The next day, Conor left his office apartment and went to the conference room. He peered around the corner and saw Kayle sitting at the secretary desk. "Kayle, would you please call the team for a meeting?"
"Sure thing Mr. Brantley," she replied with a smile.
A few minutes later, Mr. Nuri, Jarad, Anna, and Abby piled into the conference room and took their seats around Conor.
"Good morning everyone. To begin, Anna has informed me she will be leaving for southern Targu Province in a few days. She will still be working remotely, but she will be missed here I am sure."
The group gave Conor knowing looks, to which he felt his collar heat a bit. Had they really been that obvious? He pushed on, "In the short term, it seems that Nyman Banks is determined to make my life hell. He has started inserting himself in my other jobs to get me fired. From now on wherever possible limit the use of Jinstain Bank and Trust. If he doesn't want my business, so be it."
Abby Brooks looked up with a frown but nodded, "I can make sure to pull any of your funds from there... I believe we can still access funds the same if we use one of the other banks. Targu province is mostly controlled by Dragon Corporation, but there are a few others that will work."
"Mr. Nuri, Miss Brooks, do you think Dreadnaught Investing could help Vokrizin leverage some funds?"
Mr. Nuri steepled his fingers, "It all depends on the terms, and profitability."
Conor nodded, "I want to take over 50% of Jackson's furniture in the next two weeks. Sooner if possible. 1,500,000 Dragons is the cost of such an acquisition."
Abby thumbed through her file folder and pulled out a balance sheet, "Currently Volkrizin has a liquid asset balance of 750,000 dragons."
"I would like to put up 500,000 of that for Jackson's, and propose that Dreadnaught leverage the 1 million, with Vokrizin paying off the balance over the next three years. Earlier if things go well," Conor explained.
Mr. Nuri and Abby looked over their notes as Anna passed them a folder with Jackson's financial records. It was Mr. Nuri who answered, "If Celia wills it to be, then I believe this will be a profitable venture. Three years? Are you sure four would not be better?"
Conor felt a gentle hum from Celia, "No, three should be just fine. Honestly, two should be good so the extra year is just a cushion. Miss. Brooks, if you can see to it this happens quickly, I would be very appreciative."
"Of course, Sir. One question though. Do you plan to take an owner's salary or continue as part-time staff there?" Abby asked.
"I will likely still work a couple of days a week. It is a good opportunity for me to meet new people around town and once I own it, I will be able to keep close tabs on the place."
"Very good, I can get the necessary documents set up this afternoon."
"As for my salary, if you would please work with each of my investments to maintain a personal account from now on of 9,000 dragons per month. Anything above that can go into the Vokrizin investments for now."
"Very good, Sir, I will see to it." Abby declared, stacking her papers as she prepared to leave.
"One final note, I will be purchasing a home this week. Anna found me a great place down near the Spice Emporium. So, please work with her to make sure the funding is complete from my personal account for that."
"Of course, and congratulations!" the team said as they gathered their papers and returned to their offices.
On their way out, Conor caught Mr. Nuri's sleeve, "How is Parker doing?"
Mr. Nuri's face lit up, "That is a powerful man. He has already begun training with my security forces and the improvement is amazing. Dragoons are a force of nature, one you don't want to be on the wrong end of. You did well to recruit him."
"Have we heard from Cara's uncle, Eli?"
"I managed to track down a number for him. When I called, he was very weary but willing to come in for a meeting. I am expecting him next week. It seems he has been off in the far west of Pinon Province for a while so it will take some time to get back."
"Ok, keep me posted and let me know when we need to meet."
Conor turned to his office and felt Celia stir.
'You are doing well, young Kendov. However, your training is lax.'
Conor mentally pressed back, 'I have been a bit busy'
Celia's mental prod followed him as he entered his secret room, 'Your bedroom escapades with miss Anna were permissible for a time. I was not about to deny you such comforts. However, I believe even she senses that time is coming to an end. She is not your match nor a true mate. In time, if you dedicate yourself to the training you need to undertake, she will not be able to keep up with you. She is a fine office manager and will continue to serve you well. But do not think that she will be able to keep satisfying you in that way."
Conor scoffed as he tugged off his suit, "What would an old dead dragon know of love?"
Celia's dissatisfaction flooded his mind, 'Dragon's know more of love that you mortals will ever even conceive. Ulesgrovat Valtas is something mortals can only dream of and is the basis of your deepest legions."
