by Varian Morn
“Aren't you supposed to be cataloging new wealth, Jorma?” Grandmother asked as we entered the main entrance room to the warehouses.
The white haired Elder wasn't alone, but was the only other member of our House here. Only I and the young guard were accompanying the Elders, and the rest were Linesmen carrying out their tasks.
“I was. Until I saw all this,” he said with wave to the Linesmen walking past us.
Grandmother wasn't the only one who studied what he talked of, as both the boy and I did as well.
“Saw what...? Our future? What is the problem?” Grandmother asked, annoyance clear in her voice.
Maybe he's been complaining lately, she sounded as if she wasn't just tired of it... but exhausted because of it.
“Don't you see? They carried all this wealth straight to us!” he shouted.
One of the Linesmen looked our way at his outburst, but none of them stopped working. It made me try and turn a little so they could not see my face.
“And...? Would you rather they have carried it elsewhere? Or not at all? Explain yourself,” Grandmother said, finally out of patience.
The old man's white hair fluttered as he suddenly stepped forward briskly, so fast he nearly stumbled as he came face to face with Rivini. “The whole city saw it! Every box! Every seed!” he shouted.
This time two of the Linesmen looked our way, and this time they even stopped working. They stared at us, and I coughed a little in hopes the elders would notice.
They didn't.
“Of course they did! But what are we to do? We had no choice, you're our accountant, you know exactly how long it would have took for our men to carry all of it here on their own!” she shouted back.
I kept my head low, and decided to just step back and pretend to not exist. The young boy who stood nearby looked at me with an aghast face as he tried to figure out what to do himself.
Luckily for him, he figured out he should replicate my actions and took a few steps back and became as stoic as a young boy could.
“Better that then this! If we'd have done it, we would have secured and hidden the wealth better!” Jorma yelled furiously.
“Hid? Hid our wealth? Have you gone sandblasted mad? No matter how dark the night, or how big the rug you use to cover them up, all will know its contents, foolish man!” Grandmother shouted back.
Jorma went red in the face, and it was a stark contrast to his white hair and eyes. “Bah! You've doomed us! There's no way Markith will stand aside now! Do you have no idea what you've done?”
“Is everything alright?”
The two Elder's turned on a heel to yell at the questioner, but neither voice escaped their lips when they saw the woman who had braved their anger.
“Captain Sarley... My apologies, we did not mean to draw you away from your tasks,” Elder Jorma said, his voice suddenly calm and collected... even his smile looked genuine.
I hadn't even noticed his face change; he had done it so quickly. It was as if he had never been angry.
“We're fine, child. Our apologies, my brother was just being foolish. Probably heat stricken,” Grandmother said happily, likewise lacking any hint of her previous fury.
Linesman Sarley didn't buy it, her face making it clear that she could see right through their charade. Yet, she still smiled and nodded. “I see. Just making sure. The last crate has been delivered, and everything's in place. Just need to ask if you need any help with anything else concerning the goods for now. If not we'll head back to the Front-Line,” she said calmly.
Somehow she had smiled through her words as well, and seemed more genuine than the Elders had.
“Oh good! Thank you so much. We'll be fine from here. Please tell your Lord Noth that we are eternally thankful for his assistance, and the lending of his children,” Grandmother said with a small bow.
“Eternally grateful,” Jorma added, bowing as well.
“Alright then,” the Linesman said, her eyes glancing my way as she turned to leave. “Wrap it up!” she shouted, bluntness returning to her voice.
Watching her go, I watched alongside the rest as one after another the Linesmen left the House of Derri.
Normally I'd not watch so intensely, but for some reason most of the Linesmen waved at us as they passed, some even loudly proclaimed their desire to return at another time... and oddly, I somehow felt they were being sincere.
How they were sincere about such a thing was beyond me, but it made sense if maybe the Line they were returning to was even worse than here.
Maybe they were some kind of slaves...?
“That was well done, you old fool. Embarrassing us like that in front of the Linesmen,” Grandmother said sternly after the last Linesmen left.
“Me? I'm not the one who shrieked so loud her old bones cried out in shock!”
“Jorma, the next time you become hysteric, do it in private!” Grandmother shouted.
Turning around and with a huff, Grandmother Rivini stormed away.
Hurrying after her, I left Jorma and the young guard behind.
“That man! Of course I know how the implications! Does he take me for a fool!” Rivini shouted, and I was glad the Linesmen had left.
Rivini's angered pace didn't slow even when we reached her room. Nor did it subside even as she entered, nearly walking into me as I held the door open for her.
“Drink!” she ordered.
Closing the door, I quickly went to the shelves where her cups were stored. Luckily her room was cool enough, thanks to the catalyst magic given by the Linesmen, so I didn't need to leave the room to fetch it.
Unluckily however, that meant I'd not be able to leave her long enough for her rage to subside.
“Blasted old man. Just like the rest of them, scared of their own shadows,” she grumbled as I poured her some of the fruity smelling drink she acquired from the Line.
She paced as I prepared her drink, but sat once it was ready. Placing the cup in front of her, I watched as she quickly drank half the glass.
