92 Adventurous Spiri (1/2)
*This must be the feeling of a child on his first travels.*
Egidius brushed the unruly veil of hair out of his face to look at the unique, foreign constructions around him. Though he was no architect, he very much considered himself an artist. Thus, fascinated by the strange styles all around, he studied closely, to unravel their mysteries.
The unusual walls, built at a slant and constructed with blocks of granite larger than a man, were a marvel all by themselves. The stones had been brought onto this tiny island and stacked into the sky through who knew which measures. With a seamless fit, they gave the castle a basis which exuded raw martial power. In sharp contrast, atop the walls stood stood what looked more like a house than a defensive structure. Grand in design, but a house nonetheless. The white plaster failed to cover the outer facade in its entirety, as black lacquered bars of wood stuck out, the castle's skeleton strangely exposed. Together with the green, rounded roof, Egidius found a poetic elegance within the castle, contrasting the peace of the top with the martial nature of the bottom. Loud and clear, the castle spoke of the people of Saniya, as well as their history.
*Truly magnificent.*
It wasn't as if the feats within view were beyond anything Arcavians could have built. No, what impressed Egidius was that the techniques, ideas, designs were so different from anything he had seen across the Weltalic Sea. So much to learn. They had suffered through months of rough travels and he hadn't even seen his new sleeping quarters, yet he already knew that his trip would be worth it.
He turned and focused back towards the closed garden within the outer walls of the island fort. Rather than within, it would be more appropriate to say atop; the entire construction was filled up with earth, to elevate the whole internal construction to the level of the outer wall's top, creating, in essence, a hill fort atop an island.
From the comfortable gardens around himself, the long, reed-like grass and the tall trees, budding with the first signs of spring, he finally acknowledged the men around him. The arcavian craftsmen Corco Fastgrade had lured here with his money seemed oblivious to the wonders of Saniya. Their dull looks spoke volumes as they indulged in drink and food. Around six dozen, not even a company's worth. Though of course, they were not here to fight a war.
The various artisans of Arcavia were seated in small groups, under an overhang in the simple, elegant garden. Inside the large, open space, braziers had been hung up, enough to fight back the cool breeze which would wash in from the sea shore. Together with the tables filled with jerked meats and nuts and the deep chairs scattered all around, their accommodations had invited them to get comfortable, and the craftsmen had certainly obliged.
”Okay, is everyone here? Good.” Finally, he heard the voice of the man who had lured him to this strange and foreign land.
From inside the inner walls of the castle, its lord appeared within the overhang. Corco Fastgrade, seer and merchant of Etra, or rather, the king of the south, Corcopaca Titu Pluritac. They had only separated a mere month ago, and yet the new king seemed a changed man.
Gone were the brown tunic and the frilly clothes. They had been replaced by a robe of red, a color Egidius had learned to represent the martial spirit of the Medala warriors. Atop the king's head, his unbridled hair had been reigned in by a simple bronze crown. However, it was more than just Corco's appearance which had transformed. Whereas before, the seer had seemed affable, now hi stride towards the seat at the front of their group was filled with an aloofness which set itself between him and the common craftsmen like an invisible shield. Though all of them had sat and drunk together with the king before, now he could read the awe in their faces; an awe only reserved for true nobility.
”I'm very sorry to have kept you waiting out here in the cold for so long. Let me welcome you, finally, to my land of Chawir and the city of Saniya, soon to be the center of the world.”
Upon the king's introduction, Egidius swallowed heavily. Though most of the others laughed at the arrogance, still busied with their food and drink, the clock maker knew that Corco was not one to boast lightly. In the end, he would always make good on his promises. Still, no matter their reactions, the king continued his words without pause.
”Though many of you will laugh at this goal of mine, calling it mirage, all of you have come here for this exact purpose, to help make it reality. You have been chosen because you possess unique, special talents which will provide vital to my lands. However, in the end, you did not make this long trip away from home just to listen to my boasts. In the end, I promised work, a way to improve, a way to show your talents and, after everything is done, enough money to return home and start your own business, each and every one of you.”
As the king's pleasant baritone sounded around the auditorium, the men stopped their actions one by one to listen. Most of them weren't interested in pretty words or grand plans. Instead, once talks reached the matter of concrete benefits, of making good on promises, they became alert.
Thus, the king could lower his voice, still audible over the captivated crowd.
”As you might have learned by now, the fight for succession has been decided and I, Corcopaca Titu Pluritac, have been declared the king of the south. As such, I am now, at last, in the position to make good on the agreement we reached in Etra. Thus, it will be restated here, signed and made fully legal within all lands under my rule.”
The king waved to the man at his side, Atau, captain of the Homeward, greatest sailor under the Fastgrade fleet. The large sailor stepped forth, a scroll of paper in his hand, and read off the agreement which would govern their life in the foreseeable future.
”Number one: The craftsmen signing this document declare that they will relocate to the Medala Empire, to live and work within their chosen profession.
Number Two: The professions in question will provide goods Medala lacks. Thus, in order to benefit the people of the Medala Empire, only work in certain professions will be accepted. These professions include clock makers, soap makers, perfumers, quill makers, ship's carpenters and fine smiths, especially experts in the production of matchlock guns and cannons. Further professions can be negotiated on an individual basis.”
Egidius looked around the room to identify how the different professions of craftsmen had already formed into smaller cliques. He didn't doubt that they would soon form guilds. It was laughable, really. The only reason any of them had come here was because the guild system had made life for them impossible. With the limit on shops within areas controlled by the guilds, they had been forbidden from setting up shop within the cities of Arcavia and denied their livelihoods. Even so, now they tried to do the very same. Egidius was sure that he was the only man here who had come not out of necessity, but out of an spirit for adventure instead; he wouldn't even look at the other clock makers who had huddled together in the corner.