Ilyanas birthday was fast approaching and to ease Toris burden, she decided that she was going to plan the party herself. Or rather, take over what Tori had planned and confirm the final details. At first, Tori didnt think it was fair, as she planned everyone elses birthday party. Ewan and the others werent troubled with the details. They just sat back and enjoyed themselves.
Ilyana was not only her first friend in Soleil, but also her best friend. She deserved a stress-free birthday party. However, Ilyana insisted that she would be upset if Tori denied her, so Tori succumbed. She had to fight the urge to constantly check-in on Ilyana and focus on her own recovery.
She had progressed from the wheelchair and on to a walker. Anette recomnded that she use a cane, which was common at this stage of recovery in Soleil. Tori was afraid that shed put too much pressure on the cane and buckle, so she had soone build a walker. It was customized so she could stand up straight while using it rather than be bent at an angle.
It had two small wheels at the front, wooden feet in the back, and a small board across it so she could sit. Tori was much more mobile and was able to walk most distances on her own, but after long periods of standing and walking, she had to stop and rest so as not to overexert herself.
The walker attracted the attention of several people, including so elderly villagers, who thought Toris novel walker would be useful for family mbers whose body control weakened and risked falling. Toris walker also ca with a small wicker basket in front, which she put various things in when she was going from place to place. That was more for carrying around things to etings like her notebooks, writing utensils, and snacks.
Of course, at least one knight accompanied her in case she fell.
Next month is the Empress hunting event celebrating her birthday, JP said as he flipped through a notebook he used for Toris schedule. You agreed to go to the ball the evening after the hunt, but I know youre not...happy with the Emperor right now. Do you want to cancel? You can say youre still recovering.
Tori shook her head. Itll reflect badly on us if I dont go. I just got my peerage; people will talk if I dont attend. Im local and Piers friend. Its too suspicious if I try to avoid it. I cant afford any negative rumors that could affect the delta. Also, Im still the daughter of a march and were bound to the imperial family. We must show our solidarity.
JP sighed. All right. What about the hunt two days before, at the Fekete Duchy? If you leave, we need to schedule it.
I want to, but I cant participate in the hunt, Tori said. I cant ride a horse and I dont know how to use a bow and arrow. I'm also a bit tired of forests this sumr. She narrowed her eyes and looked ahead of them.
JP smirked. According to Duchess Fekete, those who attend, but will not participate in the hunt will spend the two days at her familial estate, Granite Tower. Considering who is likely to go, it may be beneficial to at least attend and network with the other guests.
Since we plan on opening Duel this winter, it would be a good opportunity to promote it, Tori said, thinking aloud. The guests for the hunt have deep pockets.
JP nodded. Do you want to attend?
Yes, lets schedule those dates with travel days before and after. Well bring so gas; the Duchess son will be interested. By the way, Piers and Axton can bring two more people if you and Sonia are interested in hunting for the Empress honor, Tori said. She glanced over her shoulder and JP seed to be considering it.
Shooting still targets while mounted isnt the sa as shooting animals. They move around and were not used to their movents. We dont have much experience in that sense. Sonia may be interested, though.
The second prince and von Dorn are hunting for the Emperor-
Why didnt you say so? In that case, Sonia and I will take part. JPs eyes seed to sparkle with anticipation as a predatory look appeared on his face. Im sure we can at least get one ga animal.
Piers said that the two knights he selected to guard them that day are experienced trackers and familiar with the area; they should be able to find ga in the forest. The second prince likely has the sa plan; guards and knight escorts can track, but are prohibited from killing ga themselves.
Sonia and I still need to practice. Animals have different moving patterns. If we can get used to it, our chances of kills will improve. I know soone we can ask.
Tori narrowed her eyes. I didnt think youd be this interested.
A little competition is good every now and then, JP replied. Sonia will think its a good challenge.
Have you two ever hunted on horseback before?
JP shook his head. Wed have to go at least a days ride outside of Horizon to find a suitable location. The closer the area to the city, the less likely there is anything to hunt. We also have to register for hunting permits, which has a fee. Its a lot of trouble and neither of our parents know how to hunt, so they cant teach us. We have no guarantee that wed catch anything. It would be a waste of money.
Tori nodded and scrunched her lips. Hunters in Soleil did have to get a yearly permit or join a guild. There were also seasonal restrictions on how much ga could be caught, which varied from location to location. Certain animals couldnt be hunted at all. A hunter also had to have a certain level of skill. For hunts on private property, like Duchess Feketes ancestral grounds, such permits and fees werent necessary if one was invited.
