Alexander woke feeling sore and tired. He had arrived in the city after sunset when the gates were shut and briefly considered making the trek to the train station to stay at an inn there but Alexander was tired and the disappointment of the day left him in a sour mood. The guards hesitated for a moment when he called out but let him in upon seeing his armor. He demanded directions to the nearest place he could find lodging and was directed to an inn just inside the gates. Alexander's mood improved somewhat after some wine and a warm meal but it was still late by the time he was able to climb into bed.
The blacksmith's guild was located deep within the heart of the sprawling city of Tariopolis. Alexander set out on the broad highway that ran from the western gate straight through the city and down to the port on the eastern edge. Ancient streets connected to the highway and wound through buildings new and old. Carts drawn by animals and slaves moved up one side of the road and down the other with a broad space between them in the middle, large enough that two wagons could fit comfortably, while pedestrians kept to the sides. The way the city sloped down to the sea allowed Alexander a view of the ships anchored in the bay, cargo being moved on smaller boats to and from land for the ships too large for the docks.
Airships hung in the sky above, ascending from and descending to the anchorage just outside the north walls of Tariopolis. Larger cargo vessels drifted lazily through the sky, pushed along by massive screws and steered by an array of smaller propellers and rudders. Smaller passenger craft moved through the sky much quicker, though how fast they actually moved was hard for Alexander to judge with no frame of reference. He knew they could cross the sea to the shores of Wollema as much as eight times faster than a traditional sailing ship and were not subject to the tides dictating their arrivals and departure, but airships were still limited. The Aether sacks that provided lift needed to be heated to keep the vessel aloft, the steam engines that drove the screws required water and fire to work. Enchantments on the machinery and a Thaumaturgist stoking the flames to burn hotter and longer allowed the engines to function efficiently enough to be practical, but vessels still had to dedicate significant space to coal and water storage. The enchantments on the hulls of the vessels could only go so far in strengthening them, limiting how large an airship could get before it would be pulled apart by its own weight. Despite the advantage of speed and the ability to travel over land that airships boasted, traditional sailing ships still played a significant role in the world thanks to the volume of cargo and passengers they could move across the water.
After a few minutes of walking Alexander realized the city was much larger than he had anticipated. He asked a passing man how long it would take to walk to the docks and learned it would take as much as five hours. Alexander thought, briefly, about commandeering a horse but quickly pushed the thought out of his mind. He was letting impatience get the better of him. His mission was not urgent, his desire, however brief he entertained the thought, to achieve his goals quickly at the expense of others' ability to go about their own business was a sign of pride, one that needed to be stamped out.
Alexander heard a sound on the road behind him, the sound of steam hissing and metal wheels on stone. He turned and saw what appeared almost like a smaller locomotive, light grey smoke or steam puffing from a chimney while it rolled along the street on large metal wheels. Alexander walked into the road, avoiding horses and carts, and stood in the street next to where he believed the strange vehicle would travel, waving at the two men seated at its front. It slowed and came to a stop a short distance past Alexander, the engine continuing to rumble and puff.
"Yes, Inquisitor?" one of the men asked, his hands on a wheel attached to a rod jutting out from the frame of the vehicle.
"Are you going past the smith's guild headquarters?" Alexander asked.
"Yes, Inquisitor, all the way to the docks to deliver cargo from the train station, Inquisitor," the man said, gesturing at the load of wooden crates stacked behind him.
"Do you mind if I ride with you part of the way?"
"Of course not, Inquisitor."
Stolen novel; please report.
Alexander nodded and climbed up to the bench as the second man moved closer to his companion. The metal wheels began to turn, the vehicle lurching as they slipped and found traction on the road. Carts and pedestrians alike moved past Alexander on his right.
"I thought this vehicle was moving faster than this when I waved you down." Alexander said as much as asked.
"Apologies, Inquisitor, the wagon is heavy and the wheels tend to slide on the paving stones. It takes time to get up to speed from a stop but once we do gain our momentum we will travel five times as fast as a man walks."
Alexander nodded and turned to watch the road ahead. He could see several similar vehicles off in the distance approaching from the opposite direction, travelling along the empty space between the carts pulled by animals and slaves. It took several minutes but the vehicle did pick up speed, first matching the pace of the pedestrians beside it and then surpassing them. Alexander gripped the side of the vehicle tight. He knew that the train he rode just yesterday travelled much faster than this contraption but it had felt much safer. It was secured to metal rails dictating where it could go and the coach he rode in felt like it provided shelter from the world speeding past. Here he was sitting on a crude bench exposed to the air, feeling as though a good bump would send him flying out of his seat and crashing onto the road below.
"So how does this work?" Alexander asked, turning to the men seated on his left.
"The steam wagon, Inquisitor?" replied the man gripping the steering wheel.
"Yes, do you know?"
"Apologies, Inquisitor, I am merely a driver, not an engineer."
"Ah. How about you?" Alexander said to the man seated in the middle, "Do you know how this works?"
"Sorry, Inquisitor. I'm just a driver as well."
A few moments of silence passed.
"So, you're both drivers, then? Does this steam wagon require multiple men to control it?"
"It can be handled by one man, Inquisitor. The magistrates require that two men be present at all times for the safety of the citizens, though. If a man faints or becomes distracted while driving a wagon pulled by a horse, the horse can still see where it's going. A steam wagon will simply continue to move until it runs out of fire or water, or else it hits someone or something, Inquisitor."
"Makes sense."
Alexander rode in silence for the rest of the journey. They passed a handful of other steam wagons heavy with cargo making their way up the road. Horses and slaves were definitely still the most popular method of transporting goods within Tariopolis, despite the speed offered by the steam wagons.
"The guild is just up ahead, Inquisitor, we will stop the vehicle shortly so you can disembark."
"No need to stop completely, I know how long it takes for you to get back up to speed. Just slow down enough and I'll jump off."
"Apologies, Inquisitor, but we'll bring the wagon to a stop for you if you would allow us. We do not want to risk bloodguilt on ourselves if you should slip and fall under the wheels."
The vehicle slowly reduced in speed until it managed to stop, the weight of the vehicle and its cargo along with the slope of the road making the process a slow one, the driver repeatedly pushing or pulling levers to prevent the wheels from losing grip and sending the wagon sliding into other travellers. Once stopped, Alexander climbed down and stepped onto the road, thanking the drivers for their assistance. The men nodded and their vehicle began to lumber away towards the docks once again.
Alexander glanced at the sun and saw that it was only mid-morning. If he found a smith to bring to Croton quickly enough he may be able to bring the man to one of the inns at the train station that day and depart the next morning. Alexander adjusted his armor that had moved into an uncomfortable position during his ride and then walked through the grand doors of the smith's guild headquarters.