Chương 434: 429. Arrival - II

Kivamus suddenly noticed a smaller cluster of the new arrivals standing off to the side, away from the main knot of people. At first he thought it was just a few villagers keeping their distance, but then he recognized Joric. Joric stood stiffly, as if he wasn't sure where to put his hands. Beside him was a young woman, and beside her a small girl. The girl stayed close to the woman's side, half hidden behind her skirt. Kivamus pointed them out to Duvas.

"Look at that," he said.

"Levalas was also successful in his mission. Joric's family is with him." Duvas squinted toward them and nodded.

"Joric said his wife is experienced in weaving. With Leah's knowledge and this woman, maybe you finally have enough expertise to make those cloth-making machines." Kivamus made a noncommittal sound.

"Leah mostly does repair work," he said.

"And Juhibi must only have made simple clothes for commoners, although it's good that she knows weaving and not just sewing. That helps a lot, but it's not enough for what I want." He looked back toward the manor for a second, thinking.

"We really need Isuha here. She's worked in Cinran for years. She's made elaborate clothing for nobles, and has learned from a skilled seamstress for years. She knows a lot more about sewing and the process than the other two. If she came here too, then I'd certainly have enough help to work on those machines' designs again." He exhaled.

"But that's for later." The crowd had gathered closer to him by now, drawn in by curiosity and momentum. The returning guards clustered near him in protection, some still dusty and tired-looking, but all of them looking alert. Feroy gave him a nod from a short distance away, from his place between the crowd. Hudan and the group who had gone to the temple were returning too. Father Edric remained by the temple gate, watching the crowd with a calm expression.

One of the guards brought a bench from somewhere—probably the temple—and set it down near Kivamus. He stepped up onto it so he could be seen over the heads in front. The talking quieted slowly. It didn't go fully silent, but enough people noticed him that the others followed and stopped their conversations for the moment. Kivamus raised his voice just enough to carry.

"People of Tiranat," he called.

"Once again, we are victorious!" A cheer went up immediately from the guards, and a few villagers joined in.

"We hit that bastard Torhan right where it hurts," he added. The guards cheered louder at that, fists lifting, shoulders straightening.

"He's still alive," Kivamus said, and the noise dipped slightly, "but it won't be long until that's taken care of as well." He let that sit for a moment, noticing the smirks on the guards' faces, then turned his head to look directly at the slaves.

"And you all," Kivamus continued, his voice steady.

"I know you're tired and confused. But your worries are over now." He paused, making sure he was being heard.

"Before anything else," he said, "I officially proclaim that you are free people from today. Not slaves." For a moment, the group of refugees didn't react. Some looked like they hadn't understood the words. Some stared at him as if they were waiting for the trick that came after. Then a shout broke out from somewhere in their cluster, raw and loud. Another voice joined it, and then more. A few people cried openly, as they realized it wasn't a trick.

Others looked stunned, blinking hard, hands half raised like they didn't know what to do with them. Kivamus waited for it to settle enough to continue.

"I can't control what happens if you leave this village," Kivamus said.

"But as long as you remain here, you will be treated the same as any other citizen of Tiranat." He spread one hand slightly, indicating the village around them.

"I welcome you all to Tiranat! There will be warm food waiting for you within an hour. And you will all have a roof over your heads in the third longhouse block." Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. A ripple of confusion moved through the slaves at that word. Some murmured to each other.

"Don't worry, you'll find out soon what a longhouse block is. And in a few more weeks," he added, "you'll have your own bunks—comfortable sleeping places to call your own." That brought more murmurs, but also a few cautious, if confused, nods. Kivamus pointed toward the temple compound nearby.

"That is our local temple of the Goddess. If you want, you can visit it and meet Father Edric before you go for food and rest. Talking to him will ease your worries." A voice from the crowd called out, anxious.

"What if someone else takes our place in that block of a long house?"

"You don't have to worry about that," Kivamus replied with a smile.

