Chapter 155

Threads and Strands of Power

Lansius

The next day, Lansius, as the Lord of the city, entered his castle after a long while to hold court. The castle staff eagerly and warmly welcomed him and Audrey. Many were known to them, but there were also several new faces.

As they took their seats, the court session naturally commenced.

Sir Michael was the first to step forward, escorting a fair maiden with long hazelnut hair, draped in a flowing, milk-white silk robe adorned with bronze embroidery.

"My Lord, My Lady," he greeted. "Please accept our congratulations on your successful campaigns in Korimor, South Hill, against the coup in allied Three Hills, and your triumphant return from Umberland," the knight with the eyepatch on his left eye eloquently spoke, setting the mood for the court.

Lansius acknowledged the honor with a subtle nod. He then glanced at Audrey, hinting for her to proceed. "Sir Michael, is this the famed Lady Astrid of White Lake?" she asked with a warm smile.

"Indeed, she is Lady Astrid, daughter of Lord Robert," the knight affirmed. Beside him, Lady Astrid curtsied gracefully, her movements elegant and effortless. "My Lord, My Lady, please accept well wishes from the House of Robert and the White Lake nobles. We congratulate you on your victories and on your joyful anticipation of an heir," her voice sweet and gentle.

Audrey turned to Lansius with a smug look as if hinting that she was right about something. Lansius dared not decipher her intention, knowing that Audrey had been living inside a feudal military all her life and had a sense of humor like a soldier.

Not wanting this to turn awkward, Lansius quickly responded, "Lady Astrid, it's a pleasure to meet you. I must apologize for dispatching Sir Michael to Korimor so soon after your wedding."

Lady Astrid's smile was gentle, her head shaking slightly. "Please, a knight's honor lies in the fulfillment of his duties."

Pleased with her answer, Lansius glanced aside to find Audrey leaning back, barely concealing a grin.

Just what is she thinking...

Despite his concerns, Audrey perfectly played her role as a warm and honorable host, showing genuine friendship towards lady Astrid. Her sincerity was evident, and her retinue eagerly informed newcomers that she was someone who rarely hid her feelings.

Next, Sir Justin stepped forward, his countenance and voice ever cheerful and reliable. "My Lord, My Lady, congratulations on your recent victories and forthcoming addition to your House. May the Ancients forever bless you," he said, as a young girl accompanying him curtsied promptly.

Lansius and Audrey smiled warmly at Sir Justin. "Who is this charming girl?"

The marshal turned to the girl, giving her the floor. "My Lord, My Lady, I am Eleanor, Sir Justin’s second-born. In your absence, I've joined Lady Astrid and Claire in mentoring the children at your newly established orphanage."

Delighted, Lansius glanced at Audrey, who then offered praise to the child. "You are so talented. I'm sure your father is immensely proud."

Eleanor beamed. "Father is always proud of me. Even his mercenary friends have always been fond of me," she stated, her innocence sparking laughter throughout the chamber. She clearly enjoyed the reaction.

Sir Justin led Eleanor to pay their respects once again before returning to the hall, allowing the next in line to come forward.

Calub, the Tarracan-born, and Cecile, of northern blood with blond hair, presented themselves with a bow and a curtsy. "My Lord, My Lady," they greeted. Then Cecile spoke for both of them, "It is with great delight that we anticipate the arrival of your newest family member; may the child inherit both your wisdom and courage."

Audrey quickly interjected, "Cecile, we feel bad for not being able to attend your wedding."

"I hope the wedding was merry and fine," Lansius immediately added.

"Please, My Lord, My Lady, be at ease," Calub reassured them. "The wedding was fine, and we, along with the city, are happy to see you back in Korelia."

The newlyweds didn't linger in the limelight for long, leaving much unsaid. As high-ranking retinue and members of the small council, they knew there would be other opportunities to discuss matters privately.

Several more prominent individuals from the city, guilds, and dignitaries also took the chance to greet the lord. They congratulated Lansius and Audrey on their victories, each trying to outdo the other's well wishes.

