Grains of Sand

by Varian Morn

  “Loading what's rightfully mine. Got to earn something for this headache after all,” I said with a wave to the stack of crates.

  “Hm. This all from the House of Hombil?” she asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Looks like a lot more than what we had to give,” she said.

  “Thrice more, to be exact.”

  She didn't seem too bothered by my statement, and even seemed to smile a little as if it was a good thing.

  Maybe to her it was... after all, it meant this plan was going well. The other Houses would be happy, which meant there wouldn't be a need for war... which meant her House would be happy.

  Which should make her happy.

  Right?

  “So? Why don't you go back to work then? I'll be fine,” she said.

  “Yevin took over,” I groaned.

  “Ah. Well I guess when that man wants something, you just kind of give it to him,” she said with a nod.

  “Oh? Who'd you hear that from?” I asked, and wondered if it had been Jamthi or Sarley.

  “No one? Look at him. He could eat a grown man alive,” she said with a point.

  I laughed at that, and wished he had been close enough to hear her say such a thing. He'd have laughed too.

  She smiled at me, as if pleased she had been capable of making me laugh.

  “Well, I've told Sarley and Jamthi to cater to you. They have a whole slew of things planned for you. I'm actually a little envious to be honest,” I said.

  “Huh...?” She didn't seem to understand, so I nodded and gestured to another hallway.

  “Head down that hall and go up the first stairwell on your right. Two floors up, you'll find them near the command stations. If you can't find them, just grab any of the people you pass and tell them to guide you,” I explained.

  “But...!”

  I pretended not to hear her, and continued, “They'll take care of you. I even gave them permission to let you drink. Though in moderation please, remember tomorrow we'll have work to do for a short time,” I said.

  Her face told me she was offended, and wasn't going to have any of it, but I went ahead and nodded anyway.

  “I'm working. I'll be here for most the night. Then tomorrow I'll be doing the same, just in different rooms. You can either sit here watching, which is boring, or you can go enjoy the Front-Line. Shouldn't even be a choice, really,” I said.

  “You're just trying to pass me off as if I was a burden,” she said softly.

  “Not so. I'm a Commander of a Line. It's my job to put resources to use. And that's what I'm doing with you, and my people.”

  “I'm not a child,” she said.

  Her stern tone told me she had been serious, and it was kind of amusing to see her somewhat angry.

  “No. You're not,” I agreed. “However, you are a guest. A guest of the Front-Line, in fact. And all guests deserve to be treated with respect, and pampered... even if they're forced upon me. Enjoy the Front-Line, wife, you'll find none better in this world,” I said with a smile, waving her away.

  Luckily she not only kept her mouth shut, but also kept her feet in place as I left her behind. I had half expected her to follow me.

  Walking back to Yevin, I took my place next to him as the next crate came in.

  “That was quick,” Yevin said.

  “She'll spend the next week on the Line, spending all her time drowning in luxuries and out of my hair,” I said with pleased satisfaction.

  I should have thought of it the moment I saw how she acted with the liquor. It hadn't clicked until Sarley had told me how much she enjoyed the meal they had together.

  Someone like her, who’s never enjoyed any kind of life's finer enjoyments won't be able to ignore them. Especially not when everyone around her keeps her distracted with them.

  It was the perfect plan for someone like her.

  Yevin released a sigh as large as he, and shook his head at me.

  “You marry her then,” I grumbled, and went back to work.

  Chapter Twenty Nine – Her Plan

  So... he planned to get rid of me.

  Or at least, he planned to keep me at a distance except for when I was needed.

  I couldn't blame him really. It might have been something I would have done if I were in his position.

  Maybe.

  I stood around and watched him and the rest for a short while, but realized he had been honest with me.

  He really was going to be working here for some time.

  Although I didn't find it too boring... I did find it boring when I compared it to the other things I could be doing here.

  There was food to eat, drinks to enjoy... people to meet... sights to see...

  Unable to resist such a wide range of urges, I decided to play along with his stupid little order.

  Go be a guest on his Line? Enjoy all it had to offer?

  Sure. I would.

  I'll enjoy it to the extreme. After all, I now had his explicit permission...

  Heading down the hallway he had pointed to, I quickly found the stairwell he had mentioned and ascended it.

  It didn't take long to find rooms full of people, but I couldn't find Jamthi or Sarley. I ended up just walking amongst the crowded halls in search for them.

  People were chatting, discussing everything from the sand that was in their shoes, to the hot sun beating down upon them... As I walked, I found it somewhat amusing that even here in the Line, most of the topics of conversation were exactly the same as any other road in the city.

  Maybe it was just how people were...

  “Still can't believe you bet against him. Commander might always get the short end of the stick, but at the end he always gets what he wants,” a man said.

  Passing him and three others, I had to walk closer to the right side of the hallway since they were spread out so much... and didn't even seem to notice me as I passed.

  “Gets what he wants? He just got sold off for a dowry!” another man said, laughing.

