Chapter 46 – New House and Orders (2)
The joiner raised his face from the wooden plank he was planing with a long manual blade, wiping the sweat with his forearm. He was a robust heteromorph with beaver traits, dense brown fur, prominent incisors, and a flat, wide tail that rested on the packed-earth floor, helping him maintain balance while he worked. Beside him, a young assistant sorted wood scraps into boxes.
The master joiner rested the plane on the bench and greeted them with a professional nod: — Good morning, young clients. Welcome to Master Boris's Carpentry. What do you bring for my saws today? Do you need custom-made furniture, door reinforcements, or repairs to heavier wooden structures, such as waterwheels and mill beams?
Recognizing that race's perfect natural affinity for carpentry, Kaelen stepped forward with a courteous tone, keeping the second roll of schematics tucked under his arm, while Akra, beside him, distractedly hid her hands in her pockets after releasing a small bluish spark.
— Good morning, Master Boris. We came here upon the recommendation of the Trade Guild. We recently acquired a property in the northwest outskirts, and I need an experienced carpenter to evaluate the state of the house's structural beams, as well as commission some standard custom-made furniture. I would like to know the cost of your time to go to the site and make an initial evaluation of the terrain.
Master Boris stopped resting his weight on the bench, crossed his strong arms, and let out a grunt. He looked at Kaelen with that classic expression of someone assessing yet another wealthy young noble and then at the young assistant, who perked up his ears upon hearing about the job at the estate. The master joiner broke into a light, condescending smile, thinking about how he would charge a hefty sum for the whim of an eccentric rich kid.
— Business involving country estates and old structures tends to be interesting, kid. My lineage knows how to keep secrets just as well as they know how to build solid dams in rivers. I charge a fair price for the inspection and the furniture carpentry. But if it is just a common renovation, why did you come straight through the guild's recommendation with such haste?
Kaelen flashed a purposely nonchalant smile, feeding the idea that he was merely a rich boy with exotic ideas.
— Because I strictly value silence, security, and the total discretion of my partners. The furniture and installations I intend to set up in that shed demand absolute secrecy, as I plan on doing some things differently. Therefore, before any conversation about prices or details, would you be interested in reviewing and signing one of my Trade Guild confidentiality agreements right here in the workshop? The cost of your time and your saws will be paid without argument if you agree to close the deal under these terms. What do you say?
Master Boris observed him for a few seconds, growing visibly wary and suspicious of such bureaucratic demands coming from a twelve-year-old boy. He adjusted his wooden reading glasses, weighing whether it was worth signing something in the dark. Kaelen pulled the tube containing the secrecy runes from his leather pouch and extended it to him.
Driven both by the guaranteed gold and by his sharp curiosity to know what kind of eccentricity demanded so much mystery even before the plan was revealed, the beaver let out a raspy laugh, took the quill, and signed the parchment with his signet, returning the validated copy.
— A technical safeguarding contract even before seeing the work? You are quite cautious for your age, kid — Boris said, narrowing his eyes. — Done, it is signed. Now tell me: what are my saws going to cut on this estate to demand so much mystery?
Kaelen smiled at the success of the approach. He glanced at the side bench, where some routine writing materials lay, and adopted a calm, enigmatic tone.
— Master Boris, do you have a quill and a piece of blank parchment I can use here for a moment?
The joiner raised his ears, even more intrigued by the twist, and handed him a clean scrap sheet. Kaelen picked up a piece of charcoal found on the workshop floor and, under the artisan's attentive and analytical gaze, began sketching the engineering of the future hydraulic system integrated directly into the auxiliary workbench's wood.
He drew the restructured mill on the riverbank, highlighting the waterwheel coupled to a reinforced central axle. He drew the lines showing the force of the water rising through a pressure channel to feed an elevated water tank on the side of the house, ensuring continuous supply and automated hot baths for the entourage. Inside, he sketched the optimized grain mill gear mechanism with high-precision millstones. He left a hollow, compartmentalized space reserved in the bottom corner—strategic and without apparent explanations, keeping future details to himself. The freehand drawing was visually clean and exact, enough for a master joiner to understand the magnitude of the structure.
He slid the sheet with the freshly made sketch across the bench toward the master castor.
