Chapter 113: Mechanics of Power

My vision swam.

​"Get out of the way, weed..." I wheezed. "It's blurry enough as it is, and you're flitting about."

​The shadow blocking the light swayed. Elyria sat down on the edge of the bed.

​"You're awake," she exhaled. Relief was evident in her voice. "Iron, you slept for a month."

​"I see. Help me up."

​It sounded pathetic. But when I tried to lean on my right arm, the prosthesis responded with only a short, dry click. And my left arm trembled unbearably.

​With the help of the spirit's magic, clinging to a heavy dark-wood cane, I dragged myself to the window.

​I looked out at the street and froze.

​Dornheim was flourishing. And it was... disgusting.

​In place of the crooked, smoke-smelling huts, there were now even rows of stone warehouses. The streets, once drowning in mud, had been swept clean. A patrol marched along them, keeping perfect step. Four mercenaries. Doublets of good leather, polished cuirasses. And a coat of arms.

​A black falcon on a golden field.

​It was everywhere. On the flags, on the new towers. On the notice boards. On the sacks of grain being unloaded at the gates.

​"What the hell is this?" my voice broke into a whisper. "What is this, Elyria? Is this really my village?"

​Noah stood in the doorway. He leaned against the frame, arms crossed on his chest. Exhausted, with black hollows under his eyes. Behind him loomed Darwin. My "village head" now wore an expensive jacket and clutched a stack of parchments in his hands.

​"Who allowed this?" I struck the cane against the floor. "I didn't fight so you could hang this upstart's rags around here."

​I looked at Darwin.

​"Darwin! Is that you?"

​"Yes, it is me, Master," his voice was even.

​I opened my mouth, but he didn't let me get a word in.

​"You were unconscious. We had a choice: between death and life."

​"We could have gone into the woods!" I practically spat it out. My throat was raw.

​"Where?" Noah didn't even flinch at the door. "With the wounded and the children? We would have been slaughtered in the woods within a week."

​"You let him into the headquarters."

​"You're mistaken—" Noah said.

"We saved our people. And that is the most important thing, am I not right?

Those people who were with us from the start... they are alive. They are fed. Yes, all of this is thanks to Wayland, but I am sure no one has forgotten about you yet, much less will they turn their backs."

​"Become a shield for them"—Zeno's words flashed in my head.

​"Damn it..." I said, sitting down on a stool. "Sorry, I completely forgot what I came here for."

​"In about three days, the commission will come for the cannons," Noah said.

"You have 3 days, come up with something, Iron."

​Silence hung in the room.

​I lifted my head. My gaze focused on Darwin's papers.

​"Darwin, bring everything. I need to know all our conditions."

​Darwin nodded.

​"Noah," I turned to him. "I need the underbelly. Find those who are dissatisfied with the rations or the pay."

​"It will be done."

​"And you, Elyria..." I looked at the spirit. "Just don't get in the way."

​"Hey! That's offensive, you know?"

​"Alright, alright, here's a task for you: listen to what the officers and the people are whispering about. Every word."

​She nodded and vanished.

​I hobbled over to the workbench. Brushed a layer of sawdust off the old blueprints. The fingers of my left hand touched a quill.

​I summoned Lumon and pulled over a blank sheet of parchment.