Herald of Steel

The sudden attack on the people and the resulting stampede left a great impression on Alexander, making him realize the dangers of outdoor meetings.

No wonder so many lords did not like getting out of their castles, preferring the safety of the cold, hard walls.

It even gave him an urge to follow in their steps.

Especially given Alexander also found the piles of treasure he had shown to the crowd to be lost in that way, most likely looted by the nobles and common people alike.

Yes, do not think just because they were fleeing the common city folk would let go of the opportunity to plunder.

The vast treasures were enough to make most men literally die for it.

But that loss was not what truly bothered Alexander. The money could be as easily earned as it was lost.

No, what really stung for him was the loss of the captives- the ones Alexander planned to make an example out of.

In the chaos of the retreat, these men had naturally been forgotten.

As for their fate, well, Alexander did not exactly know.

Whether they were trampled by the stampeding hoard, whether they managed to run to the alleys and seek cover, whether they were lynched by the angry mob, or whether they were rescued their allies- all four outcomes were possible.

"Find the names of all the noble and wealthy families who attended the meeting. And arrest all male members."

Alexander would give this order the moment he returned to the temporary manor he was staying in, furious over what they just did.

But unfortunately, it would take until the day after for the soldiers to carry out the order.

Given the ensuing chaos, Alexander's forces needed to be bolstered with supplements from the army camped out of the walls because they were hardly familiar with the local families and needed time to find their target.

This delay however would give many of the charged parties the chance to quickly flee the city under the cover of night, sensing the other's wrath.

Frankly, even they did not expect such a huge thing to happen when they gave their guards their order, many had even spoken in simple hyperboles.

How could they know some of the men were loyal to the point of being fanatics?

Even most of the nobles would confess they did not want to slaughter the common people like that- so openly and so cruelly. They had a reputation to hold after all.

But at the end of the day, what was done was done.

Those clever enough to understand this and able to sense Alexander's fury, fled the city as fast as they would, leaving the man with only a few, foolish leftovers to capture as scapegoats.

But these were nobodies.

So even though Alexander wanted to execute them publicly as the main culprits behind the massacre, his advisors quickly talked him out of it.

"My lord, these people are insignificant. The common folk do not even know their names. This will do nothing to placate and only make the surrounding lords think you are just bloodthirsty and looking for an excuse to attack them. Killing them might very well have the opposite effect."

"Yes, please be patient a bit longer. I already have sent hunting parties after them. I am sure they will be back with good news soon.

"You still want to go out after what happened? Just stay inside and forget about this dump. Three years of tax exemption- you have done more than enough!"

That last sentence was predictably made by a cautious and enraged Lady Parthia.

She too had been there during the chaos and barely escaping it, seemed to have developed a great dislike for the people here.

Alexander would ultimately heed his advisors, and scrap the planned execution, only declaring to the people of the city that this was the work of the nefarious nobles and his army was in hot pursuit and they would be at once brought forth for execution once captured.

As for the promised money…. well Alexander attached the same condition- it was with the escaping nobles and the sum would be distributed once retrieved.

Now technically Alexander had the cash reserves to pay out the amount from his own pocket- it was after all only around 2 million ropals and the loots he had plundered was more than enough to cover this.

But at the same time, Alexander was finding he had a great talent for losing money in the most hair brained ways possible.

So finally waking up to the dangers, he decided to tighten his belt a bit.

The only exception he made was for the blacksmiths and sailors, for whom he sent out his troops carrying special orders.

Visiting each metal workshop, these men would cry,

"We are soldiers under the new city lord- Lord Alexander. Is this your shop, blacksmith? Our lord has decreed that you must come with him and stay there for the next five years. Here is a sum of 1,000 ropals… 100 wesas for your family. You will also receive a monthly wage of 30 wesas for the duration of your stay."

When presented with such a decree, the blacksmiths were naturally taken aback.

Many accepted on the spot- the money being too fragrant of a lure.

While others were far less tractable, claiming various reasons why they did not wish to follow.

There were the obvious familiar ties, with many not wishing to leave their alone family for so long. And it was not only always of love, but also security!

Leaving a woman alone with small kids was simply too dangerous in the city. At least in the villages, the tightly knit community as well as the man's extended family could keep an eye on their daughter in law.

Life in the city was much more nuclear and alone- making them prime targets for harassment, bullying, and even slave traders.

Aside from familiar troubles, there was also the fact that all blacksmiths were also businessmen- so the fear was, if they just closed shop and left for five years, they would likely lose all their loyal customers.

Customers they spent half their lives trying to woe. This was too big a hurdle for many.

Another big hurdle was the issue of apprentices.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Many blacksmiths had anywhere from one to three to sometimes even five or more apprentices working for them and the question naturally arose- what would happen to them?

Apprentices were not just extras- they were assistants and a pair of extra hands that a blacksmith simply needed, especially to make high, quality complex metal works.

All these and many more were raised by the blacksmith guild when they went to meet Alexander a few days after the decree was made, wishing to protest.

And after hearing their cases, Alexander considered it for a while and then revealed,

"Let me first begin by telling you that already a thousand blacksmiths from your island work in my city. So I am not unfamiliar with your demands."

"Those who want, you can take your whole family as well as the apprentices with you to my city. You will just have to bear all their expenses."

"And those who do not want their families to move or there are some other obstacles, that is okay too. We will send a ship every month here, carrying a portion of your wages to your family. You can send and receive letters in this way! If that is not enough, we will even give you a set number of days of leave in the case of an emergency. I believe this is generous enough, right?"

Alexander paused there to turn and look at the various expressions, and indeed, many had visibly changed colors, going from bright red with fury and indignation, to paler, much softer contours, as if slowly accepting the outcome.

The grand words they had started with- "We are not slaves you can simply chain and ship off, my lord! We are free men, free to choose whatever we do," had lost a lot of it 'umpph!'.

But still, there were a few remaining detractors, who brought up the mention of losing their business.

Towards them, Alexander countered with a disdainful wave of his palms,

"Hmmp! What business! I already promised to pay you 30 wesas a month for five years without any condition attached. You think there is any 'business' better than that!"

"Plus... the concerns about your business failing are utterly groundless… let me assure you my city has more than customers for you. I am sure you have heard of my city- Zanzan, the high quality iron ore you use all comes from there."

"So I dare say instead of wasting your talents here, you will be able to serve in a much better place. And once you are back, your products will be much better!"

"If you still do not like this..." At this point,, Alexander's voice suddenly began very hard and cold,

"Remember who you are talking to. I am your lord. You do not have the right to refuse. Not if you want the people to know it was the blacksmith guild who angered the lord and made him extract the three year tax exemption!"

Let us say no to piracy! Don't take part in a crime! Don't patronize thieves!

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