The eldest amongst the Bar-Iared peered at him and did recognize him: For he was also a judge, and sat beside Kolinzio when the judges would meet.
“Yea, verily, you are Kolinzio, honourable judge amongst the Bar-Kain, if there be any honour left among your people at all. State your purpose.”
“This is Korzinthio, my son,” Kolinzio said, and laid his tender hand on his child’s tremulous head. “I have come, as is tradition, to present him to Horeb, so that the Judge of the Stars may judge his fate favourably.”
“You waste your time here, for there are no favourable fates these days. Neither do we practice such customs anymore, as pious as they are. Do you not know the Temple of Horeb is locked and sealed?”
“Bring me to Malvizio, then, that the priest might unlock and open the Temple.”
“In vain did you climb this hill. You would have found Malvizio down below, amongst your kind. There, at Bar-Kain, does Malvizio spend his days, eating and drinking with the ones responsible for all you see.”
“What happened? I beg you to explain it to me! My mind is clouded with confusion!”
“Go down! Gather the judges of your people, and we shall do the same with ours. For there is a crucial decision hanging by the thread of your vote. When we gather, all shall be clear to you. But forget not what you saw when you climbed this most hallowed and ill-treated Hill. And remind yourself—even if you are the only one amongst your kind to remember—that it was we, the Bar-Iared, who received you, the Bar-Kain, and allowed you to build your homes in our backyard, when you lived roofless and landless. Go down, with all of these things well engraved in your mind and heart!”
Kolinzio said not one word more. He placed his arm around his son’s shoulder, and turned him, and veiled him from the Bar-Iared’s scolding glare. He obeyed this mysterious commandment, even if he knew not the reason for it. As soon as father and son went down, the younger amongst the Bar-Iared’s judges asked the elder one:
“Will it be wise to gather the judges? He is a Bar-Kain, just like the others! He will not decide against his own, for his kin are already swamped to the neck with the filth of the mines!”
But the eldest of the Bar-Iared did not reply. There was some hope in his eyes, though: a hope he had seen in Kolinzio’s own eyes.
***
Kolinzio now reversed his steps: from the scarce, serene foliage of the heights, to the plentiful cacophony of the bottom of the Hill, and its depths. They passed ramparts of scaffoldings, trenches of mines, legions of furnaces, garrisons of smithies, rows of labourers. As for Korzinthio, he followed his father, hand-in-hand, and durst not utter a word. So young, and already knew what it was to not know what the future held. His father was older, indeed, yet knew neither his son’s future, nor his own. It was all so new to him, just as it was for the child.
Kolinzio went to Talizima’s house. Surely, the councilor would know what was happening. He could summon the judges. Indeed, Kolinzio found Talizima at his abode, feasting with the councilors of other southern towns. And amongst them was Malvizio, as predicted.
“Oh by Nod, if it is not our good Kolinzio!” hailed Talizima, as soon as he saw him. “I see you, and rejoice in seeing you! And who might this be, whom you bring by your hand? Ah, what a splendid child! Come, come and feast with us! How is the little lad called?”
Nod was there also, sitting with her legs crossed on the floor, combing the hair flowing profusely from her head. And she combed it with braids so intricate and twisted, it seemed like she was weaving a tapestry in a loom.
“Hail, Talizima, councilor of Enoch,” greeted Kolinzio. “This is my son, Korzinthio.” He turned to Malvizio, and said, “Your blessing upon him, oh priest. We may go to the Temple as soon as you are finished with your meal.”
Malvizio felt a shiver up his spine, just by hearing the mere mention of the Temple. Just by remembering it, he could feel the reproaching rumble issuing from Ebal’s oracle. Yea, the priest would resist it as he may:
“There is no need for that. Bring me the child, and here I shall bless him.”
Kolinzio twisted his nose, but told his son to go to the priest. The child did so, as the father had taught him. In the meantime, Kolinzio sat by Talizima’s right hand, and placed a few persimmons and figs upon his plate. Out of courtesy, not hunger, did he do this, for he wished not to display an empty dish at his host’s feast. For food, he hungered not, but for answers.
