Ernst wiped a sweat from his forehead and stretched his tunic, desperately pumping air inside. He took a cursory glance towards his workmates. Dozens of men toiled as they lifted their pickaxes and swung it into the ground. Shovels dug out tonnes of dirt.

Men pulled on the pulley to transfer materials to the other side of the river. Ernst jealously looked at them. They’re not even doing real work! Half of them are in the river! I wish I was assigned doing that job. At least I won’t be burnt by the sun and sweating like a swine!

He felt a punch at his left shoulders and looked to the assailant who did it. He was about to shout but was interrupted.

“Oy! Ernst! Lift that pickaxe and do some work. The foreman is coming. If he catches you, he’ll reduce all our salary, including yours.” A tall, brown haired man chided him.

He looked around again and this time noticed his fellow labourer’s irritation and promptly got back to work. “Sorry bro. Got distracted.” He tried to cool off again.

“Why don’t you just take off that tunic of yours? You’ll be sweating less, and no one here is going to mind that scar.”

Ernst struck the stony ground with as much force as he can muster, trying to vent his anger out of his system. He bit his lower lip and frowned. “They’ve never seen it before. If they see this,” he pointed to his stomach. “They’ll stare at me like those queer animals in the Imperial Zoo back in Altdorf.” He struck the ground again and again.

“I’m sorry Ernst… I should’ve never mentioned it.”

“It’s alright Fred. I’ve gotten used to it.”

Fredrick looked at his younger brother with concern. “I know you have. Not many are strong as you!” He paused and placed a hand in his brother’s wrist. “You don’t have to hit it that hard. Try to calm down otherwise you may sprain your wrist if you keep doing this.”

He heeded his older brother’s advice and continued with levelling the ground at a less vigorous pace. “What are we doing this for? I was very thirsty when the foreman told us what our tasks were, so I didn’t really listen.”

Fred chuckled and playfully wafted dust towards Ernst. “You always have a good reason to not listen, don’t you? But I’ll tell you anyway. We’re building a better version of a smithy. After we’re done with flattening the land, we’ll build the foundation and the building on top. The usual. Just like what we’ve been doing for the past two months.”

“Why near a river though? The smithies at New Altdorf is doing the job fine. We have pickaxes in the dozens!”

“The recently created blacksmith’s guild and it’s leader,” Fred scratched his goatee. “… Herr Schmidt wanted to make a better one, I suppose. I guess New Altdorf will be destined as the pearl of Lustria and many more people would be coming here. They would be using those water wheels to help them hammer out the metal.”

Ernst was puzzled. “How does a water wheel help them with forging?”

“Like I said. To hammer the metal into shape. I think.”

“That’s not what I meant… How does it help them hammer the metal?”

“I don’t know Ernst! I’m not a graduate from the Imperial Engineers School. Maybe we should ask them?” The older brother sarcastically said.

“Those pompous pricks wouldn’t dare come here anyway. Why should they?”

They continued working until the middle-aged foreman came towards them. “Good job lads! This should be flat enough! Now start building the foundation. Remember the reward if your smithy is the first one to finish!”

Their backs straightened instantly and collectively yelled. The men expertly dug out the ground and filled it with a wooden stake. Wooden pillars were then erected from them.

“Those people at the top sure do work fast, don’t they? In just two months everyone has stone houses.”

“We don’t have stone houses! We have to share it with other people.” Ernst complained

Fredrick slapped him in the head and sharply rebuked him. “Don’t say it out loud. The people we have to share it with are our workmates.” He paused to look around and to see if anyone heard him. “And we have a roof over our heads. Good meals. Decent wage. If we find a lass, we like then gods willing we’d be eligible for a house ourselves!”

Ernst blushed. “I-I’m too young for that- “

“Nonsense! This may be your fifteenth winter… I heard a winter here occurs at different months compared to the Old World. But it still means you’re nearly fifteen years old! So, you’re not too young. Hopefully, you see someone you like in New Altdorf.” He gently encouraged his little brother.

“Why do we need to marry to have a house for ourselves? That seems dumb.”

“Well go petition to Lord Hanoschaft if you’re that upset. I’m sure he’ll listen to a dumb kid like you.”