  “Shut up Dave. I just lost a whole month's pay, I'll be sponging off you till next payday,” another man warned.

  “So nothing new?” another said, and the group laughed again.

  Although the conversation was a little more interesting than the others I've been hearing, it wasn't interesting enough to stop and listen into. So I hurried along.

  Rounding a corner, I nearly bumped into another group of people who were standing in the hallway and talking.

  Somewhat annoyed by them, I navigated myself around them as they too ignored me. What was this, some kind of weird way of teasing me? Or was it just because they all lived in such close quarters all the time, so they were so used to people walking by close enough to touch?

  “Can you blame the woman? Commander's a softy, but only to us. We all know what happens when you get on his bad side,” the man I passed said.

  Slowing down, I turned around and studied the men and I found myself smiling at the way the three men smirked and agreed with their comrade. As if they were all remembering such scenes clearly.

  “Still, it's not often you see someone kowtow like that. Think any of the others will do that too? Maybe I should bet on it,” another man said.

  Kowtow?

  Noth had said Nevi had come to apologize... he hadn't mentioned that she had prostrated herself so.

  Although I should be startled, I was instead rather excited to hear it.

  So even the great and powerful leaders of one of the most powerful Houses occasionally had to do the same thing we lower caste people did, huh?

  But... there was no way to tell just who they were speaking of. Noth had left out that they had prostrated themselves, he may have also left out names and Houses... So...

  I had to find out who they meant exactly.

  “Excuse me,” I said as I stepped up closer to them.

  The four men turned to look at me, and spent a good long moment studying me. For a brief moment I wondered if the four men had no cl
ue who I was, and if I'd have to go through the trouble of explaining it.

  “Oh! Miss Noth!” one of them suddenly became excited, and drew close to me. I had to step back because of how quickly he had done so.

  “Y...yes?”

  “So this's her? Henry said she was taller...” another man said, also drawing closer.

  “Get away, you're botherin' her. What'd you need?” the first man then said, pushing the others back... as if he himself hadn't been the first to rapidly approach me.

  “I was just wondering if you could tell me who had come and apologized earlier... or what House they had belonged to,” I said.

  “Ah... Sorry, I'm not sure. Was an old woman though,” the first man said.

  “I see.”

  “Homby something,” one of the men in the back said, smiling at me as if he wanted a reward for remembering part of it.

  “House of Hombil. Yes, thank you. May the Sands be gentle to you this day,” I said and bowed a little.

  “Don't mention it!” another man said, one who hadn't provided any information at all.

  The four men happily waved me off as I walked away, and I was glad they let me go. I knew from experience talking to Sarley that they were sometimes... overbearing.

  “Invite us to the wedding!” one of them shouted, but I didn't look behind or say anything to that... since after all, I had no idea if there even would be a wedding.

  Or even if there was one, who knew if I even had any authority to invite anyone to it.

  With the mental image of the Hombil elders bowing in front of another, basically begging, put a small skip into my step. It was a great image, and I hoped to one day see the elders of Derri join them on the floor.

  Hurrying along, I happily spent some time walking around the Front-Line.

  Although this time I kept an eye out, and made sure to stay in the areas where there were people... I also tried to examine the larger rooms I occasionally passed.

  The hallways became boring after awhile, after all.

  One of the first interesting things I found... was a farm.

  Or at least, what I thought was one.

  Three rows of plants, which were each growing in their own little containers, filled a long hallway.

  The ceiling was made up of both bright lights, and glass panels... and somehow water dripped from the ceiling as well, in a light mist.

  There were several people here, seemingly tending the crops, and I wondered who could have thought of this.

  Growing food... a farm, inside?

  Would this work even for us?

  Though, maybe we didn't need it... at least not anymore, with all the supplies given by Noth.

  Walking in-between the rows, I noticed that most of the plants here were young. Not even grown enough to have started growing whichever fruit or vegetable they produced.

  While walking, I realized that this was probably a once in a lifetime sight. What little greenery still existed in the city, were closely guarded and protected... No House would allow me, a woman of Derri, anywhere near them.

  Even with the seeds and wealth given to us, depending on how long it took to grow them... I may not live long enough to actually see such abundant life again.

  I lingered in the room a little longer than I should have, and it became noticeable when the top part of my shirt started to seep with water.

  As I left, I vowed to remember its location so I could visit again.

  For a short while I walked without paying much attention to where I was going.

  I was too busy trying to imagine how much food and water it took to feed six thousand people... especially for long trips such as what a Line performed.

  They were obviously capable of it... since they made it here, and weren't starving to death like my people were...

  And they hadn't wanted food at all. At least not in direct trade.

  They wanted non-perishables... Jewelry, and metals. Things one could not eat.

  Rounding a corner, I flinched when the world got bright.

  Thanks to experiencing it once before, I already expected what I'd find once my eyes adjusted... but I hadn't expected it to be so different.

  The window wasn't as large as some of the others I had seen, thanks to the lowness of the ceiling... but it was somehow curved. Half the room was glass, and it felt almost as if we were outside because of it.

