Chapter 56

Year 163 – Fall – Quintus Mensis – 34th days

Rock Eden, town of House Strahlend, land of the Cordillera

Covering more than two hundred miles, a large mountain chain marked the natural eastern border of the Union. Among the rocky ways, a larger mountain with three peaks reached the clouds. None knew who had first carved flat its three summits, but the highest peak standing in its center was told to be a sanctuary of worship, where one could hear the gods’ whispers. Attracted by the legends, many pilgrims had settled there, in hopes of prosperities over the course of millennia.

Living at the bottom of the mountain, the locals rebuilt the old road circling around its edge all the way to the lowest peak. It was large enough to settle a town, but the high density of iron in the dry dirt had made the ground barren. A large foundry had been built to provide the locals with numerous tools.

As they dug a tunnel through the highest summit to reach the last peak, they encountered a gift from the gods. A gold vein as vast as a lake was furrowing the inside of the mountain. Afraid of losing their legacy to prospectors and scavengers, the locals sought the help of the Celestial Traders. In exchange for half of the extracted gold, the Celestial Traders invested in their town, leading to the construction of Rock Eden in a little over a decade.

The citizens of Rock Eden were living both inside the mountain and at the surface of each peak. The lowest peak was composed of a large foundry, a minting press, a bazaar, and many workshops. Tens of narrow stairways had been dug through the mountain to link the three peaks together. At the highest summit were located the town hall, the temple, and a large artificial lake sitting on a clay foundation. Most citizens were living on the third peak, where 986 identical tiny houses had been built to adjust to the population density.

In the suburban area, each house and street was aligned. From any point of any street, the wall of sculpted stone delimited the mountain summit. The streets were eight feet wide, and its two middle feet was a gutter connecting the entire plateau. Normally, the smell would have been atrocious in a hot and wet climate, but this high on a mountain, the air was cold and dry. It never rained on Rock Eden, yet for three months out of the year, the ground was hot enough to naturally melt the snow. Each day, lower-class citizens were charged with pushing large shovels through the many gutters before throwing them down the eastern side of the mountain.

Each house had a nine-by-nine foot cement foundation made from powdered gypsum, iron-rich soil, and limestone. Their first floor was on the cement itself, and its ceiling was seven feet high, supported by walls of red clay bricks. Their second floor was made of oak wood and was 11-by-11 feet wide, leading above the street. On their second floor, the wall and the ceiling were both made of hardened pine timber, which was holding a third floor of 13-by-13 feet wide. The roofs were made of hardened clay tile piling on one another at a steep angle, so the snow would fall to the street. Each wall had been whitewashed with a mixture of chalk and tallow to stop moisture from drenching the wood from the outside. On the inside, one corner was used as a chimney, and the other as a steep stairway. Families of up to five could live in each house.

Each day, the citizens were travelling across the mountain from the suburb to the lowest peak. From each side of the highest summit, large cranes made from ropes, wheels, and pulleys had been built to move and raise large wooden platforms from the lowest peak to the highest one. Aside from those living in town, a few hundred farmers and shepherds were living at the bottom of the mountain. The town’s army had two large barracks, one on the lowest summit and one at the bottom of the mountain. As part of their daily training, the army had to carry the grain from the field all the way to the granary within the town.

The Krain army was walking toward the first gateway at the bottom of the mountain. On each side of the road, farmers had stopped working and were looking at them.

General Thorkel – “Finally . . .”

Lord Krain – “Don’t rejoice too quickly. We are yet to be out of trouble.”

General Thorkel – “With all due respect, the negotiations are not mine to perform, so while this trouble concerns all of us, you alone carry it on your shoulders.”

Lord Krain – “Let’s walk up the mountain while the sun is still high.”

When the Krain soldiers reached the first gateway, guards interrupted them.

Guard – “What do we owe the honour of your visit, kind sir?”

Lord Krain – “I am Bilfrith Krain, lord of the Frey and I came here to see Lord Nikolas Strahlend.”

Guard – “House Krain? Were you not fighting the Kalator?”

Lord Krain – “Avem has fallen, claiming the Vale and the Frey in its downfall. We are here to join forces with House Strahlend to crush the Kalator rebellion once and for all.”

Guard – “The Vale has fallen!?”

Lord Krain – “Will you let us pass then?”

Guard – “Certainly, but . . . Ehh . . . Are the Kalator close then?”

Lord Krain – “No, the winter is too close for them to set a siege forward. Be at rest.”

Guard – “Alright! Follow me then. I’ll lead you to the second gateway.”

Lord Krain – “It is much appreciated.”

Near to an hour later, the Krain had reached another large gate blocking the path through the mountain. Following another group of militia, the Krain kept walking and passing gateway after gateway until they reached the town entrance, more than three hours of walking and four gateways later. As they reached the seventh gateway leading inside the first plateau of the town, a general from Rock Eden came to welcome them, followed by tens of soldiers.

General of House Strahlend – “Lord Krain of the Frey, I welcome you on the behalf of my lord. You must be tired from your journey. We prepared a few beds at the inn nearby, so you and your troops may rest for tonight.”

Lord Krain – “I appreciate the accommodation, but first, I must talk to Lord Strahlend.”

General of House Strahlend – “In that case, you may follow me while my men lead yours to the inn.”