Although Rivini was correct that the rest of the Elders were... a little too foolish when it came to their precautions, I could also understand their concerns.
They had nearly gone to war over the Line wishing to trade with us first... and had only calmed their wrath when a deal had been made.
Although that deal was clear, and the other Houses would get their share eventually... it was hard to blame them for growing angry when they were forced to watch such wealth pass them by on the roads in front of their homes... heading to someone they believed to not be worthy.
They were just as hungry and thirsty as we, if not more-so with the many more mouths to feed.
To be honest it was a miracle they hadn't surrounded our House in full arms, demanding equal shares of the wealth...
“What pisses me off the most is how right he is,” she finally lost some of her anger, and her tone became more dire.
Standing nearby, I wished the room wasn't so quiet. I really wanted to sigh.
“Sit, Telleya.”
Obeying the order, I sat across from Grandmother Rivini.
“We have one more day,” she said to me.
I didn't know what to say, since I wasn't really sure what she meant. One more day until what? For what?
Rivini tilted her cup, almost to the point of spilling it as she went deep into thought. “Our only hope is their anger abates when the Line spreads its wealth...” she whispered.
“Surely it possesses enough for everyone...?” I asked.
A crooked smile appeared as she laughed. “Who can say? I've tried to ask, at least indirectly... but that man simply circles it. You'd think so, what with the size of that Line... but at the same time he acts as if he plans on leaving once he's finished,” she said.
Leaving? Why would he leave after just trading with our House...?
“He did agree to trade with them afterward,” I said.
“Heh. Agreed to the idea of trade, yes... but he didn't say h
e would,” she corrected.
For a long moment I wondered if she was correct. Would such a simple, and silly, play on words really be his intention?
Though, maybe...
Maybe he planned on leaving, not because he had acquired all he wanted... but rather the opposite.
After all, what had we given in exchange for all the wealth now stored in our House?
Gold? Trinkets? Gems? Shining rocks and heavy metals that half the time couldn't even be used to make weapons or tools?
Worthless things that were everywhere. Maybe he realized that such items were all that any of the Houses had, and chose to move on to the next location.
“Maybe we really don't have a choice,” Rivini said as she put the cup up against her forehead, as if to cool herself.
My back stiffened at her words, and my stomach sank.
“Be ready, Telleya,” she warned.
Saying nothing, I simply nodded... accepting my fate.
Chapter Fourteen – A Promise and a Slip
“Job's finished, Commander,” Sarley said as she huffed into my office.
“Well done. Everything go well?” I asked.
“Perfectly fine. As you said, they're all too desperate to do anything suspicious,” she said.
Glancing up at her, I noticed that her expression matched the strange tone she had just given me.
“Well?” I asked, wondering why I had to ask at all. Sarley normally told me even if I didn't want to hear it.
She nodded, and let loose a sigh. “They're definitely panicking. Two of those... elders? Got into a heated argument right in front of us,” she said.
“Over what?”
“Us carrying the goods openly through the city. The woman argued there was no other option, and the man... the one with white hair, said that now the other Houses have no choice but to go into motion. Something along the lines of us forcing their hands,” she explained.
“Hm. I fail to see how it is our problem,” I said.
“I don't think they necessarily thought it was ours either. I think they're just worried over themselves,” she concluded.
“Indeed. After all, they didn't even have enough people to procure the goods,” I said, sighing.
Normally I would have never allowed my people to assist in the unloading and transportation of such things... at least not within the city itself. Off the Front-Line was one thing, but making them work in unknown conditions? It was both unsafe and foolish.
Thankfully everyone had been alright with it.
“It wasn't that bad. A little hot, but...” she shrugged, deciding not to finish her statement.
“Thank you again Sarley. Let everyone know I appreciate their efforts,” I said.
“Oh don't worry. We all know. You're going to crack open some of the finer barrels tonight after all,” she said.
Glancing up to her wide smile, I sighed and nodded. She happily clapped, then gave me a quick salute. “Off to close the Line then, sir,” she said then hurried out of my office.
Exquisite alcohol was a small price to pay for my people's happiness... But it still hurt. After all, my people for some reason had expensive tastes... they always expected the best.
Maybe it was my fault for spoiling them so much.
Before forgetting, I wrote down the order to hold a feast tonight with the finest alcohol we had. It was painful to write when I knew just how much it would cost me, but at the same time I looked forward to enjoying it alongside them.
While I wrote, my cousin coughed.
“I wasn't ignoring you,” I said.
“Of course not,” he said from his chair.
“Just give me the quick rundown,” I said.
“Another week. Internal stuff is all fixed, as you prioritized... but there are several large outer layer problems that need to be addressed. Especially one near the bridge,” he said.
“Have them work at night, I don't want them dealing with fire catalysts in this heat anymore than they have to,” I said.
“Of course,” he said.
Finishing the feast order slip, I slid it along my desk for Jamthi. He took it happily, his eyes quickly scanning the contents. As he did so he reached over and grabbed a loose pen, but he didn't get to writing.
