Community Service

In the end, Resmi did not hire a squire. The position that Maelon came to occupy was one that no name could be put to, operating as one of Resmi's trusted advisors and assistants, while also being sent on quests or accompanying her in her own. His role had little of the definition that came with the positions appointed to the other squire applicants.
Billory, Jont, and Senjin were made the first official military escort to Resmi and her associates, though in truth when they did escort her it was largely to keep up appearances; generally they ran odd-jobs where some scuffles might occur.
Mina was offered the position of Resmi's personal armourer and jeweller, largely working on producing and maintaining various pieces that dithered between practical and impressive, armouring for the Star Guard in her spare time.
Elaine, in a turn that made her happy as a lamb, became Resmi's personal secretary, a job which enjoyed comparatively few life-threatening situations despite it being adjacent to a Star Cleaver.
“How is my day looking, Miss Marsters?” Resmi tugged at the collar of her cloak as she walked and Elaine peeled off the wall to follow her.
“Busy, ma'am. Masons are building faster than the miners can supply them-”
“Then... Why not take the hired help from the masons and put them on mining detail?” Resmi offered. Elaine paused, then scribbled on her clipboard.
“Right. Yeah. Iago has suggested,” She lifted up a leaf of paper and counted briefly, “Forty six new name ideas for the inn since last night, Galatea wants two thousand gold for, quote, 'none of your business'-”
“Nothing from Mal?” Resmi asked as they headed downstairs.
“I saw Malachi, actually. He waved at me then coughed very loudly then he walked off. It was astonishingly strange.” She looked off into the distance briefly before returning to her clipboard, “Underhold has put in a zoning request concerning land for some kind of game?” Elaine shrugged, “Mr Kroshe wants to speak with you about recruitment for his... ahem.”
“You can say the word brothel, Elaine.” Resmi smiled.
“It just doesn't seem proper...” She blew a strand of hair out of her face.
“Any news on teachers for the school yet?” The pair came out into the dining hall of Starhold Tower, serving staff clocking the ladyship's entrance and heading into gear.
“Well word should be out to all the settlements by now, but no response yet, I'm afraid.” Elaine plucked a bun from a tray as Resmi took her seat, “I'll go see to the miner thing, and make sure Underhold's representative is ready to receive you.”
“Thank you, Elaine.” A tray of bread and cheese slid in front of Resmi, “I think I'd lose my head without you.”
“Happy to be of service, ma'am.”

“Football, you say?” Resmi looked out over the fields on Underhold's northern border.
“Oh yes, ma'am.” The town's representative stroked his chin automatically, “It's a beautiful game. Some of the lads round here are crazy about it.”
“And all you need is bare field?”
“Well, there's goalposts involved too, ma'am, but essentially, yes.” He began gesticulating, “You see, your ladyship, football's about the only way besides drinking the fellas 'round here let off steam. It's good for them to have a place to play it.”
“Well, yes, certainly I see no harm in making sure land is kept open for playing on. In fact, I'd like to encourage people to play this 'football', it sounds like a healthy way to spend an afternoon. You say there's tactics involved?”
“Oh yes, ma'am. Like a well-orchestrated battle, is a football game.” He nodded assuredly.
“You say it's the men that play it, yes. Women aren't prohibited from playing are, they?”
“Oh no, not as such, no, just never seem interested.” Darius shook his head persistently, “No, no rule says a woman can't play. Or a frog, for that matter.”
Billory shifted uncomfortably at his post a few feet behind the conversation at his sudden inclusion in proceedings. He cast a consternate look at Jont.
“Well, I shall have to come and observe a game sometime. A representative will be down at some point to discuss the specifics of setting up a permanent football field. Was there anything else, Mr Townman?”
“No, your ladyship, that was all.” Darius bowed his head slightly, “Thank you kindly for coming.”
“Not at all, Mr Townman. The visit was most enlightening.” She smiled, “Now I'll allow you to return to your affairs. Good day.”

“Good day, Mr Kroshe.” Resmi smiled as she walked into the gloomy haze of his front room. For all it was set up as an up-front above-board establishment, there were simply certain expectations to be met when it came to whore-houses.
“Is it?” The kobold grumbled over a book laid out on the counter.
“I understand you wanted to speak with me?” Resmi perched herself on a stool at the bar, across from Kroshe.
“Yeah.” He pulled down the bookmark and shut the book, “I'm having difficulties running a whore-house with no whores.”
Resmi pursed her lips for a moment, “You have to understand, these are... conservative communities. They have feelings about what's proper for a young person to do with their life. Of course they wouldn't oppose to whores being here, so much as their children being whores.” Resmi gestured with open palms, “I'm sure once we get the ball rolling business will be booming.”
Kroshe raised a scaly eyebrow, “And where are we on the ball rolling part of the plan?”
“I have top men on a recruitment drive.” The former mayor rolled his eyes, “Things take time. In the meantime, you've got the front room.” Resmi gestured to the empty bar room, “I'm sure you're selling plenty of liqueur, right?”
“If by that you mean you're effectively paying me in whisky, yes.” He poured himself another drink, “Only business I get is when people want to make sure nobody sees them, because they know this place'll be dead.”
“Things will pick up once you have some staff.”
“You sure that secretary of yours isn't interested in working here?”
“Positive, Mr Kroshe.”
“Shame.”
“Speaking of assistants,” He began, his eyes on the glass he'd began cleaning, “How's the Mayoress doing?”
“She's doing an excellent job. She really seems to have everything in hand over at Hilltop. You must have taught her well.”
“Oh no, she had natural talent anyway. I bet she's doing a better job than I ever did.”
“Perhaps.” Resmi gave a lopsided shrug, “She asked after you, last time I visited.”
Resmi smirked as the kobold's ears pricked up, “She did? What'd she say?”
“Oh, she was just making sure you hadn't fallen desperately in love with some courtesan.”
Kroshe looked around the empty front room, “Yeah, fat chance of that.”
“You know, I'm told we're holding a ball of some sort soon. You should ask to escort her.” Resmi got to her feet.
“You think so?” He looked up at her.
“Oh yes, certainly. Who better to make sure she's doing her Mayorly position justice?” Resmi smiled back at him as she crossed to the door.
“Thanks for the advice.” He smiled, then wiped it off his face as Resmi began to leave, “Hey, now make sure that you see to my staffing problem.”
“Of course. Good day, Mr Kroshe.” Resmi shut the door behind her.
“Damn right it is.” He mumbled to himself as he cracked his book back open.

“Ma'am!” Elaine flittered up to Resmi with her clipboard as she entered Starhold Tower.
“Yes, Elaine?”
“There's something of a kerfuffle concerning the position of the perimeter wall.”
“Again?”
“Yes, it's concerning the view this time.”
Resmi rubbed the bridge of her nose between thumb and forefinger, “Is there anything else?”
“Hilltop are asking for more guards. Something about werebears.” Elaine grimaced at the page.
“Do we have any guards to spare?”
Elaine sifted through a few sheets of paper, “No.”
“I'll see if Galatea's busy...”
“Oh, and you told me to remind you you're conducting Sunday service tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Elaine. Will that be all?”
“Yes.” Elaine beamed, then glanced at her clipboard, “Oh wait, no. Iago has submitted another twenty-seven inn names for review.”