Chapter 60 - What fresh madness is this?

“You need to share the Souls, Mond,” Kril called over his shoulder as our chariot rattled towards what I hoped would become my first industrial centre. Sulk was not happy in the vehicle next to us, Klip was riding the contraption on his flank and grinning broadly at the old man's discomfort.

“I know. I’m going to spread them wide among the warriors before we head south to the festival,” I replied.

“Wide?” Kril asked suspiciously as he guided the cantering horses around a dip in the ground.

“Yeah. I’m going to give lots of the warriors one level each.” The anticipated blast of invective did not disappoint and I smirked to myself as my mentor fought to catch his breath.

“What fresh madness is this? You damn fool! We need to keep the strength among those you can trust!” he barked as a finale, earning sharp looks from Sulk and Kilp.

“Once they take the Souls they can’t betray me.” I found the link to Kril in the back of my mind and leant on it slightly. The chariot slid sideways and he shot me an angry look over his shoulder.

“You can control us? Excellent! Give a level to as many warriors as possible! Make sure you include Jagapan and his honour guard as well!” The old man crowed in delight. Glimpse circled down and replied with a caw of his own that mirrored the old man's delight. For some reason I wasn’t terribly surprised that Kril was happy at the idea of my being able to mind control my minions.

“I’ve got enough to get two hundred warriors to level one. I’m thinking the rest of the lancers then twenty five from each of the archer squadrons. The rest goes to the women,” I yelled into his ear. The bastard had sped up now he knew I could control him. Mutually assured destruction seemed like a reasonable response from the mystic.

“Use what you have left to boost up Kayla and bring her into Fay’s coven. Tie that prick of a smith to us for good!” Kril muttered quietly to me as the first sign of my latest settlement came into sight. I can’t deny that a sense of smug pride swept over me.

The waterwheel was about three metres in diameter and currently held out of the water on blocks that would be knocked away. The river ran deep and fast where the prisoners had built it, then swept away to the east. When the wheel was finally dropped into position it would drive a crank shaft that led out to a wooden gearwheel. From there three drive shafts were poised to be connected. One for grinding, one for a drop hammer and the last was as yet unallocated. Klip had half a dozen ideas for it but hadn’t made up his mind. Construction was underway to make covered work areas at the ends of the soon to be spinning beams.

We were entering the early iron age and the prospect of increased productivity beckoned like an easy mark walking alone at night on a badly lit street. A shiver ran down my spine and for a moment I felt the aura of Velkit, hammer striking anvil, encompass my body. Two gods on your side was surely better than one? Both smiths stared, Klip in glee and Sulk in confusion.

Our horses slowed and stopped outside the nascent town growing around the wheel and we jumped off the chariots.

“What the fucking hells is that thing?” snapped Sulk. Klip opened his mouth but I spoke before he could rub salt into the older man's wounds.

“It’s a waterwheel. The flow of the river drives the wheel, making it spin. That movement is sent down the primary drive shaft before being split off by the gearbox assembly into three separate rotations. Once it’s up and running this wheel will provide constant power for grinding grains, a drop hammer for beating metal and something else. We haven’t decided what the third driveshaft will be used for,” I replied in a rush.

“The first mechanical hammer is mine!” Klip added quickly, preening as Sulk’s face went a curious shade of red.

“Velkit’s Hammer it isn't! I felt his aura! It’s meant for me!” The hunchback barked.

“It’s not meant for either of you. You'll have to be big boys and learn to share. We could use the third shaft for another drop hammer though? It’s not a bad idea but it needs to be worth it. I’ve got a lot of metalwork to be done in the near future,” I replied.

“How much?” Sulk glared at me.

“More than your old bones can cope with, ancient!” chuckled Klip, earning a snarl from Sulk. “Easy now old man! You can’t match my arm!” he added as Sulk stepped towards him.

“I’d be happy to offer you some magic, Smith Sulk. Kayla would be welcome to join my wife's coven as well. We need more talented metalworkers and you would be an excellent master to teach them.” As I finished my sentence I saw Kril slap a hand over his eyes for a moment.

“Teach, eh? You want me to curse more to be like me? Crippled and mad like my god?” Crap. How should I handle a self loathing craftsman?

“Sulk, I know why your kind go mad and end up crippled. I can show you how to avoid it.” This was half true at best. I knew early metalworkers were exposed to fumes from lots of reagents, mercury possibly the worst of them, and some decent ventilation would ameliorate the worst of those problems but honestly I wasn’t sure this was a promise I could deliver.

“What’s the secret boy? Whelp who’s never swung a hammer or worked a forge wants to tell a master smith how to avoid Velkit’s Fumes?” he snarled at me.

“Fumes is the right word. If we make sure you work in the open and get fresh air while you mix materials you’ll get rid of most of the curse. A mask over your mouth and nose will help for some of it but the real secret is not being cooped up in a secretive little room away from the blue sky!” I said and once again Velkit made his presence felt. Sulk glanced upwards and Klip grinned broadly.

“I take it your god agrees?” asked Kril. “Good. Refined iron is going to be shipped here by wagons under escort and then you’ll work it here. It won’t just be arrows and spearheads. Mond has plans for metal tools and something called barbed wire. When the wheel drops you’ll be able to work faster than ever before.”

“The god approves,” Sulk said reluctantly. He eyed Klip sideways. “Your master wasn’t the worst, you know. He was a decent apprentice.” Klip stuck out his arm and Sulk shook it.

