12 Miles Below

Fish was the ultimate luxury food saved only on truly momentous occasions.

The Agrifarmer caste didn’t sell any without a few of their arms bent first. The common joke was that they’d be buried with their fish if they could. To be honest, I’m not a hundred percent sure that was only a joke.

Fish were bred in the aquaponics farms, where apparently there was some sort of feedback loop that fish offered to the rest of the hydroponic system used to grow vegetables.

I had a friend among the Agrifarmers. He’d gone long in length about the care and feeding of fish. Rants about pH values, temperatures, substrates, species, bacteria and oddly enough - plumbing. The funniest part of all this is that as an apprentice, he wasn’t even allowed to touch the fish. Only the highest ranks among the agrifarmers were allowed to tend to the fish directly, given their incredibly specific requirements.

But all things grow old and a dead fish floating in the system would quickly contaminate the delicate balancing act, so the farmers would routinely prune and trim out the fish if they spotted any signs of issues. And there lies the first chance of obtaining fish out of three possible manners.

The second potential method of getting fish was finding it in the lakes and rivers underground. That came with its own set of costs. For one, only knights were permitted to travel underground so that narrowed down the pool of possible workers. For two, if they did travel underground it wasn’t for tourism or leisure. Generally. There’s been a few returns where knights happened to camp by sources of fish, but besides those exceptions, knights generally didn’t come back up to the surface with fish in hand.

The third method was to trade with the undersiders. When the pilgrims would make their way to the surface, a whole host of carry-ons would come with them - including traders down on their luck. We didn’t have many goods that undersiders wanted. On the other hand, what goods they brought up tended to be sorely needed, even if they weren’t fetching a good price down under.

The pilgrims would carry fish and other staples of their diet with them, though not in huge quantities. The last pilgrims to arrive and harbor at our clan was five years ago. Safe to say all the fish they’d brought up and left in the freezers had long since vanished.

So how Kidra had managed to finagle not one fish - but twenty of the scrapshits from the dark clutches of Agrifarmer freezers was something I suspected the clan lord had a hand in.

She did have two of those now, and she’s become scary good with them. If I throw enough things at Kidra to abuse, she’ll probably handle the raiders all by herself. It was an excellent plan, all in all, and I’m a genius for thinking it up. I call it: Feed the hard carry.

But I digress. We were talking about the wonders of fish.

A celebration deserving of fish was in order for a few different reasons all put together. The first was for Father’s passing, the previous head of the house. The second was for the newly gained armor in the family. And the third reason was the sudden resurgence of the House. All of which would be call for fish.

So this is how we ended up in a fully filled house hall today with around ninety members all merrily talking with one another. The core servants had been inducted into the House and were fully fledged Winterscars now, they had been since the first few days of Kidra’s new rule. The rest of the new arrivals were servants and soldiers, taking on the ropes and building up from fresh ground.

High talent, picked out on sheer merit, into a House who’s past culture of nepotism and poisoned words had been razed down to the ground. Whatever our house would become - it was a vision that we could change the course of for once. Already, the House had two armors to our name which was a ridiculous advantage new houses simply did not start with.

Not to mention they’d all seen Kidra’s skills in combat. She’s practiced each morning with me diligently, despite the fact it’s long past the point of being worthwhile to her. I certainly wasn’t a threat, even with matched speed I was still reacting too predictably. We do less sparing and more training katas now for a reason.

After I’d shown her the trick with the soul fractal, she came up with new ones that stumped me but clearly were working out for her. Talk among the House was that even the Shadowsong prime wouldn’t be able to stand boot to boot with Kidra at her current skill.

To say morale was high was an understatement. Everyone felt like they were a part of something that was exploding, that would do more than just be a strong House. Something that would become part of history and song.

But getting twenty whole fish to cook with was right up there in terms of impressive results. Kidra had gone the extra leg to really drive home the point of her abilities.

There was a hushed silence as she stood from the head of the table and announced that we had enough fish to give the entire household a bite to eat - each. Including the minor servants. The rest of the bones and other items had been used for fish soup, sauces and all kinds of other dishes the mad creative geniuses down in the kitchen had come up with.

