A Peasant in the City of Wisdom 2:

A Peasant in the City of Wisdom 2:

…

Commissioned by J.A.

Wordcount: 2500

…

Famine.

War.

Two words that shattered spirits once, but no longer.

“Shipment 531! Shipment 531!”

“Over here!”

The moment those words were uttered, the City of Wisdom seemingly changed overnight. Many had questions when the proclamation was first shared with the populace, but on the same day they were all answered. The King of Wisdom foresaw the questions of the people and provided the answers through his messengers and his papers.

Our lands were to focus on protecting ourselves from all threats, which included famine.

And, so, all the might of the King of Wisdom was levied against the threat of famine.

All means of preservation were expanded upon and rationing instituted. Though times were plenty, the lean times ahead needed to be prepared for. Many stalls were bought out by the nation, farms found themselves only capable of selling to the state, and though many grumbled, the grumbling ceased when the granaries started filling, storehouses started filling, and ration cards were allocated months and months in advance. Soon, every household started receiving bags of ground grain, enriched with seeds, to which only water and heat would be needed to make loaves of bread.

Even the most gluttonous of peoples went quiet with relief, as they found themselves with enough ‘enriched’ flour to last for a year, alongside their ration cards for the coming months for preserves of fruit, more grain, and even preserved meats. Only the breeding stock of the animals remained, and they were to be protected and saved through the coming famine, and the rest of the herds were slaughtered and preserved. The grains that they would’ve consumed, the King of Wisdom had reasoned, were better fit for the people.

Meaning, that even he and the rest of the nobility, would be eating as we were.

Still, even as many citizens were assured their survival and sustenance for the harvest after next, there remained much work to be done.

Surprisingly, with myself as a leader of a small group, with Maybelle as my second.

The two of us, with four others many pushing pallets full of fruits behind, were in one of the newest buildings on the capital’s outskirts. It was an odd mix at first sight. Large pots surrounded by walkways with lids attached to a system of pulleys and cranes on the roof. However, merely glancing at the flow of work told the whole story. This was a massive jarring facility, each pot easily allowed for hundreds of jars to be processed at once, and the lids were attached to cranes and pulleys above so that they could be easily pulled out, along with the jars in the cages attached to the lid and pulled out and towards other areas with ease.

In this singular facility, food for thousands of people was being prepared every day, thanks to the King of Wisdom.

“Sign here.” Maybelle was clad in the same blue uniform as me. It was baggy and hid her form, while her hair was tied close to her scalp. Her ears were obvious, even with the cap that she wore with a frontal brim, but after the first few weeks no one cared about her heritage any longer. “The fruits are already jarred.”

“Oh, thank the gods! Everyone, get over here!” Jonathan was the manager of this section of the jarring facility. He looked a bit thinner than the last time I saw him, but that was the norm for most. We all ate three meals a day, but meat and anything else that could put flesh on the bones was reserved for those who labored the most or were training for war. “We had two deliveries today of empty jars and fruits, Elias! Can you believe that!? People are forgetting how to read!”

“It’s getting hectic.” I mused and chuckled, which earned me an elbow from Maybelle, as she presented the clipboard with the notes that needed to be co-signed by me, after Jonathan did. If it concerned her fruits and her work, she was far too determined to be the best. “Got it. Got it. Signing.”

No sooner did I sign it, did Maybelle take the clipboard and paper and begin instructing those of our team to start loading up the lid and cage contraption that would be lowered into the large pot.

Jonathan leaned against a railing with care and sighed, while his team also took a moment to catch their breath. Some took draughts from the flasks at their hips. The facility was rather hot all the time, so they were all provided with plenty of water and told to rest. That was hardly possible when they had to do twice the work because of a mistake.

“How’d they get all the way here with empty jars and fruits? Don’t they have to go through the preparation area?” The layout of the facility made it so the delivery individuals picked up their fruits and jars and entered a location where they were to place cleaned fruits into jars and seal them. Just following ones two feet, and heading into the building, one could discern what needed to be done. “Were they late?”

