Constructive Criticism (Rayage)

[Wrenmae]

Spring 58, 512 AV Thump. His fist hit the wide board erected for the outer framework of the shop. Rayage had stepped away bells ago in order to work on a correspondence with his contact, leaving Shroud to deal with his displeased criticism. The murderer was not a leader of men, had never claimed to be, and while he might have possessed the ability to inspire them…what Rayage expected was unrealistic. The men were working for pay, sure, but they weren’t breaking their backs for a friend or a liege lord. These were free men, workers, contractors, and a few slaves that widdled away at the to-do list with languid resignation. Shroud could no more erect the building in the next two days than if a god itself came down to assist them. The work simply was too much…and Rayage expected it in too little time. Shroud glanced around the work yards, scowling at those who toiled. He expected more of them, really, but it could hardly be helped. What was he to do? He could not promise them better pay and hypnotizing the lot of them would be nothing short of suicidal. Instead, he would have to find some way to speed up progress…but without hiring any others or paying them more. Of course, it was Rayage’s money, but the nuit might be more angry to find that more money had been promised the men than he could pay…especially with the shifty loan he’d taken out. Angry, tired, Shroud approached the foreman, dagger at his side and fingers trembling along the scabbard length, tapping the side of it almost habitually. More than one way to skin a cat.