Chapter 61 – Next Move

The next day after the planning. The weather was hot, the sun high above with not a cloud to soften its glare. It shone down hard on the heads of the people below.

Ren sat at the table, wiping his brow. "Why didn't we talk earlier in the fields?"

Tobren shrugged. "This is about an event in the kingdom. I heard it's pretty secretive."

"Alright. When is it? And what's the occasion?"

"Seven days from now. It celebrates the prince's return from his first war."

"War?" Ren frowned. "With who? Monsters?"

Tobren shook his head. "I don't know…"

"So, seven days. Three days on the wagon, that means only four days left to prepare." Ren leaned back. "And I still have no idea what else we should bring besides the pump."

"Isn't that enough?" Tobren asked.

"Yes, but we need more. I'll explain later. Call Henda, Berreth, Elias, and Dugan. I'll wait here, try to think of a solution."

Tobren rose and left.

Ren stayed at the table, deep in thought.

Something good. Practical. Needed by everyone.

The deadline was tight. Only three days left. He muttered, "It has to be simple... but valuable."

He studied the pump sketch, then glanced at his notes.

Before long, Tobren returned with Henda, Berreth, Elias, and Dugan. They gathered around the table.

Ren opened the discussion. "Alright. We have three days. I need something fast to make, valuable and practical. I have a few ideas."

Elias leaned forward. "Let's hear them."

Ren tapped the sketch with his finger, then pulled a small flower from his pocket, a gift from a girl a few days ago.

"Dugan, can you make a thin iron sheet, shaped like this petal?"

Dugan frowned, leaning closer. "I can. But how thin are we talking?"

"As thin as this parchment, if you can."

Elias raised a brow. "And what are we building?"

Ren lifted the flower. "Look at this. Imagine if this petal could spin fast. What would happen, Elias?"

"Wind?" Elias said, after a beat.

Ren grinned, giving a thumbs-up. "Exactly. We'll make wind, cool a room when the sun's beating down. No more sitting in the heat like this."

"I thought of that," Elias said, "but I never found a power source that worked. Now we have it… I should've seen it sooner."

"We'll make them in three sizes," Ren said. "Small, medium, and large. For different room sizes. Dugan?"

"Easy," Dugan said. "Half a day for three of them."

"One day for the full build," Elias added. "Much easier than the pump."

Berreth smirked. "I know how to sell it."

Henda glanced around. "Anything I can help with?"

"We'll need storage for when we start making these in numbers. That's your part. Work with Tobren, figure out space, how to sort them. I'll check the plan later and add ideas if needed."

Tobren looked unsure. "Is it enough?"

"We'll power them with the smaller stones," Ren said. "They'll have to come back often to swap them out. That way we keep them coming."

Berreth grinned. "Smart and cunning. Are you sure you're not a Trade Union leader?"

Ren smirked. "I'll take that as a compliment. One more thing, I need a small drill, for mixing bread dough."

Elias nodded. "Easy. I can design that."

Ren turned to Dugan. "And now, the last item. Paper."

Tobren raised a brow. "We already have it."

"Not like this." Ren shook his head. "What you have now, too expensive, too slow to make. We need a substitute. Something villagers can make themselves, without waiting on scribes or merchants."

"Explain," Elias said.

Ren grabbed charcoal and sketched on the table. "We'll use pulped plant fibers. Wood. Reeds. We cut it small, soak it until soft, then pound it to pulp, no lumps. Just fibers in water."

He spread his hands. "Pour that on a fine mesh screen. Water drains, fibers stay. Press it flat, let it dry. That's our paper."

Dugan rubbed his chin. "And the plate?"

"For pressing the wet sheets, make them smooth and dry faster. And a cutter, a frame with a blade, to trim every sheet the same size. Easier to stack, easier to write on."

Dugan nodded. "Simple enough. What holds the blade steady?"

"I'll draw the guide for you," Ren said.

Elias asked, "This will be cheaper?"

"It will. No animal skins, no fancy tools. Just wood, water, and work."

Henda spoke up. "How many storage rooms will we need to handle all this?"

"Up to you to calculate. Work with Tobren. I'll look at your plan and add ideas if I have any."

The discussion carried on until they noticed villagers gathering for dinner. Ren ended the meeting and went to eat.

***

After dinner, when the village had quieted, Ren climbed to the top of the tower. He closed his eyes, drew in a long breath, then another, letting the air clear his thoughts.

Footsteps behind him. He opened his eyes. Sera, Riel, and Jorn had come.

"What is it?" Ren asked.

They leaned on the edge of the tower, gazing out at the village lights.

Sera spoke first. "What's your next move?"

"Why do you ask that now?"

"Is there something we can help with?"

Ren rubbed his chin. "Hmm… Have any of you ever been to the North?"

"I was born there," Riel said. "What do you need?"

"When's the last time you went home?"

"Three years. I've no family there anymore, so I never thought to go back."

"Who's the duke? I think we're going to clash with him."

Sera tensed. "What's going on?"

"I'm going to be stepping on their business. Their monopoly's too much… no competition, no innovation. The rich get richer, the poor stay poor. People can't do anything except the same work, day after day."

"Malren," Riel said quietly. "Duke Malren Coldmere. A cold man, doesn't take bribes, unless he gets his cut. That's all I know."

Ren sighed. "That'll be tough."

Sera said, "If they play with power, you have us."

"But what if they have twenty water mages, twenty fire mages, fifty healers? What can we do?"

Sera frowned. "Hard to beat…"

"Exactly. We need backup. I'll try to get the king's support, if I can. Even if he's pushed me aside once already. We're not fight until we have to. Playing safe. That's priority for now."

"When will you go to Central?" Sera asked.

"Three days from now," Ren said.

"Let me come with you. Maybe I can find some old acquaintance, from the guild, or the magic tower?"

Ren shook his head. "I need you all to stay here. I don't want them to see I have powerful friends like the three of you. If they misjudge me, they'll get careless. I might need that."

Jorn crossed his arms. "What can we do here?"

"Figure out the cube," Ren said. "It has to be important. This map never lies."

Jorn nodded. "Alright. Got it."

They stood there in silence, letting the moment pass. For now, there was nothing more to say. Too many unknowns lay ahead.

A breeze stirred, soft and cool against their faces.

The village below was quiet, the last fires dying down.

Above, the stars stretched across the sky. Distant, cold, and endless.

All they could do was wait and hope for the best.