I had to postpone my work on gun powder.

The teaching class went as well as I expected: two-thirds of the commoners were able to master reading and writing. Mostly the youngest of the group.

This result was still enough to amaze the old lord an with reasons, teachings unlearned adults was a challenge, even more in such a short time.

With this many readers he would get eyes and ears everywhere in the Shieldom and even further outside. Be it the farms, the trade roads, or the ports from afar, we could get reports from everywhere and from people less likely to be watched by counter-spy agents. Who would be wary of a simple sailor or an uneducated beast groom?

This also granted me my second meeting with cardinal Fortmo. He barely apologized for the loss of my grandmother and was probably reminded to do so by Nutusi. To him, I was just another piece on the board of his power game. I might be a knight or a rook but still an expendable one. I'll make him apologize one day when I rise as a queen. Yeah, this sounded weird.

Alongside the Cardinal, I made another offering to Shinpilo, my textbook. It was a teaching manual for reading and writing with the alphabet and also had a chapter about maths, redacted with Balout's numbers.

I was hoping for a meeting with the god of knowledge, I had a lot of questions to ask him. I wanted to know more about [them], know how much my blessing was really able to do, or what he knew about my strange Chi condition? He didn't deign to meet me. I still felt the familiar burn around my right eye, signalling me that he noted my alms. It was still something. Maybe when I'll offer gunpowder or chemistry he will grant me an audience? For now I had to chomp at the bit and keep going on.

* * * * *

As fall was starting to settle in, rains started to fall more often. Harvests were still undergoing and were promising a better winter than the last one for everyone. With the moisture rising quickly I wanted to speed up my work on the gunpowder, I didn't know if I could work on it during winter.

I was harassing the old lord so that he would give me back the materials. Shizu even ended up banning me from the jade garden for a whole week. I reported my pleas on the princess and then the second prince hopping they would be able to lift their grandfather's punishment.

The princess didn't care much. She was busy training with Melodi, Balout and Gel. Only raw strength mattered to her and my “tricks” weren't her cup of tea.

The prince was more open-minded than anyone else. The idea that I could give the power of a low-rank magician to commoners didn't repulse him. He wasn't afraid to share the power. Instead, he was afraid of the recent encroachments from monsters' attacks and how they were hammering at our defences and whittling down the army with each expedition.

The loss of a few soldiers was acceptable, Chi users weren't that rare. Losing them in bulk was another problem and losing a blade, even more so a magician, was a huge loss for our manpower.

It took years to train one and the number of magically attuned citizens was few.

In recent years, between the tide and last year's harsh weather that drove monsters in a frenzy, the Shieldom had lost quite a number of valuable Chi martial practitioners and magicians. It was getting worryingly harder to keep a hold on the farmlands in the western and southern areas.

Farming had always been a challenge, supervising large tracts of lands required a lot of soldiers and the infrastructures to support such deployment.

He explained how the destruction of one of the nighthaven in the south had cut us from a huge swath of arable lands.

On a map, he pointed at an area south of the Shieldom around a meander of the Awanui river. The west bank was full of fields just a year ago. The east bank was on the side of the mountains and forest and was a swarming ground for monsters. The river was a natural barrier and even if some monsters could fly and others were amphibians, with a small fort to support the troops, they could drive back most hordes and keep the farmers safe.

He wished to rebuild the nighthaven: a small military fortified outpost where servs and other farm workers would found refuge for the night or during monsters' raids, but didn't have enough magicians to spare on the task.

To build their thick-walled fortresses they used earth mages and strong chi users to move around huge blocks of stone to make sturdy walls. The problem was that those same strong users were also required to fend off monsters on every borders, even more when there was no nighthaven to protect the servs and survey the area.

When I asked him why they didn't use the commoners to build it back with bricks, cement, or concrete I was met with a wary-looking prince. “What in the trove of Arteus is [konkrete]?” he inquired.

I've talked too fast. I had to come up with a lie on the spot. “A mud that can turn hard as steel when drying. I've read it is used in construction in the Underempire of the Trollkins.” They were known for their strange constructions far in the deep underground and famous for the impregnable fortress they built there to fend off the never ending tides of underground threats coming for them.

He was still a bit wary. “Strange that I've never heard of it before. Where did you read this? Do you have the book somewhere? Show it to me.” He ordered in a very princely manner. He was groomed to lord over the Shieldom so it was normal for him to be accustomed to order everyone around but his tone still irked me a bit. It was childish of me but I guess it was a harsh reminder of our difference in status.

“Sadly no. I just transcribed it for a travelling peddler when I was working for the temple. I should still be able to reminisce the recipe, though.” I proposed a bait to distract him and soothe his suspicions.

