Bladeraver (pt46) (246 hits)
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Submitted by Tactile Ire (View user info) at 2007-04-15 18:54:34 EDT
BOOK TWO: THE FELLTREE CITY OF VELDCIT
The city pile below them teemed with life. A profusion of human beings - their numbers shocking the minds of the refugees, who had seen no more than two hundred souls in the last ten or so moons.
Supplyliners passed each other, moving to and from the great loading docks laid out at various points around the pile. The massive port of Beldentree was around the other side of the city from their vantage point, but they could see the huge impossum-powered trains carefully manoeuvring around each other as they vied for passage into the great gateway of the city.
The flanks of the mighty outer trunks were wreathed in countless ropes - haulage lines, elevator rigging, impossum tethers and many others. Many more lines fell from the canopy to the upper reaches of the pile - water and alcofuel pipes, feeding the city its vital juices from the reservoirs and tank-farms built in the gigatrees surrounding the metropolis. The four great Access Trees that towered like ramparts above the pile were festooned with cobwebs of ancient cables. Small vines and limpet plants grew in green and grey profusion over the surface of all these pipelines and hawsers.
The ancient bark surface of the city writhed with various throngs. Maintenance crews clearing ventilation tunnels formed islands in the swirling, crowded thoroughfares which were packed with people moving from one city-zone to another via the favoured surface routes. Yet more people idled the day away in the public leisure areas all over the exposed trunks. They swam in carved pools or strolled across carefully cultivated spongy moss grounds. The entire tree pile was a bustle of humanity, although the crowds were noticeably thicker towards the lower ends of the trunks.
Other traffic moved to and from the city across a well built road that drove straight and clear to the edge of the Dreamingveldt. There it stopped at a similarly teeming trunk. A lone length of wood nearly a mile long. The tree the Mantling had seen fall the last time he'd been here - now tunnelled out and converted into a bustling satellite of the great city pile.
In the air directly above the city all manner of aircraft rode the thermals. Chutes of all sizes dropped from the fringes of the canopy and into the clear zone, heading for landings on the edges of the city. Small, nimble kites flitted through the maze of ropes and pipes above the city, riding the heat-waves given off by the great pile as they ferried rich passengers or expensive cargo from the trunks to the canopy way-stations and back. Stately gliders cut through the aerial throng with graceful majesty, ever circling the city. Most of these were trooper ships, watching for incursions by gigapredators. If one of the gargantuan scaled, feathered or furred carnivores of the forest showed an interest in this meat feast on display the gliders would sound warning and then dive in to attack with burnthrowers and ballistae. An ever-vigilant first line of defence.
The refugees watched it all from a tree a few hundred yards back under the canopy. Many of the adults were openly weeping. The children were staring with slack-jawed amazement. Jeena slipped next to the Mantling and took his callused hand in her own. "Thank you," she said. It was all the words she had.
"C'mon folks. Time to be amongst it," called a gravel-shot voice. It belonged to Gterj, the sergeant of a canopy crew the refugees had run across three days ago. A skinny redhead with a full bushy beard and a shrewd sparkle in his eye. He had listened to their story with growing amazement and disbelief and then readily agreed to escort them back to the city. If their story was true then they were about to become something of celebrities and no doubt he hoped a little fame and fortune would rub off. He was brisk, brusque and all business as he chivvied his unusual charges along.
The Mantling moved away from Jeena's warm hand and began helping the children as they tried to move while safety-lined and tethered. For most of them it was the first time in their lives they had had to deal with the obstructing lines and it slowed them down to a crawl. The refugees had barely noticed the freedom of movement they had achieved aloft. Slingline moves normally reserved for emergencies had become standard practice for them. But for the impeding lines, they could have surpassed the canopymen's moves with ease. These hardened daredevils of the city now seemed timid and crawling creatures.
Since meeting up with the city canopymen they had been letting Arjl do most of the talking. The old man was happy to be amongst other seasoned hands and the stories he regaled them with of their time away brought equal parts of awe and hilarity from their escort. The city men didn't know if half they heard was true and were convinced the other half was not. Arjl kept up the tales in a light bantering tone. His voice became a traction to pull the two disparate crews together in appreciation of his exaggerated exploits. It helped them mesh with the city men. Eased them through the first stages of culture shock.
The old man had not lost all sense of reserve however. No mention was made of the Terror nor honeysalve in all his rambling yarns. For this the Mantling was thankful. He had no desire to put the goodwill and the greed of these city men into conflict.