“Didn’t you just say I’m old enough. Old enough not to be called a kid?”

“Seriously? That’s what you focused on? I just called you dumb, and you just accepted it.” Fredrick nearly dropped his wooden stake as he was busy laughing. “I think it’s just a ploy to get people to have more children. Or Lord Hanoschaft’s plan so he could be the first in line to have a house. Makes sense, since he was the first one to have a wooden lodge.”

“He’s a marienburger too… A burgher too. Why is he so nice then? I heard from people that they were horrible. Especially from those people in horses, wearing cool armour! With cool pistols!”

Fred frowned. He didn’t like it. He didn’t like how his brother is so enraptured by those noble, pompous fools. He also didn’t like having a marienburger being second in command of an imperial expedition. At the back of his mind, he’ll always suspect Lord Hervig of being a spy for the Directorate. “I’m sure not all of the elite in Marienburg are horrible people. Lord Hervig and lady Emma are good examples of that. Remember when lady Emma would give us those sweet yellow cobs… What are they called again?”

“I don’t think they’ve been named yet bro. But I do remember! It was so delicious!”

“Drevan brothers! Time fer lunch!” One of their workmates called out.

“Oh, speak of a daemon. It’s time to eat. I wonder what we’ll be eating this time.” Fredrick remembered something important and crouched to his brother’s ears. “Remember what we’ve talked about.”

Ernst rolled his eyes. “I remember it bro! You don’t have to tell me. I’ll be talkin’ like this durin’ lunch?”

“Good. But again… Overly exaggerated. Even Herr Schmidt doesn’t talk like that.”

He pouted and blew his tongue towards Fred. “Every time! I can never get it right with you!”

“Enough. Let’s go back.” He stopped a giggle and ruffled his angry brother’s hair. “And no need to run. Lord Hanoschaft promised us we would have full bellies. So far, he hasn’t lied. Not yet.”

“But… You’re awfully trusting of this marienburger- “

“Refer him to his name little brother. We may be peasants now, but we shouldn’t forget our noble upbringing.”

“I’m sorry. Lord Hervig.” He corrected himself. “Emm… Didn’t the Burgomeisters of Marienburg kill mamma and pappa?” Ernst tightly wrap his hand on his pickaxe.

Fredrick sighed and looked gently towards Ernst. “We don’t have evidence it was them. Hells! It could be Graf Hardenburg. Maybe, that’s why he was so eager to kick us out from Eilhart.

“We need to move on Ernst. This is a new land. If we work hard enough maybe, we could get recognise by Lord Hanoschaft. He promoted a peasant as the head of the smith’s guild after all.” He winked at Ernst to stop him from mourning.

“It was our choice to leave Eilhart. Why did we leave?” He stared at his older brother in defiance.

“Hey! Not now. Let’s queue up before more people come.”

They waited in the line until it was their turn. Ernst feeling a bit better and stared at what was going to be their lunch. He saw the usual yellow cob and the brown-grey tuber. He saw a peculiar meat that he hasn’t seen. “Miss! What meat is this? I haven’t seen it before?”

“Oh this? The men that delivered it to me said it was some sort of flyin’ creature! A creature with large legs and a massive beak. Wings that can cover up the sun! This here, is the legs of the creature. Or creatures in this case. Those hunters just love to boast ‘bout their game!” The pudgy woman wearing a grey dress entertained the young boy.

“Does it taste like that carnosaur?”

“Yer a curious young man aren’t ye? The carnosaur is much rougher. This is a bit softer. Tender. Taste like chicken. You’d enjoy it!” She served the meat with the yellow cob, tuber and some type of meat broth.

The Drevan brothers gleefully took their meal and sat at an empty table.

“Why did we leave?” Ernst ignored the food and glanced towards his brother. “And why are we disguised as peasants?”

Fredrick sighed. “We left because Eilhart wasn’t safe anymore and, I didn’t want anyone who’s responsible for our parent’s death to come and find us.”

“Now we’re here! We should announce to Lord Stanhelm that we’re nobles!”

