Checking in on his investment

He took longer than I would have expected to answer, putting me slightly on edge. "Well, I had grown slightly concerned after you had not come to get help on the construction." He looked past me, seeing the spirits at work. "However, it would seem my men's assistance may not be required in the end."

I shook my head in a friendly manner, "No, they will be needed. These servants of my god are incapable of complex thought to my knowledge, so they can't make plans for a structure. I just had them work on the foundation as I believed that would be hard to ruin."

He gave a thoughtful nod, "Indeed, that is fine logic." A serious expression took hold on his face for a moment, before a kindly one resurfaced. "There is much for us to discuss later, however for now there is another purpose for my visit."

I gave a bow, "If the services of my god are in demand, I would be happy to assist you."

Norman waved his hand to politely dismiss my statement, "No, nothing like that. I just wanted to know more about you and your god. After all, it seems you will be becoming an important part of my city at this rate, if not the kingdom." His glance showed a hidden intent under his friendly aura, one I understood. He mostly had this place under control, but I have arrived and thrown everything in the air.

I beamed, "Why of course! My lord, Moged-Ruun, has the domain of Growth. His influence brings great expansion to its reach, and brings great prosperity. As his follower, I am sworn to foster the growth of this land and bring everything under me to its greatest potential." As I gave my speech, I noticed Norma approaching the spirits, seemingly investigating them.

As she approached them, she got somewhat close to Midnight's container, who yipped at her. She let out a shout as she fell backwards away from it. "What was that? What is that?" She pointed her hand at the not so little lizard as she crawled backwards away from it.

Norman looked over at her confused, before he saw Midnight as well. He raised an eyebrow to me, "I don't recall you saying anything about having a pet Reptal."

I chuckled as I approached and did my best to sooth Midnight. "I am impressed you could recognize what it was. No, I got it today. Your son and his goons were after it, and it felt like a bad idea to let them have it. If need be, I can give it to my lord to raise within his own realm."

He seemed somewhat conflicted with this response, but appeared to give in. "I suppose that is fair. I don't want to know what Kyle would do with it, let alone if he would be able to survive attempting to contain it. It seems relatively under control in your hands, though I hope you understand that I will have to confirm its condition on a somewhat regular schedule."

This was an annoyance, but one I could deal with and understand. "Such a thing seems like a reasonable and responsible decision." I gave a smile, "Now then, is there anything else you would like to speak about?"

Norman looked between me, Norma, Midnight, and the spirits. He had a nod to himself that I could only describe as a "this is my life now" nod. Before looking at me again and shaking his head, "No, I believe that is all from me. Do feel free to reach out when you need my men or for any other reasonable reason." He looked again to Norma and gave her a nod before he started to leave by himself.

I looked towards her, and then at Norman. After an awkward pause where she got back up and stood there watching the spirits for a moment, I cleared my throat. "Are you not going to follow your father back to the estate?"

She suddenly snapped out of her thoughts and turned to me, straightening out her hair that was ruffed up in her fall. "Ah, no. I uh, I wanted to talk to you." She spoke in a refined yet slightly suggestive tone. 'Ugh, not another seduction attempt. I really hope this isn't all of my future political talks with women, because its gonna seem really sexist really quick.' I raised an eyebrow at her and she shook herself to get back into focus. "Sorry, I didn't mean anything like that. I just wanted to talk with you about your future plans for the church."

I chuckled and shrugged, "Such decisions of structure are not my strong suit-"

She shook her head, "No, I didn't mean in construction, I meant in what you will do here, how you may plan to expand."

I was somewhat stunned. I didn't have the greatest answer for that, but I did have an excuse for not having an answer, "I do apologize, but that isn't a decision I make, nor one I have been informed of yet."

She looked at me confused, "How so? Do you not intend to lead this church?"

I held up my hands to dismiss the thought, "As long as that is my lord's will. However, the decisions on that front are in his hands. I shall not make them, and he has not yet told me them."

She seemed conflicted at this response, "I see..." She bit her upper lip in thought, seemingly debating something in her head.

I decided to try and throw her a bone of sorts, "If you wish, I will try to inform you personally when I-"

She interrupted me with a question that caught me off guard. "Then would it be possible for me to speak with your god?"