Master Boris adjusted his glasses and leaned his body over the bench, examining the features of the waterwheel, the pressure channel, and the internal milling gear system. His ears flicked back and forth, catching every proportion, while the young assistant stretched his neck to try to see over his shoulder. The master castor let out a low whistle of genuine admiration, completely hooked.
— By the dams... You don't just want to swap some rotting boards or order chairs; you want to rebuild the entire system with an intelligent water flow and a grinding gear that triples efficiency! Not to mention the plumbing for the elevated water tank. This is heavy carpentry and fine woodwork all at once. Looking at the gear system and the flow as a whole... I'm in! Regarding the deadline and materials, I need to calculate high-resistance treated wood to withstand the water's force, but I can start planning the cuts as soon as you give me the green light. What else will you need to make this run?
— The exact deadline and technical wood specifications I leave entirely to your judgment, Master Boris. I trust your professional judgment — Kaelen replied, crossing his arms. — I have already closed a contract with Master Gorgon from the smithy to handle the metal parts, and we will meet directly at the estate. The address is right here. The old mill is already there, and I will expect you tomorrow afternoon.
Leaning slightly over the bench, he adopted a friendly and transparent tone, noticing Akra hide her hands in her pockets after another spark of energy crackled.
— But mind you, Master Boris: as you yourself noticed from its complexity, projects like this easily draw attention and spark curiosity. To maintain our exclusivity and protect the business from prying eyes, the contract you just signed perfectly seals our discretion. If we spread improvements like this to other places in the future, the livelihood and work demand for your carpentry will explode. You'd receive so many requests you'd need to double your number of assistants. Tell me... do you think the Trade Guild would like to see something like this cataloged and operating exclusively for us?
Master Boris broke into a wide smile revealing his prominent incisors, fascinated by the engineering and business vision. He squeezed the safely stored secrecy parchment and nodded in total complicity.
— If the Trade Guild sees this project working, kid, they will want to buy the patent or monopolize distribution within days — the master replied in a conspiratorial tone. — Rest assured, my lips are sealed. My saw only works for those who pay and respect the secret.
Tapping lightly on the wooden bench to mark the brisk pace of commitments:
— Well, we must leave now to settle our last pending matter. I will see you tomorrow late in the afternoon at the estate so we can inspect the house and grounds closely. Any extra material or special tool you need to source to begin the work, just let me know and we'll settle the technical details on the spot.
Master Boris rested his paws on his waist and nodded, already grabbing a piece of chalk to start noting initial measurements on a draft board.
— Agreed! Tomorrow at late afternoon, I'll be at the Old Mill Estate to inspect the beams and the waterwheel. Have a good afternoon, youngsters!
He turned away, gesturing for Akra to follow him. As they left the carpentry, Kaelen noticed her releasing a faint static crackle into the dry air, shaking her head with a mix of boredom and approval at the direction the business was taking. Now, with the blacksmith, joiner, and potter secured under strict secrecy contracts, they needed to proceed to the next item on the list: finding a trusted potter for containers and piping.
Moving away from the carpentry and walking through the bustling streets of Felis-Tigris, Kaelen glanced discreetly at Akra. Feeling the subtle static of her magic radiating lightly in her hair, he projected his thoughts calmly and directly into her mind:
— See? People aren't so scary, Akra. But they always want to protect their own interests. Sometimes, they end up doing wrong and ugly things because of that—not because they are purely evil, but out of fear, money, or envy. What matters is that you know this and protect yourself...
Akra listened in silence, her gaze fixed on the cobblestone floor while her fingers sparked an almost imperceptible charge that she quickly hid in her pocket. Before she needed to formulate a fragmented response, their steps led them to the facade of raw bricks and piles of dry clay belonging to a traditional pottery workshop in the area.
With a subtle, calculating smile on his lips—ready to hook another strategic partner—Kaelen crossed the smoky entrance and greeted the artisan working near the main kiln: — Good morning. Can you help us?
A lizardman with dark olive-green scales and mud-stained garments slowly rose from near the firing kiln's mouth, wiping his thick hands on a battered leather apron. He looked at them with a pair of narrow-slitted yellow eyes, evaluating their height and posture with the typical coldness of his race before offering a slow, distrustful nod.