“Minor nobles. Vassal of a Graf. Vassal of a border lord. That’s it. He won’t care. What he does care about is merit. If you’re good at something, he’ll give you a better position. To do that we must ingratiate ourselves to Lord Hanoschaft. So, don’t be rude to him.”

“Then why are we builders! We know how to read and write! We could be scribes or one of his clerks.”

Fred looked away and his cheeks brightened due to shame. “I did… I actually tried. I begged and grovelled beneath their feet.” He heaved a heavy breath and released it violently. “They wouldn’t believe me. They told me that they were full. We’re just minor nobles Ernst. We’re nothing special.

“So, my plan had to change. My plan was to distinguish ourselves and rise to become a foreman. This city will grow and to be a builder… No. To be a foreman will be very important.”

“We’re in the middle of nowhere. You’d sweat and maybe die because of the sun. Why would people come here?”

“You haven’t heard?” Fred hid his surprise. He knew Ernst’s tendency… To isolate himself from other people. “There was a massive ruckus about an exploration team sent to the ruined city of Chotec. They discovered gold! Golden relics! Relics with fancy runes written on top of it. They said it looked like dwarven runes.”

“Bah! They weren’t explorers!” The brothers both flinched at the intruder. The topless intruder sat near them and quickly ate. Occasionally striking up a conversation. “They were builders like us! They just got lucky when they were tearin’ a wall down. They were using the stone to build up a new town. Near the ruined city. I think me cousin told me that they started to call it ‘Nahrbodenstadt’. Due to the fertile soil surroundin’ it.”

“Yer cousin volunteered to set up the forward base?” Fred asked.

“Aye. He’s adventurous him! Maybe a tad bit suicidal. I sure as hell won’t leave this city. Anyone smart after seein’ that beast would be scared to explore this land.”

A sudden shriek instantly made the men look for the source.

Many instinctively dropped their wooden cutlery and picked up their pickaxe or shovel.

Dozens of flamed-coloured lizards, as large as a pony, sprang out from the jungle edge and lunged at the unfortunate labourers. They ripped out large chunks of their flesh in each bite.

Dozens of darts whistled and struck the unaware imperials.

The imperials valiantly fought back as they struck the carnivorous low-lying lizard. Their pickaxes digging into their heads. They’re tails hacked into pieces by shovels. The dying lizards leaked blue blood. Despite their best efforts, the imperials were slowly but surely being pushed back. More men had their arms and legs pulled out by the red lizards.

Another barrage of darts came from the forest edge. Several more had their necks, eyes or chest impaled. Some were lucky and only grazed their shoulders or died instantly from their grievous wounds. Some were unfortunate as the darts penetrated their lungs causing them to internally bleed. Drowning them in their own blood.

“Ernst watch out!” Fred tackled his quivering brother to the ground. A few lethal darts landed near them.

“Someone go and alert the state troops! Ask for something fast! Pistoliers or outriders! Quick!” The foreman resolutely shouted. “The rest! Reform to me!”

“Ernst you need to go! Alert the state troops! You can’t fight them!”

The young man just stood there, not quite believing what he was hearing. Mamma said to always stick together! But… But! Why are my knees shaking! Why am I glad to leave my brother behind! He hyperventilated but was thankfully interrupted by his older brother giving him a few shakes.

“Ernst! Eyes towards me… Good. Eyes towards me. Calm down. I’ll be fine. I’ll be alive. When reinforcements arrive, I’ll be alive. I’ll survive this. Do you trust me?” Fred desperately tried to console his brother.

“Y-y-yes. I do.”

“Good. Now go with the nice lady that served us and protect her. Can you do that?”

Ernst blocked the brutal fighting from his view and tried to look for the woman in a grey dress. “Ye-Yes. I can do that.”

“Good! Escort her to New Altdorf and call for reinforcements! Now go! You’re a brave man! You know that?” He quickly kissed his forehead and he smiled as he saw him running towards the panicking lady. He picked up his pickaxe and ran towards the foreman. “The Empire endures!”

Ernst ran and didn’t bother to look back. He couldn’t look back. He doesn’t want to see people dying and bleeding and their limbs being eaten. He didn’t want to see Fredrick’s disappointment. “My lady! Please we need to go!” The young man grabbed the woman at her back and shoulders and pushed her along.