“They were early, because they skipped the entire step! And, they tried to argue that was how it was supposed to be! I had to get the plant manager to come here to tell them off, but we had to make up for lost time!” Jonathan complained, and I placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. He accepted it by slumping and allowing himself to relax just a little more. “These new kids need to learn their letters, or at least know how to listen, honestly!”

It was hard to believe that this was the same Jonathan who stalled on learning to ready for weeks and weeks, but I knew it was hardly the time to tease him for that.

So, I nodded, commiserated, and at Maybelle’s glare bid him a farewell to help my team along with our duties.

Although I was the assigned leader of the group, I couldn’t help but feel that Maybelle was the real leader.

Not that I minded.

…

Though the famine was mostly no longer a concern for most the people, with the stores of food and stored grains provided for all citizens, the war was not.

No sooner did my shift end, did I find my feet taking me to the nearest tavern to get the latest news.

Maybelle went off to watch a theatre performance, as was her usual schedule after work, but I preferred to know what was happening across the continent.

Holt saw me the moment I entered and waved me over to join him and Gregor.

Being formerly of Academy lands, Holt was usually scrambling around the world entire, and dragging Gregor along.

“Elias! It’s been a while. Help yourself to our libations!”

“Yeah, go ahead. You paid for the last tab, after all.” That was a long time ago, but Gregor still remembered and offered food. I was surprised to find slices of smoked meat in the center of the table, and Gregor grinned when he noticed. “Surprised? Don’t be. Elias here got a promotion. You’re looking at the district manager of our newest neighbors.”

I knew better than to refuse. I couldn’t recall the last time I ate meat.

“Well done, I thought about you when I heard about the position.” I was honest, but I also eyed the large smoked shank of beef surrounded by potatoes, carrots, and onions whilst smothered in sauce. It was more meat than six men could eat, yet I knew that there wasn’t going to be a speck of it left once the three of us were finished. All the other dishes on the table were preserved fruits, cheese, breads, and various roasted vegetables. Ignoble in the grand scheme of things. Save for the cheese. Those were in short supply whenever they hit the shelves as a surplus was found. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you, thank you. It was entirely due to my efforts with little aid from anyone else.” Holt praised himself heavily and I took note of the bottle beside him. It was already half empty and so was his glass. Gregor preferred bear. The man was in a truly celebratory mood, thus he was effusive with his self-praise. “However, I cannot forget you all as I rise. I shall drag you all with me to the very height of society!”

“Yeah, I appreciate it. Now, drink some water.” Gregor grunted and forced Holt to drink something besides wine. The man wasn’t even watering it down. No wonder he was so drunk. “How are you doing, Elias?”

“Fairly well. Leading my own team, making a decent living, but saving the most of it.”

“Everything will be too expensive to buy when the famine hits. You should spend more now.” I couldn’t deny that logic. Gregor always had a good head for numbers. Holt had the charisma and the drive, but Gregor grounded things in practicality. That two worked together extremely well. “How’s Maybelle?”

“As prickly as ever, but she’s getting there. Another check or two and she’ll be free to live on her own.” I’d volunteered to be her host and vouch for her citizenship. Many Children of the Elm her age was deemed best left to simply farm and tend to nature without being bothered, which suited them just fine and pleased many. Those that aspired to be better, to be citizenry with the ability to hold office and own land, were granted the chance. Most of Maybelle’s age didn’t manage it. “She’s got the mind of a steel trap and her own goals in life she wishes to achieve.”

“Well, we have need of smart, capable people, but you shouldn’t let your guard down. She might still be plotting something behind your back. They live long lives and they can afford to wait. Don’t want her in a position where she can do real havoc.” Gregor shook his head and scratched his lightly-bearded chin. He was stout and well-built man, despite his focus on numbers. Meanwhile, Holt was looking more and more well-groomed and slender every time I saw him. They fit the style of lovers in the eyes of many, but I knew them both well enough that they were merely partners in prosperity. In romance, they had eyes for others. “Take care of yourself, Elias. Don’t be fooled. Judge her fairly and justly.”

