VII

It was amazing how quickly and thoroughly Isi’s mood could affect his own. Not twenty minutes ago he was fuming and now he was fighting and losing against the urge to grin like a lackwitted simpleton. This was due entirely thanks to Isi’s sheer amazement at the buildings and shops in the Lavorias Plaza District. The plaza was named after Georgo Lavorias, who had been a merchant of some renown and more than a little vision. When he had originally bought this land it had been quite some distance away from the city. He had gotten it quite cheap and had begun constructing the plaza and the shops that encircled it.

It had taken decades but his decision to buy and build here paid off when expansion of the city had brought the borders of the two closer together. Today several hundreds of years later the Lavorias trade family still owned the plaza, which was now firmly inside the city and was home to the most luxurious and best-established shops in the city.

Adrian however could not have cared where they were. He was much more interested in watching Isi’s reactions. She gawked at the crowds as they came and went. Women in colorful dresses and men in bright wescuts seemed to flow around the plaza like a stream of humanity, some branching off to flow into the buildings and others assuming their abandoned location in the stream.

This was the first time she had seen a really proper city, Adrian was sure of that simply by the way she was reacting to everything. When they had been fleeing Kurtz they had made sure to avoid the larger more populated cities as they would have had a higher presence of both law enforcement as well as soldiers. And while she had been looking at the buildings as they had ridden in there had been few people out of the street at that early hour.

Adrian looked around and attempted to see it through her eyes and while he was used to the press of humanity he thought he could glimpse it from her perspective. He felt something brush up against his hand and looked down seeing that it was Isi’s smaller hand seeking for his own. He smiled and opened his hand capturing hers inside. He gave her a small squeeze and was about to let go of her hand but she was not having any of that. She moved her hand and laced her fingers through his own. Through all of this, she never removed her eyes from the crowd of people as they moved and walked, stood and talked, and in a few cases argued heatedly.

“Yuranti poltisus,” she said under her breath and Adrian had to laugh. She shot him a reproachful look and tried to pull her hand out of his but it was his turn to refuse.

“I wasn't laughing at you, you're right it is a lot of people, I was laughing because you said what I was thinking, it also struck me as funny because I spent much of my life here and until this point, I had never thought that.” Her demeanor shifted, she still looked suspicious as if she was unsure if she believed him but the hurt was gone from her eyes. “Come on, let's go see about those bracelets.” He smiled as he led her off not yet realizing that this woman he thought he knew so well, had extremely picky tastes in jewelry and would brook no substitutions. They had entered four stores that would have sold marriage bracelets all of whom made excellent pieces but none of them interested Isi. After the fourth one he looked over at Isi and raised an eyebrow, she raised her chin and looked at him in a haughty manner which melted his growing frustration. “That was the last jeweler I know of, ” he said looking at her. “Where would you like to go?”

“Itan tovaas,“ she pointed and Adrian followed her gesture. Off the main road, further back, and therefore in a less prestigious position was what looked to be a smaller shop. It did advertise bracelets, rings, and other jewelry as well as an engraving service but the shop itself looked to be a little more run down and old, Adrian would have passed it by without a second thought had he been alone. In fact, he was pretty sure that until Isi had pointed it out to him his eyes had slid right over the front of it disregarding it entirely.

“I think perhaps we should go see if there is any other-”

“Itan tovaas,” she said again and Adrian sighed.

“Fine, fine, we can go see.” He said as he allowed her to pull him down the path and into the building. The inside of the shop was chaotic but not messy in the traditional sense of the word. Most shops that plyed the jeweler's trade tended to specialize, but not the man that ran this place. There were pieces in a myriad of styles and materials, each of which was rather simplistic in design. And while they were simple they were also quite well made.

The man who ran this place was elderly, easily sixty or seventy by the look of him and it would appear that it was a joint venture between him and his wife. They both smiled brightly as Adrian and Isi entered the shop and looked around.

“Oh, I know that look.” The older woman said with a smile as she took in Isi and Adrian’s appearance. “Been looking for marriage bracelets for a while now haven't you?” She smiled mischievously at Adrian. “And your woman here can't seem to find the one she likes, is that it?”

“Yes ma’am,” Adrian said with a laugh his eyes twinkling for the first time in what felt like an eternity.

“Yes, well us women folk know what we like, and we aren't like to settle for less when it comes to this, ain't that right girl?” Isi for her part nodded her head in agreement after she got done glaring at Adrian for his agreement with the woman’s previous statement.

“Yeah lad, you’ll learn to just go with it, once you expect these things to take longer it won't be a hassle when they do, if you get my meaning,” the older man said with a wink and a hearty chuckle. “Welcome to our shop, feel free to look around, and don’t be afraid to any questions you have either. I or Jonna be glad to answer, though she might ramble a bit.”

