Enlightened Empire

As he had done before, Ronnie rode down the road east of Saniya once again. However, much was changed from his previous journey. The most immediate difference could be felt from the road itself. The old, winding dirt path had been replaced by a proper, straightened concrete street, which made their journey not only faster, but also dampened the incessant rattling from the wheels of their oxcarts.

His peace restored, Ronnie could fully appreciate their immediate surroundings. The advent of summer had brought its messengers along with it. As soon as they had left Saniya, they had been confronted by lavender, as far as the eye could see. Row on row, the bushes formed strange, geometric patterns as the alchemist's cart zoomed past them. By now it was becoming evening, and the orange sky played with the violet fields to bathe the surroundings in an otherworldly hue, beyond natural. Lit in an ethereal pink, the view of the low hanging clouds overhead bound the viewers like a spell. Beauty of form and color, combined into a perfect painting.

"The pictures of Saniya in summer are as divine as ever," the beaconer on the neighboring seat sighed.

"After we worked through the entire southern road already, we see it for the third time in only a few days. But yes, the lavender is pretty," Ronnie replied. "Rather than the flowers, I am far more interested in the growth of our new fields."

With a look ahead, Ronnie stared towards the place where violet met green. Over there, great fields of wheat had shot out of the ground and did their best to fight earth's attraction, in their eternal struggle up towards the sunlight.

"What is the date?" Ronnie contemplated on their schedule as he stared at the village walls visible in the distance.

"The sixty-third day of summer season. Pacha has blessed the wheat with early growth this year." In piety, the beaconer lowered his head.

"Nonsense. Rather than some divine blessing, it is due to our great advances which have tamed nature itself and made it complicit in our great cause."

Although the beaconer frowned in response to Ronnie's self-important talk, the alchemist ignored the priest's disapproval and looked back, towards the blanket which covered the cargo of their oxcart. As he thought about all the incredible new inventions they had introduced within the region, and the many more which would follow, a smile formed on his lips. The iron plows alone, created with a much-improved understanding of mechanics, had made work for the farmers far easier and quicker, which meant that seeding had come sooner too. On top of it, a better understanding of soil fertility would guarantee better, fuller crops as well.

As Ronnie thought back to all the things they had achieved in the five months since they had arrived in Saniya, the small village walls on the horizon turned into a proper, human-sized structure. Once they had arrived at the first goal of their journey, their little trek turned into the small village of Ayala through the wall's opening. Like so many places in the Chawir marshes, this habitation was also surrounded by wooden barricades and dominated by a small number of families, who were in full control of the walls and the surrounding lands. Greeting them at the entrance of their palisade walls were a youthful, rough looking man and an older woman. Despite their obvious differences in appearance, both wore the same plain gray cloth, wrinkled around their bodies in infinite folds.

"The Sayala clan greets official Bombastico," the man stepped forward to speak first. Not willing to be outdone, the woman stepped ahead to act in kind.

"Sinyala clan and Matriarch Curi Sinyala greet official Bombastico."

Unimpressed by their humble attitude, Ronnie stepped off the cart and replied with a simple nod.

"It Is good to be back. This time, this official has come not only to bring the town more precious fertilizer, but also to hear your troubles and to inquire whether or not there may be anything more King Corco can do to ease the difficult lot of his subjects."

Although Ronnie sounded polite and generous, everyone in attendance knew that rather than a service, the alchemist's visit was an inspection, to make sure they had kept to the rules set by their new king in return for his support. Of course, none of the families would ever return a single word of displeasure.

"Very good. In that case, House Sinyala would love very much to invite Official Bombasticus into our home, for food and drink."

Thinking back to what the common people of Medala would consider 'food and drink', Ronnie tried his hardest to repress a frown. For now, these families were the closest allies of Saniya in the countryside. It was important to keep them content.

"Of course. This official will greatly enjoy partaking in the treasures of the land."

__________________________

As he took a small bite from the plain flatbread flooded with butter, Ronnie looked over the two big landowners before him, in his vain search for a distraction from the bland taste.

"What did you just call me, wench?!" The head of the Sayala clan was in an outrage.

