Railroad Rising: The Blackpowder Rebellion

by J. P. Wagner

  “Our men are armed with a brace of wheel-lock pistols each, plus a sword, and are all trained to fight as cavalry or, at need, as foot. Three of every ten are also trained in combat magic. Unfortunately, our most skilled combat magician was required to march north, and it has not yet been determined whether he has survived.”

  “Thank you, Captain; we will discuss this situation later on. For now, my wife and I need to find our quarters and freshen up after a very long ride.”

  “Of course, Lord.” Captain Gwaim’nash stepped back, and the steward snapped his fingers at some servants, who rushed forward to take charge of leading them to their quarters and having their luggage carried in and placed in its appropriate rooms.

  Chapter 13

  Somewhat later, Carrtog and Addy were enjoying a glass of wine together in a small drawing room. They had changed out of their traveling clothes and were beginning to relax from the trip. Addy wore a gold dress with a reddish-brown jacket fastened by two black frogs. Carrtog wore his family plaid topped by a white shirt with lace at the collar and cuffs, with a loose black jacket, also fastened by three black frogs.

  “Well, Addy, my dearest, how are you finding it in your new home?”

  She chuckled. “It seems I was wrong. The servants all seem to be trying their hardest not to act as if they were superior to a new bride. They almost apologize for knowing more about the workings of this house than I do.”

  Carrtog pursed his lips. “Consider what they must know of us; you have been a lady-in-waiting to the king’s daughter, and I am a jumped-up younger son promoted for saving that same king’s daughter. In their view, we must both feel that all our servants should treat us as two steps lower than Gods; you because of your nearness to royalty, me because I’m still a little unsure of my actual status. Every one of them is at least a little afraid that either of us may take the least offense as a reason to cast any or all of them out of their positions, without a reference, and you know what that means for them?”

  “It almost certainly means that they will never find another household job, leaving them to take whatever jobs can be found, if any.”

  “Well,” Carrtog said, “all we can do is demonstrate, as time goes on, that we are more fair than they expect, leading,” he continued, smiling “to the time when we will eventually have to demonstrate that we will not put up with unsatisfactory service. But they shall learn to live with us, and we shall learn to live with them, I hope.”

  #

  The bedchamber was lit by several beeswax candles, expensive, but without the odor of tallow, or of oil lamps. Addy was dressed in a plain white nightgown, tied at the waist with a narrow sash.

  “I apologize,” Carrtog said, “for the much delayed wedding night.”

  “No, no, no, my dear, no apologies are necessary. All in all I think this is best, to start our lives together in the house that will be ours together.”

  He smiled and took her into his arms. “And thank you for that thought, my dearest.” He kissed her.

  #

  Lugan had just finished explaining the state of the land’s finances and was leaning back in quiet pride. “As you can see, Lord, the land is in good condition. We have maintained the expenses for upkeep of tenants’ properties at a reasonable level, so that the income is still favorable.”

  “That report is indeed encouraging, Lugan, seeing as we have some resources at our disposal I should like to start construction on a machine-shed of medium size. It should contain a smithy and have enough space to build a steam engine, perhaps two. I also wish to experiment with gliders, but for these I foresee using only some sort of large tent which can be erected and taken down as necessary. Of course, I do not expect to do all these things at once, but to take them on as funds permit. The machine-shed is the first priority. Would you look into this as soon as possible, and let me know how matters stand?”

  The bailiff frowned. “I will see how matters stand. It would be best if we could make this machine-shed large enough to deal with production and repair of various landholders’ tools and equipment, and thus defray some of the costs. As for the gliders, I’m not familiar enough with them to be aware of any possibilities of using them to make money.”

  “I hadn’t expected these endeavors to necessarily make money, though any means of partially defraying expenses would be all to the good. The main purposes are experimentation.”

  Lugan’s frown deepened. “Lord, your lands provide quite a reasonable sum annually, but to toss away any significant part of that sum on mere toys and the like is hardly the best use of those funds.”

  Carrtog frowned himself. “So long as I do not overspend the limits of the funds available, I fail to see the problem. And the sort of thing I plan to build could hardly be called ‘toys.’ Furthermore, referring to your lord’s deepest interests in that manner is not the kind of behavior I expect from my subordinates.”

  Lugan flushed. “My apologies, your Lordship. Of course, as you have seen in the records, your estate, while not perhaps wealthy, can still afford to undertake some new building. And while it would be preferable to produce something that could in some way defray at least some part of the cost, it is, after all, your land to do with as you will.”

  “Fine, then. Be assured that I have no intention of overspending the limits of my income. Also, if there is any way of making my projects help pay for themselves, I will not be averse to that. Indeed, if you yourself can come up with a means of using the projects to help fund themselves, please bring that to my attention. So long as it does not interfere unduly with the aim of the project, I will give it serious consideration.”

  He couldn’t tell by the man’s expression whether or not Lugan believed that promise, but only time would tell.

  “One further thing, Lord, when had you wished to start the building on this project?”