“Thank you, sir,” Adrian said with a laugh that he choked off as Jonna toffed her husband on the back of his head giving him a sly smile of her own. He felt a tug and then was pulled off by Isi over to a counter on which several pieces sat on small cushions that were elegant yet simple superb needlework but not flashy.

“I haven't seen eyes like yours girl,” Jonna called to her.

“She isn't from Helheim,” Adrian said turning towards the woman as Isi leaned over a bracelet and examined it.

“Ketu pushin taas,” she said looking at Adrian and then over at the two proprietors of the shop.

“She would like to know if she could pick up the bracelets to examine them,” Adrian said and both of them nodded their heads.

“Oh aye,” the old man paused. “Not speak the common tongue now? But she can understand us hmm? Met a guy like that once long ago. Nice fellow he was. Wanted a golden ring for a lady he did.” He seemed hesitant as if he was thinking back through the years.

“Yes, she is a Screaling, but I'm sure you guessed that from her eyes, and that is why she speaks her language instead of ours, though she well understands ours.” Adrian laughed, “Some days it does seem that she chooses to forget that she knows my language.”

“She needn't be a foreigner to do that boy, trust me, my wife here developed a rather selective hearing problem!” The old man laughed and expertly dodged his wife's finger as she attempted to flick his ear, though she had a warm smile on her face.

“Trust me dear, you would rather I not hear some of the things you said, else I would have to hold you accountable for your stupidity.” His wife said with a small smile. “So you learned her language so you could talk to her?” She asked and when Adrian nodded her smirk turned into a full-blown smile. “How romantic. You could learn a thing or five from this young man my love.”

“Ita jass,” Isi said and Adrian looked over to see her pointing at a matched set of bracelets.

“These ones?” He asked, “Are you sure?” She nodded holding them up for him to see. They were simple gold bands about a thumb and a half thick that wrapped around the wrist twice before they ended.

“Isha Holtopa, intarain modras.”

“What was that?” the old man asked as Adrain took the bands from her and walked them over to him.

“She wants to know if it would be possible to get some wolves engraved onto them,”

“Wolves you say?” The old man asked, looking at the bracelets. “I never done wolves, but dogs now, dogs I have, can’t be too different now can they?” He said with a smile taking the bracelets out of Adrian's hands. “Let me see what I can do.”

***

“That is probably not the best of ideas,” Adrianus sighed, leaning back in his chair, his hand reaching out and taking the cup that had been placed there in front of him. Holding it so the light from the new electric and somewhat glaring light was striking it he examined the cup so he didn't have to look at his dinner partner for the evening. Would the warm flicker of a good set of candles be too much to ask for? The cup was of fine make, elegant blown glass as clear as a quick-flowing mountain stream. “I think he needs time to come to terms with the situation, then perhaps you can approach him but don't expect to ever get back the level of friendship and camaraderie you once had.” he glanced up at Emilia, who was sitting there across the table, her hands folded in her lap, looking down. As he spoke her face fell. She was taking this all pretty hard, and while it was indeed due to his son’s miraculous return from the dead that had brought all of this to the surface he was willing to bet the reason she was feeling so bad at the moment was because she had always harbored some guilt over her actions, and in Adrianus’s opinion she was right to feel guilty.

“Grandpa,” He smiled and glanced over at the little boy, he looked exactly like Janus and Adrian had when they were little, and just like them, he was an extremely perceptive child. At the age of three, he had been quite the talkative child and could even read some sentences but now? Well, he was almost five and he understood much more now. “Who are we talking about?”

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“Your uncle, the person you are named after, he is back.”

“Is he?” his grandson seemed to be thinking. “I’ve heard a lot about him, do you think I can meet him?”

“At some point, I don’t think you will this time but perhaps next time he is back from his job,” He didn't think his son would go so far as doing anything bad in little Adrian’s presence, but he didn't wish to risk it until he had cooled down, his older son had always had a bit of a rough and ready streak that wasn't a bad thing but played hob with propriety. Servants brought out the food, placing it on the table and spreading it out so that everyone had a plate of food. Tonight’s dinner was cold chicken, cooked and then chilled, served with cheese and grapes that paired nicely with a mug of softly spiced hot wine that had hints of floral and orange, it complimented the chicken well. Adrianus reached forward and cut off a slice of the chicken, he would have to commend the chef, he had done an excellent job…

There was a knock at the door, and before he could tell the person to either enter or leave them alone, the door opened, and the one person he really didn't want and yet hoped would come was there. Adrian walked in like he owned the place and looked around at the people at the table, his eyes catching on the small child for the briefest of moments. Before he nodded to himself. “Sorry to barge in like this Father,” Adrian said walking over to an empty chair and pulling it out, Adrianus watched as the savage woman that had followed Adrian home came out of the doorway and sat in the chair he had presented and Adrian took his own seat next to her. “We have a few things to discuss.”