“I’ll do that. Thanks.” I spoke, and that satisfied him enough to nod. Gregor was counseling me, and I was aware of my responsibility. However, I didn’t just have a responsibility to my nation, but also to Maybelle. “She’s a good lass and she wants accolades and achievements for herself more than anything else. I think that she’ll be a merchant, before being anything like a rebel.”

Gregor seemed ready to argue, perhaps tell me that she planned on funding future insurrections, but he sighed when I gave him a smile and took a delicious bite of beef for the first time in weeks. It was tender and fell apart with the slightest bite, and loaded with the taste of smoke, salt, beef, and the acidity of the sauce. The skin was a tad chewy, but every bite released fat and juicy, which emboldened the rest of the dishes on the table. Everything was sure to taste incredible with just little hunks of the beef.

“Well, I suppose that you led the three of us well enough for me to give you the benefit of the doubt.” Gregor shook his head and raised his cup towards the door. I turned around to see Jonathan approaching. “We wouldn’t be here without you Elias, so get ready to live well, eat well, and sleep well this night!”

Holt gave a cheer at the words, and Jonathan readily took up a glass to toast with me.

It felt strange, especially with Holt’s successes, but I accepted it all with a nod.

I never once considered this to be a possibility in my life before I came to this city, but here it was right in front of me.

I never wished for it to end.

…

My head ached, my eyes hurt, and my throat was still sore from singing and carousing when I awoke.

“Here.”

“Thanks, Maybelle.” I groaned and thanked the stars that it was a rest day. The King of Wisdom mandated continuous work from sunrise to sunset for three days straight, but one day to be spent at rest. Extra pay was offered to those who worked on their rest day, but there was a limit to that. Ten days straight, I believe, was the limit before one was forced to rest. “How was your evening.”

“Interesting. The new play is another that the King of Wisdom lent his hand in. It was a story of a terrible war between a nation that used golems and the other used replicas of the same soldier.”

“Oh, that’s interesting. So, all the actors used the same mask and voice?”

“Yes, yet still they were themselves. Each replica with their own hopes, dreams, and aspirations… and even when one died the audience wept.” Maybelle served breakfast. A hearty soup of vegetables, beans, and grains alongside a strong loaf of bread with preserves. I’d grown used to sweet preserves, composed of fruit, but in times of want people devised and innovated. Preserves of vegetables, fermented beans, and more were becoming common additions to intensify flavors. Several enterprising individuals were brought to the Citadel to taste certain things made from its magical forges, and they were aspiring to create what the King of Wisdom shared with them still. “There are twelve plays planned, each an hour long, and they detail a complete war without many of the replicas dying to never be again, despite so many being the same.”

I paused in my breakfast at Maybelle’s words.

She was usually enthused relaying her plays, but this was the first time it captured my attention.

“I think I’d like to watch it myself.”

No sooner did I utter those words did Maybelle’s eyes shine.

“The first story will only be played for another week. The next will begin shortly after. Then, there will be a whole fortnight where every play is played right after the other.”

“Well, if I wait for the fortnight, I’ll surely be spoiled.” This story had the King of Wisdoms name upon it and captured Maybelle’s heart. I could see it becoming a tale for the ages forevermore, easily turned into books and playwrights and traveling troupes making it their own. May as well see it for myself, no? “I’ll catch them as they release with you, if you don’t mind.”

Maybelle shook her head.

“I wouldn’t mind at all, since it has captured your interest. This coming play, they are to introduce a grand general who shall surely lead the replicas to victory!”

“Don’t spoil the story, please.”

“Ah, my apologies!”

I couldn’t help but laugh in my mind.

Maybelle? Betray the King of Wisdom in the far off future?

She’ll most likely spend her fortunes as a merchant hiring troupes to replay her favorite plays forevermore!