They were heading groundwards now, lowered in one of the many cage lifts hung from the boughs of East Tree. The smells of alcofuel and c'kroach dung mingled with the spicy aroma of food, the musk of impossums and the sour whiff of human bodies. Beneath, around and through all these smells, lifting them and cutting them was the camphor and cinnamon scent of the treated wood of the pile. The aromas of the city welcomed them home.
They arrived at one of the land-docks on the lower east side. They were met by a press of hacks and wordsmiths - storymongers for the newssheets like The Veldcit Fax; Jeena's employers of a lifetime ago. Gterj the red-bearded canopyman had obviously leaked the news of their arrival - probably from the way-station at the top of East Tree. He seemed inordinately pleased with himself as he stepped in front of his valuable charges and marshaled the pressmen. In a loud voice he claimed the right to speak for the 'foundlings' and promised them all a chance to bid for interview rights later. The Mantling was still assessing the situation, trying to sort the ramifications of different paths of action, when Jeena stepped up behind the vocal canopyman and smoothly took his hand.
"What our dear friend, the intrepid ser Gterj, is saying is that we are tired and weak and concerned for the well-being of our children. We can't possibly deal with you fine professional men in such a state. We must first repair to lodgings to gain our bearings. Of course - we have no means of payment at this time. I would imagine that we would look most kindly on any publication that contributed to our initial and pressing need for accommodation. By which, I mean to say..." she tilted her head at the small crowd of journalists,"No quotes, no copy, you scribblers. The mark needs triple 'S' before they'll talk pumping rights."
The pressmen stared, silent for a beat before a generous chuckle ran through them. She had just used the slang of their profession. She had used it with verve and humor and she had made her initial conditions perfectly clear. She had also let them know that they did not have to waste time dealing with the blustery Gterj. They could deal directly with her and when they did so, it had better be with a modicum of courtesy and respect. She knew their language.
By inference, she knew their tricks.
And so it was that in short order the tired refugees found themselves ensconced in the east penthouse wing of the Grandview Hotel, overlooking the tidy green spaces of the Hotel's fabled fountain garden. There they spent a blissful night getting reacquainted with hot running water, sweet distilled liquors, room service, machine-woven cloth, firm but yielding mattresses and a myriad of other small comforts of civilization. The nine children were so overwhelmed by their surroundings they didn't know which wonder to marvel at first.
The Mantling was a stranger to all this luxury. It was as outside his experience as it was for the children but he only had eyes for one thing. In the corner of the living space of the large suite he was sharing with a few of the others was a wooden cabinet. Its shelves were packed full of row after row of books.
Books.
After all these moons the minds of great men were open to him again.
He was as close to happy as he had ever been.
In the morning Jeena had the hotel clear a small conference room and had them all assemble. She looked at the few survivors. Arjl who nursed an uncustomary hangover, the now haunted Flens, Drewhldt the blunt and solid warrior, the irascible potter Bruge and a few other faces. So very few. Good people who had followed her through hell - and home into the city. She looked at the children. Keze, Tana, Toru and their siblings - orphans all, who regarded her with sleepy, trusting eyes. The brooding Mantling - a dark power on the edge of their group as ever. She had discussed what she planned to say with him and only him. He had agreed. So they had a chance at success. "I wanted to speak to you together and alone before the city really gets a chance at us. I wanted to tell you that we are not out of danger yet."
"We've made it home but there's a chance we may not survive the re-immersion in our culture. We fought to stay alive so hard for so long that we've changed. And we may not be able to change back. But as long as we're aware of the situation we have a chance to control it."
"You might think I'm wrong. You might think I'm mad. That being here can be nothing but good. We can rejoin lost family, locate old friends. And that is true. But be prepared for the fact that they may look stranger to you than you can imagine. Be prepared for a storm of emotions. Depression. Crying jags. A failure to connect to those around you. Watch out for these things. If you feel them come find me."
"We're celebrities now - and will remain so for a short while. That will bring its own pressures. I've seen fame hit people before. Be ready for all kinds of attention - much of it unwelcome. Be ready to face the fact that perfect strangers will want a piece of you in one way or another. When their predations become too much, come find me."
"I'll be setting up a small community to support those of you who want it. To raise the children. To keep the only thing we have left. Each other. I want you all to know you are free to come and go from our home, as you like. In the weeks and cycles and moons ahead remember you have support. It will be waiting for you at our enclave. When you need a home, come find me."
"Think it over. Come to me privately with your questions later. I'll listen."