— Being referred by the Trade Guild usually means guaranteed payment value — the potter replied with a harsh, raspy voice that sounded like rolling gravel inside his throat. — What does a boy and a companion of unstable flames need with clay and fire? Storage pots, reinforced tiles, or ceramic drainage pipes?
Widening his smile and maintaining a firm posture, Kaelen answered: — I apologize for the rush. What is your name, sir? My name is Kaelen; I am new to this region and recently bought a house not far from here. The property needs some simple repairs and adjustments, but, as you can see, I am a bit eccentric and deeply value discretion, secrecy, and the safety of my companions. Therefore, I ask: would you be interested in doing this work for us? I would like to know if you would agree to sign a Guild magical confidentiality agreement.
The lizardman crossed his scale-covered arms, narrowing his yellow eyes further as he absorbed every word. The silence of the pottery workshop was punctuated only by the muffled crackle of the fire within the kiln.
— My name is Sssaris — the potter replied with a hoarse, drawn-out tone, flashing pointed teeth in a cautious smile. — And secrecy contracts are nothing new for someone who works with kilns that mold secrets for the entire city. If the payment is fair and the Guild backs the commercial backing, show me this magical parchment so I can see what you want the clay to hide.
Kaelen slid the magical confidentiality contract across the workbench along with the quill, while Sssaris carefully analyzed the clauses. The lizardman examined the seals, let out a low hiss of approval, and stamped the document with his mark, returning the signed copy.
— So, kid, what on earth do you want to make that is so extravagant? — Sssaris inquired, now with a gleam of genuine curiosity in his slit eyes.
With the agreement formalized and secrecy guaranteed, Kaelen took out the schematic draft detailing the purification system and presented it to the potter.
— My intention doesn't stop there, Sssaris — he began to explain, keeping a firm, commercial tone. — I have already closed contracts with the blacksmith and joiner to rebuild our estate and mill structure. But what I need from you at the pottery involves high-density ceramics and filtration systems. The project is divided into two parts: a smaller, portable layered ceramic filter prototype, and a large, robust filtration box that will be installed on the upper floor of the house, connected to the mill's water line, ensuring that all water consumed by the entourage is perfectly clean and potable.
Sssaris narrowed his yellow eyes, fascinated by the engineering of the activated carbon filtration compartments, treated sand, and porous chambers drawn on the paper.
— The portable prototype has a huge market among caravans and travelers suffering from contaminated water on the roads, which will generate excellent dividends for both of us if we decide to commercialize it through the Guild later. How much will it cost to manufacture this initial prototype?
The lizardman leaned back slightly, swaying his scaly tail rhythmically as he evaluated the complexity of the porous ceramic pieces.
— Special high-density clay with double firing to guarantee quality without letting impurities through... That requires strict temperature control — Sssaris growled. — For the portable prototype, I need two days in the kiln and specific internal filtration materials. I charge two gold coins for the development and testing of the first model. If the result works as your drawing promises, we will have a product that any merchant will want to buy by the dozen. I can start molding the pieces today.
Kaelen counted out ten gold coins with precision and slid them across the wood-and-clay workbench.
— Here are ten gold coins. This should easily cover the costs of the portable prototype and serve as an advance for the materials of the larger installation at the house — he said, maintaining a firm tone. — Note the address: this is the Old Mill Estate. I expect you there tomorrow afternoon so we can evaluate the structure and begin final arrangements, agreed?
Leaning in slightly closer, he lowered his voice to a cautious warning tone: — But I must warn you: since we are creating something entirely innovative, it will inevitably draw curious eyes. Exercise extreme caution regarding who you talk to until we can formally register and present everything to the Guild. Discretion is our shield.
Sssaris collected the gold coins with firm claws, quickly tucking them away among his rustic garments with a muffled hiss of satisfaction.
— Understood, Kaelen. Clay guards the secrets of those who pay for the fire — the potter replied, nodding his scaly head in agreement. — I will be at the estate tomorrow afternoon.
Kaelen turned away, gesturing for Akra to accompany him out of the pottery. With the blacksmith, joiner, and potter firmly integrated into their strategic network under strict secrecy contracts, they crossed the streets of Felis-Tigris toward the final stop of that leg: the commercial establishment specializing in farm supplies and seeds.