His eyebrow raised in even more surprise: “You would be able to remind a whole book about construction?” he asked, doubtful of my abilities.

I smirked and pridefully patted my chest, “I am a Shinpilo's blessed one. Memory might be my sole strength but I am very good at it.” It was my time to brag a bit.

He was still gauging me cautiously. “Hmmm, maybe. Even so, we don't have a crew of trained Trolls. The only ones around are miners.”

I reassured him “No need for specialised workers. Or even Trollkins. I believe the process can be used even by commoners, it is just about handling the materials in the correct way.”

He raised an eyebrow “Again? An other feat that commoners can perform? What's next? They'll be able to light up crystals without Chi?” He was amused and lightly mocking me, bordering sarcasm.

I mirrored his smile back at him with electricity that should one day be possible. Just wait and see.

I had no idea on how to get my hands on tungsten, or a glass bulb, or find noble gas or vacuum the bulb, though. “I'm still working on that matter, so no promises, but for your construction problem I can come up with something. Give me a crew of a handful of workers, authorisation to use the kilns by the river and a small budget and I'll show you what I can do.” I dared him.

He wasn't used to that level of rebuking from his followers, few counsellors dared to challenge their future boss. “How much budget are we talking about?” he anquired while stroking his chin. He was steeling himself for the huge sum I was going to ask, he was familiar with beggars and other petitioners going after his purse or the state's coffers.

To be honest I had no idea of how much I needed. I wasn't even sure of what I was going to actually use. Cement? I could make it by either using volcanic ashes or by calcining lime. There was no volcano around as far as I know, maybe underground? As for lime, we had shells from the river beasts that would make do. There were charcoal kilns on the east bank of the great river, I had seen the fumes back when I was sailing on it, they should be enough for calcination.

“I don't know, maybe a couple silvers?” A silver was a hex of large iron coins. It was a lot for a commoner like me to ask for but also very little for a lord like him.

“You're telling me you are going to get it done with so little? What kind of Fortan's miracle maker do you believe yourself to be?” he was laughing at my expectations.

Boy, you wait for me to show you guncotton and antibiotics and you'll see exactly what kind of miracles I'm able of. “Then just give me two silvers and a week's worth of time (eight days). If I manage to do it with only one silver, the remaining coin is mine.” I made a bet with him.

“And what if you don't manage with one silver coin?” he retorted, amused by my brazenness.

“Then you'll have lost two silvers. No biggie for you. Consider it forward payment for my fire powder.” I almost slapped his shoulder before reminding myself who was in front of me.

“Mmmh the other miracle that is yet to be seen.” He was stroking the beard he didn't have in an unconscious imitation of his grandfather or maybe of his father, I don't know if the current Shield has the same tic. “If you weren't a Shinpilo's blessed one, I would lock you down for madness. Sometimes, I still think you got blessed by Fortan rather than Shinpilo. Fine, you will get your two silvers and a week,” he granted me.

I handed my hand to seal the deal. This made him scoff, how brazen of a commoner to dare ask the prince to shake hands. He still shook it, not without using a hint of Chi to make me regret the move as he was painfully clutching my small hand.

There was no more need to harass the old lord, I had another mission for now: make concrete an fast. I was on the clock here with only eight days to manage. First, I needed cement and a good night of sleep to gather everything I could remember thanks to Shinpilo.

* * * * *

We had studied calcination in high school, so getting my hands on how to make cement was easy. I knew how to make concrete: sand, gravels, water, and cement, I had helped build a few things things like wells when I was working in an NGO. It was one of the perks of the job, we were doing a bit of everything.

To make cement I needed a source of calcium carbonate, either shells or limestone.

As far as I knew, there was no lime around. Maybe in the mine or the mountains but who would be able to extract a lot of it under the constant threat of monsters?

Shells, on the other hand, we had a lot of them. Be it the oyster-like that grew on the shallow stones near the river or shelled beasts: beaks and spikes were probably calcium carbonate and silicates too. Even monster shells should be able to make do.

Some monster parts had an use to them. Highly resistant scales and leather were of course used for armour, but also as insulators to handle hot materials in smitheries and foundries like my dad's. They were rumoured to have magical properties too and to help interact with Chi. The only example I've seen so far was the princess' scale armour, which had magical enhancements making it more resilient by dispelling the strength of incoming blows.

Some bones were so resistant that they found use in construction, the tall and massive city walls were able to stand and not crumble under their own weight only because they had such bone pillars at their core.

I can't imagine what monster could have such big bones, Leviathans or dragons? The fights against them must have wreaked havoc over the city. Our walls were built on bloody sacrifices.

Finally, the alchemists were extracting a lot of products from other various body parts, either used as medicine, reagents, or poisons.

