There Will Be Dragons by John Ringo

Author:John Ringo [Ringo, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: Science Fiction - Adventure, Fiction - Science Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Space Opera, General, Science Fiction, Science Fiction - General, Adventure, Fiction, Fantasy ficiton
ISBN: 9781416532842
Publisher: Baen
Published: 2006-06-14T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

The bathhouse was all the way across the encampment from the apprentice hall and it afforded them a look at the growing town. More buildings had gone up, mostly of logs but a few of cut planks with tile roofs. Most of the permanent structures seemed to have something to do with the burgeoning industries that had formed only in the last week. They displayed signs indicating potters and smiths, coopers and weavers. Most of them were only half finished and they allowed the three to see the people inside, hard at work.

"Rome wasn't built in a day," Herzer muttered.

"What?" Mike asked.

"They say that Rome wasn't built in a day," Herzer repeated. "But it looks like they're trying."

"Where'd all these crafts come from?" Courtney asked.

"Oh, the reenactors do all this stuff. It was their hobby before. Now, I suppose, it's more than a hobby."

"I guess these are going to be the people we'll be working with," the girl said. "I hope I'm better at this than woodcutting."

"I want a farm," Mike said. "I don't want to work in a shop all day."

"We'll get one," Courtney replied, soothingly.

"But which one?" Herzer asked. "I mean, do you just wander out and start one? Where do you get the tools you need?"

"I don't know," Courtney replied. "I'm not even sure what sort of tools you have to have. Or how you plant and all the other stuff you have to do. Where do you get livestock?"

Mike didn't say anything, just grunted.

"Well, we'll find out in time," Herzer said. "I wonder if they've got a guard force?"

"Is that what you want to do?" Courtney asked.

"Something like it, yes," Herzer replied. He gestured with his chin at a person who was apparently a guard, standing by the entrance to a rather sturdy building. The man had on a surcoat with an embroidered Raven and carried a spear, but he was slouched under the awning of the building, apparently trying to keep out of the late afternoon sun. "But not like that. That's not a soldier, if you know what I mean."

"Are we going to need soldiers?" Courtney said. "Why?"

"Bandits," Herzer replied. "Eventually other towns will be causing us trouble, too. And then there's the war."

"Not much of a war," Mike said. "We haven't been attacked."

"Not yet," Herzer admitted. "But if we're going to oppose Paul, eventually we'll either be attacked or have to attack him."

"How can you attack a council member?" Courtney said, angrily. "They still have power!"

"So does Sheida and her group," Herzer replied with a shrug. "From here it looks like a stalemate. And I don't think Paul will let it stay that way even if Sheida is willing to."

This talk carried them through the encampment and up to the bathhouse where some people were hanging around the entrance.

"Wash your clothes for you, sir, ma'am?" a boy who looked as if he very much needed to use the bathhouse asked.

"Clothes?" Herzer asked, remembering Jody's advice. But the clothes did need work, not just washing but with a needle and thread.

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