Herald of Steel

Alexander's foresight regarding this incident would help him gain much political capital four years later when his governance would extend over a much greater area, with more lords under him, with all the veteran lords saying 'The lord can think of things in seconds that we can't think of in years.'

But all these were future events as for now Alexander turned to the next topic of the day, something that was in the department of Grahtos.

"Grahtos, how is Laykash?" He first asked about the brave boy that basically got him the city and thus his position,

"By the grace of the pasha, he is recovering well." Grahtos knew Alexander had a special liking for the boy and so he had always kept a close eye on him, regularly checking up on his health.

He further added, "His bandages are regularly changed to prevent any infection as you commanded and the doctors are confident that he will be able to walk in another month and ride in another further one to two."

Alexander had attached the medical clinic to the army and because Cambyses or Mean could not always be there, put a freed slave woman by the name of Jupetus and her husband Hiperteom as the chief physicians, with special instructions to look that the Sycarian boy.

"Good, tell him that I hope he recovers by spring. I have a special job for him." Alexander enigmatically smiled as he said such, drawing many curious and thoughtful faces.

Not giving them much else to go on, Alexander then went back to a topic he had eluded to, as turned to Menes and said, "Remember the five hundred Sycarian horsemen that I told you to transform into infantry? Well, they will be used in a different theatre and so that order will have to be rescinded."

Alexander had come to this decision after yesterday's talk with Camius and decided to use these men as special forces.

'So that's where the thirteen hundred number came from! No, it's more than that because Alex took some for his palace guards.' Menes did the math in his head after Alexander's explanation and found the manpower shortage irritating.

When Alexander bought up the matter of horsemen, Grahtos could not help but ask, "My lord, when will we get to see the new cavalry tactics you have been eluding to?"

'Calm down mate! I only said it yesterday,' Alexander grumbled inside his heart, though he couldn't fault Grahtos for his passion.

Instead of giving a direct answer, Alexander gave a light smile to Harun and Krishok who he had put in charge of the new equipment and these men apologetically said, "Sorry, my lord. Harun is making the bronze pieces for the blowers and Krishok the leather."

"So, the thing you called the stirrups, the huge horse armor, and the special armor with the hook will be delayed by at least two weeks."

This answer deflated the cavalry captain a bit, as he was eager to know what these things were and how they operated, while Alexander consoled, "Good things come to those with patience."

Alexander felt like he had addressed everything that needed to be done regarding the military and then decided to move on the civilian matters.

Here he was told everything was going well which pleased him and then instructed, "Jazum, Uzak, the women that are in the streets selling their bodies for a pittance. Employ all of them by this week. Have them make bricks and dig ditched instead of wasting their days doing such useless things."

"Yes, my lord," The men replied in a chorus.

Alexander had given them similar instructions just yesterday and they were still implementing them.

"Also," Alexander was not finished, as he turned to Jazum, "Jazum, employ the children. Have them do physically less intensive work like cleaning the dirt and molding the bricks. We don't have the luxury to allow them to just play all day."

According to Alexander's estimation. the demand for bricks will become enormous in the very near future, as they would be needed for all the construction projects, from the huge residential buildings to the large aqueducts, to the sewage systems to the huge road network and unless Alexander wanted to become supply constrained, he needed to build up a huge stockpile now, no matter the method used.

"As you command, pasha," The man in charge of the brick manufacturing nodded at the order.

While many might complain that Alexander was employing child labor while in fairness he was, it was common for this time period and even more so when it was such desperate times where Alexander need every able pair of hands to pick up the slack.

Pleased with the thought that brick manufacturing will speed up, Alexander then instructed Harun, "Mister Harun, please remember to look out for coal mines within our land. It is vital for our national interest."

Alexander said this because he would need coal to make coke which was vital for iron smelting in the blast furnace and though if he was left with no other choice he could use charcoal in extreme situations, the resultant product will be very poor, requiring much more refinement and so he was quite worried whether they would have it or not.

In fact, this was one of the primary reasons he choose Zanzan as his city of choice as he hoped the mineral-rich hills will contain this elusive black diamond and he hoped day and night that lady luck would smile on him.

And Alexander would know within one or two weeks if the goddess would.

"I will send as many people as I can to look for them," Harun promised Alexander that if minable coal existed within his lands, he will get them.

"Okay, I think that's all for today." Alexander felt he had finished everything he wanted to talk about today and with a, 'Hope you have a good day, gentlemen,' he ended the meeting.

And soon the men left, save one, who like yesterday, was told to stay behind, Theocles.

"So, how goes the temple hunting?" Alexander smiled as he asked about his temple's situation.

And with a large smile, indicating success, Theocles replied, "By the grace of the goddess and my lord we have indeed chosen a manor suitable to call our temple. And by the guidance of Gaia, its location is also just as your excellency wanted, close to the city center."

He further detailed, "The manor belonged to one Jamidar(Earl) Harkiv who controls the planes of Limaq which is three hundred kilometers from us, around the edge of the province."

Then focusing on the building, Theocles said, "The building is a huge two stories high manor, with high ceiling, a large number of rooms and ample space. And I have already made plans to renovate the lower floor to fit the altar, the goddess's statue, and to make place for the congregation."

At last, Theocles sent a charming smile to Alexander as he pleaded, "My lord, after the renovations are complete, I pray your magnificence will grace our little place of worship with his divine presence."

"That's only natural," Alexander promised while waving his palms as a gesture to blow away such concerns.

He further assured, "The goddess's statue will be completed as soon as cement production starts in earnest. And once the demand for cement falls, we will start work on an ultimate grand temple for the goddess that will put the main temple of Ramuh to shame."

This claim made Theocles's eyes burn with religious fanatism, as he gazed at Alexander with utmost reverence, not a shred of doubt in his mind about Alexander's claim.

Alexander did not doubt if he were to stab Theocles with a sword right now, he would ask him to please do it again.

'Having loyal fanatics sure is nice,' Alexander would not deny the immense personal gratification he got from having such blind followers at his beck and call.

But snapping himself out of such tangential thoughts he got to the point of why he had asked Theocles to stay.

"Theocles, as the pope, I made you the archpriest. And I have decided to make a slave of mine called Tayin my sacred priestess." Alexander informed his man.

And then turning to the door, he loudly called out, "Enter."

And immediately afterward, the door was pushed open, and the long-haired beautiful silhouette of a girl came into both man's view.

It was naturally Ophenia, wearing a gorgeous, golden, full-sleeved one-piece with a full matching set of exquisite golden jewelry, her hair bundled up into a bun and encrusted with golden chains that looked like heavenly floating clouds, her ankles bound by anklets, and her feet raised off the ground with a luxurious pair of golden high heels.

She made her way to her master with her hips swaying in the breeze seductively, the long dress trailing behind her, making the two men too stunned to be momentarily lost for words.