While Lansius wanted to get on with the reports, the situation demanded that he be a good host at least for a day.

Soon, the queue ended with one last addition: a young couple, Sterling and Claire, the latter being the only other person with blond hair in the chamber.

Following his instincts, Lansius turned to Cecile, Claire's sister, and found her rather nervous.

"My Lord, My Lady," the squire greeted, while Claire curtsied and added, "Please accept our well wishes for your return to the city. May you and your expected child be blessed with health, fame, and wealth."

"Gratitude for the well wishes," Lansius replied warmly. Meanwhile, Audrey, looking at the young woman, "How are you, Claire?"

"I'm happy with your return, My Lady. Please accept my gratitude for allowing Sterling to recuperate in Midlandia and for protecting him from harm," Claire responded.

"It's only natural. He's the Lord's squire; how could I not take care of him?" Audrey replied.

Claire nodded politely at her words.

"Is there something you wanted to say, Sterling?" Lansius asked, noticing the squire's body language.

"Yes, My Lord. If you deem it fit, will you allow us to marry?" Sterling asked confidently.

The grand chamber quickly filled with lively murmurs.

Audrey met Lansius' eyes, who then stated, "You shall have my blessings if House Cecile agrees to it."

Everyone turned to Cecile. After receiving a reassuring nod from Calub, she took a deep breath before stepping forward. "My Lord, they have my blessings. I'm sure my late father would have agreed."

Lansius sighed with relief, then turned to Audrey, who nodded with a smile. Thus, it was decided. He rose and approached Sterling and Claire, who readily knelt. Although a simple "I give my blessing" would have been sufficient, he wanted to do this properly since both were important to him.

"By the power vested in me by the Imperium, I, Lansius, Lord of Korelia, hereby give my blessing for Sterling, a squire of Korelia, and Claire, the daughter of the late Sir Callahan, to unite in marriage. May your newly united House always find health and happiness."

The crowd clapped and cheered in support. Indeed, it was only fitting for a victory celebration to include the marriage of a young couple—a part of the cycle of life to compensate for lives lost in battles.

...

During the recess, music played as seasonal fruits, wild berries, and an assortment of bread were distributed as light snacks. It was necessary because the first court session after such a long hiatus tended to last much longer than usual.

Lansius leaned toward Audrey and asked privately, "Why did you have such a reaction when Michael introduced Astrid?"

"Oh, I won a bet, that's why," she answered lightly.

"A bet?" He squinted, not expecting such an answer.

"Yes," she turned toward him with a smile on her lips. "I bet to myself that you would regret marrying me the moment you saw Lady Astrid for the first time."

Lansius almost laughed. "Well, you lost that bet."

"Liar," she whispered merrily.

He let out a chuckle before reassuring her, "I'm being serious. I have no regrets."

Audrey shook her head with a mischievous smile. "But look at her: long flowy hair, gentle eyes, unblemished fair skin, a stylish sense of dress, not to mention a slender waist, full hips, and breasts."

What she said was so absurd that Lansius coughed and shook his head in embarrassment. Only afterward did he whisper, "This is why I love you."

"Hey, don't change the subject," Audrey protested, while calmly eyeing the crowd to see if anyone was eavesdropping.

"Hear me out first." He gained her attention. "Other noble ladies would grow jealous and cause issues. But you? You just mock me silly."

With a puzzled look, Audrey quipped, "Now, it doesn't sound like a compliment, but why does it feel like one?"

"Take the win before you lose it," he quipped back, and Audrey stifled a snort.

"One thing you might have missed," she said afterward with a more serious tone. "Lady Astrid is likely also with child."

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Lansius furrowed his brow. "How can you tell?"

"Since we entered, I've observed her discomfort and anxiety. A lady of her stature wouldn't normally be unsettled by a small court like ours—unless she's experiencing early pregnancy nausea."

He nodded at her deduction. "That's a sharp observation."

"If it's true, then this is a good omen. I'll have a powerful friend, and our children will also have someone their age as a natural friend."

