Chapter 142: The Iron of the Tribe
The first rays of the morning sun broke over the snow-covered peaks as Kellar led his twenty riflemen out of the mountain fortress. Riding atop Ignis, the shaman advanced through the freezing air while the troop maintained a steady march behind him. By midday, the imposing timber palisades of the main settlement rose along the lakeshore.
Lennis, Mentz, and the ten riflemen from the vanguard convoy were already waiting beside the open gates alongside the entire village. Dismounting from the great bear, Mila, Maya, and his consorts stepped forward to welcome him.
"The mountain is secured," said Kellar, letting his gaze sweep over his people. "Helga holds command, the blast furnaces operate under our guard, and Krag pays for his weakness in the deep mines."
A wave of relief and respect swept through the villagers. Mila approached Kellar, resting a firm hand on his arm.
"Lennis arrived last night with the machinery and the iron ingots," said Mila, smiling with pride. "Mentz and the smiths worked all night to assemble the remaining weapons."
"Show me," said Kellar.
Mentz stepped forward and pointed toward the open doors of the central workshop. Inside, lined up on long wooden tables, rested thirty brand-new iron muskets with polished stocks, reinforced steel barrels, and the flintlock mechanisms designed by Lennis. Combined with the thirty weapons brought from the mountain, the arsenal of eighty firearms was complete, twenty in Helga’s hands at the frontier and sixty in his own.
Although the riflemen had already wielded the weapons during the execution of the traitors, Kellar knew a formal ceremony was vital to forge their discipline and make the weight of the tribe’s new power clear.
Kellar walked out into the courtyard and raised his hand, gathering the fifty recruits who had trained for weeks under Brak’s command.
"Riflemen, to your positions!" said Brak.
The thirty youths lined up in five flawless rows. The ten who had escorted Lennis rejoined their comrades, forming a single disciplined unit. Assistants brought out wooden crates containing the new weapons, leather ammunition pouches filled with lead bullets, and horns loaded with draconic gunpowder. Beside them, Mentz’s tanners brought the new combat vests made of cured magical reptile hide, reinforced on the chest and shoulders to absorb both weapon recoil and enemy strikes.
"You trained with wooden sticks and heavy sand," said Kellar, pacing before the formation as his voice echoed across the frozen courtyard. "You bled in the snow, ran until your lungs burned, and learned that individual strength is nothing without unity. Today, you officially receive the steel of the tribe."
At Kellar’s command, Mentz and the smiths distributed the equipment. Each recruit fastened his scale armor, crossed the ammunition pouch and powder horn over his chest, and received his official iron musket. The weight of real steel and the smell of forged iron filled the ranks with absolute pride.
The thirty youths inspected their weapons with steady hands, cocking the mechanisms and bringing the stocks to their shoulders in synchronization.
"This weapon does not care if you were born the son of a chief or rescued from a slave cage," said Kellar, stopping in the center of the line with an intense gaze. "In your hands, this iron makes each of you equal to a high-ranking warrior. Soon, we march north to expand our borders and bring total dominance to this land."
"Long live the Great Shaman!" said the group of riflemen in unison, slamming the stocks of their muskets against the frozen ground.
"Long live the tribe!" said the rest of the settlement, making their cheers rumble across the lake.
Kellar turned toward Mila, Maya, and the rest of his family, seeing the trust and fierce pride in their eyes as the main village prepared for the grand expansion.
"Dismissed," said Kellar, lowering his arm to end the ceremony.
The group of riflemen saluted in unison, broke formation, and marched toward the armory to adjust their gear under the watchful eyes of their squad leaders.
Brak stepped up beside the shaman, watching the young soldiers disperse.
"What will we do with the rest of the weapons?" said Brak.
"While we gather more soldiers, store them in the safest place," said Kellar. "When we march, they will function as reserves in case we need to use them."
Kellar turned toward Mentz, who was inspecting a rack of remaining reptile-skin vests.
"Mentz," said Kellar. "I need you to get at least ten men who are honest and noble. It does not matter if they are not in their best shape; I only need them to be trustworthy."
After a few minutes, Mentz returned with ten middle-aged men who looked quite strong, accompanied by ten women.
Kellar raised an eyebrow as he saw the group and looked at the master smith.
"Why did you bring ten women?" said Kellar.
"I hope you give them a chance, Great Shaman," said Mentz, stepping forward with his head bowed. "They are the most dedicated and courageous women in the settlement, completely trustworthy people. I wanted to give them an opportunity before you."
Kellar observed them in silence for a moment, noting the firm posture of the ten women and the loyalty in their eyes.
"Good, I like the way you think," said Kellar, a faint smile touching his lips. "Starting today, I need you to train your replacement. You will be relieved as Chief Builder and will receive a new title: Chief of Police."
Mentz blinked in confusion, looking at the recruits and then at the shaman.
"Police?" said Mentz. "What does that mean?"
"You will find out soon," said Kellar, turning around. "Follow me."
The twenty recruits and Mentz followed Kellar in silence to the camp where the soldier battalion was training. Kellar stopped in front of the army formation and turned to face the newly arrived group.
"Starting today, you will learn to use the weapons the army uses," said Kellar, letting his voice resonate before everyone. "You will train with them, live with them, and march with them. Brak will be in charge of your training. The only one allowed to leave the camp is Mentz, who remains in charge of construction, but the rest of you will be isolated inside here for a month. I hope you are prepared and do not waste the opportunity Mentz gave you."
The men and women kept their eyes locked on the shaman, listening attentively to every word.
"Right now, getting in was as easy as Mentz speaking for you," said Kellar, piercing them with his gaze. "In the future, not even with the recommendation of the entire world will anyone be able to get in. You have just won your place in the most exclusive group that will ever exist. You alone will hold importance on par with the army. Later on, you will know that today’s suffering is the price for the lottery ticket you have just won."