Interlude: A Peasant in a City of Wisdom

Interlude: A Peasant in a City of Wisdom

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Wordcount: 2500

Commissioned by J.A.

…

I woke at the sound of a bell ringing and shot upward.

Hitting my head against the bed atop me.

“Hah! Elias did it again!”

“He always does!”

“Foolishness never abates.”

“Laugh all you want, at least I’ve never fallen off my bunk.” I grumbled and rubbed my eyes. The bells continued for a bit longer, but by the final toll, I was up and ready. Mother and father bid me to always stretch in the morning. They said it let the blood flow right. I didn’t know better, so I did. I went over to the placard on the wall of our shared room. Four men, two pairs of bunk beds, and tables for the each of us, and a lantern. It was a luxury that I was just barely getting used to. I’d shared one bed with two of my brothers since I was born. “Looks like we’re working on some new houses today, again.”

“Better than road-making!”

“You’ll end up back there soon enough.”

“After we’ve rested.”

Johnathan, Gregor, and Holt moved to get dressed. I was the best at reading, so reading the placard was my duty, and I was more than able to read the map that was provided to us.

“We’ll be taking the tram going south. The fifth one. Hm, we can grab breakfast.” I checked the clock, recalled what was on the way to the tram, and made plans for the four of us. Johnathan offered me my working outfit, a long pair of clothes that combined a tunic and a pair of pants, which were made of strong fibers. With boots and a pair glove, it kept the dust off one’s person and wicked away the sweat. It came from the Citadel itself, same as the ancients wore, and it was a fine piece of clothing to wear while working. We each had three. One was always being washed or repaired, one was a spare, and one was for work. “What did we have last time?”

“The Elm’s food. All crops and no meat. Didn’t care for it much, but it was fine and cheap.”

“Aye, I want to get something proper. Some crisp, salted pork, eggs, and bread.”

“That sounds perfect.”

“Then let’s get a normal breakfast today.” I held out my hand, and money changed hands. It was enough for breakfast at a glance, but I noticed there was a coin too much from Jonathan. He started when I levelled a glare at him. “You’ll be needing to get your numbers reviewed. Soon. At this rate, you’ll hand me your whole wallet by accident.”

The other two laughed at him, but said nothing to harm him.

Jonathan might’ve had some problems with numbers, but he was downright genius when it came to anything that required labor.

And, in this city, there was much labor that needed to be done.

…

The trams were simple platforms with seats and rails to hold onto. The King of Wisdom considered them necessary for the city he envisioned and I agreed. Carriages on rails that horses dragged greater weights with ease, which made it unnecessary for everyone to hold a horse. It was a simple design, but it benefitted all who lived in the city. They ran even into the latest bell of the night, while the city was lit up by lanterns and magic.

Me and my work crew ate our breakfast and I relayed to them our orders for the day.

“We’ll be reporting to George this morning and at lunch, but when we leave we’ll finish with Ferdinand.” The shift managers were well-learned people who planned and checked our work from time to time. Many of our people did not know how to read nor write, so it was necessary to make tasks simpler. It didn’t have to be easy, though. Just simple. “The scaffolding is finished and the foundation is set. We’re to start laying the framework for the second floor.”

Jonathan was eating and so was Holt, so Gregor spoke for both their sake.

“Are all the panels and pre-cuts there? Or must we wait?” Much of the lumber was already pre-cut and prepared. Carpenters lived alongside the sawmills to make transport easier. No need to transport whole logs to the city, nor plain boards. Everything for the apartments arrived already in the shape that they need to be for the task that needed to be done. A few hits of the hammer, some nails, and a pulley and lever were all that was needed to assemble the frame of a house. “And, if we have need of them, are there spares?”

Those were normally questions that we’d fret about on any other construction site, but changes were made recently and the order form had new additions.

“The pre-cuts are already there and some spares have been set aside of all parts, should there be any damaged from transport.” That single change had improved our times in the last few months by a great deal. If we found a piece that was broken, we’d wait for a whole day, even two, without being able to progress. Every piece leaned against one another, supported each other, and was necessary for the whole structure. The bricklayers and masons that attended to the foundation and first floor and chimneys could discard a few dozen bricks without issue, but us? We needed to wait until the part we requested arrived. Sometimes, we were shifted off to another work site before it did. “It seems that we have a busy day ahead, but we’ll have everything we need to do our work.”

“Now, we simply have to pray that our manager for the day feels it unnecessary to breath down our necks for every little thing. Have you met this ‘George’ before?” Holt spoke up. He was the newest of our crew. A recent arrival and he hailed from Academy lands. We’d thought he’d had ill intentions, maybe he was some sort of spy, but what sort of spy spent all his nights doing nothing but attend circus shows and speaking writing love letters to a dancer? If he was a spy, all he was reporting back was that he laid tracks or hammered in nails. “Have any of us worked with him before?”

I shook my head and so did Gregor, but Jonathan spoke up… and he spoke gravely for the first time.

“Mister George is very strict. He’ll force you to take your breaks, wear your helmets, and never loosen your belts. Always with the harness and the cabling, too.” I groaned and so did Holt and Gregor. He was one of those managers who followed the rules to the letter for the inspectors. I understood that they meant to keep us safe and unharmed, but there’s few things worse than doing things slower than you know you could. “He buys everyone lunch, though!”

“Thank goodness for small mercies.” Holt sighed, and I tentatively agreed. A free lunch was a small prize against three or four weeks of constantly having to be according to the laws, but it was better to nothing. “Wait, how is this ‘George’ when it comes to deadlines?”

“Ah, Mister George will ask other crews for help if he needs to! He says they’re there to be used and not just lay around!”

