Silly Cat had returned, so Annan had to introduce her true identity to his people all over again.
When he learned it was an extracurricular activity day, he had the guards bring Cathy over too.
Cathy adored Lily and Silly Cat. Unfortunately, Silly Cat always acted aloof and ignored her. Annan wondered how surprised Cathy would be when she found out Silly Cat was a god.
While he waited for Cathy, Annan made time to visit Aunt Susan's house.
Martin's son could already talk, and he didn't seem to have inherited any of his father's wisdom.
Aunt Susan and Uncle Holin stayed home to look after their grandson, while Martin went out to work every day at dawn. None of them would ever have dreamed this day would come.
Annan also went to see Martin in the airship factory district. Aunt Susan's family could hardly have imagined it, and neither could Annan: one day, Martin would stand beside Archmage Dunbelly and discuss airships with him.
And the archmage was the one listening.
Claire was there too, buying airships on behalf of the Duchy.
The Reconnaissance Airship had already been tested in battle. The Ratfolk had no effective way to deal with airships. Their long-range weapons could only reach two or three hundred meters, while an airship could easily fly thousands of meters high, though its accuracy would suffer badly.
But against the Rat Tide, accuracy wasn't necessary.
Dunbelly and Martin were discussing the details of their improvements as Claire listened in. Parked nearby was a fat airship, quite unlike the Reconnaissance Airship, which had been made as long and narrow as possible to reduce its size.
A larger body meant a greater payload. A greater payload meant a harder blow against the Ratfolk.
Dunbelly wanted Annan to name their new