Aliens: Phalanx by Scott Sigler

Author:Scott Sigler [Sigler, Scott]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: , &#160
Publisher: Titan
Published: 2020-02-25T00:00:00+00:00

27

The factory area lay far below river level.

Ahiliyah imagined this had been done intentionally, long ago, because of the danger of fire. With the glassworks, the bakery, the forge and the brewery all using hot ovens of one kind or another, the constant hazard of a spreading fire was countered with large pipes and large valves positioned atop the wide stone steps—in case of fire, flood the area with water.

Sure, that would result in ruined bread, beer and wine, but it was better than corridors filled with choking, lethal smoke. And everyone who worked in the factory level had been trained how to tread water, then calmly work their way to stone escape tunnels built into the ceilings of the arched corridors.

In the factory area, everyone could swim. Everyone except Creen.

Ahiliyah hadn’t seen him since their report in the Margrave’s Chamber. She was embarrassed to realize she hadn’t really thought much about him until Brandun mentioned his name. She’d had much on her mind, and she hadn’t missed his rude jokes and caustic attitude.

Forgetting about him had been a mistake. She needed a weapon, and Creen was the only person working with something new—the caminus leaves. Well, maybe the leaves weren’t a weapon, exactly, but they would be part of her plan when she went to war against the beasts.

Despite the oppressive heat, the craftsmyn were usually happy in their job—day in and day out, they directly contributed to the hold’s survival. As with the rest of Lemeth Hold, however, a dark mood had taken over the factory level. She could feel it even before she talked to anyone.

Ahiliyah’s first stop was the forge. The room was almost as big as the training pit, but the massive oven took up over half the space, while bins of coal and metal ingots filled up the rest.

Crag Halden, the master metalsmith, had once explained to her how the forge worked, from the fire to the complex chimney system that took the smoke away and merged it with the steam coming off the hot springs. They couldn’t just vent the smoke on its own, as it might draw the demons—as with everything else in hold life, staying hidden was the most important thing.

Crag was filing away on the edge of a bronze spearhead. The oven’s fire lit up the soot-spotted brown shirt he wore over his massive arms and shoulders. He saw her enter, placed his left fist over his sternum.

“Demon Killer,” he said. “I am sorry I missed your slash ceremony, but…” He gestured to the oven in a way that said the work here is never done.

“I understand,” Ahiliyah said. “What would we be without your work, Master Crag?”

“Someone would take over for me.” He shrugged. “Everyone must do their part. I heard you were there when the refugees came in yesterday.”

Ahiliyah nodded. “I was in phalanx reserve training.”

“Did they look dangerous? Like they wanted to hurt us?”

The question was as confusing as it was ridiculous—as if one of those hungry, frightened people could possibly hurt the burly metalsmith.

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