It was Lansius' turn to smile. "It seems motherhood comes naturally to you."

"No. Just a sense of survival," Audrey replied firmly. "Our son will need an ally, and what better ally than the next heir of White Lake?"

"Let's just hope they can be good friends. It would be terrible if one of them grows up to be a bully," he said, revealing his thoughts on a topic he wasn't accustomed to discussing.

"No worries. Nothing a set of armor couldn't fix," she replied.

"A set of armor..." Lansius grew worried. "What do you plan to do with a set of armor?"

"Small sets for children, obviously for basic training," she smiled ominously, reminding Lansius of past training.

Suddenly, he whispered to her, "You're right, you won that bet. I'm starting to have regrets on behalf of our child."

Audrey tried hard to stifle her giggles.

Watching her lips turn dry, Lansius grabbed her silver goblet of cooled boiled water. "Drink often," he urged, and Audrey accepted it without complaint.

Afterward, the court session resumed with lunch followed by social events. Although Lansius was eager to proceed with official business and hear reports, he recognized the importance of dedicating the day to fostering camaraderie among his vassals and subjects.

***

East Korelia

Two weeks had passed since the Lord's arrival, and the entire baggage train along with the rear guard had finally arrived. One significant revelation to the city was the presence of Francisca, a half-breed previously unknown to them. Her sudden popularity, fueled by people's curiosity, led the Lord and Lady to ask her to lead the customary celebration of their victories and return.

Unlike in Korimor, the celebration in Korelia was more grand, due to the city's lively market, well-connected guilds, and ample food stores.

The festivities included theatrical plays, feasts, city-wide football, and various competitions in which knights and men-at-arms participated.

Behind the merriment, the council and the guilds worked full-time. Lord Lansius had inspected the newly completed second water wheel. Unlike the first, which served as a flour mill, this second one was connected to an adjacent workshop complex.

In contrast to the bustling western part of Korelia, the eastern part remained largely undeveloped, its land still entirely controlled by the barony. This gave Lansius full authority over its development. To better integrate the eastern part, he commissioned a new stone bridge to connect Korelia's West and East, anticipating the growing need for transportation.

Next year, he planned to expand the complex with additional workshops and warehouses, but this expansion was dependent on securing enough demand. Lansius didn’t want to be wasteful by constructing an empty complex. Moreover, it would be detrimental to the city's image. He wanted Korelia to appear enticing and always in demand; an empty complex would tarnish that image.

In between his meetings with the guilds and a stream of guests who paid their respects, Lansius often slipped away from view, traveling incognito with just a few escorts to rendezvous with his staff in the field.

Today was one such day; the sun was barely on the horizon and Lansius was still sleepy, but he knew it was the best way to avoid crowds. It was a new development; the last time in Korelia, his presence rarely attracted followers, but now people of all ages seemed eager to follow him everywhere.

It's almost like a cult. He recalled of his experience.

Calub had been waiting and, after customary greetings, they began to inspect the agriculture project.

"Do the trees grow healthily?" Lansius asked, taking a deep breath and observing several clusters of young trees, including poplars and several others, as well as some shrubs underneath it.

"For the first time, we can say with some confidence that they're healthy. The man you sent from South Hill was able to determine whether a tree was growing well or if it needed more care."

"That's great to hear," Lansius remarked. "Then keep him in your care and give him more aides if he needs it."

"Certainly, My Lord."

"What type of tree is that?" Lansius asked as the two walked between the fallowed fields.

"That is a type of pine. They say it's known for its toughness and can grow in harsh conditions, including dry, poor soils. They also grow relatively quickly and should serve as excellent windbreaks due to their branch density."

Lansius nodded, quipping, "Let's just hope they're tough enough for Korelia."

"Things are progressing nicely, but we won't be certain until spring and summer arrive."

Interested in the dry soil, Lansius knelt in the field and took a sample of the ground. The dryness was evident.

"As my earlier report stated, the Midlandia heavy iron plow is detrimental. We tried several methods, but they all still ruined the topsoil," Calub reported.