  “I would actually like to begin work as soon as possible. I was thinking it might be possible to hire some workmen from the village.” I was also thinking that the king might demand my return to the capital at any moment, so I’d like to get started before that happens. But you don’t need to know that.

  The bailiff shook his head doubtfully. “The tradition is to hire your own tenants as much as possible for building on your own lands. Not that you cannot hire whomever you please, but it will make your tenants unhappy, and thus unwilling to do their best for you.”

  Carrtog considered this; he knew there were steadings on which the lord and his family thought it beneath them to deal with any menial labor. This was not the case on Tsingallik estate, and particularly not for third sons. He remembered very well the days when he had overseen work parties, the various things that could affect the willingness of the people to do the work and thus the actual outcome of the work itself.

  On the other hand— “Are the rents so onerous that the people are seriously dependent on other income?”

  Lugan drew himself up. “The rents here are no higher than anywhere else of comparable size, and indeed, lower than some. It is only that the custom is to offer work first to the tenants, and only then to people other than tenants. Going against that custom, however, will cause discontent.”

  Carrtog nodded. “I understand. I would like to have work done on the main work-shed as soon as possible, though. I understand that having a full work-crew involved at that may not be immediately feasible, only see to it that one is in place. If there are not enough men for the task available immediately from among the tenants then please hire additional workers from the village. I will also wish to employ certain young men, capable young men, with good heads on their shoulders, to assist me in my work.”

  Lugan looked doubtful. “You’ll not likely find young men on any of the farms capable of dealing with magic, Lord.”

  “You might find yourself surprised, there, Lugan. However, my plan does not require young men to become magicians, but more
to assist me in my work in mechanics. For that, though, I think we’d best be looking among the villagers.”

  “You think so, Lord?”

  “I do. Unless, that is, my smith has an apprentice he is willing to part with. Much of my assistant’s duties will involve work more akin to the smithy, and even then, not quite completely similar.”

  The bailiff took on a thoughtful look. “Lord, a man on one of your farms typically has several sons, so as to have one to take on the farm when he passes on. However, he cannot divide the farm among several sons, which means finding places for his other sons, typically apprenticing them to tradesmen. I think I might be able to find a young man suitable for your purposes.”

  Carrtog raised his brows. “I will need a capable young man, Lugan, not someone who is too much trouble to place anywhere.”

  “Not at all, Lord! The young man I have in mind is quite capable.”

  Carrtog still wondered. His bailiff had gone from general disapproval of his lord’s plans to seeming enthusiasm for him to employ one particular young man, which seemed a little suspicious. Well, if this young man was totally unsuited, Carrtog need not take him on.

  “Bring the young man to me when you can, then, and I will see how he suits.”

  #

  On their third day at Carrtog’s new estate, a message came from the capital. A messenger was sent to find Carrtog where he was out looking over his acres. The bailiff insisted on accompanying him, and the man had a slight expression of disapproval on his face, as though he were almost insulted that his lord did not take his word for the state of things among his tenants.

  Carrtog, for his part, felt that simply taking the bailiff’s word as truth was the first step in letting things slide to a point where he had no idea what was happening at all. If the man were annoyed at this … well better he be annoyed than that Carrtog get a rude shock when he get set to undertake an expense only to find that he could not afford it.

  The messenger, a young farmer’s son riding a plough-horse without a saddle, came up to them at as near a canter as his mount could manage. He slid down off the horse and bowed, saying in a very thick local accent, “My Lord, there’s a Royal Courier waiting on you at the House. They told me to take a horse so as to find you the quicker.”

  The bailiff undertook to respond. “Well done, Nwalan. You have brought us the message. Go tell them that his Lordship will be in very soon, then be about your tasks.”

  Lugan turned to Carrtog. “Will you come in immediately, Lord, or finish your inspection first?”

  Carrtog was on the verge of telling the man that he ought to have let his lord answer for himself, then he realized that Lugan had really said no more than that he, Carrtog, would come in soon, but not how soon or late, so he might as well let it go.

  “I believe that if the king has seen fit to send a courier to find me, I’d best not dilatory in hearing what the king has to say. Let’s go in now; we can always finish this inspection another time.” If the king does not demand I load myself up and present myself before him as soon as possible.

  He was not about to demonstrate too great a fear of the king that he come in at a gallop to hear the king’s message, nor would he come at such a slow pace as the courier might report to the king as insulting, but rather at a pace that might be called at least brisk.

  When they arrived, though, they found there had been a mistake. When Carrtog approached the courier, he asked, “You have a message for me?”

  The courier, a stocky man, presently covered with the dust and sweat of a long ride, looked surprised. “No, Lord, there has been some mistake. My message is from the Princess Ellevar , to the Lady Adengler.”

  There was immediate shock among the servants who had first met the man and assumed that the message was from the king to the Lord Carrtog. He could almost see the sudden fear among them, the near certainty that some, if not all of them, would be dismissed immediately.