I can ask what ga youll be hunting. Do people hunt with dogs? She wasnt sure if it was allowed, but plenty of cultures in her original world bred dogs specifically for finding, flushing out, or retrieving prey.
They do, but Sonia and I dont have a dog. The two lapsed into silence, both wondering if anyone they knew had a dog. JP and the others were all raised in the city and didnt have any working dogs. Dogs werent allowed in the imperial stables, apparently.
A dog isnt necessary. Tori brushed off the idea.
The knights will track anyway, its not an inconvenience to go without a dog, JP replied. He wrote sothing in the notebook. I will send a note to Duchess Fekete to expect you. How many people will be in your party?
You and Sonia, , and two knights, so five, Tori said.
JP glanced over the top of the notebook. Youre not going to invite the others?
Its not my event. I cant bring too many people; its rude.
He snorted. Plenty of nobles travel with a large entourage.
Aside from knights and a valet or two, have you seen my family travel with such a group? Tori asked as she raised a challenging brow.
JP knit his brows together and then nodded. The only entourage Gueveras had were weapons-wielding knights and two or three servants, who were also proficient in fighting.
Thats fair, JP said. Ill make note of it.
They continued walking down the wooden pathway, back towards Toris tent from the operations tent. Tori had completed three several hour-long etings with village leaders that day and she still wasnt done.
They reached her tent and Tori looked at the two knights on either side of her tents entrance. Have they arrived?
Yes, my lady. Mr. Sima gave them a tour of the encampnt and the pronade when they arrived this morning. They will be returning soon for their interview, one of the knights reported. Tori gave him a nod and walked inside to prepare for her interview.
For the last week, Piers had sent her two people per day. He didnt have a preference; he only selected people who applied who t the requirents they had agreed upon. Kasen and her mother agreed that she should hire two assistants: one to focus on the administrative count duties and the other to focus on infrastructure and public works.
Piers managed to narrow down the applicants to ten candidates and all their relevant information had been sent. Today was the last day of interviews.
Tori took her seat at her desk. Her chair had been moved back and JP placed her walker to the side. She pulled out the folio for one of the candidates and sent JP out to escort the candidate in before they began. The interview would be up to Tori, and JP would be with her. Her mother wanted to sit in, but Tori refused.
She needed to show the interviewee that she was their boss and that she was competent. If her mother was there, the interviewee might unconsciously see her as the authority figure because Antonia was older. After all, Tori was sixteen years old and looked the part of a schoolgirl.
They didnt know that Tori had years in managent, and interviewed and hired dozens of people. She understood the assignnt.
JP entered with the first applicant of the day, a young lady with suitable experience who studied Soleil law in Universit nad Carn Bustamante. Tori politely greeted her, introduced herself as the Countess of Cosora, and then reviewed her credentials to confirm. After that, she told her what she was expecting from the two positions; asked if she was able to do the duties required of them, what she knew of the administrative duties in marches and other counties; the usual strengths and weaknesses question, as well as what she expected to gain from the position.
Tori then asked about her thoughts on the delta and Viclya, as they would have to move. She didnt hide that living in the delta would be a challenge compared to the convenience in Horizon. Shed already interviewed two or three candidates who appeared hesitant after their initial tour. People who were used to living in the city could have problems adjusting to life in rural Viclya and she couldnt afford too much adjustnt ti.
The interview lasted almost an hour and Tori was satisfied with the answers she received. She thanked the young lady and walked her to the door of her tent, saying she would contact them next week with the results.
After they left, JP looked over at Tori. Thoughts?
Not bad. Good insight. Capable and driven. She looked very excited to live in a tent, but that novelty could wear off, Tori walked back to her desk and gathered the candidates papers and her notes and put them to the side. But I am considering her.
JP nodded. I also think she would be a good fit. She answered the questions your brother gave you.
Not too quickly and not too slow. I like that she considered the scenarios and questions before answering, Tori said. She reached for the last folio. Send in the next person.
JP walked towards the tent and called for a na. There was so surprise in his voice and Tori looked up. JP was holding the flap of the tent open as a young, brown-haired man with pale eyes rolled himself in.
Good afternoon, Countess Guevera. He had a sunny smile and stopped a few paces away from her desk to bow his head before continuing forward. I am Robert Ingram.
She did not expect a candidate in a wheelchair.
Tori rarely saw people in wheelchairs in the city. Horizon and old cities like it were simply not built to allow for ease of movent for soone in a wheelchair. What was more, wheelchairs were not cheap. The wheelchair bound people shed seen were usually wealthy elderly folks accompanied by a servant.