Lansius exhaled deeply. Despite his brush with farm life in Bellandia, his knowledge of farming was limited, and he hadn't known that heavy plows weren't suitable for every type of land. "It was a good decision to stop using the heavy plow; otherwise, we could have lost much more," he noted, observing the dry topsoil that turned to dust from wind erosion.

"Then, shall we let this land fallow?" Calub asked.

"Indeed. If the land proves to be fertile next spring, then we'll try to follow the three-field system used in Midlandia. For now, let's let it grow grass so the goats can graze and their droppings can fertilize the soil," Lansius decided.

"About that, I have some good news," Calub smiled.

Lansius, intrigued, quipped, "Well, don't keep the good news to yourself."

Calub chuckled and revealed, "The duck breeder you sent to me has managed to tame the ducks."

"For real?" Lansius exclaimed, lost for words.

"He managed to find a more docile breed. He said those breeds are the true ducks, while the rest should be renamed geese."

Lansius nodded thoughtfully as the two continued to walk between the fields. "Does this mean that these ducks can be controlled?"

"Indeed. He has demonstrated his ability to lead and guide them without harming any of the handlers."

"That's good news," Lansius chuckled. "With this, we can introduce the ducks after the goats have foraged."

Calub nodded. "He did say that he wanted to protect this breed's eggs, so he can increase their numbers."

"I'll support that idea. Let's make a rule to ban the sale and consumption of duck eggs."

"An internal ban should suffice, My Lord. After all, you didn't mean to ban the sale of goose eggs. They're quite profitable as a medicinal food."

Lansius nodded hastily. "That is correct. We don't want to harm the goose breeders. And we really should share these findings with them."

"We already did so. The demonstration was enough to convince them," Calub explained.

"Excellent," Lansius said excitedly. "Then we keep the forest as a goose breeding ground, and the eastern Korelia and the river as duck breeding grounds."

"The maester said the same thing. He also elaborated, explaining that goose meat is fattier, more fragrant, and more delicious than duck. I believe these qualities have made breeders more interested in raising geese than ducks."

Lansius nodded. Indeed, he knew that while the eggs tasted bad, the meat was excellent. "I'll welcome any kind of food. A great city can't just survive on just salted goat meat."

Calub chuckled in agreement. "One thing though, My Lord. Why are you so eager to put ducks on the soil? Do they have fertilizing properties?"

"Ducks are useful for pest control. They eat insects, slugs, and snails that can damage crops," Lansius explained as they continued to walk toward the river. "They also consume small weeds and their seeds. But more importantly, as they forage and walk around, they do wonders for the land, especially when we keep the soil a bit wet."

"Now I know why you specified wanting the water wheel connected to pipes to deliver water to this area," Calub remarked thoughtfully.

Lansius stopped and turned to him. "That's just a coincidence. I believe that wind and dryness are the main issues we face here. The windbreak plants should solve the wind problem, but dryness will require water. The ducks are just a bonus."

...

After visiting the farming area, Lansius traveled to the river where the new industrial area was located. Previously, Korelia’s blacksmiths operated in a different part of town, but here they could harness the mechanical power from the river. The water-powered wheel provided energy for mundane, repetitive tasks such as milling grains into flour and hammering raw iron.

However, Lansius didn’t head to the noisy blacksmith area but towards a quieter workshop. He gestured to the guards and the foreman not to announce his arrival, to avoid interrupting the work.

He quietly entered and observed the setup. The raw materials, thin iron rods supplied by the blacksmiths, were piled in crates near the work table. These rods were made as thin as possible within a reasonable effort and time.

In this workshop, the craftsmen, clad in sweat-soaked leather, loaded an iron rod into a thick metal slab known as the die, which was firmly secured on a solid wooden bench. The die had several small holes, each progressively smaller than the last.

They inserted the pointed end of the iron rod, then clamped and secured it with tongs. After slathering the rod and die with tallow for lubrication, they manually pulled the tongs, forcing the rod to become thinner and longer.

