Chapter 238: Cargo and Caution
Kellar and Little Green took flight along the steaming trail and caught up with the transport column advancing down the path. Kellar descended to the ground, joining the head of the caravan alongside Mentz and Brak.
As always, Brak carried his heavy double axe over his shoulder, while the soldiers marching in the escort held their rifles in hand.
Without wasting a moment, Kellar explained the details of the diplomatic pact struck with the White Tiger King.
"Nobody attempt anything against the tigers," warned Kellar, eyeing the troops. "But if they get too close or cross the perimeter, you know what to do."
Brak, adjusting the strap of his axe, nodded with a smirk.
"Understood, Shaman," replied Brak. "If there is no need to fight, we will focus our efforts on helping the gatherers take as much material as possible. Although... Lennis was paranoid about this and loaded the Garnis onto the caravan. We brought ten cannonballs; the Garnis is hidden in the last wagon."
𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢
Kellar looked at him for a second and nodded.
"Strictly as a last resort," emphasized Kellar.
"Of course, Shaman," continued Brak. "Even so, we will keep defenses on alert. Little Green will transport part of the heavier stone by air using the heavy basket, while Bighorn and the draft cattle haul the primary wagons. Let’s move material as fast as we can."
Kellar turned toward the beasts assigned to the expedition.
"Ignis, keep your body blazing and guard the work perimeter. Fenrir, you watch the area as well, but do not wander off into the snow alone; stay right beside the workers. I don’t want them thinking we are setting up an ambush inside their domain."
"Understood, Shaman," answered both in unison.
"Good," concluded Kellar, looking out at the bend of the cliffs in the distance. "I will oversee the initial extractions and leave back for the village with the first shipment. I want everything to run."
The caravan covered the final stretch along the bed of the Crocodile River until reaching the slope of the Low Cliffs. Before them, at the foot of the cliff face exposed by the breeze, lay veins of grayish limestone and beds of volcanic clay.
"To work! Divide the crews into two groups!" roared Mentz, leaping down from the lead wagon with a pickaxe over his shoulder. "First group on limestone, second on clay! Load Little Green’s baskets and Bighorn’s heavy sled first!"
The clatter of pickaxes and shovels striking rock echoed across the valley. Native workers and refugees, driven by the prospect of paving their streets and securing their home, worked at a pace. A few paces from the perimeter, Ignis kept his body blazing, melting the snow to ease the digging while providing warmth against the wind. Meanwhile, Fenrir lay in the snow beside the wagons, ears perked and eyes locked on any movement.
In the distance, concealed among the snowdrifts, several pairs of golden eyes watched the operation. The pack’s white tigers observed the deployment in silence, but true to their sovereign’s word, made no move to interfere.
In less than an hour, the heavy sled hitched to Bighorn was piled with blocks of pure limestone, while the transport basket for Little Green was packed with sacks of volcanic clay.
"First load is ready, Shaman!" reported Mentz, wiping sweat from his brow despite the cold. "We have enough material here for the initial clinker burn in the kilns."
"Outstanding work," said Kellar, mounting Little Green as the basket harnesses were secured. "Brak, Mentz, keep up the pace and stay on high alert. I will return with the relief caravan as soon as we drop this off at the village."
Kellar made several round trips with Little Green, who needed only a few minutes to complete each aerial circuit between the cliffs and the settlement. On the other hand, Bighorn and the draft cattle had managed three or four trips all day due to the terrain. Even so, before nightfall, the work crews had packed the storage yards back at the village to capacity; by Kellar’s estimates, they had gathered at least one hundred tons of limestone and volcanic clay.
Kellar had declared it the final run of the night, so everyone hurried to load the rocks onto the caravan. Bighorn and the cattle were loaded and ready to head home.
"It was a quiet day," commented Mentz, wiping the dirt from his hands.
"It feels strange not being in combat," replied Brak with a smirk, adjusting the strap of his axe. "But it feels good. The Shaman is strong and wise; he knows when to push and when to negotiate."
They had barely started down the trail when Fenrir, who had been resting in the snow, stood up. He let out a growl toward the shadows of the crags, baring his teeth. Beside him, his female wolf partner merged with him, activating their joint combat form. Ignis rose to his feet, flaring with fire to cover the caravan’s rear.
Suddenly, dozens of white tigers leaped down from the snowdrifts, blocking the path ahead. Leading the pack, a white tiger stared at them with disdain. It was the son of the Tiger King.
"I don’t know why my father wants to make deals with these weaklings," hissed the young feline prince, flexing his claws. "We should kill them all and take their provisions."
Ignis let out a roar, igniting all his fire runes to maximum output to show he was prepared for battle. Fenrir, taking advantage of the light and shadows, activated his ability and blended into the dark, vanishing from the felines’ sight.
Noticing the situation turning hostile, Brak reacted with the speed of a battle-tested veteran.
"Everyone to your posts!" roared Brak.
The soldiers sprinted for their rifles and fell into tactical formation. Thorin ran to the last wagon in the column and yanked away the canvas covering the Garnis cannon. With the help of two other soldiers, they positioned the bronze carriage and primed the fuse, ready to detonate the artillery piece at a second’s notice.
The tigers, however, still looked unbothered. Aside from the fire bear and the giant wolf, they saw nothing to fear; to them, these humans and their shiny sticks were nothing more than easy prey that could be slaughtered.