The meal was the same for all of us, including my sister and I. The same proportions and everything. A direct message to our House that neither of us were going to be using our power to lord over like the past generations had. We were all in this together, and would sit at the table as companions.

It was a feast like no other, and we drank to the celebration in equal measure.

And then our friends joined and I don’t remember much after besides the puking.

“Wake up, you lugnut!” An old voice berated to me by the side. It felt tiny and minute, like it had come from a small speaker. “You think I’m going to let you skip on training just because you got a little handsy with a bottle or two? Hah! Drag yourself up or else.”

My eyes groggily opened up, searching for the voice from hell.

“Over here!”

I didn’t have much energy except to shift my bloodshot eyes around. Journey’s helmet lay on the food table, tilted over. Behind was the slumped body of someone dressed in the winterscar colors, a soldier. He twitched, snoring, smacking his lips for a moment and then going still again.

The voice returned. “Pick up your helmet and let’s get to work! Chop chop young man!”

It was coming from my helmet. No doubt about it. I nodded and the movement hurt my head something bad.

I dragged the helmet to my face and with some amount of effort, managed to hook it on. The padding inside was cool and comfortable, far more than the composite wood table here. Maybe I should have kept this on over the night in hindsight.

Something sat down on the other side. “Awake?” My sister asked.

Tidy, prim and wearing her usual kimono robe. Pattern of scarlet red and deep blue flower outlines on black. Looking perfectly immaculate compared to myself.

“How’re you not dying right now?” I mumbled out. “I know you drank with us, we even did that song and dance thing. Least, I think we did. The one on the tables, you know?”

“Preparation. I used Winterscar to eliminate the bothersome content in my cup.”

“What? How?”

She turned to look at me with an eyebrow raised. “I keep my tricks secret. And more importantly, we have to speak about you learning to keep yours.”

What?

Oh.

Oh no.

Drunk me must have done some ratshit.

A shiver of horror passed through my spine at the implications, all kinds of secrets I’d been keeping flashing through. Which ones had I spilled?

When I didn’t answer, she tapped my helmet impatiently. “Come with me now. We’ll speak in more detail in a better place. And handling the fallout.” She swept a hand out to the food hall, implying there were some people here who might have enough brain cells left to rub together.

“What about training?” Cathida yelped out. “The boy comes with me first! I’ll give the leftovers to you later where you can rake him over the coals in peace.”

Kidra shook her head. “Cathida. This is a matter of importance. Once we’re done, we’ll follow with the schedule.”

Cathida didn’t like that answer, but after a week of morning training, I’ve learned the ultimate technique to handling her: Journey had a mute button.

I painfully stood up and followed behind my sister for what I was sure would be a right scolding. Not quite sure about what, but I dearly hoped drunk me hadn’t blabbed about the more serious secrets. Please, gods in heaven, make it something more innocent.

We made our way to the medical room, where one of the beds was already occupied with Teed of all people. I have memories of him showing up after the main meal, along with other friends of the Winterscars that were disconnected from the central house. They had been invited to join after the opening feast was complete. Ninety people all had their own friends they wanted to celebrate with. It added up quickly.

Needless to say, that was when things had really taken a turn for the wild.

Teed had a needle stuck in his arm, feeding him a transparent bag of fluid suspended above. And he looked in much better spirits than I was.

“What are you even doing here?” I asked him.

Teed shrugged, then pointed at my sister. “She carried me over yesterday night, and when I woke up I was already hooked up here to this drip.”

I had the immediate mental image of Kidra delicately princess carrying the gym-rat, all easily done with her armor.

“How are you feeling?” Kidra asked him, sitting down at his side and reaching out a hand to his forearm. “I had the servants fetch you some watermelon slices, they’ll be here soon.”

“Honestly? I’m more surprised at how I don’t feel anything like a hangover. I ain’t one to blackout in my life, but I know my limits before the puking starts and yesterday’s binge went way far past that.” He chuckled. “You drank us all under the table, dear. I take it you saw this coming?”

I narrowed my eyes at the pet name. That was odd. Did…. ? Naw, can’t be. I’d have heard about it already.

