Chapter Fourteen – Noth – A Promise and a Slip

“Job's finished, Commander,” Sarley said as she huffed into my office.

“Well done. Everything go well?” I asked.

“Perfectly fine. As you’ve said, they are all too desperate to do anything suspicious,” she said.

Glancing up at her, I noticed that her expression matched the strange tone she had just given me.

“Well?” I asked, wondering why I had to ask at all. Sarley normally told me even if I didn't want to hear it.

She nodded and let loose a long sigh. “They're definitely panicking. Two of those... elders? Got into a heated argument right in front of us,” she said.

“Over what?”

“Us carrying the goods openly through the city. The woman argued there was no other option, and the man... the one with white hair, said that now the other Houses have no choice but to go into motion. Something along the lines of us forcing their hands,” she explained.

“Hm. I fail to see how it is our problem,” I said.

“I don't think they necessarily thought it was ours either. I think they're just worried over themselves,” she concluded.

“Indeed. After all, they didn't even have enough people to procure the goods,” I said, sighing.

Normally I would have never allowed my people to assist in the unloading and transportation of such things... at least not within the city itself. Off the Front-Line was one thing, but making them work in unknown conditions? It was both unsafe and foolish.

Thankfully everyone had been alright with it.

“It wasn't that bad really. A little hot, but...” she shrugged, deciding not to finish her statement.

“Thank you again Sarley. Let everyone know I appreciate their efforts,” I said.

“Oh don't worry. We all know. You're going to crack open some of the finer barrels tonight after all,” she said.

Glancing up to her wide smile, I sighed and nodded. She happily clapped, then gave me a quick salute. “Off to close the Line then, sir,” she said then hurried out of my office.

Exquisite alcohol was a small price to pay for my people's happiness... But it still hurt. After all, my people for some reason had expensive tastes... they always expected the best.

Maybe it was my fault for spoiling them so much.

Before forgetting, I wrote down the order to hold a feast tonight with the finest alcohol we had. It was painful to write when I knew just how much it would cost me, but at the same time I looked forward to enjoying it alongside them.

While I wrote, my cousin coughed.

“I wasn't ignoring you,” I said.

“Of course not,” he said from his chair.

“Just give me the quick rundown,” I said.

“Another week. Internal stuff is all fixed, as you prioritized... but there are several large outer layer problems that need to be addressed. Especially one near the bridge,” he said.

“Have them work at night, I don't want them dealing with fire catalysts in this heat anymore than they have to,” I said.

“Of course,” he said.

Finishing the feast order slip, I slid it along my desk for Jamthi. He took it happily, his eyes quickly scanning the contents. As he did so he reached over and grabbed a loose pen, but he didn't get to writing.

With a small whistle he nodded. “Wow, I don't even need to add anything. That happy with our results?” he asked.

“I'm a magnanimous lord,” I said haughtily.

He laughed as he tossed the pen at me.

“So you really do plan on leaving then? What about the other Houses?” he asked.

“I'll trade with them, but the moment the Front-Line is ready we're leaving. So they have until then,” I said.

“That's not what you promised.”

“I promised I'd trade with them all, not that I'd do so equally or forever,” I responded.

“Hmph. Well, I doubt it'll take long to trade with other Houses anyway. At least the larger ones. They won't need us to help them unload after all,” Jamthi said.

“Indeed. What took the Derri several days won't take the others any time at all... in fact the rest of the Houses should be long prepared as well, if they have any sense of business amongst them,” I said.

In fact, most of the Houses should be swift and easy to deal with... possibly even only taking a day or two each, at the worst. If my cousin was correct and we could have all repairs finished in a week, I could most likely have a majority of the trading done by then as well.

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Smooth and easy. I liked it.

“Will the other Houses be giving us... sealed goods as well? Or was that deal only with the Derri,” Jamthi asked.

“Most likely,” I said.

“It's bothering some of your people, Noth... You're usually far more open during business with us. Why the secrecy?”

“I told you, I'll tell you when I can,” I said.

“Isn't that now? Nearly a whole compartment is full. A whole compartment,” he repeated himself to emphasize his meaning.

“There's nothing dangerous in them. It's just goods,” I said.

“Goods you won't let us see,” he corrected.

“And if I showed you, you'd have to keep it a secret as well. And others would know that I showed you, insinuating favoritism... or is it nepotism, since you're family? Much to my regret,” I said.

“Sure. You showed Yevin though?” he asked.

“Hm? How'd you know?” There was no way Yevin said anything...

“Several workers saw you and him entering the compartment last night.”

“Doesn't mean I showed him...” I grumbled.

