105 Checkup (1/2)
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 The old, winding dirt path had been replaced by a proper, straightened concrete street, which made their journey not only faster, but also dampened the incessant rattling from the wheels of their oxcarts.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.