Kidra nodded, then folded her hands into her lap. “I did. I’ve had light studies with medicine and among those were an old doctor’s notes about IV drips being an effective means of handling a hangover. After personal testing, I knew it to be true.”

“Wait,” I interjected, “Why didn’t you help me out like that?”

She turned and gave me a flat look. “Why, the thought just so happened to slip my mind, dear brother. How clumsy of me.”

Right. Sure. Yeah, that’s what happened. “I take it this is divine retribution of the three gods? What did I do anyhow?”

“Fire.” Kidra said, tapping a foot on the floor, arms now crossed. “You were showing off fire coming from your gauntlet, like a magic trick.”

Well.

That was not good, I mentally berated myself. That was very not good Keith.

The only metal lining to all this is that the fractal of heat was used in all relic armor already, I found its shape in both Journey and Winterscar. If there is an existential threat trailing behind anyone who comes up with progress, it likely targets on a macro scale or possibly one of the more specific fractals later in the book.

Or if it didn’t, we were already doomed to square up from the moment I activated the first fractal.

Thus, damage from this current fallout would be all from clan culture rather than any existential threats. I’ll take that anyday.

I glanced at Teed, who looked right back to me, shrugging. “She’s right, kid. Everyone was talking about how you had powers of a warlock when you returned from the abyss. The new look for your armor didn’t help make people believe otherwise too.” He snickered. “So you played right along, stood on one of the tables, extended a hand out, snapped a finger, and bam! Fire coming out of your hand. Got everyone riled up like something from the songs, people banging on the tables demanding you show more. Still wondering how you pulled that magic trick off.”

Kidra turned to him. “Have any guesses?” I saw her eyes shift over to stare me down from the corners. “I’m deeply curious.”

Teed shrugged in the bed, unaware of the subcontext floating by. “If you’re askin’ me as a Reacher, my bet’s on a flammable agent of some kind he snuck in a small wax paper vial. Or something that could disappear in flames. He crunches it in his hand and then sets it all on fire. Could have setup sparks to come out when he snapped his fingers. Probably had some of the servants in on it early. Ordered them to egg him on about being a warlock and he gets to show off as if it’s all natural.”

Kidra turned to me, a small smile on her face. “Others might believe this is real Occult magic, especially since there were people from outside the House who can’t be trusted to keep to themselves. So I’d like to know exactly what your trick was to assuage people’s superstitions when they come to me asking about it. Well, dear brother? Has Teed figured out the trick to your display?”

I saw the bone being thrown in my direction and took it like a starving dog. “I admit, you got all of it in one go.” I confessed.

Teed chuckled at the side, waving his fingers. “I’ve been thinking ‘bout it for a while now while relaxin’ here. If you ask me, you should let them keep on thinking you’re a warlock. Add the to mystic of that armor you have. The sorcerer knight of House Winterscar. Has a ring to it ya know, even if it’s all smoke and mirrors in the end.”

If I wasn’t so worried about my real secret coming out, this probably would have made me laugh at the irony.

True to Kidra’s word, a servant did enter the room carrying a tray of slices, “My lords, I’ve brought watermelon slices drizzled with honey. And a side of strawberries coated with chocolate that Miss Rehla said the lady would appreciate.” She set the plate to the side, bowed, and quickly left, sliding the thin door closed behind her.

Kidra's eyes took on a greedy glint, glued to the strawberries as she took the plate and walked back to the chair, taking a bite out of the chocolate covered fruit first thing on sitting down.

"Ah, I think your secret is busted, kid." Teed said from his bed. "Servants are bigger gossips than you are. That one surely heard our talk. Error’s mine."

"Looks like people found out fast it was all a magic trick using science, right on the first day." I said. "Unfortunate, wouldn't you agree, dear sister?"

Teed quirked an eyebrow at the tone, but shook his head with a smile, thinking I was messing with him.

Kidra waved at me, busy eating through the strawberries. “Take off your gauntlet, I need to tie you into the IV. You’ll feel better in a half hour after. A doctor’s trick I learned, these will cure a hangover with little trouble.”

I did as instructed, taking off my helmet as well so I could try a slice of watermelon. It looked cold and refreshing.Teed probably thought the same, considering he was eating his way through it.