With a small whistle he nodded. “Wow, I don't even need to add anything. That happy with our results?” he asked.
“I'm simply a magnanimous lord,” I said haughtily.
He laughed as he tossed the pen at me.
“So you really do plan on leaving then? What about the other Houses?” he asked.
“I'll trade with them, but the moment the Front-Line is ready we're leaving. So they have until then,” I said.
“That's not what you promised.”
“I promised I'd trade with them all, not that I'd do so equally or forever,” I responded.
“Hmph. Well, I doubt it'll take long to trade with other Houses anyway. At least the larger ones. They won't need us to help them unload after all,” Jamthi said.
“Indeed. What took the Derri several days won't take the others any time at all... in fact the rest of the Houses should be long prepared as well, if they have any sense of business amongst them,” I said.
In fact, most of the Houses should be swift and easy to deal with... possibly even only taking a day or two each, at the worst. If my cousin was correct and we could have all repairs finished in a week, I could most likely have a majority of the trading done by then as well.
Smooth and easy. I liked it.
“Will the other Houses be giving us... sealed goods as well? Or was that deal only with the Derri,” Jamthi asked.
“Most likely,” I said.
“It's bothering some of your people, Noth... You're usually far more open during business with us. Why the secrecy?”
“I told you, I'll tell you when I can,” I said.
“Isn't that now? Nearly a whole compartment is full. A whole compartment,” he repeated himself to emphasize his meaning.
“There's nothing dangerous in them. It's just goods,” I said.
“Goods you won't let us see,” he corrected.
“And if I showed you, you'd have to keep it a secret as well. And others would know that I showed you, insinuating favoritism... or is it nepotism, since you're family? Much to my regret,” I said.
“Sure. You showed Yevin though?” he asked.
“Hm? How'd you know?” There was no way Yevin said anything...
“Several workers saw you and him entering the compartment last night.”
“Doesn't mean I showed him...” I grumbled.
Jamthi smirked, and I could already see the many jokes and methods he wanted to use them in thanks to my comment.
Raising my hand in defeat, to avoid the hours of teasing, I simply nodded. “I showed him. He asked,” I said.
“I asked!”
“The difference is you ask for everything! All the time! When Yevin asks for something...” I gestured, since I didn't need to finish my sentence.
Jamthi wasn't just joking around; a part of him was being serious. But even he had to nod and accept defeat on this matter. “True... It is a little odd he asked. Did he say why?”
“Course he didn't. But, as you can see, he's happy with what he saw, correct?” I asked.
“I suppose... you're not writhing on the ground in pain, nor deposed, so I guess it can't be that bad...”
“Why are those the only other options...?” I grumbled.
Granted when talking about Yevin, those were normally the things you'd associate with him if you lost his faith and trust...
“Well, if Yevin's happy I guess we should all be too. I'll let everyone know,” Jamthi said with a sigh.
“You'll take his happiness as reassurance over my own?” I asked.
“Of course we would! Really, cousin,” he said with an exasperated sigh.
“I'm hurt,” I said, feigning pain.
“Take that pain to heart then. Don't fo
rget you made even Yevin speak up and ask what was going on. Yevin!” Jamthi said as he stood.
For a long moment I stared into my cousin's eyes, and I saw the seriousness of them.
It was more than simple curiosity. It was also more than the many complaints by others who were probably curious or concerned as well... it was something deeper.
He had been hurt that I hadn't told him.
“I see. I apologize. In a few days I'll show you, and everyone else, I promise. Just wait until then,” I said.
“Alright. I'm going to hold you to that,” he said.
I nodded.
“Going to give this to the cooks,” he said, holding up my feast request slip.
“Please do.”
“Commander!” a new voice entered the room, but from down the hall. My cousin and I glanced out the door and watched a young woman run to us.
The ensign made quick work of the hallway, her quick pace fitting her position.
“Speak,” I said once she reached my room.
“A guard, or something like it, from the House of Markith is here to speak with you... he's uh, serious about it,” she said.
The way she spoke, and the way her eyes stayed on the ground and didn't come up to meet mine concerned me.
“Guess the cooks can wait,” Jamthi said, putting the slip into his pocket.
“Sarley wouldn't like that,” I said as I stood and headed for the Front-Line's exit.
Unlike the young ensign, I was not going to rush. She had acted oddly in reporting the information, but hadn't said there was danger or a problem. So there was no need to.
Since it was still early in the day, the Front-Line was still open. Not just to allow my people to make necessary repairs, but also to let them enjoy the outside world beyond the metal and magic. It wasn't every day we got to experience it after all.
The downside to this, however... was that outsiders, like this guard, could simply walk up and demand to see me at a moment's notice. It was annoying, but it was a price I had to pay.
One of many...
“Over there sir,” the ensign guided us with a point of her finger, but didn't follow us to him... and Jamthi and I understood why rather quickly.
A muscular man stood at the exit of the Front-Line, on the ramp that was connected to the stone wall. He was alone, and the nearest person to him was one of Yevin's men.