“Huh, I’m liking this George already.”

“Man, I think so too.”

“Yeah.” I agreed. The extra crews were usually called in to supplement shifts if a work crew was behind schedule. If there were no crews behind schedule, they were doing nothing. My few friends there told me that was rare, but they received pay to wait around. In full dress and with all equipment at the ready, but still only waiting. It was a job that many aspired to have and I was going to qualify for them soon. The only problem was that joining them meant having to get ‘certifications’ for all the duties expected of a workman, as well as knowing how to order spares and make reports. They replaced managers, too, if they were unavailable. Getting all my letters and numbers straight while just living was easy, but it was harder when I was being tested. “I think we’ll be doing well for the next couple days, boys.”

My crew gave me nods at those words, and the bell rang as the tram stopped and disgorged some folk off at their stop.

Soon, in three more stops, it’ll be our turn.

But, until then, I turned my eyes back to our orders.

Practice always helped.

…

“Alright, boys. See you all this evening. Remember to get back home before the last bell.”

I got a wave from Holt, a nod from Gregor, and a jaunty “Yes!” from Jonathan, while we split off after a light meal, a visit to the bathhouse, and handing in our working uniforms.

When the sunset, after a third of the day was done, we were free to do as we wished in the city.

In the village I grew in, things were similar, but far less safe and with far less available to us. I worked less in those days, but had less to spend. I took up hunting to make sure that I had food, found jobs chopping wood in the village, and learned how to make nails. But, in that small village, I would’ve never been able to learn to read, never had coin in hand, and would’ve always feared banners rising in the distance of our village.

Not here.

I approached the gates of the King of Wisdom’s academy and was stopped by a guard at the front gate. He wore half-plate and had a staff at his side, as well as a whistle to call for reinforcements. A far cry from men who wore swords at their waist, were covered in dirt and fouled armor, and who walked into the village with smiles knowing that they couldn’t be denied.

“Your name and your card.” The man was gruff, but there was no hatred in his words. His gaze was stern. He intended to keep his job, where he stood and guarded a gate, but made enough to live with a family. It was a job many would kill for. Well, perhaps not now, but before the Citadel arose? Such was the case. “Elias Thatcher. I’ll be passing your card along for truth’s sake. What class are you attending this eve?”

His voice grew softer when he saw my card and that it was right with all the seals and requirements. Some tried to replicate it to enter the academy of the King of Wisdom without being accepted.

“Numbers and letters class, sir. For the fifth-to-last bell.”

“Bah, I’m no ‘sir.’ Go ahead and take a seat in the waiting room. I’ll get your card checked.”

I gave the man a nod of thanks as he let me in through the side-room of the large gate. There was no entry point in the room. It was solely for students who had to wait for their identities to be recognized and escorted to class. There were rumors when the Academy was called what they were, bullies and people who made sure that the Outlands would always suffer, that they would strike against our own centers of learning.

But, as always, the King of Wisdom acted with great speed and foresight.

Identities were checked regularly, guards came by to make sure homes were secure, and posts made for guards to check people for identity upon entry to any place of worth. Some were rankled by the change, but when criminals started getting caught, and the guards truly did nothing more than check and search for the truth… the changes became the standard. Now, I knew that I could cry out for help and four men armed with nigh-indestructible staffs would be on their way, blaring whistles, until the alarm bell was rung and armed, armored soldiers would arrive.

It was strange to think that I would take comfort in such a thing, but I truly did.

…

The Children of the Elm were recent additions to our lands.

And, despite many being older than fifty and looking like grown adults, those here were truly children.

“Maybelle.”

“Elias.” The Academy took in anyone capable of passing its exams and learning. The tests were difficult, but those who worked had more time on their hands other luxuries, such as classes at night and extensions on dates when assignments were due. Those of the Children of the Elm, however, were given classes in the evening to prevent issues from arising between their people and ours. “Do you intend to ask if I’m doing well again? That I haven’t been harmed?”

“Yes.” Some would be provoked by the words. Maybelle neared the ‘cut-off’ age for the Children of the Elm allowed to join our people. Those older than seventy years were scattered to the four corners of the continent via gryphon and given supplies. Most of their adults perished in the war, so those that remained and the elderly had been given a chance, but when they were found to be planning a rebellion and seeking out positions of power… the King of Wisdom withdrew his mercy and exiled them. Most, especially those less than fifty years of age, acclimated quickly to the new changes. All they knew was farming and tending to groves and that was encouraged. Those past that age, however, had more in the mind. “C’mon, now. A dozen men were imprisoned for harming one of your kin just last week. Two are set to be put to death. By not telling me, you’re hiding anyone who intends to harm you.”

The King of Wisdom bid those who followed our land’s laws and paid the tithes to be citizens, protected and kept safe, even from other citizens. There were some peoples with wealth and power in this city, but none could contend with the King and his Citadel, so all were subject to his laws.

Laws that brought swift judgement to those who would do unspeakable things.

Even if they were soldiers who lost fellows in battle.

The King of Wisdom knew better than to give his soldiers the same privileges as the marauding warriors of warbands in the past.

Maybelle did not reply for a long time, but as usual I simply began to look over at the grove that she was tending to for the Academy.

“That tree over there is overburdened.”

“I see that.”

“So, are those apples.”

“I see those as well.”

The replies were terse and lacking in kindness, but there was no hatred in them, as I simply sought to help my fellow classmate along her path.

I hoped that my whole class would be able to graduate and become clerks, so that we could help our kingdom rise and rise… until everyone in the world could enjoy the life I lived.

A warm bed all to myself, good work and pay, safety from all other people, and a chance to become more.

I wished to offer the same chance to everyone I met.