Chapter 23: Hammer and Chisel

After Elric left, he and his aide briefly exchanged pleasantries before he left to re-organize the party and share what they had gone over and pass on new instructions. Honestly though, Cassius could have spent the better part of a day spoon feeding him tactics and strategies to rout out a small group of guerrillas, but much like his father, he agreed that the boy needed to develop his own knowledge base personally and experience life outside the castle walls himself.

He also was quite pleased to discover that none of his mannerisms indicated any ill intentions towards him, obviously he caught his eyes sharpen once after he expressed his idea, but it was fleeting and not necessarily the malice he was looking for in his plotters demeanour.

Plus, Cassius considered his upright bearing, he threw in his third suggestion as both a lesson in strategic thinking, and to gauge his reaction to less than honourable decisions such as burning down a forest to kill a few men.

He figured as long as he could keep subtly educating the man, he was sure to be an amazing general and statesman in the future.

Cassius also considered Elrics final request, he wasn't entirely sure what he desired if he was being honest, he felt he had definitely earned some good will with his comments but he couldn't know for certain what his intentions were.

'Well, I'll find out when I find out I guess.' Leaving towards the inner-keep, he decided he would need to wash up first.

After passing through the gate with no challenge, he proceeded to make his way to a large shed-like structure that was built against the wall of the keep on the north side; The bathhouse.

The bathhouse, a separate building to avoid the risks of fire and humidity damaging the main structure, was a simple yet essential part of castle life.

Cassius would note that the bathhouse was constructed from timber. Inside, a large stone tub, referred to as a "bain," was positioned in the center of the room. A group of servants he had organised before their run were quickly fetching and heating water from the nearby deepwell.

The process was labour-intensive, but the bathhouse served not just for bathing but also as a place for relaxation and socialisation. The baths here were often a communal event, where lords and ladies, and sometimes their attendants, would gather to discuss matters of the day while enjoying the warmth and cleanliness.

Cassius however, though used to the spartan lifestyle of the military and group showers, much rather preferred his own privacy, and made it clear to the servants to disallow anybody to disturb him while he was cleaning himself..

After the bath, the used water was drained away through a simple system of pipes or channels, which led it out of the building and away from the castle. The bathhouse was also equipped with a few wooden or fabric privacy screens, although modesty was maintained more through custom than through elaborate design.

After washing himself, he concluded that while the mediaeval bathhouse was far from the luxurious spas of later centuries, it was an important aspect of maintaining hygiene and social interaction within the castle walls.

—---

Later that afternoon, Cassius brought Maron, Carmen, and Horace to his meeting with Hektor, his blacksmith, and his carpenter to discuss his plans for the spinning wheel.

The large burly blacksmith had a respectful yet impatient look to him, with a powerful, muscular frame that reflects years of labour at the forge. His broad shoulders and thick arms, covered in callouses and scars, show the physical demands of his craft. Dressed in a heavy, well-worn leather apron over durable clothing which he had discarded before sitting. His rugged face, looked freshly washed but soot could still be lingering in his hair, all of this was framed by a thick beard, and his eyes, though intense, reveal a deep expertise and calm.

The average-build carpenter in his mid-40s appeared as a seasoned professional whose physical presence reflects years of hands-on experience rather than sheer muscle. Standing at a moderate height with a solid, sturdy build, he has a practical, down-to-earth demeanour. His hands are well-worn but steady, with callouses and slight nicks from handling tools and materials over the years.

His attire was entirely functional, consisting of a durable work shirt, with rolled-up sleeves, and work pants equipped with multiple pockets for carrying tools and small essentials. A well-used leather tool belt hangs around his waist, holding essential items like a tape measure, pencil, and various hand tools. His face is marked by lines of experience and the occasional fleck of sawdust, and his short, graying hair hints at his age. When he entered, Cassius noted he moved with a confident efficiency, and his demeanour was approachable and knowledgeable, reflecting a deep understanding of his craft.

Exchanging pleasantries Cassius came to learn the blacksmith's name was Alaric Hammerfell, his last name being rather known, having descended from the largest smithing family in the Kingdom. He had contracted with his father shortly before Cassius was born, and was commonly referred to as one of the best smiths in the territory. Hell, Cassius noted that even the dagger he had worn on his waist was one of the man's creations.

Dale's blood was much more common, having simply been known as Dale the Woodwright his entire life, had simply taken the title as his last name and owned his own independent workshop where he specialised in detailed work for the nobility and rich, and had a team of builders under his charge which would assist in larger constructions.

Finishing his pleasantries, he noticed that the men had decidedly tried to avoid each other or exchange any greetings whatsoever outside of a nod and a grunt of acknowledgement.

'Curious' Cassius thought to himself, recognising the two men don't share much love for one another.

Hektor, knowing all this, quickly moved into the topic of their meeting.

"So Lord Cassius! These two men here are curious but incredibly sceptical of your design, and would like to see it themselves before they agree to any manufacturing terms."

Cassius nodded in understanding. "That makes sense, I imagine if I were in their shoes I would dismiss a childs idea as well, very well then, have a look."

Cassius reached into the satchel he had brought with him and retrieved a series of yellow parchment that had the design blueprints on them, and set them on the table for the two men to view. He also 'accidentally' placed his rudimentary designs for his blast furnace in the mix, hoping Hektor, or Alaric would look at it and have questions.

Dale reached forward first and snatched the stack of designs shooting a peaved Alaric a dirty look. He proceeded to study through the simplistic, yet elegant designs as his brows continuously rose in surprise. He began to seriously look back and forth between the designs, realising the potential these could have on Hektors business and stated so to the man.

"I would like to retract my previous statement, Lord Cassius's design's are frankly going to completely change your business Hektor if I can build these parts."

Cassius raised an eyebrow at that comment and gave Hektor a look, assuming correctly that the man had chided Hektor for believing the ramblings of a boy.

Hektor just smiled wryly and shrugged, he knew the man's temperament and wouldn't apologise in his stead, the only reason he attended this meeting was to humble Cassius to begin with, stating; "I will attend this meeting with you only on apart of our continued friendship and your continuing business, and only if to expand the Lords perspective."

Eventually he unfurled the final design and confusion was evident on his face.

"What, can't figure it out?" Alaric said rudely, hoping to irk the man.

Dale looked towards the man with a smirk, and slid it across the table to him.

Huffing at his lack of response, the man looked at the schematic, not entirely understanding what he was studying, but it looked like some sort of improvement over the bloomery where we worked.