Kidra handled the needle with practice. Both of us had to get training for events when a medical professional was unavailable. She had me hooked up without issue.

Sliced watermelon with honey was an old Agrifarmer's trick to cure hangovers. Retainers say a bit of sparring and getting the blood pumping would cure the issue. I strongly disagreed with that, but kept the traitorous thoughts to myself. The Logi swore by coffee like civilized people, and the Reachers swore behind drinking even more. They never specify if it’s coffee however.

The watermelon was every bit as juicy and sweet as I'd hoped for, the slight bit of honey pairing oddly well with it all. Each bite was crisp and filled with flavor and sooth my raging headache.

The strawberries were nearly gone before either Teed or I thought to try one. My sister was territorial when it came to those, so I knew better than to ask for any. Teed, however, clearly had no such reservations.

“Those look good, mind sparing one for little ol’ me?”

“No.” She said with all the conviction of fact, taking the last one and plopping it into her mouth. “Confectioneries and strawberries are where I drew my line when it comes to sharing. This is the hill I am prepared to freeze on.”

"Not even for me?"

"Perhaps someday." Kidra answered noncommittally, humming slightly while tapping the skewer.

I narrowed my eyes further, spitting out watermelon seeds on the plate. Had my scheming already paid off? Had Teed been picking up the rest himself behind the scenes?

Without me knowing this sort of gold tier gossip? Unlikely. And if actually done, unacceptable.

An old wheezing voice came out of my helmet and interrupted my thoughts. “You done now with the oh-so-important meeting?”

Teed froze, while Kidra just sighed, turning slowly to look at the helmet.

“What? Never heard armor talk before?” The old woman wheezed out from the helmet. "Don't keep your mouth hanging, a rat might jump in."

Teed stumbled out an apology, talking about how he’d always heard armors weren’t chatty. This was the first armor he'd heard. And unfortunately, he was getting a completely different picture of what armor actually sounded like.

“How exactly did you get an armor to talk like this?” Teed asked, bewildered.

"Uh, it's a long story." I said.

"You better make it a fun story." Cathida interjected. "Long stories put me to sleep."

"You literally can't sleep," I hissed back.

"Don't turn this into a pissing match with me, young man. If I say I can sleep, I'm damn well going to sleep." The helmet rambled out.

“I know where the mute button is.” I threatened.

Of course, that was the worst possible thing to say to Cathida.

Teed glanced back up at me. Taking a look between the raging helmet and me. “...Are you absolutely sure you’re not a warlock?”

There was a knock at the door. Kidra motioned and called out permission for entrance. Cathida didn’t get the memo which meant I had to go with the nuklear option and had her gagged for another thirty minutes. I’d be paying for this later, but that was future Keith’s can of crickets to deal with, the poor bastard.

An armored hand opened up the sliding door, and the owner walked right in. “Good to see you’re all up.” Ironreach said. Behind him two other servants were waiting.

They weren’t wearing the winterscar uniforms however. No, these were wearing the colors of the clan - Atius’s personal staff.

“Morning rascals. These gentlemen have come here with a sealed message for the lady of the House.” He gave a nod to Kidra.

With calm dignity, Kidra put down her tray and walked over to the bowing servants. One held out a scroll of paper, while the other held out a candle.

“To the current head of House Winterscar, this message has been delivered from the Clan Lord Atius, with all due haste. You are charged to read and obey the orders within, immediately.”

“House Winterscar stands ready.” She said, the traditional response. Once the formalities had completed, she took the page and broke the seal of the clan lord, folding it open to read. It didn’t take long, this letter must have been brief.

When she turned to me and I could tell it was all business, cutting through the atmosphere like an Occult knife. “The clan lord has formally called upon House Winterscar’s relic knights to attend to him.” She then turned to look behind the two clan servants, where Winterscar staff loitered around. “Prepare my armor.” She said, already reaching out for the lit candle to burn away the message. The servants scattered off, rushing to the vault room to do her bidding as the scroll of paper winked away into ash.

A cordial summon from the clan lord sent by seal was a call that brooked no argument. This wasn’t going to be a lighthearted visit.

This was a full call to arms.

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