"And now, I have to let in our hosts. It's feeding time at the zoo, people. Let's all try not to get chewed up and spat back out again too quickly," she smiled as she walked to the back of the small hall. She opened the double doors there to admit a press of shouting wordsmiths four times the size of the crowd that had met them yesterday.
The Mantling faded out a side exit. Unsure of himself, he crossed the hall and opened frosted sapglass doors to reveal a bar-room. Perfect. He took a beer from the lackey and retreated to a small, shadowed cubicle in the back where he could survail the door without being easily seen.
His privacy did not last. Drewhldt shepherded Flens through the doors a few moments behind him. The flamepoler's eyes swept the room. He spotted the Mantling and the two of them came over to his cubicle. "Clean and heavy, Man'," said Drewhldt. "We need to talk."
"Sit down Drewhldt. Take it easy. No need to be so formal. What's up?" the Mantling responded, easing himself over - but not so far that he lost sight of the door.
The pair subsided into the booth. After the lackey had furnished them with drinks Drewhldt leaned in and spoke his mind. "What's your stance on this enclave?"
"I think Jeena's right. I think we've become strangers in our own land. That we will need somewhere to retreat to. Without it...well my earliest memories are of being poor in this city. They are not pleasant. To be alone as well. No. I think I would leave again before I let that happen to me. But I have to be here. There is work I must do. And so, until I find my way in that, I have promised Jeena my support. Why do you ask?"
Drewhldt looked at Flens. She nodded and he leaned forward, nervous suddenly. "Last night Flens and I made a decision together. Our thinking has pretty much followed Jeena's. We know we're in trouble. Alone in hostile territory, facing unknown forces on unexplored terrain. And so we talked about it. And came to a decision. Now Jeena's enclave may have changed that except, you support it, so we have no conflict of interest."
He hesitated. Looked straight into the Mantling's eyes. Locked gazes with him at a range of eighteen inches. "Lord Mantling," he said, "we would like to pledge ourselves, blade, blood and breath. We are your creatures. You hold our lives."
The ancient swordsman's seal whereby a warrior gave himself to his leader. A lifelong bond. Unretractable. Unbreakable. Unrefusable.
The Mantling sat blinking.
He was genuinely stunned.
User Reviews
Submitted by AshK (user info) at 2007-04-24 12:59:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by rorrim (user info) at 2007-04-16 09:09:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2007-04-16 04:45:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Brilliant
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Submitted by orph (user info) at 2007-04-16 04:43:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Excellent.
.................
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Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2007-04-16 04:45:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Brilliant
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Submitted by orph (user info) at 2007-04-16 04:43:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Excellent.
Submitted by zwerg (user info) at 2007-04-24 10:33:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I would LOVE to see this city rendered in some way - a drawing or something. I know how I imagine it in my head, and it's probably the coolest thing I've ever imagined, but I would love to see your vision of it. It's such a richly developed setting, I love it.
Submitted by The_Drake (user info) at 2007-04-16 17:44:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Can you write about pirates? Please?
or zombies.
yes I change my vote to zombies. Put 2...no 3 zombies in the mix and this shit will get a whole lot better.
Submitted by Zebra (user info) at 2007-04-16 16:57:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by genericIntent (user info) at 2007-04-16 11:33:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Wow, Book 2. Good stuff.
Submitted by Fey (user info) at 2007-04-16 09:23:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
More, please. (Yes, I'm a greedy ingrate).
Submitted by rorrim (user info) at 2007-04-16 09:09:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2007-04-16 04:45:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Brilliant
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Submitted by orph (user info) at 2007-04-16 04:43:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Excellent.
.................
Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2007-04-16 04:45:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Brilliant
Submitted by orph (user info) at 2007-04-16 04:43:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Excellent.
Submitted by Fey (user info) at 2007-04-16 04:10:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh, YAY.
Submitted by messmind (user info) at 2007-04-16 02:52:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
:-)
Submitted by Benny (user info) at 2007-04-16 02:41:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I wasn't expecting the ending...that's pretty fucking cool. I am happy to see that Bladeraver is back.
Submitted by lungfish (user info) at 2007-04-16 01:22:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Snare, I just don't really dig fantasy, but folks seem to like your stuff. I feel kinda bad for not reading, so you can have this tonight:
D'backs win.
Arbitrary +2.
Submitted by ih8u2man (user info) at 2007-04-15 22:12:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Cool beans.
Submitted by Dance.With.The.Devil. (user info) at 2007-04-15 21:42:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
0/46