Lord Krain – “Very well, but my general will come with me.”

General of House Strahlend – “Shall we go?”

Lord Krain – “Certainly.”

The three of them then walked to a wooden platform connected to a large rotating wheel. The general from Rock Eden then began to spin the wheel, and under the stupefied sight of Lord Krain and General Thorkel, the platform began to rise. Pulled by the many ropes and pulley, the platform elevated itself toward the highest peak.

General Thorkel – “It seems surprisingly light to push that wheel. Why is that?”

General of House Strahlend – “It’s a creation from the Celestial Traders. Tens of giant wooden screws were lodged in the mountain using wedge bolts to hold the structure and another large counterweight. Each of these wheels are used to add or reduce weight, and the one you’re pushing controls the main counterweight, which is as heavy as this platform. It is one of the many proud inventions of which our citizens enjoy.”

Lord Krain – “So if you let it go, we could crash?”

General of House Strahlend – “Ehh, not exactly. I mean, we could always use the other counterweight to stop our fall, but I suppose it is indeed better to not let a child take command.”

General Thorkel – “And you always move using this engine?”

General of House Strahlend – “No, it’s used to carry heavy things and nobles. We usually use a stairway inside the mountain.”

Lord Krain – “These traders are as surprising as ever.”

Once they were in the town hall, Bilfrith Krain and Thorkel ended up waiting for a quarter-hour before the arrival of Lord Strahlend.

Lord Strahlend – “Sorry for the wait, I was at the temple.”

Lord Krain – “Nikolas, the situation is critical.”

Lord Strahlend – “I’ve been informed, and I must say a certain detail keeps roaming in my mind. Why isn’t Rulfus by your side.”

Lord Krain – “He was too stubborn. He died with Avem.”

Lord Strahlend – “So, you deserted?”

Lord Krain – “They had a witch on their side. She turned the gate ablaze and had inhuman strength. Aside from this monster, they had more soldiers than both of our populations combined. They subjugated the thieves from both the Vale and the Frey. They hired mercenaries from the East and conscripted their population. If you help us fight them, we could crush their rebellion.”

Lord Strahlend – “And why would I do that?”

Lord Krain – “Why? If we wait the winter, their injured will heal!”

Lord Strahlend – “So what? The soldiers I sent knew they would most likely not return. They agreed to fight to the death in exchange for a life income for their family. I sent them to respect the pact my ancestor had with House Valmai when they built Avem. But what pact did I ever have with you?”

Lord Krain – “IF YOU DON’T STOP THE REBELLION, THEY’LL TAKE YOUR LANDS!”

Lord Strahlend – “Let them do it. For a few months, our farmers will be in town and won’t produce any crops. We’ll buy our food from the Celestial Traders and wait for the Union to come. I already talked to the Ponterona. They also want a share of the Vale’s timber mill, so they’ll send their troops as well. We’ll wait for two years until the Kalator can’t pay for his mercenaries and thieves, and then we’ll hire them and use them against the Kalator.”

Lord Krain – “You’d sell the lands of your friend to the Ponterona?”

Lord Strahlend – “I could give your castle back to you, but what good would it give me?”

Lord Krain – “The Ponterona could act the same way as the Kalator at any time. Being part of the Union doesn’t stop them from wanting Rock Eden.”

Lord Strahlend – “Of course they want Rock Eden. Everyone wants it. But it cannot be taken. Not as long as the Celestial Traders are on my side. And from all the gold we’ve accumulated, I could buy every farmland in the Union if I wished to.”

Lord Krain – “If you don’t intend to help me, then why let me enter your town with my army?”

Lord Strahlend – “Well, my own army is ready to take action if needed. You aren’t a threat. Besides, close to no civilians are left in the working district at this time of day, and you are alone in the nest of a dragon.”

General Thorkel – “How many men would you be willing to lose in the dream of taking my lord hostage?”

Lord Strahlend – “I don’t intend to. I have a proposal for you, Bilfrith Krain. I could place the Vale under your command if you accept to become my vassal. You would have to take care of Avem and the many villages in its vicinity. You’d have to produce wood of high quality for me. In exchange, I would bring you fortune and safety. Isn’t my offer generous?”

Lord Krain – “And what would happen to my men?”

Lord Strahlend – “You can keep them, but they’ll have to follow the training of my soldiers. Those who can’t keep up will have three months to adapt or they’ll join my militia and won’t be under your command anymore. I’d also provide you with workers and settlers.”

Lord Krain – “And until we can recapture Avem, what would I be requested to do?”

Lord Strahlend – “For now, I’d make you join my council. For the future, I don’t know yet, but I wouldn’t make you do any shameful duty since the honour of my vassals is my own.”

Lord Krain – “May I think about your offer during the night?”

Lord Strahlend – “It is up to you, but my offer might change by sunrise.”

Lord Krain and Thorkel looked at each other with disappointment in their eyes.

Lord Strahlend – “From lord to vassal. It sure must feel like a drop, but keep in mind that I am not the cause of your downfall. Right now, you are not a lord anymore. You are but a runaway whose seeking an ally with his army. Being the vassal of the richest lord in the Union isn’t as bad as you might think.”

Bilfrith Krain – “I accept your offer . . .”

Lord Strahlend – “Good! Then you may rest for tonight.”