“Oh?” Adrianus asked, making sure to keep his face blank. He looked more carefully at his son’s eyes, there didn't seem to be any malice in them… “And what are we discussing?”

“Well, first I am happy to report I have chosen an assignment,” he slid the folder over and Adrianus picked it up, flipping it open to look at the orders. At first, he was rather taken aback, he honestly didn't think his son would want to go to such a hell hole as this, but then he noticed where it was located and how close to the border of Kurtz it was, it didn't take long for him to put two and two together.

“I see,” he nodded, he could respect this choice, it was better for a man to face his enemies than to run from them, and he had no doubt that the Kurtz empire had made an enemy of his son. “And what is the second thing? You did say we had things to discuss, I don't suppose it was jus-” He didn’t finish he trailed off looking at the glint of gold on Adrian’s wrist. He glanced over at Isi who was seated next to him and saw its match on her wrist. “I see,” he said again as he leaned back in his chair. “Congratulations are in order I suppose,” he said archly but there was a hint of a smile on his lips. It was a little irksome of his son to not inform him that he was going to get wed, but after the way they had parted, he was not surprised. Still, if what Adrian had said about the woman was true, and he had no reason to doubt his son’s assertions, then she as a mage with magics as of yet unknown to Helheim would be quite the asset. Besides, any woman who would stick with his son through the hell that was a Labor camp had Adrianus’s blessing and approval.

“Thank you,” Adrian said diffidently. “It was actually quite comical, I gather from the way Isi reacted she expected some sort of ceremony, I had to explain to her that in Helheim a marriage is a contract, an agreement between a man and woman, and once both parties recognize that they want to be together then that is that. I think the word she used to describe the event was anticlimactic, I believe.”

Adrianus nodded his head a grin on his face at the mental image he had in his head. Different countries did it differently, but here in Helheim marriage was a rather simple matter and required neither priest nor judge. He chuckled to himself and shook his head looking at his son and his new daughter-in-law. Normally the young couple would have announced that they were to be wed and then hold a party to celebrate it, but it would seem as though his son preferred a more personal setting. “Well once again, congratulations.” Normally he would be expected to have a gift for his son and his new wife but he had been given no notice. Still, if he couldn't solve a problem as small as this one then he had no right being on the Consul. An idea came to him and he stood up from his chair. “Wait here, I have something for you.”

It didn't take him long to retrieve the wooden box and walk back into the room. The scene that he saw had him raising his eyes at his new Daughter-in-law. He glanced at Adrian and saw that he too was watching as Isi played with little Adrian. Taking the stuffed toy offered to her and making it dance on the floor between herself and the boy. Adrianus glanced over at Emilia who was watching the scene as well. She looked conflicted, and Adrianus understood why, this was a rather tangled relationship dynamic. Clearing his throat he placed the wooden case on the table top and pushed it over towards his son.

“A gun?” Adrian asked turning the long box around so that the hinges faced away from him.

“Not just any gun, no.” Adrianus smiled, this was why it was always better to give gifts than it was to get them. He waited expectantly as his son undid the latches and laid the case open. The musket inside was different from any other firearm in existence right now, though that would be changing in the next year or so as these became the standard military issue for Helheim. It was double-barreled in an under-over configuration, and while that made it a rarity it wasn't what made it unique. Adrian picked it up and admired the clean geometric lines of the thing. The wood that made up the stock as well as the foregrip gives an easy and comfortable place to position your hand. Each barrel had a built-in volt generator as all modern muskets did, when you pulled the trigger you could feel the gears it was attached to start to spin, generating the electricity that would arc inside the gun and ignite the gunpowder. Unlike most two-barrel voltlocks there was only one trigger on this gun, and in order to fire the second barrel there was a lever that like the tracks on a train being switched, would send the electricity generated from the trigger pull to the second volt generator.

Adrian looked it over a look of confusion on his face. “Where is the ramrod?” he asked, and Adrianus couldn't help but smile, he had been hoping his son would ask that question. The double barrel and the volt switching system were inventive and sped up the firing process immensely, but both of those paled in comparison to what he was about to show his son. He held out his hand and raising an eyebrow Adrian handed the musket over to him.