“I know the judges gathered in my absence. I beseech you, tell me what you have discussed. I believe that will help clarify much of what I see, and do not understand.”
Nod stood up, as if she had just noticed Kolinzio’s presence:
“Is it thy wish, noble Talizima, that I proclaim my message anew?”
“Not at all, gentle star. I have another mission for you. Go to Lamech and fetch Skillotz, my son. It is time to judge, once and for all.”
The sylphid bowed and faded into the air. Kolinzio spent the rest of the day at Talizima’s table, attentively hearing everything that had come to pass since he had fallen under Aigonz’s ecstasy.
***
A couple of days later, when Skillotz returned with Nod hovering over his left shoulder, he greeted Kolinzio most effusively, throwing his arms around his shoulders with the most sincere of joys. And Talizima sent for the judges at once, of Bar-Kain and Bar-Iared alike:
“Hail, oh honourable judges,” Talizima said, as they reconvened at his house. “As you all know, a decision lies unresolved. Three vote yay, and three nay, and one was absent at the time. I shall assume no mind was swayed during the course of these months, and none wishes to change his vote.” All of them agreed. “As it stands, then, we must rely now on Kolinzio. I have taken the liberty of telling him of all that has happened during his absence.”
Skillotz sat as close beside his friend as possible, and proclaimed most solemnly:
“My friend Kolinzio shall now cast his vote. He has become a father very recently, and certainly wishes not that his son perish under the heel of the looming ophalin threat. We should not be deciding on whether we protect our children, but on the best way to do so. Go, my friend. Go and take the floor, and vote. Let us move forth, for we have tarried much already at this first step.”
Kolinzio rose from his chair, and moved towards the centre of the room, away from Skillotz. His legs shook, and his forehead was drenched with thick drops of sweat.
“Hail, oh great ones from Enoch. It is indeed a great weight you place upon my shoulders. On this vote of mine, all of Enoch’s fate hangs. Perhaps, of all giantkind. Nay, even Thebel itself, for what we here decide shall ripple through history, now and forevermore. So allow me to say just this: It is a difficult choice, indeed. However, let me add that, in the midst of all this strife, you overlook something of the utmost importance. It matters not whether the Bar-Iared lose their homes to the mines, or whether the Bar-Kain lose their homes to the ophalin. Something much more foundational stands on the balance. In this sense, I know I should not place my trust on the Bar-Iared, or the Bar-Kain, or the nephilin, or the iperborin, or even the sylphs themselves… but in Aigonz alone, and I shall not be confounded.”
These words were answered with a sudden crash. A chair fell violently to the floor, as Skillotz rose like a thunderstorm over the raging sea:
“What is this you say? Would you betray the Bar-Kain, your very kin? Would you betray your councilor, to whom you owe your place as a judge? Would you betray all of the logizkal-loiffol? Would you betray even...” and his voice faltered with unfeigned emotion “...your friends?”
“I betray no one! We will find a solution! Come, let us reason together and…”
But Skillotz heard him no longer. He stormed out of the house, and sat on the porch, moping and crossing his arms. The rest of the Bar-Kain congregated around him like flies. Now they could see the decision, just by Skillotz’s posture. And Talizima then emerged from the door, confirming the unwelcome tidings:
“Hail, oh
Enoch. I come to tell you of the judges’ tally. Such was the decision: We must abandon our iron mines beneath the Hill.”
A clamour arose amongst them:
“Were all our labours in vain, then? Where shall we find enough iron for our arms and armours? How long must we search until we find it, so we may meet the ophalin in battle, and withstand the fates?”
At that moment, a spark glinted in Skillotz’s eyes. It was as if Enoch’s furnaces, fearing the day they would be put out, found a new home inside the giant’s glare; or as if the memory of all the unearthed iron buried underneath the Hill had melted inside the kiln of his skull. The blaze inside of him overflowed out of his mouth as tongues of fire:
“Where will we find it? Not far! Search no further than the Hill! Those Bar-Iared have, since the beginning, denied their arms and souls to our cause! Let me remind you that on this cause our very survival depends! Why would the overhill folk refuse their aid, if they be not spies? Yea, spies, spies for the northerner traitors, spies for the wicked ophalin! As it stands, they have forfeited their place as judges of Enoch!”