Shells were often discarded: not easy to use for armour making except for pauldrons and some shields, not easy to use to reinforce walls or buildings. Some shipbuilders were using the biggest shells as plating for boats meant to sail on the high sea but there were few of those around our river.

I took Melodi and Gelcaria with me for the day, I also knew that some of Shizu's men would be watching us from the shadows while I'm strolling through the city, so they weren't my only escort. They had to skip their daily practice with the third princess but were glad to take a day of with me. I had three key people to meet today and they would like to say hi to some.

We went to the city docks in the morning. The air was damp as the fog was only starting to dissipate, fall was kicking in. The familiar shrieks of river birds came and brought some nostalgia. A splash on the river reminded me of the lurking dangers and dissipate any remaining regrets for the place.

The first one I needed to meet with was the old Aruko. If someone could put me in touch with the charcoal kilns user, it was him. I was ready to bet my two silvers that he had shared a drink with some of them at least once.

And I would have won that bet. “Ahoy Tel! What brings Mr. priest around the dock no'adays? Came to say hello to Aruko and have a sip? Or in need of a fresh eg'?” The limping sailor was happy to see me.

“No Mr. and I'm not a priest and might never be one.” I retorted playfully.

“Aye, heard about that too. Now ya're a fancy servant at the palace.” He whistled in both admiration and mocking, gauging my dress. “A long way from the time ye were fishing with us, but glad you didn't forget us and still come to say hello whenever Amidea's pushes you to.” He took a second to fiddle with his peg leg, tightening it back to his stump.

“I need your help with something in fact, palace job even. So in a way, you too are working for the Shieldlord now. How fancy is that?” I foxily surprised the old sailor.

He was looking interested, egg farming was a good activity but helping the Shield was even better. “What can an ol' limping fisherman do for ya, boy?” I had his attention.

“Do you know any of the workers of the charcoal kilns on the other side of the river?” I pointed at the far away opposite bank where a fume was coming up from.

He roared like an old pirate. “Arrarrar!! Course I do. Me own brother is working there with ma cousin. In need of good coal?” he inquired.

“Yes and more. Could you take a day off to arrange a meeting with them?”

He was only hesitant for a moment. Taking a day off meant no income for the day but he also owed me his current job. He was grateful enough that he quickly answered. “My old bones could always use a break and I'm thirsty.” He always was, “But drinks will be on you Mr priest.” He winked at me. I was fine with that, booze was cheap and I was loaded right now.

“Fine, wait for me then. I first need to speak with Peterell.”

“He is on the river right now, but he should come back as fast as a maiden running away from a chogsu when he'll see this little kitten.” He pointed at Melodi who blushed instead of getting angry at being called a kitten. She was such a daddy's girl.

Actually, my former captain was too far to see Melodi. So while waiting for him we made a stop by Kukku's stall to have an early meal. The young man was doing better now, last year was rough with the trade disruption and food shortage. He got good at cooking eggs and shrimps though.

We came unannounced so he couldn't make us any of the things I taught him, no mayo or deep-fried fish but we still got a nice clam and calamari stew that was left to simmer since yesterday. It was the same green tentacle thing but this time cooked and seasoned skilfully with spices. A really good chowder, the man was slowly becoming a chef with seafood. I would really have liked to taste his grilled fish but the fishermen were still on the river so he had no fish to grill for us.

Peterell finally came back onshore at fourth morning bell. He was happy to see his daughter.

He smiled at me but it was a cold smile. Ever since I had his precious daughter infiltrate the palace he got a bit awkward with me. I knew I made her took risks but in the end it turned out well for her, didn't it?

He now had another apprentice, far older than me or the girls, a young teenager that was probably on his confirmation path to become a fisherman.

After letting my former captain pet his daughter to his heart content (to both content in fact), I asked for his help. “I'm on a mission for the Shieldlord, would you know trusty men looking for a job in construction? It's only for a week now but will last longer. I'll pay well.”

I didn't know what the salary was going to be but with two silvers as budget, I should manage.

He calmly nodded “Hmm yes, I can help with that. The dock leader can also help you too.” He pointed at the commandery after slowly answering me.

“Another thing. I'm in need of shells. A lot of them. And any other hard parts of beasts or monsters, be it beaks, shells, barbs or spikes.” I announced.

He did seem a little curious about what I was up to. “I'm paying money for it.” This made him even more surprised. Those were trash, if I was going to buy trash it should be easy to manage.

His slow accent answered back “That should be easy. We usually toss them back in the river but if you pay for it, everyone around will gladly bring you all of it. Just have the dock leader make an announcement,” he explained in his syrupy accent.

The dock leader was happy to oblige. It was to help me and the Shieldlord and there was good money to be made for all the dockers, only good sides.

Now I only had to get my hands on a kiln. Back to Aruko.