The giant crates were as terrifying as they were wondrous.

“Over here you fool!” a woman shouted, and I flinched at her loud voice. She sounded furious.

The man who quickly hurried to obey her order though had a strange smile on his face, as if he was happy to be admonished. It was as strange as the crates they were carrying in.

“Drop something and I'll drop you!” the woman shouted to another, and it got a wave of laughs from the rest of the men.

“Yes Captain!”

The Linesmen were loud, and very efficient. Only a few hours had gone by, and already the room was practically full.

And by full, I meant full.

They weren't just stacking them wall-to-wall, but even to the ceiling. It was quite a sight to see them stack them so high, and made me wonder how they expected us to get them back down... It seemed impossible, considering how heavy they must be.

“Pardon us,” a large woman said, causing me and Grandmother to step back a few steps to allow her and the men who followed to pass.

One after another, more than a dozen people passed us in the hallway... and each one was carrying a crate.

“We should have had them pack the other rooms too,” I whispered, remembering the mess that had been made by the men of our House the other day.

They had broken several of the crates, and two of them had been full of sacks of seeds. It had taken us hours to clean them all up.

After all, each seed was too valuable to lose.

Sorting seeds from sand was something I didn't wish to do again, even if it was a wondrous problem to have.

“I had not realized they would be so efficient,” grandmother said as we watched a pair of men carry in a crate nearly too wide to fit through the door.

“Capt'n!” a man shouted, drawing attention.

“What'd you do!” the woman who had been giving orders became irate, marching towards him.

“I stubbed my toe ma'am!” he cried out without shame.

The indignity of the man, and his stupid smile that he wore as he proudly proclaimed such a thing made even me feel embarrassed.

Other men only laughed though, even the woman who had sounded so angry burst out in laughter.

“Get back to work or I'll pack you into a crate and leave you here!”

“Such lively people,” grandmother whispered as we watched the scene.

“I thought you had said they were all stoic and calculating...” I said.

“The Commander is, Noth,” she softly said.

So the leader was... but then why were his subordinates not? Their actions and demeanor reflected him, so usually one would expect them to act the same... at least, even if, by force.

While we whispered with one another, the woman who they called captain approached. She was tall, and her eyes were fierce. “Miss Rivini, the remaining boxes are too large to fit into this room... This hallway too, for that matter. What would you like us to do with them?” She asked.

“Yes, I figured when I saw them... I suppose we'll have no choice but to break them down and load the contents separately. However, the men of my House can do that task, you've done more than enough child,” Grandmother said warmly.

The woman however, smiled and shook her head. “Nonsense. Barry! Marco!” she shouted, making not just me but grandmother as well to startle.

Two men ran up to us, and she pointed down the hall. “Take some men, break down the larger crates and have the goods brought in that way. Take care not to break anything,” she ordered.

Both men gave a hasty salute then hurried down the hallway. Their pace as they left was somewhat disturbing, especially when they all seemed to be so exhausted.

Most of the Linesmen seemed to be sweating profusely, yet they didn't stop... they kept working, and did so with a strange haste.

A haste that was uncommon to not just us in the House of Derri, but all Houses.

Maybe it came from a lack of proper nourishment and rest, or simply because of cultural differences.

I wonder if our workers, our people, long ago had such stamina and speed. Maybe we did, back when even the lowest worker had been able to eat their fill every day.

“Thank you, young lady,” Grandmother said, not seeming to be willing to argue or fight against the woman's decision.

“Commander gave us a job. We'll be out of your hair once we're done here, shouldn't be long now,” the woman said, and then left us as she returned to bark orders at people who seemed to be doing their job just fine.

“She'd make a wonderful Daughter of Derri,” Grandmother said, and I couldn't see it.

A woman like that would never accept such a fate.

“Grandmother!”

Hurrying in-between the Linesmen and crates, a guard approached. It was one of the younger ones, a boy more than a man. He didn't even carry a spear, most likely because he'd be unable to properly use it even if he needed to. He was too small.