Both ran and didn’t stop running. Their lungs were burning by the time a scout spotted them.

“A-An attack!” Ernst tried to control his breathing. “To the west! By- by the river! Lizards attacking us! Eating… Please come quick! The foreman asked for fast units!”

The scout nodded at them and galloped towards New Altdorf’s barracks and stables.

Orders were screamed and dozens immediately climbed unto their destrier. A mixture of peasant outriders armed with the traditional handgun, and noblemen pistoliers galloped with haste to rescue the labourers.

Ernst prayed to Sigmar to give his brother strength to survive. Please be alive Fred!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hervig paced around the hallway. He mumbled and bumped into several Shallya priests and priestesses. He muttered quick apologies and continued going back and forth. He was ready for the inevitable. He was already a husband. Now he’s ready to be a father. I can’t believe it! Me and Emma are going to be parents! My son or daughter, sometimes a woman’s intuition is wrong, will be one of the first to be born in Lustria! I’ll work extra hard so he can inherit a better future! I promise this in the name of Sigmar, Manann, Shallya…

He stopped naming the acceptable gods when he saw a familiar green robe. He carefully bit his lower lip. “Sigismund. I’m glad someone as skilled with the winds of magic is here. I truly pray that your magic won’t be needed.”

The Jade Wizard calmly looked at him and nodded in agreement. “Of course, lord Hervig. I always pray for a normal birth, hoping that I wouldn’t need to heal the mother. Fortunately, the cult of Shallya is well trained to deliver births.”

“You only heal the mother? How about the child she’s carrying?”

“We don’t heal newly born children. They may react negatively towards the winds of Ghyran. It’s usual practice to let them grow a bit. Let them develop so they can tolerate it.”

Hervig scratched his growing black beard and nodded. I didn’t know that. Wait… Ever since we got here, he’s been eyeing up Emma… What’s he planning?

“If you don’t mind Jade Wizard, would you satisfy my curiosity?”

“Of course, my lord. As long as it doesn’t pertain to the intricacy of my order and magic.”

“I wouldn’t dare inquire about classified knowledge. What I want is something simple. Why are you so interested on my wife?”

Sigismund’s eyes widened and struggled to gulp. “It’s not what you think it is my lord. I have not dishonoured your wife in some way. I swear to Sigmar on that.” He said contritely.

Hervig was shocked when he heard him. He sounded so sincere. Only the best of liars are capable of this and Hervig knows how to spot them. He instantly knew Sigismund was telling the truth and was relieved. But he wasn’t satisfied. He knew he was telling the truth but didn’t answer his question. Interesting… Should I prod him? Maybe. It would definitely help with my boredom for waiting this long. How long has Emma been in labour?

“That’s relieving to know Jade Wizard. I’m truly apologetic for suspecting you for something so horrible. But you haven’t answered my question. Why were you interested?”

“I’m afraid I can’t tell you that lord Hervig.”

Very interesting… He paused to think. He stood frozen as he tried to pick the pieces to solve the puzzle. His mind clicked. He can’t tell me… That means he’s interested on my wife because of magic! Is my wife secretly a witch? He silently chuckled. No. She’s too bad at keeping secrets. Is she related to the Jade Order? No. Again. Too bad at keeping secrets. Hervig’s mind was going back and forth when the door opened. He heard the sound of a crying baby. Hervig now knew he was a father.

“My lord. Congratulations. It’s a healthy boy.” Marlene smiled at him and promptly washed her hands in the basin.

Hervig hesitated to go in. Afraid that he may weep with tears of joy. Emma is going to tease me for years if I wept!

“Hervig! I know your there! Come over here and say hi to Reinhard. I may as well name him right now, so you don’t have to struggle coming up with a name.”

Reinhard… A good name! A fine name for my- our son!

He walked over towards her and cupped her cheeks which got slapped away.

“Focus on the baby you oaf! We can touch each other later.”

He rolled his eyes which conveniently hid his tears. Typical Emma. He looked at his baby. A huge bundle of cloth covered his lower body. Only his pink face was visible. Hervig found him adorable. He couldn’t resist touching his son’s face only for his son to respond by crying.