Traditionally, the wiresmith would perform all tasks manually, drawing each rod by hand. Now, however, they connected a rope from the clamp to a hook and chain linked to the water wheel. Through a clever arrangement of ropes, the water wheel took over the labor-intensive task, consistently pulling and releasing as the rope slackened.

With ease, it slowly but steadily pulled the rest of the iron rod, resulting in a slightly thinner and longer rod. This process was repeated, using progressively smaller holes in the die until the rod was transformed into wire.

A rod about the length of a sword could be transformed into several tables' lengths of wire, which were then coiled onto wooden spools and slathered in tallow for rust protection.

"At first, the guildsmen assumed we wanted to create a ring workshop for ringmail, not wires," Calub commented as they stepped outside after the inspection.

Lansius was amused. "I can imagine their reaction. After all, wires are usually made for jewelry and made from gold or silver."

"Indeed," Calub said as they moved to inspect the only storehouse in the vicinity. "But I admit that I'm also intrigued. Why do you need so many of them? And I doubt you're making this for airship needs."

Lansius snorted. "When I left Korelia, I didn't even know that airships existed." He watched as the guard, recognizing who they were, stood ramrod straight.

The group entered through the large door into the cavernous building where rows of coiled wires were stored on an elevated platform. They were originally made of old and damaged swords, ringmail, or other metal objects from many battles that he had acquired.

Lansius turned to Calub, whose wrinkles and darker brown hair almost matched his when shadows fell on them. "The wire is not the final product," he began, catching his advisor’s attention.

"It’s just the material," he continued. "What I plan to make from it might change this city and Lowlandia, and even the rest of the Imperium."

Calub seemed skeptical of the claims. "I doubt it’s greater than the spinning wheel, and we still have many issues to solve before their debut next spring."

"The spinning wheel will need more time to mature and develop," Lansius explained. "It’s a long-term project. Meanwhile, this wire can be used almost immediately. You’ll be surprised just how powerful it is."

Calub was intrigued. "What can we make from these simple wires, and for what use?"

"It’s simple yet effective," he remarked, still hesitant to reveal its use. "But first, I need to take some precautions."

"Precautions?" Calub raised his brow.

Lansius nodded and confided, "The problem is, I can’t control it. Once it’s out, the guildsmen could steal and replicate it themselves. And that might jeopardize a lot of things."

While the invention was revolutionary, it carried risks that could destabilize the region. It might even alienate his nomadic allies, a consequence Lansius could not afford.

Calub turned around casually before turning back to face him.

"What's wrong?" Lansius asked.

"Just don’t want anyone to hear this. Whatever this invention is, I respect your careful approach."

Lansius smiled. "Some say that I’m just too timid."

"That is false and shallow observation," Calub stated firmly. "It’s clear to me that you come from a place more advanced than the Imperium. And you understood the danger of the things you wanted to introduce."

Lansius nodded, pleased with his understanding.

Calub continued, "This is also why I’m going to entrust you with this knowledge." The alchemist smiled stiffly. "I could get in trouble for this; the guild might disown me. But I know that you can be trusted with this information."

"As you said, I can keep a secret," Lansius reassured him.

"The airship fuel you gave me," Calub began. "From the moment I smelled it, I knew about it. It’s one of many ingredients to create fire bombs. Moreover, the Midlandia alchemist guild has its own resource. We don’t need to learn about where it is, but it’s dirt cheap. The only cost is transporting."

Lansius' eyes widened upon hearing the good news.

"I don’t need to tell you this, but the big guilds are heavily interested in the airship. They want it, and they have amassed their gold to have it. But you, My Lord, need to keep silent. Until we can secure enough, best to say nothing about the fuel, or say it’s one of many needed."

"I’ll follow your advice," Lansius said confidently. "Then about the mixture?"

"I can’t possibly improve the mixture alone," Calub chuckled. "We'll need the entire guild to work on it."

Lansius gazed at him sharply and declared, "Then, I’ll give you the entire guild."

***