“What is it?”

“A problem... Elder Jorma wants to see you,” the boy said quickly.

“Hmph. Always a problem with him. Let's go then, take me to him.”

Being led down the hallway, I was surprised to see each Linesmen who we passed stand aside and wait patiently for us to do so. As if they were servants, and not guests. Grandmother said nothing, but it made me embarrassed to be treated so and I kept my head down when they did it.

It was insulting, and I didn't like it. It was just another thing the Grandmother did that proved most of her words were simple lip service, and not honest sincerity.

“Aren't you supposed to be cataloging new wealth, Jorma?” Grandmother asked as we entered the main entrance room to the warehouses.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The white haired Elder wasn't alone, but was the only other member of our House here. Only I and the young guard were accompanying the Elders, and the rest were Linesmen carrying out their tasks.

“I was. Until I saw all this,” he said with wave to the Linesmen walking past us.

Grandmother wasn't the only one who studied what he talked of, as both the boy and I did as well.

“Saw what...? Our future? What is the problem?” Grandmother asked, annoyance clear in her voice.

Maybe he's been complaining lately, she sounded as if she wasn't just tired and annoyed of it... but exhausted because of it.

“Don't you see? They carried all this wealth straight to us!” he shouted.

One of the nearby Linesmen looked our way at his outburst, but none of them stopped working. It made me try and turn a little so they could not see my face.

“And...? Would you rather they have carried it elsewhere? Or not bring it at all? Explain yourself,” Grandmother said, finally out of patience.

The old man's white hair fluttered as he suddenly stepped forward briskly, so fast he nearly stumbled as he came face to face with Rivini. “The whole city saw it! Every box! Every seed!” he shouted.

This time two of the Linesmen looked our way, and this time they even stopped working. They stared at us, and I coughed a little in hopes the elders would notice.

They didn't.

“Of course they did! But what are we to do? We had no choice, you're our accountant, you know exactly how long it would have took for our men to carry all of it here on their own!” she shouted back.

I kept my head low, and decided to just step back and pretend to not exist. The young boy who stood nearby looked at me with an aghast face as he tried to figure out what to do himself.

Luckily for him, he figured out he should replicate my actions and took a few steps back and became as stoic as a young boy could.

“Better that then this! If we'd have done it, we would have secured and hidden the wealth better!” Jorma yelled furiously.

“Hid? Hid our wealth? Have you gone sandblasted mad? No matter how dark the night, or how big the rug you use to cover them up, all will know its contents, foolish man!” Grandmother shouted back.

Jorma went red in the face, and it was a stark contrast to his white hair and eyes. “Bah! You've doomed us! There's no way Markith will stand aside now! Do you have no idea what you've done?”

“Is everything alright?”

The two Elder's turned on a heel to yell at the questioner, but neither voice escaped their lips when they saw the woman who had braved their anger.

“Captain Sarley... My apologies, we did not mean to draw you away from your tasks,” Elder Jorma said, his voice suddenly calm and collected... even his smile looked genuine.

I hadn't even noticed his face change; he had done it so quickly. It was as if he had never been angry.

“We're fine, child. Our apologies, my brother was just being foolish. He’s probably just heat stricken,” Grandmother said happily, likewise lacking any hint of her previous fury.

Linesman Sarley didn't buy it, her face making it clear that she could see right through their charade. Yet, she still smiled and nodded. “I see. Just making sure. The last crate has just been delivered, and everything's in place. Just need to ask if you need any help with anything else concerning the goods for now. If not we'll head back to the Front-Line,” she said calmly.

Somehow she had smiled through her words as well, and seemed more genuine than the Elders had.

“Oh good! Thank you so much. We'll be fine from here. Please tell your Lord Noth that we are eternally thankful for his assistance, and the lending of his children,” Grandmother said with a small bow.

“Eternally grateful,” Jorma added, bowing as well.

“Alright then,” the Linesman said, her eyes glancing my way as she turned to leave. “Wrap it up!” she shouted, bluntness returning to her voice.