Aside from herself after crystal shock, she didnt recall seeing young people in wheelchairs. Shed seen several people walking with crutches or canes, but the people with difficulty walking would oftentis have to be wary of deep curbs and uneven pavent.
According to his background information, Robert was the youngest son of a low-ranking aristocratic family in Horizon. A note from Albert was included in Roberts folio with more information on the Ingram family. They werent large or influential. Their familys fa ca from a few generations back. Since then, the family had slowly begun to decline.
They were kept afloat by a few shops in the Second and Fifth Districts. Robert was in an accident when he was a child and Tori suspected that there was nerve damage that could not be treated, putting him permanently in a wheelchair.
Despite her surprise, Tori kept her face neutral and continued with the interview. She followed the sa format as she did with the other interviewees.
Your qualifications and education more than et our requirents, Tori said as she shifted through so papers and made notes. Im especially impressed that you were able to work for the Seventh Districts planning committee. That experience is valuable. Are you still working there now?
Yes, my lady. I am still working at the planning committee. I started shortly after I graduated from Universit last year, Robert replied with confidence.
Tori nodded. You worked assisting in the planning of school repairs for the secondary school, fixing neighborhood roads, and repairing two wells in the district.
Yes, my lady. I pulled a lot of information for the projects, reviewed policies, and guidelines, as well as assisting in balancing the budgets and negotiated contracts with workers for the repairs. I have included the nas of my superiors at the planning committee for your reference.
All of this was reassuring, though Tori didnt need to check. Piers had had Albert check the references already.
All right. Tori closed the folio and looked across her desk. Mr. Ingram, do you understand that this position would require you to move to Viclya? We are a small, developing village and lack the conveniences of Horizon. For instance, you will have to live and work in the encampnt tents, which do not have a private kitchen or bathing facility.
That had been a concern for so of the earlier interviewees. Shared bathing facilities and a communal kitchen and dining area were uncomfortable for so people and would require getting used to. It would be easy for people who arent used to it to beco resentful.
The construction workers were used to moving from place to place around the region to work, and the workers' encampnt was very satisfactory to them. The villagers had no choice in the matter, but the encampnt was much better than the refugee camp slowly sinking into the shore that they started with.
White collar workers who were used to the city and desk jobs might not adapt well, which was a concern of Toris.
Robert took a deep breath and seed to try to hold back a smile. But I can move here. Tori furrowed her brows and tilted her head to the side, silently asking what he ant. I can move around easily. My duties are mainly desk work. If my work area is on the ground floor and I can rent a place on the ground floor, I wont have many mobility issues.
Mr. Ingram, you will be working in the operations tent and, for the ti being, you would live in a tent in the encampnt. This ans common eating and bathing facilities. Eventually, governnt offices will be located on an island.
His eyes crinkled up with a smile. Thats fine, Countess Guevera. As long as I can get to the island, I can work. I am used to living by myself. While at Universit, it was convenient to live nearby, so I had a small single room flat across the street. I can cook for myself. I only need to hire soone to occasionally clean, as I can only do so much.
Has it been difficult being wheelchair bound? JP spoke up and Tori shot him an annoyed look. JP grimaced and flushed a bit.
She was curious, too, but she didnt want to ask so rudely.
We rarely see young people in wheelchairs, Tori said. She didnt pay attention to people with varying physical disabilities mainly because she hardly saw them in Horizon. There were more people with disabilities in Presidio, as there were many retired soldiers who had been injured. Even then, it hadnt been jarring to see.
She only started trying to make Viclya wheelchair friendly when she got crystal shock and was reminded that it would be beneficial for her county to be wheelchair accessible. She thought it would be helpful so people who couldnt walk or had difficulty walking, for whatever reason, could still get around and enjoy themselves without having to deal with minor headaches, like curbs and uneven pavent.
It has been difficult, Robert replied. He gave them a wry smile. Because I am unable to go upstairs without relying on others, I had difficulty with classes. I could only take the ones I was able to get to. The smallest steps set back. Luckily, so of my peers were kind enough to help , but I couldnt depend on them for everything all the ti. As a result of that, it took longer than usual to complete my studies.
Tori nodded. She spent a few weeks in a wheelchair and there were tis when she felt helpless as she couldnt do a simple task and had to call for help. It was frustrating and embarrassing. She didnt want to have to call a knight to help her get to the toilet at midnight. If she werent flexible enough, she would even have difficulty putting on her shoes.
