As I always did, I woke in the early hours, rested. First I left my still-unfinished tent and went to feed Kragnor, he waited docilely. He was hungry, though his cage was open he had not wandered off. I gave him meat carefully, stroked him, for a moment we pressed our heads together and I thanked him for yesterday; our names would now be spoken together. After showing him my affection and respect, I went to see Cycnopy, he looked better, and would continue to get better. We talked a little, I told him to rest today, and I went out to the square.
Around me a crowd of roughly a hundred had gathered, all eyes fixed on me. "Today we must finish our living spaces and our defenses," I began, my voice ringing across the square, "Complete our tents, build the pier and the village defenses, set up workshops, build the ovens." I continued, "I want three people from the construction crew and three from the transport crew with me. We will go to the mountain and scout. Take the cart and three or four torches, we will leave soon." At that moment I noticed the grapes, I explained to the women gathering them how to pick and carry them; we had completed the first stage of winemaking.
I went to Kragnor and climbed onto his back, we were getting used to each other. We set off slowly toward the mountain. When we arrived the sight warmed me, carrion birds were tearing at the carcasses, the usual cycle of nature was at work. "No one touch the birds or attack them, we'll pass by and go to the mountain, let them take what they deserve," I said, and we continued on.
When we reached the mountain, we entered a huge hollow. I could hardly believe my eyes, the mountain was like an iron mine, veins of iron gleamed. The potentials and possibilities made me glad, hope filled my lungs. I lit my torches, took an axe from one of the warriors and started striking the rock; my blows were strong but measured. We could extract ore, smelt it at high heat, hammer it, and make armor, weapons and many other things.
"Warriors," I shouted, "The sun has just risen, until it sets extract as much ore as you can, fill the cart and bring it to the village." As I said, they set to work immediately. I mounted Kragnor and turned back toward the village, I would hunt some game and bring food back. I was not alone either; things were proceeding in the village as I had planned, work ran like clockwork.
As we moved slowly, I scouted for prey, squirrels moving in the trees and rabbits out on the ground caught my eye. I threw my knife and spear, and hung the animals from my belt by their legs. Then I saw two huge boars. I could have slain them on my own, but this was a chance to strengthen my bond with Kragnor, so we waited quietly. I blew my whistle, Kragnor sprang instantly, hooking one boar with a horn and heaved it; at that moment I leaped down and thrust my spear into the other. The sun was moving toward midday, and by our side lay many rabbits, squirrels and the two big boars.
With Kragnor I returned to the village and delivered the game, the settlement continued to advance, even if everything wasn't finished today, only a day or two of work remained. The pier was nearly complete, I climbed atop and jumped a little, it was solid. I thought of Kragnor, he needed to cool off in this heat, so I descended and went to the shore. I blew my whistle, he rose from where he lay, left his cage and ran to me; the people watched in astonishment, as if to say, "How is this possible?"
At the shore at first he was timid about the water, I calmed him. He entered the sea with me, I rubbed his thick hide, massaged and washed him thoroughly. He almost seemed to joke with me, he enjoyed it and relaxed. After cooling off he shook himself and returned to his cage, ate his food and fell asleep. Just then my warriors from the mine returned, carrying huge rocks filled with iron. "Priority is to build the furnace immediately," I said, my voice commanding, "Light a great fire inside and melt these down, make molds and produce weapons and shields." I gathered the workers and builders at once, we drew designs using the blood of the animals we had killed, and I explained what to do; the drafts came together. My first priority was to have a magnificent, great sword made for myself. "We will have your request ready by morning, exalted Ragno, we'll begin at once," they said, and set to it.
While I considered my plans, fatigue settled over me; sleep crept in. Still, my mind kept turning: the furnace's fire, sparks from hammered steel, the sheen of Kragnor's hide, the expanding borders of the village… These things linked together in my mind like a chain. With morning would come a pile of tasks, but this weariness was sweet; it was the burden of a leader, heavy but satisfying.
Thinking through the night I realized we must secure the mine, fortify the supply routes. Cycnopy would heal, the warriors would grow stronger with new weapons, women were learning new trades in the workshops, children were carrying goods. With everyone's work, a new order rose on these lands. I went to the front of Kragnor's cage, left him the freshest bit of meat, stroked his head. I lay on his back and thought of setting out again at first light; the plan was to expand the mine, strengthen the village and make my people more powerful.
I closed my eyes, my thoughts filled with the ringing of blades cut from the ore, shields taking shape in molds, and the form the village would one day take. Before sleep I felt once more the resolve inside me; tomorrow would be a new day, a new victory, another step forward.