“You speak well, oh Skillotz!” the enochin said. “But even unto this day, all decisions in our village have been decided by the judges. Who shall have the authority to decide otherwise?”
“What use have we of judges? Are the judges not anointed to defend your interests? So how can a judge deliver us into the enemy’s hands? Can a traitor vote in the name of Enoch? Nay, I tell you, there is malice within them! Malice or foolishness: Either way, their votes are null, for votes are not for the malignant or the foolish!”
The Bar-Kain widened their eyes and looked at each other, amazed yet in agreement. As for Skillotz, he continued:
“Do you wish to abandon all the sweat and tears you have already invested on that Hill?”
“Nay!” they answered as in a choir.
“Have you spent days unearthing those depths for nothing? Do you wish their treasures, now at your grasp, to remain buried underneath your feet? Do you wish to trample on all your efforts?”
“Nay!!!”
“Nay, my friends! Let not the judges hinder you! Let it be known that Talizima, your councilor, stands by your side! Let him be the one to decide! What matters if decisions are made by several judges or a single one, as long as these decisions are for your good? Let Talizima decide, and no one else!”
All of Enoch turned to Talizima, and asked:
“Is this true, Talizima, our councilor?”
Talizima trembled. Yes, he was on their side… but he felt something to be amiss. He had never intended to overturn the judges’ decision, let alone the judges themselves. Yet he saw the glow inside the Bar-Kain’s eyes, a fey glow that mirrored the one in Skillotz’s gaze. And he feared them. The flames of wrath burned high, threatening to devour him too if he stood in their path. So Talizima nodded, and dared not contradict them.
Chapter
11
Kings and Slaves
The flames of wrath now burned high inside the Bar-Kain’s hearts. Talizima feared his brethren’s anger; submitting, he avoided being devoured by it. But Skillotz stoked these flames as a bellow stokes the furnace, until they burned too intensely to be left unsated. The Bar-Kain broke into the house where the judges were gathered, and dragged the three Bar-Iared by their hair.
“It is not enough to punish these three alone!” Skillotz encouraged them, as he unsheathed the Lauz-Ispariz. “There are many of this despicable race, lingering still overhill, and as complicit with the northerners as these three! But they cannot flee: The bottom of the Hill is ours, and they are trapped on its summit! We have them surrounded!”
“What punishment should we inflict upon the traitors, oh Skillotz?” the Bar-Kain cried.
“Let us take by force what the Bar-Iared unjustly denied us! For they betrayed us, either out of malice or foolishness: If it be malice, let them pay for their treason with forced labours; and if it be foolishness, let us force them to mine the iron that will save both of us, for they do not know better! For their sake, and our sake, make them mine! Make them mine, in the name of Enoch, and of Talizima, your leader!”
Talizima shuddered once more. Lacking the strength to oppose them, he kept to himself: paralyzed, his tongue dumb, his eyes agape, his pores drenched in sweat. He kept quiet, as the Bar-Kain throng hauled the three judges out of there. Kolinzio remained on the doorstep, contemplating all of these things with his jaw open, his soul horror-struck.
The Bar-Kain hordes went and followed Skillotz, blind disciples of the young giant’s footsteps. They besieged the Hill from all sides, so that no Bar-Iared could come down and escape. Then Skillotz sent a herald to Lamech to muster all of his troops. A few days later, Moruzio came from the south, brandishing Rubizioliz, and marching at the head of an army.
For the first time, Thebel could see an iron-furnished army. Above their loincloths, the giants’ torsos were covered by an iron cuirass, with mighty muscles carved on the breastplate and backplate alike. Their forearms were protected with iron vambraces, from wrist to elbow. Their legs with iron greaves, from knee to ankle. Their heads were crowned with iron helmets, which enfolded them from the chin to the nape, save for their eyes, nostrils and mouth. Frightening countenances had been sculpted into the helmets, engraving them with terrible grins and threatening grimaces. Their hands bore swords and pikes, made of the same iron as these ominous armours.