"I called you a cheat and a tricker, boy! Do not think others are stupid, only because they are too afraid to call out your lies?!" Once she had riled up her opponent, lady Curi Sinyala turned towards Ronnie, rather than continue her argument with the other family head. "Official Bombastico, it is completely true. The Sayala clan has only used small portions of their fertilizer, and they have stored up the leftovers, in the hopes that they can resell the product to other villages once harvest turns out successful."

Ronnie enjoyed watching them tear into each other. After all, the landowners' disunity was the only reason Saniya had ever been able to increase its influence on this village. After most of Chawir's villages had sent a representative to Saniya some four months prior, Corco had made the same offer to all of them: Free iron tools, free fertilizer and improved techniques for farming. In return, the villages would be allowed to keep an amount of the harvested food, comparable to their yield from the previous year. Any surplus would be delivered to Saniya, while lower production would be compensated by the king. A deal more than fair for the villagers, with almost no risk involved on their part. However, Corco's further demands had still proven to be too much for most villages.

"Don't listen to the lying wench, official Bombastico. You shouldn't focus on the made up crimes of the loyal Khuno Sayala, it's better to look at the Sinyalas and all the stuff they've done." Once the young man had pleaded to Ronnie, Khuno Sayala turned back over to his opponent. "Didn't you hide your own nephew over in a neighboring village, cause you didn't want him to go to the capital, to learn in their new school?"

The king had not only demanded that all children under the age of fourteen would be brought to Saniya as the first students in their budding educational system, they would also have to accept one of the king's officials as a permanent inhabitant within the village. Even more so, rather than operate individual farms by themselves, the villagers would be asked to operate larger areas together, which would make their work far more efficient and reduce everyone's workload.

Although Corco's demands sounded very reasonable to Ronnie, especially compared to the manner in which all other nobles of the world would treat their peasants, many village heads had still been unwilling to play along. Unused to any form of government control – beyond the occasional tax collector – the great families in charge of the villages had feared the direct influence from Saniya. They had much to lose, most of all the wealth they had skimmed from their various lords over generations. Even their schooled children were considered mere hostages by many, despite Corco's best intentions.

"Ridiculous! None of these lies are true!" the old woman shouted in response. Her acting was as poor as his, Ronnie thought. Triumphant, Khuno puffed out his chest in response.

"You can't decide if they're true. Only great Lord Corco can. I can tell official Bombastico where that spendthrift nephew of yours is hiding. Can you do the same with my fertilizer?"

A heavy knock interrupted the lively atmosphere, as the bottom of Ronnie's clay cup collided with the wooden table. Only in villages such as this one, where several rival families were locked in competition, had Corco found some success with his plans. Only here, landowners would cede to Corco's demands, out of fear that they might fall behind the other families once one side received direct support from the king.

Still, no matter how much fun their bickering had been, Ronnie would have to stamp his foot down if he wanted to get his work done. He really didn't enjoy tingling around the villages. Much rather, he would have spent his time back in Saniya, studying the mysteries of the cosmos.

"There is no need for disagreements," Ronnie said with the kindly smile of a shady uncle. "After all, we have left an official here for a reason. Berrat," the chemist looked over to the side, to the Fastgrade clerk who had been tasked with overlooking the farming operations in Ayala village. "Is there any reason for concern?"

"Yes, Master Bombasticus. I believe that these allegations are serious and should be investigated with great care." Like a true diplomat, the young man answered in affirmation, yet said nothing. Ronnie organized his thoughts for a bit, as everyone around him waited with bated breath. Soon however, the clever alchemist had found a good solution to his troubles.

"Okay. First off, the misuse of fertilizers will be easy to confirm or deny." Before the dumb-struck face of Khona, the alchemist's smile widened by the smallest margin. "All we need to do is measure which family's farming area will have the lowest yield. If there is a large discrepancy, it would be obvious proof that said family did not follow the king's instructions and did thus not adhere to the contract. As punishment, we can adjust the amount of grain the family will need to pay at the end of the year.