"Valtas? I cannot even begin to pronounce that other word. What does it mean?"
'It would be impossible to explain its depths in the span of your lifetime, but in essence... it is an eternally bound oath, a love that is deeper than any mortal love, a bonding of souls.' Celia stirred in his mind as she spoke, a longing and a plea.
"Did you share this 'valtas' with someone? Another dragon?"
Celia did not answer him but redirected, 'Training, young kendov. If you are to run Vokrizin in my name, you must be worthy of the post, and able to defend it as well as me. Should you ever find a true love, you will want to defend her as well. Might as well start learning now.'
"Fine. Shall I get Parker?"
'Not a bad idea to train against a Dragoon.'
Conor sighed and pressed an intercom button next to the bank of monitors. "Mr. Parker, please come to my office."
Conor watched the monitor as Parker jumped to attention and made his way to the office. When he arrived, Conor slid open the hidden door. "This way, Mr. Parker."
Parker's eyes were wide as he followed Conor inside, "This is cool! When did you have this put in?"
"Oh, the team thought of it when we first built the office." They came into the back room which had just been converted. Instead of the bed being the main part of the room, it had been moved up against the corner wall, creating a large space just big enough to allow for a sparring mat.
"I have been told I need to train in self-defense, and possibly some offense. Would you be willing to work with me?"
Parker inclined his head, "Sure, but I think this space may be too cramped. It's fine for you to practice on your own, but if you want my help, I suggest we go to the roof. It's flat there and we can still be out of sight."
"Ah I see your point," Conor said, rubbing his neck as he looked around the room. "Go ahead and lead on."
When they got to the roof, the surface was covered in a light layer of gravel, with several larger air units and pipes twisting across the roof. "Well, this should make for excellent training," grinned Parker. "If you master working in this environment, fighting anywhere else will feel easy."
Conor just groaned, resigned to his new teacher.
Celia piped into his mind, 'Instruct this Parker to take you through the basics, forms of Kein, the zun of kendov and Grohiik.'
Conor did his best to repeat the words to Parker who stared at him dumbly. "How do you know of these forms? They are sacred to the Dragoon warriors and should not be known by outsiders."
Conor smiled and only replied, "Celia is real to those who care to listen." He took up what he thought was a fighting stance.
Parker just laughed. "Oh my. Ok, kid, we have a lot of work to do."
An hour later, Conor was panting hard, hands on his knees as he stared at Parker. The older man stood just a few feet away, leaning casually on one of the large air units. As far as Conor could tell, Parker had barely exerted himself, while Conor was totally beat in just a few moves.
"You will have to practice these forms. Perhaps after you sleep and rest some you will be able to do more tomorrow. For now, these hand-to-hand moves will have to do."
"Am I that bad?"
"You have physical strength, and some endurance. It is clear that you work out. However, when it comes to defense and offense, frankly, you suck. But you also have likely never had any training, so I am not surprised. The raw material is there for me to work with though, so at least I am not starting from scratch with you."
Conor looked chagrined at him before they headed back inside. Conor went right for the shower and after toweling off, flopped onto his bed and was asleep in minutes. As he slept, his dreams merged with Celia, and the dreams became combative. Conor found himself facing a man about his age. Eli stood before him, fighting staff gripped in a high guard. Conor realized he was back in the training room, watching his mother's trainer.
"Rania, again," came the soft command. Eli swept into motion and Conor felt his arms move instinctually, blocking the staff with his own, pivoting out of the line of attack.
"Good! Now, disarm."
Conor watched as his arms moved of their own accord and swept Eli's staff from his hands.
"Now, grapple," Eli ordered, charging in with his bare hands. Conor ducked and swept a leg, which Eli deftly jumped, a fist coming down on Conor's head. He crossed his arms over his head, catching the blow, but the force still drove him to the ground, putting him off balance.
"Footwork! Regain your center. Again!" Eli retreated and showed a new set of moves before attacking again.
The dreams took Conor through hours of training. When he finally woke, he was clammy with sweat. "Ah! Celia, I need another shower after all of that. Did I even get any real sleep?" he felt achy all over as if he had personally done each of the moves, and actually taken several blows.
'Don't worry, young Kendov. It has only been a single hour.'
"An hour?! It felt like days..."
'Time moves differently to the subconscious. Never fear, I will let you rest for the remaining hours till dawn.'