With both iron and numbers, this army was more than enough to vanquish the logizkal trapped in the summit. Skillotz intended to crush them with all his might, so to make of them an example. Now the strength of the League of Nephil would be made manifest! Skillotz ordered Moruzio: “March up yonder, and bring with you the fire of Enoch’s furnaces!”
And so he did. The army climbed the Hill and triumphed, for the Bar-Iared surrendered almost without resistance. The Bar-Kain brought torches, lit in the furnaces, and set the Bar-Iared’s houses ablaze, forcing them to watch as their homes burned to ashes. Even to Horeb’s Chapel did they bring fire. And so the Hill’s once-green tonsure became a red, smouldering, thorny crown, with a halo of painful vapours.
Afterwards, the Bar-Kain bound their brethren, and brought them down, and cast them to the depths of the mines, crying:
“You sleep there, or out in the open if you will! No roofs for those who do not deserve them! And neither will you sleep in our barracks, lest you be tempted to flee from your labours, for our tents lie at the town’s periphery.”
And out of iron, the Bar-Kain molded a new shape, no less cruel than the sword or the axe. They twisted the metal into locks, and chains, and shackles, and thus fettered the hands and feet of their prisoners. So was slavery born for the first time.
***
After capturing the Bar-Iared, the Bar-Kain went to Talizima’s house and dragged him out. And the councilor feared lest he should meet his end. But the Bar-Kain did not haul him away, nor did they chain him. Rather, they lifted him up towards the misty grey skies, as a man raises his glass up to heaven in libation. They carried him on their shoulders through the streets, and chanted:
“Talizima stood for Enoch, against Ophir, against the Republic! Talizima gave us iron, Talizima gave us peace! What need have we of councilors? What use for judges? A king we seek, a king for us! If the stars had a queen, and the ophalin a princess, then a king we shall have! King, king, Talizima, king! Hail King, Talizima, King!”
Skillotz, Talizima, and Malvizio voted for the dissolution of the judges’ council. All others abstained by their absence: The three Bar-Iared judges were imprisoned in the mines; Kolinzio had fled to his house. The mob demanded a king. Talizima could not but accept the motion. So was Talizima crowned King of Enoch, the first king that mortals had ever had.
Next, the Bar-Kain stripped him of his linen cloth, symbol of his councilorship, and threw on his shoulders a mantle made of many lion skins sewn together. They also took up one of the legendary weapons made of celestial iron. If such a we
apon would be most useful in the battlefield, so they surmised, much more usefulness would this celestial iron find in inspiring their new king. So they melted down the weapon, whose name is lost to history, and smelted a spiked crown to gird Talizima’s head and mind. And they gave this iron crown the name of Razil.
Skillotz felt inspired by these events and did the same for himself: He too had a city to lead, and he too had been a judge. But there was no place for judges anymore. So, Skillotz self-proclaimed himself King of Lamech. And when Garazin heard of this, he crowned himself King of Tubal-Kain, and Virzunz did the same for Iabal. But Perezim would only become king much later.
***
After the dissolution of the judges’ council, Kolinzio called to his house some logizkal of his trust, carefully chosen from amongst his kin. When they were gathered, he spake thus:
“My dearest brethren, this state of affairs is dismal. We are at the utter mercy of any decision Skillotz cooks in the heat of his restless blood and his bitter bile! No matter how imprudent that decision may be, Skillotz will always have the final say! It is he, not Talizima, who holds the keys to power: For the son has outgrown his father, and the father does not have the strength to go against his son! Do you doubt how grave this is? Behold what Skillotz’s folly has brought upon us! Enoch is at war against Ophir, and Ophir never wronged us! Enoch is at war against the Republic, and thus against the whole world! Enoch is at war against Aigonz, the creator himself! Behold and taste the fruits: We have cast ourselves apart from the Council of Peoples! We have burnt the sacred Temple of the Judge of the Stars! And our brethren from overhill suffer now barbaric torments, which offend the dignity of anyone with a heart of flesh beating inside his chest! Why do we wait to act? Our destruction, and our children’s destruction?! The nephilin say they want to avoid such a fate, yet they walk towards it with their own feet!”
Ironcraft Page 12