively refugees.”

The cook huffed in annoyance, but she grabbed a pair of women in scandalously short dresses and dragged them into the kitchen to help her.

They had moved nearly everything upstairs, but they weren’t going to be able to store some of the fresh goods if the magitech freezer went out, so she would cook with that first.

If they made it through intact, they had a good meal to start out the wait. If the basement flooded, then they lost a little less food.

Dominic waited as the ladies made dinner, and the new arrivals argued about who they should be bunking with. It was becoming clear that while most of them had been working on the docks, they were almost all pirates by trade, and some had only taken the job to give their crews an in with the local docks.

The ladies worked in the building behind them, and they had run to the dock looking for a ride when things went wrong and the storm had already hit.

The Pirate crews had taken to sea, leaving only their land bound allies to the ravages of the winds. So, they had ended up with this motley assortment, which apparently included a few shop clerks, though Dominic couldn’t tell which were which.

Likely because they were also formerly pirates.

“Boys, get in here and set the table. We’re civilized folk here, and I won’t have you making an even bigger mess of the house.” The cook called.

“Yes, Ma’am.”

One of the men winked at Dominic conspiratorially. “I’m a bit shocked she didn’t kick us down to the basement to keep her floors clean. Must be feeling a bit kindly toward us, given the chance of flooding.”

Dominic shook his head. “No, I left a mess in the basement. Where do you think all the Nobles and their mages went?”

“Right then. Well, can’t say that I haven’t done worse. Mostly we put fallen crew members in the bottom hold when we scuttle a vessel after a battle.

Same concept, I suppose.”

The cook brought out a whole tray full of dense bread rolls and a pot of stew, then made to serve Dominic and Amie with proper cutlery sets and place mats.

“No need to stand on formality today. It’s already next to me. Just start filling bowls. I’m not that kind of stuffy Duke.”

The cook gave him a genuine smile. “I should have guessed as much. And might I say, you’re a large step up from the house’s former occupants?”