Watching her go, I watched alongside the rest as one after another the Linesmen left the House of Derri.

Normally I'd not watch so intensely, but for some reason most of the Linesmen waved at us as they passed, some even loudly proclaimed their desire to return at another time... and oddly, I somehow felt they were being sincere.

How they were sincere about such a thing was beyond me, but it made sense if maybe the Line they were returning to was even worse than here.

Maybe they were some kind of slaves...?

“That was well done, you old fool. Embarrassing us like that in front of the Linesmen,” Grandmother said sternly after the last Linesmen left.

“Me? I'm not the one who shrieked so loud her old bones cried out in shock!”

“Jorma, the next time you become hysteric, do it in private!” Grandmother shouted.

Turning around and with a huff, Grandmother Rivini stormed away.

Hurrying after her, I left Jorma and the young guard behind.

“That man! Of course I know the implications! Does he take me for a fool!” Rivini shouted, and I was glad the Linesmen had left.

Rivini's angered pace didn't slow even when we reached her room. Nor did it subside even as she entered, nearly walking into me as I held the door open for her.

“Drink!” she ordered.

Closing the door, I quickly went to the shelves where her cups were stored. Luckily her room was cool enough, thanks to the catalyst magic given by the Linesmen, so I didn't need to leave the room to fetch it.

Unluckily however, that meant I'd not be able to leave her long enough for her rage to subside.

“Blasted old man. Just like the rest of them, scared of their own shadows,” she grumbled as I poured her some of the fruity smelling drink she acquired from the Line.

She paced as I prepared her drink, but sat once it was ready. Placing the cup in front of her, I watched as she quickly drank half the glass.

Although Rivini was correct that the rest of the Elders were... a little too foolish when it came to their precautions, I could also understand their concerns.

They had nearly gone to war over the Line wishing to trade with us first... and had only calmed their wrath when a deal had been made.

Although that deal was clear, and the other Houses would get their share eventually... it was hard to blame them for growing angry when they were forced to watch such wealth pass them by on the roads in front of their homes... heading to someone they believed to not be worthy.

They were just as hungry and thirsty as we, if not more-so with the many more mouths to feed.

To be honest… it was miraculous that they hadn't surrounded our House in full arms, demanding equal shares of the wealth...

“What pisses me off the most is how right he is,” she finally lost some of her anger as her tone became dire.

Standing nearby, I wished the room wasn't so quiet. I really wanted to sigh.

“Sit, Telleya.”

Obeying the order, I sat across from Grandmother Rivini.

“We have one more day,” she said to me.

I didn't know what to say, since I wasn't really sure what she meant. One more day until what? For what?

Rivini tilted her cup, almost to the point of spilling it as she went deep into thought. “Our only hope is that their anger abates when the Line spreads its wealth...” she whispered.

“Surely it possesses enough for everyone...?” I asked.

A crooked smile appeared as she laughed. “Who can say? I've tried to ask, at least indirectly... but that man simply circles it. You'd think so, what with the size of that Line... but at the same time he acts as if he plans on leaving once he's finished,” she said.

Leaving? Why would he leave after just trading with our House...?

“He did agree to trade with them afterward,” I said.

“Heh. Agreed to the idea of trade, yes... but he didn't say he would,” she corrected.

For a long moment I wondered if she was correct. Would such a simple, and silly, play on words really be his intention?

Though, maybe...

Maybe he planned on leaving, not because he had acquired all he wanted... but rather the opposite.

After all, what had we given in exchange for all the wealth now stored in our House?

Gold? Trinkets? Gems? Shining rocks and heavy metals that half the time couldn't even be used to make weapons or tools?

Worthless things that were everywhere. Maybe he realized that such items were all that any of the Houses had, and chose to move on to the next location.

“Maybe we really don't have a choice,” Rivini said as she put the cup up against her forehead, as if to cool herself.

My back stiffened at her words, and my stomach sank.

“Be ready, Telleya,” she warned.

Saying nothing, I simply nodded... accepting my fate.