Page 45 of Steel & Thunder
Oh, he’s got jokes. “I dunno. Got any ancient ruins around here I can raid first? It’ll help sate my bloodlust.”
With a chuckle, he retrieves a knife, handing it to me handle-first. “Go ahead and wash those and then you can start.” He gestures to the vegetables on the counter as he moves to light the stove. “Seeing as you managed to tune out everything I said on the walk home, do you have questions about what happened today?”
We’re using some vegetables I actually know this time. I grab a carrot to start with while I think, not really knowing where to begin. “Was that a normal... Is trial the right word?”
“Trial is accurate.” He retrieves some meat from the icebox, some kind of poultry. “Other than the arrested parties being from so far away, that was fairly standard.”
“How come Redwish was the only one who talked to the ju—councilman?” I thought it was weird that no one else did any talking.
“Because your friends did not contest the accusations, another advocate was not needed.” He joins me on the counter where we both begin to cut our respective ingredients. “Had they fought against it, or if I or any of the other rangers involved had sought any personal reparations, there would have been someone there to represent us or the city.”
“What makes the councilman a councilman?” That sounded dumb.
“He is a member of the Tribal Council.” Finished with his cutting, Ironstorm moves over to light a pan on the stove. “Six orcs who form our head of government. In addition to making decisions for the city as a group, they also oversee trials like the one today individually.”
“How did they land that job?” I’ve finished with the carrots and move on to some potatoes.
“It is an elected position, held for three years.” I hear the sizzle of the meat hitting the pan to my right. “At the end of each year, two of the seats are made vacant and new council members are voted in.”
“Are those six responsible for every trial?” Doesn’t seem enough to go around.
“No, there are other officials who also oversee trials, usually related to the position they were appointed to.” He looks over to see me finishing with the vegetables. “Add those to the pot when you are finished.”
“I didn’t even realize potatoes and carrots grew over here.” I do as requested, gathering all the chopped veggies onto the cutting board and walking it over to the pot, scraping them in with my knife.
“Originally they did not. Potatoes originated somewhere south of here.” Ironstorm removes the pan from the fire. “They were imported to your part of the world some time ago. Same as carrots were brought here.”
I didn’t know any of that. I step away from the pot so he can do what he needs. “What kind of meat is that?”
“A large bird found in the forests. We call it a lum’tik’bra, but I believe I have heard an elf call it a ‘turkey.’” I stand back as he adds the seared meat to the pot now.
Never heard of it. “What’s the direct translation of the word you used?” Can’t be better than sad wood.
“Large gargling bird.” I was wrong. I can’t hold in the snort of laughter, which Ironstorm copies as he turns to the shelf with the spices and begins pulling things down. “Any more questions about this morning?”
“Not really, I guess.” I don’t know if I was hoping for a loophole, but I’ve got nothing. “They’ll be taken to the work camp in the morning?”
“Yes, first thing, I am afraid.” He gives me a sad smile.
“Then what? They start working?”
“More or less.” He shrugs, looking apologetic. “Though I cannot say I know exactly what they will be put to work doing.”
“Great.” I try not to sound bitter.
“They will be alright.” He tries to look hopeful. “You seem like a resilient group.”
“Thanks.” Being resilient in a labor camp isn’t exactly something any of us trained for, so forgive me if I don’t hold my breath. Adam and Liss might stand a chance, but Nate and Corrine won’t make it a week. Any hope I had when I woke up this morning is slowly fading into nothingness. Even if I had a plan, how would I possibly get to them? In the morning, they’ll be taken from that crappy little cell outside and taken away. I spent maybe an hour or two there, but I can still remember the anxiety I felt while I waited to see if I would even be given the chance to get out of there. Silently praying that the guard would return to unlock the cell. They don’t even have normal locks on all the doors. “What was up with the door on the cell during the trial? When Adam was being pulled from the cell, the guard touched his wrist to it and it opened. I think I remember that happening at the jail too. No visible lock. What was that?”
“Hmm?” I get a confused look for a moment as he puts the spices back on the shelf. Then I see something click. “Ah, that is a recent and very helpful magical invention. Let me show you.”
After washing his hands, Ironstorm moves into the living room with me following behind him. He opens the drawer in the table by the front door, pulling out a leather wristband. “What does this look like to you?”
“A wristband?” It looks like what I’d seen the guards wearing.
“Correct. It is also a key.” He wraps and buckles the strap to his arm. He’s smiling like a kid with a new toy. “They are enchanted so that when they are worn and touched to a corresponding lock, it opens. The magic in each one is tied to only function when worn by the person it was created for. If someone else were to wear this and use it, nothing would happen. A very effective way of preventing break-ins and theft.”
“Sounds really secure.” I don’t think I’ve heard of anything like that. Certainly not back home.