"You are my people now. You are citizens of Tiranat from today. It is my responsibility to make sure you all have a roof over your head, so there is no need to worry." He looked over the slave group again.

"For the next few days, rest. Learn more about your new home from the locals. Spend some time at the temple if you want. Meet the workers and find out what kind of job you'd like to do." Another slave spoke up.

"But we're clay miners. Most of us don't know anything else." A second voice followed, sounding skeptical.

"What do you mean different jobs? Don't you all just dig coal here?" Kivamus smiled slightly.

"Yes, we dig coal here, and if you want that work, you can take it. It matches your skills too." He lifted his chin toward the village, as if that was enough to suggest there was more beyond what they could see from here.

"But we do far more than coal mining," he continued.

"You'll learn more in the coming days. If any of you have skills in something else—carpentry, smithing, cooking, hunting, or anything like that—tell one of the guards. Someone will direct you to the right person so you can ask for a job."

"But—""I don't—" He held up a hand to slow the questions before they piled up.

"Like I said, that's for later. Today, go to the temple if you want. Then the guards will take you to the third longhouse block. You'll find food waiting and a place to sleep." He paused, then looked past the slaves and out at the guards, who were watching him closely now. He grinned.

"That's all the announcement for you all," he said to the slaves, then looked back at the guards.

"But I have some other news. News that you will like a lot." The guards leaned in without moving closer, their attention fully on him.

"The day you've been waiting for for months is here," Kivamus said. Duvas' head snapped toward him in surprise, and he started to speak, but Kivamus raised a hand and kept smiling. He looked back over the guards from his perch on the bench.

"From now on," he announced, "everyone will be paid directly in coins instead of in-kind." The freed slaves looked confused at that. Even some of the guards looked momentarily stunned, as if they'd heard him correctly but didn't believe it. Kivamus clarified at once.

"What I mean is this—instead of paying you in food and shelter alone, you will be paid the wages you deserve. It'll start within the week." For a few moments there was silence, like the people needed time to decide whether to believe it. The cheer that followed was much louder than the earlier ones. Guards shouted and pounded fists into palms. Villagers joined in. Even the freed slaves, unsure of the details, responded to the mood and the noise, some smiling and raising hands again.

The cheering went on and on, rolling across the open area and towards the village. When it finally eased, Kivamus waved once and stepped down from the chair. Duvas came in close immediately.

"Are you sure about that?" he asked, voice low. Kivamus nodded.

"They've waited long enough," he said.

"And you heard what the captain said. We can afford to do it now." Duvas's expression softened into a smile.

"It won't be easy to manage at first," he said.

"But I think it's a good decision. News will spread through the village by evening. We'll certainly hear more cheers tonight." Kivamus nodded once.

"They deserve it," he said. He looked toward the manor.

"Come on. Let's go hear the full report." Duvas gestured for Feroy and Hudan to follow as they started walking again. Kivamus glanced back once. Most of the newly freed slaves were moving toward the temple, drawn by the open gate and Father Edric's presence. Hudan gestured for a dozen guards to stay behind and keep an eye on them, then Kivamus and the others continued toward the manor.

Kivamus was sitting in the manor hall now, along with Duvas and Hudan. It was already evening, and the past few hours had been busy for everyone. Duvas had gone to the third longhouse block to make the arrangement for the new freed slaves to sleep. It would be on the ground floor only, but the fourth block would be built within a couple of weeks and then they could be shifted there.

The captain had gone to meet with Kerel and they had been talking about any threats of the village in the past week, as well as how to proceed in the future now that they had a full 100 guards available in the village, including the 40 female guards. Syrene had provided enough losuvil powder for any injured guards while Nurobo had helped the guard with a twisted ankle to lie down in the servants' hall comfortably. The man had been brought here on a wagon, so at least the injury was improving well.

Thankfully, none of the refugees had any serious injuries, so they didn't need to use any medicine for them. Feroy had also gone to talk with Levalas for a while, and they had been waiting for him to arrive to start the meeting. The outer door of the manor opened and the former mercenary walked inside after closing the door behind him.