"Oh, and just as an aside," Ronnie said with a raised finger, "The fertilizer is incredibly potent, but in excess it will cause the plants to die off completely, rather than grow further. If any here were to believe that they can make up for their previous faults by doubling the amount now, I would advise them to rethink their plans before they make matters even worse."

No matter how casually they had been presented, deafening silence answered Ronnie's words. Unfazed, the alchemist continued.

"As for the nephew of Lady Sinyala, I hope we can find a more amicable solution to the problem."

Of course Ronnie wouldn't just favor the old woman for no reason. Corco had an interest in gaining money and influence from the village heads, as well as getting the village children into school, willingly. As the king's representative, Ronnie was determined to do just that. Unaware of the king's plans, it was no surprise that Khuno saw things differently.

"What!? Official Bombastico, I can really show you the way. Your men only need to walk one village over! Finding and catching the woman's nephew would be no problem at all."

A raised hand from the king's official once again returned quiet to the room. Luckily, Ronnie was free to act in a forward manner here. No matter how angry the landowners might get, they would never attack a true warrior.

"Although the help is greatly appreciated, Sir Sayala should not concern himself with the work of other so much. In fact, I believe that Lady Sinyala, as well as others with the same ideas, will soon become far less reluctant to send their children to Saniya. Soon in fact, all village chiefs under contract of King Corco will receive the honor of observing the king's great school and all the youngsters inside. I believe that they will all reconsider their positions by then."

While the big landowners were confused and waiting again, Ronnie took out another one of Corco's invitations and handed it over.

"This is an invitation for both family heads, to visit Saniya after Ayala's harvest is over. Once in the city, you will be allowed to wander the exclusive school of King Corcopaca, as well as receive entry to a grand festival, in celebration of our first successful harvest together."

Although at first the two family heads seemed enthusiastic about the chance to see their children again, as soon as they heard the word 'harvest', all joy drained from their faces. Ronnie could guess their thoughts, as they were written all over their faces. While the family heads were away in the capital, they would have no control over the harvest back home. It would make any sort of manipulation on their part much harder. They must have thought that the invitation was a way for the king to guarantee his part of the yield. However, Ronnie understood that Corco's invitation was much more than a simple safety measure. In fact, the far more important part of the meeting would happen at the celebration, where Corco had prepared another one of his sales pitches.

"We would love to come, but it's not possible, sad to say. Harvest is the most important time of the year, and all ready hands are needed for it," Khuno said. "Even after the wheat is reaped, there is still much work to be done."

Although they knew that it would offend Corco, the village heads seemed determined to decline their king's invitation. However, rebuttal wouldn't be hard for Ronnie, who had gone through similar conversations three times already, back when he had visited the villages along the southern road.

"No worries," the alchemist smiled, "this time I have brought a new machine which will make the sorting of wheat from chaff much easier and faster. Your people will be fine even without you."

"But... it's still impossible," the old woman stammered, in desperate search for an excuse. "What will happen if the river kings attack? If they come to take our harvest, we need to organize a defense on behalf of the king, in order to protect his great lands."

"Haha, the king has no need of anyone's protection. After all, King Corco built the new roadways for a reason. And please do not forget about the new watchtowers which have been installed all along the pathways. Even if anything were to happen, the king's troops could react quickly. Even if the bandits would dare venture out of hiding once more, they would soon be caught by the great King Corcopaca's warriors. Have no fear, good people of Ayala, your village is completely-"

The very moment Ronnie's great speech would come together, to lift the spirit of the 'good people of Ayala' and make them grateful to have received the honor of an invitation, the door to the hall was opened in interruption. From the darkness outside entered a man Ronnie wasn't too familiar with. However, he still recognized the uniform.

One of the wolf mercenaries had entered, and it didn't look as if he brought good news. Sweat streamed down his face as if he had run through a rainstorm, while his clothing was disorderly and dirty, less than sufficient for a warrior of the king. Once the mercenary had looked around and found the way to his goal, he steadied his heavy breath as he made his way straight to the king's official, ignoring all the commoners around him. At last, his eyes darting around in panic, the man halted in the alchemist's front and spoke the words Ronnie had least wanted to hear.

"Master Bombasticus, the labor camp... the labor camp has been attacked by bandits!"