“It doesn’t need a ramrod,” Adrianus said. At the very rear of the barrel, there was an S-shaped hook that went over a raised post. Turning it he grabbed on the post and lifted it straight up, removing the entire back plate of both barrels. The metal plate in his hand covered the butt of the barrels and was held in place both with the S-shaped hook as well as cut metal groves that it slid into. On the inside of the plate was a patch of leather to seal the breech tight. He reached into the box and pulled out a jangling velvet pouch. Inside he pulled out two brass cylinders that were about the length of his thumb.

Instead of being perfectly round, there was a flat section on the bottom of the cartridge that corresponded with the inner shape of the barrel. There was also a lip on the back of the brass cartridge that was bigger in diameter than the inside of the tube. When slid in they rested inside the barrel but could go no further. The plate would then be slid into place and locked there with the S hook effectively closing the breach.

“This is a brass cartridge,” Adrianus said proudly showing his son. “There is an iron rod on the inside here.” he indicated the small silver circle on the outside of the brass shell. “It is right in line with the volt generator is located and thus attracts the electricity. You simply load one of these shells, as I am told they are being called now, with gunpowder, a ball, and wad.” He handed his son the shell and smiled. “You can pre-load these and in order to fire all one must do is remove the breach block, replace the cartridge, secure the breech again, and then fire, initial testing has shown us that a competent soldier who is familiar with the weapon can get six double shots per minute.” He watched as Adrian’s eyes bugged out at the number. On average, at the shooting range, a trained man with a traditional voltlock would take 30 to 45 seconds to reload making the rate of fire two shots per minute, on a good day. This musket with the double barrel and the new loading system meant that the fire rate was triple what almost 3 men could do with the standard issue field gun. “This is a prototype gun, and while mass production of these would take a significant amount of time and effort to produce we can quite easily retrofit existing muskets in service.”

“Oh?” Adrian asked looking up from the musket and towards his father.

“An existing musket can have this breach mechanism cut into the back of the gun with the new breach and shell system we expect fire rates to double, as well as misfires to be less frequent.” The lack of a need to use a ramrod also meant the new muskets could be loaded from a prone position, a fact that could not be overlooked.

“Double the rate of fire for every soldier,” Adrian said leaning back and looking off into the distance as he contemplated this. “How long until we start seeing these breech muskets?”

“Six months, production takes time, even with only the breech needing to be constructed, and brass shells need to be cast as well, still, I am hopeful that we will have a good number of them in six months.”

“I see,” Adrian placed the gun back in the case and closed it sliding it back to his father. “It is an interesting design, I cannot wait to get my hands on one when they get shipped to us.”

“You misunderstand,” Adrianus said laying his hand on top of the box and sliding it back over. “This is yours, you are far more likely to need it than I, here in Helheim.” He smiled as Adrian blinked in surprise.

“I see, thank you,” he said and Adrianus nodded his head in acknowledgment.

“Where will your wife be staying while you are deployed?” Emilia asked and everyone’s eyes turned to her. She had been silent this entire time as though she was attempting to blend in with the backdrop of the room.

“Originally I assumed here, or else at Irkstead,” he glanced over at Isi who was still playing with little Adrian and ignoring the entire situation and conversation. “I have been informed however that such will not be the case and she will be going with me.”

“But she is not a Helheim citi-” Emilia started but the glare Adrianus gave her stopped her mouth.

“She is now that she is married, and she is a mage of no little talent,” Adrian said. Emilia was about to say something else, Adrianus could see it boiling up in the woman but he preempted her. Honestly, he didn't understand this woman, when she should be working to smooth things over she seemed hell-bent on putting his son at odds with the family and himself in particular.

“She is not a trained soldier,” Emilia tried again, speaking as though the fact that she had to explain this was ridiculous. “And the two of them are now married, you know the rules, in order to avoid conflicts of interest two members of the same family are not allowed at the same posting, this is doubly true with command sta-”

“We all know the regulations, Emilia,” Adrianus said, looking over at her, “and I am well aware of the reasoning behind such rules, you need not remind me of them.”

“I see,” the words came out harsh and clipped, and that surprised Adrian. Emilia was never rude to her father-in-law, she was always deferential to the man. Something had changed over the years, this was not a change that happened overnight this was the result of some process. ”In that case, I will be excusing myself, come Adrian.” The little boy looked up at his mother pausing the game that he had been playing with Isi.

“But mama i-”

“Come.” The word was a command again and the boy got up obediently and followed his mother to the door. “I bid you all a good night.” if words could freeze a room this one would have a layer of hoarfrost over every surface, and with that, they were gone.

“I am sorry,” Adrian said looking at his father. “I didn't imagine it would be an issue.”

“It won't be, you would hardly be the first officer to bring their wife to their post,” Adrianus looked away from the door and over to his son a smile cracking his lips ” Just make sure the men know you are the commander and not her.”

“I’ll do my best,” Adrian said with a laugh.