Compared to many others in my situation, I at least had the opportunity to continue studying and work outside my ho. Most people who cannot walk can only be a burden to their families, Robert said with so pain. If theyre lucky, they would be able to make or sell sothing without having to leave their ho often. If I would have been born into a farming family, Id be useless.
For a mont, Tori thought about Alessas farr love interest, Tom. He could walk, but his dominant hand could no longer grip things. That alone made it difficult for him to find work. Since he couldnt use one hand well, most craftsman and artisan work would be out of the question.
The sa was true for Robert. Labor-intensive work often required the use of ones legs. Even staff at Lions Gate had to stand, walk around dealing with guests, and work on displays and carry out stock. Working at a desk in an office would work for him.
May I ask, how did you find out about this position? Tori asked as she leaned back against her chair. His Highness Prince Piers told that he was interviewing recently graduated alumni, but you graduated the year before.
Robert nodded. Certainly, my lady. I learned of this position from the Chief Surveyor of Horizons Planning Committee, Lord Wolfgang. He put in touch with His Highness. I believe Lord Wolfgang has assisted in the developnt of the delta.
Tori nodded. Yes, he still is.
Lord Wolfgang told about you. Robert looked a bit hesitant to continue, but Tori gave him a small nod to encourage him. That is, he told that you couldnt use your legs temporarily due to an injury and were bound to a wheelchair. As a result, you started to incorporate ramps and railings in the village, which would be beneficial to myself.
I will be honest, Countess Guevera. I am satisfied with my job in the Seventh District; however, I feel that I would be able to live independently at the delta. I took note when Mr. Sima took us on the tour. I understand very well that Viclya is still developing, and many people continue to live in tents. It is rural and lacks the conveniences of the city, but small details like ramps, railings, wide streets, and even ground are particularly attractive to . When we saw the bathing tents, I noticed that there were wooden railings along so walls and bath stations.
Its convenient for the elderly and those with difficulty moving, Tori said. Railings in bathtubs and showers were common in hotel rooms that accommodated disabled persons in her original world. When her original world mother had surgery and was recovering and unsteady, Tori bought railings and a special chair for the shower to lessen the chance of an accident.
The village had many elderly individuals; Tori figured it was a good option to put in the bathing tents.
I believe that Viclya will grow and the living situation here will improve.
Tori nodded once more. Im happy you think highly of our little village, Mr. Ingram. I am very satisfied with your abilities, but in all fairness, you have stiff competition.
I understand, my lady. His Highness has told us that there are others applying. He paused and looked at her with a glint of hope in his eyes. Even if I do not get a position, is it possible for to move to Viclya?
Tori drew her head back and blinked. She and JP looked at each other with surprise. Theyd heard plenty of knights and hired workers talking about one day coming to live in Viclya or retiring there, but those people had lived and worked in Viclya for so ti. They were used to it.
Today was Roberts first ti in the village.
Mr. Ingram, I appreciate your interest, but priority for housing is for the villagers who ca as refugees from the border. You would be at the bottom of the list and could live in a tent for so ti.
And while its very pleasant now because its sumr, the delta is wet and cold during the winter, JP added.
Ive taken that into consideration when I applied, Mr. Vissage, Robert replied with a firm nod.
We are also not accepting new residents at this ti, Tori told him. At best, you can only be a temporary resident if you are employed.
I understand, my lady. I appreciate your consideration.
Tori and JP walked Robert out and towards the main road where a covered wagon was waiting. Piers arranged for all their transport and two n lifted Robert on to the wagon. He waved at them and thanked them for their ti once more before the wagon turned and left.
What do you think of Mr. Ingram? JP asked as he and Tori turned around and headed back to her tent. He has over a year of experience working in planning. We can really use that.
Tori nodded. His qualifications are better than that of the others. Hes especially suitable for infrastructure and public works. Hed also be conscientious of providing for those with disabilities. Cities and towns that are long established arent equipped to make things easier for people who cant walk or have difficulty doing so.
We have the opportunity to integrate that into Viclya and the Cosora Delta since its slowly being built.
Tori took a deep breath and nodded. I knew it was going to be troubleso for when I had crystal shock. I didnt expect that everyone would have ramps and railings installed for here, and they did make my life easier. She still felt moved that her friends had a massive ramp installed just so she could get to the beach. It wasnt essential, but having that option made her heart swell.
We were able to do that because Henrik, Ilyana, and Constantine had the authority and opportunity to have them installed, JP said. They didnt have to ask anyone for permission. It fell into Constantines project scope.
They made a difference for , JP.
They reached her tent and JP held up the tent flap so she could walk in. Should I prepare an offer letter and employnt contract?
Tori smiled. Lets do that.
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