Page 131 of Alchemised
Helena sat staring at her lap rather than trying to make out Crowther’s expressions.
“Just the general things,” she said. “They were one of the early common guild families. Their resonance is mostly for steel alloys. They have iron mines, and a few generations back they developed the methods of industrial steel manufacturing. Most of the infrastructure in Paladia nowadays is made with Ferron steel.”
Crowther’s silhouette nodded. “The Ferron family is arguably older than Paladia. They were iron alchemists when the basin was still a floodplain; their early resonance and techniques were developed finding bog iron.”
Helena wasn’t sure how that information was relevant, but she supposed anything about the Ferrons was useful to know.
“I was Kaine Ferron’s academic advisor here at the Institute.”
She peered at him. “You knew him? Do you think his offer to spy is legitimate?”
Crowther sighed, pressing his fingertips down on the desk so the joints bowed inwards. “Ferron was a remarkable liar and an impersonal student. I believe he hated this institution. Our conversations were rarely more than minimally cordial.”
“Why?”
“Why? I should think it obvious. The Ferrons are ambitious. They’ve made no effort to hide their inflated opinions of themselves. Did you ever see the crest they bought with their fortune?”
Helena tried to remember. “Is it a lizard?”
“No.” Crowther shoved a slip of paper towards her.
Helena picked it up and stared. It was a dragon curled into a perfect circle, long fangs tearing apart its own tail. On the upper right, taloned wings arched above the curved body.
“It’s an ouroboros,” she said, doubtful about what character insights a family crest would reveal. Crowther remained silent, so she hazarded a guess. “In Khemish alchemy, a serpent ouroboros is supposed to represent infinity or rebirth. Perhaps that’s how the Ferrons saw their new fortune. Although in Cetus’s writing, it can also be used to represent greed and self-destruction. Maybe that’s why they chose a dragon instead of the serpent. A mythical creature is an unusual choice either way.”
She tried to hand it back.
“Look. Again.”
She sighed, not sure what Crowther wanted her to see.
“Squint if you need to.”
She narrowed her eyes, letting the image blur. “Oh.” She felt like an idiot. “They chose a dragon because the wings make it look like the symbol for iron.”
“Yes,” Crowther said. Her jaw clenched at the condescension in his voice. “It says a great deal about how the family sees themselves. A circle is without hierarchy, and yet in this crest, it is iron that forms it.” Crowther drummed his fingers on his desk. “Iron will never be a noble metal, but it is indisputable at this point that Ferron steel has built as much of Paladia as Holdfast gold. The Holdfasts ruled for nearly five hundred celestial years by divine right, but the rest of the world has been catching up with our technological revelations. The tension between past ideals and present realities is what enabled this war.”
“What do you mean?”
Crowther’s eyes gleamed in the shadows.
“I mean that time has allowed this country to begin questioning what is divine, and whether it matters. Our Principate can alchemise gold and wield holy fire. Two gifts of exceptional rarity. Once, that was miracle enough. But the world has changed, and the Principate has not. Morrough can raise the dead and grant immortality. The Ferrons have found a way to turn their lowly iron into seemingly infinite mountains of wealth. In a world like that, what purpose is there in fire or endless gold?”
Helena was dumbstruck to hear such criticism uttered by a Council member.
“If you think that, why are you here?”
“Because I wish to see every necromancer wiped from the face of this earth. That is the purpose of the Eternal Flame and the reason for the Principate’s crown. I will see this city burned to ash sooner than allow necromancers to use it as their stronghold,” Crowther said, baring his teeth. “As long as the Eternal Flame is faithful to ridding the world of necromancers, I will be faithful to it.”
His words were chilling.
“Then taking Ferron’s offer is a compromise—working with one necromancer to stop others.”
“That and because we have no other options at this point,” Crowther said, waving his hand.
Helena refrained from mentioning her alternative. “Still, I would like to know that there’s some tangible purpose to this deal. I am the only healer the Resistance has, and if Ferron—” She couldn’t bring herself to verbalise what Ferron could do. “Based on everything you’ve said, Ferron doesn’t seem to have any reason to help the Eternal Flame. I don’t understand how it could be worth it to trust him.”
Crowther only scoffed. “I’m sure Ilva has filled your head with pretty stories about your importance, but you’re easily replaced. We already have several candidates under consideration.”