“Dear gods! Reinhard takes after his mother. He’s just as loud as you.”

Emma weakly punched him for that. “You arse. I’m sore everywhere, you can’t do this to me. You can’t insult me after I’ve suffered hours of pain!” She jested.

“Well, I just did. Marlene can I hold him?”

“Y-yes. But make sure to lay his back towards your preferred arm and make sure his head is supported by your chest!”

He heeded the instructions and held his son. Reinhard instantly quieted down and fell asleep. He was looking forward to the day his son will open his eyes and say his first word! I hope his first word will be pappa. Hervig gave a cheerful smirk towards his wife.

Loud footsteps echoed across the hallway. Hervig perked his ears towards the door.

A clerk appeared at the door and panted and immediately bowed. “M-my lord. Your presence is required. A raid just occurred where the future forging district will be.”

He sighed and calmed down by bobbing his son, side to side. “A raid? You have the wrong person. The person that you should be finding is Johanne. The head of the state troops or militia.” Can’t you see I’m busy! Leave me alone! He smiled to the clerk and dismissed him, but he refused to move.

“I’m sorry my lord. But, Lord Stanhelm, specifically asked for you. He has already consulted his brother and the raid has been dealt with.”

He was about to scream for his insolence, but he was stopped by his wife interposing her arms in front of him. “Go. I’ll take care of Reinhard.” Emma nodded at Hervig.

Hervig was torn. Duty or family –

“Just go! You’ll have more time with our son later.” Marlene grabbed Reinhard and gave him back to his mother.

With that he quickly ran after the panicking clerk and followed him towards the townhall. It should only be a minute walk. No need for a horse.

In his way he was greeted by friendly nods and a few blessings. Emma has been busy. Despite being a former Burgomeister, he was already liked by the colonists. Take that Raymund! I now have a son and for his sake, I won’t hold back.

He didn’t bother knocking and went straight into his lord’s office. What he saw instantly scared him. Two foreign bodies were laid out on the table. They were both lizard looking with one nearly at a man’s height with a red crest on its head, and one which was completely fiery red. With razor sharp teeth. It looked more reptile than a lizard.

“My lord, I have come.”

“Oh! Lord Treasurer you’re here. Come closer. Have a nice look.” He pointed towards the alien bodies.

“My lord… What are these?”

“Giovanni said the one with the red top is called a ‘red crested skink’ a type of lizardmen. The red reptile is called a salamander. A fearsome beast that seemed to bite limbs away like it was held by a weak nail.” He paused gravely and hummed in an attempt to alleviate the tension. “This one. The one with the red crest. That one scares me the most… The survivors recount how they were being shot by darts. Nearly as large as arrows. Probably more deadly than arrows. One of the outriders retrieved this object,” he put the weird wooden tube on the table. “They were using this to launch darts. An evidence of something remotely intelligent.”

“You can’t mean – “

“I do mean it. Lizardmen exists. That skink using a tube to launch projectiles is proof.”

“What happened to the rest of them?” Hervig trembled in fear. Back then… Maybe that was a lizardmen.

“They got shot by the outriders and pistoliers. They didn’t stand a chance. But the salamanders did put up a decent fight. They bit several of the horses feet off…”

“My lord… How may I be of service?”

“I want you to negotiate with the builders near Chotec – Nahrbodenstadt, for a reasonable prize. I want those golden relics, to sell at a profit and the money used to finance a wall. And to recompense the dead’s living relatives. It’s only right.”

“May Morr guide their souls safely to the afterlife.” They both solemnly said.

“How many died my lord?”

“About three dozen men.”

“I’ll have my clerks searching though the census to check if those brave men had relatives in this expedition.” Hervig said and waited to be dismissed.

He struggled to walk after that revelation. I hope the wall is strong enough to deter brigands and lizardmen. It looks like I’ll have to work twice as hard! I’m sorry Emma, you may have to wait for a while. He ordered the stablemaster to fetch him a horse and signalled a couple of outriders to accompany him.

To Nahrbodenstadt.