  “Well look at that. I do believe that's our Commander's young guest.”

  Looking around for the source of the voice, I quickly found a pair of old folks sitting on a nearby bench.

  I smiled and nodded to them, as usual, but quickly returned to looking at the pretty window instead.

  Or at least, I was going to.

  Glancing back to the pair, I realized the two were indeed older... Probably the oldest people I've met so far on the Front-Line.

  And for that reason alone, I decided to ignore the window, and approach them.

  Giving the two a small bow, I made sure to do so in the manner of respect. “I am Telleya. Wife of Noth, and daughter to the House of Derri.”

  The two studied me for a moment, and then gave me a pair of kind smiles. “Welcome, Telleya, to the Front-Line. Want to join us?” the woman asked, patting the seat next to her.

  “Would be my pleasure,” I said, and promptly accepted the seat.

  Although it was a little hard, it was warm thanks to the bright sun and windows.

  Actually... the room was somewhat cold, compared to what it should be. Those giant windows, and our sun, should have made this smaller room uncomfortably hot... but it wasn't. It was actually very comfortable.

  Must be part of the Front-Line's magic.

  “How's the Front-Line been treating you so far, young lady?” the man asked from the other side of the bench.

  “So far it's been nice. I've not seen a lot of it yet, however,” I said.

  The woman nodded, staring out the window. “There is a lot to see. And always stuff is changing, so you have to eventually see it all again,” she said.

  “You've lived here long?” I asked.

  “Most our lives,” the woman happily said.

  I was quite surprised to hear that... since I had somewhat expected there to be a limit to how long one could live on the Line, or rather... work it.

  After all, didn't each person need to work? These two were old enough that there was probably not much they could do...

  And unlike my people, the people of the Front-Line didn't seem to automatically give the eldest the rights to govern or lead.

  Though maybe they were some kind of leaders in their own way, I've just not encountered them yet.

  “Have you enjoyed it?” I asked.

  “Why yes. Thoroughly,” she answered with a smile.

  “Hard not to,” the man agreed.

  “Doesn't it get... dangerous?” I asked.

  “On occasion,” the woman said.

  “Not too long before we arrived here, we had encountered a large beast. Some kind of creature that lived in the sands. It was bigger than the Line, and had lots of mouths, I guess,” the man added.

  “Hm. Our son spent many days helping them fix the holes it caused,” the woman said.

  So they had a son...?

  No... More importantly, if what they were saying was true then...

  “You encountered a Sand Goliath?” I asked in disbelief.

  “Hm? Is that what they're called?”

  The two were obviously telling the truth... at least, as far as they understood it. But it made no sense...

  A Sand Goliath, even a small one, was many times larger than a Line. Even this one. And there were plenty of legends of them devouring Lines with ease... in fact, it was one of the main reasons as to why Lines were said to have stopped coming to our city.

  “I'm surprised... Sand Goliath's have destroyed many Lines,” I said softly.

  “Hmph. The Front-Line isn't like other Lines. It'll take a tad more than that to bring he
r down,” the man boldly proclaimed, as if he himself had been one of the men who helped fight the beast off.

  “He still remembers fighting on the decks, back in his youth,” the woman said with a large smile, obviously long used to his antics.

  “I was great!” the old man proudly added.

  “He actually was,” she agreed, smiling at him.

  “So you've been serving Noth since the beginning?” I asked.

  “Beginning? No? But longer than most, that's for sure,” the man laughed, as if it was a joke.

  But they had just said they've lived here most their lives...? Or was he just making fun of me, or playing some silly game?

  Or maybe they meant the previous owners. After all, they were far older than Noth.

  “Many of us have been lost lately... Poor Old Tom passed in the battle on the way here,” the woman said softly.

  “Ah... Old fool got to go out in style. Always knew he would,” the old man added, and I could hear that he wasn't being disrespectful but quite the opposite.

  “Old Tom?”

  “Our old Medical Officer. His apprentice took his position... what was her name again, dear?” the old man asked.

  “Kana. A lovely girl. Has just the fire needed to keep up with Noth,” she said.

  “Oh! I met her. She was nice,” I said, agreeing with the old woman.

  “I'm sure she was! Maybe I'll hurt my back later and go see her...” the old man said, chuckling to himself.

  The old woman sighed, but didn't seem concerned or bothered. She really was used to him.

  Smiling at the two, I felt like I was young again... I couldn't remember the last time I had seen such an elderly couple actually...

  Well...

  Acting like a couple.

  “Speaking of Old Tom... how is Noth doing you think? He doing alright?” the old man asked.

  “Course he isn't. Were you alright when you heard he was dead?” the woman asked back.

  “Uh...”

  “He cried for two whole days,” she told me, in a hushed tone.

  “It was only one!” he argued.

  I wasn't entirely sure who they were speaking of, but I got the gist of it pretty well. Kana's predecessor... her mentor. And whoever he was must have been important... or at least well liked.