Jamthi smirked, and I could already see the many jokes and methods he wanted to use them in thanks to my comment.

Raising my hand in defeat, to avoid the hours of teasing, I simply nodded. “I showed him. He asked,” I said.

“I asked!”

“The difference is you ask for everything! All the time! When Yevin asks for something...” I gestured, since I didn't need to finish my sentence.

Jamthi wasn't just joking around; a part of him was being serious. But even he had to nod and accept defeat on this matter. “True... It is a little odd he asked. Did he say why?”

“Course he didn't. But, as you can see, he's happy with what he saw, correct?” I asked.

“I suppose... you're not writhing on the ground in pain, nor deposed, so I guess it can't be that bad...”

“Why are those the only other options...?” I grumbled.

Granted when talking about Yevin, those were normally the things you'd associate with him if you lost his faith and trust...

“Well, if Yevin's happy I guess we should all be too. I'll let everyone know,” Jamthi said with a sigh.

“You'll take his happiness as reassurance over my own?” I asked.

“Of course we would! Really, cousin,” he said with an exasperated sigh.

“I'm hurt,” I said, feigning pain.

“Take that pain to heart then. Don't forget you made even Yevin speak up and ask what was going on. Yevin!” Jamthi said as he stood.

For a long moment I stared into my cousin's eyes, and I saw the seriousness of them.

It was more than simple curiosity. It was also more than the many complaints by others who were probably curious or concerned as well... it was something deeper.

He had been hurt that I hadn't told him.

“I see. I apologize. In a few days I'll show you, and everyone else, I promise. Just wait until then,” I said.

“Alright. I'm going to hold you to that,” he said.

I nodded.

“Going to give this to the cooks,” he said, holding up my feast request slip.

“Please do.”

“Commander!” a new voice entered the room, but from down the hall. My cousin and I glanced out the door and watched a young woman run to us.

The ensign made quick work of the hallway, her quick pace fitting her position.

“Speak,” I said once she reached my room.

“A guard, or something like it, from the House of Markith is here to speak with you... he's uh, serious about it,” she said.

The way she spoke, and the way her eyes stayed on the ground and didn't come up to meet mine concerned me.

“Guess the cooks can wait,” Jamthi said, putting the slip into his pocket.

“Sarley wouldn't like that,” I said as I stood and headed for the Front-Line's exit.

Unlike the young ensign, I was not going to rush. She had acted oddly in reporting the information, but hadn't said there was danger or a problem. So there was no need to.

Since it was still early in the day, the Front-Line was still open. Not just to allow my people to make necessary repairs, but also to let them enjoy the outside world beyond the metal and magic. It wasn't every day we got to experience it after all.

The downside to this, however... was that outsiders, like this guard, could simply walk up and demand to see me at a moment's notice. It was annoying, but it was a price I had to pay.

One of many...

“Over there sir,” the ensign guided us with a point of her finger, but didn't follow us to him... and Jamthi and I understood why rather quickly.

A muscular man stood at the exit of the Front-Line, on the ramp that was connected to the stone wall. He was alone, and the nearest person to him was one of Yevin's men.

Although his muscular body was a unique sight, since most of his people seemed scrawny and malnourished... it wasn't his muscles that had caused the ensign, and the rest of my people, to be wary of him.

The man wasn't just muscular, he was nearly naked.

Thin strips of leather were all that covered a few parts of his body, and I was glad none of the children were here. From certain angles one could see everything.

“Grothar, of the House of Markith,” the man said as he stamped the spear in greeting as I approached.

I nodded, and out of the corner of my eye noticed Yevin approaching the man from behind. From the wall. Had he been out on the wall, or had he circled around?

“Noth. How may I be of service?” I asked.

Although stoic, the man wasn't able to hide his shock. “Service? No! My apologies, I come instead to be of service to you!” he said hastily.

For a long moment I wondered what he had meant, but a quick scan of my memories told me that I had not been told anything by any of the House Elders about this.

“How so?” I asked.

“Unrest is settling, making the sands shift. My lords wished to warn you... and to let you know that we of the House of Markith will station soldiers around your great Line, as an act of good faith,” the muscular man said.

Quick understand came, like a brisk wind.

“You may do as you wish within your city, as is your right. Thank you for the warning, and tell your lords I appreciate their gesture,” I said.

The man gave me a deep bow, and as he did so he tapped the spear against the floor. It was an odd sound.

Without another word he turned to leave, quickly exiting the Front-Line and descending the wall.

As he left, Yevin and the others who had silently approached backed away as well. Returning to their stations.

“How serious do you think it is?” Jamthi asked.

“He wasn't wearing anything fancy. He was dressed for battle,” was all I said as I went back to work.