“He spoke highly of you,” my pet smith answered but even I could sense the lie in his words. Sulk snorted and took his arm in a firm shake. I offered my own arm and spent twenty Souls to give Sulk a level and access to his first affinity.

“Kril can explain it,” I muttered as Sulk swiped at the writing only he could see. I was focused on the new defences. Wooden towers stretched five metres above the steppe giving the defenders excellent lines of sight over the surroundings. A small “village” of yurts had grown up nearby. The absence of wagons looked strange to me now but they would come, flowing back and forth with cast metal to be worked and charcoal from the foresting parties the taking finished goods back to Mondit.

I nodded in satisfaction. This would work. They had twenty five magically equipped mounted archers as guards. Enough to keep the people safe or provide enough warning for them to fall back to the main settlements in advance of an attack. This little town was looking like it would do well across the summer.

“Kril, let Klip explain the rest. We need to get home,” I called as I made my way back to my chariot. The Dreamer shrugged at Sulk with a cackle and skittered over to our ride.

“Home then?” he asked happily.

“Will they be ok?” I nodded towards the two smiths who were already starting to bicker loudly.

“They’ll be fine. Nothing we can do about it either way!” He cackled as he cracked the reins and we lurched into a canter home. As we raced back I tried to plan out my next moves.

I left Kril to park the chariot like a good chauffeur and made my way to my tent. It was more Fay’s tent than my own at this point which was fine. I moved the flap aside and had to catch Haylin's fist as it swung towards my nethers. I glared at her as I pushed her away and she just smiled demurely back at me. Jandak had my eternal sympathy.

“Ladies. How are you doing with the shield trinkets?” I asked as I moved over to Fay and planted a kiss on her cheek.

“Eighty a day, love. We’ll be able to equip all the warriors by the end of tomorrow. How's the Wheel?” Fay asked as she took my hand and led me to my “throne”.

“It looked good. How are the Jagarnyn settling in?” I asked as she sat next to me.

“Don’t bother worrying about them yet!” said Kril as he gracefully sidestepped Haylin's fist and let the flap fall down behind him. She scowled at the elusive shaman.

“If they’re with us we should give them steel gear and trinkets. I know I promised to ride to his aide but the reality is he’ll be riding with us.”

“I thought as much,” said Habene as she made herself known from among the small group of women working to carve the acorns and wooden trinkets that were intended for enchantment by the coven. “I understand. I’ve spoken to Jagapan and he understands we should merge our herd with yours but he’s proud. A token of goodwill would go a long way towards securing his allegiance.” If there was one thing the myths on earth taught it was that a wife was to be respected. Clytemnestra taught Agamemnon that lesson. “I would be willing to serve as a soulbound servant,” she finished. I shot a look at Fay who shrugged.

“She knows what it entails. You’ll have some level of control over her and she’s happy with that,” Fay said with a soft smile. “Ask her why.” I looked at Habene and raised an eyebrow.

“I’ve lost four children in childbirth. Three others lived a few years and only two became adults. Your Life magic could have saved them. There’s also this.” Her hands reached up and pulled her veil aside. Her eyes were bright and intelligent, deep brown and full of wisdom. As the veil was pulled away her face was revealed and it had been ravaged by some disease. The skin was scarred and pockmarked. As quickly as it was revealed she pulled the veil back across her face and clipped it in place by her ear.

“I would give anything to prevent this from happening to anyone else. All I want to do is heal.” The thick emotion in her voice made my conscience twitch and prod my mind. I tightened my grip on the emotions her scarred face had stirred up. Pity warred with revulsion.

“I don’t have enough to raise you up to match the rest. I have to make sure the warriors are strong enough to survive what’s coming,” I ground out reluctantly. The Souls I’d earmarked for the women were intended for Kayla so I could bind Sulk to my cause. I wasn’t proud of my pragmatism but it was the pragmatic choice.

“Do this for my older sister and I’ll ensure my husband becomes a true part of your faction,” called Kayla who had been lurking in the shadows. I wasn’t sure if these women could read minds.

“Sulk has already joined us. This might be the better move, Mond. Split the Souls for the women between them and they’ll be able to heal others. Enchanting items will be beyond their power but they can help the Dreamers,” Kril added thoughtfully.

“You haven’t been doing much in the way of Dreamer-work for a while!” I said wryly and his moustache bristled.

“Dreaming isn’t something you can control and herbalism is a waste of time when you’ve got magic healers running around,” the old man grumped.

“I agree. Kayla, Habene, if you want to join Fay’s coven I’ll split the Souls between you. The bulk is going to the warriors though. Soon we’ll have to go to the festival and I’ll need all the strength we can muster.” The women nodded, Kayla smiled but Habene’s face was once again hidden. I gave them each a hundred Souls, losing four hundred in the process. I was down to just over four thousand. Enough to give a single level to two hundred of the warriors.

“Kril, I need all the lancers and fifty more from each of the archer squadrons. They’ll each get one level for now. Enough to give them self heal and a weak enhancement. I get the feeling there’s more than a few things about the festival you’ve not explained to me yet. While I hand out the levels, maybe you can explain the things you’ve somehow neglected to mention?” Kril looked sheepish then smirked and scurried out to gather the warriors together. It took less than an hour to hand out their first levels. The Fangs and the coven were kept busy explaining the meaning of the strange writing floating in their vision. I sat down to glower at my less than forthcoming mentor.

“Spill it,” I ordered. He stroked his beard thoughtfully.

“Well, the tribes are kind of democratic in a way, more like the shit-sitters in the far south east than they would ever want to admit out loud…” I didn’t like the sound of that and I liked it less and less as he explained.