  The highest ranked among them immediately knelt before Carrtog. “I’m sorry, sir, the fault is mine. Please don’t be blaming the rest. I ought not to have made the assumptions I did!”

  “Get up, man,” Carrtog said. “Let’s not make the matter worse by continuing delays. Send someone immediately to find the Lady Adengler to let her know.”

  The man got up and sent one of the maids, one who seemed the least flustered by the situation. While they waited, Carrtog asked, “Has no one offered this man a cup of water, at the very least?”

  The courier spoke up then. “It is not allowed for me to take any refreshment until such time as my message has been delivered, Lord.”

  So everyone stood around feeling foolish until Addy appeared. Addy looked around, seeming bewildered, then the Courier turned toward her. “Lady Adengler?”

  “Yes?” she said, doubtfully.

  He held out a rolled message for her. “A message for you from the Princess Ellevar .”

  She took it, looking at it first as though she were sure there must be some mistake, but she read the address, which appeared to be correct, then she reached into the purse at her waist, took out a coin, and handed it to the man.

  He looked at it, and said, “Lady, are you sure you mean to give this much?”

  She had turned her attention to the message, but when he spoke, she looked back at him. “Of course. It means at least that much to me, and you have had a long journey. I hope you can be allowed to at least have a meal and a bed under our roof and another meal in the morning before you leave.”

  “My extreme thanks, most gracious Lady.”

  The servants, rushing to make up for the previous error, immediately led the man away. Adengler looked up at Carrtog. “If you don’t mind, I’d prefer to read this in private, first.”

  He shrugged. “It’s your letter. You need never read it to me at all, if you don’t wish.”

  She smiled, and went into another room.

  Carrtog dismissed the bailiff. “You might as well go, Lugan; I doubt I will wish to continue my inspection today. Another day perhaps.”

  #

  Carrtog took a seat in a somewhat overstuffed armchair looking out over the front lawn while he waited for Addy to finish reading the letter and to decide what part of it, if any, she should make known to her husband.

  He remembered as a boy making secret forays into his older sister’s letters from her friends and being disgusted to find it mostly about clothes and the prospects (and results) of balls they had been allowed to attend, and the charms of certain as-yet unmarried men. Though, there had also been the occasional statement which seemed to be replies to his sister’s complaints about “that pest, Carrtog.”

  He grimaced at that memory; looking back, he could see that he had indeed been a pest. He hoped he had improved since then; well, he must have. After all, Addy had agreed to marry him.

  And suddenly, Addy was entering the room again, carrying the letter, and wearing an expression of at least mild concern.

  “Does the princess say anything of import?”

  “She does. Listen to this:” She took up the letter, found a place, and began to read. “’Da was somewhat fierce about your rushing off to leave the palace and go to Nandycargllwyd. Fortunately he talked to me about it, since he didn’t want to hurt me by punishing the both of you too badly. I was able to point out to him that Lord Carrtog had begged his pardon in advance, and made a great point out of agreeing to come back immediately if Da wished it, so he calmed down somewhat. He probably will send for Lord Carrtog in a while, but he’s no longer so fierce about the whole matter.’”

  She looked up at Carrtog. “If you’d be willing to take some advice from me on the topic, I’d suggest we start back to the capital sometime before the king sends for you. To come before he calls you might well ameliorate whatever anger he has built up by that time.”

  Carrtog nodded. “Thank you. A
nd you should never fear to offer me advice. I have no notion that I know or can think of everything, and I’m sure that anything you tell me will likely have some good sense behind it.”

  She smiled, a little doubtfully. “I suspect you have too much faith in me. For my part, I’m quite sure that I’m as capable as anyone of giving poor advice.”

  He grinned at her. “Nonsense! You had enough sense to marry me, didn’t you?”

  She laughed at that. “Are you sure that shows good sense, or utter foolishness? After all, you’re steering very close to offending the king.”

  #

  The next morning, Bragan the Steward informed Carrtog that the bailiff had brought a young man to see him.

  Ah, yes, the young man he recommended.

  “Tell them I will be right out.”

  When he came out, he found the bailiff waiting with a young man obviously of a farming family. The man was slender, but muscular, with a face that revealed intelligence.

  There was also a trace of concern in his expression, which Carrtog understood as well. For the son of a farm-holder, being brought to the attention of the Lord of the Estate could mean many things, not all of them favorable.

  The young man bowed deeply, and Lugan said, “Lord Carrtog, this is Gryff, son of Llych, of Cwmddon Farm. I believe he might be a suitable candidate to serve as your assistant.”

  Carrtog looked at the young man, then at the bailiff. “I assume you have reasons to suggest him as my assistant, other than that he has the sense to show up before me fairly clean and well-dressed?”

  Being clean and well-dressed is not easy for a boy on a farm-hold.

  “I do, Lord. I understand that, as a small boy, young Gryff tried to gather enough material to build a small water-wheel in the creek that runs by their holding. At the age of twelve, he put both his parents into a fret when he ran away to look at the new railway train. I understand he earned something of a hiding for that one.”